Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DUST MOP HAVING DUST-COLLECTING PROTRUSIONS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001]The present disclosure relates to wet or dry dust mops. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dust mop having dust-
collecting protrusions.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] Mops that utilize a disposable cleaning sheet or pad, such as a
woven or non-woven sheet, for cleaning are known in the art and are often
referred to as "dust mops". Many dust mops removably secure the
cleaning sheet to a generally planar mop head. The mop head is pivotally
secured to an extension pole, allowing the user to move the cleaning sheet
over a flat surface using a traditional mopping action. Such a dust mop is
described in U.S. Patent No. 4,225,998 to Theilen.
[0003]The ability of the dust mop to pick up and retain dirt and debris
(hereinafter "debris") can be an important aspect to consumer acceptance
of the mop. This is particularly true in dust mops using disposable cleaning
sheets, where the cost of use is directly proportional to the percent of the
cleaning sheet utilized by the mop.
[0004] Unfortunately, prior solutions have not improved the mop efficiency
to desired levels. Thus, there is a continuing need for more efficient dust
mops.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a dust mop having
debris-collecting protrusions.
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[0006] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a dust mop
having a plurality of protrusions, which prevent torque applied to the
leading edge during movement of the mop from causing the leading edge
to push debris in front of the mop.
[0007]A dust mop having a base, debris-collecting protrusions, and one or
more attachment members is provided. The base has a top surface and a
bottom surface. The debris-collecting protrusions are defined on the
bottom surface. Each of the protrusions defines a planar section facing a
cleaning direction. The attachment members removably secure a cleaning
sheet over the bottom surface.
[0008]A dust mop having a base, debris-collecting protrusions defined on
the base, and one or more attachment members one or more attachment
members for removably securing a cleaning sheet over the base is
provided. The base has a minor axis and a major axis. The debris-
collecting protrusions are sufficient to foul up to about ninety percent of
the
cleaning sheet along the minor axis during use of the dust mop.
[0009] The above-described and other features and advantages of the
present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in
the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art dust mop;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cleaning sheet after use with the dust
mop of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dust
mop according to the present disclosure;
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[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottom surface of the dust mop Qf
FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of the dust mop of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a cleaning sheet after use with the dust
mop of FIG. 3; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a
dust mop of according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a prior dust
mop 10 is illustrated. Mop 10 includes a base 12, an extension pole 14,
and a cleaning sheet 16. Base 12 can be a generally rectangular member
having a top surface 18, a'planar bottom surface 20, a major axis 22, and a
minor axis 24.
[0018] Extension pole 14 can be moveably secured to top surface 18 by a
hinge member 26. Additionally, cleaning sheet 16 can be removably
secured over bottom surface 20. For example, base 12 can include one or
more attachment members 30 for removably securing cleaning sheet 16.
[0019] Mop 10 finds use in both wet and dry mopping applications. In many
mopping applications, cleaning sheet 16 can be a disposable sheet such as
those commercially available from Proctor and Gamble under the "Swiffer"
trade name. Alternately, cleaning sheet 16 can be a re-useable sheet.
[0020] In use, bottom surface 20 is pushed over an area in a cleaning
direction 28 in response to forces applied to pole 14. Generally, cleaning
direction 28 is substantially perpendicular to major axis 22 (e.g., parallel
to
minor axis 24). In this manner, mop 10 is useful to collect debris on
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cleaning sheet 16. Once cleaning sheet 16 is full of debris, the sheet can
be removed from base 12 via attachment members 3Q and replaced with a
clean sheet.
[0021]It should be recognized that bottom surface 20 can also be pulled
over the area in a direction opposite to cleaning direction 28, can be moved
side-to-side over the area in a direction perpendicular the cleaning
direction, or any combination thereof. However, mop 10 is described in use
only along cleaning direction 28 for purposes of clarity.
[0022] It has been determined by the present invention that the planar
botfom surface 20 of mop results in under utilization of cleaning sheet 16 in
use. The utilization of cleaning sheet 16 is described with reference to FIG.
2. When moved in cleaning direction 28, it has been determined that the
leading edge 32 of sheet 16 becomes fully saturated with or full of debris
34 ("fouled"). Once leading edge 32 is fouled with debris 34, mop 10 can
no longer be effectively used for cleaning until sheet 16 has been replaced
with a clean sheet. Unfortunately, planar bottom surface 20 results in only
about twenty percent of sheet 16 being utilized. Specifically, it has been
determined that sheet 16 is utilized along only about twenty percent of
minor axis 24.
[0023] While not wishing to be bound by any one particular theory, it is
believed that that pressure applied to pole 14 during movement of base 12
in cleaning direction 28 causes a torque 36 about the base along axis 38.
It is believed that torque 36 increases the downward pressure of leading
edge 32 on the cleaning area. Namely, leading edge 32 has a higher
pressure on the cleaning area as compared to the opposite trailing or
following edge of the base. This increased pressure on leading edge 32 is
believed to impart a plow-like effect to any debris 34 on the surface to be
cleaned, where the leading edge merely pushes the debris in front of the
base instead of allowing the debris to travel under the base.
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[0024]An exemplary embodiment of a dust mop 110 according to the
present disclosure is described with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 3
through 5 in which component parts performing similar and/or analogous
functions are numbered in multiples of one hundred.
