Mop head and mop, and cleaning system comprising a mop head

Abstract

A cleaning element for a mop head, including cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or fabric structures made of textile material. The mop head is equipped with at least one cleaning agent which slowly dissolves in contact with water. The cleaning element can include a support body on which the cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or textile fabric structures are fixed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT / EP2023 / 060593, filed on Apr. 24, 2023, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2022 116 079.3, filed on Jun. 28, 2022. The International Application was published in German on Jan. 4, 2024 as WO 2024 / 002544 A1 under PCT Article 21 (2).FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to a cleaning element for a mop head.BACKGROUND

[0003] GB 211,184 describes a mop with a handle and a mop head with a cleaning element made of textile strips or textile strands for cleaning dishes, among other things, in which, during the cleaning process a cleaning liquid, e.g. soap solution, is continuously dispensed via the mop head to the surface to be cleaned. For this purpose, a reservoir with a cleaning liquid is formed in the handle of the known mop. The reservoir has openings in its upper wall for filling the reservoir with water. In the bottom region, the reservoir is provided with outlet openings through which the cleaning fluid continuously discharges downwards into the mop head due to gravity.

[0004] A cleaning brush is known from GB 191,501, in which during the cleaning process soap solution is also dispensed to the surface to be cleaned. For this purpose, the brush is provided with a container with soap on its upper side. The container can be filled with water by immersing the brush, causing a soap solution to form in the container. The outlet openings for the soap solution are arranged at a distance from the container bottom in an upper region of the container wall, so that the liquid cannot run out downwards in an un-dosed manner, but can only be used in a targeted manner by the user by shaking or tilting the brush.

[0005] Another brush with an integrated tank containing soap solution is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,790 B1. In this brush, the supply of soap solution during the cleaning process is controlled mechanically via a valve and a mechanism.

[0006] What all the above-mentioned cleaning devices have in common is that the cleaning fluid is intended for cleaning the surface to be cleaned. A cleaning of the cleaning element and / or brush head itself is not described, so that dirt residues remain in the cleaning element and / or brush head and can lead to a permanent soiling and unpleasant odors.

[0007] A cleaning element of the type mentioned at the beginning is known from DE 10 2014 017 559 B3. The document describes a cleaning system which, among other things, also relates to a device for washing out the cleaning element with fresh water during spinning out.

[0008] The known cleaning system relates to a so-called spin mop, in which the cleaning element is spin-dried after washing out. Thereby excess cleaning fluid is removed from the cleaning element by the action of centrifugal forces.

[0009] Specifically, the known mopping system is characterized by a mop having a mop head with a cleaning element and a handle, wherein the cleaning element has a support body to which cleaning strips made of a textile material are fixed, as well as a bucket with a washing out device for immersing and washing out the mop head with the cleaning strips and a spinning out device with a drainage basket for dry-spinning the cleaning strips. In the known system, a fresh water reservoir is provided in the bucket, which is in a liquid-conducting connection with a fresh water dome that protrudes into the drainage basket and fills it up. For spinning out, the mop head with the cleaning strips is placed on the fresh water dome in the drainage basket. If the drainage basket is then set in rotation, the fresh water is propelled radially outwards through perforations in the jacket of the fresh water dome and hits the cleaning strips of the mop head. Additives can also be added to the fresh water.

[0010] A disadvantage of this system is the high engineering effort especially required to feed the fresh water as centrally as possible to the cleaning element in the drainage basket.SUMMARY

[0011] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cleaning element for a mop head, comprising cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or fabric structures made of textile material. The mop head is equipped with at least one cleaning agent which slowly dissolves in contact with water.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and / or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a spinnable mop according to the invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a cleaning element for such a mop with an arrangement of cleaning stones from a cleaning agent;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a cleaning element with an annularly arranged cleaning agent;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a mop head of a squeezable mop according to an embodiment of the invention with a device for supplying the cleaning agent from the outside;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a side sectional view of the mop head from FIG. 4; and

[0018] FIGS. 6a-6c illustrate a side sectional view of possible exemplary arrangements of a cleaning agent on a cleaning textile of a mop head.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cleaning element of the known type in such a way that it can be cleaned after each cleaning process in a simple and efficient manner, without high engineering effort. A mop and a cleaning system with such a cleaning element are also provided.

