Patent Publication Number: US-2011070015-A1

Title: Mop head and method of mopping

Description:
Mop head, provided with nozzles for dispensing fluid to a surface, a fluid guide for guiding fluid to the nozzles, and a mop face that is to be passed along the surface 
     Moreover, the invention is related to a method of mopping. 
     Most conventional mops having fluid dispensing nozzles, such as steam nozzles, are provided with a flat mop face to which a cleaning fabric is connected. The dispensing of fluid such as steam to the floor will aid in providing for better and/or easier cleaning of the floor, at least as compared to mopping without dispensing fluid. However, the inherently rigid construction, the sometimes relatively heavy weight, and the arrangement of the fluid canals of these mop heads limit the use of such mops to substantially straight and horizontal surfaces, e.g. floors. 
     In a first aspect, the invention comprises a mop head, provided with nozzles for dispensing fluid to a surface, a fluid guide for guiding fluid to the nozzles, and a mop face that is to be passed along the surface, wherein the mop face comprises a mid face and opposite end faces, wherein at least one end face is arranged to extend at an angle with respect to the mid face, wherein the angle between the mid face and the at least one end face is larger than 180°. 
     The mop head according to the invention now allows for mopping and/or dispensing fluids to second surfaces, e.g. a wall or base board, that are at an angle, e.g. 90°, with respect to a first surface, e.g. a floor, by passing at least one end face of the mop head along the second surface. These second surfaces may be mopped at the same time as the first surface using the same mop. For example the floor is cleaned with the mid face and one end face, while a part of a wall and/or base board is cleaned with another end face of the mop. Thanks to the invention parts of a wall, base board or ramp can be mopped and at the same time fluid, particularly steam may be dispensed thereto, while mopping the floor. 
     Preferably, the nozzles and/or the fluid guide are arranged to dispense fluid to said second surface, for example the nozzles are provided along or in the at least one end face for cleaning the second surface, or at least the nozzles are arranged such that fluid is dispensed to said second surface. Preferably, the fluid guide extends through and/or a pivoting axis, e.g. a hinge, that permits the pivoting of the end faces with respect to the mid face about a pivot axis. 
     In a second aspect, the invention comprises a method of mopping, wherein by means of a mop a first surface is mopped and a fluid is dispensed to said first surface, wherein at the same time a second surface is mopped, that is at an angle of larger than 180° with the first surface, and a fluid is dispensed to said second surface using the same mop. 
    
    
     
       In clarification of the invention, these and further embodiments of the invention, and advantages thereof will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mop head; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional top view of a mop head; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional front view of a mop head simultaneously cleaning two surfaces; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a steam cleaning tool; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a steam cleaning tool. 
     
    
    
