BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the cleaning of floors, particularly the cleaning of floors in clean rooms and other low-contamination environments.

[0002] The present invention concerns the cleaning of floors. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a floor-cleaning arrangement. The invention also concerns a kit for floor cleaning comprising such floor-cleaning arrangements, a method of making such a floor-cleaning arrangement and a method of cleaning a floor.

[0003] The floors of clean rooms and other low-contamination environments are typically cleaned using a disposable mop head and a reusable mop bucket. Multiple mop heads are packaged in a plastics bag and sterilised, typically using gamma radiation. When it is desired to clean a floor, the plastics bag is opened, and a mop head mounted to a mop. The mop is then dipped into a reusable bucket that has been provided with a cleaning composition, such as a detergent. After the mop head has been used for the appropriate area of floor or for an appropriate time, the mop head is removed and discarded. A new mop head is then fitted to the mop, and cleaning is restarted. Once cleaning is complete, any residual cleaning composition is removed from the bucket and the bucket washed, ready for reuse.

[0004] Washing of the bucket is sometimes unsatisfactory, with particulate and other dirt remaining in the bucket even after washing. This is obviously undesirable, since such dirt and particulate may be transferred from the bucket to a floor. Furthermore, the mopping hardware is not optimised for cleanroom use, being provided with castors, baskets, screws and bolts, all of which can conceal debris and contamination, and which undermines or compromises the intention of the cleaning and disinfection process.

[0005] Furthermore, incomplete washing of the bucket may result in residue of cleaning compositions remaining in the bucket. Such residues may react with cleaning compositions that are subsequently added to the bucket. Such reactions may reduce the cleaning effectiveness of the subsequently-added cleaning compositions. [0006] The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved floor cleaning arrangement and/or an improved floor-cleaning method

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a floor-cleaning arrangement comprising: a container comprising a base portion, the base portion comprising a base and one or more walls extending therefrom; and a plurality of floor-cleaning heads located in the base portion of the container; at least one of the plurality of the floor-cleaning heads comprising means for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop.

[0008] The location of the plurality of floor-cleaning heads in the base portion of the container allows the base portion to be used as a receptacle to receive a cleaning composition, thereby providing cleaning composition to the plurality of floor-cleaning heads. There is, therefore, no need to use a bucket.

[0009] Optionally, more than one and optionally each of the floor-cleaning heads comprises means for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop.

[0010] The base portion is optionally dimensionally stable i.e. retains its shape during normal use. Those skilled in the art will realise that the base portion may deform when subjected to excessive forces.

[0011] The means for mounting the floor-cleaning head may be any suitable means. At least one of the plurality of the floor-cleaning heads may comprise a mount to facilitate mounting of the floor-cleaning head to a mop. For example, the means for mounting the floor-cleaning head may comprise a pocket for receiving a projection of a mop. At least one of the plurality of the floor-cleaning heads may comprise two pockets, each pocket for receiving a corresponding projection of a mop. The means for mounting the floor- cleaning head may comprise one or both of a hook and loop fastener (such as Velcro®) for engaging with a corresponding other of a hook and loop fastener provided on a mop. For example, the means for mounting the floor-cleaning head may comprise hook fastener. The plurality of floor-cleaning heads may be stacked in the container.

[0012] The orientation of one or more, and preferably each, of the floor-cleaning heads may facilitate mounting of the uppermost floor-cleaning head to a mop.

[0013] The container may initially be located sealed within at least one further container. For the avoidance of doubt, the “sealed further container” is not the container in which the plurality of floor-cleaning heads are located. The at least one further container may comprise at least one bag. For example, the container may be located in two sealed bags (“double-bagged”), for example, a first sealed bag and a second sealed bag. Such bags protect their contents from contamination until the bag(s) are opened.

[0014] The container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads may initially be sterile. The container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads may have been subjected to a sterilising process, such as irradiation by electromagnetic radiation, for example, gamma rays. A radioactive cobalt source may be used as the source of gamma radiation.

[0015] The floor-cleaning arrangement may comprise a sealed sterilised arrangement. In this case, the container may be sealed within at least one further container. The floor cleaning arrangement may have been sterilised.

