WO2017027313A1

WO2017027313A1 - Cleaning head

Info

Publication number: WO2017027313A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/045525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew D. Chaffee; Mark Baldwin; Michael C. MOONEY
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2015-08-07
Filing date: 2016-08-04
Publication date: 2017-02-16
Also published as: TW201717802A; TWI698196B

Abstract

A cleaning head 110 of the present invention includes a first cleaning pad 212, a second cleaning pad 214, a third cleaning pad 216, and a fastening means 230 holding the first cleaning pad 212, the second cleaning pad 214, and the third cleaning pad 216 together. Each of the cleaning pads 212, 214, 216 has a top end 240a, 240b, 240c, a bottom end 244a, 244b, 244c, a first side 250a, 250b, 250c, a second side 254a, 254b, 254c, a first surface 260a, 260b, 260c and a second surface 264a, 264b, 264c. The first and second sides of each of the cleaning pads extend radially from a vertical axis of the cleaning head. The cleaning pads, in combination, are formed of at least a first material and a second material.

Description

CLEANING HEAD

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related generally to the field of cleaning tools. In particular, the present invention is a cleaning head that is capable of cleaning interior surfaces of an article.

Background

Existing dishwands provide excellent surface contact and maneuverability to exterior surfaces and interior surfaces of large items such as pots, pans, baking sheets, plates, bowls, and other items with wide openings. However, as the opening to the interior surface gets smaller and as housewares or glasswares get taller, i.e. champagne flute, water bottles, baby bottles, vases, it becomes increasingly difficult to fit or maneuver the dishwand into the item to clean the interior surface. Many existing and traditional cleaning materials, such as non-wovens and foam, lack various properties, such as the conformability and flexibility of bristle brush types of similar size, when the cleaning surface is perpendicular to the axis of the dishwand.

Summary

In one embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning head including a first cleaning pad, a second cleaning pad, a third cleaning pad, and a fastening means holding the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad together. Each of the cleaning pads has a top end, a bottom end, a first side, a second side, a first surface and a second surface. The first and second sides of each of the cleaning pads extend radially from a vertical axis of the cleaning head. The cleaning pads, in combination, are formed from at least a first material and a second material.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning tool including a first cleaning pad, a second cleaning pad, a third cleaning pad, and a handle attached to the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad. Each of the cleaning pads has a top end, a bottom end, a first side, a second side, a first surface and a second surface. The first and second sides of each of the cleaning pads extend radially from a vertical axis of the cleaning head. The cleaning pads, in combination, are formed from at least a first material and a second material.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method of assembling a cleaning head. The method includes providing a first cleaning pad, a second cleaning pad, and a third cleaning pad, wherein at least the first cleaning pad and the second cleaning pad comprise at least a first material and a second material; cutting a slit along a portion of a vertical axis of each the first, second, and third cleaning pads; positioning the cleaning pads adjacent one another; inserting a fastening means at the slits of the first, second and third cleaning pads such that side surfaces of the cleaning pads extend radially from the fastening means; and attaching the fastening means to a handle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These figures are not drawn to scale and are intended merely for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 1 A is a perspective view of a cleaning tool of the present invention.

FIG. IB is a front view of the cleaning tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cleaning tool of the present invention.

