Patent Publication Number: US-2021162577-A1

Title: Dishwand support with hooking wrap-around attachment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaning tools. In particular, the present invention relates to a dishwand support having a curved cleaning section. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cleaning tools are commonly used for cleaning dishes, bathrooms, walls, fabric, and showers. These cleaning tools can have various types of cleaning heads for different types of cleaning tasks. Depending on the cleaning task, the cleaning head can be made of various materials, such as foam, sponge, fabric, bristles, and scrubbing webs. In some cases, the cleaning heads may be attached to a solid or semi-flexible handled tool. Cleaning chemicals, solutions, or mixtures, such as dishwash detergents or general purpose cleaners, are often used in combination with the cleaning tools to aid in the cleaning process. Some cleaning tools include a chamber for holding solid or liquid cleaning mixtures that can be dispensed onto the surface to be cleaned or directly into the cleaning head. The cleaning solution contained within the dishwand can be conveniently applied to the surface to be cleaned through the working head of the dishwand. The dishwands can be very useful for cleaning flat or slightly curved surfaces, such as plates, counters, and tiled surfaces, as well as cleaning curved surfaces, such as small bowls or cups, tubs, and sinks. 
     The cleaning head is oftentimes attached to the handle by a support or “shoe” and is designed to easily attach to, and detach from, the handle. The cleaning or scrubbing substrate is attached to the support and can be any combination of materials. Some handheld cleaning tools may have bristles for cleaning while some may have a foam head that might also have scouring abilities. Cleaning substrates come in many shapes, including variations on flat and curved (3D) embodiments. Having a curved tip on the cleaning tool provides users a method for cleaning tight corners and curves, as well as offering a greater range of holding angle to make sufficient contact with the cleaning surface. By using a support that is easily removable from the handle, the user&#39;s cleaning experience can be improved by making it easier and faster for users to exchange a worn cleaning head for a new cleaning head. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a support for a handle. The support includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a tab extending from the second end, and a stop at the second end. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning head for a dishwand. The cleaning head includes a support and a cleaning material. The support has a first end, a second end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a tab extending from the second end, and a stop. The cleaning material has a tab slit for engagement with the tab of the support. The cleaning material wraps around the second end of the support. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method of assembling a cleaning head. The method includes inserting a tab of a support into a tab slit of a cleaning material; engaging the tab slit of the cleaning material with a stop of a support; wrapping the cleaning material over an end of the support; and attaching the cleaning material to a bottom surface of the support. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method of assembling a cleaning head. The method includes attaching a cleaning material to a bottom surface of a support, ensuring an accurately-placed attachment; wrapping the cleaning material over an end of the support; inserting a tab of the support into a tab slit of a cleaning material; and engaging the tab slit of the cleaning material with a stop of the support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cleaning tool having a cleaning head attached to a handle using a support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view of the first embodiment of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view of the first embodiment of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a second embodiment of a second end of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a cleaning tool having a cleaning head attached to a handle using a support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a stop at the second end of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a stop at the second end of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5C  is a top view of a third embodiment of a stop at the second end of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of  FIG. 5C  of the stop at the second end of the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a second end of the support of the present invention having a cut-out. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a second end of a cleaning head having cleaning material attached to the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a top view of a cleaning material used with the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a top view of the cleaning material of  8 A used with the support of the present invention 
         FIG. 8C  is a bottom view of the first step of attaching cleaning material onto the support of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of cleaning material attached to the support of the present invention, which is attached to a handle. 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of cleaning material attached to the support of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     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 
     The present invention is a support, a cleaning head incorporating the support, and a method of assembling a cleaning head using the support. The support of the present invention is designed to provide stability and security to a cleaning material using a unique ‘wrap-around’ method which can then be attached to a cleaning tool. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cleaning tool  10  having a cleaning head  12  attached to the cleaning tool  10  using the support  14  of the present invention. The cleaning tool  10  includes a handle  16  with a holding end  18  and a working end  20  positioned opposite the holding end  18 . The cleaning head  12  is attached to the handle  16  at the working end  20 . In one embodiment, the support  14  is removably attachable to the handle  16 . In another embodiment, the support  14  is permanently attached to the handle  16 . 
