Mop head backer plate

Abstract

A mop head assembly includes a backer plate and one or more rods provided on the backer plate. The rods are provided to maintain the shape of the plate, with a planar cleaning surface geometry, and to further resist warping of the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mop head assembly, comprising:
 a plate made of polymer, said plate having a leading edge, a trailing edge, opposed lateral edges, an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface opposed to the lower surface, a longitudinal axis extending from the first lateral edge to second lateral edge, a transverse axis extending from the leading edge and the trailing edge,   the upper surface defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the opposed lateral edges, the lower surface defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the opposed lateral edges,   a receiving member between the leading edge and the trailing edge on the upper surface configured to receive an end of a handle, and   the lower surface configured to receive a cleaning element; and   at least one reinforcement rod supported by the polymer plate configured to enhance stiffness and inhibiting warping of the polymer plate, the at least one rod extending in a longitudinal direction along the upper surface, the rod having opposed first and second ends, the rod first end proximal to the first lateral edge and the rod second end proximal to the second lateral edge.   
     
     
         2 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said reinforcement rod is positioned proximate to and in alignment with the leading edge. 
     
     
         3 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said reinforcement rod is positioned proximate to and in alignment with the trailing edge. 
     
     
         4 . The mop head assembly of  claim 3 , wherein at least another said reinforcement rod support is provided on the upper surface and positioned proximate to and in alignment with the leading edge. 
     
     
         5 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first said reinforcement rod is positioned proximate to and in alignment with the leading edge and a second said reinforcement rod is positioned proximate to and in alignment with the trailing edge. 
     
     
         6 . The mop head assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a first set of reinforcement rod supports provided on the upper surface for supporting and securing the first rod, and further comprising a second set of reinforcement rod supports provided on the upper surface for supporting and securing the second rod. 
     
     
         7 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth fields on the lower surface for attachment with the cleaning element. 
     
     
         8 . The mop head assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional teeth field on the upper surface for attachment with the cleaning element 
     
     
         9 . The mop head assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the additional teeth field on the upper surface comprise a pair of additional teeth fields provided proximate to a pair of lateral side edges of the polymer plate. 
     
     
         10 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement rod is formed of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement rod is formed of steel. 
     
     
         12 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element is a microfiber cloth. 
     
     
         13 . The mop head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving member between the leading edge and the trailing edge on the upper surface configured to receive an end of a handle comprises first and second receiving member supports extending from the upper surface, the first support spaced from the second support, and
 a receiving rod having first and second opposed ends, the receiving rod extending from the first receiving member support to the second receiving member support, the receiving rod first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second receiving member supports.   
     
     
         14 . The mop head assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving rod extends in a longitudinal direction, the receiving rod first end proximal to the first lateral edge and the receiving rod second end proximal to the second lateral edge.