Mop Head and a Method of Making the Same

Abstract

A head for a mop is described, the head comprising a plurality of elongate members of absorbent material, wherein the elongate members of absorbent material are bound by a header member, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the header member are fixed to one another, and further wherein a third portion of the header member intermediate the first portion and the second portion loops around the elongate members of absorbent material. A method of manufacturing a mop head and a method of attaching a mop head to a mop are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head for a mop, said head comprising:
 a plurality of elongate members of absorbent material,   wherein the elongate members of absorbent material are bound by a header member,   wherein a first portion and a second portion of said header member are fixed to one another,   and further wherein a third portion of said header member intermediate said first portion and said second portion loops around said elongate members of absorbent material.   
     
     
         2 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said third portion of said header member defines a tube. 
     
     
         3 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member is inextensible. 
     
     
         4 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member comprises plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member is formed of a single plastic strip. 
     
     
         6 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member has a width of around 30 mm 
     
     
         7 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member has a thickness of around 100 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is fixed to said second portion via an ultrasonic weld. 
     
     
         9 . The head for a mop according to  claim 8 , wherein said ultrasonic weld has a thickness of around 3 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member comprises a generally circular cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion is a located at a first end of said header member. 
     
     
         12 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said second portion is a located at a second end of said header member. 
     
     
         13 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member is a ring. 
     
     
         14 . The head for a mop according to  claim 1 , wherein said header member loops around the longitudinal axis of the elongate members of absorbent material. 
     
     
         15 . The head of any  claim 14 , wherein said header member bisects the longitudinal axis of the elongate members of absorbent material. 
     
     
         16 . The head of  claim 15 , wherein said header member bisects the longitudinal axis of the elongate members of absorbent material in half. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a mop head, comprising:
 providing a plurality of elongate members of absorbent material;   looping a header member around the elongate members of absorbent material; and   fixing said header member to itself.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of fixing said header member to itself comprises the step of ultrasonically bonding a first portion of said header member to a second portion of said header member. 
     
     
         19 . A method of attaching a mop head to a mop, comprising:
 providing a mop head including a plurality of elongate members of absorbent material, wherein the elongate members of absorbent material are bound by a header member, wherein a first portion and a second portion of said header member are fixed to one another, and further wherein a third portion of said header member intermediate said first portion and said second portion loops around said elongate members of absorbent material;   providing a mop with a handle and a mop head retaining member; and   inserting the mop head retaining member through the loop defined by the third portion of said header member to retain said mop head on said mop.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of aligning the mop head retaining member such that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongate members of absorbent material as they pass through the loop.