MOP HEAD

Abstract

A mop head (12) which includes a body (14) providing a first, in use downwardly opening, channel formation (15) for receiving a mounting part of a mop swab (20) such that a swab part of the mop swab (20) depends from the first channel formation (15), and a second, in use downwardly opening, channel formation (25) for receiving and mounting a scrubbing member (30) such that the scrubbing member (30) extends outwardly of the second channel formation (25), the first (15) and second (25) channel formations being separated by a separating member (18).

Description

This invention relates to a mop head and to a mop.

Mops typically include a mop head which receive and mount a mop swab which may be provided by a plurality of fibres or other individual mop swab material components, which in use may depend from the mop head towards a floor to be mopped, or alternatively mob heads are known which mount a mop swab which includes a generally continuous sheet of mopping material. In each case, the mop may be used for cleaning a floor, and/or for drying a floor.

Various proposals have previously been put forward for mounting a scrubbing pad or the like on a mop head. Such a pad is for use in dislodging stubborn dirt from a floor, and is mounted such that the pad is normally spaced from the floor, but for example by re-orientating the mop head, the scrubbing pad can be brought into engagement with the floor for scrubbing.

Initial proposals included mounting a scrubbing pad together with the mop swab, in a receiving formation provided by the mop head which also mounted the mop swab. The abrasive pad extended alongside the swab, and in use of the scrubbing pad, the scrubbing pad engaged the mop swab, the mop swab providing the only backing for the pad. This was undesirable and led to damage or at least premature wearing out of the swab.

In GB-A-2423699 there are disclosed proposals for mounting the scrubbing pad on or relative to a mop head body, such that in use, the pad engages with the mop head which thus provides a backing, rather that the scrubbing pad engaging the swab. However, these arrangements still permit of contact between the mop swab and the scrubby pad, which in use can still lead to abrasion of the mop swab.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a mop head which includes a body providing a first, in use downwardly opening, channel formation for receiving a mounting part of a mop swab such that a swab part of the mop swab depends from the first channel formation, and a second, in use downwardly opening, channel formation for receiving and mounting a scrubbing member such that the scrubbing member extends outwardly of the second channel formation, the first and second channel formations being separated by a separating member.

Whereas the prior proposals are a considerable improvement on the earliest proposals, the present invention provides not only for the scrubbing pad or other member to be backed by the mop head body rather than the mop swab, but for greater flexibility in the mounting arrangement.

In one embodiment, the scrubbing member may be mounted in the second channel formation by being secured relative to an elongate mounting member which has at each axial end, a first co-operating formation which is engageable with a respective second co-operating formation provided by the mop body, to retain the mounting member and hence the scrubbing member relative to the body. For example the first co-operating formations may each be axially extending projections which are received by respective openings in sides of the mop body. The mounting member may thus be mounted releasably relative to the mop body to enable the scrubbing member to be replaced e.g. when worn out, although the present invention does not preclude permanent retention of the mounting member.

In another embodiment, the scrubbing member may be mounted in the second receiving formation by at least one retaining device in the second receiving formation. For example, the retaining device may include at least one resilient retaining tooth which digs into and/or frictionally grips the scrubbing member. In this case, an elongate mounting member may not be required, although may be provided to add stiffness to the scrubbing member as required.

In each case, the scrubbing member requires mounting such that it is not pushed into the receiving formation so far in use, as not to be able to perform a scrubbing action.

The present invention enables the angle of contact between the scrubbing member and the surface to be cleaned, in use, to be substantially independent of the angle of the mop swab relative to the surface.

The mop body is preferably provided as a moulding in a mouldable material such as a suitable plastic, and the first and second receiving formations may thus be integrally moulded together with the separating member. Conveniently the separating member is a common wall of the first and second receiving formations, and the first channel formation is provided by a first wall of the mop head body and the separating member, so that the mop swab depends from an opening of the channel towards the floor, and the second channel formation is provided by a second wall of the mop body and the separating member.