[0025] Mop 110 includes a base 112, an extension pole 114, and a
cleaning sheet (not shown for purposes of clarity). Base 112 can be a
generally rectangular member having a top surface 118, a bottom surface
120, a major axis 122, and a minor axis 124.
[0026] Extension pole 114 is moveably secured to top surface 118 by a
hinge member 126. For example, hinge member 126 can be a dual axis
hinge as described in commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
10/896,246, filed on July 21, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
[0027]Additionally, base 112 can include one or more attachment
members 130 for removably securing a cleaning sheet over bottom surface
120. Mop 110 can be used in both wet and dry mopping applications.
[0028] In use, bottom surface 120 is pushed over an area to be cleaned in
a cleaning direction 128 in response to forces applied to pole 114.
Generally, cleaning direction 128 is substantially perpendicular to major
axis 122 (e.g., parallel to minor axis 124). In this manner, mop 110 is
useful to collect debris on the cleaning sheet.
[0029]Advantageously, bottom surface 120 includes a plurality of debris-
collecting protrusions 140 each defining a planar section 142. Debris-
collecting protrusions 140 are generally disposed lengthwise along major
axis 122. In the illustrated embodiment, protrusions 140 have a generally
wavy or undulating appearance along major axis 122. Protrusions 140 are
defined on bottom surface in a pattern much like a roofing tile pattern,
namely the protrusions repeat in a staggered pattern in the along minor
axis 124.
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[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, planar sections 142 face cleaning
direction 128 to assist in collecting debris when moving base 112 in the
cleaning direction. In another exemplary embodiment, protrusions 140
define one or more planar sections 142 facing cleaning direction 128 and
one or more planar sections 142 facing opposite to the cleaning direction.
In this manner, base 112 assists in collecting debris when moving base 112
in cleaning direction 128 as well as when moving opposite to the cleaning
direction.
[0031]Additionally, protrusions 140 provide support to base 112 during
movement in cleaning direction 128. For example, protrusions 140 can
include a plurality of support regions 144 along the leading edge 132 of
base 112. Support regions 144 can mitigate increases in downward
pressure on leading edge 132 due to forces applied to pole 114. Thus,
support regions 144 can ensure that pressure is applied evenly across
base 112, which prevents the plow-like effect to debris on the surface to be
cleaned as occurs with prior devices.
[0032] It has been found that protrusions 140 increase the utilization of the
cleaning sheet when in use with mop 110. The utilization of a cleaning
sheet 116 in use with base 112 is described with reference to FIG. 6. Here,
sheet 116 is shown after use with base 112 having only planar sections
142 facing cleaning direction 128. Sheet 116 is shown being fouled with
debris 134 in front of the protrusions (i.e., in the cleaning direction 128).
Specifically, sheet 116 becomes fouled in front of each planar section 142.
Advantageously, protrusions 140 result in utilization of sheet 116 of up to
about ninety percent of sheet 116 along minor axis 24, more preferably up
to about eighty percent, with between about forty percent to about sixty
percent being most preferred.
[0033] While not wishing to be bound by any one particular theory, it is
believed that that pressure applied to pole 114 during movement of base
112 in cleaning direction 128 causes a torque 136 about the base along an
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axis (not shown) parallel to major axis 122. It is believed that torque 136
increases the downward pressure of planar edges 142 on the cleaning
area. In prior devices such as mop 10 described above, torque 36 is
localized at leading edge 32, which is believed to impart a plow-like effect
to any debris 34 on the surface to be cleaned, where the leading edge
merely pushes the debris in front of the base instead of allowing the debris
to travel under the base. Advantageously, it is believed that protrusions
140 replicate the leading edge of prior mops several times along bottom
120. It is believed that spreading torque 136 among protrusions 140,
instead of being centralized at the leading edge 32 of prior devices, allows
debris to travel under base 120 and, thus, to be captured by planar
surfaces 142.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 7, a bottom view of an alternate exemplary
embodiment of a base 212 for a dust mop is shown, where component
parts performing similar and/or analogous functions are numbered in
multiples of one hundred. Base 212 can be a generally rectangular
member having a bottom surface 220, a major axis 222, a minor axis 224,
and at least one debris-collecting protrusion 240 defined on the bottom
surface.
[0035] Debris-collecting protrusions 240 are generally disposed diagonally
with respect to major axis 222 so that a generally v-shaped debris
collection area is defined. In the illustrated embodiment, protrusions 240
have a generally linear appearance. Of course, it is contemplated by the
present disclosure for protrusions 240 have a curved or curvilinear
appearance [0036] Protrusions 240 preferably define one or more planar
sections 242
facing cleaning direction 228 and one or more planar sections 242 facing
opposite to the cleaning direction. Here, protrusions 240 define four
generally v-shaped debris collection areas, namely one in the cleaning
direction, one opposite the cleaning direction, and two perpendicular to the
cleaning direction.
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Additionally, protrusions 240 provide support to base 212 during movement
in cleaning direction 228. For example, protrusions 240 can include a
plurality of support regions 244 along the leading edge 232 of base 212.
Support regions 244 can mitigate increases in downward pressure on
leading edge 232 due to the torque forces imparted to base 212 during
movement in cleaning direction 228.
[0037] It should also be noted that the terms "first", "second", "third",
"upper", "lower", and the like may be used herein to modify various
elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or
hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.
[0038]While the present disclosure has been described with reference to
one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled
in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt
a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without
departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present
disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the
best mode contemplated, but that the disclosure will include all
embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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