GB2368006A

GB2368006A - Cleaning pad

Info

Publication number: GB2368006A
Application number: GB0124944A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Hardinge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-17
Filing date: 2001-10-17
Publication date: 2002-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-17
Also published as: GB0025476D0; GB2368006B; GB0124944D0

Abstract

A cleaning pad including a plate 5 possessing a front surface and a back surface; an abrasive cleaning material 6 attached to at least a part of at least the front surface of the plate 5; and attachment means 9 positioned on the back surface of the plate 5; said attachment means being constructed and arranged for attaching the plate to hand-held rotary driving means. The abrasive cleaning material 6 may be a deformable mesh of material such as plastic or wire fibre mesh and may be impregnated with cleaning detergent. Preferably, plate 5 includes at least one moveable portion, and may possess a plurality of pivotal petal portions 7 which extend outwardly from the edge of the plate 5, the movement of which allows the plate to be deformed into or out of planar shape so as to correspondingly deform the shape of the cleaning material attached thereto. The cleaning pad may be attached to hand-held rotary driving means, eg a food processing tool, by attachment means 9 to deliver a scouring or scrubbing action by rotation with little or no manual effort.

Description

Cleaning pad The present invention relates to a cleaning pad for use with hand-held rotary equipment such as hand-held liquidizers/ mixers and the like.

Cleaning pads for the cleaning of domestic utensils typically comprise no more than a piece of abrasive cleaning material such as sponge or a wad of fibrous material or the like, the abrasive properties of which are designed to assist in removing debris etc. from the surface of objects being cleaned thereby. In other more elaborate types of cleaning pad, the abrasive cleaning material comprises a mesh or web of fibrous material either directly impregnated with soap or cleaning detergent (e. g. a"Brillo Pad"-Trade Mark), or containing an inner core of e. g. sponge so impregnated.

Typically, such pads are of a size suitable for holding with one hand since their purpose is to aid the manual cleaning of domestic utensils for example. As such, their abrasive qualities are designed with the aim of reducing the degree of manual effort required of a user in effectively performing surface cleaning functions that require e. g. a scrubbing and scouring action. Impregnation with cleaning detergents aims to further reduce this effort. However, it will be readily apparent that although the aforementioned scrubbing/scouring action may possibly involve less manual effort when such cleaning pads are employed, scouring/scrubbing must still be performed manually.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least some of the deficiencies in existing cleaning pads.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning pad including: a plate possessing a front surface and a back surface; an abrasive cleaning material attached to at least a part of at least the front surface of the plate ; and attachment means positioned on the back surface of the plate, said attachment means being constructed and arranged for attaching the plate to hand-held rotary driving means.

Preferably the plate includes at least one moveable portion, the movement of which allows the plate to be deformed into or out of a planar shape so as to correspondingly deform the shape of the cleaning material attached thereto.

The applicant has identified a need for the provision of a cleaning pad which may be used in a scrubbing and/or scouring action or the like, and with which the need for manual effort is at least reduced in this regard and is preferably substantially obviated. This may be particularly desirable where the user of such pads encounters difficulties in performing manual tasks due to injury or disability for example.

Thus, it will be understood that in providing a cleaning pad possessing means by which the pad may be attached to hand-held rotary driving means, a scrubbing or scouring action may be provided by the pad by operation of the driving means. By rotation, a scouring or scrubbing action may be provided via the rotating cleaning pad with the need for little or substantially no manual effort in use.

Thus, the user need only actuate and hold the rotary driving means, typically with one hand, when cleaning with the cleaning pad of the present invention.

The plate of the cleaning pad possesses one or more moveable portions by the movement of which the plate may be deformed into or out of a planar shape so as to correspondingly deform the shape of the abrasive cleaning material attached thereto.

Preferably, the edges of the plate are so moveable and, more preferably, are resiliently deformable. Furthermore, the edges of the plate may also be resiliently biased so as to return the plate to a predetermined shape in the quiescent state.

In this way the plate of the pad, and therefore the abrasive cleaning material attached to it, may deform in response to being used on uneven surfaces and/or irregularly shaped surfaces such as the inner corners of pans, cups and bowls etc. Consequently, the pad in use may simultaneously provide a scrubbing/scouring action on e. g. two perpendicular surfaces forming a corner.

