Patent Abstract:
A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The fabric steam pad comprises at least one cleaning fabric layer, and a corresponding layer of fabric where the fabric layers are joined around the perimeter. The fabric steam pad has at least one fastener band secured to the mesh fabric in a position to correspond to at least one fastener anchored on the steam mop frame and increased structural stability of the pad to avoid buckling of the fabric at the edges. A warp knit mesh layer may be disposed on the fabric surface opposed to the cleaning surface.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to steam mops, and more particularly to a fabric steam pad 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. 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. In addition, the cloth covers must be carefully attached so as to not to cover the front or back of the brush attachment. 
     Notwithstanding the wide variety of steam generating appliances and accessories available, it is desirable to provide an efficient steam mop pad that will improve the steaming surface area of the steam cleaners and provide the necessary venting of steam to avoid formation of excess liquid steam condensate when cleaning flooring and other surfaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a multilayer fabric steam pad to be mounted on a steam pad frame of a steam mop is provided. The fabric steam pad includes at least two substantially planar fabric layers having a cleaning layer and a backing layer with at least one fastener region secured to the backing layer for removeably attaching the pad to the steam frame. The fastener may be a conventional hook-and-loop fastener, commonly known as “Velcro.” In a preferred embodiment a mesh layer is joined to the fabric backing layer on the outer surface opposite from the cleaning layer. 
     In another embodiment, the fabric steam pad is shaped to conform to the profile of the steam frame and is somewhat larger than the footprint and extends between about 5.0 to 25 mm on each edge of the frame to avoid buckling of the fabric during use and to keep the perimeter of the fabric dry. This also allows the fabric to help dry the cleaned surface by absorbing excessive steam condensation. The fabric has some dimensional stability imparted by the various layers so that it may be easily attached and removed from the frame. The pad includes at least two fabric layers and may include a corresponding mesh layer with all the layers of fabric joined around the perimeter. At least one section of a fastener material is positioned on a fabric layer opposite the cleaning surface and stitched through the fabric layers. When the fastener is Velcro, the hooks are mounted on a ribbon that is stitched through the layers to provide additional stiffness to the pad. The pad may be any geometric shape, such as rectangular, circular or triangular that corresponds to the shape of the steam frame. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a fabric steam pad 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 for a fabric pad that allows steam to penetrate the fabric layers and yet escape at the edges to provide sufficient venting to avoid condensation behind the pad. 
     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 steam mop housing and steam frame including a fabric steam pad constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the outside cleaning surface of the fabric steam pad in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the upper surface of the fabric steam pad of  FIG. 2  showing hook-and-loop fastening bands on the upper surface; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the bottom cleaning surface of the steam frame of the mop in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the fabric steam pad across line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a push-pull floor steam mop including a housing and steam frame as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view showing reservoir, pump and boiler in the steam mop housing; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the principal elements of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the mop of  FIG. 1  with a fabric steam pad mounted on the steam frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the lower end  11   a  of a steam mop  11  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) having an elongated housing  12  with a connecting pole  13  at one end and a steam frame  14  at the opposite end. Steam frame  14  has a solid upper surface  14   a  and an opposed bottom cleaning surface  14   b  shown in detail in  FIG. 4 . A fabric steam pad  16  is removeably fastened to bottom cleaning surface  14   b.    
     Mop housing  12  includes a water container or tank  21  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  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 . Alternatively, the water may be fed by an electronic pump that pumps in response to a motion sensor, a pressurized, or a drip pump. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , steam pad  16  constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention has a lower cleaning surface  16   a  and an upper fastening surface  16   b . As shown in  FIG. 3 , fastening surface  16   b  has a pair of hook and loop fastening bands  17  mounted thereon. Fastener bands  17  are secured to the fabric layers of pad  16  by stitching along the edges there of through the fabric layers. Fastener bands  17  impart some structural stiffness to the fabric layers as described below. Steam pad  16  is attached to steam frame bottom surface  14   b  by fastener bands  17  as described below in connection with  FIG. 4 . 
     A plan view of the bottom cleaning surface  14   b  of steam frame  14  of the steam mops  11  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Steam pad frame  14  is substantially rectangular in shape and includes a central steam opening  26  and cavity  27 . Steam generated in steam boiler  22  dispenses steam into frame  14  through central steam opening  26  of frame  14  into cavity  27 . Here, bottom of steam frame  14   b  includes four hook-and-loop fastener receiving elements  18  to be attached to fastener bands  17  on upper surface  16   a  of steam pad frame  14 . Steam frame  14  includes a front wall  81 , a rear wall  82 , a right side wall  83  and a left side wall  84 . Bottom surface  14   b  of steam frame  14  includes a plurality of vanes  86  extending from steam opening  26  and cavity  27  to the edge of frame  14  and grooves  87  in frame bottom surface  14   b  and feet  89 . Vanes  86  extend about 50 to 150 mm above frame bottom surface  14   b . Vanes  86  help disperse the steam uniformly throughout frame  14  when in use and allow for venting of steam between fabric pad  16  and frame bottom surface  14   b . Feet  89  also provide leveling and stability when mopping. In use steam is released from beneath steam pad  16  at the edge of frame  14  when steam pad  16  is attached to steam frame  14 . Vanes  86  extend between about 5 to 15 mm above the bottom solid surface of bottom  14   b  so that open spaces  90  between fabric pad  16  and frame  14  operate as vents to release steam before it condenses and wets the fabric layers of pad  16 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of fabric steam pad  16  constructed and arranged in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention taken along line  5 - 5 . Fabric steam pad  16  has a first lower fabric cleaning layer  51  that faces the surface to be cleaned and a corresponding second upper fabric layer  52 , with a mesh layer  53  disposed on the outer surface of upper layer  52 . Upper fabric layer  52  is placed against first fabric layer  51  and both layers are turned and mesh layer  53  is turned and then all layers are stitched along this periphery at a hemline  54 . Fastener bands  17  are stitched through the three layers of fabric at stitch lines  57 . In another embodiment, fastener bands  17  are stitched or glued or fused to mesh layer  53 . Fastener bands  17  are ribbons of Velcro receiving fasteners with hooks  18  adhered to a ribbon  19 . This provides stiffness to pad  16 . In this embodiment, fabric steam pad  16  is substantially rectangular; however, it may be any convenient geometric shape, such as a triangle or circle. 
