Head for a cleaning device and cleaning device usable therewith

Abstract

A head for a cleaning device. The head has a cleaning surface which has multiple sections. The sections are movable relative to each other in response to force applied by the user. The sections can be moved from a first configuration having noncoplanar sections to a second configuration where the sections are coplanar. The noncoplanar configuration may provide cavities for the collection of debris from a surface to be cleaned, such as a floor. The coplanar configuration may provide for improved stress distribution across the cleaning surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a head for a cleaning device, and more particularly for a cleaning device usable for hard surfaces, such as floors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning devices for hard surfaces, such as floors are well known in the art. One such device is the Swiffer™ Sweeper, sold by the instant assignee. Hard surfaces include vinyl flooring, hardwood, tile, stone, and other target surfaces, to be cleaned.

Such cleaning devices typically have a flat unitary head, to which a disposable cleaning cloth may be attached. Considerable effort has been paid to improving such cleaning cloths, in order to increase the amount of dirt picked up during use. However, relatively few attempts have been made to improve cleaning by modifying the head.

Two attempts in the art by the instant assignee include US 2006/0016037 A1 published in the names of Flora et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,842,936 B2 issued to Policicchio et al. Another attempt in the art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,413 B2 issued to Vosbikian et al. Vosbikian et al. shows a mop head having a pair of opposing plates rotatable about a pivot axis. However, this attempt fails to produce a continuous width mop head which relatively uniformly distributes applied pressure.

If pressure is not relatively uniformly applied, the effective cleaning area of the head of the mop may be decreased. As the effective cleaning area is decreased, the amount of dirt picked up during use may likewise decrease.

Accordingly, a head for a cleaning device which increases the effective surface area over prior art attempts; and which provides more uniform pressure throughout would likely provide improved cleaning performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a head for a cleaning device usable for cleaning a surface. The head comprises at least two sections, at least a first section and second section. At least one of the sections is movable relative to the other, whereby compressive force applied to the head causes the sections to become substantially coplanar. The head may comprise an optional return mechanism to return one of sections to a non-coplanar configuration upon removal of the compressive force; and an optional attachment for receiving a handle. A handle may be connected to one or more of the sections through the attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head according to the present invention, as viewed looking at the top surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a head according to the present invention, as viewed looking at the cleaning surface and showing the sections in a non-coplanar configuration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a head according to the present invention, as viewed looking at the cleaning surface and showing the sections in a coplanar configuration.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head according to the present invention as viewed looking at the cleaning surface of an alternative embodiment having two sections, with one section being disposed on the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the head and showing the sections in a non-coplanar configuration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a head according to the present invention as viewed looking at the cleaning surface of an alternative embodiment having two sections, with one section being circumscribed by and central to the other section and showing the sections in a coplanar configuration.

FIG. 8A is a two dimensional plot, showing the pressure distribution of a Swiffer™ Sweeper currently sold by the instant assignee.

FIG. 8B is a two dimensional plot, showing the pressure distribution of a head according to FIGS. 1-5, having the three trisections locked into a coplanar configuration.

FIG. 8C is a two dimensional plot, showing the pressure distribution of a head according to FIGS. 1-5 of the present invention and having two cavities in the cleaning surface and a bottom pad 56 with slits between the trisections.

FIG. 8D is a two dimensional plot, showing the pressure distribution of a head according to FIGS. 1-5 of the present invention without cavities in the cleaning surface and a solid bottom pad 56 without slits between the trisections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein the XY plane refers to the plane parallel the target surface. The X and Y dimensions refer to the length and width of the head 20, respectively. The Z direction is perpendicular to the XY plane and may be centered on the attachment 50 to the head 20. Upper refers to a position or direction relatively further from the target surface, while lower refers to a position or direction relatively closer to the target surface. The head 20 may have a leading edge 22 and trailing edge 24, which are the edges facing the direction of movement on the forward stroke and backward stroke by a user, respectively. Compressive force refers to a force applied coincident the Z-axis when the head 20 is disposed on a target surface parallel the XY plane. Coplanar refers to a configuration of a surface being generally flat in two dimensions, with allowance being made for normal variations and deviations from true planarity.

Referring to FIG. 1, the head 20 according to the present invention may be generally rectangularly shaped, or shaped in any other suitable geometry, such as having a point to reach into corners. The head 20 has mutually orthogonal length and width dimensions, lying in the XY plane and a thickness taken in the Z-direction.

The head 20 may have two generally opposed major surfaces, a cleaning surface 30 facing downward towards the target surface to be cleaned, and an upwardly facing top surface 32. The top surface 32 and cleaning surface 30 may be formed from two independent components. The cleaning surface 30 may be generally contiguous and generally planar throughout, when subjected to compressive forces by a user.