Preferably, the pad includes a plurality of pivotable petal portions which each separately extend outwardly of the edge of the plate and to at least one of which is attached said abrasive cleaning material. Thus, in addition to or as an alternative to providing a deformable edge on said plate, the pad may possess one or more independently moveable petal portions which are each moveable relative to said plate.

Preferably, one or more of the petal portions is resiliently biased so as to extend from the edge of the plate at a predetermined angle in the quiescent state. Furthermore, some or all neighbouring petal portions may preferably be arranged such that they are partially overlappable only when mutually pivoted from their quiescent positions towards the back surface of the plate. Alternatively, the opposing edges of some or all neighbouring petal portions may be substantially spaced apart in the quiescent state such that neighbouring petal portions do not overlap when mutually pivoted towards the back surface of the plate.

Preferably, the abrasive cleaning material provided with the pad completely covers the front surface of the disk and the surface of each petal portion extending from the front surface of the disk. Preferably, the cleaning material extends between neighbouring petal portions so as to join those petal portions.

Preferably the plate is resiliently deformable and, more preferably, both the plate and the petal portions are resiliently deformable.

Preferably, the abrasive cleaning material comprises a deformable mesh of material such as a plastic fibre mesh or a wire fibre mesh. More preferably, the mesh is impregnated with cleaning detergent.

In some preferred embodiments, the handheld rotary driving means is a rotary food processor and the attachment means are constructed and arranged for attaching the plate to a foodprocessor tool of a hand-held rotary food processor.

When referring to"rotary food-processors", reference is made particularly (but not exclusively) to those food-processors having a motor (e. g. electrical) possessing a drive axle to which a"food-processing tool"may be attached, the latter being specifically designed for this purpose. In use, a rotary food-processing capability is provided by actuation of the motor of the processor so as to cause rotation of the drive axle thereof and a corresponding rotation of the foodprocessing tool attached thereto, as is well known in the art.

Such rotary food-processors are common household kitchen utensils and are typically used to liquidise and/or mix foodstuffs. As such, many food-processing tools are designed and constructed for the function of chopping and/or mixing food and typically possess an array of blades and/or prongs which extend therefrom in such a way as to provide a chopping and/or mixing capability when rotated in use.

In embodiments where the driving means is a rotary foodprocessor, the attachment means are preferably one or more slots into which the blades or prongs of the food-processing tool may be releaseably locatable. Thus, it will be understood that the attachment means are constructed and arranged in such a way as to permit the cleaning pad to be removably attached to the food-processing tool by releasably engaging the blades and/or prongs of the tool within slots provided on the back surface of the pad.

For example, for attachment to a tool having blades/prongs extending radially from the axis or rotation of the tool in use, the attachment means may include one or more protrusions each extending obliquely from the back surface of the plate and across a part of that surface such that each such protrusion forms a tapered slot in conjunction with the back surface. Thus, the cleaning pad may be removably attached to a food-processing tool by sliding the blades/prongs of the tool into the tapered slots of the pad plate.

Preferably, the length of one or more of the tapered slots extends along an axis directed radially outwardly of the centre of the plate along a portion of the back surface thereof. Consequently, the radially extending slot (or each slot in an array of such slots) may be employed to releasably locate one or more of the blades/prongs of a food-processing tool.

Alternatively, for attachment to a tool having prongs/blades extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool in use, the attachment means may include one or more resiliently deformable tubular portions each extending substantially perpendicularly from the back surface of the plate such that each such protrusion forms a tubular slot thereon. In alternative embodiments, the attachment means may include one or more tubular recesses each extending substantially perpendicularly into the back surface of the plate such that each such recess forms a tubular slot therein.

Consequently, the perpendicularly extending/recessed tubular slot (or each slot in an array of such slots) of the attachment means may be employed to releasably locate one or more of the prongs/blades of the mixing tool.

In especially preferred embodiments, the tool is a mixing tool having prongs and the attachment means are the tubular recesses extending into the back surface of the plate.

Preferably, at least a part of one or more of any aforementioned slot so provided is formed of resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or plastics material.

