U.S. patent application number 13/783231 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-04 for cleaning pad arrangement.
The applicant listed for this patent is EURO-PRO OPERATING LLC. Invention is credited to Bastin B. Antonisami, David Jalbert, Brian F. Kaminer.
Application Number | 20140245556 13/783231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51420137 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140245556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaminer; Brian F. ; et
al. |
September 4, 2014 |
CLEANING PAD ARRANGEMENT
Abstract
A surface treatment pad arrangement for cleaning appliance
includes first and second treatment pads with first and second
surface-facing sides, respectively. The first and second
surface-facing sides each may include at least one absorbent
section and at least one scrubbing section. The absorbent section
may be a shag material, and the scrubbing section may include
olefin loops. The first and second pads may be connected to one
another by one or more connectors.
Inventors: |
Kaminer; Brian F.;
(Harrison, NY) ; Jalbert; David; (Coventry,
RI) ; Antonisami; Bastin B.; (Westford, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EURO-PRO OPERATING LLC |
Newton |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51420137 |
Appl. No.: |
13/783231 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/284 20130101;
A47L 11/4036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/228 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20060101
A47L013/20 |
Claims
1. A cleaning pad comprising: a first pad section including a shag
material with strands and/or loops, the first pad section having a
first absorbency; a second pad section including a scrubbing
material having a second absorbency; a third pad section including
the scrubbing material having the second absorbency, the third pad
section being distanced from the second pad section; wherein the
second absorbency is less than the first absorbency.
2. The cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the shag material of the
first pad section is different from the scrubbing material of the
second and third pad sections.
3. The cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the scrubbing material
comprises a non-absorbent material.
4. The cleaning pad of claim 3, wherein the non-absorbent material
comprises olefin loops.
5. The cleaning pad of claim 4, wherein the olefin loops are at
least 4 mm in length.
6. The cleaning pad of claim 5, wherein the olefin loops are less
than or equal to 5 mm in length.
7. The cleaning pad of claim 4, wherein the shag material comprises
pile at least 5 mm in length.
8. The cleaning pad of claim 7, wherein the shag material comprises
pile of less than 15 mm in length.
9. The cleaning pad of claim 4, further comprising: a fourth pad
section acting as a glide portion; and a fifth pad section acting
as a glide portion; wherein each of the fourth and fifth pad
sections include a material with a coefficient of friction less
than the coefficients of friction of each of the first, second and
third pad sections.
10-13. (canceled)
14. The cleaning pad of claim 1, in combination with a second
cleaning pad, connected by at least one elastic connector.
15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second cleaning pad
comprises: the first pad section including a shag material having
strands and/or loops; the second pad section including a scrubbing
material; the third pad section including the scrubbing material;
the fourth pad section acting as a glide portion; and the fifth pad
section acting as a glide portion.
16. A cleaning pad arrangement comprising: a first cleaning pad
with a first surface-facing side configured to clean a surface; a
second cleaning pad with a second surface-facing side configured to
clean the surface; and at least one connector connecting the first
cleaning pad to the second cleaning pad; wherein the first
surface-facing side comprises at least one absorbent section and at
least one glide portion; wherein the second surface-facing side
comprises at least one absorbent section and at least one glide
portion
17. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 16, wherein: the first
surface-facing side further comprises at least one scrubbing
section which is separate from the at least one absorbent section;
and the second surface-facing side further comprises at least one
scrubbing section which is separate from the at least one absorbent
section.
18. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, wherein the at least
one absorbent sections comprise a shag material having strands
and/or loops.
19. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, wherein the at least
one scrubbing section comprises a non-absorbent material.
20. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 19, wherein the
non-absorbent material comprises comprise olefin loops.
21. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least
one connector comprises an elastic material.
22. The cleaning pad arrangement of claim 17, further comprising a
backing layer including an attachment material to attach the pad to
an appliance.
