GB2436829A

GB2436829A - Container for a number of mopping layers

Info

Publication number: GB2436829A
Application number: GB0607081A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Robert Duncan; Stephen Basil Phillips
Original assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Current assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2006-04-07
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-07
Also published as: GB0607081D0; GB2436829B

Abstract

There is provided a container 1 for holding a stacked number of elongate disposable mopping layers 19. The stack of mopping layers 19 is supported at a base region 3 of the container 1 by at least three upstanding apex features 10-12/ 30-32 such that the central region of each mopping layer 19 is raised relative to its outer opposite regions by the two outermost apex features 10, 12/ 30, 32 while downward sagging of the central region of the mopping layers 19 is restricted by the innermost apex feature 11, 31. The provision of three apex features 10-12/ 30-32 provides a mopping layer support structure in a bucket which facilitates loading of a mopping layer 19 on to a mop head 17 with an improved positive locking action. The three apex features 10-12/ 30-32 are also strong under loading and are resistant to damage during mop stick 40 loading in normal use.

Description

2436829

Container for a plurality of mopping layers

The present invention relates to the field of floor cleaning, particularly by manual mopping.

5

Flat mops are well known in the art and typically comprise a mop stick provided with an articulated connection to a flat mop head. An underside of the mop head is provided with a mopping layer for surface 10 treatment or cleaning. In certain mops, the mopping layer is detachable, so that the layer may be replaced when worn, or for particular applications in which sterile cleaning is required, so that a single use is made of each layer before disposal.

15

The flat mopping head typically has a rectilinear, elongate planar form. The head may fold along its length to facilitate the removal of a mopping layer extended between opposite outer ends of the mop head. Such a mop 20 is disclosed in WO 98/40004. When in the folded configuration the mopping layer may be unhooked or otherwise detached from folded leaves of the mop head.

The bare mop head may then be placed against a new 25 mopping layer which is attached to the mop head. The mop head is then snapped back to a co-planar configuration with the mopping layer extended taut between outer ends of the mop head leaves.

30 A bucket in which several mopping layers may be stacked is disclosed in EP-A-8587 66. This bucket is formed with a central, raised horizontal base layer which supports a central portion of each stacked mopping layer above the outer portions. This facilitates the attachment of a

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mopping layer to the underside of a folded mop head entered into the bucket.

The present applicant has produced a bucket for stacked 5 mopping layers in which the horizontal support surface is replaced by a concave depressed surface. This facilitates the pick-up of mopping layers and unfolding of the mop head by providing distinct outer reaction surfaces against which mopping layer leaves may be pressed, while 10 still permitting flexing pressure to be applied to a central portion of the mop head by virtue of the clearance offered by the concave depression. This facilitates snapping back of the folded mop head for further use without manual manipulation.

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The present invention seeks to provide a further improved container for stacked mopping layers in which increased structural rigidity is provided in the stacking support. Furthermore the bucket can provide improved mopping layer 20 loading and unloading.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for holding a stacked plurality of elongate disposable mopping layers so that the layers 25 are each, in turn, available to be attached to a flat mop head, the container comprising a housing defining an interior volume in which mops layers may be vertically stacked one on top of the other and constrained against toppling, the housing providing an open upper end which 30 permits free access to an upper stacked mop layer for attachment of the upper mop layer to the flat mop head, wherein the container is provided with a base region on which the stack of mapping layers is to be supported,

said base region comprising at least three spaced apart

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upstanding apex features, an outer pair of which apex features serve to raise a central region of each mopping layer relative to outer opposite end regions thereof, and a third apex feature between the outer pair serving to 5 restrict downward sagging of a central region of each mopping layer between the outer apex pair.

The third apex feature may have a sectional form of an upper region of an upstanding isosceles triangle. This 10 provides a rigid, strong structure.

Each of the apex features of the outer pair may have a sectional form which defines a sloping mopping layer support surface tapering downwards away from the apex 15 towards lower end regions of the container, thereby to provide tapered support for the outer opposite end regions of the mopping layers. The sectional form of each of the apex features of the outer pair preferably defines a relatively steep structural support for each apex 20 feature. The vertical orientation provides a strong rigid under-support against downward displacement of the apex feature.

Lower base regions of each of the three apex features may 25 be coterminous, such as at a base region of the container.

In a preferred arrangement, upper support surfaces of the outer apex features are positioned at the same height in 30 the container. Furthermore, an upper support surface of the third apex feature may occupy a lower vertical position in the container than corresponding upper support surfaces of the outer pair of apex features.

4

Thus a folding flat mop head may be dropped onto the layer stack in a folded configuration so as to pick up a mopping layer, downward pressure may then be applied by a user pressing on the mop stick onto a central region of 5 the mop head. The opposite reactions of the outer pair of apexes bring the folded leaves of the mop head back to a co-planar orientation. Further pressure flexes a central portion of the mop-head downward to ensure engagement of a retainer which keeps the mop head in its co-planar 10 working configuration. The reduced height of the central apex permits this overshoot flexing, while also still providing support for the mopping layers. Preferably the upper surface the third apex feature is at least 5mm lower than those of the outer pair of apex features.

15

The container may be provided with one or more internally facing upstanding constraint ribs which prevent toppling of a stack of mopping layers by supporting long side portions of the mopping layers. The use of ribs provides 20 clearance around the ribs which eases loading or removal of mopping layers by reducing direct sidewall contact with the edges of stacked the mopping layers. In a particular arrangement there is a plurality of ribs provided on opposite sides of the container.

25

In a most preferred embodiment, the container consists of an integrally moulded single-piece article in which the apex features are provided by an undulating base wall of the container, and the constraint ribs, when present, are 30 formed as features in sidewalls of the container.

The container may be formed as a generally rectilinear, elongate bucket having opposite short sides and long sides, with constraint ribs formed on the long sides and

5

apexes formed in an elongate base wall of the bucket. The container may be provided with a lid closure to the upper open end of the bucket.

5 In one arrangement the container comprises a stacked plurality of the disposable mopping layers, optionally pre-wetted with cleaning liquid and/or water. The container and/or mopping layers may be hermetically sealed, and optionally sterilised.

10

Following is a description with reference to the figures of the drawings, and by way of example only, of one method of putting the present invention into effect.

15 In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bucket in accordance with the present invention.

20 Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same bucket.

Figure 3 is a side view of the bucket.

25 Figure 4 is a top view of the bucket.

Figure 5 shows the bucket in a cross-section and loaded with a stack of mopping layers.

30 Figure 6 is a schematic view of a flat mop head, mopping layer and the bucket.

Figure 1 and Figure 3 show a bucket for holding a stacked plurality of elongate disposable mopping layers. The

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bucket is formed from an unitary moulded plastics material comprising a housing (1) which provides an open upper end (2) and a base (3) on which mopping layers may be supported.

5

The housing (1) is generally elongate and rectilinear, having four walls (5-8) which taper inwards from the open upper end (2) to the base (3) as shown in Fig. 3. Two of the walls (6, 8) are provided along the length of the 10 bucket while the remaining two walls (5, 7) are provided along the width of the bucket and are shorter than walls (6, 8). Thus the bucket has a generally rectangular form.

15 The bucket is provided with ten internally facing upstanding constraint ribs (4). Each constraint rib is integrally formed within the walls (5-8) of the housing (1) and protrudes as an elongate vertical depression on each of the walls (5-8) directed towards an interior 20 volume defined by the housing (1). Four constraint ribs are provided on each long wall (6, 8) and one on each short wall (7, 5).

An upper end of each wall (5-8) is formed with a ridge to 25 provide a continuous lip portion (9) around the perimeter of the open upper end.

Figure 2 shows that the bucket is provided with three spaced apart and upstanding wedges (10-12) which are 30 integrally formed from the base (3). Each wedge extends transversely from the internal face of long wall (6) across the width of the base (3) to the internal face of the opposite long wall (8), as shown in Figure 4.

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Central wedge (11) is positioned midway along the length of the base (3) and is defined by two sloping members (15, 15') which, in cross-section, define arms of an isosceles triangle having an apex angle of 56°. The apex 5 of the wedge is radiused to define an upper rounded end (30). The upper rounded end (30) of the wedge (11) has a height of 86 mm above the lowest level of base (3).

The outer two wedges (10, 12) are longitudinally disposed 10 at positions either side of wedge (11). Wedges (10, 12) are mirror images of one another. Each of wedges (10, 12) is defined by two sloping members (13, 13' and 14, 14' respectively). The two sloping members (13, 13') and (14, 14') converge to form respective apexes. Each apex 15 is radiused to form a rounded end of each respective wedge (10, 12). The upper rounded ends (31, 32) are each at a height of 96 mm above the base (3).

The outer, long sloping members (13, 14) slope downwards 20 from the upper end of each respective edge (10, 12) and away from wedge (11) toward lower ends of short walls (7, 5) respectively. The inner sloping members (13', 14') are oriented at a more acute angle to the upper end of each respective wedge (10, 12) than the sloping members (13, 25 14) and are close to vertical.

The upper ends (31, 32) of outer wedges (10, 12) are longitudinally spaced apart by a horizontal distance of 150 mm. The upper end (30) of wedge (11) is located 30 midway between the upper end of wedges (10, 12). The height of upper end (30) is 10 mm less than the heights of the outer wedge ends (31, 32).

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The sloping members (13, 14) and the rounded upper ends (30, 31, 32) of wedges (10, 11, 12) define a raised mopping layer support structure. The mopping layer support structure together with the constraint ribs (4) 5 are able to accommodate and support a stack of mopping layers securely as shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 5, a stack (45) consisting of a plurality of elongated disposable mopping layers (19) is shown loaded 10 into the bucket such that a central region of each of the mopping layers is raised by the upper ends (31, 32) of the outermost wedges (10, 12). Outer ends (34, 35) of the mopping layers are supported by sloping members (13, 14). Thus, the upper ends (31, 32) of wedges (10, 12) serve to 15 raise a central region of each mopping layer relative to outer opposite end regions (34, 35) of the mopping layer. The upper end (30) of the central wedge prevents drooping of the centre of each layer.

