Patent Application
20240099540
The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices. In particular, the invention is directed to a cleaning mop system with fluid-dispensing capabilities.
Mops, mop systems, and mopping devices are used to clean hard surface floors such as, but not limited to, tile and wood. Traditionally, the use of mops, mop systems, and mopping devices required an additional component, such as a mop bucket or apparatus of the kind, to provide a cleaning fluid or solution for efficient and comprehensive cleaning. However, mop systems and devices have been developed that eliminate the need for an additional component providing a cleaning liquid or solution.
Spray mops are one such development that have been employed to overcome the cumbersome act of using a mop bucket. Spray mops function by distributing a cleaning solution onto the floor from a spray bottle housed within the shaft of the mop, providing efficient and comprehensive cleaning without the use of a mop bucket or another apparatus of the kind.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,834,053 discloses a mop head secured to a handle at a pivot, a fluid reservoir mounted on the mop, a nozzle operatively connected to the fluid reservoir, and a trigger configured to control the release of a fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 9,408,517 discloses a spray mop system including a reservoir having openings for filling and dispensing fluid, a sprayer configured to dispense fluid, and a press button configured to activate the sprayer. U.S. Pat. No. 9,661,975 discloses a spray mop system including a removable reservoir pivot assembly, a pump, and a nozzle to dispense fluid. However, these prior art spray mops contain multiple deficiencies affecting performance, leaving ample room for improvement.
The handle and dispensing trigger of prior art spray mops are intended to be held in the hand in a specific way that may not be suitable for many users. This may force the user to operate the mop in an uncomfortable manner, especially when activating the dispensing trigger. Additionally, the bottle containing cleaning solution may become slippery. This may cause the user to fumble or drop the bottle when handling or when removing and replacing the bottle from its housing. The prior art spray mops also have an inaccurate spray action. This is because the fluid typically exits the mop from a flexible hose or wide-angled nozzle that lacks rigid directionality. This deficiency may result in the improper distribution of cleaning fluid or solution when the user activates the dispensing trigger. Prior art spray mops also lack the ability to allow the user to release the head of the mop from the shaft. Removing the head of the mop from the shaft may be advantageous to the user for cleaning or other purposes.
Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a spray mop system that cures these deficiencies.
In harmony and accordance with the present disclosure, an improved mop system is surprisingly designed.
A spray mop system of the present disclosure cures the numerous deficiencies of prior art spray bottles. The reconfiguration of the mop handle in an embodiment provides for comfortable operation of the mop and dispensing actuator from a multitude of positions. Additionally, the inclusion of a flexible exit hose, held in place by a rigid hose guide, allows for the accurate dispensing of the fluid from the bottle. One or more bottle grip covers may also be included in order to allow the user to safely handle, remove, or replace the bottle containing the fluid, even when the bottle is slippery. Detents or pinch buttons may be included in order to allow the user to remove the head of the mop from the shaft.
In one embodiment, the mop system comprises: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and coupled to the first end of the shaft, and an actuator disposed in the handle adjacent the second end; a head releasably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the head having a revolving mechanism coupled to the shaft with a release clip and a bottom surface; and a body disposed on the shaft, the body having a removable bottle with a first end having a lid, a second end having a discharge valve, and a grip cover, a mechanism for activating the discharge valve of the removable bottle, and a flexible exit hose that is in fluid communication with the bottle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the actuator configured for operation in a variety of hand grip positions.
As aspects of some embodiments, a texture is applied to or formed on the first end of the handle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the release clip is configured to release the head of the mop system from the shaft upon depression thereof.
As aspects of some embodiments, the bottom surface of the head comprises a first channel forming a first retention device, a second channel forming a second retention device, and a center channel flanked by a first track and a second track.
As aspects of some embodiments, the first retention device and the second retention device are configured to releasably receive an attachment.
As aspects of some embodiments, the first track and the second track are configured to receive an attachment.
As aspects of some embodiments, the discharge valve further comprises a discharge valve body housing a plunger, a seal that receives the bottom end of the plunger, a spring that at least partially envelops the plunger, a retainer that is placed atop the spring and plunger, a valve seal that is placed atop the retainer, and an O-ring that is placed at the bottom of the discharge valve body assembly.
As aspects of some embodiments, the grip cover is press fit onto the bottle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the grip cover is attached to the bottle through an adhesive.
As aspects of some embodiments, the mechanism for activating the discharge valve includes a stem integrated into the body that is configured to open the discharge valve when the bottle is inserted into the body.
As aspects of some embodiments, the mechanism for activating the discharge valve additionally includes an elongate member which is urged by the pivoting of the actuator when activated to open a valve, thereby facilitating fluid communication between the bottle and the flexible exit hose.
As aspects of some embodiments, the rigid hose guide partially envelops the flexible exit hose.
As aspects of some embodiments, the flexible exit hose is at least partially enveloped by a rigid hose guide.
In another embodiment, the mop system comprises: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and coupled to the first end of the shaft, and an actuator disposed adjacent the second end; a head releasably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the head having a revolving mechanism coupled to the shaft and a bottom surface; and a body disposed on the shaft, the body having a removable bottle with a first end having a lid and a second end having a discharge valve, and a mechanism for activating the discharge valve of the removable bottle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the actuator is disposed in the handle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the revolving mechanism is coupled to the shaft with a release clip.
As aspects of some embodiments, the removable bottle comprises a grip cover.
As aspects of some embodiments, the grip cover is press fit onto the bottle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the body comprises a flexible exit hose that is in fluid communication with the bottle and is at least partially enveloped by a rigid hose guide.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes for selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture, and use of one or more disclosures, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific disclosure claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
All documents, including patents, patent applications, and scientific literature cited in this detailed description are incorporated herein by reference, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Where any conflict or ambiguity may exist between a document incorporated by reference and this detailed description, the present detailed description controls.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, all compositional percentages are by weight of the total composition, unless otherwise specified. Disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
A mop system 100 described herein is an improvement over the mop systems of prior art. One such improvement is an ergonomic handle 120 and an actuator 320 that can be triggered easily in various hand-grips. Another improvement is a rigid hose guide 230, which creates strict directionality of an exiting fluid from a flexible exit hose 330. Inclusion of at least one grip cover 315 militates against a user fumbling or dropping a bottle 115 when in use wherein the bottle 115 may become slippery. Additionally, one or more detents or release clips 305 may be used to allow for the user to remove a head 110 of the mop from a shaft 105 of the mop system 100. Simple removal of the head 110 from the shaft 105 allows the user to remove or replace cleaning attachments (not illustrated) from the head 110 of the mop system 100 with ease.
An embodiment of the mop system 100 described herein is best understood with reference to
The head 110 of the mop system 100, as depicted in
The handle 120 of the mop system 100, as depicted in
The first end 220 may also be equipped with a texture 520 to provide further grip for the hand of the user. The texture 520 may be formed from any suitable material to provide the user with extra grip while operating the mop system 100. The texture 520 may be formed from an annular array of protrusions and have the geometry as illustrated in
The body 130 of the mop system 100, as best illustrated in
The bottle discharge valve 415 is shown in an exploded view in
As illustrated by
A connection of the head 110 to the shaft 105 is depicted in
Depending on a preference of the user, the mop system 100 may be used in either a first direction or a second direction. For example, the user may stand on a side of the mop system 100 that has the flexible exit hose 330 and hold the handle 120 where the actuator 320 is in a front and the flexible exit hose 330 sprays behind the mop system 100 between the mop system 100 and the user. In another example, the user may hold the handle 120 where the actuator 320 is on a back side of the mop system 100 and the flexible exit hose 330 and where the flexible exit hose 330 sprays in front of the mop system 100.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.
The present patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/377,432, filed on Sep. 28, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63377432 | Sep 2022 | US |