23. A surface treatment appliance comprising: an appliance head
having two moveable members which are moveable relative to one
another; a first cleaning pad with a first surface-facing side
configured to clean a surface; and a second cleaning pad with a
second surface-facing side configured to clean a surface; wherein
the first surface-facing side comprises an absorbent section and at
least one glide portion; and wherein the second surface-facing side
comprises an absorbent section and at least one glide portion.
24. The surface treatment appliance of claim 23, wherein: the first
surface-facing side further comprises a scrubbing section which is
separate from the absorbent section; and the second surface-facing
side further comprises a scrubbing section which is separate from
the absorbent section.
25. The surface treatment appliance of claim 24, wherein the first
and second cleaning pads are connected to each other by at least
one connector.
26. The surface treatment appliance of claim 25, wherein the at
least one connector comprises an elastic material.
27-51. (canceled)
Description
FIELD
[0001] The invention relates generally to surface treatment such as
carpet cleaning, and more specifically to a cleaning pad
arrangement which is attachable to an appliance to clean a
carpet.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Surface treatment appliances are used in the home and office
to clean and treat floors and other surfaces. Various types of
surface treating appliances are known for cleaning carpets,
including appliances with oscillating and rotating brushes.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to one embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed.
The cleaning pad includes a first pad section with a shag material
having strands and loops and having a first absorbency, and second
and third pad sections, each of which includes a scrubbing material
having a second absorbency. The second absorbency is less than the
first absorbency.
[0004] In one embodiment, a cleaning pad arrangement is disclosed.
The cleaning pad includes first and second cleaning pads with first
and second surface-facing sides configured to clean a surface,
respectively, and at least one connector connecting the first and
second pads. The first and second surface-facing sides each
comprise at least one absorbent section and at least one glide
portion.
[0005] In still another embodiment, a surface treatment appliance
is disclosed. The appliance includes an appliance head having two
moveable members which are moveable relative to one another, and
first and second cleaning pads with first and second surface-facing
sides configured to clean a surface, respectively. The first
surface-facing side and the second surface-facing side each
comprise an absorbent section and at least one glide portion.
[0006] In another embodiment, a cleaning pad is a disclosed. The
pad includes a surface-facing side having a shag material section
and a glide portion.
[0007] In another embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed. The pad
includes a surface-facing side having a scrubbing section and a
glide portion positioned laterally from the scrubbing section
toward a shorter side of the cleaning pad.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, a cleaning pad is disclosed. The
cleaning pad includes a non-absorbent scrubbing layer, a nonwoven
or terry knit layer, and an attachment backing layer that includes
hook and loop fastening material. The nonabsorbent scrubbing layer,
the nonwoven or terry knit layer, and the attachment backing layer
are sewn together in a cross stitching pattern.
[0009] It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and
additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any
suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in
this respect.
[0010] The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features
of the present teachings can be more fully understood from the
following description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to
scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical
component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by
a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be
labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface treatment
appliance according to one embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of a cleaning pad
arrangement according to one embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the cleaning pad arrangement
of FIG. 6 taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a portion of a pad
according to one embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a cleaning pad arrangement
taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad according to one
embodiment; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a cleaning pad arrangement
taken along a longer side of a cleaning pad according to one
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Surface treatment appliances, such as cleaning appliance
which include reciprocating cleaning heads, are used to clean and
treat floors and other surfaces in the home, office, and so on.
Surface cleaning appliances with rotating and oscillating pads are
also commonly used to clean low knap loop carpet in office
environments, however the rotating and oscillating pads used with
these appliances are built of moisture and dirt absorbing materials
such as wool and/or polyester microfiber that must be cleaned at
regular intervals for proper cleaning to be achieved. Applicant has
recognized that a cleaning pad that absorbs little to no moisture
and dirt is effective in cleaning carpets. Applicant has further
recognized that various advantages may be realized by providing a
cleaning pad with absorbent and/or scrubbing sections, including
cleaning pads with one or more mini-shag material sections in
combination with other material sections, including lower friction,
glide sections.
