TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally concerns cleaning equipment that is used for cleaning mainly floor surfaces and specifically concerns methods and means for the preparation of such equipment for cleaning operation.

BACKGROUND

In traditional cleaning it is common to use cleaning devices such as different types of mops for cleaning floor surfaces. In professional cleaning it is normally preferred to use flat type mops that comprise a handle that by means of a quick connection is connectable to a flat plate constituting the mop head to which the actual mop yarn is attached. Such flat type mops normally include a swivel hinge at the mop head and exist in multiple variants. They are used with mop yarns being made from different materials, synthetic or natural.

Common for all such mops is that for efficient wet/damp cleaning they require the mop yarns to be properly dampened with water and/or an appropriate cleaning agent. Such dampening or moisturizing of the mops was traditionally carried out by immersing the mop heads with yarns in appropriately dimensioned buckets and then wringing them out to remove excess moisture therefrom. Such methods are extremely inappropriate especially for professional cleaning, since the fluid in the buckets will have to be replaced quite frequently so that the water and cleaning agent consumption is rather high. Such methods are also susceptible to bacterial growth, both in the buckets and in the mops. In a more recent alternative method mop yarns are prepared in connection with their cleaning in special laundry machines to which an appropriate cleaning agent may be added to the last rinse water of the washing cycle. The moisture of the mops may then be controlled to some extent by means of the centrifugation cycle of the laundry machines. Among the drawbacks of such methods are the large amounts of cleaning agents that pass unused through laundry machines, the excessive number of mop yarns that are normally prepared for specific cleaning operations, just to be on the safe side, and problems associated with the handling and storage of wet or damp mop yarns. The actual mop yarn moisture content may vary significantly depending on storage conditions and storage times before actual use. It is therefore a great demand within this field for solutions providing new and improved mop preparation techniques that are very efficient and yet contribute to environmentally sound cleaning procedures requiring a minimum amount of water and cleaning agent. SUMMARY

It is a general object of the present invention to find a solution that eliminates or at least reduces the above discussed problems.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of preparing mops for wet/damp cleaning.

Another specific object of the invention is to suggest an improved assembly for controlled preparation of mops for wet/damp cleaning operations. A further object of the invention is to suggest an improved cleaning trolley having an incorporated assembly for optimized wet/damp cleaning mop preparation.

These and other objects are met by the invention as defined by the patent claims.

The invention generally relates to the preparation of mops including a handle and a mop head for supporting a mop yarn. Specifically, it relates to a method for the preparation of mops with the appropriate cleaning fluid for wet/damp cleaning operation. To achieve optimized handling and preparation of such mops a basic idea of the invention is to first attach a fresh mop yarn to a mop head and to introduce the mop head with mop yarn into an at least partially open area of a moisturizing container. Cleaning fluid is then sprayed from the moisturizing container and onto a facing surface of the mop yarn and finally the prepared mop is removed from the moisturizing container prepared for wet/damp cleaning operation. This enables optimization of the mop preparation. In another aspect of the invention a mop preparation assembly is suggested for preparing mops for wet/damp cleaning. To achieve optimized mop preparation the assembly briefly includes a moisturizing container having an open or openable area, a supply of one or more cleaning fluids, fluid spraying means provided in the container and directed towards the open or openable area of the moisturizing container. A cleaning fluid distribution system and means for generating positive pressure in the fluid distribution system are also provided.

In a further aspect of the invention a cleaning trolley is suggested that incorporates a mop preparation assembly being configured according to the basic inventive principles.

This suggested basic configuration of the invention presents the advantages of providing:

- optimized mop preparation with minimized handling of wet/damp mop yarns;

- minimized consumption of cleaning fluid (water as well as cleaning agent);

- minimized risk of bacterial growth in buckets and in mop yarns; and

- excellent conditions for environmentally friendly mop handling and preparation; including

- preparation only of the exact number of mops that are actually used.

Preferred further developments of the basic inventive idea as well as embodiments thereof are specified in the dependent subclaims.

