Patent Publication Number: US-6336240-B1

Title: Modular sponge mop

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to sponge mops, and more particularly, to a sponge mop incorporating an auxiliary member, in addition to a conventional cleaning sponge, to provide an additional cleaning or scrubbing action for the mop. 
     Sponge mops are well known and generally include a mop handle supporting a mop head for engaging a sponge member of the mop with a floor surface or other surface to be cleaned. The sponge member is typically formed of polyester or similar material which readily retains fluids, as well as releases the fluids when a wringing pressure is applied against the sponge member. In addition, prior art mops have incorporated additional cleaning members, such as scrub strips and brushes, to facilitate a cleaning operation by providing an abrasive action not normally available through use of the sponge member. 
     There is a continuing need for an auxiliary member for attachment to a mop, and in particular there is a continuing need for an improved auxiliary member which facilitates the cleaning action already provided by the sponge member of the mop. There is also a need for an auxiliary cleaning member which is detachably mounted to a mop and which may be readily replaced with a similar replacement member or by an alternative form of cleaning member to enable the mop to be selectively constructed with any one of a variety of auxiliary cleaning functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a mop is provided including a mop head and a handle attached to an upper or top side of the mop head, a first sponge member is supported on the mop head adjacent a bottom side thereof and defines a first floor engaging surface. A second sponge member is supported on the mop head and defines a second floor engaging surface and is adapted to retain a releasable cleaning substance for facilitating cleaning of a surface engaged by the mop. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the cleaning substance comprises an aqueous emulsion which is contained within the second sponge member. Upon use of the second sponge member, such as upon application of water to the second sponge member, the aqueous emulsion is released to provide for additional cleaning action on the surface being mopped. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the second sponge member comprises a foam sponge material, such as a hydrophilic foam material, and the foam includes cell walls integrally incorporating an emulsion comprising a surfactant. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, abrasive particles are dispersed through the second sponge member wherein the abrasive particles provide an abrasive texture to the second sponge member. 
     In an additional aspect of the invention, a mop is provided including a mop head supporting a first sponge member and an auxiliary member detachably supported on the mop head wherein the auxiliary member includes a backing plate and a floor engaging member attached to the backing plate. A hinged retention structure is supported on and is movable relative to the backing plate wherein the hinged retention structure is received through a receptor structure on the mop head to hold the auxiliary member in position on the mop head. 
     The detachable mounting structure for the auxiliary member permits the auxiliary member to be replaced by a similar auxiliary member or by an auxiliary member performing a different function. For example, the auxiliary member may comprise a second sponge member, or may comprise a brush member, a squeegee, or other structure for performing an auxiliary cleaning operation. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mop including a first sponge member and a second sponge member wherein the second sponge member includes a releasable cleaning substance. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a mop including a mop head supporting a sponge member and an auxiliary member detachably supported on the mop head. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mop of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top perspective, partially exploded view of the mop head showing a sponge auxiliary member in spaced relation to the mop head; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the mop head with the front edge of the main sponge member partially cut away to show the front mounting edge for the auxiliary member; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a front comer of the mop head; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the mop head with the wringing member pivoted to its wringing position; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a brush auxiliary member for attachment to the mop head; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a squeegee auxiliary member for attachment to the mop head; and 
     FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the sponge auxiliary member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the mop  10  of the present invention generally includes a mop head  12  having a top side  14 , an opposing bottom side  16 , and opposing front and rear edges  18  and  20 . An elongated handle  22  is attached to the mop head  12  at the upper end of a yoke shaped portion  24  of the mop head  12 . 
     A main or first sponge member  26  is removably mounted to the bottom side  16  of the mop head  12 . The first sponge member  26  is preferably formed of a polyester material, or other conventional sponge material, which is adapted to readily absorb fluids, as well as release fluids upon application of a pressure to the sponge  26  during a mop wringing operation. 