[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, a cleaning pad
arrangement includes first and second pads, each with a
surface-facing side configured to clean a surface, the pads being
connected by one or more connectors. In one embodiment, a first
surface-facing side includes one or more absorbent sections and one
or more scrubbing section and a second surface-facing side includes
one or more absorbent sections and one or more scrubbing sections.
The presence of scrubbing and absorbent sections on the
surface-facing sides allows a user to clean a surface with both
sections at the same time. Thus, a user does not necessarily have
to switch pads or adjust the appliance to clean different surfaces
or to effectuate different types of cleaning. In another
embodiment, the first and second surface-facing sides each include
one or more glide portions, such as glide strips, which facilitate
movement of the appliance on the carpet. By limiting friction with
the carpet or other surface, the glide strips not only ease
movement of the pads, they also may reduce the likelihood that
leading edges of the first and second pad will separate from the
appliance while cleaning. In some embodiments, the absorbent
section includes a shag material such as a mini-shag material, and
the scrubbing section includes olefin loops. The shag material may
provide scrubbing functionality in addition to absorbency. In some
embodiments, the shag material is particularly effective in
cleaning an upper layer of a carpet, for example the top 1 mm or
top 2 mm of the carpet. A monofilament loop or line, such as olefin
loops, may be particularly effective in cleaning a carpet to a
depth of 2-4 mm.
[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, a pad includes
one section with a shag material and two sections with scrubbing
material. In one embodiment, the absorbency of the scrubbing
material is less than the absorbency of the shag material. In some
embodiments, the scrubbing material includes olefin loops. In some
embodiments, the pad includes one or more glide strips to reduce
friction while cleaning a carpet. The absorbent section is
positioned in the middle of the pad with scrubbing sections
adjacent to the absorbent section and glide strips adjacent to the
scrubbing section in some embodiments. This configuration provides
agitation for penetration of a cleaning solution into the carpet
while allowing for ease of movement of the appliance across the
floor while cleaning. In addition, the placement of the scrubbing
sections adjacent to the absorbent sections allows the scrubbing
section to lift up any stuck soils and heavier dirt while allowing
the absorbent section to pick up any lose debris and/or liquid. In
one embodiment, the shag section, the scrubbing sections and the
glide strips are positioned such that they are perpendicular an
edge of a longer side of the pad. In another embodiment, the
absorbent section, the scrubbing sections, and the glide strips are
all positioned parallel to an edge of a shorter side of the
pad.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, a surface
treatment appliance includes an appliance head with two moveable
members and two cleaning pads, where each pad has a surface-facing
side configured to clean a surface. In one embodiment, each of the
surface-facing sides has an absorbent section and a scrubbing
section.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a surface treatment appliance 2 according to
one embodiment, the appliance including an elongated appliance body
4 and an appliance head 6, such as a cleaning head. The appliance
head includes two moveable members 8 to which the cleaning pad
arrangement 10 is removably attachable by an attachment side 12.
The moveable members 8 may be used to provide reciprocating motion,
and in some embodiments, the moveable members may move toward and
away from one another. The reciprocating motion produced by the
appliance 2 shown is a linearly reciprocating motion in some
embodiments. The appliance 2 also includes a liquid reservoir 13 on
the appliance body 4 that communicates with a liquid applicator 15
on the appliance head 6 to apply a treatment or cleaning solution
to a surface. Although the liquid applicator 15 is shown on only
the front of the appliance head 6 in this embodiment, one or more
applicators 15 may be positioned on the sides of the appliance head
6 as well as the back of the appliance head 6 so as to allow
multi-directional use of the appliance 2. In some embodiments, the
applicators 15 are positioned on the appliance body 4 or on an
underside of the appliance head 6.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the pad arrangement 10 of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which includes a first cleaning pad
14 with an attachment side 12a, a second cleaning pad 16 with an
attachment side 12b, and one or more connectors 18 that connect the
first cleaning pad 14 to the second cleaning pad 16. In this
embodiment, the connectors are attached to the attachment side 12
of the first and second pads 14, 16.