The opening of the second channel formation although downwardly opening and preferably generally parallel to the first channel formation, preferably extends downwardly transversely to the opening of the first channel so that the scrubbing member and the mop swab can alternatively be used by a user slightly angling the mop head, as appropriate.

In normal mop use, the mop head is thus orientated so that the mop swap engages the floor, but upon a re-orientation of the mop head, the scrubbing member may be engaged with the floor with either the second wall or the separating member providing a backing for the scrubbing member.

A handle mounting device may be attached to or provided integrally with the mop body.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a mop including a mop head according to the first aspect of the invention with a mop swab and scrubbing member, and a handle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustrative view of a mop including a mop head, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of part of the mop head;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, but showing an alternative embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, a mop 10 includes a mop head 12 and a handle 13.

The mop head 12 in this example, is provided by a body 14 which is an integral moulding in a plastic material, but in another example, could be a fabricated body 14 in any other material(s) as desired.

The body 14 in this example provides a socket mounting S with internal screw thread, to receive a male thread provided at the end of the handle 13 which connects to the body 14. Many alternative handle 13 mounting arrangements are possible, which form no part of the present invention.

The body 14 provides at its in use, lower side, a first receiving formation 15 which is a downwardly opening first channel 15 provided by a first wall 17 and a second wall 18 of the body 14. The first channel 15 receives and mounts therein, a mounting part of a mop swab 20, which in the present case is provided by a plurality of absorbent fibre filaments which depend from the first channel 15 and in use, engage the floor beneath. In another embodiment, the mop swab could be provided by a plurality of filaments each being e.g. a non-woven absorbent material provided in a casing, or continuous sheet-like swab of e.g. non-woven absorbent material in a single casing.

The swab 20 may be mounted in the first channel 15 by any desired means, such as for example only, a clamp 16 which co-operates with the body 14.

The body 14 further provides a second receiving formation again being a generally downwardly opening channel 25, there being a further body wall 26 which provides one limb of the second channel 25 whilst the other limb of the second channel is provided by the second wall 18 of the first channel 15 so that the second wall 18 provides a common separating member between the first and second channels 15, 25.

Whereas the second channel 25 extends generally parallel to the first channel 15 and opens generally downwardly, it can be seen that the opening direction of the second channel 25 is transverse to the opening direction of the first channel 15.

The second channel 15 receives and mounts a mounting part of a scrubbing member, which in this example is an abrasive pad 30. The scrubbing member 30 is mounted so as to extend from the second channel 25, but in ordinary use of the mop 10 for mopping, the scrubbing pad 30 will be spaced from the floor to be mopped, although by reorientating the mop 10, the scrubbing pad 30 may be brought to bear on the floor, to assist in removing stubborn dirt for example.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the scrubbing pad 30 is received about a mounting member 31 which in this example is elongate, extending along the substantially the entire length of the second channel 25, and having a generally round core part 32, and a radially extending rib 33. Further the mounting member 31 has at each axial end, a first co-operating formation 34, 35 in the form of axially projecting formations. The projecting formations 34, 35 are each received by respective openings 34a, 35a in sides 36 of the body 14 which close ends of the first and second channels 15, 25, to retain the mounting member 31 relative to the body 14 of the mop head 12.

The abrasive pad 30 may be adhered or otherwise secured relative to the mounting member 31 if desired, or may frictionally be retained by the mounting part of the abrasive pad 30 being forced between the rib 33 and the interiors of the second channel 25 walls 18 and 26.

The mounting member 31 may permanently be affixed relative to the body 14 so that as the scrubbing pad 30 wears out the mop head 12 will require replacement, but preferably the plastic side walls 36 of the body 12 exhibit sufficient resilience that they may be deflected sufficiently for a worn out scrubbing pad 30 to be replaced either by replacement of the mounting member 31 and pad 30 unit, or just of the scrubbing pad 30.