     In one embodiment, the handle  16  includes a receptacle  22  (not shown) for holding a liquid, such as, for example, liquid dish soap. To aid in dispensing the dish soap from the receptacle  22  to the cleaning head  12 , the handle  16  includes a passage (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, to prevent continuous dispensing of the liquid contained within the receptacle  22 , the handle  16  may include a valve mechanism or pump at the passage to hold the liquid in the handle  16  until sufficient user input pressure is generated when soap is required. The pressure may come from deformation of an actuator  24 . In this embodiment, the actuator  24  is deformable and is located on a topside  26  of the handle  16 . However, the actuator  24  may be positioned anywhere along the handle  16 . From the passage, the liquid can enter into or through the cleaning head  12 . The cleaning head  12  may itself include through passages to further aid in the fast release of the dispensed liquid from the handle  16  to the surface being cleaned. 
     The cleaning head  12  includes the support  14  and a cleaning material  28  secured to the support  14 . In use, it is the cleaning head  12  that is used to clean, wipe, or scour a surface. The cleaning material  28  of the cleaning head  12  makes contact with a surface to be cleaned and is constructed of a material suitable for cleaning. In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  is constructed of one or more materials suitable for wiping, washing, scrubbing and/or scouring. In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  is comprised of a synthetic or cellulose foam; a woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabric; a scouring web; bristles; or a combination of one or more of these materials. 
       FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are a perspective view, a top view, and a side view, respectively, of an embodiment of the support  14  of the present invention. Generally, the support  14  is made from a relatively rigid material so that there is secure attachment when the support  14  is attached to the handle  16  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the support  14  is made from plastic. The support  14  generally includes a first end  30 , a second end  32 , a top surface  34  and a bottom surface  36 . The first end  30  is generally used to attach the support  14  to the handle  16  while the second end  32  provides structure, strength and a level of semi-rigidity to the cleaning material  28 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the first end  30  of the support  14  includes a slot  38  for receiving the handle  16  and a latch  40 . The working end  20  of the handle  16  includes a connector  42  (not shown) for sliding into the slot  38  of the support  14 . The latch  40  of the support  14  is deformable to allow for the connector  42  of the handle  16  to slide in and out of the slot  38  of the support  14 . When the latch  40  is in place, it securely wraps around the entire backside of the working end  20  of the handle  16  to provide a secure connection between the support  14  and the handle  16 . While  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  depict a particular method of attaching the support  14  to the handle  16 , any method of attachment may be used without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. 
     The second end  32  of the support  14  includes a front portion  44  including a curved portion  46  and a flat portion  48 . The second end  32  generally includes a tab  50 , a stop  52 , and a pair of ribs  54 . The curved portion  46  of the second end  32  of the support  14  is angled to create a curved shape, or the front curve, for cleaning. The curved portion  46  may have as little as no curvature and lie flat, as shown in an embodiment of the support shown in  FIG. 3 , or stand vertically. In one embodiment, the curved portion  46  of the second end  32  is angled upwards away from the bottom surface  36  of the support  14  (or towards the top surface  34  of the support  14 ), and can curve up to and 270 degrees relative to the bottom surface  36  of the support  14 , and particularly about 9 degrees, from the vertical and can be any height depending on the cleaning task. In one embodiment, the curved portion  46  is about 20 mm vertically tall. Generally, the width W FP  of the flat portion  48  of the first end  30  is equal to or greater than the width W CP  of the curved portion  46  of the second end  32 . In one embodiment, the shape/width of the front portion  44  and curved portion  46  is no wider than a maximum width of the support  14 , W CP  is less than W FP . The width W CP  of the curved portion  46  is related to the width W T  of the tab  50 , which extends from the second end  32  of the support  14  and aids in maintaining the cleaning material in place. The curved portion  46  of the second end  32  assists in creating the curve of the cleaning material  28  shown in  FIG. 4  when the cleaning material  28  is attached to the support  14 . The curve of the cleaning material  28  allows for users of the dishwand to reach into corners and curved surfaces in dishware, scrub in non-traditional locations, and scrub multiple surfaces at once (i.e. horizontal and vertical simultaneously). 
