Patent Publication Number: US-2021177229-A1

Title: Floor cleaning system, flat headed mop and mop pad

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/946,614, filed Dec. 11, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system for cleaning a floor, and in particular to a system having a mop pad that resists lifting, pealing or curling. 
     Mops have been traditionally used to clean floors. Mops come in different styles, such as a string, strip, foam or flat mop for example. A flat mop has a generally planar end member with a flat microfiber pad coupled to one side. Further, one property of the microfiber pad is that it releases dirt when placed in a fluid (e.g. fluid). The microfiber pad is then wrung-out, such as by pressing the mop head against a plate, a blade, or a roller. It should be appreciated that it is desirable for the mop pad to remain on the mop when it is being wrung-out. As a result there is a balance that needs to be achieved in conventional wringers between the amount of force applied to extract fluid and keeping the mop pad attached. 
     Accordingly, while existing floor cleaning systems, mops and mop pads are suitable for their intended purposes the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a mop pad having the features described herein. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a mop pad is provided. The mop pad comprising a cleaning layer configured to remove contaminants from a surface being cleaned. A backing layer is coupled to the cleaning layer, the backing layer having a fastener configured to couple the backing layer to a mop head. At least one insert member coupled between at least one of the backing layer and the cleaning layer, the at least one insert being arranged adjacent an end of the mop pad. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the at least one insert member having a first insert member and a second insert member, the first insert member being arranged at a first end of the mop pad, the second insert member being arranged at a second opposing end of the mop pad. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the at least one insert member having a width that is smaller than a width of the backing layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the at least one insert member width is about 10%-35% of the backing layer. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the at least one insert member width being about 50 millimeters. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the cleaning layer being a microfiber layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the mop pad may include the cleaning layer being made of cotton, polyester, textiles, foam, sponge, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a flat headed mop is provided. The flat headed mop comprising a pole and a mop head pivotally coupled to an end of the pole. A mop pad is removably coupled to the mop head. The mop pad comprises a cleaning layer configured to remove contaminants from a surface being cleaned. A backing layer is coupled to the cleaning layer, the backing layer having a fastener configured to couple the backing layer to a mop head. At least one insert member is coupled between at least one of the backing layer and the cleaning layer, the at least one insert being arranged adjacent an end of the mop pad. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the mop pad being coupled to the mop head by a hook and loop fastener. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include a portion of the hook and loop fastener being arranged on the backing layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the at least one insert member having a first insert member and a second insert member, the first insert member being arranged at a first end of the mop pad, the second insert member being arranged at a second opposing end of the mop pad. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the at least one insert member having a width that is smaller than a width of the backing layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the at least one insert member width is about 10%-35% of the backing layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the at least one insert member width is about 50 millimeters. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the cleaning layer is a microfiber layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the flat headed mop may include the cleaning layer is made of cotton, polyester, textiles, foam, sponge, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     According to one aspect of the disclosure, a surface cleaning system is provided. The surface cleaning system comprising a bucket assembly having a wringing assembly. A mop having a pole and a mop head is pivotally coupled to an end of the pole, the mop further having a mop pad removably coupled to the mop head. The mop pad comprises a cleaning layer configured to remove contaminants from a surface being cleaned. A backing layer is coupled to the cleaning layer, the backing layer having a fastener configured to couple the backing layer to a mop head. At least one insert member is coupled between at least one of the backing layer and the cleaning layer, the at least one insert being arranged adjacent an end of the mop pad. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the surface cleaning system may include the at least one insert member having a first insert member and a second insert member, the first insert member being arranged at a first end of the mop pad, the second insert member being arranged at a second opposing end of the mop pad. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the surface cleaning system may include the at least one insert member having a width that is smaller than a width of the backing layer. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the surface cleaning system may include the at least one insert member width having about 10%-35% of the backing layer. 
     Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include a mop pad for a floor cleaning system that is supported to reduce or eliminate curl or lifting of the mop pad from the mop head during wringing operations. 
     These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a two-compartment bucket assembly for a floor cleaning system in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a mop for use with the bucket assembly of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of a mop head end of the mop of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view of the mop head of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top view of a mop pad for use with the mop head of  FIG. 2A  in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of the mop pad of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 3C  is a top schematic illustration, partially in section, of the mop pad of  FIG. 3A  along the line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 2C ; and 
         FIG. 3D  is a partial perspective view of the mop pad of  FIG. 3A . 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains embodiments of the disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a cleaning system, a mop and a mop pad that resists lifting, pealing or curling of the mop pad during a wringing operation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a bucket assembly  100  is shown for a floor cleaning system. The bucket assembly  100  is used with a flat headed mop  200 , such as that shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  for example, having a microfiber mop pad  300  disposed thereon. The mop  200  has a head  204  positioning assembly that allows the head  204  of the mop  200  to rotate between a vertical and an operating position. The mop  200  may be connected to the head  204  by a hinge assembly such as that described in commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. 16/423,804 entitled “Flat Headed Mop” the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The mop  200  may further be that described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/678,328 entitled “Flat Headed Mop”, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein. The mop  200  will further include a mop pad  300  that is removably coupled to the head  204 . In an embodiment, the mop pad  300  and the head  204  are coupled together by a hook and loop type fastener. When in the operating position, the bottom surface of the head  204  is generally parallel with the floor or surface that is being cleaned with the pole  202  extending upward therefrom. 
