Patent Publication Number: US-2009223540-A1

Title: Steam Mop Pad With Pocket

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a steam mop pad, and more particularly to a fabric steam pad with pocket for use with a steam mop. 
     Conventional mops have been widely used for cleaning floors. However, conventional mops have not been effective at cleaning dirt in small crevices and floor gaps. In addition, conventional mops require frequent rising since mops can only effectively clean a small surface area at a time. 
     Steaming devices used to apply steam to household objects are well known. The uses of the devices vary widely, and may include the application of steam to drapes or other fabrics to ease wrinkles, and the application of steam to objects to assist in cleaning the objects. 
     Typical steam devices have a reservoir for storing water that is connected to an electrical water pump with an on/off switch. The exit from the electric water pump is connected to a steam boiler with a heating element to heat the water. The heated water generates steam, which may be directed towards its intended destination through a nozzle which controls the application of the steam. Variation of the shape and size of the nozzle allows for preferred distribution of generated steam to an object to be cleaned. The nozzles may be disconnectable from the steam generator to allow different nozzles to be utilized, based on the object to be steamed. The nozzle may be either closely coupled to the steam generator, or located at a distance from the steam generator, requiring tubing or other steam transfer structures to be interconnected between the steam generator and the discharge nozzle. Typically, it is beneficial to provide suitable connectors between the steam generator and the nozzle to allow either the nozzle to be connected to the steam generator, or to allow the interpositioning of transfer tubes or hoses between the steam generator and the nozzle. 
     In general, the nozzles used with the steam cleaners do not have large surface areas and a cloth to absorb the liquid condensate of the steam. In one embodiment, the fabric pad is secured to the nozzle by an elastic band, a drawstring clamp or a pair of straps. In another embodiment, the fabric pad with the elastic band or the fabric pad with the drawstring clamp may be further secured to the steam mop frame by a pair of straps. Optionally, the fabric pad may be reversible for dual side cleaning. Often steam injected behind the cloth passes through the cloth at the points the bristles contact on the cloth. This tends to wet the cloth and reduce the cleaning effectiveness of the steam. 
     Notwithstanding the wide variety of steam generating appliances available, there exists the need to provide steam mop pads that are easy to use with steam mops and effectively improve the effective steaming surface area of the steam cleaners. It is desirable to provide the ability for a user to change the mop pad easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a fabric steam pad and pocket for mounting on a steam pad frame is provided. The steam pad has a cleaning surface with a fabric border that overlaps the back of the cleaning surface to form an interior cavity or pocket with an elastic band or a drawstring around the outer perimeter of the border that stretches to fit around the bottom of the steam pad frame to secure the steam pad to the frame. 
     In one embodiment, the fabric steam pad includes a pair of straps that bind the outer elastic perimeter border with straps or bands across the top of steam pad frame. The pair of straps have fasteners one side for securing the steam pad in place over the steam frame for secure installation. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a fabric steam pad with a pocket that is easily mounted on and removed from a steam pad frame. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a steam pad frame attachment with a fabric pad that does not allow steam to escape at points of contact with brush bristles. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a steam mop and steam pocket frame attachment to provide increased steam cleaning surface area. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fabric steam pad with a pocket constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention mounted on a steam mop; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fabric steam pad of  FIG. 1  with additional fastening straps for securing attachment of the steam pad in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the outer cleaning surface of the steam pad of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the upper surface of the steam pad of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the upper surface of the steam pad of  FIG. 4  with additional fastening straps; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a steam pad frame of the steam mop of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view of the mop housing showing a water reservoir, pump and boiler of the steam mop of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the elements of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a steam mop  11  with a fabric steam pad  16  mounted thereon constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Mop  11  includes a housing or main body  12  connected to a steam pad frame  14  at one end and having a handle  13  at the opposite end. Steam frame  14  has an upper surface  14   a  and an opposed bottom cleaning surface  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Fabric steam pad  16  has a fabric cleaning section  18  with a bottom cleaning surface  18   a  as shown in  FIG. 3  and an upper surface  18   b . Border  15  is stitched to the perimeter of bottom section  18  by a seam  15   a . Fabric cleaning section  18  of steam pad  16  includes a border  15  having an elastic band  20  stitched around the perimeter of the border to create an inner cavity or pocket  19  as shown in  FIG. 4  that is adapted to fit around the bottom of steam pad frame  14 . In another embodiment, fabric steam pad  16  includes a border  15  having a drawstring with an optional drawstring clamp (not shown) around the perimeter of border  15  instead of elastic band  20 . 
       FIG. 2  shows another embodiment with fastening straps  117  that fit across the upper surface  14   a  of frame  14 . Straps  117  may be secured to pad  16  near elastic band  20 . Alternatively, strap  117  may be secured at one end and have a hook-and-loop fastening elements  118  on the opposite end of strap  117 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of fabric steam pad  16  of  FIG. 1  suitable for use with the steam pad frame  14 . Elastic band  20  is stitched into inner periphery of border  15 . Elastic band  20  easily slips over steam pad frame  14  to secure steam pad  16  to frame  14  and provides for easy installation and removal. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, steam pad  16  is a cloth or towel. It may be formed of any suitable fabric such as cotton or a synthetic fabric, such as polyester or polyolefin fiber. Preferably, the fabric of pad  16  is a microfiber. Most preferably, the microfiber is a synthetic polyester microfiber. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a fabric steam pad  116  suitable for use with the steam pad frame  14  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Steam fabric pad  116  is configured to attach to frame  14  as pad  16  in  FIG. 1  and has an inner cavity  119  with an elastic band  120  about the inner periphery of a border  115 . Elastic band  120  easily slips over steam pad frame  14  for easy installation and removal. Here, fabric steam pad  116  has a rectangular shape with two oppose long borders  116   a  and  116   c  and two opposed short sides  116   b  and  116   d . Fabric steam pad  116  has a pair of fastening straps  117  that are fixed to long border  116   a  of steam pad  116  to attached to respective fasteners  118  on long border  116   c , such as hook-and-loop fastening elements. Alternatively, straps  117  may be secured at both ends. In another embodiment, fabric steam pad  116  with pair of fastening straps  117  does not necessarily have an elastic band or a drawstring. 