Advantages offered by the invention, in addition to those described above, will be readily appreciated upon reading the below detailed description of embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and further objects and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematical illustration of a cleaning trolley incorporating an embodiment of a mop preparation assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2A is a top view of a basic configuration of a first embodiment of a moisturizing container for use in a mop preparation assembly of the invention; Fig. 2B is a cross section, along line A-A, through the moisturizing container of Fig. 2A;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of a moisturizing container and pressure generating means, as used in the mop preparation assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 4A is a top view of a second embodiment of a moisturizing container with screen and pressure generating means, as used in the mop preparation assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4B is a front view of the moisturizing container as shown in Fig. 4A;

Fig. 5A is a schematical illustration of a basic embodiment of the mop preparation assembly according to the invention, showing a pressure stroke mode of the pressure generating means; Fig. 5B is a schematical illustration of the mop preparation assembly of Fig. 5A, showing a return stroke mode of the pressure generating means;

Fig. 6 A is a top view of a third embodiment of a moisturizing container with screen, for use in a mop preparation assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 6B is a front view of the moisturizing container as shown in Fig. 6A;

Fig. 7 A is a top view of a fourth embodiment of a moisturizing container with screen, for use in a mop preparation assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 7B is a front view of the moisturizing container as shown in Fig. 7A;

Fig. 8 A is a top view of a fifth embodiment of a moisturizing container for use in a mop preparation assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 8B is a front view of the moisturizing container as shown in Fig. 8A;

Fig. 9A is a top view of a variant of the moisturizing container of Figs. 6A-B, for use in a modified mop preparation assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 9B is a schematical illustration of a modified mop preparation assembly for use in combination with the moisturizing container illustrated in Fig. 9A; Fig. 10 is a schematical illustration of a two fluid supply and distribution system of the mop preparation assembly according to the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a schematical illustration of an alternative two fluid supply and distribution system of the mop preparation assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to avoid misconceptions, it should be made clear that throughout the specification and claims the term "mop yarn" refers to the reusable cleaning pads or covers used for wet/damp floor cleaning; the term "mop head" refers to the generally flat frame or holder to which the mop yarn is attached; and the term "mop" refers to the complete cleaning device comprising a handle attached to the mop head supporting the mop yarn.

The invention will now be explained with reference to exemplifying embodiments of a mop preparation assembly of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The exemplifying embodiments of the invention are illustrated in Figs. 1-11 and all relate to an application of the inventive solution to a cleaning trolley or cart that is partially and schematically outlined in Fig. 1 and that incorporates such an assembly. It shall be emphasized, though, that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated details thereof.

As was discussed in the introduction, it is seen as a serious drawback that the available mop preparation procedures are basically restricted to either the unhygienic and environmentally as well as economically inappropriate use of open cleaning fluid buckets or the preparation in advance, in a laundry machine, of a mostly excessive number of mop yarns for each cleaning operation. The invention intends to solve these types of shortcomings and problems.

To overcome such shortcomings and problems associated with the conventional solutions, a new approach is proposed for preparing mops, and specifically their mop yarns, for wet/damp cleaning operation. The basic concept of this solution is to provide individual control of the preparation of the mop yarns so that they may each be prepared in immediate association with their actual place and time of use and to also enable control of the moisture content of each individually prepared mop yarn. Such a solution makes it possible to restrict the number of prepared mop yarns to the exact number used for a certain cleaning operation. By avoiding the preparation of unused mop yarns and by allowing the individual control of the degree of moisturizing of each mop yarn to be used, it is possible to control cleaning fluid consumption and to achieve a considerable reduction of the amount of cleaning fluid used. By preparing the mops directly at the place and time of use, storage times for moisturized mop yarns are minimized and all problems related to the storage of wet/damp mop yarns are eliminated.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a first exemplary embodiment of a cleaning trolley 1 to which the basic concept of the invention may be applied. Such cleaning trolleys 1 have a wheeled main frame 2 with ground wheels 3 and a hand grip 2A for enabling easy pushing of the trolley 1. To the conventional trolley frame 2 are attached several supports 4A-4I for carrying and/or storing equipment that serves different purposes. Examples thereof are supports for mops 5 and waste bags or supports for accommodating mop yarns 7A, 7B of different kinds and fluid containers 10A, 10B. As described so far the trolley 1 is configured in a mainly conventional manner and for that reason as well as for reasons of clarity all of the different supports 4A-4I and their specific purposes have not been illustrated or described in detail.

In addition to said conventional configuration, the trolley 1 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with an exemplary mop preparation assembly 8 (see Figs. 5A-5B) according to the invention. Parts of this assembly 8 are shown partially and very schematically in Fig. 1, but its component parts will be described fully with reference to Figs. 2A-4B and to the block diagrams of Figs. 5A-5B. The cleaning trolley 1 frame 2 supports the mop preparation assembly that basically consists of a mop yarn moisturizing container 11 supported on the trolley frame 2 by a bracket 4B, a supply 10A, 10B of at least one cleaning fluid received in a support 4A of said trolley frame 2; a fluid distribution system 20 for communicating cleaning fluid from the supply 10A, 10B to fluid spraying means 15 provided in the moisturizing container 11; and pressure generating means 25 for generating a positive pressure in the fluid distribution system 20.

