U.S. patent application number 12/444795 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-18 for flat mop.
This patent application is currently assigned to CARL FREUDENBERG KG. Invention is credited to Jens Deerberg, Uwe Dingert, Torsten Gratzki.
Application Number | 20100064466 12/444795 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38748133 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100064466 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dingert; Uwe ; et
al. |
March 18, 2010 |
FLAT MOP
Abstract
A flat mop (1) comprising a mop plate (2) with a cleaning side
(3), onto which a mop cover (4) can be stretched. The mop plate (2)
has two mop plate parts (5, 6) arranged foldably with respect to
one another. The mop plate (2) is trapezoidal in shape.
Inventors: |
Dingert; Uwe; (Abtsteinach,
DE) ; Gratzki; Torsten; (Essen, DE) ;
Deerberg; Jens; (Essen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900, 180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6731
US
|
Assignee: |
CARL FREUDENBERG KG
Weinheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
38748133 |
Appl. No.: |
12/444795 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
October 10, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/008802 |
371 Date: |
April 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/258
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/228 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20060101
A47L013/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 048 479.7 |
Feb 13, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 007 671.3 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A flat mop comprising a mop plate with a cleaning side onto
which a mop cover can be stretched, the mop plate having two mop
plate parts arranged foldably with respect to one another, wherein
the mop plate is trapezoidal in shape.
12. A flat mop according to claim 11, wherein the mop plate has a
longer long side with that are bent.
13. A flat mop according to claim 11, wherein a retaining device is
arranged on the cleaning side of the mop plate.
14. A flat mop according to claim 13, wherein the retaining device
has a nonpositively engaging functional principle.
15. A flat mop according to claim 13, wherein the retaining device
is formed by elastomeric bodies.
16. A flat mop according to claim 11, wherein the mop plate parts
are connectable to one another in a hinge-like manner by a locking
element, a resilient body being associated with the locking element
in such a manner that the mop plate parts are locked against the
force of the resilient body.
17. A flat mop according to claim 16, wherein the resilient body is
formed by an elastomeric body.
18. A flat mop according to claim 11, wherein a side of the mop
plate opposite the cleaning side has an undulating structure.
19. A flat mop according to claim 11, wherein the two mop plates
are substantially the same size.
20. A flat mop according to claim 19, wherein the mop plate parts
are arranged in an articulated manner on an intermediate piece.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a flat mop comprising a mop plate
with a cleaning side, onto which a mop cover can be stretched,
wherein the mop plate has two mop plate parts arranged foldably
with respect to one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flat mops having a mop plat that has two mop plate parts
that are foldable relative to each other are generally known. The
mop plate can be connected to a handle, which is usually mounted in
an articulated manner on the upper side of the mop plate. For wet
cleaning, mop covers, which can be soaked with a cleaning fluid,
are stretched onto the mop plate. The mop covers can be fixed in
place by means of pockets or positive/nonpositive fastening
elements. The mop plate consists of a plastic injection-molded
plate and generally has a rectangular shape. The upper side of the
mop plate is formed flat and the cleaning side has a rib structure,
the ribs generally being arranged relative to one another in
elongated rectangles. The rib structure yields a material savings,
with a simultaneously high stiffness of the mop plate.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the foregoing, a general object the invention is
to develop a flat mop having improved cleaning power in
difficult-to-access points.
[0004] This problem is solved with the characteristics of claim 1.
The subordinate claims refer to advantageous configurations.
[0005] In order to solve the problem, the mop plate is trapezoidal
in form. The trapezoidal form yields two oblique-angle corners
associated with the shorter of the long sides and two acute-angle
corners associated with the longer of the long sides.
Difficult-to-access corner areas of the floor to be cleaned can be
advantageously reached and cleaned by means of the acute-angle
corners. It is conceivable to arrange the ribs on the underside of
the flat mop in a honeycomb shape with respect to one another.
Unlike the known rib structures, the ribs are thereby not
continuous but are instead arranged as segments of a honeycomb.
This results in interstices that are defined by the length of the
segments. These ribs form the cleaning side of the mop plate. A mop
plate constructed this way is flexurally rigid, and a uniform
contact with the mop cover results from the uniformly distributed
ribs. This results in a uniform contact pressure of the mop cover
on the floor to be cleaned and a mopping result that is made more
uniform. In one advantageous configuration, the length of the ribs
is selected such that five honeycomb cells can be arranged, offset
to one another, across the width of the mop plate. A mop plate with
a cleaning side consisting of a honeycomb-shaped rib structure can
be produced particularly easily and economically with an injection
molding process. The ribs can be constructed such that they
thicken, viewed from the cleaning side towards the upper side of
the mop plate. Thereby the mop plate can be demolded particularly
easily from the injection molding tool.
