U.S. patent application number 10/059972 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-31 for addition of a removable scrubbing pad to a mop holder and to a scrub applicator.
Invention is credited to Stafford, Bryan W..
Application Number | 20030140441 10/059972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27609936 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030140441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stafford, Bryan W. |
July 31, 2003 |
Addition of a removable scrubbing pad to a mop holder and to a
scrub applicator
Abstract
A pad for scrubbing is attached to the head of a mop holder by a
removable adhesive means such as VELCRO, producing a combined mop
and scrubber holder for dual use cleaning and removing need for a
separate scrubber holder. The pad may be easily removed and
replaced when it is worn out. For cleaning applications requiring a
separate scrubber tool, a removable scrubbing pad is attached to
the end of an applicator handle, using a removable adhesive means
such as VELCRO. Any worn out scrubbing pad can be easily removed
from the applicator handle and replaced.
Inventors: |
Stafford, Bryan W.;
(Torrance, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Monty Koslover
145 Via Monte D'Oro
Redondo Beach
CA
90277
US
|
Family ID: |
27609936 |
Appl. No.: |
10/059972 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/118 ; 15/228;
15/244.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/44 20130101;
A47L 13/252 20130101; A47L 13/12 20130101; A47L 13/254
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/118 ; 15/228;
15/244.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/12; A47L
013/20 |
Claims
Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. In a mop holder tool of the type used for cleaning floors and
other flat surfaces, said mop holder tool having an extended length
handle that includes at one end, an attached mop holding frame that
has an unbroken horizontal bar member to which mop fibers are
fastened; a scrubbing pad; and fastening means for removably
engaging said scrubbing pad to the top surface of said horizontal
bar member; said scrubbing pad being attached with its scrub
surface exposed and available for cleaning application to a floor
surface or other flat surface, using said mop holder tool.
2. The fastening means as recited in claim 1, including two
adhesive strips, each strip including a permanent adhesive layer on
one side for permanent attachment to either said bar member or said
scrubbing pad, each strip including on its non-permanent adhesive
side, a pressure sensitive engaging composition layer for engaging
the other strip; said engaging composition layer permitting
disengagement of said two adhesive strips when a separating tensile
force is applied.
3. In a scrubbing pad applicator tool of the type used for cleaning
floors and other flat surfaces, said scrubbing pad applicator tool
having an extended length handle that includes at one end, a
structure for holding a scrubbing pad, said structure including an
attached flat, horizontally projecting bar member; a scrubbing pad;
and fastening means for removably engaging said scrubbing pad to
the bottom surface of said bar member; said scrubbing pad being
attached with its scrub surface exposed and available for cleaning
application to a floor surface or other flat surface.
4. The fastening means as recited in claim 3, including two
adhesive strips, each strip including a permanent adhesive layer on
one side for permanent attachment to either said bar member or said
scrubbing pad, each strip including on its non-permanent adhesive
side, a pressure sensitive engaging composition layer for engaging
the other strip; said engaging composition layer permitting
disengagement of said two adhesive strips when a separating tensile
force is applied.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to tools and accessories used for
cleaning floors and flat surfaces.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] When cleaning floors or other flat surfaces, it is common
practice to first scrub a portion of the floor surface with a
scrubbing pad and follow this with a wet mop. In doing this, a
separate scrubbing pad and a mop are used, with each attached to
its holder or applicator handle. Thus, two separate tools are
needed for the work in addition to any required pails for water,
soap dispensers and rags etc.
[0005] In addition, in many cases an applicator scrubbing pad is
not intended to be removed from the applicator handle when worn
out. As a result, the applicator as well as the scrubbing pad may
have to be periodically disposed and replaced.
[0006] In view of the above generally universal practices, it would
be helpful to have a combined mop and scrubbing tool available, and
avoid having to change tools. Where the use of a separate scrubbing
applicator is a requirement, it would be an improvement to have a
scrubbing applicator that includes a replaceable scrubbing pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A pad for scrubbing is attached to the head of a mop holder
by a removable adhesive means such as VELCRO, producing a combined
mop and scrubber holder for dual use cleaning. In an alternate
embodiment, a scrubbing pad is attached to the end of an applicator
handle, similarly using a removable adhesive means such as
VELCRO.
