Cleaning implement

Abstract

A cleaning implement includes a body made of a porous material, with the body including a top surface and a bottom surface on opposite sides of the body, a first side surface and a second side surface on opposite sides of the body, and a first end surface and a second end surface on opposite sides of the body. The body also includes segments defined by one or more lengthwise cuts formed in one of the top and bottom surfaces, with each of the one or more lengthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the length direction from the first end surface to the second end surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning implement, comprising:
 a body made of a porous material, the body including
 a top surface and a bottom surface on opposite sides of the body, 
 a first side surface and a second side surface on opposite sides of the body, the first and second side surfaces extending along a length direction of the body, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface in a thickness direction of the body, 
 a first end surface and a second end surface on opposite sides of the body, the first and second end surfaces extending along a width direction of the body, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface in the thickness direction, and 
 segments defined by one or more lengthwise cuts, the one or more lengthwise cuts being formed in one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the one or more lengthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the length direction from the first end surface to the second end surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lengthwise cuts comprises at least two lengthwise cuts, the at least two lengthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the width direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning implement of  claim 2 , wherein the segments are further defined by one or more widthwise cuts, the one or more widthwise cuts being formed in the one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the one or more widthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the width direction from the first side surface to the second side surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning implement of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more widthwise cuts comprises at least two widthwise cuts, the at least two widthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the length direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning implement of  claim 4 , wherein the at least two lengthwise cuts comprises at least three to five lengthwise cuts. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the segments are further defined by one or more widthwise cuts, the one or more widthwise cuts being formed in the one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the one or more widthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the width direction from the first side surface to the second side surface. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning implement of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more widthwise cuts comprises at least two widthwise cuts, the at least two widthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the length direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of double cell foam. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning implement of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more lengthwise cuts are formed in one of the top and bottom surfaces and a layer made of a scouring material is provided on the other of the top and bottom surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a polymer mesh. 
     
     
         11 . A mop, comprising:
 a handle;   a mop head attached to the handle; and   a cleaning implement supported by the mop head, the cleaning implement comprising a body made of a porous material, wherein the body includes
 a top surface and a bottom surface on opposite sides of the body, the top surface being supported by the mop head, 
 a first side surface and a second side surface on opposite sides of the body, the first and second side surfaces extending along a length direction of the body, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface in a thickness direction of the body, 
 a first end surface and a second end surface on opposite sides of the body, the first and second end surfaces extending along a width direction of the body, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface in the thickness direction, and 
 segments defined by one or more lengthwise cuts, the one or more lengthwise cuts being formed in the bottom surface, each of the one or more lengthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the length direction from the first end surface to the second end surface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lengthwise cuts comprises at least two lengthwise cuts, the at least two lengthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the width direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The mop of  claim 12 , wherein the segments are further defined by one or more widthwise cuts, the one or more widthwise cuts being formed in the bottom surface, each of the one or more widthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the width direction from the first side surface to the second side surface. 
     
     
         14 . The mop of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more widthwise cuts comprises at least two widthwise cuts, the at least two widthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the length direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The mop of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two lengthwise cuts comprises at least three to five lengthwise cuts. 
     
     
         16 . The mop of  claim 15 , wherein the body is made of double cell foam or a polymer mesh. 
     
     
         17 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein the segments are further defined by one or more widthwise cuts, the one or more widthwise cuts being formed in the bottom surface, each of the one or more widthwise cuts extending only partially into the body in the thickness direction, and extending in the width direction from the first side surface to the second side surface. 
     
     
         18 . The mop of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more widthwise cuts comprises at least two widthwise cuts, the at least two widthwise cuts being spaced apart from each other in the length direction and being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein the body is made of double cell foam or a polymer mesh. 
     
     
         20 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more lengthwise cuts extends halfway into the body in the thickness direction.