     The tab  50  allows the cleaning material  28  to be mechanically fastened to the support  14 . The mechanical fastening provides a superior method of fastening compared to traditional methods of attaching the cleaning material  28  to the support  14 , such as using heat or chemical fusing, or using an adhesive. The tab  50  extends from the top surface  34  of the second end  32  of the support  14  in the general direction of the first end  30  of the support  14 . 
     The tab  50  can protrude from anywhere along the second end  32 . In one embodiment, the tab  50  extends from the curved portion  46  of the second end  32 . The location of the tab  50  can vary depending on parameters related to the cleaning material  28 , including, but not limited to: the material properties, composition, thickness, manufacturing restrictions, and materials cost. In addition, other considerations for the position of the tab  50  includes optimization for the assembly of the cleaning material  28  onto the bottom surface  36  onto the support  14 , as well as minimizing the amount of the cleaning material  28  being used. Generally, given the same height of the curved portion  46 , the closer the tab  50  is to the flat portion  48  of the support  14 , the more cleaning material  28  is needed to wrap further down the curved portion  46  of the second end  32 . Generally, the cleaning material  28  must be long enough to fully cover the first end  30  of the support  14  or the flat portion  48  of the support  14  and wrap around the end of the curved portion  46  and extend down beyond the tab  50 . In one embodiment, the tab  50  can be positioned along the curved portion  46  as low as about 3 mm from the flat, top surface  34  of the support  14  to a maximum height equal to the height of the curved portion  46  or flush with the end of the top surface  34  of the second end  32  of the support  14 , and particularly about 13 mm above the flat, top surface  34  of the support  14 , allowing for a sufficient amount of cleaning material  28  to be looped around the tab  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the tab  50  is angled downward from the top surface  34  of the curved portion  46  toward the top surface  34  of the flat portion  48  of the support  14  in order to assist in holding the cleaning material  28  in place when the cleaning material  28  is positioned on the support  14 . Depending on the geometry of the tab  50 , the tab angle with respect to the top surface  34  of the second end  32  can range from being parallel or an extension of the top surface  34  from the curved portion  46  to looping/bending back a complete 180 degrees from the top surface  34  of the curved portion  46 . The angle and shape of the tab  50  will vary for different applications and attachments of cleaning materials. For example, the tab may be straight or curved. Optimizing the angle of the tab can also reduce the size of an undesirable protrusion that can be formed by the cleaning material when attached to the support, as is discussed below. In one embodiment, the tab  50  is angled from about 5 degrees offset from the surface of the curved portion  46 , swinging down past horizontal to about 175 degrees from that same surface. In one embodiment, the tab  50  is angled downwards about 7 degrees from horizontal. 
     The width W T  of the tab  50  affects the curved design of the second end  32  of the support  14 . The maximum width W T  of the tab  50  is defined as being equal to the overall width of the support  14  when paired with the stop  52 . While the minimum width of the tab can be infinitely small, the functionality of the tab depends on maximizing the width. In one embodiment, the width is maximized to reduce the size of the undesirable protrusion that can be created by the cleaning material. The width W T  of the tab  50  is correlated to the size of the resulting protrusion, as the size of the resulting protrusion is proportional to the width of the tab. The effect of the width W T  of the tab  50  on the undesirable protrusion can vary depending on the composition of cleaning material, i.e. thickness, material, density, but generally, as the width of the tab  50  increases, the protrusion decreases. For example, in one embodiment, a tab width W T  of about 10 mm created a visually undesirable protrusion, while increasing the tab width W T  to about 18 mm contributed to minimizing the effect of the resulting protrusion. 
     The length of the tab  50  is defined as the perpendicular distance the tab  50  extends from the top surface  34 . In one embodiment, the length of the tab  50  is a minimum length that correlates to the length and compressibility of the cleaning material  28 , in order to securely hold the cleaning material  28 . In one embodiment, the length of the tab  50  is at least about 3 mm and is particularly about 10 mm when the cleaning material  28  is about 25 mm thick and has high compressibility. When compressed by an external force, the thickness of the compressed cleaning material should be equal to or less than the length of the tab. This ensures that the cleaning material is held securely in place by the wrap-around forces. 