[0020] According to the present disclosure, in the case of a cleaning element for a mop head, which comprises cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or fabric structures made of textile material, it is provided that said cleaning element is equipped with at least one cleaning agent which slowly dissolves in contact with water.

[0021] Surprisingly, it has been shown that this principle, known from the field of scented stones, can be transferred to the cleaning of a cleaning element for a mop head. When the cleaning element is washed out, for example in a washing out device or under running water, a portion of the cleaning agent is dissolved by the liquid and, with the liquid, enters the cleaning element made of a textile material. Thereby the liquid with the dissolved cleaning agent penetrates the textile material and, when spinning out or squeezing out, takes the dirt previously picked up during wiping with it and removes it.

[0022] This not only results in a cleaning of the cleaning element before each subsequent wiping process. As the cleaning element is thus also effectively cleaned during the last wringing out before a potential storage, the development of a bad odor is largely prevented. In addition, substances can be introduced that self-clean the cleaning element between uses. The cleaning element does not have to be washed frequently in the washing machine for hygienic reasons.

[0023] Thus one can always clean with a clean cleaning element. The solution according to the present disclosure is simple, efficient and cost-effective.

[0024] Depending on the type of mop (fringed mop, flat mop or similar), the cleaning element can comprise strips, fringes and / or textile fabric structures. The strips, fringes and / or textile fabric structures can thereby comprise microfibers. In addition, abrasive regions can be provided, in particular using non-microfibers. The abrasive regions can be present as separate strips, fringes and / or textile fabric structures, or integrated into the strips, fringes and / or fabric structures. In particular, the textile fabric structures can be configured as woven and knitted fabrics or pile materials.

[0025] In the case of a mop with cleaning strips or cleaning fringes, the strips or fringes can be fixed in a manner known per se to a support body which is connectable to the mop head. In this embodiment, the at least one cleaning agent can be arranged in the space formed between the support body and the cleaning element, preferably on the support body. Special recesses can be provided for this purpose. Preferably, it is simply glued in.

[0026] When the mop head with the cleaning element is immersed in the washing out water and / or cleaning liquid, not only does the textile cleaning element, for example the textile strips, fringes and / or the textile fabric structure, become saturated with the liquid, the cleaning liquid also penetrates into the space between the support body and the cleaning element and fills it up. The cleaning agent is hereby partially dissolved and enters the textile cleaning element directly. As the draining through the fully saturated cleaning element usually occurs very slowly when removing it from the cleaning liquid, some of the liquid with the dissolved cleaning agent still also remains in the intermediate space and is only pressed through the cleaning element, such as the cleaning strips and / or cleaning fringes or the textile fabric structure element, during squeezing out or spinning out.

[0027] In the case of a spinnable mop head, the cleaning agent should be applied rotationally symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the mop in order to avoid imbalance during wringing out.

[0028] The amount of liquid added to partially dissolve the cleaning agent can be regulated via the available volume between the support body and the cleaning element.

[0029] It is preferable that the support body can be detachably connectable to the mop head. This has the advantage that the at least one cleaning agent can be easily monitored and / or replaced.

[0030] In the case of a textile fabric structure as a cleaning element, this can be attachable to a wiper plate by means of retainers or a Velcro fastener.

[0031] The at least one cleaning agent can be present in solid form, for example as a cleaning stone, gel-like and / or as a viscous liquid enclosed in a membrane. This allows the slow dissolution to be better monitored than in the case of a liquid.

[0032] The at least one cleaning agent can be arranged in several zones within the support body, whereby the different zones can be equipped with different cleaning agents.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one cleaning agent can contain substances for the enzymatic or oxidative decomposition of organic impurities and discolorations. This has the advantage that dirt and stains are broken down into smaller molecules, which are thus easier to wash out with water.

