CLEANING APPARATUS

Abstract

The apparatus has a head and handle assembly; a mop pad and height adjusting scrubbing brushes to engage or disengage scrubbing brushes located in a periphery of the mop pad.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

NA.

MICROFICHE

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of floor cleaning device, and more particularly the invention relates to a device with combined scrubbing and mopping functions in the same head section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Floor cleaning mops are commonly used in variety of sectors for cleaning purposes and maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene in a particular area; wherein a typical mob used for such function generally comprises of a handle connected to a handle head. A connector incorporated in the handle head functions to selectively connect a mop head assembly to the mop handle. A floor mop as described is typically used in commercial or industrial cleaning operations. As such, the mop head assemblies are subject to heavy and often continuous use. Once full of dirt and no longer particularly effective for cleaning, the mop head assemblies are detached from the handle heads and are laundered. The head assemblies are then dried before the next use.

The users of the floor mops also typically encounter areas on floors that require scrubbing. Instead of putting the mop aside and scrubbing the area with a separate scrubber, the user often attempts to scrub the floor area with the headband of the mop head assembly. Such scrubbing action is not only inefficient but also may tear the headband and may contribute to the rapid deterioration of the headband and mop yarns. Another factor that leads to the deterioration of headbands is the effects of the chemical cleansers on the headband material.

Accordingly, various prior arts try to put front an effective solution for the same, which are herein incorporated by reference for their supportive teachings, and include the following:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,003 A that discloses a cleaning brush is comprised of a shaft having a crank arm and a handle thereon. A rod is remove-ably or fixedly secured to the bottom of the shaft. A plurality of outwardly projecting bristles is disposed along the length of the rod. A scrub brush is remove-ably secured to the bottom of the rod.

Another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,464 B2 discloses a method of providing a mop with surface scrubbing capability, that includes providing a surface scrubbing attachment device, and attaching the device to the mop for scrubbing presentation to the surface.

Yet another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,636,979 B1 relates to a butterfly mop having a metal mop head which is provided with a cleaning implement such as a scrubber pad or scrub brush to thereby enable the mop to be used to perform the dual function of washing a floor with a mop in the normal manner, and alternatively to remove soil resistant to removal through washing by applying a scrub brush surface or an abrasive surface to the floor or wall being cleaned.

Some other prior arts discloses various mop head assemblies to perform the multiple functions like wise prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,451 A, which discloses a headband for a mop head assembly that includes four scrubbing surfaces that allow a user to scrub a surface with the headband. The scrubbing surfaces include a plurality of interstices and scrubbing sections that are formed by coating a knitted polyester base material with an adhesive and abrasive coating. The coating provides strength, durability, and abrasiveness to the base material. In addition to the ability to scrub, the headband allows the yarn beneath the headband to dry thus preventing mildew.

Another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,328,477 B1 discloses a dual mode contour following mop. Further it discloses a scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface with contours. The scrubbing implement includes a resilient base that includes a plurality of resilient fingers, each of which extend radially away from center of the base. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider open lower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving means pivotally fixed to the cap for receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle. A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base. The flexible pad is fixed around the distal ends of the fingers such that the pad may be applied to the surface to scrub the surface.

Yet another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,218 A discloses an acutely curved S-shaped plate is clamped to the cross bar of a yacht mop and has a synthetic fiber pad extending from the clamp around the lower curved portion to be engaged through a slot in the plate so that it is clamped between the plate and the body of the pad. It can be used for scrubbing action on areas that cannot be cleaned by the yacht mop alone.

According to prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,340 A discloses a holder for release-ably clamping a mop head to a mop handle that includes an elongate clamping member which is hinged at one end and snap fits at the other. The clamping member extends about a mop strand bundle wherein the clamping member has a brush or scrub pad fitted to its underside for scrubbing.

Further prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,697 B2 discloses a scrubbing, dust mopping, or a sweeping apparatus and in particular to scrub brushes or applications where material is being removed by an apparatus. The present invention relates to a swivel joint two-piece unitary flexible molded elastomer attachment that allows multiple cleaning apparatuses to be attached and detached for cleaning purposes.

Also, a prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,413 B2 discloses a mop able to be used in different modes and in its preferred embodiment; the cleaning members are release-ably secured to the mop and may be capable of compression, wherein the different cleaning members enable the mop to operate in a plurality of different modes, including a wringing mop mode, a damp mop mode and a dust mop mode. In addition to this, a portion of the handle of the mop is adapted to hold and release a fluid, such as a cleaning solution wherein; the user may cause release of the fluid through one or more openings associated with the mop.