[0029] The attachment sides 12a, 12b are configured to removably
attach the pads 14, 16 to the appliance head 6 in some embodiments.
The attachment sides may include a hook and loop fastening
material, which attaches to complementary hook and loop fastening
material on the appliance head 6. The attachment sides 12a, 12b
instead may include any other suitable material for attaching the
pads 14, 16 to the appliance head 6 as this aspect of the
disclosure is not limiting. In some embodiments, the pad
arrangement and the moveable members may be configured such that
the pad arrangement wraps around the sides of the moveable members
for attachment. Fastening devices such as clips, screws, snaps or
interference fit arrangements may be used to removably attach the
pads to the moveable members such that the attachment sides 12a,
12b are removably attached to the moveable members 8 even though,
in some cases, the attachment sides 12a, 12b themselves do not play
a direct role in their attachment to the moveable members 8.
[0030] Though the pads 14, 16 shown in this embodiment are
rectangular, it should be appreciated that first and second pads
14, 16 may be any suitable shape. The first pad 14 and the second
pad 16 also may be different sizes from one another, though they
are shown to be the same size in the illustrated embodiment. It
should also be appreciated that the first and second pads 14, 16
need not be connected even though the pads 14, 16 are shown
connected by connectors 18 in this embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the cleaning pad arrangement 10,
which includes the first cleaning pad 14 with a first
surface-facing side 20a, the second cleaning pad 16 with a second
surface-facing side 20b, and connectors 18. The surface-facing
sides 20a, 20b may include any of a number of types of materials
for cleaning a variety of surfaces. In one embodiment, the
surface-facing sides 20a, 20b are configured to clean a carpet, in
which a cleaning element (such as a solution including cleaning
agents) is applied to a carpet and then agitated and/or absorbed by
the pad arrangement 10. In some embodiments, such as the one shown
in FIG. 3, the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b include only scrubbing
sections 22 to agitate the cleaning element. In some embodiments,
the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b and the attachment side 12 of the
pad arrangement 10 include the same material. In one embodiment,
the sides 12, 20a, 20b all include scrubbing section 22, e.g., a
hook and loop fastener or any other abrasive material that is
suitable for attachment and for agitation.
[0032] In other embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b
include scrubbing sections 22 and absorbent sections 24. In one
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the scrubbing section 22 is placed
in the center of each surface-facing side 20a, 20b and the
absorbent sections 24 surround the scrubbing section 22 on two
sides. In some embodiments, the scrubbing section can be olefin and
in other embodiments the scrubbing section 22 can be a mini-shag
material. Of course, in some embodiments, a mini-shag material
section and an olefin or other monofilament loop section may be
provided.
[0033] As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, in some embodiments,
the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b have glide strips 26 that
surround the scrubbing section 22 on two sides. The absorbent
sections 24 also may be positioned in the middle of the
surface-facing sides 20a, 20b with scrubbing sections 22
surrounding the absorbent section 24 on at least two sides. As
shown in FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the absorbent section 24 is in
the middle of each surface-facing side 20a, 20b, scrubbing sections
22 surrounding the absorbent section 24 on two sides, and glide
strips 26 are positioned adjacent to the scrubbing sections 22. In
some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b have a section
capable of both absorbing and scrubbing in the middle of the pad,
with non-absorbent scrubbing sections 22 positioned adjacent to
this absorbent scrubbing section, and glide strips adjacent to the
scrubbing sections 22. In other embodiments, the first
surface-facing side 20a may include only absorbent sections 24
while the second surface-facing side 20b includes only scrubbing
sections 22.
