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.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     One method of cleaning floor surfaces is with the use of a mop. A flat mop is one type of a mop used to clean floors. An example of a flat mop is a pad of microfiber material attached to a handle. A flat mop is designed to pick up and collect unwanted material such as dirt, dust, etc., from a floor by moving the flat mop across the floor&#39;s surface. A flat mop can be designed to be used dry or wet. Although flat mops generally work well to pick up dirt, dust, etc., they are generally ineffective at removing hard to remove substances such as scuff, heel marks, stubborn grime and the like. 
     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a cleaning device that is effective and efficient in removing not only dirt and dust but also hard to remove substances such as scuff marks. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention. 
     In one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device 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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a cleaning device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the cleaning device of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  taken generally along the lines  3 - 3  illustrating the scrub pad in an inactive position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  taken generally along the lines  3 - 3  illustrating the scrub pad in an active position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the  FIG. 5  taken generally along the lines  6 - 6  illustrating the scrub pad in an inactive position; 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the  FIG. 5  taken generally along the lines  6 - 6  illustrating the scrub pad in an active position; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of yet another embodiment of a cleaning device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  illustrating the scrub pad removed from a mop portion; 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  further illustrating the scrub pad removed from a mop portion; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a cleaning device that provides the functions of a mop as well as a scrub pad (abrasive pad). In embodiments, the scrub pad is selectively activated when needed. Moreover in embodiments, the mop portion is independently replaceable from the scrub pad portion. Hence different types of mop portions can be used with different types scrub pads. An example of a typical mop portion is made from a microfiber material such as nylon and polyester. Scrub pads come in different abrasion levels. Hence, embodiments provide a configurable cleaning device. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cleaning device  100  (flat mop with abrasive pad) is illustrated. The cleaning device  100  includes a first component  102  and a second component  104 . The first component  102  is a support for mop portion  106 . The mop portion  106  is used to generally clean a surface of the floor  300 . The second component  104  is support for the scrub pad  108 . The scrub pad  108  is used to remove hard to remove substances on the floor surface  300  such as scuff mark  302  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the second component  104  is connected to the first component  102  via first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . Each bracket  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  includes a first and second portion. In particular, the first bracket  110 - 1  includes first portion  109 A and second portion  109 B and the second bracket  110 - 2  includes first portion  111 A and a second portion  111 B. As illustrated, the respective second portion  109 B and  111 B of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are positioned in a plane that is a select distance apart from a plane of their respective first portions  109 A and  111 A of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . This allows the scrub pad  108  coupled to the second component  104  to be raised to an inactive position when not in use. The first portions  109 A and  111 A of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are coupled to the first component  102  via fasteners  112  which in one embodiment are screws. In other embodiments, the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are integral to the first component  102 . The second portions  109 B and  111 B of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are movably coupled to the second component  104  via retaining guide members  114 . Biasing members  116 , springs in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , retain the second component  104  in the inactive position when not in use. This is further described below in regards to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , a handle  126  is coupled (rotatably coupled in this embodiment) to the second component  104 . In particular, in the embodiment of the  FIG. 1 , handle  126  is pivotally coupled to a connection portion  128  via retaining pin  130  and the connection portion  128  is further pivotally coupled to the second component  104  via handle engaging portions  122 - 1  and  122 - 2  of the second component  104  and retaining pin  124  as illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  a bottom view of cleaning device  100  is illustrated. As illustrated, in this embodiment the scrub pad  108  is contained within a boundary defined by an outer perimeter  105  of the mop portion  106 . Hence, in this embodiment, the scrub pad  108  is surrounded by the mop portion  106  in all directions in a plane formed by the mop portion  106 . In  FIG. 3  a side cross-sectional view of the cleaning device  100  is provided illustrating an inactive position of the scrub pad  108 . As illustrated, in this inactive position, the scrub pad  108  is not in contact with the floor surface  300 . The retaining guide members  114  are further illustrated having a head end  115 , a mid portion  117  and a threaded end  19 . The mid portion  117  of each retaining guide member  114  is slideably received in a retaining guide aperture  320  in the second portion  109 B and  111 B of each retaining bracket  110 - 1  and  10 - 2 . The threaded end  119  (or engaging end) of each retaining guide member  114  is threadably engaged with a threaded bore  312  in the second component  104 . The spring  116  associated with the retaining guide member  114  is positioned around the mid portion  117  of the retaining guide member  114  between an upper surface  121 - 1  or  121 - 2  of the second portion  109 B or  111 B of the first or second bracket  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  and the head end  115 . As illustrated, in  FIG. 3 , each spring  116  biases the head end  115  of an associated retaining guide member  114  away from the second portion  109 B or  111 B of the first or second bracket  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . This biasing retains the second component  104  against a lower surface  123 - 1  and  123 - 2  of the second portion  109 B and  111 B of the first and second bracket  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 . As discussed above, this is the inactive position with the scrub pad  108  raised from the surface of the floor  300 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , a side cross-sectional view of the cleaning device  100  is provided illustrating an active position of the scrub pad  108 . In the active position, the scrub pad  108  engages the surface of the floor  300 . The active position is achieved by asserting a force on the second component  104  with the handle  126 . Hence, a user simply applies a force downward on the handle  126  to move the scrub pad  108  in the active position. The force counters the biasing of the springs  108 . Hence the amount of force needed to achieve the active position can be selected by using springs with defined biasing strengths.  