The head 20 my have two, three or more sections 35, with one or more sections 35 being movable relative to the other. The sections 35 may intercept the cleaning surface 30. The sections 35 may be movable relative to each other from a first position to a second position through articulation, translation, etc. In the first position, the cleaning surface 30 is not co-planar. In the non-coplanar configuration, the cleaning surface 30 may have a cavity for receiving dirt to be cleaned from the target surface. In the second position the cleaning surface 30 may be generally co-planar and continuous across all sections 35.

A return mechanism 40 may be employed to return the sections 35 of the head 20 from the first position to the second. The return mechanism 40 may be disposed so that it does not intercept the cleaning surface 30. The head 20 may also have an attachment 50 for connecting a handle, in order to provide convenience for the user. However, it is to be recognized the head 20 according to the present invention may be used without a handle, as for example, occurs with a scrub brush.

The attachment 50 may comprise a universal joint, as shown or a different Cardan joint. The attachment 50 may alternatively comprise a ball and socket joint, etc. as are known in the art.

The head 20 may have one or more grippers 42, to removable attach a cleaning cloth. Suitable grippers 42 may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,290 B2. Suitable cloths may be made according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,936,330 B2 and/or D 489,537.

The cleaning surface 30 may be covered with a soft pad 56 to provide resiliency to account for for asperities in the target surface. One suitable pad 56 is a closed cell EVA having a thickness of about 5 mm and a relatively soft Shore Durometer hardness property. The pad 56 may be slit, to provide hinge lines coincident the hinge lines between adjacent junctures between the trisections 35. This allows for greater freedom of relative movement between the trisections 35. For clarity the pad 56 is not shown in FIG. 2, 4, 6 or 7.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3 and examining the head 20 in more detail, in one embodiment the head 20 may have three trisections 35, a central trisection 36 flanked by two outboard trisections 38. The head 20 may be symmetric about an axis parallel to the x direction, y direction or both. The central trisection 36 may have two outer edges 26 facing and juxtaposed with two corresponding inner edges 28 of the outboard trisections 38. Likewise, the outboard trisections 38 may have two outer edges 26 facing the leading and trailing edges 22, 24 of the head 20, or facing the sides of the head 20. The outboard trisections 38 may have a length less than that of the central trisection 36 (as shown), or a length greater than or equal to that of the central trisection 36.

If desired the central trisection 36 may be hingedly joined to either or both of the outboard trisections 38 at the juncture between one or both of the outer edges 26 of the central trisection 36 and the inner edges 28 of the outboard trisection. Such hinged joining may be accomplished through a living hinge or other hinge mechanisms, as are well known in the art. This arrangement provides for articulation, and hence relative movement, between adjacent trisections 35.

The sections 35 may articulate from a position which provides one or more cavities between the cleaning surface 30 of the head 20 and the target surface when the sections 35 are in the first position. The sections 35 may be articulable to, and even past the coplanar second position. Referring to FIGS. 4-5, upon the application of force having a Z-direction component through the attachment 50, the central trisection 36 and outboard trisections 38 move relative to each other from the first position having a noncoplanar cleaning surface 30 to a second position having a generally coplanar cleaning surface 30.

If desired, a more elaborate mechanism may be utilized to join the central trisection 36 and outboard trisections 38. For example, the head 20 may be augmented with a platen 46 disposed intermediate the attachment 50 and the central trisection 36. The platen 46 may receive the compressive force applied through the attachment 50 and be displaced in the Z-direction in response. The platen 46 has a peripheral region which is aligned with a portion of the outboard trisections 38. The platen 46 may be joined to the outboard trisections 38, in order to transmit force thereto, as applied through the attachment 50.

The connection between the platen 46 and the outboard trisections 38 may be accomplished through rails 48, which allow the peripheral portions of the platen 46 and the outboard trisections 38 to slidably move relative to one another. A T-section railing 48 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, although one of skill will realize that complementary railings 48 are not so limited.

The platen 46 may also disposed directly above the central trisection 36, and collinear with the Z-axis and center of the cleaning surface 30. This arrangement allows a portion of the force transmitted through the attachment 50 to be applied to the central trisection 36. As the platen 46 becomes larger in the XY plane, it will generally distribute pressure laterally further from the attachment 50 or other point where the force is applied by the user.

