Mop For Use on Baseboards and the Like

Abstract

The present device is a cleaning implement for cleaning a vertical surface adjacent both a high-friction horizontal floor surface, such as a carpet, or a low-friction horizontal floor surface, such as a vinyl or wood floor. A cleaning head comprises a base that includes a handle attachment means. At least one wing is pivotally fixed to the cleaning head, and each wing is pivotable between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation. A glide pad is selectively and removably fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head. The glide pad includes a cleaning head attachment means adapted to selectively hold the glide pad to the cleaning head, and is further adapted for selective releasable attachment to the cleaning implement in a stowed position while not in use. The bottom surface of the glide pad includes a low-friction surface for sliding on the high-friction horizontal floor surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to mops, and more particularly to an improved mop for cleaning vertical baseboards, and the like.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In my previous patent pertaining to mops, U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,746, issued on Dec. 3, 2002, I teach a novel mop that has flexible ends for cleaning vertical surfaces such as baseboards or wall surfaces, particularly under cabinets and other difficult-to-reach areas. This type of device is well-suited for use on low-friction floors surfaces, such as tile, linoleum, wood, vinyl, and the like. However, using a mop over a high-friction surface such as a carpet, even if the horizontal portion of the mop is dry, is difficult because the carpet tends to snag the sponge cleaning head of the mop. Further, having a damp or wet mop head is vital to proper cleaning of baseboards, yet it is not desirable to have such a damp or wet mop head contact a carpeted surface.

While there are cleaning brushes and implements suitable for use in cleaning baseboards and associated vertical surfaces directly, there are no such devices that are combined in one unit with a floor-cleaning mop. Thus, there is a need for a cleaning device that can clean both low-friction floor surfaces as well as baseboards, the baseboards being either adjacent low-friction or high-friction floor surfaces. Such a needed invention would be relatively inexpensive, easy to configure and use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a cleaning implement for cleaning a vertical surface adjacent both a high-friction horizontal floor surface, such as a carpet, or a low-friction horizontal floor surface, such as a vinyl or wood floor. A cleaning head comprises a base, the top surface of which includes a handle attachment means, such as a conventional mop handle receiving screw thread. At least one wing is pivotally fixed to the cleaning head, and each wing is pivotable between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation.

A glide pad is selectively and removably fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head. The glide pad includes a cleaning head attachment means adapted to selectively hold the glide pad to the cleaning head, and is further adapted for selective releasable attachment to the cleaning implement in a stowed position while not in use on the high-friction horizontal floor surface. The bottom surface of the glide pad includes a low-friction surface for sliding on the high-friction horizontal floor surface.

In use, with a distal end of an elongated handle fixed to the handle attachment means, the cleaning head may be used to clean the low-friction horizontal floor surface, while one of the at least one wings may be used to clean the vertical surface adjacent thereto. With the glide pad fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head, which facilitates moving the cleaning implement over the high-friction horizontal floor surface, one of the at least one wings may be used to clean the vertical surface adjacent thereto.

The present invention is a cleaning implement that can clean both low-friction floor surfaces as well as baseboards, such baseboards being either adjacent low-friction or high-friction floor surfaces. The present invention is relatively inexpensive, easy to configure and use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention, illustrated with one wing of the invention in a vertical orientation and with a glide pad in a stowed position on a mop handle;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention, illustrated with the glide pad fixed around a cleaning head of the mop;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the glide pad of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the glide pad of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the glide pad of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cleaning implement 10 for cleaning a vertical surface 15 adjacent both a high-friction horizontal floor surface 16, such as a carpet, or a low-friction horizontal floor surface 17, such as a vinyl or wood floor.

A cleaning head 20 comprises a base 30 that has a top surface 36, a bottom surface 34, and at least one peripheral edge 35 that connects the top and bottom surfaces 36,34. The top surface 36 includes a handle attachment means 40, such as a conventional mop handle receiving screw thread (not shown).

At least one wing 50, and preferable two wings 50, are each pivotally fixed to the cleaning head 20 proximate the at least one peripheral edge 35 thereof. Each wing 50 has a top surface 56, a bottom surface 54, and at least one peripheral edge 55 connecting the top and bottom surfaces 56,54. The bottom surface 54 of each wing 50 is pivotable between a substantially horizontal orientation 60 and a substantially vertical orientation 70 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

A preferably water-impermeable glide pad 80 is selectively and removably fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface 34 of the cleaning head 20. The glide pad 80 has a top surface 86, a bottom surface 84, and at least one peripheral edge 85 connecting the top and bottom surfaces 86,84. The glide pad 80 includes a cleaning head attachment means 90 adapted to selectively hold the glide pad 80 to the cleaning head 20. Such a cleaning head attachment means 90 may be a mechanical snap means 120 (FIGS. 2, 5, and 6), or a flexible strap 130 adapted to fit around the top surface 36 of the cleaning head 20 (FIG. 4). Clearly other attachment means 90 could be incorporated in the present invention, provided such means 90 allows for selective fixing of the glide pad 80 to the cleaning head 20. Preferably the attachment means 90 releases the cleaning head 20 when a predetermined amount of separating force is applied either between the glide pad 80 and the cleaning head 20 or to a release section 140 of the glide pad 80 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

The cleaning head attachment means 90 may be further adapted for selective releasable attachment to a storage plate 95 (FIG. 1) of the cleaning implement 10, the storage plate 95 fixed to the elongated handle 110, for example. The storage plate 95 may include apertures 96 or notches (not shown) aligned with the cleaning head attachment means 90 of the glide pad 80 so as to provide a means for holding the glide pad 80 in a stowed position 150 on the cleaning implement 10 while not in use on the high-friction horizontal floor surface 17.