In another arrangement, a more sophisticated arrangement for retaining the mounting member 31 and hence scrubbing pad 30 in the second channel 25 may be provided. For one example the mounting member 31 may have a withdrawable e.g. sprung loaded co-operating formation 34/35 to engage with a corresponding opening or other co-operating formation of the body 14.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative arrangement for mounting a scrubbing pad 30a or other scrubbing member in the second channel 25.

The scrubbing pad 30 may simply be formed e.g. rolled up, to the shape shown, and retained in its channel 25 by friction, although in this embodiment, a mounting member 31a or former is shown to add stiffness to the scrubbing pad 30, but this may not be required.

The scrubbing pad 30 is mounted in the second channel 25 by a pair of resilient teeth 40, 41 which extend along the length of the second channel 25 in this example. One of the teeth 40 is retained by the separating member 18 between the first and second channels 15, 25 whilst the other tooth 41 is retained by the further wall 26 of the second channel 15. The teeth 40, 41 may be provided integrally with the body 12 during moulding, or may be inserted in positions subsequently as required.

The two teeth 40, 41 extend inwardly of the second channel 25 towards one another and inwardly of the second channel 25 so as to dig in/frictionally engage the scrubbing pad 30. The scrubbing member 30 may be removed from the second channel 25 albeit with some difficulty, when worn out and replaced by a fresh scrubbing member 30 as required.

If desired, the scrubbing pad 30 may be adhered or otherwise held in the second channel 25, instead of by the teeth 40, 41 described, or by any other suitable mechanism.

In each case, in the example the scrubbing member 30 is a pad of abrasive material e.g. spun nylon, which is formed in FIGS. 1 to 3, about the mounting member 31, and in FIG. 4 either about the mounting member 31a where provided, or to the configuration indicated so as to provide a scrubbing surface 43, 43a which is engageable with the floor with the mop head 12 at a plurality of different orientations relative to the floor.

Further, throughout the wide range of orientations, whilst the scrubbing member 30 is in use, the member 30 will bear on either the mounting element 31, 31a and/or the lower edges of the separating wall 18 and further wall 26, rather than on the mop swab 20.

Various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example the configuration of the mop head 12 shown is purely exemplary. The scrubbing member 30 need not be an abrasive pad as described but any other desired scrubbing member which can be brought into engagement with the floor by re-orientating the mop head 12 relative to the floor compared with the orientation more usually adopted for mopping.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A mop head which includes a body providing a first, in use downwardly opening, channel formation for receiving a mounting part of a mop swab such that a swab part of the mop swab depends from the first channel formation, and a second, in use downwardly opening, channel formation for receiving and mounting a scrubbing member such that the scrubbing member extends outwardly of the second channel formation, the first and second channel formations being separated by a separating member.

2. A mop head according to claim 1 wherein the scrubbing member is mounted in the second channel formation by the mounting part being secured relative to an elongate mounting member which has at each axial end, a first co-operating formation which is engageable with a respective second co-operating formation provided by the mop body, to retain the mounting member and hence the scrubbing member relative to the body.

3. A mop head according to claim 2 wherein the first co-operating formations are each axially extending projections which are received by respective openings in sides of the mop body.

4. A mop head according to claim 2 wherein the mounting member is mounted releasably relative to the mop body.

5. A mop head according to claim 1 wherein the scrubbing member is mounted in the second receiving formation by at least one retaining device in the second receiving formation, the retaining device including at least one resilient retaining tooth which digs into and/or frictionally grips the scrubbing member.

6. A mop head according to claim 1 wherein the mop body is provided as a moulding in a mouldable material, and the first and second channel formations are integrally moulded together with the separating member.

7. A mop head according to claim 6 wherein the separating member is a common wall of the first and second channel formations, and the first channel formation is provided by a first wall of the mop head body and the separating member, and the second channel is provided by a second wall of the mop head body and the separating member.

8. A mop head according to claim 1 wherein a handle mounting device is attached to or provided integrally with the mop body, the handle extending in use, generally upwardly.

9. A mop including a mop head according to claim 1 with a mop swab and scrubbing member, and a handle.