FIG. 3 A is a first perspective view of a cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a second perspective view of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is a first side view of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 3D is a second side view of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 3E is a top view of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 3F is a bottom view of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a method of inserting the fastening means to cleaning pads of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a fastening means of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a first side view of the fastening means of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 5C is a second side view of the fastening means of the cleaning head of the present invention. FIG. 5D is a top view of the fastening means of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 5E is a bottom view of the fastening means of the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a method of inserting the cleaning head of the present invention to a handle.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 A and FIG. IB show a perspective view and front view, respectively, of a cleaning tool 100 of the present invention. The cleaning tool generally includes a cleaning head 110 releasably attached to a handle 120. The cleaning tool provides both full coverage, or 360 degree, cleaning as well as conformability and flexibility to fit into small openings in order to clean the interior surface of certain articles, such as bottles, glassware or vases. The size (length and diameter) of the cleaning head is sufficient to provide surface area contact when cleaning while also being able to fit into smaller openings of housewares. The cleaning head has the ability to compress to fit through a smaller opening and then expand again to its original state after compression. To obtain the maximum compression for the cleaning tool, the cleaning pads 112, 114, 116 of the cleaning head 110 are rotated to be in-line with the axis of the cleaning tool 100, which is different from, and perpendicular to, cleaning pad arrangements found on some more traditional scouring and cleaning tools Structuring the cleaning tool in this manner provides a simple way of transforming flat layers of cleaning pads into a cylindrical cleaning head with multiple flexible vertical segments extending radially from the axis of the cleaning tool.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the cleaning tool 200 of the present invention. The cleaning head includes at least a first cleaning pad 212, a second cleaning pad 214, a third cleaning pad 216, and a fastening means 230 that functions to hold the cleaning pads together and to attach the cleaning head 210 to the handle 220. Although the cleaning head is depicted in the Figures and described as including three cleaning pads, the cleaning head may include three or more cleaning pads without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. Each of the cleaning pads includes a top end 240a, 240b, 240c, a bottom end 244a, 244b, 244c, a first side 250a, 250b, 250c, a second side 254a, 254b, 254c, a first surface 260a, 260b, 260c and a second surface 264a, 264b, 264c.

In one embodiment, each of the cleaning pads includes a cutout section 267, where material has been removed from the center of the top end of each of the cleaning pads. This geometry provides two functions: to easily centrally locate the cleaning pad within the fastening means and to create a cavity or void in the center of the cleaning pads when assembled into the fastening means. When the outermost width at the cutout section (Line A) is equal to the diameter of the assembled fastening means, better alignment of all cleaning pads with the fastening means fastening means results, both during assembly and during use. If the cleaning tool has a handle that dispenses liquid soap, rather than have soap release onto the top of the cleaning pads, this void allows the soap to reach deeper into the cleaning head for faster and more effective sudsing during use, a common expectation in cleaning.

FIGS. 3 A-3F show a first perspective view, a second perspective view, a first side view, a second side view, a bottom view, and a top view of the cleaning head 310 of the present invention when assembled, respectively. The cleaning pads 312, 314, 316 of the cleaning head, in combination, are formed from at least a first material and a second material. In one embodiment, each of the cleaning pads is formed from a single material. In this case, the material forming each of the cleaning pads may be the same or different for each cleaning pad. For example, the first and third cleaning pads 312, 316 may be formed from a first material, while the second cleaning pad 314 may be formed from a second material. In another embodiment, at least one of the cleaning pads is formed from at least two materials. When the cleaning pad is formed from at least two materials, the cleaning pad may be a laminate. Suitable examples of materials forming the cleaning pads may include, but are not limited to: non-woven webs, natural or synthetic cellulose sponge, polyurethane foam, melamine foam, reticulated foam, spray or coated abrasive materials, woven or knitted materials such as mesh, and non-woven scouring pads. By using different layers such as a non-woven scouring pad and polyurethane foam, both scouring and wiping functions can be applied in the same motion and at the same time, for more efficient cleaning. In some embodiments, the cleaning pads may be impregnated with a cleaning material (e.g., soap, detergent), a dye, and a fragrance. The shape and size of each of the cleaning pads can vary without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. For example, the cleaning pads may be rectangular, circular, bowtie shaped, or be of another polyhedron shape. In one embodiment, the cleaning pads are rectangular to eliminate waste in the production of the cleaning pads. The square corners on the bottom of the cleaning head also ensure effective surface contact into the corners of items, a known difficulty for some tools in this market. At least one of the cleaning pads may be different in shape and size than the other cleaning pads. In one embodiment, the second cleaning pad is larger in size than the first and third cleaning pads such that it extends beyond the sides, bottom ends, and/or top ends of the first and third cleaning pads to ensure active cleaning on the bottom and/or top ends and the first and second sides during use.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, when the cleaning head 310 is assembled, the cleaning pads are held together in a compressed state within the fastening means 330 along at least one point along a vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads. The vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads is parallel or in-line with the sides of the respective cleaning pad and extends from the top end to the bottom end. When the cleaning pads are assembled and compressed within the fastening means, the sides of the cleaning pads "fan out" and extend radially from the center of the stack, or along a vertical axis of the cleaning head. In one embodiment, when assembled, the cleaning head has a generally cylindrical shape along the vertical axis of the fastening means. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F, when the sides of the cleaning pads are extending radially from the fastening means, adjacent surfaces of the cleaning pads may be separated by an angle θι of between about 10 and about 80 degrees on one side and the outer cleaning pads could be compressed to form an angle Θ2 of between about 20 and about 160 degrees on the other side. To achieve the most uniform spacing around the cleaning tool, the adjacent surfaces of the cleaning pads may have an angle θι of about 45 degrees on one side and the outer cleaning pads could be compressed to form an angle Θ2 of about 90 degrees on the other side. This more uniform spacing would provide a more optimal cleaning experience with substantially even spacing between the materials in all directions, 360 degrees. In practice however, different materials have different compression properties and adjacent surfaces of the cleaning pads may vary. Thus, angle θι may more typically be between about 30 and 40 degrees on one side and the outer cleaning pads compressed to form an angle Θ2 more typically between about 100 and 120 degrees on the other side.