     Fabric layers  51  and  52  are velour fabrics and may be the same construction or different. Mesh layer  53  is a warp knit fabric having an exterior layer, fishnet construction  53   a  and an interior more tightly knit layer  53   b  fused together. Fastener bands  17  are disposed on fishnet surface  53   a  and attached to pad  16  by stitches  57 . 
     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, acrylic, polyamide or polyolefin fiber. Generally, steam pad  16  is formed from two layers of microfiber polyester fabric or blend and one mesh layer stitched about the perimeter. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, first fabric layer  51  and second fabric layer  52  are a velour microfiber material. Mesh layer  53  is a two-layer warp knit fused together with exposed layer  53   a  having a fish net appearance and inner  53   b  layer a tighter knit. All the layers are turned and joined about the perimeter by a seam  54 . Fastener bands  17  are disposed on mesh layer  53  and stitched through the three layers of fabric steam pad  16  by a seam  57 . Preferably, the fabric of pad  16  is a microfiber. Most preferably, the microfiber is a synthetic polyester or polyester and polyamide blend microfiber. This fabric steam pad is substantially rectangular; however, it may be any convenient geometric shape, such as a triangle or circle. First fabric layer  51  and second fabric layer  52  formed of a microfiber, such as a polyester microfiber have two velour surfaces. Fasteners  17  are a Velcro-type fastener. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  are a front plan and sectional views, respectively, of the elements in housing  12  of steam mop  11 . Housing  12  includes a water container or tank  21 , connected to a one-way pump  23  and a 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  in the illustrated embodiment 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 . One-way inlet and outlet valves can have a wide variety of designs. For example, they may be designed with small sealing plates and a spring or a ball bearing and spring as is well known in the art. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the mop of  FIG. 1  as a floor mop with fabric steam pad  16  mounted on steam frame  14 . Fabric steam pad  16  is attached to steam pad frame  14  by fasteners (not shown). Also, in this example, fabric steam pad is larger than steam pad frame to provide increased steam cleaning surface area. 
     EXAMPLES 
     The following are examples of fabric steam pads constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, but are not intended to be presented in a limiting sense. 
     1. Pad 1 is 70% polyester, 30% nylon and weights 1.4 oz per square yard, but can vary from 0.5 to 3.0 ounces per yard. The first and second fabric layer is made of terry and has a density of 266-273 loops per square inch. The third mesh layer is made of a warp knit having an exterior layer and an interior layer fused together where the density of the interior layer is 15 knits per inch from left to right, 25 knits from top to bottom and the exterior layer is 4 knits per inch from left to right, 6 knits from top to bottom. 
     2. Pad 2 is 100% polyester and weights 1.6 oz per square yard. The first and second fabric layer is made of terry and has a density of 221-240 loops per square inch. The third mesh layer is made of a warp knit having an exterior layer and an interior layer fused together where the density of the interior layer is 25 knits per inch from left to right, 18 knits from top to bottom and the exterior layer is 6.5 knits per inch from left to right, 5 knits from top to bottom. 
     3. Pad 3 is 100% polyester and weights 1.6 oz per square yard. The first and second fabric layer is made of terry and has a density of 286-299 loops per square inch. The third mesh layer is made of a warp knit having an exterior layer and an interior layer fused together where the density of the interior layer is 17.5 knits per inch from left to right, 25 knits from top to bottom and the exterior layer is 4.5 knits per inch from left to right, 6 knits from top to bottom. 
     4. Pad 4 is 100% polyester and weights 1.6 oz per square yard. The first and second fabric layer is made of terry and has a density of 260-273 loops per square inch. The third mesh layer is made of a warp knit having an exterior layer and an interior layer fused together where the density of the interior layer is 12 knits per inch from left to right, 24.5 knits from top to bottom and the exterior layer is 3.5 knits per inch from left to right, 5.75 knits from top to bottom. 
     Thus, fabric layers  51  and  52  may be between 0.5 to 3 or 4 ounces per square yard and have velour surfaces on one or both surfaces of varying density. Mesh layer is a warp knit having an exterior fishnet knit layer and an interior layer facing with at least one fastener section on the fishnet knit surface corresponding to the fastener anchor on the bottom surface of the steam mop frame. 
     The dimensions of the pad depend on the dimensions of the steam mop frame and the type of boiler used. The dimensions chosen for the fabric steam pad preferably provides sufficient dry steam at suitable moisture content and temperature based on the boiler used in the steam mop. 
     Steam floor mop  11  provides many advantages for ease of use. 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. The stiffness of the pad in combination with the space between the fabric and bottom of steam frame due to the Velcro hooks and ribs provides for venting of steam around all edges of the steam frame. The steam mop is designed as a low pressure or non-pressurized system so it is safer for the user to use with the amount of water routed to the boiler controlled, so that the boiler can create steam in a short period of time. 
     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 pad frame attachment with a fabric pad cover in accordance with the invention provides a vast improvement over placing a towel onto a bristle attachment for a steam cleaned. It avoids puncture of the cloth by the bristles. Moreover, the fabric cover is easily installed and replaced.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3