Figs. 2A-2B show a basic configuration of a first embodiment of the inventive moisturizing container 11 having an open upper area 11A and a closed bottom area 11B. Fluid spraying means 15 with a tubular shape manifold 17 are provided inside the moisturizing container 11, in the vicinity of the bottom area 11B. A feed pipe 21C of the fluid distribution means 20 is connected to the manifold 17 through a coupling 18. The manifold tube 17 carries on its upper side several spaced nozzles or fluid orifices 16 that are each connected to the fluid distribution system 20 through the manifold 17. Specifically, cleaning fluid from the feed pipe 21C will be sprayed onto a mop yarn 7 A through the fluid orifices 16, as described below. The fluid spraying means 15, or actually the fluid orifices 16, are directed generally towards the upper area 11 A. The manifold 17 is attached to the moisturizing container 11 by means of a mounting plate 13 that at an upper part thereof, close to the container upper area 11A carries a mop bracket 14 on which a mop head 6 with its attached mop yarn 7 A is placed and supported for performing the later described mop preparation procedure. The upper area 11A of the moisturizing container is shown being totally open upwardly, but it should be clarified that a screen 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4A-B may be provided covering parts of this area 11 A, mainly to prevent fluid sprays from inadvertently exiting the container 11 at outer edges of the mop head 6 and mop yarn 7A. Such a screen 12 may be fixed in position, leaving the upper area 11A partially open to provide sufficient open space to permit insertion of the mop head 6. The screen 12 could also be designed having a larger size and being moveably/slidably supported to allow screening off and opening, respectively, a part or parts of the upper area 11 A. Making the upper area fully or partially openable may further facilitate insertion of the mop head 6 and still effectively prevent fluid leakage. Figs. 3 and 4A-B contain detailed views of the pressure generating means 25 of the mop preparation assembly 8 of Fig. 1 and shows its positioning in association with a front side 11C of a second embodiment of the moisturizing container 11. In this embodiment the container 11 is provided with the partial screen 12 and a pressure generating means 25, as used in the mop preparation assembly of Fig. 1. The pressure generating means 25 comprises a cylinder type pump 26 with internal spring return and being operated in its pressure stroke by a pedal 27 extending past the front side 11C of the moisturizing container 11. Through an appropriate linkage 29 and a mounting plate 28 the pump 26 is attached to the trolley 1 frame 2 directly below the moisturizing container 11. As was mentioned above, the pressure generating means 25 is provided to selectively generate positive pressure in the fluid distribution system 20 to communicate cleaning fluid at the generated positive pressure to the fluid spraying means 15. In the illustrated embodiment a pressurized fluid output pipe 2 IB from said single pump 26 is connected to all of said several fluid spraying orifices 16. Other configurations including more than one pump are likewise feasible, as will be clarified below with reference to Fig. 11. A first embodiment of a method of the invention, for preparing a mop for wet/damp cleaning operation, will now be described with reference to a basic embodiment of the mop preparation assembly 8 of the invention, as illustrated in Figs 5A-5B. The method comprises the initial step of attaching a mop yarn 7A, preferably a fresh and normally completely dry mop yarn, to a mop head 6. This is done in any conventional manner, such as by means of Velcro tape, by means of a string etc. and is not specifically illustrated. The mop head 6 with the attached mop yarn 7 is then introduced into the open area 11A of the moisturizing container 11, resting on the mop bracket 14, as illustrated in Fig. 2B. By operating the pump 26 pedal 27 in the pressure stroke PS (Fig. 5A) fluid previously sucked into the pump cylinder is pressurized, and is fed through the pump inlet/output pipe 2 IB, further into the fluid feed line 21C and into the fluid spraying means 15. Through all of the several spaced fluid orifices 16 of the spraying means 15 cleaning fluid under moderate positive pressure is then sprayed from the bottom area 11B of the moisturizing container 11, below the open/openable upper area 11 A. The cleaning fluid is sprayed generally towards said upper area 11A of the container 11 and onto a facing surface of the mop yarn 7 A of the introduced mop head 6.