Different materials have different compressibility properties and may not achieve the optimal radial or "fanning" effect when the cleaning pads are compressed along the vertical axis within the fastening means. To help aid in achieving substantially even spacing between the adjacent surfaces of the cleaning pads when compressed within the fastening means, in one embodiment, a groove or a partial removal of material (not shown), can be added down the center of any of the cleaning pads along the vertical axis of the fastening means. This void of material where the fastening means compresses down can help the adjacent surfaces of the cleaning pads create a greater arcing angle, resulting in more optimal even spacing. This groove can be optimized to ensure that different materials with different compression properties can achieve the optimal arcing angle when compressed within the fastening means.

The material, size and shape used for each cleaning pad will impact the

conformability, flexibility, and wiping and scouring performance for cleaning the intended item. The stiffness and thickness of each cleaning pad can be specified to achieve desired effects of both. For example, thinner, more compressible materials (such as polyurethane foam) will fan less but have more flexibility, while stiffer materials (such as non-woven scouring pads) will also fan less but be more rigid for scouring. By contrast, thicker compressible foams (more volume) have less compression (more mass at compression point) and retain more water, which can require manual expression of the water before storage. Thus, various combinations of material and pad thickness can be used to result in the desired end product. When extending radially and compressed, the first and second sides of the cleaning pads will flex/conform/twist more freely to allow the cleaning head to enter smaller openings compared to other more common orientations of the cleaning pads. Traditionally, scouring tools or the scouring segments of tools have been planar in nature and generally perpendicular to the axis of the cleaning tool, with scouring materials generally on a single or bottom surface of the cleaning head. This method of compressing combinations of cleaning pads and aligning with the vertical axis of the cleaning tool allows the user to have scouring performance not only at the bottom and/or top ends of the cleaning head, but also on the sides to obtain greater scouring coverage and effectiveness at the bottom and sides of glassware, bottle and vases. In the past, the scouring surface of a cleaning head has been limited to a single plane or area of the cleaning head due to costs of assembly or processing. The cleaning head of the present invention allows for multiple cleaning materials acting simultaneously, for example, scrubbing/scouring with non- woven scouring pads and wiping with foam, providing a more premium product with increased cleaning capability.

FIG. 4 shows a method of assembling the cleaning head 410 of the present invention. To assemble the cleaning head, the cleaning pads 412, 414, 416 are stacked and held together with the fastening means 430, which compresses the center of the stack. When stacked and compressed, at least a portion of the second surface of the first cleaning pad 412 is in contact with at least a portion of the first surface of the second cleaning pad 414 and at least a portion of the first surface of the third cleaning pad 416 is in contact with at least a portion of the second surface of the second cleaning pad 414.