[0034] In some embodiments, the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b
include a glide portion to reduce friction while cleaning the
carpet. For purposes herein, a glide portion is a portion of the
surface-facing sides 20a, 20b which has a lower coefficient of
friction than one or both of an absorbent section 24 and a
scrubbing section 22. One type of glide portion is a glide strip
26, as shown in FIG. 7. For purposes herein, the term "glide strip"
refers to a section on a surface-facing side of a pad which extends
from near one edge of the pad to near an opposite edge. The glide
strip does not necessarily have to reach the absolute edge of the
pad to be considered a glide strip. For example, in some
embodiments disclosed herein, glide strips extend only to a binding
which runs along the perimeter of the pad. In one embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 7, the first surface-facing side 20a includes an
absorbent section 24 surrounded by glide strips 26 on two sides and
the second surface-facing side 20b includes a scrubbing section 22
surrounded by glide strips 26 on two sides. It should be
appreciated that the number and position of the scrubbing sections
22 and the absorbent sections 24 in these embodiments may vary, as
this disclosure is not limiting. It also should be appreciated that
although two glide strips 26 are shown in these embodiments, one
glide strip 26 or more than two glide strips 26 may be used in
other embodiments. Also, although the glide strips 26 are shown
adjacent to a binding 28 that extends along the perimeter of a
shorter side 30 of the pads 14, 16, the glide strips may be placed
adjacent to the binding 28 that extends along the perimeter of a
longer side 32 of the pads 14, 16 or in any other suitable location
to reduce friction while cleaning a carpet. It should further be
appreciated that while the glide portions are shown to be
rectangular glide strips, the glide portions may be any suitable
shape.
[0035] For each of the pad arrangements 10 shown in FIGS. 2-7, the
scrubbing sections 22 may include a non-absorbent material. In some
embodiments, the scrubbing sections 22 include a monofilament
loops. In one embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 include olefin,
and in another embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 include a
plastic material. In one embodiment, the olefin is 100% olefin,
489.9 g/m.sup.2, with 16.5 wales by 27.0 courses per inch. In some
embodiments, the wales are parallel to an edge of the longer side
32 of each pad 14, 16. In other embodiments, the wales are parallel
to the edge of the shorter side 30 of each pads 14, 16. In some
embodiments, the olefin loops have a height O of at least 1 mm, 2
mm, or 4 mm. In some embodiments the olefin loops have a height of
between 4 mm and 5 mm inclusive.
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the pad arrangement in FIG. 6
along the longer side 32 of the pads 14, 16. The olefin loops may
be configured to be parallel to the edge of the longer side 32 of
the pads 14, 16, or parallel to the edge of the shorter side 30 of
the pads 14, 16. In some embodiments, a mini-shag material with
loops or twisted strands is used for scrubbing. In other
embodiments, the scrubbing section 22 may include polyester,
polypropylene, or any other material suitable for agitation as this
disclosure is not limiting. In some embodiments, the scrubbing
sections 22 may have a low coefficient of friction. In one
embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 are quilted. The scrubbing
section 22 also may include any other suitable material for
agitating a carpet, such as a material having a rake or teeth. In
some embodiments, the scrubbing section 22 may include an abrasive
sanding material such as sandpaper or a sanding pad.
[0037] The surface facing sides 20a, 20b include absorbent sections
in some embodiments. The absorbent section 24 may include nylon
loops, although absorbent sections 24 may be any other material
suitable for absorption. In one embodiment, the absorbent sections
24 include a mini-shag material with a plurality of strands or
loops having a pile length P, as shown in FIG. 8, of at least 5 mm.
In some embodiments, the strands or loops have a pile length P of
between 5 mm and 8 mm, or between 6 mm and 9 mm. In some
embodiments, the strands or loops may have a pile length P of
between 2 mm and 10 mm. In still further embodiments, the strands
or loops may have a pile length P of between 1 mm and 15 mm. In one
embodiment, the mini-shag material is 100% polyester, 15.45
oz/yd.sup.2, with 20 wales by 26 courses per inch. In some
embodiments, the mini-shag material is weft terry knit on a course
gauge machine 8 to 14 gauge. In one embodiment, the mini-shag
material is 100% microfiber polyester, 8 oz/yd.sup.2. In some
embodiments, the microfiber lengths are twisted together to form
strands or loops. In one embodiment, the absorbent sections 24
include an absorbent material that has any suitable density, for
example a density of between 0.01 grams per cm.sup.3 and 0.2 grams
per cm.sup.3, though any other density may be used. In some
embodiments, the absorbent sections 24 include a quilted absorbent
material. The absorbent section 24 may also be a terry knit
material, although other absorbent material may be used as this
disclosure is not limited in this regard.