[0016] The container may comprise a lid portion. If the container comprises a lid portion, the container may initially be closed. The lid portion and the base portion may be movable relative to one another so that the container may be opened and optionally re closed. The lid portion may be removable from the base portion. Removal of the lid portion may optionally destroy the integrity of the lid portion so that the lid portion cannot be re-placed onto the base portion. For example, the lid portion may comprise a sheet of material, optionally a sheet of plastics material, removal of which from the base portion causes the lid portion to be torn so that it cannot be re-placed onto the base portion. The base portion and the lid portion of the container may be attached to one another so as to prevent loss of the lid portion once the container has been opened. The base portion and the lid portion of the container may be hingedly attached to one another. Such an arrangement prevents loss of the lid portion and is a convenient arrangement for attaching the lid portion to the base portion. The container may be re-closable i.e. the lid portion may be re-placed onto the base portion. When the container is closed, the lid portion may engage with the base portion so as to inhibit unwanted relative movement of the lid portion and base portion. The lid portion may be dimensionally stable i.e. retains its shape during normal use. The skilled in the art will realise that the lid portion may deform or lose its shape when subjected to excessive forces.

[0017] As mentioned above, the base portion optionally provides a region for the storage of clean floor-cleaning heads prior to use. The base and one or more walls extending therefrom typically define the region for the storage of clean floor-cleaning heads prior to use. In use, cleaning composition may be introduced into the region for the storage of clean floor-cleaning heads. The lid portion optionally provides a region for the storage of used floor-cleaning heads. This enables used cleaning heads to be stored in one place prior to disposal. One or more of the walls may extend outwardly from the base, forming an obtuse angle between the base and the respective wall. The base may be rectangular. [0018] The lid portion may comprise a lid and one or more walls extending therefrom, thereby defining the region for the storage of used floor-cleaning heads. One or more of the walls may extend outwardly from the lid, forming an obtuse angle between the lid and the respective wall. The lid may be rectangular.

[0019] The volume of the lid portion (and therefore the region for the storage of used floor-cleaning heads) may be from 50% to 200% of the volume of the base portion (and therefore the region for the storage of clean floor-cleaning heads). This may allow the lid portion to be used to store used floor-cleaning heads. The volume of the lid portion may be from 50% to 150% of the volume of the base portion.

[0020] The container is optionally made from a plastics material, such as glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (GPET). The container may be a one-piece container i.e. made in one piece.

[0021] The base portion may comprise one or more strengthening ribs.

[0022] The lid portion, if present, may comprise one or more strengthening ribs. [0023] The floor-cleaning arrangement may comprise a first composition for the cleaning of floors. At least one, optionally more than one and optionally each floor-cleaning head may be pre-impregnated with the first composition for the cleaning of floors. In this case, there is no need to add a floor-cleaning composition to the floor-cleaning heads prior to use.

[0024] For the avoidance of doubt, the floor-cleaning arrangement need not be used with a cleaning composition. For example, the floor-cleaning arrangement may be used to mop-up liquids and spills from a floor.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the invention there is also provided a kit for the cleaning of floors comprising a first floor-cleaning arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention and a first composition for the cleaning of floors. [0026] The first composition may be used as provided i.e. without dilution or without mixing with any other cleaning composition. Alternatively, the first composition may be diluted and/or mixed with one or more other cleaning compositions before use. The first composition is optionally a liquid.

[0027] The kit for the cleaning of floors may comprise a second floor-cleaning arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

[0028] The kit for the cleaning of floors may comprise a second composition for the cleaning of floors. The second composition for the cleaning of floors may be the same as, or different from, the first composition for the cleaning of floors. The second composition is optionally in liquid form.

[0029] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a floor-cleaning arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising: providing the base portion of an open container with a plurality of floor-cleaning heads, at least one of which comprises means for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop, the base portion comprising a base and one or more walls extending therefrom; and sterilising the container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads. [0030] The method may comprise closing the container prior to sterilising the container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads. The method may comprise placing the closed container in a first bag and sealing the first bag prior to sterilisation. The method may comprise placing the first bag and its contents into a second bag and sealing the second bag, optionally prior to sterilisation. The method may therefore comprise sterilising the first bag, the second bag, the container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads.

