US3528120A - Disposable mop and holder for mop frame - Google Patents

Description

p 15, 1970 R. J. LINDSTROM DISPQSABLE MOP AND HOLDER FOR MOP FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, 1968 iii - INVENTOR. R BERT J. LINDSTROM BY v ATT RNEYS Sept. 970 R. J. LINDSTROM DISPOSABLE MOP AND HOLDER FOR MOP FRAME 2 Sheets-Shet Filed NOV. 4, 1968 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. UNDSTROM BY WM,MVZZ:M,

United States Patent 3,528,120 DISPOSABLE MOP AND HOLDER FOR MOP FRAME Robert J. Lindstrom, 400-410 W. 2nd St, Sedalia, Mo. 65301 Filed Nov. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 773,179 Int. Cl. A471 13/20 U.S. Cl. 15-228 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to cleaning devices and assemblies and more particularly to dust mops including a collecting portion that is removable and disposable.

Various designs of cleaning mops have been used and a common design of dust mop is of the type having a mop head with a plurality of fabric strings or yarn attached to the underside thereof. In operation of such a mop head, the strings pick up dirt and dust from the floor when a dusting motion is applied to the mop head and the pickedup dirt and dust can be released by shaking the mop head or by laundering. The strings become dirty and such devices are unsightly and present problems in storing.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a novel cleaning assembly having a disposable pad which is easily and quickly attached and removed from the cleaning assembly; to provide such a cleaning assembly which is particularly adapted for use as a dusting mop; to provide such a cleaning assembly in which the member to which the pad is removably attached is substantially the same as a fabric member of a string type dust mop and applicable to the same frame and handle structure therefor; to provide such a cleaning assembly wherein the pad is a flexible member of unwoven synthetic fiber arranged in a haphazard manner and which provides a cushion efiect in use; to provide such a cleaning assembly wherein the pad has flexible, resilient, and non-scratching characteristics; and to provide such a cleaning assembly of simple structure, commercially feasible, and highly efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning assembly embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the cleaning assembly taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a pad and fabric body member of the cleaning apparatus showing means on the body member for removably attaching same to the pad.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the body member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified cleaning assembly wherein the pad is a quadrangular member having angular corners.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further modified cleaning apparatus wherein the pad is an elongate rectangular member having the longer dimension thereof transverse to a handle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified cleaning assembly adapted for use as a mitt-like hand mop.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a cleaning assembly having a planar disposable pad 2 of flexible unwoven fiber which is removably attached to a fabric body member 3 similar in structure to a body member of a string type dust mop. The body member 3 has upper and lower panel portions 4 and 5 respectively joined together at their respective peripheral edges 6 and 7. The body member 3 has an aperture 8 therein for access between the upper and lower panel portions 4 and 5 to receive a dust mop frame and handle structure which, in the illustrated structure, is a frame structure 9 pivotally mounted on one end of an elongate handle 10. The body member 3 has attaching means 11 secured to a lower or bottom surface 12 of the lower panel portion 5 for removably attaching the pad 2 thereto.

The pad 2 may be of any suitable peripheral shape and is illustrated as a quadrangular member having rounded corners 14, said shape being adapted for production cutting, as by die cutting. It is preferable that the pad 2 be formed of a suitable plastic, such as polyester, and that the material have a density in the nature of less than two pounds per cubic foot, thereby providing sufficient space between adjacent fibers whereby each fiber can attract and hold a relatively large volume of dust, lint and the like. It is preferable that the fibers of the pad 2 be arranged in a haphazard manner to interengage with the attaching means 11, as later described. It is also preferable to coat the fibers to give a suitable stiffness and body to the pad 2 while retaining a flexible and resilient characteristic.

The pad 2 preferably is of uniform thickness, such as from one-half inch to one inch to 1"), to provide a volume to receive and hold dust and to provide a cushion effect between the surface (not shown) being dusted and the body member 3 thereby substantially eliminating damage to the surface, such as scratching, while permitting suificient pressure to properly dust furniture and the like. A suitable pad material is produced by Kimberly- Stevens Corporation and is UBS polyester (Bondaire) unwoven with binder padding having a density of less than two pounds per cubic foot.