[0034] Preferably, the substances that cause enzymatic decomposition comprise enzymes and / or probiotics that form enzymes. These are environmentally friendly and natural active ingredients in contrast to chemicals that are otherwise used in detergents or cleaning agents.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, the substances causing oxidative decomposition can comprise oxygen-based and / or chlorine-based bleaching agents. This allows microscopic deposits in the fibers of the cleaning element, which form a gray haze, to be dissolved.

[0036] In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one cleaning agent comprises optical brighteners, antibacterial, antiviral and / or deodorizing substances.

[0037] Optical brighteners are fluorescent substances that are deposited on the cleaning strips of the mop head, making it appear whiter. Antibacterial substances counteract the growth of bacteria and thus prevent odor formation caused by bacteria such as Moraxella or their metabolic products. Antiviral substances prevent or remove viruses in the mop material, thereby preventing or at least greatly minimizing the spread of viruses on the floors of a house.

[0038] An embodiment of the invention also relates to a mop having a mop head with a cleaning element according to the present disclosure and a handle. For washing out, the mop head with the cleaning element can be held under running water by means of the handle or introduced into a bucket of water to which a cleaning agent can be added, for example into a bucket of a cleaning system with a washing out device. Hereby, the at least one cleaning agent is partially dissolved and, as described above, enters the textile cleaning element, for example the textile cleaning strips and / or cleaning fringes and / or the textile fabric structure. The excess liquid can be removed in a manner known per se by wringing out the cleaning element by hand or in a stationary wringing out basket of a cleaning system.

[0039] Preferably, the excess liquid is removed by spinning out. The advantage of spinning out the mop head with the cleaning element is that the liquid with the dissolved cleaning agent, due to the action of centrifugal forces, flows through the cleaning element, such as the textile cleaning strips and cleaning fringes and / or the textile fabric structure, at a higher pressure and higher speed than would be the case if gravity alone were acting. This makes the cleaning process fast and efficient.

[0040] In order to set the mop head with the cleaning element according to the present disclosure in rotation, the handle of the mop can have a known drive in the manner of a spinning top. In this case, the spinning out can be done by using appropriate well-known spinning aids, such as a spinning out basket or means for positioning in a bucket, or completely freely without any aids.

[0041] Preferably, the mop with the mop head with the cleaning element according to the present disclosure is part of a cleaning system, which further comprises a bucket with a washing out device and a spinning out device with a spinning out basket for the mop head with the cleaning element, wherein the mop head with the cleaning element can be set in rotation for spinning out via the spinning out basket. The mop is hereby inserted into the spinning out basket and rotates together with it.

[0042] It is preferable that the spinning out basket can be set in rotation by means of a pedal drive.

[0043] An electric drive is also provided.

[0044] An exemplary embodiment of the cleaning system according to the invention is explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0045] FIGS. 1 to 6 each show a schematic presentation.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a mop head 1 for a spinnable mop, which comprises a cleaning element 3 with cleaning strips and / or cleaning fringes 4 made of a textile material, which is attached to a support body 2. The mop head 1 is connected to a handle 21 via a joint 20.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a preferred configuration of the cleaning element 3. In the embodiment shown without limiting the generality, the cleaning element 3 comprises a triangular-shaped retaining ring 5 with circumferentially arranged clamping openings 5a for clamping the cleaning strips and / or cleaning fringes 4 at one end. The other ends hang loosely downwards from the retaining ring 5 for cleaning the surface to be cleaned. A cleaning textile 6, which is fixed to the retaining ring 5 with its edge region, is arranged in the central region of the retaining ring 5.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning agent 8 is arranged in each of the corner regions, and thus rotationally symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation 7 of the mop 1, in order to avoid imbalance during wringing out. In the embodiment shown, the cleaning agent 8 is in the form of a cleaning stone which slowly dissolves in contact with water or cleaning fluid.

