Cleaning implement

• US 7,624,469 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Inventors: Lesley, Paul M., McKnight, David A., Specht, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karls; Shay L
• Application Number:
  US10/755,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,150 Days
• Field of Search: 151/162, 151/15, 151/18, 151/192
• US Class Current: 15/119.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/24 Frames for mops; Mop heads handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning implement, preferably in the form of a roller mop, that includes a mop head, a shaft, and a wringer. The cleaning implement further includes a connecting link connected to the mop head and to the shaft or wringer. The mop head has a connecting side and a cleaning side thereby defining a mop axis, which axis is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. At least a portion of the connecting link is disposed with the shaft. The mop head can include a scrubber attachment. Also inventive is the disclosed mechanism by which the scrubber attachment connects to the head of the mop. Various embodiments of mop heads can be used with the invention. A cleaning cloth can be mounted to the mop head.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom;

a mounting track disposed on at least one of the shaft and the wringing mechanism, the mounting track including an opening end and an opposing end, the mounting track including a first rail and a second rail, the mounting track including first and second flanges depending respectively from the first and second rails, the first and second flanges being in offset relationship with each other;

a scrubber attachment removably mounted to the mounting track, the scrubber attachment having a leading end and a trailing end, the scrubber attachment having a polarity, the leading end being configured such that the scrubber attachment is mountable to the mounting track by inserting the leading end into the opening of the mounting track, and the trailing end being configured such that it cannot be inserted into the opening of the track; and

wherein the scrubber attachment is removably mounted to the mounting track such that the scrubber attachment is removable therefrom without requiring the removal of another component before removing the scrubber attachment.

2. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment has a first runner and a second runner, the first and second runners engageable with the first and second rails, respectively, the first and second runners being configured such that the first runner cannot mount to the second rail and the second runner cannot mount to the first rail.

3. The cleaning implement according to claim 2, wherein the scrubber attachment has first and second retaining grooves, the first and second retaining grooves being configured to engage the first and second flanges, respectively.

4. The cleaning implement according to claim 3, wherein the first flange is offset from the opening of the track such that when the scrubber attachment is moved in a mounting direction from the opening onto the track, there is range of travel wherein the second retaining groove is in retentive engagement with the flange of the second rail and the first retaining groove is disengaged from the first flange of the first rail.

5. The cleaning implement according to claim 2, wherein the second runner has a resilient retaining finger and a stop.

6. The cleaning implement according to claim 5, wherein the retaining finger includes a shoulder which is in retentive engagement with the second rail when the scrubber attachment is in a mounted position, and the second rail includes a notch for accommodating at least a portion of the resilient finger when the scrubber attachment is in mounted position.

7. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the leading end is configured such that it cannot be inserted into the opposing end of the track.

8. The cleaning implement according to claim 7, wherein the trailing end is configured such that it cannot be inserted into the opposing end of the track.

9. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the trailing end is configured such that it cannot be inserted into the opposing end of the track.

10. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the operator end and the cleaning end of the shaft define a longitudinal axis therebetween, the mop head includes a connecting side and a cleaning side, the connecting side and the cleaning side defining a mop head axis therebetween, the mop head axis being disposed at an oblique mop angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the scrubber attachment including a cleaning side and a connecting side, the cleaning side of the scrubber attachment defining a scrubbing plane, the scrubber attachment having a scrubber axis perpendicular to the scrubbing plane of the cleaning side, the scrubber axis being disposed at an oblique scrubber angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

11. The cleaning implement according to claim 10, wherein the scrubber angle is substantially the same as the mop angle.

12. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment includes a connecting side and a cleaning side, the connecting side and the cleaning side each defining a substantially planar surface, the planar surfaces being in non-parallel relationship with respect to each other.

13. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has a hollow portion and a slot communicating therewith, and the wringing mechanism includes a connecting link, the connecting link being connected to the operator gripping handle and one of the mop head and the wringer thereby permitting relative movement of the wringer and the mop head upon movement of the operator gripping handle, the connecting link extending through the slot and having at least a portion thereof being disposed within the hollow portion of the shaft.

14. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the wringer includes a pair of rollers and a channel body for supporting the rollers in spaced relationship with each other such that a channel is defined therebetween.

15. The cleaning implement according to claim 14, wherein the mounting track is mounted to the channel body.

16. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment includes a plurality of bristles.

17. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment includes a felt strip.

18. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the mop head includes a retaining clip, the retaining clip including a plurality of nubs, the nubs being configured to inhibit movement of the mop head from a cleaning position toward an extended position.

19. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the mop head includes a layer of material, overlaying the liquid-absorbent member.

20. The cleaning implement according to claim 19, wherein the layer of material comprises a reticulated material.

21. The cleaning implement according to claim 20, wherein the mop head includes a plurality of valleys wherein the liquid-absorbent member is exposed, and a plurality of lands in alternating relationship with the valleys, the lands having the layer of material disposed thereon.

22. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, the operator end and the cleaning end defining a longitudinal axis;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom; and

a cleaning cloth removably mounted to the mop head such that the cleaning cloth overlaps at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member, the cleaning cloth having opposed longitudinal edges that extend in a longitudinal direction of the mop head when the cleaning cloth is mounted on the mop head, the cleaning cloth being held on the mop head by a portion of the cleaning cloth being retained between the mop head and the wringing mechanism and the cleaning cloth being removable from the mop head with the cleaning cloth completely intact by releasing the portion of the cleaning cloth from between the mop head and the wringing mechanism.

