Patent Publication Number: US-7716776-B2

Title: Flat mop for use with wipers for controlled environments

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a mop system. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a controlled environment mop system that uses disposable cleaning elements or wipers. 
   Many of today&#39;s high technology and medical-related processes and functions are required to be carried out in controlled environments or even in clean room settings. For example, the manufacture and fabrication of precision instrument or electronics parts are be carried out in highly controlled environments or cleanrooms. Likewise, the production of pharmaceuticals or manufacture of medical instruments often require controlled environments as well. 
   Due to the required levels of cleanliness, conventional methods for cleaning industrial and manufacturing facilities may not be sufficient. Many such conventional cleaning devices and methods are not well suited for use in these controlled environments. 
   Mops are used in many cleaning programs to wipe counters, floors, walls and other larger, flat areas. One known mop device uses a flat pad to which a disposable wiper is attached. A typical attachment includes what are commonly referred to as “star” holders. In such a holder, multiple flexible (typically plastic) fingers extend inward of an opening and “grab” the wiper material to secure the material in the holder. While this functions well to secure the wiper to the mop device, it can also generate fibers and the like due to the abrading action of the star fingers on the wiper material. Moreover, debris and contaminants can collect in the star holder openings, thus detracting from the overall hygiene of the cleaning process. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a mop system for use in controlled environments that does not generate additional debris in use. Desirably, such a mop system uses known, currently available wipers. More desirably, such a mop system can be used in wet or dry environments and cleaning situations. Most desirably, such a mop system is itself fully cleanable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A flat mop is used with an associated disposable wiper. The mop includes a rigid base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. The base can be rigid or flexible. The base member has a securing elements, such as a pair of rails or other projections positioned along opposing sides of the upper surface. At least one and preferably a pair of resilient clips are associated with each rail. Preferably, each clip is tethered to the base member or other part of the mop, by a resilient tether. 
   A pivot joint has a first receiving portion for mounting to a hinge pin on the base member to define a first pivot axis. The pivot joint has a second receiving portion distinct from the first receiving portion and includes an engagement member received in the second receiving portion that defines a second pivot axis spaced from and perpendicular to the first pivot axis. The engagement member includes a coupling portion, such as an internal thread to receive a handle. 
   The pivot joint is mounted to the base member for pivoting the base member relative to the pivot joint about two axes. The associated wiper or cleaning fabric is secured to the base member, positioned on the lower surface of the base member, wrapped around the base member and over the rails and is held in place by the clips positioned over the wiper, on a respective rail. 
   In a present mop, a resilient pad can be mounted to the lower surface of the base member. The resilient pad is formed from a polyester foam or similar resilient or flexible material and is secured to the base member by a fastening element. 
   Preferably, the rigid base member, the clips and the pivot joint are formed from a polymeric material. The material can be an acetal, polypropylene, nylon, stainless steel or other suitable material. These materials tolerate the temperatures that may be used in sterilization processes using steam, ethylene oxide or dry heat. 
   Because the wipers are held in place using clips, there is no additional debris generated from use. The mop system can use known, currently available wipers or cleaning fabrics and can be used in wet or dry environments and cleaning situations. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flat mop system for use with wipers embodying the principles of the present invention, the mop being shown without a wiper and a handle for ease of illustration; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the flat mop of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the flat mop mounted to a handle; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the flat mop with a wiper mounted to the mop head. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
   It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
   Referring to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1  there is shown a flat mop  10  for use with cleaning fabric or wipers W embodying the principles of the present invention. The flat mop  10  includes a mop head  12  having a swivel joint  14  and a base  16 . The swivel joint  14  is configured to permit mounting the head  12  to a handle  18  such that the base  16  can be pivoted in a number of planes (about a number of axes as indicated at  20  and  22 ). 
   The swivel or pivot joint  14  includes an engagement member  24 , such as the illustrated receiving coupling (having a thread formation  25 ), into which the handle  18  can be threaded. The coupling  24  includes a depending fork element  26  having inwardly extending pivot pin portions  28  that are engaged in a two pintle receiver  30 . The two pintle receiver  30  includes a first receiver  32  having a cylindrical shape, into which the coupling pin portions  28  are inserted to form a first hinge. A fastener  34  such as a bolt can be used to secure the coupling  24  to the receiver  30 . 
   The receiver  30  also includes a second receiver portion  36 , which is also cylindrical, that is configured to receive a pin  38  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) on the base portion  16 . The second receiver  36  is oriented perpendicular to the first receiver  32 . The second receiver  36  includes an open longitudinal wall  40  that is passed over the base portion pin  38  and is fastened closed by a fastener  42  (to secure the pin  38  therein), such as a threaded bolt or the like. The pivot joint  14  thus provides pivoting movement about two, perpendicular axes  20 ,  22 . 