[0006] The corners of the mop plate associated with the longer of
the long sides can be bent. The corners accordingly have the shape
of winglets. The mop covers, usually pocket-shaped, are generally
stretched onto the mop plate. For this stretching, the mop plate
parts are folded together and the free ends of the mop plate parts
are inserted into the pockets of the mop cover. Then the mop plate
parts are unfolded and locked. Due to being folded together, the
free ends of the mop plate parts extend almost vertically downward,
which, due to the high normal force, makes the sliding of the free
ends on the mop cover in the direction of the pockets more
difficult. Because of the winglets molded onto the corners, the
free ends do not extend almost vertically downward with the mop
plate folded up; rather, they point at least in part in the
direction towards the pockets when the mop plate parts are folded.
Thereby the sliding process of the mop plate parts on the mop
cover, and thus the stretch-fitting of the mop cover onto the mop
plate, is improved.
[0007] A retaining device can be arranged on the cleaning side.
Depending on the floor to be cleaned, wet cleaning can entail high
friction forces, whereby the mop cover can slip, and the mopping
result deteriorates. A slippage of the mop cover, which can have a
nonpositively or positively engaging functional principle, is
prevented by the retaining device. This advantageous design is also
conceivable for other embodiments of a mop plate that go beyond the
design according to the invention.
[0008] The retaining device can have a nonpositively engaging
functional principle. Nonpositively engaging retaining devices are
particularly easy to realize, namely, by material that have a high
coefficient of friction. The retaining device can be coplanar with
the ribs, or it can project past them. It is also possible to coat
the ribs with an elastomer that has a high coefficient of friction.
This yields a flat, two-dimensional retaining device. In other
configurations, several pin-like elevations having a material with
a high coefficient of friction at their free ends can be formed on
the cleaning side. In this configuration it is advantageous firstly
that the retaining device prevents slippage of the mop cover,
secondly, that it also prevents the mop device with the mop plate
from slipping on the floor if it is set down there without a mop
cover.
[0009] The retaining device can be formed by elastomeric elements.
Elastomeric elements such as rubber bumps can be produced easily
and economically. They can also be mounted on the mop plate by
simple means such as gluing.
[0010] The mop plate parts can be connected to one another in a
hinge-like manner by a locking element, a resilient body being
associated with the locking element in such a manner that the mop
plate parts are locked against the force of the resilient body. It
is advantageous in this case that the mop plate parts can unfold
when unlocked, at least to such an extent that they cannot again
automatically lock. Thereby the handling of the mop plate is
facilitated.
[0011] The resilient body can be formed by an elastomeric body.
Resilient bodies formed from an elastomeric body are particularly
robust, long-lived and economical.
[0012] The side of the mop plate facing away from the cleaning side
can have an undulating structure. The strength of the mop plate in
particularly stressed areas is increased by the undulating
structure. In the middle area, in which the handle is connected to
the mop plate, a wave trough results, whereby the handle
connection, and thus the center of gravity of the mop plate as
well, is situated particularly deeply
[0013] The mop plate can be divided such that two substantially
equal-sized mop plate parts result. For this purpose, the mop plate
parts can be arranged in an articulated manner on an intermediate
piece. Due to this design, the mop plate parts can be folded
mirror-symmetrically and hang downward in the folded state by the
same amount, starting from the intermediate part or the articulated
joint. Stretching on a mop cover is thereby simplified since the
corners of the mop plate associated with the longer of the long
sides simultaneously come into engagement with the pockets of the
mop cover. This design is particularly advantageous in combination
with the above-described bent corners that are associated with the
longer of the long sides of the mop plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Some exemplary embodiments of the flat mop of the invention
will be described below with reference to the figures. These show,
schematically in each case:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an exemplary mop plate according
to the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mop plate of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a mop plate part of the mop plate
of FIG. 1 showing the locking element and resilient body.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a further embodiment of a mop plate according to
the invention that includes mirror-symmetrically foldable mop plate
parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 shows the mop plate 2 of a flat mop 1. Mop plate 2,
consisting of two mop plate parts 5, 6 foldably arranged with
respect to one another, has a cleaning side 3 that is formed by
ribs 7. The ribs 7 are arranged in a honeycomb shape with respect
to one another. A mop cover with pockets (not shown) can be
stretched onto mop plate 2, the mop cover covering the cleaning
side 3 and thus coming into engagement with ribs 7. Mop plate 2 has
the shape of a trapezoid. A retaining device 11 consisting of four
elastomer bodies made of rubber is arranged on cleaning side 3,
whereby retaining device 11 has a nonpositively engaging functional
principle. Mop plate 2 can be made of plastic, and can be
manufactured by the injection molding method.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mop plate 1 of FIG. 1.