The pump pedal 27 is then released and the mop 5 with the attached mop yarn 7A is removed from the moisturizing container 11, prepared for wet/damp cleaning operation. As the pedal 27 is released the pump 26 spring return actuates the pump return stroke RS (see Fig. 5B). This causes cleaning fluid to be sucked from the cleaning fluid supply 10A, 10B, through a fluid sucking line 21 A of the distribution system 20 and the pump inlet/output pipe 2 IB and into the pump cylinder. The assembly is then ready for a new pressure stroke PS with fluid spraying. The described operation requires check valves 22, 23 to be present in the fluid sucking and feed lines 21A and 21C, respectively. Obviously, the amount of cleaning fluid sprayed onto the facing mop yarn 7A surface may be regulated by a controlled operation of the pump 26, in this case by varying the stroke of the pedal 27, and in other applications by controlled operation of an electric pump or otherwise. It will be realized that the invention as described will cause a significant reduction of the amount of cleaning fluid consumed for each mop yarn and thus of the overall fluid consumption. Only the selected amount of fluid is sprayed onto each mop yarn, and using e.g. the above mentioned electric pump an exact amount of fluid determined for a specific mop yarn may be regulated. It is even possible to provide a closeable drain pipe (not shown) at the bottom of the moisturizing container and to return any excess fluid collected at the container bottom to the fluid supply. This is quite possible due to the fact that for the inventive mop preparation are used only fresh, preferably washed and dried, mop yarns that do not contaminate any excess fluid in the container.

Figs 6A and 6B schematically illustrate a variation of a fixed screen 112 for a moisturizing container 111 top area 111A. In this third embodiment of the moisturizing container 111 the fixed screen 112 covers the full upper area 111 A thereof to effectively prevent fluid sprays from exiting the container 111 along edges of the introduced mop head 6 with attached mop yarn 7 A. In this case, a mop head 6 with mop yarn 7 A is introduced under the screen 112, through a longitudinal open area 11 IE provided in an uppermost area of a front side 111C of the container 111, and extending all the way through an upper rim 11 IF of the container 111. During the introduction of the mop head 6 into the upper area of the container 111 through the open area 11 IE, the mop 5 handle 9 is received in a transversal slit 112A provided in the screen 112 and being open towards the front side 111C. With this screen 112 configuration it will be possible to use the same moisturizing container 111 for preparing mops of different shapes, sizes and dimensions, such as the commonly used smaller sized mop heads (not shown) with corresponding mop yarns 7B that are used for cleaning bathroom floors etc., without taking specific precautions to avoid exiting fluid sprays.

Figs 7A and 7B exemplify a further variant of a screen 212A, 212B for an open upper area 211A of a fourth embodiment of a moisturizing container 211. In this configuration the screen consists of two separately openable screen parts 212A and 212B that are pivotally journalled (not shown) to a rear side of the container 211. Being individually pivotal the screen parts 212A, 212B may be swung open together to expose the entire upper area 211A for the introduction and preparation of a full size mop head 6 with attached mop yarn 7A. Alternatively, they may be swung open one at a time to expose a smaller portion of the upper area 211A for the introduction and preparation of a smaller size, e.g. bathroom type mop head with attached mop yarn 7B. The screen parts 212A, 212B may have the same or similar size or may be sized to cover a major part and a smaller section of the open upper container area 211A. They will enable screening off a part or parts of the at least partially open or openable upper area 211A of the moisturizing container 211 for adaption to mops of different dimensions.

Figs. 8A and 8B schematically illustrate a fifth embodiment of a moisturizing container 311 of the invention. Here, the upper area 311A of the moisturizing container is completely closed and fluid spraying means 315 are attached to the inside of a rear side wall 31 ID of the container 311. An open area 31 IE is provided in a front side wall 311C of the container 311, opposite the fluid spraying means 315. The fluid spraying means 315 are again attached through a mounting plate 313 having a mop bracket 314 that in this case is positioned close to the front side 311C of the container 311. A mop head 6 with attached mop yarn 7 A is introduced into the moisturizing container 311 through the side area 3 HE and is like before placed against and supported by the mop bracket 314 when the mop preparation procedure is performed. In this case, cleaning fluid is sprayed from the rear container side wall 31 ID and onto a facing surface of the introduced mop yarn, with the fluid spraying orifices 316 being directed generally towards said open side area 3 HE of the container. Apart from their positioning, the fluid spraying means 315 of this embodiment may be identical to those described above, having a manifold 317 that is connected to the fluid feed line 321C through a coupling 318 and that supports the spaced fluid orifices 316. This fifth embodiment of the moisturizing container 311 may optionally be provided with a movable screen or pivotal screen parts (not shown) to partially screen off or open the side area 31 IE in a manner similar to those discussed above.

