Mops And Heads Patents (Class 15/228)
  • Patent number: 11930976
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
  • Patent number: 11871885
    Abstract: A mop head with a structural base and a resilient, compressible cover defining an internal void volume forming a reservoir that can be at least partially filled with a cleaning liquid through a surface opening in the cover. The structural base includes one or more liquid discharge channels which are normally closed off by spring-biased stopper members to prevent discharge of the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid may be selectively discharged by application of compressing force against the cover during use. The application of such compressing force displaces the stopper members thereby opening the liquid discharge channels and permitting the cleaning liquid to flow outwardly through the discharge channels and away from the mop head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEC INC.
    Inventors: Layne Ross, Preston Roe
  • Patent number: 11864703
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a floor includes providing a floor cleaning apparatus with a cleaning pad having at least two parallel strips of material including at least one strip of relatively lower absorbency material, and at least one strip of relatively higher absorbency material. All of the strips of relatively lower absorbency material and relatively higher absorbency material are substantially equal height and form a substantially coplanar floor engaging surface. The floor engaging surface has a total surface area formed by the strips of relatively lower absorbency material and relatively higher absorbency material that comprise most of the total surface area of the floor engaging surface. A cleaning pad displacement apparatus is also provided. The method of cleaning the floor further incudes displacing the cleaning pad across the floor with the cleaning pad displacement apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bonakemi USA, Incorporated
    Inventor: Todd Weyhmiller
  • Patent number: 11825933
    Abstract: A liquid-permeable brush roll may include a main body having a radial surface, a cavity having an open end, a stopper removably coupled to the main body at the open end of the cavity, and one or more weep holes defined in the radial surface of the main body and fluidly coupled to the cavity. The cavity extends within the main body and is configured to store a cleaning fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Marian Heman-Ackah, Douglas Petro
  • Patent number: 11800962
    Abstract: A mop base that is particularly practical in its use, above all when releasing a cloth retained along its transverse edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Marco Zorzo
  • Patent number: 11791028
    Abstract: A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hero Health Inc.
    Inventors: Kutadgu Akdogan, Christian Von Heifner, Maya Kelley, Greggory Paul Hagopian, Kalyan C. Vepuri
  • Patent number: 11779166
    Abstract: A bath scrubber includes an elongated handle, a scrubbing member, and a tightening member. The handle has a positioning structure at one end thereof, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The positioning structure includes a first position-limiting hole and a second position-limiting hole run through the first side and the second side, and a first anti-slip portion located between the first and second position-limiting holes. The first and second position-limiting holes and the first anti-slip portion are arranged on an axis. The tightening member is fastened to the scrubbing member and inserted through the first and second position-limiting holes to fix the scrubbing member on the handle and to make the scrubbing member engage in the first anti-slip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLIVETTE INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Che-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 11759084
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: William Harrington, John A. Triunfo, Jr., Paul H. Adams, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11589724
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
  • Patent number: 11577281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning press rolls for electrodes, comprising two or more cleaning units provided with cleaning members having grains. According to the present invention, the apparatus for cleaning press rolls for electrodes comprises a plurality of, i.e., two or more, cleaning units, wherein the cleaning units respectively comprise cleaning members having grains with different directions, thus allowing a residual cleaning solution and contaminants to be effectively removed. In addition, when press rolls are cleaned using the apparatus for cleaning press rolls according to the present invention, an aqueous cleaning solution and an alcoholic cleaning solution, which have different properties, can be used together, and after cleaning, the cleaning solutions do not remain on the press rolls, and thus subsequently, secondary contamination of electrodes is prevented, and accordingly, when electrodes are manufactured, the occurrence of defects in the electrodes can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Seung Gi Yang, Kun Ha Park, Ung Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 11564547
    Abstract: A cleaning pad includes a mounting surface disposed on a top side of the cleaning pad. The mounting surface is configured to provide a mechanical connection to an autonomous cleaning robot. The cleaning pad includes a first outer layer disposed on a bottom side of the cleaning pad, the first outer layer having a first coefficient of friction; and a second outer layer disposed on the bottom side of the cleaning pad, the second outer layer having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11541431
    Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Ashish K. Jha, Nikhil P. Dani, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk, Bryan K. Parrish
  • Patent number: 11517169
    Abstract: A surface cleaning device comprises a cleaning head having a housing, a fluid tank configured to store fluid and be in fluid communication with the cleaning head, a cleaning pad coupled to the cleaning head and configured to remove debris from a surface, and a plurality of nozzles distributed along the cleaning pad, wherein the fluid tank is configured to release at least some of the fluid such that the released fluid flows through the plurality of nozzles onto the cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ashok Khubani
  • Patent number: 11503977
    Abstract: Pre-moistened cleaning pads, for example floor cleaning pads, that are suitable for attachment to an implement, such as a cleaning pad holder and handle, wherein the pre-moistened cleaning pads have an attachment portion comprising pulp fibers and a liquid composition, and methods for making same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company LLC