     In accordance with the embodiment shown herein, a mop wringing member  28  is supported on the top side  14  of the mop head  12 . As may be seen in FIG. 5, the wringing member  28  includes an upper portion  30  having concave hinge areas  32  for receiving and partially surrounding hinge shafts  34  which are formed integrally with the mop head  12  wherein the shafts  34  are rotatably received within the hinge areas  32 . The wringing member  28  is thus held for pivotal movement by the hinge areas  32  which snap fit over the shafts  34 . In addition, a wringer plate  36  is formed integrally with the top portion  30  of the wringing member  28  and extends behind the rear edge  20  of the mop head  12  to engage a rear side of the sponge member  26  rearwardly of a floor engaging surface  38  of the sponge member  26 . The wringing member  28  is moved to the position shown in FIG. 5 by means of a rod  40  having an end  42  pivotally connected to the top portion of the wringer member  28 , and having an opposing end  44  pivotally connected to an actuation handle  46  which is pivotally connected to the elongated handle  22 . Thus, pivotal movement of the handle  46  causes the wringer member  28  to squeeze the first sponge member  26  and thereby release fluid therefrom. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an auxiliary member  48  is supported on the front edge  18  of the mop head  12 , and in the preferred embodiment, the auxiliary member  48  comprises a second sponge member  50  supported on a backing plate  52  and defining a second floor engaging surface  51 . In an especially preferred embodiment, the sponge  50  comprises an open-celled, reticulated hydrophilic polyurethane foam material wherein the cell walls integrally incorporate a gelled aqueous emulsion comprising a non-ionic surfactant. In addition, the foam further preferably comprises abrasive particles dispersed through the foam. Such a material is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,287, the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Thus, the present invention generally provides an additional sponge member containing a releasable cleaning substance for facilitating cleaning of a surface engaged by the mop. It should be understood that other sponge constructions and cleaning substances may be provided in addition to that described above in order to provide a cleaning accessory which facilitates cleaning a surface, such as a floor surface, as an alternative to prior art scrubbing devices which rely substantially on the cleaning force applied to a scrubbing material, such as an abrasive material or brush. 
     The auxiliary member  48  is removably mounted to the mop head  12  by means of a retention structure on the backing plate  52  cooperating with a receptor structure defined on the front edge  18  of the mop head  12 . In particular, and as is further illustrated in FIG. 8, the backing plate  52  includes a pair of tabs  54  which are integrally attached to an upper edge of the backing plate  52  through hinge portions  56  wherein the backing plate  52 , hinge portions  56  and tabs  54  may be formed of a molded plastic material. 
     Referring additionally to FIG. 4, the receptor structure in the mop head  12  comprises passages  58  located adjacent the front corners of the mop head  12  and extending between the front edge  18  and the top side  14 . The passages  58  are adapted to receive the tabs  54  therethrough, and the tabs  54  are further received within recesses  60  defined in the top surface  14  of the mop head. During mounting of the accessory member  48  to the mop head  12 , the tabs  54  are pivoted downwardly into the recesses  60 , and the tabs  54  preferably include a pair of outwardly extending nub portions  62 ,  64  (FIG. 8) for catching underneath corresponding ledge areas  66 ,  68  defined within the recesses  60  to thereby retain the tabs  54  in their downwardly pivoted position. 
     As may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, the backing plate  52  further includes a pair of spaced legs  70 ,  72  located adjacent opposing lateral sides of the backing plate  52 . The legs  70 ,  72  are adapted to slide through corresponding slots  74 ,  76  extending into the front edge  18  from the lower side thereof. In addition, each of the legs  70 ,  72  includes a respective tang portion  78 ,  80  extending perpendicularly thereto. The tang portions  78 ,  80  engage a back surface  82  (FIG. 3) of the front edge  18  whereby the backing plate  52  is held in contact with the front edge  18  as it is inserted upwardly to engage the legs  70 ,  72  within the slots  74 ,  76 . Further, during the upward movement of the backing plate  52  along the front edge  18 , the tabs  54  are engaged with and guided through the passages  58  to position the tabs  54  for engagement within the recesses  60 . Thus, the auxiliary member  48  is positively locked in position on the front edge  18  of the mop head  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary member is illustrated and is identified with the reference numeral  48 ′. The auxiliary member  48 ′ includes a backing plate  52  having an identical construction to that of the backing plate  52  of the auxiliary member  48  previously described. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the auxiliary member  48 ′ provides a brush  84  attached to the backing plate  52 . The brush  84  extends outwardly from and longitudinally along the length of the backing plate  52  to provide a scrubbing element for use in combination with the main sponge member  26  to clean a floor surface. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a further alternative embodiment of the auxiliary member is illustrated and is identified with the reference numeral  48 ″. The auxiliary member  48 ″ includes a backing plate  52  identical in construction to the previous embodiments and supporting a squeegee element  86 . The squeegee element  86  extends outwardly from and along the length of the backing plate  52  and provides a squeegee or wiping member to facilitate wiping fluids on a floor surface. 
     In view of the above description, it should be apparent that the present invention provides an auxiliary member for attachment to a mop and for use in combination with a main sponge member. In particular, in the preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an auxiliary sponge member which releasably retains a cleaning solution for enhancing the cleaning performance of the mop. In addition, the present invention provides a unique structure for releasably retaining an auxiliary member on a mop head whereby the auxiliary member may be replaced by a new member or by a different member for performing a different function in combination with the mop sponge. 
     While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.