Dual-Mode Contour-Following Mop

Abstract

A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface with contours is disclosed. The scrubbing implement includes a resilient base that includes a plurality of resilient fingers, each of which extend radially away from center of the base. A rigid cap comprises an inside upper end and a wider open lower end. The cap preferably includes a handle receiving means pivotally fixed to the cap for receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle. A flexible pad is included that comprises a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof. The pad has a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base. In use, the base is fixed to the cap with the attachment means. The flexible pad is fixed around the distal ends of the fingers such that the pad may be applied to the surface to scrub the surface. The fingers and flexible pad conform to the shape of the surface. An additional resilient base is provided such that with the fingers pressed firmly against the surface each of a plurality of central scrubbing nibs contacts the back side of the pad to reinforce the pad against the surface, thereby providing additional scrubbing force to the surface. An alternate embodiment having a rotational scrubbing surface driven by a motor is also disclosed.

1 . A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface comprising:
 a rigid cap, the cap comprising an inside upper end and a wider open lower end;   a resilient base attached to the inside upper end of the cap, the base comprising a plurality of fingers extending radially outwards and downward from within the cap, the downward angle of the fingers defined by the cap;   a flexible pad that includes a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof, the pad further including a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving distal ends of the each finger of the base and an attachment means for attaching the pad proximate a center thereof to the base proximate the center thereof;   wherein the base and the pad extend down and out from the inside of the cap and provide a resilient scrubbing surface for application to the surface, the fingers and the pad conforming to the shape of the surface, the pad conforming generally to the contour of the resilient base.   
     
     
         2 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 1  wherein a secondary resilient base is detachably affixed below and to the center of the base, the secondary base applying additional scrubbing force to the surface through the pad when the fingers of the base are in a compressed orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 2  wherein the pad includes a second smaller aperture proximate the center of the pad, whereby the secondary resilient base makes contact with the surface when the fingers of the base are in the compressed orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 3  wherein the secondary base further includes a brush. 
     
     
         5 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 3  wherein the secondary base further includes a scraper. 
     
     
         6 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 1  further including a handle receiving means fixed to the cap and an elongated handle pivotally fixed thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 1  wherein the flexible pad further includes a plurality of absorbent mop strands each fixed at one end thereof to the cleaning surface of the pad. 
     
     
         8 . A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface comprising:
 a rigid cap, the cap comprising an inside upper end and a wider open lower end;   a resilient base attached to the inside upper end of the cap, the base comprising a plurality of fingers extending radially outwards and downward from within the cap, the downward angle of the fingers defined by the cap;   a motor attached to the outside of the cap, the motor having a rotating motor shaft, the motor shaft projecting into the interior of the cap and extending through the base and the pad without making substantial contact with the cap, the base, or the pad;   a smaller secondary resilient base located under the pad and affixed to the motor shaft;   a flexible pad located under and mounted to the base and including a second smaller aperture proximate the center of the pad, the secondary resilient base projectable therethrough when the fingers of the base are in a compressed orientation, the lower side of the pad forming a cleaning surface;   a flexible secondary pad located under and mounted to the secondary base, the secondary pad including a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof;   wherein the base and the pad extend down and out from the inside of the cap and provide a resilient scrubbing surface for application to the surface, the fingers and the pad conforming to the shape of the surface, the secondary base and the secondary pad forming a rotating cleaning surface that contacts the surface when the fingers of the base are in the compressed orientation.   
     
     
         9 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 8  wherein the secondary base is detachably affixed to the motor shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 9  wherein the secondary base further includes a brush. 
     
     
         11 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 9  wherein the secondary base further includes a scraper. 
     
     
         12 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 8  further including a handle receiving means fixed to the cap and a handle pivotally fixed thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A scrubbing implement for cleaning a surface, the scrubbing implement comprising:
 a resilient base comprising a hub and a plurality of resilient fingers each joined at a proximal end to the hub and extending radially away therefrom, each finger including a distal end opposite the proximal end thereof, the hub further including a central aperture therethrough;   a rigid cap comprising a side portion fixed at a top end thereof to an upper end of the cap, the upper end including a central aperture therethrough;   an attachment means for fixing the base to the cap at the central apertures thereof, the attachment means including a bolt having a shaft and a head at one end of the shaft, the head being larger in diameter than the aperture of the base, the cap having a receiving aperture in a top portion of the aperture therein for receiving the shaft, the head of the bolt having a lower side for contacting a back side of the pad, the side portion of the cap forcing the fingers of the base into a downward direction;   a flexible pad includes a cleaning surface on a lower side thereof, the pad further including a peripheral lip forming an aperture in the pad for receiving the distal ends of each finger of the base and an attachment means for attaching the pad proximate a center thereof to the base proximate the center thereof; and   a secondary resilient base having a central aperture therein for receiving the bolt, the secondary resilient base positioned between the head of the bolt and the pad;   whereby with the base fixed to the cap with the attachment means and with the flexible pad fixed to base, the pad may be applied to the surface to scrub the surface, the fingers and pad conforming to the shape of the surface, the lower side of the head of the bolt positioned closer to the fabric pad than the cap.   
     
     
         14 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 13  wherein the secondary resilient base includes a recess for the head of the bolt, whereby the secondary resilient base is closer to the fabric pad than either the cap or the head of the bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 13  wherein the secondary resilient base includes at least one scrubbing nib for contacting the back side of the pad, whereby with the fingers pressed firmly against the surface each of the scrubbing nibs contacts the back side of the pad to reinforce the pad against the surface. 
     
     
         16 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 15  wherein the pad includes a second smaller aperture in the approximate center of the pad, whereby each scrubbing nib of the secondary resilient base may traverse the second aperture and contact the surface when the fingers of the base are pressed firmly against the surface. 
     
     
         17 . The scrubbing implement of  claim 13  further including a handle receiving means fixed to the cap, the handle receiving means for pivotally receiving a threaded end of an elongated handle.