    Inventors: Cunming Song, Hailing Bao, Antonius Lambertus DeBeer
  • Patent number: 11471021
    Abstract: An anti-detachment device for the tabs for a cleaning cloth is associated with the relative base which is able to ensure they remain in place during the relative cleaning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Marco Zorzo
  • Patent number: 11433431
    Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Ashish K. Jha, Nikhil P. Dani, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk, Bryan K. Parrish
  • Patent number: 11406241
    Abstract: A disposable cleaning pad having a grout cleaning brush includes a bristle attachment for use with a disposable pad. The bristle attachment is molded into a rectangular base piece forming a stand-alone removable brush that can be removably attached to a disposable pad. A top rectangular piece of similar dimensions to the base is connected to the end portion of the base by way of a hinge. The ends opposite the hinge have mating clasps that allow for the brush assembly to be securely yet removably fastened to an existing cleaning pad which is then mounted in the normal manner to the cleaning system. The brush assembly enjoys a longer life than that expected from a disposable cleaning pad thus the brush assembly may be reused many times before it needs to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Leonard Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 11311166
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a fluid distribution system for storing and delivering fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and includes a steam nozzle in fluid communication with a steam generator. A pad mounting plate is adapted to mount a cleaning pad to the apparatus, and has a steam orifice in fluid communication with the steam nozzle. A flexible seal is provided between the steam nozzle and the pad mounting plate to seals a space between the steam nozzle and the steam orifice to prevent steam leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Kan Yuk Yiu, Jian Yun Pi
  • Patent number: 11297996
    Abstract: A floor mop including a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, a multidirectional joint coupled to the shaft opposite the handle, and a mop plate. The mop plate is unitarily formed and includes an upper plate including an upper surface, a substantially parallel lower plate including a lower surface, lateral faces extending between the upper and lower plate, and at least one internal web extending between the upper and lower plates. The upper plate, lower plate, lateral faces and at least one internal web are unitarily formed. The mop plate and the multidirectional joint further include complementary coupling structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Patent number: 11272822
    Abstract: A pad particularly adapted for surface cleaning. The pad includes an absorbent core having the ability to absorb and retain liquid material, and a liner layer in contact with and covering at least one side of the absorbent core. The liner layer has the ability to retain and wick liquid material through the liner layer. Cleaning apparatus containing such pads and methods of using such pads are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Marcus Williams, Joseph M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11071433
    Abstract: A self-wringing foam cotton mop includes a mop rod and a foam cotton head connected to a bottom end of the mop rod. A wringing frame is disposed on the mop rod. During mopping, the foam cotton head is separated from the wringing frame. A squeezing mechanism capable is disposed on the wringing frame. The position of the squeezing mechanism when the foam cotton head is moved up relative to the wringing frame is different from the position of the squeezing mechanism when the foam cotton head is moved down relative to the wringing frame, and a first amount of deformation generated by the foam cotton head during an upward movement of the foam cotton head relative to the wringing frame is greater than the second amount of deformation generated by the foam cotton head during a downward movement of the foam cotton head relative to the wringing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ningbo Blue Fish Home Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min He, Jian Wu
  • Patent number: 11027580
    Abstract: A wheel for an autonomous cleaning robot that maneuvers the robot on a floor surface includes a tire having first and second opposing outer edges and a middle portion having a tread pattern between the first and second outer edges, the tread pattern comprising a plurality of raised tread having trenches therebetween. Each of the plurality of raised tread includes a first raised tread portion extending from the first outer edge to the middle portion and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges; a second raised tread portion extending at an angle away from the first raised tread portion; and a third raised tread portion extending from the second raised tread portion to the second outer edge and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges, the third raised tread portion being laterally offset from the first raised tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Robin Grace, Lindsay Louise Wright, Timothy James Haughton, Marcus R. Williams, John Reimels, Timothy William Fleck
  • Patent number: 11019977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning head, comprising: —a base part with a central axis; and —a number of arms extending radially with respect to the central axis each having a first end that is connected to said base part, and a second free end, wherein said second end is displaceable between a starting position in which the second end of the arms is near the central axis, and a use mode wherein the second end of the arms is at a position remote from the central axis, and wherein the second ends of the arms in the use mode are in a same plane as said base part. The cleaning head is characterized in that the arms in de use mode are bendable in tangential direction with respect to each other around said base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Boudali Bahri
  • Patent number: 10842343
    Abstract: A cleaning tool incorporating a resilient mop head having an attachment assembly extending away from the mop head for operative connection to an elongated handle structure. An adjustable force applicator is disposed in substantially coaxial relation to the elongated handle structure between the handle structure and the attachment assembly. Adjustment of the force applicator by a user permits the application of variable compressive force against the attachment assembly thereby controlling the degree of permitted mop head movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CONTEC INC.
