Cleaning implement and joint therefor

Abstract

A cleaning implement for removing debris from a surface comprises a handle, a mop head, and a joint connecting the handle and mop head; wherein the joint is adjustable and lockable. The joint allows the angle between the mop head and the handle to be adjusted appropriately and then locked into place. Another embodiment of the present cleaning implement comprises a handle and a mop head, wherein the mop heads comprises one or more gliders to facilitate the ability of the cleaning implement to glide smoothly across the surface being cleaned. Methods of removing debris comprise the step of contacting the surface with a cleaning implement of the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleaning implement for removing debris from a surface, said cleaning implement comprising: 
 (a) a handle;    (b) a mop head having a left and right side and a top and a bottom surface; and    (c) at least one gliding member attached to said mop head, wherein said gliding member has a top and a bottom surface.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said at least one gliding member is removably attached to said mop head.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said at least one gliding members comprises a glider and wherein said lat least one glider is attached to said mop head such that the height of said glider is comprised between about −10 mm about 15 mm relative to the bottom surface of said mop head  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning implement of  claim 2  wherein said mop head comprises a first and a second glider, wherein said first and second gliders are removably clipped to respectively said left and right side of said mop head.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said mop head comprises a first and a second gliding member comprising a glider, wherein said first and second gliding members are rotationally attached to said mop head about a rotational axis.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning implement of  claim 5  wherein said first and second gliding members can rotate from a first position to a second position and wherein said gliders are substantially adjacent said bottom surface of said mop head when said gliding members are in said first position and wherein said gliders are substantially adjacent said top surface of said mop head when said gliding members are in said second position.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning implement of  claim 5  wherein said first gliding member is attached to said second gliding member such that rotation of any of said first or second gliding member results in the rotation of said second or first gliding member.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning implement of  claim 7  wherein said first and second gliding members are attached with a pole member, wherein said pole member is located substantially adjacent said rotational axis.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said mop head comprises a first and a second gliding member, wherein said first and second gliding members are hingedly attached to said mop.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said mop head comprises a first and a second gliding member, wherein said first and second gliding members are slideably attached to said mop head  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  wherein said at least one gliding member comprises a frame member removably attached to said mop head and at least one glider attached to said frame member.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning implement of  claim 11  wherein said gliding member comprises a first and a second frame member and wherein said at least one glider is attached to said first and said second frame member.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning implement of  claim 12  wherein said bottom surface of said mop head comprises at least one groove member for receiving at least one corresponding glider of said gliding member.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning sheet attached to said mop head.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning implement of  claim 14  wherein said cleaning sheet comprises a substrate having a plurality of protrusions affixed to said substate.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning implement of  claim 15  wherein said mop head comprises a first and a second gliding member and wherein said cleaning sheet is attached to said mop head such that at least a portion of said cleaning sheet having protrusions is located between said first and said second gliding members.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning implement of  claim 16  wherein the penetration depth of said protrusions into a soft surface is comprised between about 0 and about 4 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning implement of  claim 17  wherein said penetration depth is comprised between 0.1 and about 2 mm.  
     
     
         19 . A cleaning implement for removing debris from a surface, said cleaning implement comprising: 
 (a) a handle;    (b) a mop head having a left and right side and a top and a bottom surface; and    (d) at least one glider attached to said bottom surface of said mop head.    
     
     
         20 . The cleaning implement of  claim 19  further comprising a cleaning sheet comprising a substrate having protrusions affixed to said substrate.