     Optionally, the tab  50  may include prongs  56  as a secondary measure to ensure the security of the cleaning material  28  around the tab  50  and to the support  14 . While the force of the wrap-around of the cleaning material  28  around the support  14  is generally enough to secure the cleaning material  28 , the prongs  56  can be incorporated as an additional measure to aid holding the cleaning material  28  in place and preventing it from backing out over the tab  50  when the cleaning material  28  is assembled or compressed below/beyond/over the prongs  56 . The prongs  56  may be located on either the tab  50  or the curved portion  46 , and any number of prongs may be included without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the tab  50  includes two prongs  56  on either side of the tab  50 . The prongs  56  can be any size and may take any shape or configuration that can act to secure the cleaning material without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the prongs are 2 mm×2 mm triangles. 
     The stop  52  is a feature or method of maintaining the curvature of the cleaning material  28  when attached to the support  14 . The stop  52  can take multiple forms and provides optimized functionality of the curved portion  46  of the support  14 . The stop  52  has width W S  that is equal to or greater than a width of the tab W T . In one embodiment, the stop  52  can be formed from the second end itself or can be formed from an additional element added to the second end  32  to hold the cleaning material  28  in its curved position. The support  14  requires the stop  52  paired with the tab  50  to hold the cleaning material  28  in a secure curved position. 
     Multiple embodiments of suitable stops are shown without limitation in  FIGS. 5A-5D . For example,  FIGS. 5C and 5D  depict top and perspective views, respectively, of a method where the tab  50  simply widens continuously to the width of the support  14 . This widening can act as a stop, as the width of a tab slit in the cleaning material will slide down this design until the tab slit tightens around the curved portion which acts as the stop at a location where the widths of the tab slit and the second end are equal. 
     To help maintain the curvature and shape of the support  14  and cleaning material  28  in-use and over time, optional ribs  54  can be added at the base of the curved portion  46  as structural support features. The ribs  54  help prevent the front curve and overall curvature of the second end  32  from bending beyond material limitations in use and breaking when the cleaning material  28  is assembled onto the support  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the support  14  includes two ribs  54  that run flush with the side edges of the support  14 ; however, the support  14  can include any number of ribs without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the support  14  does not include any ribs if flexibility is desired for the intended application. Depending on the foreseen forces exerted onto the curve during cleaning, the design of the ribs can vary. If the support  14  includes more than one rib, the ribs can have different thicknesses and heights. Generally, the more or thicker the ribs, the more rigid the front curve. The fewer and/or thinner the ribs, the more flexible the front curve. In one embodiment, the ribs can have a thickness up to about half the width of the support. In one embodiment, the ribs are about 4 mm thick. 
     The second end  32  of the support  14  can also include a cut-out  58 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The cut-out  58  is designed to prevent the cleaning material  28  from protruding in an undesirable manner when the cleaning material  28  is attached to and wrapped around the second end  32  of the support  14 . The cut-out  58  is sized to minimize any potential undesirable protrusion formed by the cleaning material  28  that occurs as a result of folding a compressible material and creating high forces of compression within layers when the cleaning material  28  is compressed during assembly around the tab  50  and pulled in tension as it is wrapped around the front end  32  of the support  14 . When the cleaning material  28  is wrapped around the support  14 , the internal compression of the cleaning material  28  makes the outside surface of the cleaning material  28  prone to forming a bulge at the tab slit  64  and across the width of the cleaning material  28 . By adding the counter-active cut-out  58  where the bulge occurs, the compression of the cleaning material  28  has a greater volume to sink down into, thus creating an overall flat top appearance on the external surface, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In addition, having a downward angled tab will also reduce any bulge. While the cut-out  58  is shown in  FIG. 6  as having a U-shape, the cut-out  58  can take any shape that minimizes any protrusion or bulge created by wrapping the cleaning material  28  around the second end  32  of the support  14  without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, this cut-out  58  is as deep as the height of the tab  50  from the very end of the second end  32  and up to the maximum width of the curved portion  46 . In one embodiment, the cut-out  58  is about 5.5 mm deep and about 18.75 mm wide. 