     As used herein, the term “vertical position” is where the mop head  204  is rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 2B  where the planar bottom surface head member or the mop pad  300  is generally or substantially parallel to the centerline of the mop pole  202 . As used herein, the term “operating position” is where the mop head  204  is rotated to the position shown in  FIG. 2A  where the planar bottom surface the mop head  204  is generally on an angle relative (e.g. greater than zero) to the centerline of the mop pole 
       202 . In other words, in the operating position the pole extends on an angle so that the operator may hold the pole and move the mop head when in a standing position. It should be appreciated that while embodiments described herein may illustrate the mop head  204  rotated to the operating or horizontal position, this for exemplary purposes and the claims should not be so limited. 
     In an embodiment, the bucket assembly  100  includes a trolley  108  having a plurality of wheels  110 . It should be appreciated that the wheels  110  allow the bucket assembly  100  to be easily moved across the floor. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the trolley  108  includes a pair of recesses disposed on opposite sides of a center wall. The recesses are further defined by sidewalls. The recesses are sized to removably receive compartments  118 ,  120 . The trolley  108  further includes a pair of upstanding posts or end walls  122  on either end of the center wall. The end walls  122  are configured couple with a drain tray that is positioned adjacent to and vertically above the center wall. The drain tray receives extracted fluid from a wringing assembly  128  and defines a flow path into the first compartment  118 , sometimes referred to as the “dirty fluid” compartment. As used herein, the fluid may be water, a chemical cleaning solution or a combination of the foregoing. The compartments  118 ,  120  may both include a fluid that is comprised of water, a cleaning solution or a combination of the foregoing. 
     In an embodiment, the trolley  108  may be the same as that described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/423,817 entitled “Floor Cleaning System”, or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/423,792 entitled “Floor Cleaning System”, the contents of both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3D  an embodiment is shown of a mop pad  300 . It should be appreciated that when the mop head  204  and the mop pad  300  are inserted into the wringing assembly  128  forces are applied to the mop pad  300  that would tend to peel, lift, or curl the mop pad  300  away from the mop head  204  as they are inserted and withdrawn from the wringing assembly  128 . In an embodiment, the mop pad  300  is formed from multiple layers with a reinforcing intermediate layer that reduces the risk of the mop pad  300  pealing, curling, or lifting from the mop head. This has the technical effect of reducing or eliminating the risk of the mop pad  300  becoming jammed or stuck within the wringing assembly  128 . 
     In an embodiment, the mop pad  300  includes a cleaning or microfiber layer  302  and an opposing backing layer  304 . The microfiber layer  302  is arranged opposite the mop head  204  when the mop pad  300  is installed on the mop head  204 . In the exemplary embodiment, the backing layer  304  includes one portion of a hook and loop fastener. The second portion of the hook and loop fastener is on the mop head  204  and allows the mop pad  300  to be secured to the mop head  204 . 
     The microfiber layer  302  may be made from a polyester, polyamide, polypropylene or a combination of the foregoing. In some embodiments, the mop pad may be made from, but is not limited to a pad made from: cotton, sponge, foam material for example. The backing layer  304  may be made from a nylon, a polyester, or a combination of the foregoing. The microfiber layer  302  is coupled to the backing layer  304  by a by an edge binding  306 . In an embodiment, the edge binding may be made from 100% polyester material. 
     In an embodiment, one or more coding tag  308  may be coupled to either the edge binding  306  or the backing layer  304 . The layers  302 ,  304  and edge binding  306  may be coupled or sewn together with thread. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, one or more insert members  310  are arranged between the microfiber layer  302  and the backing layer  304 . In an embodiment, there is only one insert member. In another embodiment, there is a first insert member and a second insert member. The insert members  310  are positioned adjacent each end  312 ,  314  of the mop pad  300 . The insert members  310  may have a short width “W” relative to the overall width of the mop pad  300 . In an embodiment, the width W is about 10-35% of the width of the mop pad  300 . In an embodiment, the width is 50 millimeters. The insert member  310  may be coupled to the backing layer  304 , the microfiber layer  302 , the edge binding  306 , or a combination of the foregoing. In an embodiment, the insert member  310  is sewn to the layers  302 ,  304  or edge binding  306 . It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the insert member  310  may be coupled using other means, such as but not limited to adhesive bonding or ultrasonic welding for example. In an embodiment, the insert member  310  has radiused corners to conform with the shape of the edge binding  306 . In an embodiment, an end  316  of the insert member  310  is aligned with an end of at least one of the microfiber layer  302  or the backing layer  304 . The insert member  310  may be made from a plastic material, such as high density polyethylene. In an embodiment, the insert member  310  has a thickness of 0.25-2 millimeters. 
     It should be appreciated that when the mop pad  300  is placed on the mop head  204  and used for cleaning a surface, the microfiber layer  302  will eventually become dirty with contaminants from the surface. In an embodiment, the operator places the mop head in the fluid in compartment  120  and then removes excess fluid by moving the mop head  204  through the wringing assembly  128 . The insert members  310  act to stiffen the ends of the mop pad  300  and resist the lifting or curling forces that are imparted on the mop pad  300  and mop head  204  by the wringing assembly  128 . 
     It should be appreciated that while embodiments herein refer to the cleaning layer and being made from a microfiber, this is for example purposes and the claims should not be so limited. In other embodiments, the microfiber layer may be made from a foam, sponge, woven material, unwoven material, cotton, polyester, textiles, or a combination of the foregoing. 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. 
     It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     While the disclosure is provided in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiment(s) may include only some of the described exemplary aspects. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.