FIGS. 3 and 4  also illustrate the fasteners  112  that connect the first portion  109 A and  111 A of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are screws  112  is this embodiment. The screws  112  pass through associated apertures  314  in the first portion  109 A and  111 A of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  and threadably engage threaded bores  316  in the first component  102 . As discussed above, in another embodiment the first portion  109 A and  111 A of the first and second brackets  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are integral with the first component  102 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  also illustrate a mop retaining portion  302  of the mop portion  106  that is positioned over a top surface  330  of the first component  102  to retain the mop portion  106  on the first component  102 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning device  500 . This embodiment also includes a first component  502  and a second component  504 . A connection bracket  508  is coupled to the second component  504 . A handle connector  514  is pivotally coupled to connection bracket  508  via retaining pin  510 . Further, a handle  512  is pivotally coupled to the handle connector  514  via retaining pin  511 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a side cross-sectional view of the cleaning device is illustrated taken generally along the lines  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, the first component  502  provides support for a mop portion  610 . In one embodiment, the mop portion  610  is retained on the first component  502  via mop retain portion  612  that fits around at least a portion of a top surface  503  of the first component  502 . The second component  504  includes a first portion  605  that in this embodiment has a cross-sectional dome shape, a pad engaging portion  606  that provides support for the scrub pad  602  and a support  604  that provides a connection between the first portion  605  and the pad engaging portion  606 . In this embodiment, the first portion  605  is made from a material that deflects in shape without braking when a force is applied. Such material may include polymer materials such as plastics that are hard yet flexible. 
       FIG. 6  further illustrates the scrub pad  602  in an inactive position. As illustrated, the scrub pad  602  is not touching floor surface  520 . In this view only the mop portion  610  is engaged with the floor surface  520  to clean the floor surface  520 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , a side cross-sectional view of the cleaning device having its scrub pad  602  in an active position is illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the scrub pad  602  is engaging a floor surface  520  in the active position. To get the scrub pad  602  in the active position in this embodiment, a downward force is asserted on the handle  512  towards the scrub pad  602 . This is illustrated by the arrows in  FIG. 7 . The force causes the first portion  605  of the second component  504  to deflect thereby causing the support  604  of the second component  504  to push down on the pad engaging portion  606  of the second component  504 . The amount of force needed to deflect the first portion  605  of the second component  504  can be selected by using a select material of a given thickness, stiffness or resistance that provides a desired flexibility. 
     Another embodiment of a cleaning device  800  is illustrated in the side view of  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, the second component  804  is selectively coupled to the first component  802 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a scrub pad  830  in an inactive state. As illustrated, the cleaning device  800  of  FIG. 8  includes a handle  808  that is pivotally coupled to a handle connector portion  810  via retaining pin  812 . Also illustrated, is the first component  208  which provides a support for the mop portion  806 . The mop portion  806  includes a mop retaining portion  820  which, in this embodiment, fits over the first component  802  to retain the mop portion  820  on the first component  802 .  FIG. 9  is side view that illustrates how the second component  804  is removed from the first component  802 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , a hook  830  and loop  832  connection system is used. In other embodiments different types of connections  830  and  832  are used, such as but not limited to magnetic connections, chemical connections, mechanical connections and the like. Further as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the scrub pad  830  is used as part of the hook and loop fastener ( 830  and  832 ). Either side of the hook  830  and loop  834  can be used as the scrub pad depending on the material used and the desired performance.  FIG. 10  further illustrates the application of the scrub pad on a scuff mark  1000  on a floor surface  830 . In this embodiment, the scrub pad is removed from the first component  802  by placing a foot on an upper surface  801  of the first component  802  and pulling upward on the handle  808  to break the connection system. Once use of the scrub pad  830  has been complete, it is simply reattached to the first component  802  and the cleaning device  800  can be used as a mop. 
       FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning device  1100 . This embodiment also includes a first component  1102  and a second component  1104 . A connection bracket  1108  is coupled to the second component  1104 . A handle connector  1114  is pivotally coupled to connection bracket  1108  via retaining pin  1110 . Further, a handle  1112  is pivotally coupled to the handle connector  1114  via retaining pin  1111 . In this embodiment, a window  1130  in the first component  1102  allows viewing of a floor surface under the cleaning device  1100 . 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. For example, one or more embodiments could be used as a cleaning device for windows, counter tops, appliances, etc. Hence, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.