FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of fabric mops.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
Vacuums, mops and steam apparatus have been combined in a variety of different configurations such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,677,552 by inventor Krebs issued Mar. 25, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Krebs reference shows that suction and steam can provided adjacent to a fabric cleaning pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fabric microfiber vacuum mop including a mop suction tube configured to receive a mop suction tube vacuum suction. A suction pad has a plurality of vacuum openings formed on an underside of the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings are in fluid communication with the mop suction tube. A microfiber fabric is mounted on the underside of the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings suck on the microfiber fabric when the vacuum suction is engaged. The microfiber fabric is dewatered during use. A follower brush is preferably mounted adjacent to the suction pad. The plurality of vacuum openings are arranged in a vacuum opening array that can number over three hundred openings.
The vacuum opening array can be arranged in a grid pattern of six by seventy two. The plurality of vacuum openings have a round shape and can be arranged in at least six rows. A mop suction tube connection pair includes a first suction tube connector and a second suction tube connector. The mop suction tube connection pair is connected to the suction pad and in fluid communication with the plurality of vacuum openings. The mop suction tube connection pair is connected to a pair of tubes, namely a left branch and a right branch. The left branch is connected to a T connector, and the right branch is connected to a T connector. The T connector is connected to the mop suction tube.
The suction pad is mounted to the mop head arm member so that the mop head arm member is swivel mounted to rotate between a raised disengaged position and a lowered engaged position. The primary vacuum has a primary vacuum tube and a primary vacuum opening. The primary vacuum tube has a primary vacuum suction of greater force than a mop suction tube vacuum suction. A water spray nozzle is configured to spray water when a valve handle is actuated.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop showing the swiveling function.
FIG. 2 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without the primary vacuum tube.
FIG. 3 is a front view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without the primary vacuum tube.
FIG. 4 is bottom view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop without the primary vacuum tube.
FIG. 5 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in lower engaged position.
FIG. 6 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a slightly raised intermediate disengaged position.
FIG. 7 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a more raised intermediate disengaged position.
FIG. 8 is a side view diagram of the microfiber vacuum mop in a raised disengaged position.
The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.
- 10 Microfiber Vacuum Mop Device
- 11 Carry Handle
- 20 Floor
- 21 Valve
- 22 Valve Handle
- 23 Water Spray Inlet
- 24 Water Spray Inlet Tubing
- 25 Water Spray Nozzle
- 26 Valve Bracket
- 27 Upper Swivel Joint Bracket
- 28 Mop Head Arm Member
- 31 Primary Vacuum
- 32 Primary Vacuum Tube
- 33 Primary Vacuum Exit Port
- 34 Primary Vacuum Suction Opening
- 41 Upper Swivel Joint
- 42 Swivel Handle
- 43 Pull Rod
- 44 Lower Swivel Joint
- 45 Upper Pull Rod Joint
- 46 Lower Pull Rod Joint
- 47 Mop Suction Tube Connector Pair
- 48 Left Branch
- 49 Right Branch
- 50 Micro Fiber Mop
- 51 Follower Brush
- 52 Mop Suction Tube
- 53 Mop Suction Tube Outlet
- 54 Microfiber Fabric Sheet
- 55 Suction Pad
- 56 Vacuum Opening Array
- 57 Vacuum Array Border
- 58 Solid Portion
- 59 Brush Frame
- 60 Plurality Of Vacuum Openings
- 61 T-Connector
- 62 First Suction Tube Connector
- 63 Second Suction Tube Connector
- 64 Suction Pad Underside
- 65 Mop Suction Tube Vacuum Suction
- 66 Primary Vacuum Suction
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As seen in FIG. 1, the microfiber vacuum mop device 10 has a carry handle 11 and has a water spray feature for spraying a floor 20. Pressurized water is controlled at a valve 21 configured for controlling the flow of water through water spray inlet tubing 24. The water spray inlet tubing 24 could also provide a steam spray or be selectable between water and steam or a combination of both water and steam. The valve 21 has a valve handle 22 that is pivotally mounted to the valve 21 for manually actuating the water supply for the mop. The valve 21 has a valve bracket 26 connecting the valve 21 to the primary vacuum tube 32. The primary vacuum tube 32 acts as a frame to support the valve 21 and can be made as an elongated aluminum tube. The valve handle 22 is formed as a lever that allows inlet water into the water spray inlet 23. The inlet water exits at a water spray nozzle 25. The water spray nozzle 25 can have a fan shape for spray in a linear shape on a floor surface. The water spray nozzle 25 sprays the water directly ahead of the primary vacuum 31. The primary vacuum 31 suctions the used water from the floor surface upward through the primary vacuum tube 32. The used water then exits through the primary vacuum exit port 33.
The primary vacuum tube 32 also supports an upper swivel joint bracket 27. The upper swivel joint bracket 27 is connected to the primary vacuum tube 32 and supports the upper swivel joint 41 which is mounted above the upper swivel joint bracket 27. The swivel handle 42 is swivel mounted to the upper swivel joint 41. A pull rod 43 functions also as a push rod and pulls upwardly as well as pushes downwardly. The pull rod 43 has a connection to the lower pull rod joint 46. The lower pull rod joint 46 is pivotally mounted to the pull rod 43. The upper pull rod joint 45 is also pivotally mounted to the pull rod 43. The swivel handle 42 is manually actuated and thus raises and lowers the pull rod 43 which in turn raises and lowers the mop head arm member 48. The mop head arm member 48 swivels upwardly and downwardly on a lower swivel joint 44. The mop head arm member 48 also has a lower pull rod joint 46 for receiving the pull rod. The mop head arm member 48 swivels from an upward disengaged position to a lower engaged position.
The microfiber mop 50 is mounted to the mop head arm member 48. A follower brush 51 is mounted between the microfiber mop 50 and the primary vacuum suction opening 34 of the primary vacuum 31. The follower brush extends downwardly and brushes the floor to direct water and debris into the primary vacuum 31. The follower brush 51 can swivel upward with the mop head arm member 48 allowing use of only the primary vacuum 31. If the follower brush 51 and the microfiber mop 50 are mounted lower than the primary vacuum 31, then different implements can be selectively used according to the selection of the swivel handle 42. For example, the follower brush 51 can be at a lower level and can then raise the primary vacuum 31 above the floor. When the follower brush 51 is removed, then the primary vacuum suction opening 34 has height adjustment and selective use capability. The primary vacuum suction 66 is greater than the mop suction tube vacuum suction 65.
As seen in FIG. 2, the key feature of the present invention is the configuration of the microfiber mop 50. The microfiber mop 50 provides a faster drying of surfaces and includes a mop suction tube 52 that exits at a mop suction tube outlet 53. The lower swivel joint 44 and lower pull rod joint 46 control the position of the suction pad 55. A fabric sheet such as microfiber fabric sheet 54 can be mounted to the suction pad 55 on a the suction pad underside 64. The suction pad 55 receives a vacuum from the mop suction tube 52 which is then applied to the fabric sheet to continuously dewater it while the vacuum is active. The low vacuum pressure is applied through the apertures of the microfiber fabric sheet 54 such that the vacuum draws water from the microfiber fabric sheet 54 upwardly through the mop suction tube 52. Microfiber sheets 54 can have small openings in the fabric through which water is drawn through. The follower brush 51 mounted on the brush frame 59 assists the microfiber sheet 54 by segregating water sprayed from the water spray nozzle 25 from the microfiber sheet 54. The brush frame 59 can be made of an extruded hollow aluminum channel. The microfiber sheet 54 provides a final water pick up after the primary vacuum 31 provides a preliminary water pick up. The residual water that passes underneath the follower brush 51 is picked up by the microfiber sheet 54. In this way, a single pass of the apparatus provides a preliminary and finishing sweep which provides a two in one capability.
The mop suction tube connection pair 47 can be formed as a connection nipple or press fit tube socket and includes first suction tube connector 62 and a second suction tube connector 63. As seen in FIG. 3, the mop suction tube connection pair includes a left branch 48 and a right branch 49. The left branch 48 and a right branch 49 are connected at a T connector 61. The follower brush 51 is preferably approximately the same length as the suction pad 55. The mop suction tube 52 draws water from the T connector 61 which distributes the suction equally to the left branch 48 and the right branch 49. The left branch 48 is connected to the first suction tube connector 62 and the right branch 49 is connected to the second suction tube connector 63. The suction pad 55 is formed as a manifold where the mop suction tube connector pair 47 open to a vacuum opening array 56.
As seen in FIG. 4, the vacuum opening array 56 has a large number of small round openings that all have suction force from the mop suction tube connection pair 47, which in turn receives a suction force from the mop suction tube 52. The vacuum opening array 56 provides a hollow area that is formed on the suction pad 55 and the vacuum opening array has six rows of seventy two openings for a total of four hundred thirty two openings for example. The vacuum opening array 56 can be formed as a regular array of openings. The vacuum opening array 56 has a vacuum array border 57 which can be slightly protruded downwardly from the solid array portion 58. The solid array portion 58 is preferably a flat surface formed between the openings of the vacuum opening array. The vacuum opening array 56 is a regular arrangement of the plurality of vacuum openings 60 formed on an underside of the suction pad 55. Each of the plurality of vacuum openings 60 is in fluid communication with the mop suction tube 52 via intermediate conduits. As seen in FIGS. 5-8, the follower brush and microfiber mop can swivel from an engaged downward position to a disengaged upward position. The microfiber fabric sheet 54 can be changed in between usages, but can now last an entire cleaning due to its continued drying by the plurality of vacuum openings 60 that are sucking on the water picked up by the microfiber fabric sheet 54.
Alternatively, the microfiber vacuum mop device 10 can be formed in a light version as seen in FIG. 2 separable from the water spray and primary vacuum apparatus. The light version can be releasably attachable to the primary vacuum tube 32 for selecting between 2 modes, namely a first mode having a combined water spray and primary vacuum capability, and a second mode having just the microfiber vacuum mop capability. The microfiber vacuum picks up a fluid flow which includes both water and air.
Patent Application
20200260930
