Flat mop with abrasive pad

• US 8,166,597 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levitt, Mark, Leafblad, Brian R., Mattia, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Jr., Tyrone V
• Application Number:
  US12/372,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 151/14, 151/15, 151/18, 151/471, 151/472, 151/48, 152/28, 152/441, 152/442, 151/441, 151/442, 151/05, 152/291.1, 151/048, 151/42
• US Class Current: 15/118
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth

Abstract

A cleaning device that includes a first component, a second component and a handle. The first component is configured to hold a first portion of the cleaning device. The second component is configured to hold a second portion of the cleaning device. The first and second components are connected and are configured so that the first portion and the second portion on the respective first and second components are independently replaceable. The handle is coupled to the second component to control an application of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the cleaning device on a surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a first component configured to hold and maintain a first flat mop portion of the cleaning device in a plane to engage a surface to be cleaned;

a second component configured to hold a second portion of the cleaning device, the second component movably connected between an inactive position and an active position to the first component, wherein the active position places the second portion within the plane of the first mop portion, further wherein the first and second components are configured so that the first flat mop portion and the second portion on the respective first and second components are independently replaceable;

a handle coupled to the second component to control an application of at least one of the first flat mop portion and the second portion of the cleaning device on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the second component is configured to move the second portion to engage a floor surface when a select amount of force is exerted on the handle in a direction toward the second component;

a first retaining bracket; and

a second retaining bracket, the first and second retaining brackets configured to movably couple the first component to the second component.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the second portion is a scrub pad.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second brackets include:

a first portion having at least one aperture used to connect the respective bracket to the first component; and

a second portion having at least one aperture used to slideably connect the respective bracket to the second component.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a fastener extending through each aperture in the first portion of the first and second brackets, each fastener configured to threadably engage a threaded bore in the first component;

a retaining guide member extending through each aperture in the second portion of the first and second brackets, each retaining guide member having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end of each retaining guide member threadably engaging a threaded bore in the second component; and

a biasing member for each retaining guide member, each biasing member received around a mid portion of an associated retaining guide member, each biasing member having a first end abutting a first surface of a second portion of an associated first and second bracket, each biasing member further having a second end abutting the head of an associated retaining guide member, wherein each biasing member biases its associated retaining guide member to position the second component to proximate a second surface of the second portion of the first and second brackets.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein each biasing member is a spring configured to compress when a force is exerted on the handle therein allowing the scrub pad on the second component to contact a floor surface.

7. The device of claim 1, further including:

a window in the first component that allows an operator to view the surface to be cleaned while in use.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

the first component and the second component having a first configuration and second configuration, the first configuration being a cleaning configuration and the second configuration being a scrubbing configuration.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component has a perimeter and an aperture within the perimeter, the second component extending at least partially through the aperture when moved between the active and inactive positions.

6. A cleaning device comprising:

a first component configured to hold and maintain a first flat mop portion of the cleaning device in a plane to engage a surface to be cleaned;

a second component configured to hold a second portion of the cleaning device, the second component movably connected between an inactive position and an active position to the first component, wherein the active position places the second portion within the plane of the first mop portion, further wherein the first and second components are configured so that the first flat mop portion and the second portion on the respective first and second components are independently replaceable;

a handle coupled to the second component to control an application of at least one of the first flat mop portion and the second portion of the cleaning device on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the second component is formed from a material that deflates when a force is exerted on the handle to cause the second portion to engage the surface to be cleaned;

the second component including, a first portion having a cross-sectional dome shape;

a pad engaging portion configured to retain the second portion; and

a support coupled between the first portion and the pad engaging portion, wherein the support portion pushes the pad engaging portion towards the floor surface when the first portion deflects.

10. A floor cleaning device comprising:

a first component configured to hold and maintain a flat mop portion of the cleaning device in a plane to engage a floor surface;

a second component configured to hold a scrub pad of cleaning device, the second component movably coupled in a first inactive position and a second active position to the first component, wherein the second active position is within the plane of the flat mop portion; and

a handle coupled to the second component to control an application of the flat mop portion and the scrub pad of the cleaning device;

the second component including,

a first portion having generally a cross-sectional dome shape, the handle coupled to the first portion, the first portion further formed from a material that deflects when a force is exerted on the handle,

a second portion configured to retain the scrub pad, and

a support coupled between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the support portion pushes the second portion towards the floor surface when the first portion deflects.

11. The floor cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the second component is configured to move from the first inactive position to the second active position by applying a select amount of force on the handle in the direction of the second component.

12. The floor cleaning device of claim 10,

wherein the first portion of the second component is made from polymer material.

13. The floor cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the second component is located within a boundary defined by an outer perimeter of the first component such that the scrub pad held by the second component is surrounded by the flat mop portion held by the first component on all sides at least when the second component is in the inactive position.

14. The floor cleaning device of claim 10, further including:

a window in the first component that allows an operator to view the surface to be cleaned while in use.

15. A flat mop with an abrasive pad device comprising:

a first component configured to engage and maintain a flat mop in a plane to engage a floor surface to be cleaned;

a second component configured to engage an abrasive pad, the second component movably connected to the first component in a vertical direction between an inactive position and an active position, the second component further positioned within a boundary defined by an outer perimeter of the first component such that the abrasive pad is surrounded by at least a portion of the flat mop in all horizontal directions at least when the second component is in the active position, the flat mop and the abrasive pad being independently interchangeable on the respective first and second components;

a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to position the second component in the inactive position when the abrasive pad is not in use, wherein in the inactive position the abrasive pad is raised a select vertical distance from the floor surface;

a handle coupled to the second component to control movement of the device over the floor surface, the handle further configured to force the second component into the active position so the abrasive pad engages the floor surface by applying a select amount of pressure to the second component to counter the biasing force supplied by the biasing member;

a first retaining bracket; and

a second retaining bracket, the first and second retaining brackets configured to movably couple the first component to the second component.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the biasing member further comprises:

the first bracket having a first section operatively connected to the first component and a second section having at least one guide aperture;

a first retaining guide member for each guide aperture of the first bracket, the first retaining guide member having a head end, an engaging end and a mid portion positioned between the head end and the engaging end, the mid portion of the first retaining guide member received in an associated guide aperture of the second section of the first bracket, the engaging portion of each first retaining guide member being engaged with the first component;

a first spring for each first retaining guide member, the first spring positioned around the mid portion of the first retaining guide member between the head end of the first retaining guide member and the second component;

the second bracket having a first section coupled to the first component and a second section having at least one guide aperture;

a second retaining guide member for each guide aperture of the second bracket, the second retaining guide member having a head end, an engaging end and a mid portion positioned between the head end and the engaging end, the mid portion of the second retaining guide member received in an associated guide aperture of the second section of the second bracket, the engaging portion of each second retaining guide member being engaged with the first component; and

a second spring for each second retaining guide member, the second spring positioned around the mid portion of the second retaining guide member between the head end of the second retaining guide member and the second component.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the biasing member further comprises:

at least one pliable portion of the second component configured to deflect under an applied force to place the abrasive pad in the active position.