In Fig. 9A is disclosed a variant of a moisturizing container 111 being based on the container configuration of Figs. 6A-B, having a fixed screen 112 with transversal slit 112A and a front side open area (not shown here) for introducing a mop. The screen 112 is only outlined with dashed lines in Fig. 9A to show the internal fluid spraying means 115 that are configured for use in a modified mop preparation assembly 108 according to the invention that is illustrated in Fig. 9B. The fluid spraying means 115 and the associated mop preparation assembly 108 are configured to enable optimized moisturizing of mop yarns 7A, 7B of different size and/or dimension in combination with low cleaning fluid consumption. This is accomplished with a fluid spraying means 115 having a first group of central fluid orifices 116A that are in direct communication with the pressure generating means 25 through the pump output line 121B, the fluid feed line 121C and a first group supply line 121D. Outermost fluid orifices 116B and 116C are separated from the central group 116A and form a second group of fluid orifices. Their communication with the fluid feed line 121C is selectively blocked or opened by means of a fluid control valve means 124. Through corresponding operation of the valve 124 it will block or open cleaning fluid flow to the outer fluid orifices 116B, 116C through corresponding fluid supply lines 121E and 121F. With this configuration of the assembly 108, pressurized cleaning fluid may selectively be supplied to the first group of fluid spraying orifices 116A or to both the first 116A and the second 116B-C fluid spraying orifices. In variations of the disclosed configuration, fluid orifice groups may contain only one or an optional number of fluid orifices and the number of separate groups of fluid orifices and their associated control valves may be varied. In this manner a cleaning fluid spraying pattern delivered by the fluid spraying means may be controlled by means of the fluid control valve 124 to suit a full size mop head 6 or a smaller bathroom type mop head. In the illustrated configuration both groups 116A and 116B-C of fluid orifices are supplied with cleaning fluid under pressure when a full size mop head 6 is introduced into the container 111. The second group of fluid orifices 116B-C is however blocked when a smaller bathroom type mop is introduced centrally in the container 111.

In Fig. 10 and 11 are shown two alternative fluid distribution system variants 420 and 520A, 520B, respectively, of a mop preparation assembly 408 and 508, respectively, according to the invention. These variants are configured to allow alternative controlled communication of a selected one of two cleaning fluids of the supply 10A, 10B to fluid spraying means 15 of a moisturizing container of the invention. Fig. 10 is a schematical illustration of a mop preparation assembly 408 using a fluid control valve 424 of a three-way type to alternatingly connect two fluid input lines 421A and 421B to a common fluid sucking line 21A of the assembly 408 that in its remaining parts is identical to the one shown in e.g. Figs. 5A-B. In other words, by controlling the position of the control valve 424, the pump 26 of the pressure generating means 25 will be connected to either cleaning fluid 10A or 10B to suck in the selected fluid into the pump 26 during a return stroke RS. Changing the position of the valve 424 will change the fluid being sucked in during a following return stroke RS.

In the mop preparation assembly 508 illustrated in Fig. 11 two separate, parallel fluid distribution systems 520 A, 520B are utilized for the two cleaning fluids 10A or 10B. The parallel fluid distribution systems 520A, 520B are identical and are each associated with pressure generating means 525A, 525B comprising a separately operated pump 26. The pumps 26 each suck in the respective cleaning fluid 10A, 10B through an associated fluid sucking line 520A, 520B and a check valve 522A, 522B and supplies fluid under pressure to an associated fluid feed line 521C, 521D with check valve 523A and 523B, as described in connection with Figs. 5A-5B. Fluid feed lines 521C and 521D are connected to a common fluid supply line 521E supplying the selected cleaning fluid to the fluid spraying means 15. Further check valves 524A and 524B are provided in the respective fluid feed line 521C, 521D, upstream of their connection point, to block fluid exchange between the fluid feed lines 521C, 521D. It should be understood that the cleaning fluid to be used is selected by choosing the associated pump for operation.

Finally, the two pump configuration of Fig. 11 may also be used to supply a single cleaning fluid under pressure to different groups of fluid spraying orifices, such as those illustrated in Fig. 9. In such a case each of the pumps would suck the same cleaning fluid from a common supply or from separate supplies. During a pump pressure stroke the selected pump would then supply the fluid to the associated group of fluid spraying orifices.

In further alternative, but not specifically illustrated embodiments of the invention variations of the different illustrated parts of the inventive solution may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. One example thereof is the use of other types of pressure generating means than the illustrated foot-operated pumps. Such alternative pressure generating means serving the purposes of the invention may equally well be used in the mop preparation assemblies of the invention. Examples thereof are not illustrated but include electrically operated and controlled pumps or a pneumatic accumulator generating pressure in a fluid supply.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specific reference to an application in association with a specific type of cleaning trolley, the invention is in no way restricted to such applications. The basic principles of the invention may therefore be applied to any type of appropriate cleaning equipment.

The invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, but the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Different details and parts of the disclosed embodiments may, where technically feasible, be combined in other configurations. The invention is therefore intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.