Patent Publication Number: US-2003221274-A1

Title: Mop and mop pad

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] We claim the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/384,696 filed on May 31, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The invention broadly relates to mops with replaceable pads.  
       [0004] 2. Prior Art  
       [0005] Mops for washing, hard floors have two general types of mop heads. One type is comprised of a bundle of absorbent fiber cords for heavy duty washing and drying. The other type is comprised of a flat support plate, and an absorbent mop pad wrapped around the support plate for light duty washing or dusting. The mop pad is comprised of a flat sheet which is positioned under the support plate, and the ends are wrapped around the top of the support plate. The ends of the sheet are secured to the support plate by several clips or other retainers. The clips are generally inconvenient to use.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The objects of the present invention are to provide:  
       [0007] a mop head which easily secures a mop pad;  
       [0008] a mop pad which is easily replaceable;  
       [0009] a mop pad which is easy to grab during removal;  
       [0010] a mop pad with a dry layer for light dusting;  
       [0011] a mop pad with a dry layer which is easily detachable from the rest of the mop pad after use; and  
       [0012] a mop pad with a absorbent layer for wet mopping.  
       [0013] A mop is comprised of a mop head pivoted to the lower end of a stem. The mop head is comprised of a hollow housing, and a bottom plate with one end hinged to the housing, and another end secured to the housing with a latch. A mop pad is comprised of a flattened tubular sleeve for sliding around the bottom plate. The mop pad is comprised of a tubular base layer, and a dry layer attached to the bottom of the base layer. A relatively thick absorbent layer is attached to the interior of the bottom panel of the base layer to absorb water for wet mopping. The absorbent layer is secured inside the base layer by a bind layer which has opposite edges attached to the interior of the base layer. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective exploded view of the present mop and mop pad.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mop pad, taken along line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the mop pad.  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the mop pad mounted on the mop.  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the mop and mop pad, taken along line  5 - 5  in FIG. 4.  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the mop and mop pad, taken along line  6 - 6  in FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     [0020]                                      10.   Mop       11.   Mop Pad       12.   Mop Head       13.   Stem       14.   Nozzle       15.   Housing       16.   Bottom Plate       17.   Hinge       18.   First Latch Member       19.   Second Latch Member       20.   Tab       21.   Tab       22.   Top Panel       23.   Base Layer       24.   Overlapping Joint       25.   Dry Layer       26.   Bottom Panel       27.   Absorbent layer       28.   Bind Layer       29.   Container       30.   Lip       31.   Base Layer       32.   Top Panel       33.   Bottom Panel       34.   Flange                    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0021]FIG. 1:  
     [0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in a front perspective exploded view in FIG. 1. It includes a mop  10  and a replaceable tubular mop pad  11 . Mop  10  comprised of a mop head  12  attached to the lower end of a stem  13 . A valve or sprayer nozzle  14  is arranged on a front end of mop head  12  for spraying a cleaning liquid on the floor ahead of mop head  12 . Mop head  12  includes a rigid hollow housing  15 , and a rigid bottom plate  16  movably attached to housing  15 . Bottom plate  16  is preferably connected to housing  15  with a hinge  17 , but it may be connected by another mechanism, such as latches at either end.  
     [0023] A first latch member  18  is arranged on a distal end of bottom plate  16  for mating with a second latch member  19  on housing  15 . In this example, first latch member  18  is comprised of a female receptacle, and second latch member  19  is comprised of a male member. A tab  20  is arranged adjacent first latch member  18  for opening bottom plate  16  when bottom plate  16  is closed. Alternatively, instead of being hinged at one end, bottom plate may be may be completely detachable, and may be attached to the housing with another mechanism, such as latches, snap-fit tabs, etc.  
     [0024] Mop pad  11  is comprised of a flattened tubular sleeve for sliding around bottom plate  16 . The tubular shape of mop pad  11  makes it easier to install and remove than a conventional flat pad which must be folded over the top of bottom plate  16 . Mop pad  11  includes tabs  21  on opposite ends of a top panel  22  for being gripped during removal.  
     [0025]FIG. 2.  
     [0026] A sectional view of tubular mop pad  11  is shown in FIG. 2. Mop pad  11  is comprised of a flattened tubular base layer  23  formed from a single folded sheet with opposite edges attached to each other in an overlapping joint  24 , preferably by heat sealing. Alternatively, the opposite edges may be joined by another method, such as hot or cold gluing. Overlapping joint  24  may be may made with fasteners activated by the user, or base layer  24  may be a seamless tube without a joint. Base layer  23  is preferably comprised of a non-woven cotton and polyester blend or similar material which is tear and stretch resistant, has a low coefficient of friction, allows fluids to pass through, and is printable.  
     [0027] A dry layer  25  is removably attached to the exterior of a bottom panel  26  of flattened tubular base layer  23  for dry mopping or dusting. Dry layer  25  is preferably comprised of a relatively thin, inexpensive strong fabric which is electrostatic, and tear and stretch resistant. Dry layer  25  is preferably lightly heat sealed to base layer  23  along its opposite edges so that dry layer  25  may be torn away from base layer  23  by the user after use. Additional dry layers may be stacked together and peeled off one at a time after each use. Alternatively, a single dry layer  25  may be permanently attached to base layer  23 . Dry layer  25  also may be attached to the exterior of top panel  22  of base layer  23 , in which case base layer  23  must be reversed to mop with dry layer  25 .  
     [0028] A absorbent layer  27  is attached to the interior of bottom panel  26  of base layer  23  to absorb water for wet mopping. Absorbent layer  27  is preferably comprised of a relatively thick, highly absorbent cotton or similar fiber packs. Absorbent layer  27  is secured inside base layer  23  by a bind layer  28  which has opposite edges attached to the interior of base layer  23 . Bind layer  28  is preferably a non-woven sheet, such as a plastic film which is tear resistant and has anti-slip properties. A space is provided between bind layer  28  and top panel  22  of tubular base layer  23  for receiving the bottom plate of the mop head. Mop pad  11  is preferably provided dry, but may be impregnated with a cleaning fluid or be scented.  
     [0029]FIG. 3:  
     [0030] Alternatively, a base layer  31  may be comprised of a top panel  32  attached to a separate bottom panel  33  at opposite ends along projecting flanges  34  that may be optionally formed into cut fringes.  
     [0031]FIG. 4:  
     [0032] Mop pad  11  is shown in FIG. 4 after being slid onto the bottom plate (not shown), and after the bottom plate is closed against the bottom of housing  15 . Mop  10  may be used for dry moping or dusting without any fluid, or it may be soaked with water or a cleaning fluid for wet mopping.  
     [0033]FIG. 5:  
     [0034] In the sectional view shown in FIG. 5, first latch member  18  and second latch member  19  are mated together to secure bottom plate  16  against housing  15 . Top panel  22  of base layer  23  is positioned on top of bottom plate  16 , and bottom panel  26  of base layer  23  is positioned under bottom plate  16 . A cleaning liquid container  29  is positioned within housing  12  for supplying a cleaning liquid to the valve or spray nozzle on the front of mop head  12 .  
     [0035]FIG. 6:  
     [0036] In the sectional view shown in FIG. 6, a lip  30  projecting up from a top surface of bottom plate  16  is arranged to clamp top panel  22  of base layer  23  against an interior surface of the housing to help secure mop pad  11  in position and to take up the slack in mop pad  11 . Also, bind layer  28  is preferably comprised of an anti-slip material to further help prevent slippage.  
     [0037] Scope  
     [0038] Although the above description is specific, they should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention, but only as examples of the embodiments. Many substitutes and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.