Consequently, said slot or slots may preferably be deformable so as to accommodate the insertion of blades/prongs of a variety of dimensions. It is to be understood that the resilience of said slot or slots, when in a deformed state due to blade/prong insertion, permits the slot or slots to grip the surface of the blade/prong and thereby releasably hold the cleaning pad to the food-processing tool.

Preferably, the attachment means is positioned substantially centrally on the back surface of the plate. More preferably, when the attachment means includes an array of slots, those slots are arranged symmetrically about the centre of the back surface of the plate of the cleaning pad.

In other preferred embodiments, the hand-held rotary driving means is specifically designed for the purpose of carrying and rotating the cleaning pad according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Accordingly, in a second aspect there is provided a cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning pad according to a first aspect of the present invention ; and hand-held rotary driving means for rotating the cleaning pad.

In these embodiments, the driving means preferably comprise a motor (e. g. electrical) possessing a drive axle having a support plate to which the cleaning pad is attachable.

The cleaning pad is preferably releasably attachable to the driving means.

In preferred embodiments, the support plate is integral with the drive axle. Preferably, the support plate has a planar underside which, in use, is located adjacent the back surface of the cleaning pad plate. Preferably, the underside of the plate has means for cooperation with the attachment means of the cleaning pad.

In this aspect of the present invention where the driving means are specifically designed for use with a cleaning pad, the cleaning pad attachment means preferably includes a recess that cooperates with a stabilising stud on the underside of the support plate. The cleaning pad attachment means preferably further includes at least one and most preferably two protrusions each extending obliquely from the back surface of the plate and across part of that surface such that each protrusion forms a slot in conjunction with the back surface.

Preferably the support plate is circular and the length of the slots extends perpendicularly to the radius of the support plate.

To cooperate with each slot, there is preferably provided on the underside of the support plate a protruding lug.

The slots are dimensioned to receive a protruding lug and hold it in tight engagement. In especially preferred embodiments, the slots are formed of resiliently deformable material to allow secure location of the lugs.

To secure the cleaning pad to the plate, the stabilising stud on the support plate is located in the recess provided on the back surface of the cleaning pad plate. The pad is then rotated relative to the support plate such that each protruding lug is releasably located in a slot.

The cleaning pad according to the present invention shall now be described by way of a number of non-limiting examples with reference to the following drawings.

Figure la illustrates an example of a known hand-held rotary food-processor with a four-pronged rotary mixing tool attached thereto.

Figure Ib illustrates another example of a known handheld rotary food-processor with a two-blade rotary liquidizing tool attached thereto.

Figure 2 illustrates, in cross-section, a preferred embodiment of a cleaning pad according to the present invention with attachment means arranged for attaching the pad to a four-pronged rotary mixing tool such as is illustrated in Figure la.

Figure 3 illustrates, in plan view, the cleaning pad of Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a cleaning pad of the present invention in a deformed state.

Figure 5 illustrates, in cross-section, an alternative embodiment of the present invention with the attachment means consisting of a pair of slots extending radially across the back surface of the pad plate.

Figure 6 illustrates, in plan view, the cleaning pad of Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the driving means of the second aspect of the present invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a cleaning pad for attachment to the driving means shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the drive means for Figure 7.

Figure 10 illustrates a further embodiment of the cleaning pad of the present invention, suitable for use with the driving means of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along the line X'- X'in Figure 10.

Referring to Figure la there is illustrated a simple representation of the basic elements of a known hand-held rotary food-processor. The food-processor consists of a main body, 1, housing an electrical motor and from one end of which housing extends a drive shaft, 2, the exposed end of which terminates in a food-processing tool, 3 or 4, (see fig lob).

Typically food-processing tools such as 3 and 4 are releasably attachable to the exposed end of shaft, 2, so as to permit interchangeability thereof.

A food-processing capability is provided by actuation of the motor within body, 1, which results in axial rotation of drive shaft, 2, (as indicated) and consequent rotation of any attached food-processing tool. The body, 1, is typically of a size that permits it to be gripped with one hand thereby providing a hand-held food-processing capability.

Mixing tool, 3, comprises an array of four substantially identical prongs projecting in parallel from the underside of a base-plate to which drive shaft, 2, is attached. Each prong extends in parallel with the rotational axis of shaft, 2, and in offset orientation therewith.

Figure 2 illustrates a cleaning pad according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the attachment means, 9, thereof are constructed and arranged for attachment of the pad to the prongs of a food-processing tool such as the mixing tool 3 of Figure la.

