US20030140441A1 - Addition of a removable scrubbing pad to a mop holder and to a scrub applicator - Google Patents

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention[0001]
• This invention relates to tools and accessories used for cleaning floors and flat surfaces.[0002]
• 2. Background[0003]
• 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.[0004]
• 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.[0005]
• 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.[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• 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.[0007]
• Accordingly, a prime object of the invention is to create a combined mop and scrubber holder that can be used for scrubbing or mopping.[0008]
• 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.[0009]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• 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;[0010]
• FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-section view of the dual use mop holder taken along line[0011]2-2 of FIG. 1, particularly showing means of removably adhering a scrubbing pad;
• 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[0012]
• FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-section view of the applicator and pad, particularly showing means of removably adhering a scrubbing pad.[0013]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Refer to FIG. 1 which shows a partial, perspective view of a combined mop and[0014]scrubber holder1, according to the present invention. Theholder1 as configured, is intended to be used for scrubbing as well as for mopping a floor or other flat surface. To produce this configuration, ascrubbing pad3 is added to the head of a typical mop holder by removably fastening thescrubbing pad3 to the top of across bar member5 that holds themop fibers7.
• Referring to the partial cross-section view of the[0015]holder1 head shown in FIG. 2, it is seen that two separate adhesive strips9 are used to fasten thescrubbing pad3 to the top surface of thebar member5. One side of the upper adhesive strip is adhered permanently to the underside of thescrubbing pad3, while one side of the lower adhesive strip is adhered to thebar member5. The opposing faces of the two adhesive strips9 are covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that application of pressure to the top of thescrubbing pad3 causes the two adhesive strips9 to engage each other and hold the pad firmly to theholder1. If it becomes necessary to remove and replace the pad, the strips9 can be disengaged by using a tensile, tearing action, allowing thescrubbing pad3 to be removed.
• Any convenient size scrubbing pad may be used, providing only that it can be fitted over a mop holder end bar for attachment.[0016]
• 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.[0017]
• 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.[0018]
• A[0019]scrubbing applicator10 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, ascrubbing pad14 is fastened to the horizontalrigid bar member12 of the applicator, using two separateadhesive strips16.
• The[0020]adhesive strips16 removably fasten thescrubbing pad14 to theapplicator bar member12 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 thebar member12, while one side of the lower adhesive strip is permanently adhered to the top surface of thescrubbing pad14. The opposing faces of the twoadhesive strips16 are covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that application of pressure to the top surface of thebar member12 causes the twoadhesive strips16 to engage each other and hold thepad14 firmly to theapplicator bar member12. If it becomes necessary to remove and replace the pad, thestrips16 can be disengaged by using a tensile tearing action, allowing thescrubbing pad14 to be removed. Thus, a worn out scrubbing pad can be easily removed and replaced.
• 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.[0021]
• 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.[0022]

Claims (4)

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 inclaim 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 inclaim 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.

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