Floor cleaning tool

Abstract

The disclosed floor cleaning tool has a working surface with an elevated portion, sloping side surface and ribs that provide structure to an overlying cleaning sheet to improve the surface area utilized for cleaning. The ribs can also provide some stability during use of the tool. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool comprises a working surface of a first material having an elevated portion and a recessed point adjacent a perimeter forming a height, a sloping surface extending from the elevated point to the recessed point, and a plurality of ribs of a second material, which is more deformable than the first material, wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaning tool comprising:
 a working surface of a first material having an elevated portion and a recessed point adjacent a perimeter forming a height;   a sloping surface extending from the elevated point to the recessed point;   a plurality of ribs of a second material, which is more deformable than the first material, wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are symmetrically arranged about the elevated portion. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a rigid plastic, metal, or wood and wherein the second material is a foam, sponge, woven, knitted, nonwoven, or resilient plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elevated portion is a point centrally located on the working surface. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elevated portion is a line. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 5 , wherein the line is a straight line extending from across the entire working surface. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the elevated portion is a shaped area contained within the working surface. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaning tool any one of  claim 1 , comprising two sloping surfaces separated by the elevated portion. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaning tool any one of  claim 1 , wherein the height is at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaning tool any one of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs each contact the elevated portion. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaning tool any one of  claim 1 , wherein the elevated portion is a straight line, and further comprising:
 a first rib on a first sloping surface, which is nonparallel with the elevated portion;   a second rib on a second sloping side, which is nonparallel with the elevated portion.   
     
     
         12 . The floor cleaning tool any one of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface less than the height. 
     
     
         13 . A floor cleaning tool comprising:
 a working surface comprising a first sloping side, a second sloping side, and a linearly extending elevated portion separating the first sloping side from the second sloping side;   a first rib on the first sloping surface, nonparallel with the elevated portion;   a second rib on the second sloping surface, nonparallel with the elevated portion.   
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 13 , wherein the working surface is rigid and the ribs are deformable. 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 13 , wherein the first sloping side and second sloping side are each planar. 
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 13 , wherein the elevated portion extends entirely across the working surface. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaning tool of any one of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of discrete ribs on the first sloping side. 
     
     
         18 . The floor cleaning tool of any one of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of discrete ribs on the second sloping side. 
     
     
         19 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 13 , wherein the ribs are directly adjacent the elevated portion. 
     
     
         20 . The floor cleaning tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a cleaning sheet applied over the working surface.