     In the preferred embodiment, fastening straps  117  are secured to long border  116   a  and have attached to hook-and-loop type fasteners  118  to attack removably to second long border  116   c . Alternatively, straps  117  may include buttons, snaps or other types of fasteners may be used to secure and hold steam pad  116  in place when used to clean a floor or other surface. In each case, fastening straps  117  are across frame  14  and secured to hold pad  116  in place when used to clean a floor or other surface. 
     Steam pocket  116  is a cloth or towel. It may be formed of any suitable fabric such as cotton or a synthetic fabric, such as polyester or polyolefin fiber. Preferably, the fabric of pocket  116  is a microfiber. Most preferably, the microfiber is a synthetic polyester microfiber. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a rectangular steam pocket frame  14  including a front wall  81 , a rear wall  82 , a right side wall  83  and a left side wall  84 . Steam pocket frame  14  includes a plurality of vanes  86  and a plurality of grooves  87  to help disperse the steam uniformly throughout frame  14  when steam pocket  16  or  116  is attached to steam pocket frame  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. 
     A plurality of baffles  88  in a square grid formation extending outwardly from a steam outlet opening  26  toward the four sides of the steam pad frame  14  to the cleaning surface within frame  14 . Baffles  88  are planar in shape have a plurality of vents or openings  88   a  between the grids for distributing steam into the spaces between baffles  88  and to a steam pad mounted thereon. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , mop housing  12  shown in  FIG. 7  includes a water container or tank  21  as part of the upper part of housing  12  and is connected to a boiler  22  by a pump  23  having a one-way outlet valve  24 . Any type of mechanical pump or some other means of transporting the water to the boiler may be used with steam mop  11 . Preferably, pump  23  is a mechanical pump, such as a bellows pump or a piston pump, that is actuated by movement of mop  11  by a user pushing and pulling handle  13 . 
     Steam generated in steam boiler  22  shown in  FIG. 7  dispenses steam into frame  14  to steam outlet opening  26  of frame  14 . A fabric steam pad  16  is mounted on frame  14  by an elastic band  20  around the periphery of the end of fabric steam pad  16 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are a front plan and section views, respectively, of the elements in housing  12  of steam mop  11 . This includes water container or tank  21 , one-way pump  23  and boiler  22 . A pump water supply hose  25  is connected to a one-way inlet valve  30 . A pump water outlet  24  is connected to boiler  22  through a boiler water supply hose  27 . Water container  21  includes an opening  21   a  that may be easily opened and closed for the user to fill mop  11  with water. 
     Water pump  23  includes a pump body  31  having a pump cavity  32 . A piston  33  connected to a push rod  34  is positioned in cavity  32 . As mop handle  13  is pulled by a user, push rod  34  and piston  33  create a negative pressure in cavity  32 . This draws water from tank  21  into pump water supply hose  25  and into one-way inlet valve  30 . As handle  13  is pushed during use, water in cavity  32  is expelled through one-way outlet valve  24 . This pumped water then passes to boiler  22 . Water in boiler  22  is heated by a heating element  22   a  in a boiler cavity  36  and steam generated is fed through a steam valve  37  into a steam chamber  38 . Heating element  22   a  is connected to electrical connectors  22   b  and  22   c . Steam is then expelled through a steam outlet  39  to a steam hose  41  and to frame nozzle  16 . 
     One-way inlet valve  30  and one-way outlet valve  24  are formed of a flexible elastomeric material, such a rubber. The valves are conical in shape so that when handle  13  is pulled, water is drawn through inlet valve  30  while outlet valve  24  remains closed. Similarly, when handle  13  is pushed, water is forced out through outlet valve  24  and inlet valve  30  remains closed and water is fed into boiler  22 . 
     Steam floor mop  11  provides many advantages for ease of use because it eliminates the need for an electric water pump and an on/off switch to activate the electric water pump. Here, the user has more control over the amount of water needed to be discharged into the boiler and consequently, how much steam is needed by moving the mop forward and backwards. In addition, steam mop is designed as a low pressure or non-pressurized system so it is safer for the user to use. Further, since the amount of water routed to the boiler is controlled, the boiler can create steam in a short amount of time. 
     Steam mop  11  with fabric steam pad frame  14  and fabric steam pockets  16  and  116  in accordance with the invention provide vast improvements over placing a towel onto a bristle attachment for a steam cleaner, respectively. The invention avoids puncture of the cloth by the bristles and provides twice the cleaning surface. Moreover, the fabric cover is easily installed securely and replaced. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. A steam mop having a pump that pumps water from a water container to a steam generator in response to movement of the mop handle with the steam fed to a fabric pocket cover in accordance with the invention provides a vast improvement over electrical pumps. The pump may include a two-way valve that pumps water in response to both the push and pull of the mop.