    Inventor: Donald L. Batts
  • Patent number: 10617273
    Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has a laminate construction. The cleaning article has a width and comprises a sheet, having an inwardly oriented face and an outwardly oriented face opposed thereto. An absorbent core is joined to one face of the sheet. A hydrophilic gather strip element having strips is joined to the sheet. The core has a core width and the gather strip element has a gather strip width which is greater than the core width. The differential widths provide a construction which allows the strips to advantageously present a dynamically changing area to the target surface during cleaning, under normal usage conditions. By changing the surface area, more liquids, and associated debris, can be cleaned from the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Nicola John Policicchio
  • Patent number: 10518291
    Abstract: A device and method for applying a material to a surface to repair, restore or refurbish at least a portion of the surface. The device has a sensor and one or more applicator nozzles. The device further includes a reservoir for containing a material to be deposited, and a CPU. The method includes providing information from the sensor about the surface to the CPU, which uses the information to identify where the material is to be deposited and/or how much to deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephan Gary Bush, Ted De Castro, Dana Paul Gruenbacher, Kenneth Lee Morand, Thomas Elliot Rabe, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Todd Michael Wernicke
  • Patent number: 10433701
    Abstract: A mop head includes a main body portion and first and second ear portions connected to the main body portion. The ear portions each have flat bottom surface that is coplanar with a flat bottom surface of the main body portion when the ear portion is in an undeflected state. The ear portions are resiliently deflectable relative the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BONAKEMI USA, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kristi Correll, Paul Fair, Jamie Kummerfield
  • Patent number: 10390673
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cleaning robot, including a cleaning agent mopping device (1), a cleaning agent absorbing device (2), a water wiping (3) and washing device (4), and a water absorbing device arranged in turn along a moving direction of the cleaning robot. Each time when the cleaning robot of the present disclosure works to clean the to-be-cleaned surface, the cleaning robot can perform the four steps including cleaning agent mopping, cleaning agent absorbing, water wiping and washing, and water absorbing, thus, both hydrolysable and non-hydrolysable stains can be effectively cleaned by the cleaning robot. Thus, the cleaning robot is very practical, easy to operate, and simple to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TOPBAND CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Shilin Liang
  • Patent number: 10327615
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a fluid distribution system for storing and delivering fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and includes a steam nozzle in fluid communication with a steam generator. A pad mounting plate is adapted to mount a cleaning pad to the apparatus, and has a steam orifice in fluid communication with the steam nozzle. A flexible seal is provided between the steam nozzle and the pad mounting plate to seals a space between the steam nozzle and the steam orifice to prevent steam leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Huang, Jian Yun Pi
  • Patent number: 10231593
    Abstract: A cleaning pad including at least one strip of relatively lower absorbency material, at least one strip of relatively higher absorbency material and at least one strip of scrubbing/bristle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BONAKEMI USA, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Todd Weyhmiller
  • Patent number: 10219673
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam mop, comprises a steam generator and a steam outlet fluidly connected to the steam generator to deliver steam to a floor surface. Steam from the steam generator can be applied to a cleaning composition applied to a stain on the floor surface. The cleaning composition can be applied directly to the floor surface, or indirectly via a cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay M. Kellis, Kevin Haley, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Joseph Michael White
  • Patent number: 9994198
    Abstract: A cleaning implement has one or more strategically placed brushes, stubs and/or permanent/disposable towels which engage the surfaces of a movable surface (including wheels or tires), and unique mechanical motion assistance means powered by motion, inertia and/or mechanical/electrical batteries to allow for the cleaning of a wheel or tire with a single hand operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Eduardo Emanuelli
  • Patent number: 9974381
    Abstract: A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent cleaning material, such as bristles, and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleaning solution. The pad/cleaning solution may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution when that pad/cleaning solution is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: The procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Adam Robert-George Shafer, David William Schuller, Igor Ivanovich Zemskov, Rainer Bernhard Teufel, Richard Lee Lane, Sun-Jan Alan Huang
