TUFTED MOP

Abstract

A mop includes a backing having rows of tightly reversely twisted coiled tufts projecting from a bottom side. The tufts are formed from super-thin fabric such as chenille microfiber twisted prior to tufting at 200 to 1000 per 10 cm prior to tuft formation. The tufts are reversely twisted subsequent to tuft formation. A lining overlies the top side of the backing and includes pockets attached at the ends for receiving a mop head without the need for fasteners.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cleaning tools and, in particular, to a mop having tightly coiled tufted mop elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a cleaning tool, the mop is widely used in almost every trade. Currently, the mops on market are basically of the same structure with the mop mat and mop head fixed together. The fasteners used to fix mop mat and mop head easily become rusty and eroded. Also, because the mop mat and mop head are fixed together, it is troublesome to clean it after use. Certainly, the market is having other types of mops available, such as a mop cloth of which the technology was published by the State Intellectual Property Office of P.R.C in Oct. 27, 1999, with application number of CN98217546.9. In its design, the back of the mop cloth is slipped on a mop handle together with a mop head. The mop cloth is a whole part combined by many mop strips. The mop strips are divided into two sets of the same shape. One side of it is braided and connected into a fixed long shape. The other side is constructed with long strips of the same shape. The mop strips are fastened and connected with a liner through braids in the middle. The two sides of mop strips are overlapped to form the whole mop cloth. On account of its weak structure, the mop has many flaws in its fastening, and the mop strips are easily damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of this new type of application is to resolve the problems of inconvenience of using, large foot-print and difficulties to clean as commonly seen among existing mops, and provide a mop assembly with a detachable mop and mop head to allow easy replacing and removing, and benefit users with a small foot-print and ease of cleaning.

This new type of application involves the structure of a mop, in which some fabric strips are deployed in coiled tufts under a backing panel. Two fastening blocks are set upon the said joint layer, which is covered by a lining panel. The two sides of fastening blocks are connected with the lining panel. The two fastening blocks are located on opposite ends of the backing layer. One fastening block is in the form of an inwardly opening pocket. The other fastening block forms a through-hole sleeve on the other side of the joint layer. Both openings of the blocks face the mid-section of the joint layer. The fastening blocks and lining layer are wrapped with cloth strip borders. The function of this utility model is to provide a mop with detachable mop matt and mop head to allow easy replacing and removing, and benefits users with small foot-print and ease of wash.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide moping elements for a mop comprising tufts of yarn processed to effect a tight reverse twist. The tight reverse twist is formed by pre-twisting the yarn prior to tufting at a rate of about 200 to 1000 per 10 cm, forming rows of tufts in a backing material with the pre-twisted yarn, subsequent to tufting reversely twisting the tufts. The resulting tufts are compactly coiled and have a free hanging disposition in longitudinal alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the mop according to an embodiment of the invention on a mopping surface; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a tufted mop 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is a flat format for the wet or dry mopping of a surface. The mop 10 configured for non-fastener assembly with a frame-type mop head as described below. On the surface, the mop elements or tufts are arrayed in longitudinal row beneath the mop and orient outwardly about the perimeter as shown.

The mop 10 comprises a backing assembly 12 carrying a plurality of tufted mop elements 14 in longitudinal rows 16. The backing assembly 12 includes a rectangular backing panel 20 on which the mop elements 14 are tufted. The backing assembly 12 includes a lining panel 22 that overlies the backing panel 20. The mop frame is retained on the mop at by a first fastener block 24 in the form of a pocket at one end of the lining panel 22 and by a second retain block in the form of an open ended sleeve 26 spaced inwardly of the other end. The block 24 is stitched to the lining panel 22 at the end and lateral sides to form an inwardly opening pocket. The block 26 is stitched to the lining panel at the lateral sides for form a longitudinal opening. The edges of the panels 22 and 20, and the blocks 24, 26 are covered by border edging 30. For assembly, one end of the mop frame is inserted through the sleeve to an off-center position and the other end inserted at the pocket. The frame is then centered on the mop for use. If desired the separated lining panel may be eliminated and the sleeve and pocket assembled directly to the backing panel.

The tufts are formed in longitudinal rows from a spool of yarn or fabric material on conventional tufting machinery that punched the yarn with a tufting needle at periodical longitudinal spacings. Prior to tufting, the yarn or fabric is twisted between about 200 to 1000 per 10 cm and in a preferred form about 600 per 10 cm. During the tufting, the needle elongates the pitch of the twists and upon release the tufts reversely twist into the coiled format. Post tufting treatment, mechanical or thermal, is used to further coil the tufts. The material for the yarn is preferably a super-thin fabric such as a chenille microfiber. Each row of tufts thus extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the backing panel and are interconnected on the top surface.

The tufts are closely spaced at about 0.5 to 3.0 cm apart, with a 0.7 cm spacing used in a preferred format. The lengths tufts between 1 are 6 cm. and less than 2.5 cm. preferred.

The mop is preferably in a low foot print format with an aspect ratio of about 5/1. When the cleaning is finished, users can remove the frame, and separately wash away dirt on the mop.

Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.

Claims

1. A mop comprising: a backing; rows of tufts on said backing, each row of said tufts projecting from a bottom side of said backing and consisting of fabric yarn twisted at 200 to 1000 per 10 cm prior to tuft formation; said tufts having a length of between 1 and 6 cm. and a spacing of between 0.5 to 3 cm; a lining overlying a top side of said backing; and pockets attached at the ends of said lining for receiving a mop head.

2. The mop as recited in claim 1 wherein said yarn is twisted about 600 per 10 cm.

3. The mop as recited in claim 1 wherein said yarn is a chenille mircrofiber.

4. A method of making a mop comprising the steps of:

providing a fabric yarn;

twisting said fabric yarn at about 200 to 1000 per 10 cm;

forming rows of tufts of said yarn on a backing material in the form U-shaped fabric strips having a length of between 1 and 6 cm and extending from a bottom surface of said backing material and spaced about 0.5 to 3 cm. apart;

attaching a lining to a top surface of said backing material;

attaching fastening blocks at the ends of said lining having openings facing the center portion of said lining; and

inserting a mop head into said blocks to form a mop assembly.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said tufts are further reversely twisted subsequent to said forming.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said yarn is a chenille microfiber.