MOPHEAD WITH A SHEET OF MOP MATERIAL FORMING A SPLAYABLE SKIRT

Description of Invention

The present invention relates to a mophead including a sheet of mop material.

The use of the term 'sheet' is intended to mean a construction which includes a woven or non-woven flexible, typically fabric, element or blanket having a typical minor dimension or width of at least 350 millimetres.

The use of a sheet of mop material, instead of a plurality of much narrower individual elongate strands, is beneficial in terms of manufacturing costs and ease of use. However, following research, it has been determined that it is typically only the exterior facing surfaces of a sheet of mop material that are typically utilised, resulting in more frequent replacement of the mop material. It has been shown that the interior facing surfaces of the sheet of mop material are rarely employed, and actually remain surprisingly dirt free. When attempting to utilise the interior facing surfaces of a sheet of mop material, it is particularly difficult to splay the sheet so that the interior facing surfaces contact the surface to be cleaned, and, furthermore, it is problematic to maintain the splay of the sheet as it is moved around the surface to be cleaned.

The present invention therefore seeks to solve these problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mophead including a holder connected to or connectable to a shaft of a mop, and a sheet of mop material which is held by the holder and which forms a splayable skirt having an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a bottom edge which is opposite the holder, and only two opposing side edges which

extend from a position which is at or adjacent to the holder to the bottom edge and which are unconnected to each other along the longitudinal extend of the side edges so as to define an opening slit in the skirt.

This construction enables the exterior surface of the skirt to be used for mopping when the skirt is unsplayed, and, when the skirt is splayed out due to the opening slit, mopping of the interior surface.

In one embodiment, the sheet of mop material is substantially continuous between the bottom edge and the holder, and the bottom edge of the skirt is continuous from one of the two opposing side edges to the other of the two opposing side edges.

If desired, the splayable skirt may include a first aperture positioned between the bottom edge and the holder, the first aperture having a continuous perimeter, and the first aperture may be elongate and extend between the holder and the bottom edge between the two opposing side edges.

In another example, the bottom edge of the skirt may be non-continuous, and may include a split at a position between the two opposing side edges, e.g. midway or substantially midway between the two opposing side edges.

If desired the splayable skirt may include a second aperture positioned between the split and the holder, the second aperture having a continuous perimeter. The second aperture may be elongate and extend between the holder and the split between the two opposing side edges.

In a preferred arrangement, the side edges of the sheet of mop material are of substantially the same length, so that the sheet is held by the holder at, or substantially at, a centre position.

The sheet of mop material may be gathered at its centre to form a fantail shape.

The sheet of mop material may have a, when depending from the mop holder, width which is at least 350mm, and the sheet of mop material is desirably the sole sheet of mop material.

The sheet of mop material may include raised and lowered surface portions, e.g. defined by stitching through multiple layers, to reduce drag when the sheet is in contact with a surface to be cleaned.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a first embodiment of a mophead, in a splayed condition and in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of a sheet of a mop material of the mophead in figure 1 , taken along line A-A;

FIGURE 3 shows a second embodiment of a mophead, again in a splayed condition and in accordance with the invention, and

FIGURE 4 shows a third embodiment of a mophead, again in a splayed condition and in accordance with the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a mophead 10 which comprises a mop material holder 12, and a sheet 14 of mop material. The holder 12 is a well known device and comes in a variety of different sizes, from elongate to circular. The sheet 14 of mop material is generally in the form of a continuous blanket, typically formed from a plurality of interconnected

woven or non-woven flexible, typically fabric, layers. In this example, the sheet 14 includes two absorbent outer layers 16, and an absorbent inner filling layer 18 sandwiched between the two outer layers 16.

The outer layers 16 are preferably of a porous material with small apertures, and the inner filling layer 18 is preferably a loose-knit wadding. The outer layers 16 and the inner layer 18 can be formed from any suitable material, for example, recycled waste material or purpose made material.

The outer layers 16 and inner filling layer 18 are connected together via one or more, typically stitch, fastenings 20 which extend through both the outer layers 16 and the inner filling layer 18. Preferably the fastenings 20 include rows which extend across the sheet 14 in a manner to form a plurality of raised or crest surface portions 22 and alternate lowered or trough surface portions 24. The lowered surface portions 24 are formed by the fastening 20 cinching together the outer layers 16 and the inner layer 18, thus inherently resulting in the raised surface portions 22 being formed between the fastenings 20.

The outer layers 16 are also fastened together at their respective edges 26, e.g. again by stitching, in order to retain the inner filling layer 18 within the outer layers 16. The stitch fastenings 20 forming the plurality of raised and lowered surface portions 22, 24 retain the inner filling layer 18 stationary or substantially stationary relative to the outer layers 16, thus preventing or limiting slipping or bunching of the inner layer 18 at or towards one end of the outer layers 16.

It will be understood that, rather than two separate outer layers 16 being joined together, only one outer layer, folded over onto itself, may be required.

The mop material sheet 14 is gathered at or substantially at its centre 28, so that side edges 44 of the sheet 14, described below, will be of substantially the

same length, with a gathered portion 30 at the centre 28. The sheet 14 can be stitched or otherwise fastened to retain this gathered arrangement. A headband (not shown) can be used at the centre 28. The gathered portion 30 of the mop material sheet 14 is then fastened to the mop material holder 12. Typically, the mop material sheet 14 is clamped to the holder 12, but other forms of attachment can be used.

Although the mop material 14 is typically permanently fastened to the mop material holder 12, the sheet 14 could be releasably engaged to allow replacement of the sheet 14.