It is to be understood that, in the following, the attachment means may be otherwise constructed and/or arranged so as to permit the attachment of the pad of the first aspect of the present invention to other types of food-processing tool (e. g. chopping tool 4).

With reference to Figure 2, the cleaning pad illustrated in cross-section thereby comprises a plane circular plate portion, 5, from the back surface of which extend four tubular slots, 9 (only three shown in Figure 2). Each one of the slots, 9, extends perpendicularly from the back surface of plate, 5, and the four slots are arranged in a circularly symmetrical array about the centre of plate, 5. This array matches the arrangement of prongs extending from mixing tool, 3, with which the slots are designed to mate.

The internal diameter of each of slots, 9, is preferably chosen to closely match the width of the prongs of mixing tool 3, so as to provide a closely engaging interface between the inner surface of a given slot and at least a part of the outer surface of a given prong inserted therein. In this way one or more slots, 9, may grip one or more inserted prongs and thereby releasably attach the cleaning pad to the mixing tool, 3, in the process. The tubular slots, 9, may preferably be formed from resiliently deformable material formed integrally with the material of plate, 5, or formed separately of different material and bonded thereto.

Such resilient deformability permits a given slot to at least partially deform to the shape of an inserted prong thereby permitting prongs of a range of shapes and sizes to be inserted thereto and gripped thereby. In alternative embodiments a larger or smaller number of tubular slots, 9, may be provided, in a circularly symmetrical array or otherwise. Furthermore, the slots may be formed of substantially rigid material.

Petal portions, 7, extend radially outwardly of the circular edge of plate portion, 5, and are each separately joined thereto by a pivot, 8. Plate, 5, pivots, 8, and petals, 7, of the cleaning pad are formed integrally (as one) of rigid or resiliently deformable material. The pivots, 8, each comprise a fold in the material of plate, 5, which thereby provides a hinge. Other hinge or pivot arrangements are possible, such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person.

An abrasive cleaning material, 6, is attached (e. g. by adhesion) to the front surface of plate portion, 5, and of each petal portion, 7. This cleaning material preferably comprises a deformable wad or mesh of fibrous material, such as plastics fibre or wire mesh, impregnated with a cleaning detergent or soap.

Figure 2 illustrates the cleaning pad of the present embodiment in a quiescent state. That is to say, in a state in which no external forces act upon the body of the pad and, more particularly, upon any petal portions, 7. In this quiescent state each petal portion, 7, extends from the edge of plate, 5, at a predetermined angle relative thereto so as to draw the outer surface of the attached wad/mesh, 6, into a convex shape.

As illustrated in Figure 4, each petal is separately pivotable from this predetermined position by application of a moderate force or pressure such as would typically be encountered during a domestic cleaning procedure for example.

In particular, each petal is pivotable towards/away from the back surface of plate, 5, so as to thereby deform at least a part of the wad/mesh 6 into a more/less convex shape. This is illustrated in Figure 4 by the pivoting of two diametrically opposite petals. Additionally, each petal portion may also be pivoted away from the back surface of plate, 5, so as to produce a concave outer wad/mesh surface.

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of the back surface of the cleaning pad of the present embodiment and shows the symmetrical arrays of both the four tubular slots, 9, and of the radial petal portions, 7. Line AA'indicates the axis along which the views given by Figures 2 and 4 are defined.

Referring to the petal portions, 7 of Figure 3, it can be seen that opposing edges of neighbouring petals are separated by a gap 10. In the present embodiment each petal portion has abrasive material 6 attached separately to its front surface so that no such material extends from any one petal to a neighbouring petal across the gap 10 therebetween. This enables neighbouring petals to pivot freely and independently of each other. Consequently, for example, should neighbouring petals pivot in the same direction and by substantially the same angle, the opposing edges of each such petal would tend to come in to contact and thereby potentially prevent continued pivoting of those petals in that direction.