[0008] Accordingly, a prime object of the invention is to create a
combined mop and scrubber holder that can be used for scrubbing or
mopping.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide for easy
removal and replacement of a scrubbing pad from a dual use mop
holder, or from a scrubbing pad applicator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of a dual use mop
holder, particularly showing an attached, removable scrubbing pad
according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-section view of the dual use mop
holder taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, particularly showing means
of removably adhering a scrubbing pad;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial, perspective view of a scrubbing pad
applicator, particularly showing an attached, removable scrubbing
pad according to the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-section view of the applicator
and pad, particularly showing means of removably adhering a
scrubbing pad.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Refer to FIG. 1 which shows a partial, perspective view of a
combined mop and scrubber holder 1, according to the present
invention. The holder 1 as configured, is intended to be used for
scrubbing as well as for mopping a floor or other flat surface. To
produce this configuration, a scrubbing pad 3 is added to the head
of a typical mop holder by removably fastening the scrubbing pad 3
to the top of a cross bar member 5 that holds the mop fibers 7.
[0015] Referring to the partial cross-section view of the holder 1
head shown in FIG. 2, it is seen that two separate adhesive strips
9 are used to fasten the scrubbing pad 3 to the top surface of the
bar member 5. One side of the upper adhesive strip is adhered
permanently to the underside of the scrubbing pad 3, while one side
of the lower adhesive strip is adhered to the bar member 5. The
opposing faces of the two adhesive strips 9 are covered with a
pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that
application of pressure to the top of the scrubbing pad 3 causes
the two adhesive strips 9 to engage each other and hold the pad
firmly to the holder 1. If it becomes necessary to remove and
replace the pad, the strips 9 can be disengaged by using a tensile,
tearing action, allowing the scrubbing pad 3 to be removed.
[0016] Any convenient size scrubbing pad may be used, providing
only that it can be fitted over a mop holder end bar for
attachment.
[0017] The above described combined mop and scrubbing tool
effectively reduces the number of separate cleaning tools necessary
to be carried around by a cleaner. In addition, the method of
attaching the scrubbing pad to a mop holder, allows easy removal
and replacement of a worn out scrubbing pad on a mop holder, which
saves time and money.
[0018] The concept of using a removable fastening means to attach a
scrubbing pad to a mop holder, leads directly to the concept of
applying this approach for fastening a scrubbing pad to a scrubbing
applicator handle. This approach solves the existing problem of
having to throw away a scrubbing applicator when the scrubbing pad
wears out. All that is needed to do is to remove and replace the
pad. A preferred embodiment of the foregoing concept is described
below.
[0019] A scrubbing applicator 10 with a removably attached
scrubbing pad according to the present invention is shown in the
partial perspective view of FIG. 3. Refer also to FIG. 4 which is a
cross-section view of the applicator head member with an attached
scrubbing pad. As depicted, a scrubbing pad 14 is fastened to the
horizontal rigid bar member 12 of the applicator, using two
separate adhesive strips 16.
[0020] The adhesive strips 16 removably fasten the scrubbing pad 14
to the applicator bar member 12 in the same manner as described
earlier for the combined mop and scrubbing pad tool. One side of
the upper adhesive strip is adhered permanently to the underside of
the bar member 12, while one side of the lower adhesive strip is
permanently adhered to the top surface of the scrubbing pad 14. The
opposing faces of the two adhesive strips 16 are covered with a
pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that
application of pressure to the top surface of the bar member 12
causes the two adhesive strips 16 to engage each other and hold the
pad 14 firmly to the applicator bar member 12. If it becomes
necessary to remove and replace the pad, the strips 16 can be
disengaged by using a tensile tearing action, allowing the
scrubbing pad 14 to be removed. Thus, a worn out scrubbing pad can
be easily removed and replaced.
[0021] From the above descriptions, it is clear that the preferred
embodiments of the combined mop and scrubbing pad tool and
scrubbing pad applicator with removable scrubbing pad achieves the
objects of the present invention.
[0022] Alternative attaching components and various modifications
may be apparent to those skilled in the art. These alternatives and
modifications are considered to be within the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
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