With the sheet 14 attached to the holder 12, if the holder 12 is raised clear of any support surface, the sheet 14 will depend from the holder 12, essentially folded in half, to provide a fantail-shaped skirt 32. Each half of the skirt 32 will have a lower edge 34 opposite the holder 12, and two side edges 36 which extend from the lower edge 34 to a position which is at or adjacent to the holder 12, depending on the extent of the gathered central portion 30 of the mop material sheet 14 and whether this is fully received in the holder 12. The two halves of the skirt 32, when in a depending state, thus define an exterior facing surface 38, and an interior facing surface 40 which is opposite the exterior facing surface 38. When depending, the two interior facing surfaces 40 typically at least partially abut.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, two opposing side edges 36a which are adjacent to each other are fully connected together, typically by stitching, along the entire longitudinal extent of each of the two side edges 36a. This results in the skirt 32 having a single continuous bottom edge 42, and only two opposing side edges 36b which are adjacent to each other (when the skirt 32 is depending) and which are fully unconnected along their entire longitudinal extent from or adjacent to the holder 12 to the continuous bottom edge 42.

The unconnected side edges 36b of the skirt 32, when the skirt is in a depending or hanging condition with the edges 36b adjacent to each other, define an opening slit 44, which allows the mop material sheet 14 to be splayed in a generally fan shape when lowered into contact e.g. with a floor to be cleaned, as shown in Figure 1.

However the exterior facing surfaces 38 of the skirt 32 can be used for mopping with the mop holder 12 raised suitably along the floor, but by lowering the mop holder 12 and by the user twirling the depending mop material sheet 14 via an attached map shaft (not shown), the skirt 32 can splay at the opening slit 44, allowing the usually interior facing surface 40 of the skirt 32 to be placed on the floor or other surface to be cleaned. The splayed fan shape of the skirt 32 is substantially retained as the sheet 14 is moved over the surface to be cleaned by the continuous bottom edge 42 of the skirt 32.

As such, all surfaces of the mop material sheet 14 can be fully used for mopping and the skirt is substantially continuous between the continuous bottom edge 42 and the holder 12.

Referring now to Figure 3, a second embodiment is illustrated with reference to a mophead 110. Similar references to figures 1 and 2 refer to like parts, and further-detailed description of these parts will therefore be omitted.

This mophead 110 also includes a mop material holder 112 and a sheet 114 of mop material. The holder 112 is a well known device, as described above.

The mop material sheet 114 is also as described above, and is attached to the holder 112 to form a skirt 132.

The skirt 132 again includes a single continuous bottom edge 142. However, the skirt 132 includes an aperture 146 which is positioned between the

continuous bottom edge 142 and the holder 112. The aperture 146 has a continuous perimeter 148, and can be advantageously formed between the other two adjacent side edges 136a of the mop material sheet 114. The aperture 146 is elongate and extends between the bottom edge 142 and the holder 12.

This again results in the skirt 132 having only two opposing side edges 136b which are adjacent to each other, when the sheet 114 is in a depending condition, and which are fully unconnected along their entire longitudinal extent from or adjacent to the holder 112 to the continuous bottom edge 142.

As in the first embodiment, the unconnected side edges 136b define an opening slit 144, which allows the mop material sheet 114 to be splayed in a generally fan shape to allow a usually interior facing surface of the skirt 132 to be placed fully or substantially fully on a surface to be cleaned.

Referring now to Figure 4, a third embodiment is shown with reference to another mophead 210. Similar references refer to like parts of the previous embodiment, and further detailed description will therefore be omitted.

This mophead 210 includes a mop material holder 212 and a sheet 214 of mop material, both as described above. The mop material sheet 214 is again attached to the holder 212, as described above, to form a skirt 232.

The skirt 232 again includes a bottom edge 242 which, in this embodiment, is non-continuous and includes a split 250 at a position partway, and typically midway, between its ends.

The skirt 232, as in the second embodiment, includes an elongate aperture 246 which is position and extends between the non-continuous bottom edge

242 and the holder 212. The aperture 246 has a continuous perimeter 248,

and can be advantageously formed in the connected edges 236a of the skirt 232.

The skirt 232 thus has only two opposing side edges 236b which are adjacent to each other, when in a depending condition, and which are fully unconnected along their entire longitudinal extent from or adjacent to the holder 212 to the bottom edge 242.

As in the first and second embodiments, the unconnected side edges 236b define an opening slit 244, which allows the mop material sheet 214 to be splayed in a generally fan shape to allow a usually interior facing surface of the skirt 232 to be placed fully or substantially fully in contact with a surface to be cleaned.

It will be understood that, although the sheet of mop material is typically square or rectangular, and the skirt is formed by interconnecting two opposing side edges of the folded sheet, the sheet of mop material can be produced initially in a splayed fantail shape, thus dispensing with the need to interconnect two opposing side edges.

Although the second and third embodiments only suggest a single aperture, two or more apertures can be provided.

It is preferred that only a single sheet of mop material is utilised. However, more than one sheet of mop material can be attached to the holder. In this case, each sheet can form its own distinct skirt, or the sheets can be interconnected to form a single skirt.

It is thus possible to provide a mophead having a sheet of mop material which can be easily splayed to allow the typically interior facing surfaces to be positioned in contact with a surface to be cleaned. The splay can also be

maintained or substantially maintained by connection of two of the opposing side edges, making use of the interior surface viable. By use of the sheet of mop material, it is possible to provide a cost effective and easy to manufacture mophead. The mophead can be disposable in its entirety, or the mop material sheet itself can simply be replaceable.

The embodiments described above are given by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.