[0031] Sterilising the container may comprise exposing the container and the contents thereof to electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation may comprise gamma radiation. Gamma radiation has a frequency of about 10 ¹⁹ Hz. A cobalt source may be used as the source of gamma radiation.

[0032] Those skilled in the art will realise that the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation will be sufficient to sterilise the container and its contents.

[0033] The method may comprise contacting a first composition for the cleaning of floors with at least one, optionally more than one, and optionally all of the floor-cleaning heads prior to sterilising the container and the plurality of floor-cleaning heads. The floor-cleaning heads may therefore be pre-impregnated with a floor-cleaning composition.

[0034] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a floor using a floor-cleaning arrangement according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising: providing a container comprising a base portion provided with a plurality of floor cleaning heads, at least one of which comprises means for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop, the base portion comprising a base and one or more walls extending therefrom; providing the floor-cleaning heads with a liquid cleaning composition; removing a first floor-cleaning head from the container; and cleaning a floor with the first floor-cleaning head. [0035] The method of the fourth aspect of the present invention facilitates the use of the container as a receptacle for a cleaning composition, thereby dispensing with the need for a separate bucket. Providing the floor-cleaning heads with a liquid cleaning composition may comprise providing the base portion of the container with a liquid cleaning composition.

[0036] The method may comprise, after providing the floor-cleaning heads with a liquid cleaning composition and before removing the first floor-cleaning head, waiting for the floor-cleaning heads to absorb at least some of the liquid cleaning composition.

[0037] The first floor-cleaning head may be the uppermost floor-cleaning head. This facilitates simple access to the floor-cleaning head without having to touch the floor cleaning head.

[0038] The container may comprise any of the features described above in relation to the floor-cleaning arrangement of the first aspect of the present invention. Similarly, the floor-cleaning head(s) may comprise any of the features described above in relation to the floor-cleaning arrangement of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0039] The method may comprise placing the used first floor-cleaning head in the lid portion of the container.

[0040] The method may comprise opening the container to allow a liquid cleaning composition to be provided to the floor-cleaning heads. Opening the container may comprise moving the base portion and the lid portion relative to one another. Opening the container may comprise removing the lid portion from the base portion. Removing the lid portion may comprise destroying the integrity of the lid portion so that it cannot be re placed onto the base portion. For example, the lid portion may comprise a sheet, optionally of plastics material, removal of which results in tearing of the sheet so that it cannot be re-placed onto the base portion.

[0041] The method may comprise removing a second floor-cleaning head from the base portion and cleaning a floor with the second floor-cleaning head. The method may comprise placing the used second floor-cleaning head in the lid portion of the container. [0042] The method may comprise removing the closed container from the first bag and optionally the second bag, if present. The method may comprise opening the container. [0043] It will, of course, be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

[0045] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an example of an embodiment of a floor cleaning arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0046] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the container used in the floor-cleaning arrangement of Figure 1, the container being closed;

[0047] Figure 3 shows an end-on view of the container used in the floor-cleaning arrangement of Figure 1, the container being open;

[0048] Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a floor-cleaning head used in the floor-cleaning arrangement of Figures 1, 2 and 3;

[0049] Figure 5 shows an example of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a further example of an embodiment of a container used in the floor-cleaning arrangement of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] An example of an embodiment of a floor-cleaning arrangement 1 in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The floor-cleaning arrangement is denoted generally by reference numeral 1, and comprises a container 2 comprising a base portion 3 and a plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E located in the base portion of the container. Referring to Figure 4, each of the plurality 5 of the floor-cleaning heads comprises means 6 for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop. In this case, the means 6 for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop comprises two pockets 9, 10. The container 2 is shown closed in Figures 1 and 2, and open in Figure 3.

[0052] Container 2 is initially closed and located within first bag 7 and second bag 8. This is known as “double-bagging”. The floor-cleaning arrangement 1 is typically for use in clean rooms and other environments that have low contamination levels, and the use of first 7 and second 8 bags reduces the risk of the container 2 and its contents from becoming contaminated prior to use in a clean room. This double-bagging also inhibits contamination of the clean room from the contents of the container 2. The container 2, its contents and the first 7 and second 8 bags are typically sterilised, as described below. Those skilled in the art will realise that the outer surface of the second 8 (and outer) bag will not remain sterile but the second bag 8 keeps the first 7 (and inner) bag and its contents sterile. The container 2 is made from recyclable PETG (glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate). First 7 and second 8 bags are made from polyethylene.

