Cleaning Cloth Fitted With A Recess Capable Of Being Joined To A Mop Base

Abstract

A cleaning cloth, and in particular a cleaning cloth for floors suitable for being attached to a mop base, and fitted with special coupling devices that make it easy to attach it to the mop base and ensure it is held securely.

Claims

1. A cleaning cloth capable of being joined to a mop base equipped with a device for retaining at least part of a lengthwise edge of the cleaning cloth, wherein said cleaning cloth has, at least along its lengthwise edge, at least one recess that extends towards an inner part of the cloth, said recess being capable of working with at least one locator near a protruding profile of the mop base for closing a mouth of the mop base, said recess having opposing side walls, wherein said at least one recess includes a first pair of recesses along one lengthwise edge, the cleaning cloth having an outer perimeter edge defining an outer perimeter of the cleaning cloth, wherein the cleaning cloth is solid and continuous within the outer perimeter of the cleaning cloth.

2. The cleaning cloth according to claim 1, further including a second pair of recesses on an opposite longitudinal edge of the cloth and arranged in a mirror-like fashion with the first pair of recesses wherein said first pair of recesses are arranged in a mirror-like fashion on an opposite longitudinal edge of the cloth to form a second pair of recesses.

3. The cleaning cloth according to claim 1, wherein said cloth can be used on both sides.

4. The cleaning cloth according to claim 1 wherein each said first pair of recesses is positioned in a symmetrical manner along the lengthwise edge of the cloth.

5. The cleaning cloth according to claim 1 wherein each recess includes a limit stop comprising a side that is practically parallel to the longitudinal edge of the cloth, which cooperates with the respective locator on the base.

6. The cleaning cloth according to claim 1 wherein the opposing side walls of each recess is practically recessed with respect to the lengthwise edge of the cloth, which cooperates with a lateral shoulder of the respective locator on the base.

7. A cleaning system comprising: a cleaning cloth having, at least along its lengthwise edge, at least one recess that extends toward an inner part of the cleaning cloth; a mop base equipped with a device for retaining at least part of a lengthwise edge of the cleaning cloth; at least a pair of locators formed near a protruding profile of the mop base for closing a mouth of the mop base; and the at least one recess includes, along one lengthwise edge, at least a first pair of recesses that extend toward the an inner part of the cloth, each of the recesses having opposing side walls, wherein each of the recesses working with each locator to align the cleaning cloth on the mop base, and the cleaning cloth has an outer perimeter edge defining an outer perimeter of the cleaning cloth, wherein the cleaning cloth is solid and continuous within the outer perimeter of the cleaning cloth.

8. The cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the first pair of recesses are arranged in a mirror-like fashion on an opposite longitudinal edge of the cloth to form a second pair of recesses.

9. The cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein said cloth can be used on both sides.

10. The cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein each recess is positioned in a symmetrical manner along the lengthwise edge of the cloth.

11. The cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein each recess includes a limit stop comprising a side that is practically parallel to the longitudinal edge of the cloth, which cooperates with the locator on the mop base.

12. The cleaning system according to claim 1 wherein the opposing side walls of each recess are practically recessed at a slant with respect to the lengthwise edge of the cloth, which cooperates with a lateral shoulder of the respective locator on the base to facilitate auto-centering.

13. A cleaning cloth capable of being joined to a mop base equipped with a device for retaining at least part of a lengthwise edge of the cleaning cloth, wherein said cleaning cloth has, at least along its lengthwise edge, at least one recess that extends towards an inner part of the cloth, said recess being capable of working with at least one locator near a protruding profile of the mop base for closing a mouth of the mop base, said recess having opposing side walls, wherein said at least one recess includes a first pair of recesses along one lengthwise edge and a second pair of recesses on an opposite longitudinal edge of the cleaning cloth and arranged in a mirror-like fashion with the first pair of recesses.

14. The cleaning cloth according to claim 13, wherein said cloth can be used on both sides.

15. The cleaning cloth according to claim 13, wherein each said first pair of recesses is positioned in a symmetrical manner along the lengthwise edge of the cloth.

16. The cleaning cloth according to claim 13, wherein each recess includes a limit stop comprising a side that is practically parallel to the longitudinal edge of the cloth, which cooperates with the respective locator on the base.

17. The cleaning cloth according to claim 13, wherein the opposing side walls of each recess is practically recessed with respect to the lengthwise edge of the cloth, which cooperates with a lateral shoulder of the respective locator on the base.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The detailed description below makes reference to the attached diagrams, which represent purely an exemplary form that is in no way restrictive, where:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a generic cloth with a rectangular configuration;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the cloth of this invention equipped with a recess positioned in an intermediate position along a longitudinal edge, but not in a corner;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the cloth of this invention with a pair of recesses situated on a longitudinal edge near the outer parts of said edge;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows the cloth of FIG. 3 where said pair of recesses is positioned in a symmetrical manner on both longitudinal edges;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows the cloth of this invention equipped with a pair of recesses positioned on a longitudinal edge at the end on the corner;

[0044] FIG. 6 shows the details of a profiled recess with a flared opening for autocentring with respect to a notch on the mouth of a base that has to be used;

[0045] FIG. 7 shows the cloth of this invention equipped with a pair of recesses positioned on the longitudinal edge near the mouth which has notches, of a base in the process of being joined;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0046] With reference to the diagrams, we see that the generic cleaning cloth 1 has a perimeter whose edges are continuous without any recesses or any particular shaping.

