Motorized cleaning implement

• US 7,516,508 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Wurzelbacher, Tracey Ann, Resuello, Ildefonso Mendoza Jr., Zenkich, Ramona, Stackpole, A. Bryon Jr., Sayler, David John, Park, Eric Young, Newman, Matthew Lloyd, Crowe, Thomas George
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/070,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 15/971, 15/98, 15/222, 15/491, 152/091, 15/502, 15/522, 15/221, 15/40, 152/31
• US Class Current: 15/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/12 with reciprocating or oscillating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/284 having reciprocating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth

Abstract

A motorized cleaning implement is provided for cleaning surfaces with a cleaning substrate. The motorized cleaning implement includes a bumper pad that is connected to a motor capable of providing a reciprocating motion to the bumper pad. A cleaning substrate which includes a pocket is attached to the bumper pad.

Claims

1. A motorized cleaning implement for cleaning a surface comprising:

a substantially deformable bumper pad for retaining a cleaning substrate, said bumper pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness;

a motor for causing said bumper pad to move relative to said motor in a reciprocating motion, wherein said motor is operably connected to said bumper pad; and

a disposable cleaning substrate removably connected to at least a portion of said bumper pad;

said bumer pad comprising weakness means for facilitating the deformation of said bumper pad, wherein said weakness means extend through at least a portion of the thickness of said bumper pad from said top surface or said bottom surface, said weakness means being selected from the group consisting of slits made through a portion of the thickness of said bumper pad from said top or bottom surface, slits made through the whole thickness of said bumper pad, cavities made on said top or bottom surface of said bumper pad, openings extending through the entire thickness of said bumper pad, and any combination thereof.

2. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a housing wherein said motor is located within said housing.

3. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 2 wherein said housing has a top portion having substantially a convex shape.

4. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 3 wherein said housing includes a concave portion that is substantially adjacent to said bumper pad.

5. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said cleaning substrate comprises a pocket and said bumper pad includes at least one tip portion inserted within said pocket.

6. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 5 wherein said tip portion inserted within said pocket is tapered.

7. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad comprises at least one attachment structure for engaging at least a portion of said cleaning substrate.

8. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein said attachment structure is substantially adjacent to a tip portion of said bumper pad.

9. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 8 wherein the space above said attachment structure is substantially unobstructed.

10. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad comprises a bottom surface and a side surface and wherein said cleaning substrate covers at least a portion of said bottom surface and said side surface.

11. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad reciprocates at a frequency of between about 5 Hz and about 50 Hz.

12. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said bumper pad reciprocates at a displacement amplitude of between about 1 mm and about 30 mm.

13. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad comprises a tip portion and first and second attachment structures for engaging said cleaning substrate.

14. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 13 wherein said first and second attachment structures are substantially adjacent to said tip portion.

15. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said cleaning substrate comprises at least one layer of a nonwoven material.

16. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 15 wherein said cleaning substrate comprises a cleaning composition.

17. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad has a substantially continuous outer surface.

18. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 17 wherein said bumper pad comprises a material having a type A durometer of less than about 60.

19. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said bumper pad comprises a deformable tip portion.

20. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 19 further comprising a stiffening member wherein said stiffening member is connected to at least a portion of said deformable tip portion.

21. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said weakness means comprise a plurality of openings extending through the entire thickness of said bumper pad.

22. The cleaning implement of claim 21 wherein said bumper pad has between 1 and 50 of said openings.

23. The cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a handle.

24. The cleaning implement of claim 23 further comprising a hand-grip.

25. A cleaning implement according to claim 24, comprising;

a handle;

a hand-grip for allowing a user to hold the cleaning implement with one hand and clean a surface, said hand-grip pivotally connected to said implement.

26. The cleaning implement of claim 25 additionally comprising a locking mechanism for temporarily locking said hand-grip.