     In this description, identical or corresponding parts have identical or corresponding reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments shown should not be construed to be limitative in any manner and serve merely as illustration. 
       FIG. 1  shows a part of a mop  20  having a mop head  1 , provided with a mop face  2 , lying flat on a first surface  3 . Nozzles  4  are provided in the mop face  2  for dispensing fluid  6 , e.g. steam, to the first surface  3 . Preferably, the nozzles  4  are provided near and/or along a side of the mop face  2 , for example near the edge of the mop face  2 , and/or in a separate profile that extends along the mop face  2 . A cleaning fabric  11  may be connected to the mop face  2 . A fluid guide  5  for guiding fluid  6  to the nozzles  4  is provided within the mop head  1 , as shown in part in the sectional top view of  FIG. 2 . The mop face  3  comprises a mid face  7  and opposite end faces  8 , being part of a mid section  9  and opposite end sections  10 , respectively. 
     In  FIG. 1  one of the end faces  8  is shown in a flat position  8 A as well as a pivoted position  8 B such that it faces a second surface that is under an angle α with the first surface  3 . The end faces  8  are arranged to extend at an angle β of 180°, or larger, i.e. 270°, with respect to the mid face  7 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the angle β between the mid face  7  and the at least one end face  8  can be approximately 270°, such that the end face  8  can be used to mop a second surface that is under an angle α, e.g. of approximately 90°, with respect to the first surface  3 . The nozzles  4  are provided in and/or near the mid face  7  as well as the end faces  8 , such that nozzles  4  extending in and/or along the end face  8  may also be at an angle β of approximately 270° with respect to nozzles  4  extending in and/or along the mid face  7 . 
     In  FIG. 3  it is schematically illustrated that by means of the mop  20  a first surface  3  is mopped while a fluid  6  is dispensed through nozzles  4  and at the same time a second surface  3 B is mopped, that is at an angle α with the first surface  3 , while fluid  6  is dispensed to said second surface  3 B using the same mop  20 . Said fluid  6  preferably comprises steam delivered by a fluid supply, not shown, connected to the fluid guide(s)  5 . With the embodiment shown, a second surface  3 B can be cleaned while applying fluid and preferably steam to that second surface  3 B. For example, the first surface  3  may be a floor while the second surface  3 B may be a wall and/or a base board, for example. The end face  8  is arranged to pivot with respect to the mid face  7  about a pivoting axis P and about an angle α of preferably at least 90° for cleaning both surfaces  3 ,  3 B at the same time. Preferably, the cleaning fabric  11  is connected to the mop face  2  when cleaning the surfaces  3 ,  3 B. 
     In an embodiment a part of the fluid guide  5  extends substantially parallel to a pivoting axis P of the mid  7  and end face  8 , for a certain length L (see  FIG. 2 ), i.e. the longitudinal axis  1  of said part of the fluid guide  5  is approximately parallel or equal to the pivoting axis P. When, in this embodiment, the end face  8  is pivoted with respect to the mid face  7  a part of the fluid guide  5  is turned about the pivoting axis P, without being bended in a disadvantageous manner. By having a part of the fluid guide  5  extending parallel to the pivoting axis P, it can be prevented that the guide  5  is bended too much or too many times, and damages. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the mop head  1  may comprise first hinges  12  that are arranged to pivot the mid face  7  and the end faces  8  with respect to each other about pivot axis P. In an embodiment the fluid guide  5  is guided through these first hinges  12 . The fluid guide  5  may for example comprise a tube  5 A, wherein the tube  5 A is guided through the first hinges  12 . By guiding the guide  5  through the first hinge  12 , the guide  5  may be protected by the housing of the first hinge  12 . Moreover it is possible to pivot the end face  8  without bending the guide  5 . In an embodiment, the first hinge  12  has two connecting parts  12 A,  12 B that hinge with respect to each other around pivot axis P and preferably about the longitudinal axis  1  of the part of the fluid guide  5  that extends through said hinge  12 . The fluid guide  5  may extend from a fluid supply connected to the mop  20 , through a handle  13  of the mop  20 , through a second hinge  14 , from the mid section  9  to the at least one end section  10  to guide fluid  6  to the nozzles  4  of the mid face  7  and the end faces  8 . 
     In different embodiments, different mechanisms can be used to provide for a hinging connection between the mid face  7  and the end faces  8 . For example, living hinges can be used, flexible strips, bending material, etc. 
     Preferably, the mop head  1  is provided with at least one connection element  15  for cleaning fabric  11 , which connection element  15  is arranged to move along the mop face  2 . The connection elements  15  may comprise sliding elements arranged to slide along the mop face  2 . The movable connection elements  15  may be provided in the mid face  7  and/or the end faces  8 , preferably at least in the end faces  8 . When the end faces  8  are pivoted, the cleaning fabric  11  will tighten and at least partly move along the mop face  2 . By connection to the mop face  2  via the slidable, or at least movable, connection elements  15 , it will be possible to have the fabric  11  stay in relatively stable connection with the mop face  2  while a part of the fabric  11  slides along at least a part of the mop face  2 . In an embodiment a connection element  15  comprises Velcro for easy connection to the cleaning fabric  11 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a mop head  1  for example comprises a fixed end face  8  that is arranged to fixedly extend at angle β. The end face  8  may for example be fixed in an angled position with respect to the mid face  7 , e.g. having an angle β of 270°, without pivoting. Second surfaces  3 B that are at an angle α with respect to the first surface  3  can be mopped with the end face  8 . 