In the cleaning head embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the first and third cleaning pads 412, 416 are each depicted as being formed from two layers of two different materials. In one embodiment, the first and third cleaning pads 412, 416 of cleaning head 410 are layered laminates. First cleaning pad 412 has a first scouring material layer 412a and a second wiping material layer 412b. Second cleaning pad 414 of cleaning head 410 is a scouring material. Third cleaning pad 416 has a first scouring material layer 416a and a second wiping material layer 416b. The wiping material layers 412b, 416b of the first and third cleaning pads can be polyurethane foam. Second cleaning pad 414 and the scouring material layers 412a, 416a of the first and third cleaning pads 412, 416 can be non-woven scouring pads. Second cleaning pad 414 is larger in size than the first and third cleaning pads 412, 416 such that it extends beyond the sides, bottom ends, and/or top ends of the first and third cleaning pads to ensure active cleaning on the bottom and/or top ends and the first and second sides during use.

In some embodiments, the non-woven scouring pad is an open, low density, three- dimensional, non-woven web of fibers, where the fibers are bonded to one another at points of mutual contact, e.g. where they intersect and contact one another. In some embodiments, the fibers are thermo-bonded and/or resin-bonded (i.e. with a hardened resin, e.g. a prebond resin) to one another at points of mutual contact. Because the fibers of the web are bonded together at points of mutual contact, a lofty, three-dimensional non- woven web structure of fibers is formed. The many interstices between adjacent fibers remain substantially unfilled, for example by resin, and thus an open web structure of low density having a network of many relatively large intercommunicated voids is provided. In some embodiments, the non-woven web of fibers has a void volume (i.e. percentage of total volume of voids to total volume occupied by the non-woven web structure) of at least about 75%. Such a lofty, non-woven web material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,958,593, which is incorporated by reference herein. In some resin-bonded, lofty non-woven web material embodiments, the resins include, but are not limited to, a phenolic resin, a styrene-butadiene latex or a polyurethane resin. The selection and amount of resin applied can depend on a variety of factors including, for example, fiber weight, fiber density, fiber type as well as the contemplated end use. Suitable synthetic fibers for production of such a web include synthetic fibers, such as but not limited to, nylon and polyester fibers. Natural fibers such as cotton and agave fibers, may also be included in the non-woven web. In some lofty, non-woven web material embodiments, suitable fibers are between about 20 mm and 110 mm in length and have a fineness or linear density ranging between about 0.5 denier to 500 denier. Fibers of mixed denier and lengths can also be used. Lofty, non- woven web materials may be readily formed, using an air laid process, for example, on a "Rando Webber" machine (commercially available from Rando Machine Company, NY), or may be formed by other conventional processes such as by carding or by continuous extrusion. Useful lofty, non-woven web materials may have a basis weight between about 25 g/m² and 500 g/m² and a web thickness of between about 5 mm and 50 mm. These lofty, non-woven web materials are effective for most scouring applications. For more demanding scouring applications, the lofty, non-woven web materials may include abrasive particles. The abrasive particles include, but are not limited to, inorganic abrasive particles, organic based particles, sol gel particles or combinations thereof. The abrasive particles can be adhered to the fibers of the non-woven web with a binder precursor, e.g. a coatable resinous adhesive material applied to the fibers of the non-woven web. During the manufacture of the non-woven web, the binder precursor can be converted to a hardened binder, or make coat. The binder precursor suitable for use is a coatable, hardenable adhesive binder and may comprise one or more thermoplastic or, thermosetting resinous adhesives. Resinous adhesives suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, phenolic resins, urethane resins, and styrene acrylic copolymers. During the process to make the non-woven web, the binder precursor can be mixed with the abrasive particles to form an adhesive/abrasive slurry that may be applied to the fibers of the non-woven web by any of a variety of known methods such as roll coating, knife coating, spray coating, and the like. The applied binder precursor is then exposed to the appropriate conditions to solidify the binder. Commercially available non-woven scouring pads are available under the trade designation "SCOTCH-BRITE" available from 3M

Company, for example, "SCOTCH-BRITE" Non Scratch Scour Pads, "SCOTCH-BRITE" Heavy Duty Scour Pads, "SCOTCH-BRITE" Extreme Scour Pads, "SCOTCH-BRITE" Greener Clean Non Scratch Scour Pads and "SCOTCH-BRITE" Greener Clean Heavy Duty Scour Pads.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, each of the cleaning pads 412, 414, 416 includes a vertical slit 466 extending from the bottom end of each of the cleaning pads and along a portion of the vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads. The cleaning pads are then held together at the vertical slits by the fastening means 430, which slides through the vertical slits to hold them together. This slit also helps to better align all pads together within the fastening means.

