Mop material, a mop pad, a mop, and a method of manufacturing mop material

Abstract

Mop material comprises a first material and a reinforcement material, wherein substantially all of an operative part of the first material is covered by the reinforcement material and the reinforcement material includes a plurality of strands, such that the reinforcement material at least partially protects the first material from wear through contact with a surface to be cleaned and/or dried.

1 . Mop material comprising:
 an absorbent pad having one more layers including a first material, and a reinforcement material, wherein substantially all of an operative part of the first material is covered by the reinforcement material and the reinforcement material includes a plurality of strands, such that the reinforcement material at least partially protects the first material from wear through contact with a surface to be cleaned and/or dried.   
     
     
         2 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strands is tethered to the first material at a plurality of locations which are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         3 . Mop material according to  claim 2 , wherein respective portions of a first and a second of the plurality of strands between two tethered locations are configured to be moveable with respect to each other and with respect to the first material. 
     
     
         4 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strands is arranged to extend in a direction which is perpendicular to the usual direction of travel of the mop material over a surface being cleaned and/or dried using the mop material. 
     
     
         5 . Mop material according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of strands extends along a length of the first material. 
     
     
         6 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strands comprises one or more bundles of strands. 
     
     
         7 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strands is stitched to the first material. 
     
     
         8 . Mop material according to any  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent pad or the first material comprises a quilted material. 
     
     
         9 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent pad or the first material comprises a non-woven absorbent padding material. 
     
     
         10 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material is substantially non-absorbent. 
     
     
         11 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises strands of a polyester-viscose mixture. 
     
     
         12 . Mop material according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material does not cover a side of the first material which opposes the operative part of the first material. 
     
     
         13 . A mop pad formed from mop material according to  claim 1  and including one or more coupling arrangements for connecting the mop pad to a mop head. 
     
     
         14 . A mop including a mop handle, a mop head, and a mop pad according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing mop, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an absorbent pad having one or more layers including a first material; and   attaching a reinforcement material to cover substantially all of an operative part of the first material, wherein the reinforcement material includes a plurality of strands, such that the reinforcement material at least partially protects the first material from wear through contact with a surface to be cleaned and/or dried.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent pad or the first material is a quilted material and the reinforcement material is attached to the first material by stitching through at least part of the first material and/or the absorbent pad. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)