  • Patent number: 9962056
    Abstract: A self-wringing flat mop includes a flat mop head, a mop handle and a holding sleeve. The mop handle includes a connection rod, a holding rod, and a transmission assembly. The holding rod is operated to rotate. The transmission assembly transmits rotation to the connection rod. The connection rod drives the flat mop head to collapse and wring out water. The transmission assembly includes a first engaging member and a second engaging member for undertaking engagement-disengagement actions. The holding rod includes a limiting rib. The holding sleeve sleeves the mop handle and includes a control lever. The control lever is turned pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve to separate the first engaging member from the second engaging member and restore the collapsed flat mop head to the flattened state. The holding sleeve includes a unidirectional limiting ring corresponding to the limiting rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: JIAXING JACKSON TRAVEL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xue Lin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9955842
    Abstract: A flat wiping cloth for a wiping cloth holder includes an elongated base. The elongated base includes a main cleaning surface and a sheetlike textile material. The sheetlike textile material does not include a base fabric with threads attached to the main cleaning surface. At least one cleaning lip is formed on the elongated base. The at least one cleaning lip is swivelable relative to the elongated base about a swiveling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Andreas Eisenhut, Ulla Reiman, Ari Saari, Dennis Smeijer
  • Patent number: 9782055
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a frame and an elongated strip of cleaning material wound into a roll rotatably mounted on a roller support. A slave roller having a core and a cylindrical tube disposed over the core is mounted to the frame so that the slave roller is spaced and parallel to the roll. A torsion spring is secured to and between the core and the tube so that, as the tube rotates relative to the core, the spring is wound. The strip of cleaning material is wound in between the roll and slave roller so that, upon rotation of the first roller in a first rotational direction, the cleaning material is unwound from the slave roller onto the roll while simultaneously winding the torsion spring. Upon disengagement of the first roller from the cleaning surface, the torsion spring rotatably drives the slave roller and rewinds the portion of the strip around the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Peter John P. Williamson
  • Patent number: 9725012
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolai Romanov, Michael Dooley, Paolo Pirjanian
  • Patent number: 9649004
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a steam cleaning device, the device comprising a supply of water for generating steam, and a steam cleaning head for ejecting steam generated from said supply of water in proximity to a surface to be cleaned, wherein the steam cleaning head comprises a portion for receiving a composition adapted to be used in conjunction with such a steam cleaning device, the portion being perfused by steam during ejection by said steam cleaning head of steam generated from said supply of water. This has the advantage that the composition may be changed by a user dependent only on the user's requirements and the rate of consumption of the composition, and independently of both the rate of consumption of water by the steam cleaning device and any need to remove, clean or replace a cleaning cloth mounted on the steam cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Houghton, Kevin Appleby, Christopher Hussey
  • Patent number: 9474429
    Abstract: A filter bucket and a mop bucket movable between an upstanding use position and a drain position where, when the mop bucket is in the drain position, water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket. A fluid flow path connecting the filter bucket to the mop bucket such that water in the filter bucket will flow through the fluid flow path from the filter bucket to the mop bucket. A filter located in the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Scott Kepner, Frank Wang, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kim Chow
  • Patent number: 9433333
    Abstract: A duster including a sleeve and one or more fibrous bundles attached to the sleeve. The sleeve is constructed to include one or more channels within the interior of the sleeve for receiving prongs of a duster handle. The fibrous bundles are attached to the surface of the sleeve or through the sleeve. The channels within the sleeve may include one or more narrowing areas to facilitate retention of the prongs within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: EZ PRODUCTS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph M Colangelo
  • Patent number: 9339165
    Abstract: A pad for cleaning a hard target surface. The pad may be removably attached to a device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The pad has a predetermined 90 degree peel force to prevent undue removal force from the device and prevent the pad from coming loose during the cleaning task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kerry Andrew Vetter, David John Hoying, Roberto Manuel Matos, Mimi Gizaw Daniel, Hirotaka Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 9307883