23. The cleaning implement according to claim 22, wherein the wringing mechanism includes a pair of rollers and a channel body, the channel body mounted to the cleaning end of the shaft, the rollers supported by the channel body, the cleaning cloth including a pair of longitudinal edges, one of the longitudinal edges disposed between the liquid-absorbent member and the first roller, and the other of the longitudinal edges disposed between the liquid-absorbent member and the second roller.

24. The cleaning implement according to claim 22, wherein the cleaning cloth is an electrostatic dust cloth.

25. The cleaning implement according to claim 22, wherein the cleaning cloth is capable of being used for wet or dry cleaning.

26. The cleaning implement according to claim 22, wherein the cleaning cloth is a dust cloth impregnated with a chemical.

27. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member, the mop head being disposed adjacent the cleaning end of the shaft;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed adjacent the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom; and

a scrubber attachment mounted to the wringing mechanism via a mounting mechanism having a resiliently flexible retaining finger, the scrubber attachment mountable to the wringing mechanism by relative movement of the scrubber attachment with respect to the wringing mechanism in a mounting direction, the retaining finger configured to move into an engaged position so as to engage an opening once the scrubber attachment is in a mounted position such that the scrubber attachment is prevented from moving in a removal direction opposite to the mounting direction, the retaining finger being arranged between opposing ends of a connecting side of the scrubber attachment when the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position, the retaining finger being resiliently movable to a disengaged position to permit the scrubber attachment to move in the removal direction from the mounted position and the retaining finger being movable back into the engaged position when the scrubber attachment or a second scrubber attachment is moved back into the mounted position on the mounting mechanism.

28. The cleaning implement according to claim 27, wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to mount the scrubber attachment only when the scrubber attachment is in only a single predetermined orientation.

29. The cleaning implement according to claim 27, wherein the wringer includes a pair of rollers and a channel body for supporting the rollers in spaced relationship with each other such that a channel is defined therebetween, and the scrubber attachment is mounted to the channel body.

30. The cleaning implement according to claim 29, wherein the channel body includes a track, and the mounting mechanism is configured to mount the scrubber attachment to the track only when the scrubber attachment is in a predetermined orientation.

31. The cleaning implement according to claim 30, wherein the track of the channel body includes first and second rails, and the mounting mechanism of the scrubber attachment includes first and second runners, the first and second runners configured to respectively engage the first and second rails, the retaining finger mounted to one of the runners and the rails.

32. The cleaning implement according to claim 31 wherein the retaining finger is mounted to the second runner.

33. The cleaning implement according to claim 32, wherein the retaining finger includes a shoulder which is in retentive engagement with the second rail when the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position, and the second rail includes a notch for accommodating at least a portion of the retaining finger when the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position.

34. The cleaning implement according to claim 32, wherein the retaining finger is disposed at a first end of the second runner and a stop is disposed at a second end thereof, the retaining finger configured to engage the second rail once the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position such that the scrubber attachment is prevented from moving in the removal direction, the stop configured to prevent the second runner from moving further in the mounting direction once the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position.

35. The cleaning implement according to claim 34, wherein the retaining finger includes a shoulder, the shoulder engaging the second rail when the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position, the retaining finger movable to disengage the shoulder from the second rail to allow the scrubber attachment to be movable in the removal direction.

36. The cleaning implement according to claim 31, wherein the first rail of the channel body has a flange, the first runner of the scrubber attachment has a pair of ribs defining a retaining groove therebetween, the retaining groove configured to accommodate the flange when the scrubber attachment is mounted to the track to retentively engage the scrubber attachment and the channel body.

37. The cleaning implement according to claim 36, wherein the second rail of the channel body has a flange, the scrubber attachment has a guide rib, the second runner of the scrubber attachment and the guide rib defining a second retaining groove therebetween, the second retaining groove configured to accommodate the flange of the second rail when the scrubber attachment is mounted to the track to retentively engage the scrubber attachment and the channel body.

38. The cleaning implement according to claim 27, wherein the retaining finger includes a terminal barbed portion.

39. The cleaning implement according to claim 38, wherein the terminal barbed portion includes a terminal beveled surface, a second beveled surface, and a shoulder.

40. The cleaning implement according to claim 38, wherein the mounting mechanism includes a stop.

41. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, the operator end and the cleaning end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom;

a mounting track disposed on at least one of the shaft and the wringing mechanism, the mounting track including an opening end and an opposing end, the opening end and the opposing end defining a mounting track axis therebetween, the mounting track axis being in transverse relationship with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the mounting track including a first rail and a second rail, the mounting track including first and second flanges depending respectively from the first and second rails, the first flange having a shorter length than the second flange; and

a scrubber attachment removably mounted to the mounting track, the scrubber attachment having a leading end and a trailing end, the scrubber attachment having a polarity, the leading end being configured such that the scrubber attachment is mountable to the mounting track by inserting the leading end into the opening of the mounting track, and the trailing end being configured such that it cannot be inserted into the opening of the track wherein the scrubber attachment includes a connecting side and a cleaning side, the connecting side and the cleaning side each defining a substantially planar surface, the planar surfaces being in non-parallel relationship with respect to each other.