Accordingly, in view of these incorporated references, the present invention relates generally to floor cleaning tools that also includes a scrubber combination mop assembly, which provides various modes of operation to perform the two basic desired functions in one head section.

There are available various conventional floor-cleaning tools that do not provide the novel improvements of the invention herein disclosed.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing applications inherent in the known types of floor cleaning apparatus present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved cleaning and scrubbing apparatus wherein the device is provided with unique kind of an assembly with various in built components to be used as a wet mop, a dry mop, with brushes and scrubbing pad to provide a good cleaning experience. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved floor cleaning apparatus that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

An embodiment of the present invention there may be a cleaning apparatus, comprising: a handle assembly, having a first and second end, to enable a user to hold the cleaning apparatus; and a cleaning head, having a top and bottom side, wherein the top side is coupled to one end of the handle assembly, and further comprising: a mop pad, for absorbing liquid, is coupled to the bottom side of the cleaning head, and having a cleaning surface; a scrubbing bristle section, positioned at least on a portion of a periphery of the mop pad, having a plurality of cleaning tips at one end of the scrubbing bristle section; and a height adjustment mechanism, coupled to the scrubbing bristle section and the cleaning head, and having a first position that orients the plurality of cleaning tips lower than the mop pad cleaning surface, to inhibit the mop pad from contacting a surface, and a second position that orients the plurality of cleaning tips to be at least level with the mop pad cleaning surface to not inhibit the mop pad from contacting the surface.

In another embodiment there may be a cleaning apparatus that, further comprising: at least one spraying nozzle, coupled to the cleaning head; a liquid containing device, coupled to the cleaning apparatus, for holding cleaning solution; and a trigger mechanism to activate the spraying of the cleaning solution from the nozzle.

In further embodiments, there may be a cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height adjusting mechanism is a screw, upon turning one way or an other the plurality of cleaning of the scrubbing bristles will lower or raise relative to the cleaning surface of the mop pad.

Numerous embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

The following embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the presently illustrated invention discloses a cleaning apparatus 1, wherein the apparatus embodies a holding handle 2, to enable a user to hold onto the cleaning apparatus 1. There is a trigger 3, coupled proximate the handle 2, and is connected through or along a connecting or support rod 4 to a liquid holding bottle 5, which is also coupled to the connecting rod 4. The support rod 4 is pivotally attached via a swivel device 6, to a cleaning head 8. The cleaning head 8 may include at least one sprayer nozzle 7 that is coupled to the liquid holding bottle 5 via a tube (not shown), whereby upon activation of the trigger 3, liquid is released from the bottle 5 and routed to the nozzles 7 and sprayed onto a floor section desired by the user.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a bottom side of cleaning head 8. In one embodiment, the invention discloses retractable scrubbing bristles 9, illustrated to circumnavigate the entire periphery of the cleaning head 8. However, it is also contemplated to only incorporate the bristles 9 in a selected region of the periphery, like the front side, or just in one or two corners, for example.

In typical operation, the mop pad 10 typically may enable the user in clearing the dirt from the floors using known wiping action. Additionally, the mop section 10 may be made of any known moisture absorbing material, like sponge, fiber, cotton, cellulose or any other known usable absorbing material.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a cross sectional view of the cleaning head 8. Uniquely, there is illustrated two embodiments of the operation. In a first operative position, as illustrated on the left side of the figure, there may be a spring 12 holding a section of the scrubbing bristles 9 in a position that has the tips of the bristles 9 below the bottom surface of the mop pad 10 to prevent the bristles 9 from contacting the floor during operation of the cleaning device 1. Conversely, in a second operative position, as illustrated on the right side of the figure, the spring 12 may be extending the scrubbing bristles 9 in a position that has the tips of the bristles 9 extending beyond the bottom surface of the mop pad 10 to enable the bristles 9 to contact the floor during operation of the cleaning device 1.