[0053] The first 7 and second 8 bags are removed when the floor-cleaning arrangement 1 is in the room whose floor is to be cleaned. The container 2 is then opened by breaking one or both of snap opening tabs 12 A, 12B (see Figure 2) and moving the lid portion 4 away from the base portion 3. Referring to Figure 3, the container 2 comprises a hinge portion 11 that connects the base portion 3 and lid portion 4. Base portion 3 comprises base 3B and four walls (only one of which, 3C, is shown) that extend away from the base to form a region 3A for the storage of the clean floor-cleaning heads 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E. The walls 3C flare out slightly from base 3B to form an obtuse angle between the base 3B and walls 3C. This shape facilitates easy access to the floor-cleaning heads 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E located in base portion 3. The base portion 3 therefore acts as a place to store the clean floor-cleaning heads and acts as a receptacle for cleaning composition, thereby providing the floor-cleaning heads with cleaning composition.

[0054] Lid portion 4 comprises lid 4B and four walls (only one of which, 4C, is shown) that extend away from the base to form a region 4A for the storage of the used floor cleaning heads. When a cleaning head has been used it can be removed from a mop and placed into the lid portion 4. This enables dirty floor-cleaning heads to be stored together in a suitable place, and to reduce possible contamination from stored, used floor-cleaning heads. The walls 4C flare out slightly from lid 4B to form an obtuse angle between the lid 4B and walls 4C. This shape facilitates easy placement of used floor-cleaning heads into lid portion 4. Both base portion 3 and lid portion 4 retain their shape during normal use. [0055] The plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E are initially located in region 3 A, as shown in Figure 3. Base portion 3 effectively forms a receptacle for receipt of a cleaning composition (not shown). In this connection, a cleaning composition (not shown), is poured onto the plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads into base portion 3. Sufficient cleaning composition is poured into the base portion 3 so that each of the plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads is provided with enough cleaning composition to clean an appropriate surface area of floor. In this connection, each of the plurality 5 of floor cleaning heads has an absorption capacity of about 200ml of cleaning composition in this case, there are five floor-cleaning heads 5 A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and therefore 1000ml of cleaning composition is put into base portion 3.

[0056] Typically, an operative would wait for about five minutes after pouring the cleaning composition into the base portion 3 before removing a floor-cleaning head to clean the floor. In this connection, referring to Figure 4, each floor-cleaning head 5 A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E is provided with a means 6 for mounting the respective floor-cleaning head to a mop. In the present example, each floor-cleaning head 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E comprises two pockets 9, 10, one at each end of the floor-cleaning head. A mop arm is received by a pocket 9, 10, each arm extending into the respective pocket 9, 10. When the mop arms are “locked out” ready for the mop to be used, each arm is securely located in a respective pocket 9, 10, and the floor-cleaning head may be used for mopping. The pockets 9, 10 of each floor-cleaning head 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E face upwards so that mop arms may be inserted into the pockets 9, 10 without having to handle the floor-cleaning head.

[0057] The uppermost floor-cleaning head (in this case, floor-cleaning head 5A) is mounted to the mop and is used to clean a floor. Once floor-cleaning head 5A has been used, the mop with used floor-cleaning head 5A is placed into lid portion 4, the mop arms “unlocked” so that the mop can be released from the floor-cleaning head 5A, leaving the used floor-cleaning head 5A in lid portion 4. The mop can then be used to pick-up another clean, unused floor-cleaning head from the base portion 3 (in this case, floor cleaning head 5B).