However, since each petal is able to independently move/pivot, a given petal may be moved so as to permit the opposing edge of a neighbouring petal to overlap that given petal and thereby permit continued pivoting thereof (i. e. the petals may overlap when'closing'). Alternatively, the gaps 10 could be made sufficiently wide to ensure that neighbouring petal edges cannot come into contact as a result of mutual pivoting in this way. In such a case the wad/mesh of abrasive material 6 may be such as to extend across gaps 10 and to join neighbouring petals.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate in cross-sectional and plan view respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the cleaning pad in which the attachment means comprises two tapered slots formed between the back surface of plate portion 5 and two protrusions 11 which separately project obliquely across a part of that surface in opposite directions.

Figure 6 illustrates this embodiment in plan view and indicates the axis AA'defining the cross-sectional view of Figure 5. As can be seen, in addition to projecting in opposite directions, the slots formed by these two protrusions 11 are arranged to extend radially outwardly in opposite directions across the back of plate, 5, from opposite sides of the centre of the plate. The slots terminate before reaching the edge of plate, 5, (where pivots, 8, reside).

This arrangement is particularly (but not exclusively) suited for attaching the pad of the present invention to a chopping tool, 4, as in Figure Ib, the tool comprising two blades or prongs extending in opposite radial directions from shaft, 2.

Each such blade may be slotted or wedged into a slot, 11, and gripped therein by the inner surface of the slot. Rotation of the blades/prongs of the tool, 4, in one direction (indicated by arrows in Figure 6) with the cleaning pad so attached will typically push the blades/prongs further into the slots, 11, as the cleaning pad is rotated by the action of the hand-held food-processor in use, thereby further securing the cleaning pad onto the tool, 4, of the food-processor.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of Figure 6 could include additional such tapered slots and/or further include a number of perpendicularly extending tubular slots, as described in previous embodiments herein, so as to provide a cleaning pad with attachment means arranged to attach the pad to both types of food-processing tools, 3 and 4, at least.

Figures 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the driving means is specifically designed for carrying and rotating a cleaning pad according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a drive axle, 2, terminating in a support plate, 12. These two elements are integral with one another.

The end of the drive axle, 2, remote from the support plate, 12 is connected to an electrical motor (not shown). The electrical motor is of a size that can be held in the users hand, preferably using only one hand.

The support plate has a planar underside surface carrying a stabilising stud, 13, and two protruding lugs, 14. In use, these cooperate with the attachment means provided on the back surface of the plate of the cleaning pad.

This back surface is shown in Figure 8. The cleaning pad has radial petal portions, 7, separated by gaps, 10 and pivotable about pivot, 8. The surface has a recess, 15, which is suitably shaped and sized so as to receive the stabilising stud on the underside of the support plate.

When the stabilising stud has been located in the recess, the cleaning pad is rotated relative to the support plate so that the two protruding lugs are located in two tapering slots, 16 on the cleaning pad plate. The dimensions of these slots are selected to allow a tight engagement of the studs.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the driving means of Figure 7. In the example of Figure 9, the stabilising stud 13 is omitted and instead a plurality of protruding lugs 20 are included on the underside of the support plate 22. In this case there are three protruding lugs 20 but clearly there could be fewer or more than three.

In this example, the protruding lugs have an inverted T-shape in cross-section which are shaped so as to interact and preferably interlock with the corresponding apertures in the cleaning pad illustrated in Figure 10. However the protruding lugs and the corresponding apertures of the cleaning pad could be of any suitable shapes to achieve the function of releasably securing the cleaning pad to the support plate 22.

The cleaning pad of Figure 8 could be adapted so as to be securable to the driving means of Figure 9. However an alternative cleaning pad is illustrated in Figure 10 which is also suitable for use with the driving means of Figure 9. In addition, the cleaning pad of Figure 10 could be adapted so as to be usable with the driving means of Figure 7.

Figure 10 shows a cleaning pad 24 which includes a plate portion 26 to which is attached a suitable abrasive cleaning material 28. In addition, the plate 26 is provided with three apertures 30 each of which corresponds to one of the protruding lugs 20 of the driving means. As can be seen in Figure 10, the apertures are teardrop shaped i. e. include an enlarged portion 32 for receipt of the head 21 of the protruding lugs 20, and also a narrower (e. g. tapered) portion 34 for receipt of the neck 23 of the protruding lugs 20.

The lugs 20 and apertures 30 are dimensioned so that they interlock when the driving means is driven in its normal direction of rotation Z as shown in Figure 9. Alternatively any other suitable interlocking means may be used.

