DUST MOP ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED DEFLECTOR

Abstract

A dust mop assembly is disclosed. The dust mop includes a mop head that comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a dust gathering assembly, such as a reusable dust gathering pad or a plurality of dust gathering yarns. A deflector is coupled to the front of the mop head using any acceptable means. The deflector keeps dust and debris from being thrown over the dust mop while in use.

Claims

1. A dust mop assembly comprising: a mop head having a top surface and a bottom surface; a dust gathering assembly coupled to the bottom surface of the mop head; a pole coupled to the mop head; and a deflector coupled to the dust mop assembly, said deflector being positioned toward a front of the mop head.

2. The dust mop assembly of claim 1 wherein the dust gathering assembly is one or more dust gathering yarns.

3. The dust mop assembly of claim 1 wherein the dust gathering assembly is a reusable dust gathering pad.

4. The dust mop assembly of claim 1 wherein the mop head further comprises a center support disposed on a top surface of the mop head at approximately a center of the mop head.

5. The dust mop assembly of claim 4 wherein the deflector is coupled to the dust mop assembly at the center support by a friction clamp.

6. The dust mop assembly of claim 4 wherein the deflector is coupled to the dust mop assembly at the center support by a spring-loaded hinge clamp.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Although the characteristic features of this disclosure will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a prior art dust mop assembly.

[0014] FIG. 1a is a perspective view illustrating a prior art dust mop assembly utilizing an alternative swivel connector.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a dust mop assembly incorporating a deflector wherein the dust mop assembly is constructed in accordance with this disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the dust mop assembly of FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an alternative mop head assembly constructed in accordance with this disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a dust mop assembly utilizing the mop head of FIG. 4.

[0019] FIG. 4b is a perspective view of a dust mop head assembly with an add-on deflector assembly utilizing a spring-loaded hinge clamp.

[0020] FIG. 4c is a side view of an add-on deflector assembly utilizing a spring-loaded hinge clamp.

[0021] FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a dust mop assembly constructed in accordance with this disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 5b is a side view of the dust mop assembly depicted in FIG. 5a.

[0023] FIG. 5c is a side view of an add-on deflector assembly utilizing a friction clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Turning to the figures, and to FIG. 2 in particular, an improved dust mop assembly is depicted and generally designated as 100. The dust mop assembly 100 incorporates a mop head 110 that is a generally planar. As depicted, the mop head 110 also incorporates a plurality of individual dust gathering yarns 116 secured on the operative surface of the mop head; i.e., the bottom. The mop head can be constructed with a swivel connector 30, which may, for example, be a swivel joint as shown. A handle 20 will generally be coupled to the swivel connector 30. As depicted the mop assembly 100 further comprises a deflector 142, which can be mounted in a variety of ways. The deflector can be, for example, formed of plastic, such as a transparent plastic or acrylic. Alternatively, the deflector could, for example, be formed of aluminum. As depicted, the deflector 142 is integrally formed into the top portion of the mop head 110 toward the front of the dust mop assembly; i.e., toward the leading edge as defined by the action of the user in pushing the dust mop toward debris. This assembly is further illustrated in FIG. 3, which is a side view of an embodiment of the improved dust mop assembly 100 illustrating the same components as the perspective view of FIG. 2. In particular, FIG. 3 depicts the disclosed dust mop assembly 100 including a handle 20 coupled to a swivel connector 30 that is connected to a mop head 110. The mop head 110 includes an integrated deflector 142 on the top side of the mop head 110. A plurality of dust gathering yarns 116 is coupled to the bottom of the mop head 110.

[0025] The deflector 142 can be formed vertically (straight up and down), or it can be disposed so that it extends outwards; i.e., so that the top of the deflector extends outwards towards the leading edge of the dust mop. Alternatively, the deflector 142 can also be disposed so it extends inwards; i.e., so that the top of the deflector extends inwards away from the leading edge of the dust mop.

[0026] FIGS. 4 and 4a-c depict another embodiment of the disclosed dust mop assembly which is generally designated as 300. FIG. 4 is a top view of the dust mop head assembly 310, which comprise a plurality of dust gathering yarns 316 extending from the bottom of the mop head assembly 310. A metal frame 322 is formed into the top of the mop head assembly 310, with the metal frame 322 comprising a center support 324. The deflector 342 is coupled to the center support 324 by a spring-loaded hinge clamp 326. Turning to FIG. 4a, a pole 20 is coupled to the center support 324 by a second spring-loaded hinge clamp 328.

[0027] It should be noted that the spring-loaded hinge clamp 326 can couple to various portions of the frame, such as the front or the back.

[0028] The primary advantage of this embodiment is that it allows for an existing dust mop to be modified rather than an entire new assembly being created. However, only those installations that utilize a structure amenable to spring-loaded hinge clamp 326 will be able to be retrofitted with the disclosed deflector.

[0029] FIGS. 5a-5c depict yet another embodiment of the disclosed dust mop assembly, which is generally designated as 400. FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the assembly. As depicted, the mop assembly 400 comprises a mop head 410 including a center support 424. A deflector 442 is coupled to the center support 424 by a friction clamp 426. The deflector further comprises a base 427 and integrally formed with the base 427 is a support platform 429. As depicted, the support platform 429 completely encloses the center support 424. Mounted on a top portion of the support platform 429 is a second center support 434 to which a pole 420 is coupled through a second friction clamp 436.

[0030] This embodiment has similar advantages to the that of FIG. 4, but allow for the deflector be installed on existing dust mops that utilize the friction clamp assembly mechanism illustrated.

[0031] The foregoing description of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the present teachings and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below. In addition, although narrow claims may be presented below, it should be recognized that the scope of this invention is much broader than presented by the claim(s). It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in one or more applications that claim the benefit of priority from this application. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claim or claims below, the additional inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.