It is shown here that the corners 9, 10 of the mop plate that are
associated with the longer long side 8 are bent and thus have the
shape of winglets. In addition, the side 14 of mop plate 2 that is
turned away from cleaning side 3 is constructed such that an
undulating structure results. The wave crests are each associated
with roughly the middle of each mop plate part 5, 6, and a wave
trough is associated with the middle of mop plate 2 and the corners
9, 10. A receptacle 15 for being able to connect mop plate 2 in an
articulated manner to a handle is situated in the center of mop
plate 2. The two mop plate parts 5, 6 are connected to one another
in the manner of a hinge by a locking element 12, so that mop plate
parts 5, 6 can be folded with respect to one another. Locking
element 12 is mounted on a mop plate part 6 so as to move tiltably,
and reaches over a section of the other mop plate part 5, and
thereby prevents uncontrolled pivoting of mop plate parts 5, 6. By
tilting locking element 12, the section is uncovered, and a
pivoting of mop plate parts 5, 6 is thereby made possible.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a mop plate part 6 in accordance with FIG. 1 or
2 in detail. It is shown that a resilient body 13 consisting of an
elastomer body is associated with locking element 12 in such a
manner that mop plate parts 5, 6 are locked against the force of
resilient body 13. Two resilient bodies 13 are also arranged on mop
plate part 6 in the area of locking element 12. These resilient
bodies 13 consist of hemispherical rubber bodies. When mop plate
parts 5, 6 are locked by locking element 12, resilient bodies 13
arranged on mop plate part 6 are compressed and resilient bodies 13
exert a force onto the other mop plate part 5. Flat mops according
to the invention can include mop plate parts 5, 6 that can be
connected to one another in a hinge-like manner by a locking
element 12, a resilient body 13 being associated with locking
element 12 in such a manner that the mop plate parts 5, 6 are
locked against the force of resilient body 13.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows the mop plate 2 of a flat mop 1. Mop plate 2
consists of two mop plate parts 5, 6 that have essentially the same
size with respect to their cleaning side 3. Mop plate parts 5, 6
are mounted on an intermediate piece 16 in an articulated manner,
so that mop plate parts 5, 6 can be folded mirror-symmetrically. A
receptacle for a handle 15 is arranged in an articulated manner
centrally on intermediate piece 16. Cleaning side 3 of mop plate
parts 5, 6 is formed by ribs 7, the ribs 7 being arranged in a
honeycomb shape with respect to one another. Alternatively
constructed cleaning sides 3, flat surfaces for example, are also
conceivable with the embodiment of FIG. 4. A mop cover with pockets
(not shown) can be stretched onto mop plate 2, the mop cover
covering cleaning side 3 and thus coming into engagement with ribs
7. Mop plate 2 has the shape of a trapezoid, wherein the corners 9,
10 of mop plate 2 that are associated with the longer long side 8
are bent and thus have the shape of winglets. In addition, the side
14 of mop plate 2 that is turned away from cleaning side 3 is
constructed such that an undulating structure results. The wave
crests are each associated with roughly the middle of each mop
plate part 5, 6, and a wave trough is associated with the middle of
mop plate 2 and the corners 9, 10. A retaining device 11 consisting
of four elastomer bodies made of rubber, is arranged on cleaning
side 3, whereby retaining device 11 has a nonpositively engaging
functional principle. Locking element 12 is mounted so as to move
tiltably on a mop plate part 6 and reaches over a section of the
other mop plate part 5, and thereby prevents uncontrolled pivoting
of mop plate parts 5, 6. This section in turn also reaches across
intermediate piece 16 in the closed state of mop plate 2. The
section is uncovered by tilting locking element 12, and a pivoting
of mop plate parts 5, 6 about intermediate part 16 is thereby made
possible. Mop plate 2 can be made of plastic, and is can be made by
an injection molding method.
* * * * *