GB2035064A - Improvements in or relating to mop heads - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning mop head has a cloth backing (2) on which tufts are provided as a series of tufted-in or stitched-in loops (6, 10). Preferably, a main area of shorter loops (6) is surrounded by a peripheral fringe of longer loops (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to mop heads This invention relates to cleaning mops, for washing or cleaning floors, for example, and especially the heads for such mops.

Cleaning mops are known having a tufted mop head, comprising a cloth backing stretched over the underside of a metal frame that is secured to a handle for the user to grip, the backing being provided with a tufted undersurface. The tufts may be sewn onto the backing, particularly in the case of longer tufts, and in this case a continuous length of the tufting material is laid in a close zig-zag pattern onto the backing and sewn there, the tufts thus taking the form of a series of loops.

It is also known to tuft or stitch the tufting material directly into the backing, using a sewing machine, and in this case the tufts on the finished mop head take the form of a series of individual yarn ends.

While the sewing-on method is easier than the tufting-in or stitching-in method and results in a cheaper product, it has a number of disadvantages. It is difficult to distribute the loops evenly, with the result that there are variations in the weight and the absorbency of individual mops. Also, the loops tend to lie flat on the backing, which reduces the effectiveness of the mop in use. On the other hand, mops with tufted-in or stitched-in tufts tend to have a shorter useful life and it has been found that this is due to a tendency for the tufts to shed material, especially when the tufts are of cotton.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning mop head having a backing carrying a series of tufts in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops projecting from a surface of the backing. In this way there can be obtained the improved quality of known tufted mops in which the tufts are in the form of a series of yarn ends. At the same time, however, because the tufts do not have cut ends, there is a reduced tendency to fray and to shed fibres, so that the mop can have a useful life comparable with that of a mop having sewn-on tufts.

Preferably, the mop according to the invention is provided in known manner with a peripheral fringe of longer tufts to increase its efficiency of use at edges and corners, and both said fringe and a main area of shorter tufts inwardly of the fringe are advantageously in the form of stitched-in loops.

An example of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: An example of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a perpective view of a mop head according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mop head in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings an elongate rectangular cloth backing 2 has rows of stitching 4 of absorbent and/or electrostatically chargeable textile yarn, in particular cotton, stitched or tufted into its main area in a series of rows to form a series of looped tufts 6 depending from its underside. Surrounding this main area, a further line of stitching 8 extends around the periphery of the backing, this stitching forming a peripheral band of longer tufts 10 of the same material as the tufts 6 but twice the length or more. In both instances the tufts are sewn as loops into the backing material and their looped form is kept in the finished mop head. In the main area the loops may be some 3 to 4 cm long while the loops of the fringe may be about 8 cm long.

To increase the density of the tufting, the sewing needle forming the loops can be threaded with two or more yarns so that with each stitch there are simultaneously formed two or more correspondingly placed looped tufts.

After completing the tufting of the backing, pockets 12 are sewn onto opposite ends of the upper surface of the backing, with stiffening material at the ends of the pockets facing each other to hold these ends of the pockets open. These pockets serve in known manner to receive the end of a collapsible rectangular metal frame (not shown) of the mop on which the mop head is mounted for use.

1. A cleaning mop head comprising a backing having a series of tufts projecting from a surface thereof and being in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops.

2. A mop head according to claim 1 having longer tufts forming a peripheral fringe around a main area of shorter tufts.

3. A mop head according to claim 2 wherein both said longer tufts and said shorter tufts are in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops.

4. A mop head according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said loops are tufted-in or stitched-in in groups of two or more correspondingly placed tufts.

5. A cleaning mop head constructed and arranged for use substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to mop heads This invention relates to cleaning mops, for washing or cleaning floors, for example, and especially the heads for such mops. Cleaning mops are known having a tufted mop head, comprising a cloth backing stretched over the underside of a metal frame that is secured to a handle for the user to grip, the backing being provided with a tufted undersurface. The tufts may be sewn onto the backing, particularly in the case of longer tufts, and in this case a continuous length of the tufting material is laid in a close zig-zag pattern onto the backing and sewn there, the tufts thus taking the form of a series of loops. It is also known to tuft or stitch the tufting material directly into the backing, using a sewing machine, and in this case the tufts on the finished mop head take the form of a series of individual yarn ends. While the sewing-on method is easier than the tufting-in or stitching-in method and results in a cheaper product, it has a number of disadvantages. It is difficult to distribute the loops evenly, with the result that there are variations in the weight and the absorbency of individual mops. Also, the loops tend to lie flat on the backing, which reduces the effectiveness of the mop in use. On the other hand, mops with tufted-in or stitched-in tufts tend to have a shorter useful life and it has been found that this is due to a tendency for the tufts to shed material, especially when the tufts are of cotton. According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning mop head having a backing carrying a series of tufts in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops projecting from a surface of the backing. In this way there can be obtained the improved quality of known tufted mops in which the tufts are in the form of a series of yarn ends. At the same time, however, because the tufts do not have cut ends, there is a reduced tendency to fray and to shed fibres, so that the mop can have a useful life comparable with that of a mop having sewn-on tufts. Preferably, the mop according to the invention is provided in known manner with a peripheral fringe of longer tufts to increase its efficiency of use at edges and corners, and both said fringe and a main area of shorter tufts inwardly of the fringe are advantageously in the form of stitched-in loops. An example of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: An example of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a perpective view of a mop head according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mop head in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings an elongate rectangular cloth backing 2 has rows of stitching 4 of absorbent and/or electrostatically chargeable textile yarn, in particular cotton, stitched or tufted into its main area in a series of rows to form a series of looped tufts 6 depending from its underside. Surrounding this main area, a further line of stitching 8 extends around the periphery of the backing, this stitching forming a peripheral band of longer tufts 10 of the same material as the tufts 6 but twice the length or more. In both instances the tufts are sewn as loops into the backing material and their looped form is kept in the finished mop head. In the main area the loops may be some 3 to 4 cm long while the loops of the fringe may be about 8 cm long. To increase the density of the tufting, the sewing needle forming the loops can be threaded with two or more yarns so that with each stitch there are simultaneously formed two or more correspondingly placed looped tufts. After completing the tufting of the backing, pockets 12 are sewn onto opposite ends of the upper surface of the backing, with stiffening material at the ends of the pockets facing each other to hold these ends of the pockets open. These pockets serve in known manner to receive the end of a collapsible rectangular metal frame (not shown) of the mop on which the mop head is mounted for use. CLAIMS

1. A cleaning mop head comprising a backing having a series of tufts projecting from a surface thereof and being in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops.

2. A mop head according to claim 1 having longer tufts forming a peripheral fringe around a main area of shorter tufts.

3. A mop head according to claim 2 wherein both said longer tufts and said shorter tufts are in the form of tufted-in or stitched-in loops.

4. A mop head according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said loops are tufted-in or stitched-in in groups of two or more correspondingly placed tufts.

5. A cleaning mop head constructed and arranged for use substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.