     In practice, a cleaning material  28  is attached to the support  14  to form the cleaning head  12  of the cleaning tool  10 . The cleaning material  28  has a certain composition, thickness, and tensile strength, all which affect the unique wrap-around assembly of this system. Generally, the cleaning material  28  has a first end  60  and a second end  62  and can be any variety of shapes and thicknesses. In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  has a thickness of at least about 1 mm. The second end  62  of the cleaning material  28  has a tab slit  64 . The tab slit  64  width should not be wider than a certain size, which is related to the cleaning material&#39;s overall width at the location of the tab slit  64 , and the material properties of the cleaning material  28 , such as tensile strength. The width of the tab slit  64  should be limited such that it will not tear through to the edge of the cleaning material  28  when applied onto the support tab  50  or during use. In one embodiment, the tab slit  64  has a width of about 1 mm to about half the width of the cleaning material  28 . In one embodiment, the tab slit  64  should not get closer than about 5 mm to the edges of the cleaning material  28 , the maximum width. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a top and a bottom view, respectively, of an embodiment of a cleaning material used with the support of the present invention.  FIG. 8C  shows a bottom view of the cleaning material in a first step of attaching the cleaning material  28  onto the support tab  50  through the tab slit  64  of the cleaning material  28 . Various methods can be used to mount and attach the cleaning material  28  onto the support  14 . In one embodiment, the second end  62  of the cleaning material  28  is first positioned over the second end  32  of the support  14  so that the tab slit  64  of the cleaning material  28  is aligned with the tab  50  of the support  14 . In this position, the first end  60  of the cleaning material  28  and the first end  30  of the support  14  extend away from each other. The cleaning material  28  is inserted over the tab  50  through the tab slit  64  in the cleaning material  28  and pushed onto the tab  50  until the entire thickness of the cleaning material  28  is pushed behind the prongs  56 , or alternately, the tab  50  sticks through the slit  64  in the cleaning material  28 . Although the cleaning material  28  shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict a tab slit  64  that is cut through the thickness of the cleaning material  28 , the tab slit  64  does not have to extend through the entire thickness of the cleaning material  28 . 
     The cleaning material  28  is then wrapped over and around the second end  32  and the curved portion  46  of the support  14  and along the bottom surface  38  of the support  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B .  FIG. 9A  shows a side view of the cleaning material  28  attached to the support  14 , which is attached to a handle  16 .  FIG. 9B  shows a top view of the cleaning material  28  attached to the support  14 . The first end  60  of the cleaning material  28  is then attached to the bottom surface  38  of the first end  30  of the support  14 . The second end  62  of the cleaning material  28  is held securely in place by the design of the tab  50 , prongs  56 , and the stop  52  (shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C ) while the remainder of the cleaning material  28  may be fixed, for example by heat fusing, chemical bonding, sonic welding, or mechanical bonding to the bottom surface  38  of the support  14 . 
     In another embodiment, the cleaning material  28  is mounted and attached onto the support  14  by attaching the first end  60  of the cleaning material  28  to the bottom surface  38  of the first end  30  of the support  14  first, and then wrapping the second end  32  of the cleaning material  28  up and around the curved portion  46  of the support  14  as the second step. The tab slit  64  of the cleaning material  28  is then pulled over the tab  50  through the slit  64  so the cleaning material  28  is compressed behind the prongs  56  and securely in place. While two methods are disclosed for mounting and attaching the cleaning material  28  onto the support  14 , other methods can be used without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. 
     When the cleaning material  28  is assembled onto the support  14 , the cleaning material  28  includes a first working surface  66  and a second working surface  68 . A curving portion  70  of the second working surface  68  curves and wraps to connect with the first working surface  66 . Generally, the first working surface  66  is adjacent the flat portion  48  of the support  14  and the second working surface  68  is adjacent the curved portion  46  of the support  14 . In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  continuously curves at least about 45 degrees, as measured by the angle formed through the cleaning material  28  by the first working surface  66  and second working surface  68 . In one embodiment, the cleaning, material  28  continuously curves at least about 90 degrees, as measured by the angle formed through the cleaning material  28  by the first working surface  66  and second working surface  68 . In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  continuously curves less than about 180 degrees, as measured by the angle formed through the cleaning material  28  by the first working surface  66  and second working surface  68 . 
     In one embodiment, the first working surface  66  has a width W FWS  and the second working surface  68  has a width W SWS . In this embodiment, the width W FWS  is larger than the width W SWS . Therefore, the curving portion  70  also has a width less than the width W FWS . In one embodiment, the width W FWS  is at least about 10% greater than the width W SWS . In one embodiment, the width W FWS  is at least about 23% greater than the width W SWS . In one embodiment, the width W SWS  is is at least about 30% smaller than the width W FWS . 
     The method of wrapping the cleaning material  28  about 270 degrees around the second end  32  of the support  14  from the initial position ( FIG. 8C ) to the fully assembled position ( FIGS. 9A and 9B ) creates internal compression of the cleaning material  28 , or a springback force within the cleaning material  28  at the first and second ends  60  and  62 , in which the cleaning material  28  wants to un-curl and pull from the first end  30  of the support  14 . Factors that affect this force include the material properties, composition, thickness, curvature, and length of the cleaning material, as well as all of the above described key features of the curved portion  46  of the support  14 . The length of the cleaning material  28  affects how tightly it must be wrapped-around the support  14  so that the entire support has cleaning material  28  along the length of the bottom surface  38  of the support  14 . The shorter the cleaning material  28 , the tighter it must be pulled to wrap around the curved portion  46  of the second end  32 , resulting in higher spring back forces and a greater risk of the cleaning material  28  pulling away from the first end of the support  30 . Thus, the longer the cleaning material  28 , the less compression/tension there is around the curved portion  46 . In one embodiment, a cleaning material  28  having a flat-length of between about 145 and 165 mm, and particularly about 160 mm was found to have a reduced spring back force compared to a flat-length of 140 mm, as well as provided an ample amount of material for fusing the cleaning material  28  to the support  14  during manufacturing. 
     If the concentration of springback force at the curved portion  46  is too high, this force can cause issues, such as delamination of the cleaning material  28  from the first end  30  of the support  14 . The support design of the present invention securely holds the second end  62  of the cleaning material  28 , redistributing tension at the first end  30  of the support  14  where the latch  40  is located, and where the user is typically pushing downwards. This is optimal, so that the force does not affect the curved portion  46  when in use. 
     As seen in  FIG. 8A , tension-reducing slits  72  can also be added in the cleaning material  28  to reduce the internal springback force. By adding strategically placed slits or cuts into the cleaning material, while not cutting all the way through, tension is reduced and assembly/fusing of the cleaning material  28  to the support  14  is made easier. The strategically placed slits have the most impact when located along the curving portion  70 , as this is where the majority of tension is held in the cleaning material  28 . Having multiple slits helps reduce the tension, but must be balanced with maintaining the integrity of the cleaning material  28 . In one embodiment, the cleaning material  28  includes two slits  72 . In one embodiment, the first slit  72 A is located between about 1 mm and about 50 mm, and particularly about 30 mm, from the second end  62  of the cleaning material  28  and the second slit  72 B is located between about 30 mm and about 100 mm, and particularly about 70 mm, from the second end  32  of the cleaning material  28 , which has an overall uncurled length of about 155 mm. 
     It is understood that the cleaning head  12  may be secured to a separate cleaning tool  10  which includes a handle  16  or may he independently used for cleaning. Further, if used with a cleaning tool, any variety of sizes and shapes of cleaning tools could be used and any specific types of attachment mechanisms could be used for securing the cleaning element to the cleaning tool. 
     The disclosed support, curved cleaning head, and method of making the cleaning head provide for a continuously curved working surface useful for cleaning both gentle and sharp curving surfaces such a bowls, cups, muffin tins, or coffee mugs, for example. 
     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.