[0049] As the cleaning agent 8 is disposed directly on the cleaning element 3, it is in direct liquid-conducting contact with the cleaning strips and / or cleaning fringes 4.

[0050] The cleaning element 3 can be clipped into the mop head 1 with the support body 5. For this purpose, the support body 5 and the mop head 1 can have, retainer tabs and retainer receptacles on the circumferential edges assigned to each other.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows another possible arrangement of the cleaning agent in a cleaning element as shown in FIG. 2. Here it is disposed as an annular gel strip 8 at a distance from the axis of rotation 7.

[0052] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a cleaning element 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. The cleaning element 3 shown is suitable for being squeezed out by hand or in a wringer or squeezing out basket.

[0053] The cleaning element 3 here comprises of cleaning strips 4, which are fixed to the support body 2, without limiting the generality, at their end facing the support body 2 by means of a rivet-like connection 10.

[0054] An opening 9 is provided in the support body 2, for example, through which the cleaning agent can be introduced from the outside into the space between the cleaning element 3 and the support body 2.

[0055] On its upper side, the support body has a cylindrical connecting element 12 with retaining means 12a for clipping into a mop head. It is also provided to insert the cleaning agent into the space between the cleaning element 3 and the support body 2 from above through the connecting element 12.

[0056] FIG. 6a and 6b show examples of possible holders 15 for arranging a cleaning agent 8 on a surface, here shown on a cleaning textile 6 without limiting the generality. The holders 15 comprise a housing 16, in the interior of which the cleaning agent 8 is located. To establish the fluid-conducting connection to the cleaning agent 8, the housing is provided with differently configured openings. FIG. 6a shows an example of circular openings, FIG. 6b of slit or strip-shaped openings. Any other shaping of the perforations is also possible.

[0057] In the variants shown in FIG. 6c, the cleaning agent 8 is glued directly to a surface, in this example also the cleaning textile 6.

[0058] While subject matter of the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Any statement made herein characterizing the invention is also to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive as the invention is defined by the claims. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made, by those of ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the following claims, which may include any combination of features from different embodiments described above.

[0059] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and / or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

Claims

1. A cleaning element for a mop head, comprising:cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or fabric structures made of textile material,wherein the mop head is equipped with at least one cleaning agent which slowly dissolves in contact with water.

2. The cleaning element according to claim 1, comprising a support body on which the cleaning strips, cleaning fringes and / or textile fabric structures are fixed.

3. The cleaning element according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cleaning agent is fixed to the support body.

4. The cleaning element according to claim 2, wherein the support body is configured to be detachably connected to the mop head.

5. The cleaning element according to claim 1, configured as a textile fabric structure configured to be fixed to a wiper plate.

6. The cleaning element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning agent is present in solid, gel-like form and / or as a viscous liquid enclosed in a membrane.

7. The cleaning element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning agent is arranged in several zones within the support body or the cleaning element.

8. The cleaning element according to claim 7, wherein the different zones are equipped with different cleaning agents.

9. The cleaning element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning agent comprises substances configured for the enzymatic or oxidative decomposition of organic impurities and discolorations.

10. The cleaning element according to claim 9, wherein the substances configured for enzymatic decomposition comprise enzymes and / or probiotics which form enzymes.

11. The cleaning element according to claim 9, wherein the substances configured for oxidative decomposition comprise oxygen-based bleaching agents and / or chlorine-based bleaching agents.

12. The cleaning element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning agent comprises optical brighteners, antibacterial, antiviral and / or deodorizing substances.

13. A mop comprising a handle, a mop head and the cleaning element according to claim 1.

14. The mop according to claim 13, wherein the handle has a spinning top-like drive to set the mop head in rotation for spinning out.

15. A cleaning system comprising the mop according to claim 13, further comprising a bucket with a washing out device and a spinning out device with a spinning out basket for the mop head, wherein the mop head is configured to be set in rotation for spinning out via the spinning out basket.

16. The cleaning system according to claim 15, wherein the spinning out basket is configured to be set in rotation by a pedal.

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