The attachment means 90 preferably does not require a user to make contact with the bottom surface 34 of the cleaning head 20 directly, or with the top surface 86 of the glide pad 80 after removing the glide pad 80 from the cleaning head 20, as such surfaces 34,86 may be unsanitary after use of the cleaning implement 10.

The bottom surface 84 of the glide pad 80 includes a low-friction surface 100 for sliding on the high-friction horizontal floor surface 17, such as a rigid plastic surface. As such, the glide pad 80 may be injection molded out of a suitably rigid plastic material, such as ABS plastic, or the like. Preferably the glide pad 80 overhangs the bottom surface 34 of the cleaning head 20 when attached thereto (FIG. 2).

In use, with a distal end 114 of an elongated handle 110 fixed to the handle attachment means 40, the cleaning head 20 may be used to clean the low-friction horizontal floor surface 16, while one of the at least one wings 50 may be used to clean the vertical surface 15 adjacent thereto. With the glide pad 80 fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface 34 of the cleaning head 20, which facilitating moving the cleaning implement 10 over the high-friction horizontal floor surface 16, one of the at least one wings 50 may be used to clean the vertical surface 15 adjacent thereto.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cleaning head 20 and wings 50 form a mop head 21 that further includes at least one scrubbing implement 160, such as a sponge, as the bottom surface 34 of the cleaning head 20 and, optionally, the bottom surface 54 of each wing 50. Further, the wings 50 may include a release button (not shown) that allows the user to release the wings 50 from the cleaning head 20 by stepping thereon, similar in operation to the release section 140 of the glide pad 80 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the cleaning head 20 is a vacuum attachment 170, and the handle attachment means 40 is a conduit 180 having a vacuum attachment means 190 (FIG. 7). In such an embodiment the bottom surfaces 34,54 of the cleaning head 20 and each wing 50 are in fluid communication with the conduit 180, such that a vacuum hose 200 of a vacuum cleaner 210 may be inserted and retained therein. As such, the high-friction floor surface 16 may be vacuumed with the glide pad 80 in the stowed position 150. With the glide pad 80 fixed around the bottom of the vacuum attachment 170, the floor surface 16 is not vacuumed and each wing 50 may be used to clean the vertical surface 15.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various shapes of cleaning heads and glide pads may be utilized with the invention. Further, the type of cleaning head attachment means 90 may vary based on the shape or characteristics of the cleaning head. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement for cleaning a vertical surface adjacent both high-friction and low-friction horizontal floor surfaces, the cleaning implement comprising:

a cleaning head comprising a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one peripheral edge connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the top surface including a handle attachment means;

at least one wing pivotably fixed to the cleaning head proximate the at least one peripheral edge of the cleaning head, each wing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one peripheral edge connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface of the wing pivotable between a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation;

a glide pad selectively and removably fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head, the glide pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one peripheral edge, and a cleaning head attachment means, the bottom surface including a low-friction surface for sliding on the high-friction horizontal floor surface, the cleaning head attachment means adapted to selectively hold the glide pad to the cleaning head;

whereby with a distal end of an elongated handle fixed to the handle attachment means, the cleaning head and the at least one wing together may be used to clean the low-friction horizontal floor surface and the vertical surface adjacent thereto, and with the glide pad fixed around substantially the entire bottom surface of the cleaning head, the at least one wing may be used to clean the vertical surface adjacent the high-friction horizontal floor surface.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head attachment means of the glide pad is a mechanical snap means.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head attachment means of the glide pad is a flexible strap adapted to fit around the top surface of the cleaning head.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the glide pad overhangs the bottom surface of the cleaning head, and wherein the cleaning head attachment means is adapted to release the cleaning head when a predetermined amount of separating force is applied between the glide pad and the cleaning head.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head attachment means of the glide pad further includes a release section adapted to cause the cleaning head attachment means to release the cleaning head when a predetermined amount of downward force is applied thereto.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head attachment means of the glide pad is adapted for selective releasable attachment to the cleaning implement in a stowed position, away from the bottom surface of the cleaning head.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head is a mop head that further includes at least one scrubbing implement as the bottom surface of the mop head.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the at least one scrubbing implement is further fixed against the bottom surfaces of each wing.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head is a vacuum attachment, and wherein the handle attachment means is a conduit having a vacuum attachment means, and wherein the bottom surfaces of the cleaning head and each wing are in fluid communication with the conduit, whereby a vacuum hose of a vacuum cleaner may be inserted and retained therein.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the glide pad is water impermeable.