[0058] An example of an embodiment of a method of cleaning a floor in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 5. The method is denoted generally by reference numeral 400. The method 400 comprises providing 401 a floor-cleaning arrangement 1 as described above, the floor-cleaning arrangement 1 comprising a closed container 2 provided with a plurality 5 of floor cleaning heads 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E located in the base portion 3 of the container 2, the container 2 being located inside a first bag 7 and a second bag 8. The method 400 comprises removing 402 the container 2 from the first bag 7 and the second bag 8, and opening 403 the container 2. The method 400 comprises providing 404 the plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads with a liquid cleaning composition. Sufficient liquid cleaning composition is poured onto the plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads to ensure that each floor-cleaning head 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E can adsorb sufficient cleaning composition to clean a floor. Typically, the whole contents of a bottle of cleaning composition is poured into the base portion 3 of the container 2. After waiting 405 for a short period for the plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads to adsorb the liquid cleaning composition, a first floor cleaning head 5A is removed 406. This is done by using a mop (not shown) to pick-up the first floor-cleaning head 5A. The first floor-cleaning head 5A is the uppermost floor cleaning head. A floor is then cleaned 407 using the first floor-cleaning head 5A. Once the first floor-cleaning head 5 A has been used, it is ejected from the mop and stored 408 in the lid portion 4 of the container 2. The mop is then used to remove 409 a second floor-cleaning head 5B from the floor-cleaning heads remaining in the base portion 3 of the container 2. A floor is then cleaned 410, and the used second floor-cleaning head 5B ejected from the mop and stored 411 in the lid portion 4 of the container 2. In this way, clean floor-cleaning heads can be stored in one part of the container 2 and dirty, used floor-cleaning heads can be stored in a different part of the container 2. Once the desired number of floor-cleaning heads has been used, the container 2 is closed, and the closed container 2 containing the used floor-cleaning heads is removed from the clean room. The used floor-cleaning heads are then disposed of and the container 2 recycled. [0059] Multiple floor-cleaning arrangements in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention may be used to clean floors. For example, a first floor-cleaning arrangement may be used to clean a floor using a first type of cleaning composition (for example, a detergent). A second floor-cleaning arrangement may be used to clean the same floor using a second type of cleaning composition, such as a disinfectant.

[0060] As mentioned above, the container 2, its contents and the first 7 and second 8 bags are sterilised prior to use. The plurality 5 of floor-cleaning heads 5 A, 5B, 5C, 5D are placed in the base portion 3 of the container 2 and the container 2 is closed by closing the lid portion 4 on the base portion 3. The closed container 2 is then placed inside a first bag 7, which is sealed. The sealed first bag 7 and its contents are then placed inside a second bag 8, which is also sealed. The container 2, its contents and the first 7 and second 8 bags are sterilised by subjecting them to 25kGy of gamma irradiation from a cobalt source of gamma irradiation. The floor-cleaning arrangement 1 is provided with an indicator (not shown) that shows that the floor-cleaning arrangement 1 has been suitably sterilised. The indicator has a particular appearance (for example, a certain colour or shading) that is indicative of it having been exposed to a sterilising amount of gamma irradiation.

[0061] Figure 6 shows a further example of an example of a container in accordance with the present invention. The container is denoted generally by reference numeral 102, and comprises a base portion 103 attached to a lid portion 104 by a hinge 111. Both the base portion 103 and lid portion 104 comprise strengthening ribs, two of which are shown 120A, 120B. The strengthening ribs inhibit crushing of the base portion and lid portion. [0062] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

[0063] The example above describes a container with a lid portion. While in some circumstances it may be preferable for the container to have a lid portion, the container may not have a lid portion. Furthermore, even if the container has a lid portion, it need not be a lid portion that is replaceable on the base portion. For example, the container may initially be provided with a lid portion that may be removable, but removal of the lid portion causes destruction of the lid portion so that it cannot be replaced on the base portion. For example, if the lid portion comprises a sheet of plastics material, removal of the sheet of plastics material may destroy the integrity of the sheet.

[0064] The example above shows how each floor-cleaning head is provided with a pair of pockets that may be used to mount the floor-cleaning head to a mop. Those skilled in the art will realise that other means for mounting the floor-cleaning head to a mop may be used, such as Velcro®.

[0065] Those skilled in the art will realise that the lid portion and base portion of the container need not be attached to one another. Furthermore, if the lid portion and the base portion are attached to one another, the attachment need not be a hinged attachment.

[0066] Those skilled in the art will realise that the container need not be bagged, though this may be preferable in the cleaning of clean rooms.

[0067] The container described in the examples above is approximately rectangular in plan view. This is to accommodate cleaning heads that are approximately rectangular in shape. Those skilled in the art will realise that the container may be a different shape, depending on the shape of the floor-cleaning head.

[0068] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.