Microfiber cover for cleaning tool

• US 7,743,456 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: For Life Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: For Life Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonnell, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/077,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 152/47, 152/294, 152/298, 152/28
• US Class Current: 15/247
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

A cleaning tool cover configured for removable application to a cleaning tool in order to provide a microfiber cleaning surface on the cleaning tool. The cleaning tool may include, for example, a sponge mop or a dust mop and the cleaning tool cover may be used wet or dry and may be attached to the cleaning tool using a variety of attachment structures. In one embodiment, the cleaning tool cover is configured as a bonnet having a recess and an elastic opening that may be enlarged temporarily to allow a mop head to be inserted into the recess and then allowed to retract to secure the cleaning tool cover to the mop. In another embodiment, the cleaning tool cover may include a plurality of flaps for attaching the tool cover to the cleaning tool.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool cover comprising:

a primary microfiber surface,

a water repellant layer defining a backing of the entire primary microfiber surface; and

an attachment structure arranged and configured for holding the primary microfiber surface against a primary contact surface of the cleaning tool such that when the primary microfiber surface is held by the attachment structure against the primary contact surface of the cleaning tool, the water repellant layer substantially prevents water that contacts the primary microfiber surface from contacting the primary contact surface of the cleaning tool and substantially prevents contaminants on the primary contact surface of the cleaning tool from reaching the primary microfiber surface.

2. A cleaning tool cover according to claim 1, wherein:

the attachment structure includes a microfiber skirt portion extending from the primary microfiber surface to define a recess and;

an elastic member attached to a peripheral region of the skirt portion to define an opening that may be temporarily expanded to provide an enlarged opening through which a portion of the cleaning tool may be inserted into the recess.

3. A cleaning tool cover according to claim 2, wherein:

the cleaning tool is a sponge mop and the portion of the cleaning tool inserted into the recess includes a mop head.

4. A cleaning tool cover according to claim 1, wherein:

the attachment structure includes a reinforced receiver portion extending from the primary microfiber surface to define a recess into which a portion of the cleaning tool may be inserted; and

an elastic member attached to the reinforced receiver portion for removably securing a portion of the cleaning tool within the recess.

5. A cleaning tool cover according to claim 1, wherein:

the attachment structure includes

a first pair of flaps extending from a first end of the primary microfiber surface;

a second pair of flaps extending from a second end of the primary microfiber surface;

each flap being configured for removable attachment to another flap for removably securing a portion of the cleaning tool against the primary microfiber surface.

6. A cleaning tool cover according to claim 1, in combination with the cleaning tool having the primary contact surface wherein the attachment structures holds the primary microfiber surface against a primary contact surface of the cleaning tool.