    Abstract: A mop includes a first section having a first side, a second section having a second side, and an embedded, semi-permeable layer disposed between the first and second sections to manage an amount of liquid flowing from the first side to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Bober, Alfred A. Widmer, Thomas Tement, Pedro Manuel Esteves Lopes, Mehmet Avci
  • Mop
    Patent number: 9226638
    Abstract: A mop is disclosed. The mop comprises a mop head (1), a mop shank (2) and a joint (3) connecting the mop head (1) and the mop shank (2), wherein the mop head (1) comprises a cleaning face which is disposed to enable at least one part of the cleaning face to be dynamically switched relative to the other parts thereof, for forming a coplanar state or a non-coplanar state with the other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Feng Zeng, Weilai Jiang, Liang Cheng, Gianmauro Vella
  • Patent number: 9204775
    Abstract: A scrubbing strip usable for cleaning a floor or other hard surface. The scrubbing strip may comprise a background and a matrix of outwardly-extending protrusions. The protrusions provide a surface topography suitable for reaching into grout lines and other recess of highly textured surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David John Pung, Sylvie Marguerite Linneman, George Junior Angelo Patrick
  • Patent number: 9204776
    Abstract: A multi-purpose mop apparatus includes a mop having a mop handle and a cleaning attachment removably mounted thereon, the mop handle further comprising a base and a grip installed thereon for manipulating the mop during use. The cleaning attachment may be a mop material cinched onto the base of the mop handle using a drawstring or may be a squeegee strapped thereto. A removable extension handle may be pivotally installed on the mop handle and configured for use in multiple configurations and modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Minh T. Dinh
  • Patent number: 9198555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mop cover (1) for a cleaning device. Said mop cover comprises at least two layers (2, 3) that are interlinked in a manner so as to configure a pouch-type mop cover (1) having an insertion end (4). The layers (2, 3), on their faces (5, 6) facing away from each other, configure a wiping surface and the insertion end (4) can be permanently closed in some sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Ulla Tannijärvi, Keijo Lindholm
  • Patent number: 9161672
    Abstract: A laminated flat mop head which includes a flat foam layer laminated with a fabric material without using glue or adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Foamted International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fred Pisacane
  • Patent number: 9144364
    Abstract: In a wet sheet, hydrophobic outer layer sheets are disposed on both sides of the hydrophilic inner layer sheet impregnated with cleaning solution. Each of intermediate layer sheets is folded over so as to form a space having an opening. End portions of the inner layer sheet are inserted into the spaces of the intermediate layer sheets. The inner layer sheet can come in contact with the outer layer sheet via a space between the intermediate layer sheets. With such a construction, sufficiently high frictional force acts between the inner layer sheet and the outer layer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Suda, Satoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9072419
    Abstract: A mop with a disposable cloth retaining assembly where the cloth is retained by cloth retaining members attached to the bottom of attaching plates on a main body, with a right and left cloth releasing plate between the main body and the cleaning cloth, the cloth releasing plates retained in a closed position against the main body by ratchet teeth engaged in notches of a respective notched collar to overcome a force of downward force compression springs. When a retaining force is removed, the downward spring force of force compression springs causes the cloth releasing plate to move away from the main body, the downward movement of the cloth releasing plate being limited. The cleaning cloth is separated from the cloth retaining members so that the dirty cleaning cloth falls away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Worldwide Integrated Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred I. Morad, William P. Camp, Jr., George Mardres
  • Patent number: 9032584
    Abstract: A handheld cleaning tool kit including a handheld base with interchangeable cleaning sheets formed of cleaning substances attached thereto and a grip body, having a non-slip exterior surface, is disposed on a bottom surface thereof. Securement structures are disposed within the top surface proximal to each corner thereof. Each securement structure includes a flexible mount portion and a cross-shaped slit, which deflects under finger pressure into a recess directly below the slit, centrally disposed within the mount portion to secure a portion of the cleaning sheet to the body upon pushing the portion of the cleaning sheet through the slit and into the recess. A handle is centrally disposed on the top surface. A magnetic frame includes a pair of clip members disposed in a first portion to removably retain the base against a front surface thereof and a cleaning sheet dispenser disposed within a second portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Casey McAvoy