The head 20 may further optionally comprise a return mechanism 40 to assist in returning the configurations of the trisections 35 from the first position to the second position. The return mechanism 40 may comprise a cam, which locks into place at each of the first and second positions. Alternatively, the return mechanism 40 may comprise tension springs joining the outboard trisections 38 in the width direction of the head 20. Alternatively the return mechanism 40 may comprise a bistable hinge joining the outboard trisections 38 and central trisection 36. Alternatively the return mechanism 40 may comprise a ball and socket connection between outboard trisections 38 and platen 46. Alternatively, the return mechanism 40 may comprise rails 48, as described above. All of these return mechanisms 40, as well as others, are known in the art.

One suitable return mechanism 40 is a biasing spring to cause the head 20 to automatically return from the second position, being generally coplanar to the first position, which the head 20 inherently assumes without the application of external force through the attachment 50. The return mechanism 40 may be any member, as is well known in the art, which causes relative movement between the central trisection 36 and outboard trisection, in order to become non-coplanar from a coplanar configuration.

In one embodiment the return mechanism 40 may be a biasing spring. The biasing spring may be a compression spring as is known in the art. Suitable compression springs include a flat spring or a coil spring. The spring may be disposed between the upwardly facing surface and the platen 46. A rim may circumscribe the coil spring to minimize lateral mispositioning or lateral movement during use. The biasing spring should not impart undue resistance to the user when force is applied to the head 20 throughout the handle and attachment 50. Of course, the resisting force of the biasing spring may be taken into account when considering the amount of force necessary to move the three trisections 35 to a generally coplanar configuration. Likewise the weight of the handle, if significant, may be considered as adding to the applied compressive force.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, upon moving the central trisection 36 in the Z-direction and constraining the one or both of the outer edges of the outboard trisections 38 from movement in the Z-direction, relative movement between the central trisection 36 and respective outboard trisections 38 will occur. Such relative movement occurs as articulation between the articulably joined edges of adjacent trisections 35.

Such movement may occur due to the application of compressive forces through the handle, to the attachment 50. Such compressive forces may have a vector component in the Z-direction to effect the aforementioned articulation.

The force applied to the head 20 may be applied in the Z-direction. If the handle is disposed perpendicular to the target surface, the Z-direction will be coincident the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The amount of force applied in the Z-direction may be at least about 0.4, 0.5 or 0.8 kg, but less than about 7, 8 or 9 kg. If the head 20 is to be used with a handle of appropriate length for a standing user to clean a floor, and dry cleaning/dusting is desired, the amount of applied force to cause the head 20 to become co-planar and assume the first position may be at least about 4 kg, but not more than about 8 kg. This force level is judged to be sufficient to allow the cavities to remain open in normal use and usable to collect large particles at the end of the cleaning cycle. If the head 20 is to be used with a handle of appropriate length for a standing user to clean a floor, and wet cleaning/moping is desired, the amount of applied force to cause the head 20 to become co-planar and assume the first position may be at least about 0.4 kg, but not more than about 4 kg.

Referring to FIG. 6, the head 20 may comprise two sections 35 movable relative to one another and disposed on the cleaning surface 30. One section 35, such as a first section 35 may be stationary as disposed on a target surface and the other section 35, such as a second section 35 movable relative thereto. The head 20 may be generally rectangular, having four sides with two different lengths. If so, the movable section 35 may be disposed on a side, such as the longer side, of the head 20. In a degenerate case, this embodiment may be thought of as similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-5, with a single movable trisection 35.

In such a configuration, the section 35 which has primary contact with the target surface may be considered the first section 35 and the second which is disposed in angular relation relative to the target surface may be considered the second section 35. The second section 35 may be movable relative to the first section 35. The second section 35 may have a width of at least about 10 percent or about 25 percent, but not more than about 50 percent of the total width of the head 20. This width, for a suitable length is judged to provide pickup for large particles collected by the head 20 at the end of the cleaning cycle.

This arrangement provides the benefit that the user may clean the target surface with a cleaning device having a head 20 according to the present invention and then position the second section 35 of the cleaning surface 30 above loose particles collected on the target surface. The user may then apply compressive force through the handle, causing the second section 35 to articulate, become generally coplanar with the first section 35 and pick up loose particles and other dirt.

Referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment, the head 20 may comprise two sections 35, with a first section 35 being disposed external to and circumscribing or substantially circumscribing a second section. The second section 35 may be congruent with the perimeter of the head 20, or may be of any other suitable geometry. The second section 35 may have a surface area of at least about 25 percent, 50 percent or 75 percent of the total surface area of the head 20. Of course, the surface area and geometry described above are taken at the cleaning surface 30 of the head 20.