   The base portion  16  includes a base member  44  and a pair of rails  46  mounted to an upper surface  48  of thereof. The rails  46  extend along the base member  44 , near the edges of the member  44 , along a length (longer dimension) thereof. The rails  46  can be mounted to the base member  44  by, for example, bolts, machine screws, rivets, adhesive, moldings, ultrasonic welding or the like. Although elongated, rectangular cross-sectional rails are shown, any shape element or elements that permit securing the wiper W to the mop  10  can be used. 
   The base member  44  includes a hinge region having the pin  38  that is received in the pivot joint  14 , formed as part thereof. The hinge region  50  can include one or more support and/or stop surfaces  52  (e.g., buttresses or structural elements) to provide additional support and strength to the base member  44 . 
   In a present embodiment, the base portion  16  and pivot joint  14  are formed from a rigid material. Although the specific material may need to be determined based upon the specific use and location of the flat mop (e.g., for use in locations having corrosive environments), it is anticipated that polymeric materials such as acetal, polypropylene, polyethylene, rigid nylon, styrene and the like can be used. Other suitable materials include thermoset plastics, thermoplastic resins and silicone. Those skilled in the art will recognize the side variety of materials that are suitable for such applications. Preferably, the material is such that it too can be cleaned and sterilized using steam, ethylene oxide (ETO), dry heat, or like cleaning materials and methods. It will also be appreciated that the base member  44  can be formed from a flexible material. 
   To assure good contact between the wiper W and the surface that is cleaned, a resilient pad  54  can be mounted to a bottom surface  56  of the base member. The pad  54  can be formed from a resilient/flexible material such as polyester, closed-cell foamed materials or the like. The resilient surface facilitates complete contact of the wiper W with the surface to be cleaned. Moreover, the resilient pad  54  will maintain the wiper W in place and prevent slippage of the wiper W along the base member  44 . The pad  54  can be secured to the bottom surface  56  of the base  44  member by, for example, (plastic) push pins  58  or the like. Metal fasteners can also be used. 
   As seen in the figures, and specifically referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , to secure the wiper W to the base portion  44 , the flat mop  10  includes a number of clips  60 . The clips  60  fit snuggly (that is, friction fit) over the wiper W and rails  46 , to secure the wiper W to the rails  46 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the wiper W is positioned over the bottom surface  56  of the base member  44  and is wrapped over the rails  46 . The clips  60  are then positioned over the wiper W and rails  46  and held in place by the resilient characteristic of the clips  60 . Accordingly, the clips  60  are formed from a resilient polymeric material, such as acetal, polypropylene, polyethylene, rigid nylon, styrene or the like. Although four clips  60  are shown, it will be appreciated that any number of clips  60  (preferably at least one per side or rail  46 ) can be used. 
   To prevent the clips  60  from becoming misplaced and to provide for ease of replacement of the clips  60 , the clips  60  are held to the base portion  16  by tethers  62  (see  FIG. 1 ). The tethers  62  are likewise secured to the base portion  16  to allow the clips  60  to be removed from the rails  46  without fear of being lost. The tethers  62  can be secured to the base portion  16  by, for example, a removable fastener (not shown) to permit the clips  60  and tethers  62  to be removed and replaced from the mop  10 . The clips  60  can alternately be tethered to the pivot joint  14  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ) or any other part of the mop  10 . The rails  16  can include longitudinal grooves  64  into which the clips  60  will snap-fit for a positive lock of the wipe to the mop  10 . 
   It will be appreciated that the present flat mop  10  provides a number of advantages over known mop systems. First, the wipers W are secured to the mop  10  in a manner that does not generate debris (such as wiper fibers). In addition, preferably, the mop  10  is formed from polymer or plastic material, (as compared to metal), and as such the potential for contamination due to rust, metal abrasion, magnetics and general metal particle shredding are eliminated. Moreover, the present clip  60  design permits the mop  10  to be loaded with multiple wipers W which can then be removed, one at a time, after use. 
   It will be appreciated that although the present flat mop system  10  is disclosed and discussed for use in controlled environments, it can be used in most any and all cleaning applications from cleanrooms to laboratories, hospitals, general commercial, industrial and residential facilities. It will also be appreciated that the present flat mop system  10  can be used in both dry and wet applications. It will further be appreciated that many parts that are described as attached, welded or the like can be formed molded to their respective attached parts, and conversely many parts that are described as molded with another part can be separately formed and attached, as by welding, fasteners or the like. 
   All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
   In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
   From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.