Cleaning utensil with flexible peripheral regions

Abstract

A cleaning head for a cleaning utensil, comprising a base member, a connector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle, and at least one flexible support member extending from the base member. The at least one flexible support member and the base member together define a common support surface for a cleaning cover.

1 . A cleaning head for a cleaning utensil, comprising:
 a base member;   a connector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle; and   at least one flexible support member extending from the base member, the at least one flexible support member and the base member together defining a common support surface for a cleaning cover.   
   
   
       2 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       3 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is attached to the base member and comprises at least one hinge. 
   
   
       4 . The cleaning cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises a foam. 
   
   
       5 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises a polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member has a substantially tubular cross-section. 
   
   
       7 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member defines a closed loop with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       8 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises first and second flexible support members located on substantially opposite sides of the base member. 
   
   
       9 . The cleaning head of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second flexible support members cooperate to secure a cleaning cover to the cleaning head. 
   
   
       10 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the base member and the at least one flexible support member together define a substantially planar surface. 
   
   
       11 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning utensil is a mop, duster, or sweeper. 
   
   
       12 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to the connector. 
   
   
       13 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 30 degrees with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       14 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 60 degrees with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       15 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 90 degrees with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       16 . A cleaning utensil, comprising:
 a cleaning head comprising a base member, and at least one flexible support member extending from the base member, wherein the base member and the at least one flexible support member together define a common lower surface of the cleaning head;   a connector associated with the base member for attachment to a handle; and   a cleaning cover attached to the cleaning head by the at least one flexible support member, the cleaning cover extending over the common lower surface.   
   
   
       17 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning cover comprises a fabric material. 
   
   
       18 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning cover comprises a microfiber material. 
   
   
       19 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning cover comprises a pocket adapted to receive the at least one flexible support member. 
   
   
       20 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning cover defines a perimeter, and comprises fringe extending around at least a portion of the perimeter. 
   
   
       21 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises first and second flexible support members located on substantially opposite sides of the base member, wherein the cleaning cover comprises first and second pockets adapted to receive the first and second flexible support members, respectively. 
   
   
       22 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the base member is substantially rigid. 
   
   
       23 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the connecter comprises at least one hinge. 
   
   
       24 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises a foam. 
   
   
       25 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member comprises a polymer. 
   
   
       26 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member has a substantially tubular cross-section. 
   
   
       27 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning utensil is a mop, duster, or sweeper. 
   
   
       28 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , further comprising a handle attached to the connector. 
   
   
       29 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 30 degrees with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       30 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 60 degrees with respect to the base member. 
   
   
       31 . The cleaning utensil of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is capable of elastically bending through an angle of at least about 90 degrees with respect to the base member.