As stated in other words, the cleaning tool 1 can also be described as having a cleaning head 8, having a top and bottom side, wherein the top side is coupled 6 to one end of the handle assembly 2, 3, 4, 5. The bottom side has a mop pad 10, for absorbing liquid, and is coupled to the bottom side of the cleaning head, and having a cleaning surface. The scrubbing bristle section 9, positioned at least on a portion of a periphery of the mop pad 10, having a plurality of cleaning tips 15 at one end of the scrubbing bristle section 9. There is also a height adjustment mechanism 12, 12a, coupled to the scrubbing bristle section 9 and the cleaning head 8, and having an extended position 9a that orients the plurality of cleaning tips lower than the mop pad cleaning surface 11, to inhibit the mop pad from contacting a surface, and a retracted position 9 that orients the plurality of cleaning tips 15 to be at least level with the mop pad cleaning surface 11 to not inhibit the mop pad from contacting the surface.

Thereby, by enabling a user to extend or retract the scrubbing bristles as taught herein, a user is able to have the scrubbing action of a stiffer material when dirt or debris needs such force to be removed. Likewise, the moping pad 10 may be protected from extreme wear and tear when the more robust cleaning action of the scrubbing bristles 9 are needed. This has the added benefit of extending the life of the mop pad 10. Conversely, when the scrubbing action is not needed, and the beneficial use of a mop pad 10 is needed, the bristles 9 are not in the way of the washing of a floor.

Obviously, the bristles or brushes 9 are made of a stiffer material, and may be made of individual metal strands, or straw pieces, or stiff plastic wires that extend perpendicular to the mop pad 10. Additionally, the brushes 9 may extend 6-10 mm or more beyond the face of the mop pad 10 during operation thereof. It is also contemplated to have the brushes to retract to a position that is only even or level with the mop pad 10.

Additionally, there is numerous designs for the scrubbing bristles 9. For example, the bristles 9 may be formed into circular type clumps and extend through individual corresponding holes in the housing 8 for supporting alignment and stiffness.

Yet, it is noted that any known combination of the trigger 3, bottle 5, nozzle 7 parts or operation may be used for the operation commonly understood by those skilled in the art of cleaning tool design.

Moreover, it is noted that most any known mechanical system known that will enable the variable positioning of the scrubbing bristles 9 or perform a raising and lowering mechanism operation. For example, a simple screwing mechanism 14 by turning one way to raise and another to lower may move the bristles 9 up and down. There my also be a simple leverage system that raises and lowers the entire section of the scrubbing bristles 9.

Thus, accordingly in its preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses an improved cleaning apparatus in combined mop and scrubbing assembly with a removable cleaning pads and a trigger sprayer. The invention embodies a row of brushes surrounding the scrubbing pad, wherein the brushes would have to be approximately ¾ inch in height and made of flexible enough material to bend to get into corners; but stiff enough to scrub the stuck on ground in stuff on the floor with more ease and comfort. In addition to this, the brushes would lower with a lever type mechanism that could be operated with the user's foot likewise, when the system is lowered, it scrub corners or flat surfaces like a scrub brush and when raised, the brushes gets retracted so that the scrubbing pad can be used to clean the floor as usually it does.

The present invention present a unique and improved cleaning mop with multiple functions including a dust mop, regular mop functions, and a scrub brush to reduce the cost and pain associated while using different devices to clean the floor. The dust mop and scrubbing pad provided in the present invention are machine washable and reusable; and are available in different sized to fit into any kind of mop assembly.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:

(a) a handle assembly, having a first and second end, to enable a user to hold the cleaning apparatus; and

(b) a cleaning head, having a top and bottom side, wherein the top side is coupled to one end of the handle assembly, and further comprising: i) a mop pad, for absorbing liquid, is coupled to the bottom side of the cleaning head, and having a cleaning surface; ii) a scrubbing bristle section, positioned at least on a portion of a periphery of the mop pad, having a plurality of cleaning tips at one end of the scrubbing bristle section; and iii) a height adjustment mechanism, coupled to the scrubbing bristle section and the cleaning head, and having a first position that orients the plurality of cleaning tips lower than the mop pad cleaning surface, to inhibit the mop pad from contacting a surface, and a second position that orients the plurality of cleaning tips to be at least level with the mop pad cleaning surface to not inhibit the mop pad from contacting the surface.

2. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a) at least one spraying nozzle, coupled to the cleaning head;

b) a liquid containing device, coupled to the cleaning apparatus, for holding cleaning solution; and

c) a trigger mechanism to activate the spraying of the cleaning solution from the nozzle.

3. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height adjusting mechanism is a screw, upon turning one way or an other the plurality of cleaning of the scrubbing bristles will lower or raise relative to the cleaning surface of the mop pad.