     In  FIG. 4  an embodiment of a mop head is shown, which will be referred to as a steam cleaning tool  100 , which mop head/steam cleaning tool  100  may be regarded as a separate invention, apart from the mop head  1 . The steam cleaning tool is particularly optimised for cleaning relatively soft and rough surfaces such as mattresses, pillows and/or cushions. The steam cleaning tool  100  may for example form an exchangeable element to be fitted to a steam supply and can for example be exchanged with the mop head  1 , to fit to the same steam supply. 
     In an embodiment, the tool  100  is provided with a cleaning face (i.e. mop face)  101 , nozzles  108  that are provided in and/or along the cleaning face  101 , and a fluid guide for guiding fluid to the nozzles  108 . The tool  100  is provided with a handgrip  102  that is connected directly to, or at least close to the cleaning face  101 , at the opposite side of the nozzles  108 . A steam or fluid supply may be connected to the handgrip  102 . Preferably, the longitudinal edges e 1 , e 2  of the cleaning face  101  are longer than its transversal edges e 3 , e 4 , whereas the handgrip  102  extends in a direction approximately parallel to and/or between the longitudinal edges e 1 , e 2 , at least seen from a direction perpendicular to the cleaning face  101 . The handgrip  102  has a connection  103  to the cleaning face  101 , or at least to a housing  104  or frame of the cleaning tool  100 , which connection  103  preferably is located near a longitudinal end section  106 , or at least between a mid section  105  and the longitudinal end section  106  of the cleaning face  101 . 
     In an embodiment, for comfort of use a longitudinal axis Lh of a part of the handgrip  102  may extend at a second angle γ 2 , which is near to 0°, for example between 0 and 45°, preferably between 0° and 30°, with respect to the longitudinal axis Lf of the cleaning face  101 . A second longitudinal axis Lh 2  of the handgrip  102  extends under an angle γ with respect to a longitudinal axis Lf of the cleaning face  101  of between 20° and 70° near said connection  103 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the steam cleaning tool  100 , the nozzles  108  of the tool  100  are arranged near and/or along at least one of the longitudinal edges e 1 , e 2  of the cleaning face  101 . For example, the nozzles  108  are arranged in a profile  107  along a longitudinal edge e 1  of the cleaning face  101 . 
     In a relatively easy-to-use embodiment, the connection  103  between the handgrip  102  and the cleaning face  101 , or at least the housing  104  thereof, is fixed, at least when using the steam cleaning tool  100 . For example, the handgrip  102  may also be put under different positions and/or angles γ with respect to the cleaning face  101 , but be fixed during use. In an embodiment, the handgrip  102  is permanently fixed with respect to the cleaning face  101 . For example, the handgrip  102  is integrated with the housing  104 . 
     A relatively controlled and efficient use of a steam cleaning tool  100  is as follows. The steam cleaning tool  100  is held over a preferably relatively soft surface, for example a mattress, pillow or cushion, particularly a mattress. The cleaning face  101  is passed along said surface while steam  109  is dispensed by the tool  100  to said surface. While steam cleaning, the tool  100  can for example be moved in a way that is similar to applying stucco (i.e. plaster), which, using hindsight, seemed to be a convenient way for steam cleaning relatively soft and resistant surfaces such as mattresses, pillows and/or cushions. In an exemplary embodiment, the steam cleaning tool  100  therefore have design aspects similar to stucco tool (see for example  FIG. 5 ). The cleaning face  101  is moved along said surface while the hand of the user holds the grip  102  relatively close to the cleaning face  101 , for example directly above the cleaning face  101 , preferably less than 15 cm from the cleaning face. At the same time, the hand is protected by the housing  104  or frame from heat and/or steam coming from the cleaning face  101  and/or nozzles  108 . Among others, the fixed grip  102  aids the user in sliding the tool  100  over relatively soft surfaces, e.g. mattresses, that at the same time are resistant to flat humid surfaces, e.g. steam/mop heads. 
     With such a method and tool  100  especially hospital mattresses can be steamed cleaned in a convenient manner, i.e. the steam cleaning tool  100  can be slid over the mattress in a relatively smooth manner, as opposed to most other steam cleaning devices. In particular, the configuration of the handgrip  102  with respect to the cleaning face  101  provides for a convenient way of steam cleaning especially mattresses, as was confirmed by tests. 
     It shall be obvious that the invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments that are represented in the description and the drawings. Many variations and combinations are possible within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. Combinations of one or more aspects of the embodiments or combinations of different embodiments are possible within the framework of the invention. All comparable variations are understood to fall within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims.