Addition of a removable scrubbing pad to a mop holder and to a scrub applicator

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to tools and accessories used for cleaning floors and flat surfaces.

[0003] 2. Background

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] Accordingly, a prime object of the invention is to create a combined mop and scrubber holder that can be used for scrubbing or mopping.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-section view of the dual use mop holder taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, particularly showing means of removably adhering a scrubbing pad;

[0012] 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

[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-section view of the applicator and pad, particularly showing means of removably adhering a scrubbing pad.

[0014] Refer to FIG. 1 which shows a partial, perspective view of a combined mop and scrubber holder 1, according to the present invention. The holder 1 as configured, is intended to be used for scrubbing as well as for mopping a floor or other flat surface. To produce this configuration, a scrubbing pad 3 is added to the head of a typical mop holder by removably fastening the scrubbing pad 3 to the top of a cross bar member 5 that holds the mop fibers 7.

[0015] Referring to the partial cross-section view of the holder 1 head shown in FIG. 2, it is seen that two separate adhesive strips 9 are used to fasten the scrubbing pad 3 to the top surface of the bar member 5. One side of the upper adhesive strip is adhered permanently to the underside of the scrubbing pad 3, while one side of the lower adhesive strip is adhered to the bar member 5. The opposing faces of the two adhesive strips 9 are covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that application of pressure to the top of the scrubbing pad 3 causes the two adhesive strips 9 to engage each other and hold the pad firmly to the holder 1. If it becomes necessary to remove and replace the pad, the strips 9 can be disengaged by using a tensile, tearing action, allowing the scrubbing pad 3 to be removed.

[0016] Any convenient size scrubbing pad may be used, providing only that it can be fitted over a mop holder end bar for attachment.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] A scrubbing applicator 10 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, a scrubbing pad 14 is fastened to the horizontal rigid bar member 12 of the applicator, using two separate adhesive strips 16.

[0020] The adhesive strips 16 removably fasten the scrubbing pad 14 to the applicator bar member 12 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 the bar member 12, while one side of the lower adhesive strip is permanently adhered to the top surface of the scrubbing pad 14. The opposing faces of the two adhesive strips 16 are covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer such as VELCRO, so that application of pressure to the top surface of the bar member 12 causes the two adhesive strips 16 to engage each other and hold the pad 14 firmly to the applicator bar member 12. If it becomes necessary to remove and replace the pad, the strips 16 can be disengaged by using a tensile tearing action, allowing the scrubbing pad 14 to be removed. Thus, a worn out scrubbing pad can be easily removed and replaced.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.