This arrangement provides the benefit that the user may clean the target surface with a cleaning device having a head 20 according to the present invention and then position the second section 35 of the cleaning surface 30 above loose particles collected on the target surface. The user may then apply compressive force through the handle, causing the second section 35 to articulate, become generally coplanar with the first section 35 and pick up loose particles and other dirt. The dirt may be circumscribed by the first section 35, and be less likely to not be picked up by the head 20.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8D, four heads 20 of exemplary cleaning devices were tested under uniform loading conditions to evaluate the XY stress distribution. The heads 20 may be described as follows:

Head 1 is a Swiffer™ Sweeper head, currently sold by the instant assignee.

Head 2 is a head 20 having three trisections 35 locked into a coplanar configuration with shims and a platen 46.

Head 3 is a head 20 according to the present invention and having a central trisection 36 and two outboard trisections 38 in the cleaning surface 30 and a bottom pad 56 with slits between the trisections 35.

Head 4 is a head 20 according to the present invention without cavities in the cleaning surface 30 and a solid bottom pad 56 without slits between the trisections 35.

Each head 20 had a Z-direction force of approximately 23.1 kg applied through a handle having a length of about 18 cm and a platen 46 having a width of about 4 cm in each direction from the Z-axis. Head 1 did not have a return mechanism 40. Heads 2-4 had a coil spring return mechanism 40 which exhibited a counter-force of approximately 420 grams when the trisections 35 were compressed to a generally coplanar configuration. This counter-force was not considered in the analysis below.

Each head 20 had a closed cell EVA bottom pad 56, with small protuberances, as commercially sold on Head 1. Each head 20 was placed on a pressure pad having sensors with an approximately one mm XY resolution, statically loaded as described above, and measured for the resulting stress distribution over an Effective Area, Average Pressure throughout the area, and Peak Pressure (generally coincident the Z-axis). The results are shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1
		Average Pressure	Peak Pressure
Head	Effective Area (cm2)	(ksm)	(ksm)
1 (prior art)	232	457	2720
2	243	598	2720
3	241	654	2720
4	264	710	2720

Table 1 shows that the embodiments having three trisections 35 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, have a greater effective area and greater average pressure throughout such area than the prior art. Such increased surface area and average pressure throughout would be expected to result in greater dirt pickup during use.

Claims

1. A head for a cleaning device usable for cleaning a surface and having a cleaning surface thereon, said head comprising:

three trisections, a central trisection interposed between two outboard trisections said outboard trisections being movable with respect to said central trisection, whereby compressive force applied to said head causes said trisections to become substantially coplanar;

a return mechanism, said return mechanism returning said trisections to a non-coplanar configuration upon removal of the compressive force without intercepting said cleaning surface; and

an attachment for receiving a handle, the handle being connectable to one of said trisections through said attachment.

2. A head according to claim 1 wherein said attachment is disposed on said central trisection.

3. A head according to claim 2 having a longitudinal axis and a periphery, and wherein each of said outboard trisections have an inner edge oriented towards said longitudinal axis and an outer edge oriented towards said periphery, said outboard trisections being articulably joined to said central trisections at said inner edge.

4. A head according to claim 3 wherein said central trisection has a greater length taken in the longitudinal direction than said outboard trisection.

5. A head according to claim 4 wherein said attachment comprises a universal joint.

6. A head according to claim 4 wherein said return mechanism comprises a spring.

7. A head according to claim 6 wherein said spring comprises a coil spring having an axis disposed generally orthogonal said longitudinal axis.

8. A head according to claim 1 wherein said head becomes substantially coplanar upon application of a compressive force between 0.4 kg and 8.0 kg thereto.

9. A head according to claim 8 wherein said head becomes substantially coplanar upon application of a compressive force between 0.5 kg and 0.8 kg thereto.

10. A head according to claim 8 wherein said head becomes substantially coplanar upon application of a compressive force between 0.8 kg and 8.0 kg thereto.

11. A head for a cleaning device usable for removing debris from a surface, said head comprising:

two sections, a first section and a second section at least one of said sections being movable relative to the other, whereby compressive force applied to said head causes said sections to form a substantially coplanar cleaning surface; and

a return mechanism, said return mechanism being disposed without intercepting said cleaning surface and returning said sections to a non-coplanar configuration upon removal of the compressive force.

12. A head according to claim 12 wherein said head is generally rectangularly shaped having four sides and said second section is disposed along one said side of said head.

13. A head according to claim 12 wherein said head has a total width, and said first section has a first section width and said section has a second section width, said second section width ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent of said total head width.

14. A head according to claim 11 wherein said head second section is movable relative to said first section when said first section is disposed on a target surface.

15. A head according to claim 11 further comprising an attachment for receiving a handle, the handle being connectable to one of said sections through said attachment, and further comprising an elongate handle joined to said attachment.