20 The mopping layer stack is prevented from toppling by the constraint ribs (4) shown in Figure 3. The ribs (4) allow the mopping layers to be easily loaded and unloaded from the bucket by reducing the contact area between mopping layers and the walls (5, 6, 7, 8) of the bucket.

25

A mop head is shown schematically as (17). The mop head comprises two distinct foldable leaves (20, 20'). The leaves (20, 20') are pivotably attached to each other via an axle (21) provided at a lower end of a mop handle 30 (40). The leaves (20, 20') are capable of being rotated about the axle (21) between a downwardly folded configuration shown in Figure 5 and a locked coplanar configuration shown in Figure 6. Each mopping layer (19) has formed at each outer end region a pocket (24, 24').

9

Each pocket (24, 24') opens at an inner edge thereof. The pockets (24, 24') are located on an upper non-working surface of the mopping layer (19). A lower surface (44) of each layer is provided with an absorbent mopping 5 material, as well known in the art.

Attachment of the mopping layer (19) to the mop head (17) may be effected simply by sliding of the leaves (20, 20') into the respective pockets (24, 24') when the mop head 10 (17) is folded.

In use the user grips the mop stick (40) and presents the folded mop head (17) to the stack of mopping layers (19). The user lowers the folded mop head (17) on the upper 15 most mopping layer (19) in the stack and each leaf end (41, 41') is slid into its associated pocket (24, 24'). The sloping members (13, 14) serve to present the ends of the mopping layers (19) at an optimum angle at which the folded ends (41, 41') are able to slide into the pockets 20 (24, 24').

Downward pressure (shown by arrow A in Figure 6) on mop stick (40) by the user causes a reaction force from the upper ends (31, 32) of wedges (10, 12) to be transmitted 25 to the folded leaves (20, 20') as shown by arrows B and B' in Figure 6. This causes the leaves (20, 20') to splay upwards and unfold. Continued application of downward pressure causes the mop head (17) to overshoot its planar configuration as permitted by the reduced 30 height of the central wedge end (30) as compared to the higher ends (31 ,32) of the outer wedges (10, 12). The leaves (20, 20') of the mop head (17) then lock (locking mechanism not shown). The user may then release the pressure on the mop stick (25) and the leaves (20, 20')

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move slightly upwards back to a locked co-planar configuration.

The mopping layer (19) is slightly undersized on the mop 5 head in the longitudinal direction so that it is kept under tension when the mop head (17) is in the co-planar configuration. This ensures that the mopping layer (19) does not sag or displace during use.

10 The provision of three wedges, made up of two outer, and one central wedge having reduced height, provides a mopping layer support structure in a bucket which facilitates loading onto a mop head, and provides an improved, positive locking action. Furthermore, the wedge 15 structure is very strong and rigid under loading. Thus, mop stick loading will not damage the bucket in normal use.

11

Claims

Claims

1. A container for holding a stacked plurality of elongate disposable mopping layers so that the layers are

5 each, in turn, available to be attached to a flat mop head, the container comprising a housing defining an interior volume in which mops layers may be vertically stacked one on top of the other and constrained against toppling, the housing providing an open upper end which 10 permits free access to an upper stacked mop layer for attachment of the upper mop layer to the flat mop head, wherein the container is provided with a base region on which the stack of mapping layers is to be supported,

said base region comprising at least three spaced apart 15 upstanding apex features, an outer pair of which apex features serve to raise a central region of each mopping layer relative to outer opposite end regions thereof, and a third apex feature between the outer pair serving to restrict downward sagging of a central region of each 20 mopping layer between the outer apex pair.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the third apex feature has a sectional form of an upper region of an upstanding isosceles triangle.

25

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of the apex features of the outer pair has a sectional form which defines a sloping mopping layer support surface tapering downwards away from the apex

30 towards lower end regions of the container, thereby to provide tapered support for the outer opposite end regions of the mopping layers.

12

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sectional form of each of the apex features of the outer pair defines a relatively steep structural support for each apex feature.

5

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein lower base regions of each of the three apex features are coterminous.

10 6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein upper support surfaces of the outer apex features are positioned at the same height in the container.

7 . A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 15 an upper support surface of the third apex feature occupies a lower vertical position in the container than corresponding upper support surfaces of the outer pair of apex features.

20 8. A container as claimed in claim 7 wherein upper surface the third apex feature is at least 5mm lower than those of the outer pair of apex features.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 25 the container is provided with one or more internally facing upstanding constraint ribs which prevent toppling of a stack of mopping layers by supporting long side portions of the mopping layers.

30 10. A container according to any preceding claim consisting of an integrally moulded single-piece article in which the apex features are provided by an undulating base wall of the container, and wherein the constraint

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ribs, when present, are formed as features in sidewalls of the container.

11. A container as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim and comprising a stacked plurality of the disposable mopping layers, optionally pre-wetted with cleaning liquid or water.