Floor mop with concentrated cleaning feature
First Claim
1. A mop comprising:
- a base plate having a generally flat lower surface configured to face a surface to be cleaned and a base plate opening through the lower surface;
a handle having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a handle axis extending form the proximal end to the distal end;
a joint connecting the proximal end of the handle to the base plate;
a first grip connected at the distal end of the handle;
a scrubbing mechanism comprising a scrub bar having a curved or polygonal cross-section, the scrubbing mechanism being movably mounted to the base plate and configured to move between an inactive position in which the scrub bar is flush with or above the lower surface of the base plate, and an active position in which the scrub bar extends through the base plate opening to be at least partially below the lower surface of the base plate;
a cleaning pad selectively connectable to the lower surface of the base plate, the cleaning pad being movable between a first configuration in which the cleaning pad lies flat on the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the inactive position, and a second configuration in which at least a portion of the cleaning pad protrudes downwards from the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the active position; and
a base actuator movably mounted to the base plate and operatively associated with the scrubbing mechanism to move the scrubbing mechanism from the inactive position to the active position;
wherein the base actuator comprises a sliding actuator having one or more ramps configured to contact the scrubbing mechanism and move the scrubbing mechanism from the inactive position to the active position upon sliding the sliding actuator relative to the base plate from a first sliding actuator position to a second sliding actuator position;
wherein the base actuator further comprises a drive lever pivotally mounted on the base plate and operatively associated with the sliding actuator to move the sliding actuator from the first sliding actuator position to the second sliding actuator position upon rotating the drive lever from a first drive lever position to a second drive lever position; and
wherein the drive lever is operatively associated with the sliding actuator by one or more tabs that extend from the drive lever and engage one or more corresponding slots in the sliding actuator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mop having a base plate, a handle, a joint connecting the plate to the handle, a first grip at the end of the handle, a scrubbing mechanism in the base, and a cleaning pad attached to the bottom of the base. The scrubbing mechanism includes a scrub bar, and is movable between an inactive position in which the bar is flush with or above the lower surface of the plate, and an active position in which the bar extends through an opening through the plate to be at least partially below the lower surface of the plate. The cleaning pad moves from being flat on the lower surface of the plate when the scrubbing mechanism is in the inactive position, and a second configuration in which at least a portion of the cleaning pad protrudes downwards from the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the active position.
183 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A mop comprising:
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a base plate having a generally flat lower surface configured to face a surface to be cleaned and a base plate opening through the lower surface; a handle having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a handle axis extending form the proximal end to the distal end; a joint connecting the proximal end of the handle to the base plate; a first grip connected at the distal end of the handle; a scrubbing mechanism comprising a scrub bar having a curved or polygonal cross-section, the scrubbing mechanism being movably mounted to the base plate and configured to move between an inactive position in which the scrub bar is flush with or above the lower surface of the base plate, and an active position in which the scrub bar extends through the base plate opening to be at least partially below the lower surface of the base plate; a cleaning pad selectively connectable to the lower surface of the base plate, the cleaning pad being movable between a first configuration in which the cleaning pad lies flat on the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the inactive position, and a second configuration in which at least a portion of the cleaning pad protrudes downwards from the lower surface when the scrubbing mechanism is in the active position; and a base actuator movably mounted to the base plate and operatively associated with the scrubbing mechanism to move the scrubbing mechanism from the inactive position to the active position; wherein the base actuator comprises a sliding actuator having one or more ramps configured to contact the scrubbing mechanism and move the scrubbing mechanism from the inactive position to the active position upon sliding the sliding actuator relative to the base plate from a first sliding actuator position to a second sliding actuator position; wherein the base actuator further comprises a drive lever pivotally mounted on the base plate and operatively associated with the sliding actuator to move the sliding actuator from the first sliding actuator position to the second sliding actuator position upon rotating the drive lever from a first drive lever position to a second drive lever position; and wherein the drive lever is operatively associated with the sliding actuator by one or more tabs that extend from the drive lever and engage one or more corresponding slots in the sliding actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification