Abstract:
Disclosed is a mop body that includes side surfaces that are substantially recessed from a lowermost contact point. The greatly recessed side surfaces completely remove a large portion of the cleaning surface from contact with the surface to be cleaned. Upon rotation of the mop body, the side surfaces can be placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned in order to pickup dirt, hair, lint, or other debris captured by the portion of the mop body contacting the surface to be cleaned. Further, in some embodiments the lowermost contact provides essentially a single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned to enable the mop body to easily remove debris from corners. The disclosed mop construction greatly enhances the total amount of surface area that can be effectively used for cleaning.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a mop body. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a mop body having recessed side surfaces. 
     Mops are routinely used to clean floors. Typically, flat mops have a generally rectangular and planar working surface. Floor mops can be used wet by either having a sponge or a wet cleaning sheet applied over the mop body. Floor mops can be used dry by applying a dry cleaning sheet over the mop body. Typically, because flat mops have a planar working surface, only the leading edge or trailing edge of the working surface of the mop is effectively used to clean the floor. Therefore, large portions of the cleaning sheet are essentially unused for picking up dirt, hair, lint, or other debris. 
     Efforts have been made to modify either the construction of the mop or the construction of the cleaning sheet to improve the amount of surface area of the cleaning sheet that is used for picking up dirt and other debris. Cleaning sheets may include various amounts of topography or spacers to remove portions of the cleaning sheet while maintaining contact with the surface to be cleaned at other portions of the cleaning sheet. US Patent Application Publication 2007/0107156 discloses a variety of embodiment of cleaning implements that comprise a gap at the leading edge and trailing edge. However, the gap is only slightly recessed from the working surface causing essentially all of the cleaning cloth to come into contact with the surface to be cleaned with only slight actuation of the mop. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a mop body that includes side surfaces that are substantially recessed from a lowermost contact point. The greatly recessed side surfaces completely remove a large portion of the cleaning surface from contact with the surface to be cleaned. Upon rotation of the mop body, the side surfaces can be placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned in order to pickup dirt, hair, lint, or other debris captured by the portion of the mop body contacting the surface to be cleaned. Further, in some embodiments the lowermost contact provides essentially a single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned to enable the mop body to easily remove debris from corners. The disclosed mop construction greatly enhances the total amount of surface area of the cleaning surface that is effectively used for cleaning. 
     In one embodiment, a mop body comprises a working surface having a first cleaning side and a second cleaning side, opposite the first cleaning side, a first most lateral point located at the first cleaning side, a second most lateral point located at the second cleaning side, a lowermost contact portion positioned between the first cleaning side and the second cleaning side. The lowermost contact portion includes a lowermost contact point. The mop body has a Total Linear Width Distance from the first most lateral point to the second most lateral point, a First Linear Height Distance from the lowermost contact point to the first most lateral point, and a Second Linear Height Distance from the lowermost contact point to the second most lateral point. The First Linear Height Distance is at least one third the Total Linear Width Distance and wherein the Second Linear Height Distance is at least one third the Total Linear Width Distance. 
     In one embodiment, a mop body comprises a convexly curved working surface with a constant radius of curvature extending between 100 and 200 degrees. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a mop body; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the mop body of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the mop body of  FIG. 1  rotated with respect to the surface being cleaned; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a first embodiment of a connector on a mop body; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mop body, such as shown in  FIG. 1  with an attached cleaning sheet; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of a mop body; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a third embodiment of a mop body. 
     
    
    
     While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of this invention. 
     The figures may not be drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning tool  100  having a mop body  110 .  FIG. 2  is a side view of the mop body  110  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of the mop body  110  of  FIG. 1  rotated during use with respect to the surface being cleaned  120 . 
     The mop body  110  includes a working surface  111  that is the surface that makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . Generally, the mop body  110  is longitudinally extending and has a first cleaning side  112  and a second cleaning side  114 , opposite the first cleaning side  112 . Each of the first cleaning side  112  and second cleaning side  114  provides a suitable surface for making contact with the surface to be cleaned. Positioned on the working surface  111  between the first cleaning side  112  and second cleaning side  114  is the lowermost contact portion  116 . The lowermost contact portion  116  is a section of the mop body  110  that generally makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . Generally, the lowermost contact portion extends between −20 degrees to +20 degrees of actuation of the mop body  110 , where  FIG. 2  is representative of 0 degrees of rotation. The lowermost contact portion  116  includes a lowermost contact point  117  that is the point on the mop body  110  that is the lowest extending point. 
     In one embodiment, the lowermost contact portion  116  provides a single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned  120  such as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7 . It is understood that this lowermost contact portion  116  may be a single point as seen on a side view like shown in  FIG. 2 , but that typically this lowermost contact portion  116  would be a line extending along the length of the mop providing a lowermost contact portion  116 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the lowermost contact portion  116  is a convex curve such that a single point  117  (as seen in a side view,  FIG. 2 ) along the curve makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the lowermost contact portion  116  is two planar surfaces that meet at an angle such that a single point  317  (as seen in a side view,  FIG. 7 ) at the angle is making contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . 
     Extending from the lowermost contact portion  116  is the first cleaning side  112  and second cleaning side  114 . The first cleaning side  112  and second cleaning side  114  extend from the lowermost contact portion  116  in a direction away from the surface being cleaned. As shown, the first and second cleaning sides  112 ,  114  greatly recess from the lowermost contact portion  116  and therefore from the surface to be cleaned  120 . As shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first cleaning sides  112 ,  114  are convexly curved surfaces. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the entire mop body  110  is a convexly curved surface having a constant radius of curvature, where the curved surface is approximately 180 degrees. It is understood, that a similar construction as shown in  FIG. 2  can be used where the convexly curved surface extends anywhere from 100 to 200 degrees. In one embodiment where the entire mop body  110  is a constant radius of curvature, the radius of curvature is greater than 7 cm. In one embodiment where the entire mop body  110  is a constant radius of curvature, the radius of curvature is less than 18 cm. 
     Located at the first cleaning side  112  is a first most lateral point  113  and at the second cleaning side  114  is a second most lateral point  115 . The first most lateral point  113  and second most lateral point  115  are the most outwardly extending points at the first and second side, respectively, relative to the lowermost contact point  117 . 
     Overall the mop body  110  has a “Total Linear Width Distance” represented as “W” on  FIG. 2 , which is defined as the linear distance between the first most lateral point  113  and the second most lateral point  115 , wherein the line connecting these two points is parallel to an intended surface to be cleaned while the mop is oriented at zero degrees of rotation, such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Therefore, because the mop body  110  of  FIG. 2  is symmetrical, a straight line connecting the first most lateral point  113  and second most lateral point  115  represents the Total Linear Width Distance. 
     The mop body  110  has a “First Linear Height Distance” represented as “H 1 ” on  FIG. 2 , which is defined as the linear distance between the first most lateral point  113  and the lowermost contact point  117 , wherein the line is normal to an intended surface to be cleaned while the mop is oriented at zero degrees of rotation, such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Therefore, the First Linear Height Distance is not the line connecting the first most lateral point  113  and lowermost contact point  117 , but instead a line that represents the extent to which the first side  112  is recessed from the lowermost contact point  117 . 
     The mop body  110  has a “Second Linear Height Distance” represented as “H 2 ” on  FIG. 2 , which is defined as the linear distance between the second most lateral point  115  and the lowermost contact point  117 , wherein the line is normal to an intended surface to be cleaned while the mop is oriented at zero degrees of rotation, such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Therefore, the Second Linear Height Distance is not the line connecting the second most lateral point  115  and lowermost contact point  117 , but instead a line that represents the extent to which the second side  114  is recessed from the lowermost contact point  117 . 
     The first and second sides  112 ,  114  are significantly recessed from the lowermost contact  116 . In one embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is at least one third the Total Linear Width Distance. In one embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is at least one third the Total Linear Width Distance. In another embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. In another embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. The First Liner Height Distance may be equal to the Second Linear Height Distance such as shown in  FIG. 2 . However, it is understood that the mop body may be asymmetrical such that the First Linear Height Distance may be greater than or less than the Second Linear Height Distance. 
     The mop body  110  can be constructed from a variety of materials. Typically, the mop body  110  is made of a plastic material. However, foams or other semi-soft materials may be placed over all or portions of the working surface  111  of the mop body  110 . In particular, in one embodiment the lowermost contact  116  may include a foam while the side surfaces do not. Such an arrangement of materials may be particularly beneficial for an embodiment such as shown in  FIG. 7  where the shape and configuration of the lowermost contact portion varies from the side surfaces. The foam provides a compressible material for maintaining constant contact with the surface to be cleaned at the lowermost contact portion. The foam could also be absorbent to pick up or deliver liquid to the surface being cleaned. 
     In one embodiment, the mop body  110  includes an overall height that is at least 2.5 cm, an overall width that is at least 7.5 cm, and an overall length that is at least 12 cm. 
     Attached to the mop body  110  is a handle  130 . The handle  130  includes a free end  132  and connecting end  134  that is attached to a connector  140  on the mop body  110 .  FIG. 4  is a top view of a first embodiment of the connector  140  and handle  130  on the mop body  110 . At the connecting end  134  of the handle  130  is a first pivot connection  136  and second pivot connection  138 , opposite the first pivot connection  136 . At the connector  140  is a first receiving hub  142  and second receiving hub  144 . The first receiving hub  142  pivotally receives the first pivot connection  136 . The second receiving hub  144  pivotally receives the second pivot connection  138 . In this embodiment, the attachment between the handle  130  and the connector  140  allow for pivotal rotation of the handle  130  only along Axis A and does not allow for pivotal rotation of the handle  130  along Axis B. Therefore, movement of the handle  130  along Axis B causes rotation of the working surface of the mop body  110  moving the first or second side  112 ,  114  into contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . 
     In the embodiments shown in the figures, the mop body  110  is open on the ends. In other words, for example, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1-5  is a half-pipe. Therefore, because the handle  130  can rotate along Axis A, which is parallel to a length of the mop body, the handle  130  is able to rest within the mop body such that the handle is entirely parallel with the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, the cleaning tool  100  can be stored in a very compact configuration and can easily clean hard to reach areas such as under furniture, etc. A snap-fit connector or other type of mechanical or adhesive connection could be provided on the mop body  110  to lock the handle  130  to the mop body  110  for storage. 
     In one embodiment, applied to the working surface  111  of the mop body  110  is a cleaning sheet  150 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mop body, such as shown in  FIG. 1  with an attached cleaning sheet  150 . An attachment mechanism  160  is used to secure the cleaning sheet  150  to the working surface  111  of the mop body  110 . The attachment mechanism  160  may be a hook system (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) secured to the mop body  110  that can interact with a loop of the cleaning sheet, a mechanical fastener such as pinch points to press the cleaning sheet  150  into engagement with the mop body  110 , adhesive on the mop body  110  to secure with cleaning sheet  150 , or other known attachment mechanisms. The attachment mechanism  160  shown is included on a top portion of the mop body  110 . It is understood that the attachment mechanism  160  may be located at other various locations of the mop body  110  such as on the side surfaces or inside the mop body (opposite the side surfaces). 
     The cleaning sheet  150  may be any kind of a cleaning sheet suitable for cleaning, scrubbing, wiping, or polishing a surface. The cleaning sheet  150  may be a woven, knitted, or nonwoven material that is reusable, semi-reusable or disposable. One particularly suitable cleaning sheet  150  is a nonwoven material that includes an adhesive on the cleaning sheet  150  to greatly enhance the ability of the cleaning sheet  150  to capture and retain small and large particles. US2007/0136967 titled “Adhesive Wipe,” US2003/0171051 titled “A Wipe,” US2007/0202768 titled “Cleaning Wipe with Variable Loft Working Surface,” and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/194,777 filed Aug. 20, 2008 titled “Lofty, Tackified Nonwoven Sheet and Method of Making” the disclosures of which are all herein incorporation by reference. 
     To use the cleaning tool  100  the cleaning sheet  150  is applied to the working surface  111  of the mop body  110 . By pushing the handle  130 , the user can slide the working surface  111  over the surface to be cleaned  120 . To maximize the amount of surface area of the cleaning sheet  150  available for picking up dirt, lint, hair, or other debris, the user can actuate the handle  130  attached to the mop body  110  to bring either the first cleaning side  112  or second cleaning side  114  into contact with the surface to be cleaned  120 . The user can twist the handle such that either the first cleaning side  112  or second cleaning side  114  is the leading surface during a pushing or pulling movement. Also, the user could slide the working surface  111  over a surface to be cleaned  120  and when a large amount of dirt, lint, hair, or other debris has collected into a pile on the surface being cleaned  120 , then the user can actuate either the first cleaning side  112  or second cleaning side  114  into contact with the pile of material to pick up and retain the material on the cleaning sheet  150 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of a mop body  210 . The mop body  210  includes a working surface  211  that makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  220 . The mop body  210  is longitudinally extending and has a first cleaning side  212  and a second cleaning side  214 , opposite the first cleaning side  212 . Positioned on the working surface  211  between the first cleaning side  212  and second cleaning side  214  is the lowermost contact portion  216 . The lowermost contact portion  216  includes a lowermost contact point  217  that is the point on the mop body  210  that is the lowest extending point. 
     In one embodiment, the lowermost contact portion  216  provides single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned  220 . It is understood that this lowermost contact portion  216  may be a single point as seen on a side view like shown in  FIG. 6 , but that typically this lowermost contact portion  216  is a line extending along the length of the mop providing a lowermost contact portion  216 . The lowermost contact portion  216  is a convex curve such that a single point (as seen in a side view,  FIG. 6 ) along the curve makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  220 . 
     Extending from the lowermost contact portion  216  is the first cleaning side  212  and second cleaning side  214 . The first and second cleaning sides  212 ,  214  greatly recess from the lowermost contact portion  216  and therefore from the surface to be cleaned  220 . The first cleaning sides  212 ,  214  are straight and planar surfaces. The planar side surfaces allow for a planar surface to selectively come into contact with the surface being cleaned. Located at the first cleaning side  212  is a first most lateral point  213  and at the second cleaning side  214  is a second most lateral point  215 . 
     In this embodiment, the “Total Linear Width Distance” is represented as “W.” The “First Linear Height Distance” is represented as “H 1 ” and the “Second Linear Height Distance” is represented as “H 2 .” In this embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. In particular, in this embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is approximately equal to ¾ the Total Linear Width Distance. In this embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. In particular, in this embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is approximately equal to ¾ the Total Linear Width Distance. In this embodiment, the First Liner Height Distance is equal to the Second Linear Height Distance. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a third embodiment of a mop body  330 . The mop body  310  includes a working surface  311  that makes contact with the surface to be cleaned  320 . Generally, the mop body  310  is longitudinally extending and has a first cleaning side  312  and a second cleaning side  314 , opposite the first cleaning side  312 . Positioned on the working surface  311  between the first cleaning side  312  and second cleaning side  314  is the lowermost contact portion  316 . The lowermost contact portion  316  includes a lowermost contact point  317  that is the point on the mop body  310  that is the lowest extending point. 
     The lowermost contact portion  316  provides single point of contact with the surface to be cleaned  320 . It is understood that this lowermost contact portion  316  may be a single point as seen on a side view like shown in  FIG. 7 , but that the lowermost contact portion  316  would be a line extending along the length of the mop body providing a lowermost contact portion  316 . The lowermost contact portion  316  is two planar surfaces that meet at an angle such that a single point at the angle is making contact with the surface to be cleaned  320 . Although it is clear that a finite point is included at the lowermost contact portion  316 , it has been found that this construction creates enough contact with the surface to be cleaned to gather and collect debris for which the side surface can then come into contact with to pick up the debris. In one embodiment, the lowermost contact portion  116  is a solid, triangular material, such as foam, applied to the mop body  110 . A foam material provides a resilient surface that ensures constant contact with the surface being cleaned. 
     Extending from the lowermost contact portion  316  is the first cleaning side  312  and second cleaning side  314 . The first and second cleaning sides  312 ,  314  greatly recess from the lowermost contact portion  316  and therefore from the surface to be cleaned  320 . The first cleaning sides  312 ,  314  are convexly curved surfaces. Located at the first cleaning side  312  is a first most lateral point  313  and at the second cleaning side  114  is a second most lateral point  115 . 
     The “Total Linear Width Distance” is represented as “W” on  FIG. 7 . The “First Linear Height Distance” is represented as “H 1 ” and the “Second Linear Height Distance” is represented as “H 2 ” on  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. In particular, in this embodiment, the First Linear Height Distance is approximately equal to ¾ the Total Linear Width Distance. In this embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is at least half the Total Linear Width Distance. In particular, in this embodiment, the Second Linear Height Distance is approximately equal to ¾ the Total Linear Width Distance. In this embodiment, the First Liner Height Distance is equal to the Second Linear Height Distance such as shown in  FIG. 2 . However, it is understood that the mop body may be asymmetrical such that the First Linear Height Distance may be greater than or less than the Second Linear Height Distance. 
     It is understood that a variety of combinations of convexly curved, concavely curved, planar, undulating at the first cleaning side, second cleaning side and lowermost contact portion may be used. The greatly recessed side surfaces allow for a large amount of the mop body surface area to be recessed and removed from the surface to be cleaned. However, actuation of the mop body allows for selective engagement of the side surfaces with portions of the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, essentially the entire cleaning surface can be loaded with dirt, dust, lint, or other debris to maximize the usable surface area of the cleaning sheet. 
     Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.