Figure 11 is a cross-section view along the line X'-X'in Figure 10 more clearly showing the wide portion 32 of the aperture 30 into which the head 21 of the lug 20 is insertable.

In a further embodiment (not illustrated) the apertures in the pad of Figure 10 may be adapted so as to be suitable for use with the driving tools of Figure la or Figure lb, or indeed any other suitable driving tool.

It is intended that variations and modifications such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention disclosed herein.

Claims

Claims 1. A cleaning pad including: a plate possessing a front surface and a back surface; an abrasive cleaning material attached to at least a part of at least the front surface the plate; and attachment means positioned on the back surface of the plate, said attachment means being constructed and arranged for attaching the plate to hand-held rotary driving means.
2. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 wherein the edges of the plate are moveable and are resiliently biased so as to return the plate to a predetermined shape in the quiescent state.
3. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the pad includes a plurality of pivotable petal portions which each separately extend outwardly of the edge of the plate and to at least one of which is attached the abrasive cleaning material.
4. A cleaning pad according to claim 3 wherein one or more of the petal portions is resiliently biased so as to extend from the edge of the plate at a predetermined angle in the quiescent state.
5. A cleaning pad according to any one of claims 3 or 4 wherein neighbouring petal portions are arranged such that they partially overlap only when mutually pivoted from their quiescent positions towards the back surface of the plate.
6. A cleaning pad according to any one of claims 3 or 4 wherein the opposing edges of neighbouring petal portions are substantially spaced apart in the quiescent state such that neighbouring petal portions do not overlap when mutually pivoted towards the back surface of the plate.
7. A cleaning pad according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the abrasive cleaning material completely covers the front surface of the disk and the surface of each petal portion which extends from the front surface of the disk.
8. A cleaning pad according to claim 7 wherein the cleaning material extends between neighbouring petal portions so as to join those petal portions.
9. A cleaning pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plate is resiliently deformable.
10. A cleaning pad according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the plate and the petal portions are resiliently deformable.
11. A cleaning pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the abrasive cleaning material comprises a deformable mesh of material.
12. A cleaning pad according to claim 11 wherein the mesh is impregnated with cleaning detergent.
13. A cleaning pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said attachment means are constructed and arranged for attaching the plate to a tool of a hand-held rotary food processor.
14. A cleaning pad according to claim 13 wherein the attachment means possesses one or more slots into which the blades or prongs or a food-processing tool may be releasably locatable.
15. A cleaning pad according to claim 14 wherein the attachment means includes one or more protrusions each extending obliquely from the back surface of the plate and across a part of that surface such that each such protrusion forms a tapered slot in conjunction with the back surface of the plate.
16. A cleaning pad according to claim 15 wherein the length of one or more of the tapered slots extends along an axis directed radially outwardly of the centre of the plate along a portion of the back surface thereof.
17. A cleaning pad according to claim 14 wherein the attachment means includes one or more resiliently deformable tubular portions each extending substantially perpendicularly from the back surface of the plate such that each such protrusion forms a tubular slot thereon.
18. A cleaning pad according to claim 14 wherein the attachment means includes one or more tubular recesses each extending substantially perpendicularly into the back surface of the plate such that each such recess forms a tubular slot therein.
19. A cleaning pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment means is positioned substantially centrally on the back surface of the plate.
20. A cleaning pad according to any of claims 14 to 19 wherein the attachment means includes an array of slots arranged symmetrically about the centre of the back surface of the plate of the cleaning pad.
21. A cleaning pad according to any one of the above claims wherein the plate of the cleaning pad includes one or more moveable portions by the movement of which the plate may be deformed into or out of a planar shape so as to correspondingly deform the shape of the abrasive cleaning material attached thereto.
22. A cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning pad according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and hand-held rotary driving means.
23. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the hand-held rotary driving means includes a motor and a drive axle, said axle terminating in a support plate for supporting the cleaning pad.
24. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said support plate includes means to co-operate with the attachment means to releasably attach the cleaning pad to the support plate.
25. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said means include a stabilising stud and at least one protruding lug and said attachment means comprise a recess in which said stabilising stud is locatable and at least one slot in which each respective protruding lug is engageable.
26. A cleaning pad substantially as any one embodiment described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.