The fabric body member 3 has an edging member 15 preferably of fabric suitably attached to the peripheral edges 6 and 7 of the upper and lower panel portions 4 and 5, as by being sewed thereto, to provide a finished appearance and to join the peripheral edges together to define a chamber 16 between the upper and lower panel portions. An edge fabric 17 is sewn on the upper panel portion 4 around the edges of the aperture 8 to provide a finished appearance therefor. The edging member 15 and the edge fabric 17 are each folded to cover the respective edges thereby protecting same and providing a finished appearance to the body member 3.

The frame structure 9 is illustrated as a wire frame bent or shaped to conform to the interior of the body member 3 and having a curved forward end 18 adapted to be inserted through the aperture 8 whereby the wire frame structure 9 is retained within the chamber 16 and engages the peripheral edges thereof. The frame structure 9 has a mounting portion 19 pivotally mounted on the wire frame portion. The mounting portion 19 is adapted to removably receive one end of the elongate handle 10 whereby the pad 2 and body member 3 are pivotable relative to the handle 10.

It is preferred that the frame structure 9 be sized and shaped to be received in and retained in body portions of cleaning devices having conventional string or yarn thereon whereby the body member 3 is interchangeable with body portions of conventional cleaning devices.

The body member 3, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, is an elongate member of generally triangular structure having a generally rounded apex, to receive the curved forward end 18 of the frame structure 9, and the aperture 8 is adjacent the base thereof whereby the long dimension of the body member 3 and pad 2 is substantially alignable with the handle 10.

The short dimension of the pad 2 is in the nature of eight to sixteen inches and is substantially transverse to the handle 10 whereby, when the pad 2 is moved transversely to the narrow dimension thereof, the width of the path dusted is relatively narrow compared to the path taken by a person (not shown) using same. The pad 2 has a larger area than the body member 3 whereby the pad 2 has peripheral portions extending beyond the perimeter of the body member 3.

The attaching means 11 is formed of an elongate strip of flexible fabric having a plurality of elongate projections 21 extending therefrom and adapted to interengage with the unwoven fibers which are arranged in a haphazard manner in the pad 2. It is preferable that the projections 21 have sufiicient rigidity to penetrate into the pad 2 and have hook shaped free ends and be of a suitable flexible plastic, especially the hook portion thereof, whereby the projections 21 will easily and readily bend to disengage from the respective fibers in response to pulling the body member 3 away from the pad 2. The strip 20 is suitably secured to the lower or bottom surface 12 of the lower panel portion 5, as by a sewed seam 22. The fastener projections 21 and the fibers of the pad 2 are such that pads 2 may be attached and removed from the body member 3' repeatedly without an accumulation of fibers on the projections 21 so the structure is of long life. In the illustrated structure, the attaching means 11 consists of a plurality of strips 20 secured to the lower or bottom surface 12 of the body member 3. The strips 20 each extend between opposite edges of the body member 3 and transversely to the long dimension thereof.

In use, the body member 3 is attached to the pad 2 and the frame structure 9 is inserted through the aperture 8 and positioned Within the chamber 16 and the cleaning assembly 1 is pushed across floors, walls, ceilings and the like until the pad -2 contains all the dirt, dust, lint and the like possible or desirable and then the pad 2 is removed and reversed whereby the attaching means 11 engages the dirty or full surface of the pad 2 thereby presenting a clean surface for use which, when the clean surface is also full or contains all the dirt, dust, lint and the like possible or desirable, the full pad 2 is removed and disposed of. The body member of the cleaning assembly is then ready to receive a clean pad 2 which can then be used until same is also dirty.

An additional use of the cleaning assembly is for waxing floors, woodwork, furniture and the like wherein liquid wax is poured on the exposed surface of the pad 2 and the exposed surface having wax therein is placed in contact with a surface to receive the wax. The pad 2 is moved in the conventional manner while in contact with the surface to receive the wax, whereby the flexible material of the pad 2 yields a gradual supply of the wax in sufiicient quantity to properly treat and protect the receiving surface. The pad 2 is also reversible when used for waxing and is disposable when both surfaces thereof are soiled.