[0047] This cloth is subject to all the above-mentioned drawbacks when used in association with a mop base and during the attachment stage.

[0048] This cloth in prior art in combination with a mop base fitted with a gripping mouth would have difficulty in being correctly gripped and precisely aligned, not having any reference points.

[0049] Moreover, said cloth would not be easily held tightly when subjected to longitudinal stresses, namely along the longest retention edge.

[0050] The cloth 2 that is the object of the invention and fitted with coupling devices that are configured as one or more recesses 3 on the longitudinal edge 4 allows many of the beneficial features described above to be attained. In fact, a simple recess 3 allows the operator to immediately check the correct approach to the base 9, through an assessment of the alignment, and providing for a quick attachment.

[0051] Said recess 3 has a stop 7 to limit the entry of the cloth 2 until it reaches the correct insertion length.

[0052] In this way the operator, because he does not have to worry about any excessive insertion of the cloth 2, he proceeds with the quick and efficient connection between the cloth 2 and the base 9, and therefore renders this connection solid with the closure of the retention grip.

[0053] Moreover, this facilitated connection is improved by providing more recesses 3, preferably positioned near the side pats of the cloth 2.

[0054] With this arrangement of the recesses 3, making it always easy to make a connection because of being able to check the correct alignment of the base 9 with the cloth 2, you also ensure a secure connection with the parallel arrangement between the longitudinal edge 4 of the cloth 2 and the base 9 of the mop.

[0055] The method for making the recesses 3 positioned at the lateral ends or in the corner with the transversal edge 5 of the cloth 2, configured therefore as a step 6 positioned on the longitudinal retention edge 4, meets both inexpensive manufacturing requirements, and also has the benefit of not interrupting the continuity of the longitudinal profile, a very important aspect in the eventuality that cloths are used that are not very thick or solid.

[0056] In fact, to interrupt the continuity of the profile of thin cloths could involve the risk of arrangements that are unfavorable for the correct attachment to the base 9 when set on the floor by the operator without any particular precautions, with recesses and/or folds lying overlapped.

[0057] The benefit of being able to easily make the recesses 3, arranged symmetrically along the same longitudinal edge 4, makes the cloth easily manageable also in the eventuality of a cloth 2 with a double active cleaning surface, therefore being able to be set on the floor by the operator regardless of the cloth side without any problems.

[0058] Lastly, by providing a mirror-like configuration on both longitudinal edges 4 of said recesses 3 helps the operator to join the cloth 2 to the base 9 without having to worry about being the right way round.

[0059] These recesses beneficially have an auto-centering profile, with the opening more flared towards the outside.

[0060] It is immediately clear that thanks to this profile of the recesses 3, the joining of the base and the cloth is really quick and easy, and at the same time precise. In fact, the operator only has to bring the base 9 close to the cloth 2, helped by the visible notches of the recesses 3, with a narrow degree of alignment, and he can proceed with a certain margin of tolerance, in the certainty that an auto centered association will take place and one that is limited to the correct insertion length.

[0061] The limitation of the cloth 2 to the correct insertion length inside the base 9 is established by the edge 7 of the recess, generally parallel to the longitudinal edge 4 of the cloth, which comes up against the notches 10 on the base 9.

[0062] The recesses of the above description can have one or more perpendicular edges or ones arranged obliquely with respect to the longitudinal retention edge 4 that joins to the respective base 9.

[0063] Said edges 8 usefully work together with the notches 10 on the base 9, and in particular with the lateral shoulders of the notches 10 with the aim of giving the cloth 2 sufficient stability to prevent detachment.

[0064] In fact, as is well known the gripping is usually provided against the perpendicular slipping, while there is ˜o provision for lateral retention. Now since very often cleaning operations also involve stresses along the longitudinal axis of the base 9, like for example cleaning along the edges of furniture or walls, it is clear that an inadequate gripping of the cloth 2 leads to the detachment of the base 9 to which it is joined.

[0065] In order to prevent and impede this detachment, the perpendicular edges 8 of the recesses 3 limit and impede the shifting of the cloth 2, resting on the lateral shoulders of the notches 10.

[0066] Clearly there can be cooperation between the edges 8 of the diverse and distant recesses 3, both in the same direction, but also and especially in directions opposite to the shifting of the cloth 2.

[0067] The invention arranged in this way therefore attains the aims that have been set out.

[0068] Obviously, it could take on, in its practical realization, also forms and configurations different from that illustrated above without leaving the present ambit of protection.

[0069] Moreover, all the particular features could be replaced by technically equivalent elements and the dimensions, shapes and material used could vary according to requirements.