[0038] In some embodiments, the scrubbing sections 22 and/or the
absorbent sections 24 are stitched or quilted to further connect
layers of the pad to one another and/or to provide a material
surface with slightly varying height. In some embodiments, the
stitching may form a pattern. The quilting stiches may extend from
the exterior edges of the first and second pads 14, 16 at a 30
degree angle, a 45 degree angle, a 60 degree angle, or any other
suitable angle, in two directions to the opposed fabric edges. In
one embodiment, the cross patterns form quadrilateral shapes or
other polygon shapes. In some embodiments, the stitching limits or
prevents a sliding of the pad layers relative to one another. Such
sliding, if not limited, may reduce a pad's effectiveness at
transmitting motion to the carpet.
[0039] In some embodiments, the absorbent sections 24 are separate
from the scrubbing sections 22. For purposes herein, a separate
section does not necessarily mean that a first section is distanced
from a second section. Instead, separate sections, such as sections
22 and 24 in one embodiment, may be immediately adjacent to one
another and be considered separate sections. In some embodiments
two types of material overlap one another, but if each material has
a portion that does not overlap with the material, there would
still be considered to be two separate sections.
[0040] In some embodiments, a single material is configured for
scrubbing and absorbing. Mini-shag is an example of a single
material that may scrub and absorb. In some embodiments, the
surface-facing sides 20a, 20b include a mixture of a scrubbing
material and an absorbent material in the same section. As shown in
FIGS. 5-7, in some embodiments the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b
include glide strips 26 to reduce friction while cleaning. The
glide strips 26 may include polyester taffeta, 100 g/m.sup.2 and 70
Denier yarn. In one embodiment, there are a series of linings below
the taffeta. As seen in FIG. 9, in one embodiment, a polyester
non-woven interlining layer 36, an olefin loop layer 38, a second
polyester non-woven interlining layer 36, and a nylon loop backing
layer 40 are positioned below a polyester taffeta layer 34. In some
embodiments, the binding 28 is placed along the edge of the shorter
and longer sides 30, 32 to bind the layers together. In one
embodiment, the binding 28 is a twill material. As will be
appreciated by one of skill in the art, a binding is not
necessarily required to maintain pad integrity, as other pad
construction methods may be used. In some embodiments, the glide
strips 26 are quilted and/or have a low coefficient of friction.
The coefficient of friction of the glide strips 26 is less than the
coefficients of friction of the absorbent sections 24 and/or the
scrubbing sections 22 in some embodiments.
[0041] In some embodiments, the glide strips are positioned at a
distance H higher than the scrubbing section 22 on the
surface-facing sides 20a, 20b of the pad, as shown in FIG. 10. Of
course, when the pad is turned over to be used on a floor surface
the glide strips will be positioned lower than the scrubbing
section. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the longer side 32 of the
pad 14, 16. In one embodiment, the difference in height (H) is
between 4 mm and 5 mm. In some embodiments, as illustrated by FIG.
10, there is a ratio R1 of the sum of the lengths GL1 of the glide
strips 26 to a length SL of the scrubbing section 22 on the pad on
the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b. For purposes herein, the "length
of the glide strip" is defined as the length dimension of the glide
strip along the longer side 32 of the pad and the "length of the
scrubbing section" is defined as the dimension of the scrubbing
section along the longer side 32 of the pad. In some embodiments,
the ratio R1 is between 40% and 50%. In other embodiments, the
ratio R1 is between 43% and 47%. In one embodiment, the ratio R1 is
46%. In embodiments having a mini-shag section 44, there is a ratio
R2 of the lengths GL2 of the glide strips 26 to a length ML of the
mini-shag section on the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b, as shown in
FIG. 11, a sectional view of the pads 14, 16 along a longer side
32. In some embodiments, the ratio R2 is between 60% and 75%. In
other embodiments, the ratio R2 is between 65% and 70%. In one
embodiment, the ratio is 67%.+-.1%.