When used for waxing, the pad 2 may also be formed of unwoven natural fibers, however, it is preferable that the unwoven natural fibers be arranged in an interconnected haphazard manner and be retained in a structure of low density having suitable stiffness and body while retaining flexibility and resiliency.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified cleaning assembly 23 wherein the body member 3 is removably attached to a modified pad 24 which is a quadrangular member having angular corner 25 particularly adapted to enter corners formed by intersecting surfaces, such as walls at ceilings and floors, in closets, drawers, shelves and the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified cleaning assembly 26 having an elongate pad 27 of a substantially rectangular shape having angular corners 28. The pad 27 is for use with an elongate fabric body member 29, such as is used for elongate dust mops used in commercial buildings, bowling alleys and the like with a long dimension of from twelve to sixty inches. The body member 29 has a slit 30 communicating with an aperture 31. An upper panel portion 32 having the slit 30 therein has substantially parallel edge portions 33 and 34 adjacent the slit 30, and the edge portions 33 and 34 are each finished by an edge member 35 suitably secured thereto, as by sewing. The edge portions 33 and 34 each have at least one flexible tie 36 mounted thereon for cooperatively closing the slit 30 and aperature 31 after a frame structure 37 has been received in the body member 29.

The pad 27 and the body member 29 are each substantially rectangular and have the long dimension thereof substantially transverse to a handle 38 which is centered thereon and are separably secured together by attaching means in the same manner as the pad 2 and body mem her 3 of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified cleaning assembly 39 having a planar disposable pad 40 and a body member 41 having upper and lower panel portions 42 and 43 suitably joined together at their respective peripheral edges, as by stitching 44. An aperature 45 is formed of an elastic material defining a sleeve 46 for access between the upper \and lower panel portions 42 and 43. The aperture 45 is at the peripheral edges of the upper and lower panel portions 42 and 43 of the body member 41 and a portion of the sleeve 46 is mounted on the upper panel portion 42 and a portion of the sleeve 46 is mounted on the lower panel portion 43. The pad 40 is secured to the panel portion 43 of the body member by attaching means 47 -'mounted on the body member and having the same structure as the attaching members 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The cleaning assembly 39 illustrated in FIG. 7 is adapted for use as a cleaning mitt to receive a hand (not shown) of a person using same whereby the cleaning assembly 39 is particularly adapted for dusting furniture tops, sides, shelves, cabinets and the like which are Within easy arm reach of a person (not shown) using same.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention it is not to be limited to these specific forms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A disposable mop and holder comprising:

(a) a holder structure removably mounted and interchangeable with a conventional yarn type mop on a mop frame, said holder having a fabric body member of upper and lower wall portions secured together at peripheral edge margins and defining a pocket to receive a mop frame,

(b) a disposable mop in the form of a planar pad of unwoven fibers arranged in a haphazard manner, said fibers being interconnected and retained in a self-retaining flexible structure of low density, said pad being larger than the holder whereby it extends outwardly of the periphery thereof,

(c) connectiing members secured in spaced apart relation on the bottom wall portion of said holder and having a plurality of closely spaced downwardly extending projections for engaging the fibers of the mop pad to releaseably hold the pad on the holder during mopping operations.

2. The cleaning assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting members includes:

(a) spaced elongate flexible strips having opposed faces;

(b) said plurality of closely spaced projections ex tending from one face of each said strip, said projections being adapted to interengage with said unwoven fibers in said pad;

(c) said strips being secured to the body member with the other face of each said strip engaging the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the body member.

3. The cleaning assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said projections are each flexible plastic members with sufiicient rigidity to penetrate into said pad; and

(b) said projections each have hook shaped free ends.

4. A mop structure comprising,

(a) a handle, mop frame structure pivotally mounted on one end of the handle and adapted to receive a conventional yarn type mop head,

(b) a holder structure removably mounted and interchangeable with such convention yarn type mop on said mop frame, said holder having a fabric body member with upper and lower wall portions secured together at peripheral edge margins and defining a pocket to receive said mop frame in retained engagement therewith.

(c) a disposable mop in the form of a planar pad of unwoven fibers arranged in a haphazard manner, said 25 fibers being interconnected and retained in a soft retaining flexible structure of low density, said pad being larger than the holder whereby it extends out wardly of the periphery thereof; (d) spaced elongate flexible strips having opposed faces,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1941 Cooper 15-227 9/1953 Dyer et al 15227 12/1959 Smith 15247 1/ 1967 Belsky et a1 15-228 XR 5/1968 Fink 15247 8/1968 Hughes 15228 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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