[0042] In some embodiments, the mini-shag material may be
configured such that when the pad is placed on a carpet for
cleaning, the shag material is compressed such that the shag height
is even with the height of the glide strip(s). In some embodiments,
this configuration would result in the compressed mini-shag
material being between 4 mm and 5 mm lower than the extent of the
olefin or other non-absorbent scrubbing section(s).
[0043] In some embodiments, the pad arrangement 10 includes one or
more connectors. The connectors 18 may be made of elastic straps,
elastic cords, or any other suitable material for connecting the
pads and maintaining their relative positions. The connectors 18
also may be made of any other suitable material for permitting the
first and second pads 14, 16 to move relative to one another when
attached to the moveable members 8. In some embodiments the
elasticity of the connectors 18 is greater than the elasticity of
the first and second pads 14, 16. The elasticity of the connectors
18 also may be configured such that the first and second pads 14,
16 can move relative to one another, irrespective of the positions
of the moveable members 8, when the pad arrangement 10 is attached
to the appliance head 6. In some embodiments, the connectors 18 may
not necessarily pull the cleaning pads 14, 16 toward one another.
For example, the connectors may be made of a non-elastic material
such as string. In embodiments where the connector(s) do not
include elastic material, the pad arrangement 10, and in particular
the connector(s) 18, may be sized such that the arrangement 10 is
sufficiently long to remain attached to the moveable members 8 when
the moveable members 8 are in their outermost position on the
appliance head 6. Although two connectors 18 are shown in FIGS.
2-7, in other embodiments one connector or more than two connectors
may be used. In some embodiments, the connectors 18 may be made of
the same material as the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b of the first
and second cleaning pads 14, 16. The connector(s) 18 also may be
integral to the first and second pads 14, 16.
[0044] The cleaning pad arrangement 10 also may include a tab 42,
as shown in FIG. 6, that extends outwardly from either or both of
the first and second pads 14, 16 to allow a user to remove the pad
arrangement 10 from the appliance head 6. It should be appreciated
that the tab 42 can be located on any of the exterior edges of the
pad arrangement 10 and that the pad arrangement 10 can have more
than one tab 42. In one embodiment, the tab 42 may be integrated as
part of the pad itself. The pad arrangement 10 also may be
oversized to provide an area on which a user can step. In such an
embodiment, a portion of either or both of the first and second pad
14, 16 extends beyond the appliance head 6 to allow a user to
remove the pad arrangement 10 from the appliance by grasping or
stepping on the portion.
[0045] In some embodiments, the pads 14, 16 comprise a series of
layers, include a scrubbing layer, such as a monofilament material,
a nonwoven or terry knit layer, and an attachment backing layer
with hook and look fastening material. In one embodiment, the
scrubbing layer, the nonwoven or terry knit layer, and the
attachment backing layer are sewn together in a cross pattern. In
some embodiments, the stitch pattern forms quadrilateral shapes or
other polygon shapes.
[0046] According to some embodiments, a method of cleaning a carpet
with the appliance 2, includes placing the pad arrangement 10 on a
carpet to be cleaned with the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b of each
pad 14, 16 in contact with the carpet, and placing the cleaning
head 6 on top of the attachment sides 12, 12b of the pad
arrangement 10. In one embodiment, the scrubbing sections 22 and
the absorbent sections 24 on the surface-facing sides 20a, 20b
clean the carpet at the same time.
[0047] In some embodiments, the pads and methods disclosed herein
may be used in combination with a low moisture encapsulant to clean
carpets.
[0048] While the present teachings have been described in
conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not
intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments
or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass
various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be
appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the
foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
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