In one embodiment, at least one of the cleaning pads can include any number of horizontal slits (not shown) extending inwards from at least one of the first and second sides of the cleaning pad. The horizontal slits allow for greater flexibility and

conformability of the cleaning pad when maneuvering within an item to be cleaned.

FIGS. 5A-5E show a perspective view, a first side view, a second side view, a top view, and a bottom view of the fastening means 530 of the cleaning head of the present invention. The fastening means may be any mechanical fastening device that is capable of holding the cleaning pads under compression. As previously mentioned, conformability and flexibility are crucial in the radial direction to allow the cleaning head to flex and fit into variously sized openings, and particularly small openings. The minimalistic design of the fastening means allows for maximum compressibility of the cleaning pads with minimal mass or volume down the axis of the cleaning head/fastening means, allowing for the majority of the cleaning head to be constructed of compressible materials. The design of the fastening means also allows for simple assembly of the cleaning pads.

In the embodiment shown, the fastening means 530 is a U-shaped clip (FIGS. 5A and 5B) with a first flange 570 and a second flange 575 connected by a living hinge 580 located at the center of the fastening means. The first and second flanges are mirror- images of each other and are spaced apart so as to allow the cleaning pads to be positioned between them during assembly. Each of the flanges includes an interior surface 572, 577 for contacting the cleaning pads, an exterior surface 574, 579, and a connection member 582, 584 for attaching the fastening means to the handle.

In one embodiment, through injection molding, detailed features can be molded into the internal and external surfaces of the fastening means. Detailed features 586 can be molded into the internal surface to allow a better grip on the cleaning pads while detailed features 588 can be molded into the external surface to allow for additional cleaning (scraping, scouring) capabilities, for example, to displace stuck on or harder to remove materials.

The ends of the flanges each include a connection member 582, 584 that can be positioned into an opening of an elongated handle and releasably or permanently retained within the opening. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A-5E, the connection members 582, 584 form a conical shape when in contact with each other and are sized to engage an opening 604 in an end of the handle, as shown in FIG. 6. To connect the cleaning head to the handle to form the cleaning tool, connection members 582, 584 are brought into contact with each other and pushed into the opening 604 in the handle 620 until a locking mechanism is engaged, retaining the ends of the fastening means within the handle.

The locking mechanism of the connection member can include protrusions 583, 585 of various shapes or geometry. As shown in FIG. 6, the handle 620 can have a reciprocating hole 606 of matching geometry that the protrusion on the connecting members can slide into on either side of the handle. The locking mechanism protrusions are designed in such a way that when the connection members come together so that they contact each other, the maximum width across the two protrusions is equal to the minimum inside diameter of the opening in the handle. When the connection members slide into the opening of the handle, as soon as the protrusions pass through the hole having the matching geometry in the handle, the connection members spread apart again. The protrusions then lock the cleaning head in place by extending out of the hole, overlapping with the handle.

Additional features may be added to the protrusions to help aid in retaining the cleaning head on the handle. For example, an angle on the protrusion (not shown) can interlock with a reciprocating angle on the handle (not shown), this prevents the locking protrusion from backing out of the hole on the handle when lateral forces are applied during cleaning.

In one embodiment, the fastening means contains a notch (not shown), or removal of plastic, in a specific location to align with a void or channel in the cleaning pads. When the cleaning tool has a handle that dispenses liquid soap, this notch in the plastic of the fastening means allows soap in the void of the cleaning pads to have an exit path to the outside of the cleaning head rather than allow the soap to be retained inside the cleaning head. This aids in sudsing and allows the soap to get to the outside of the cleaning head for faster more effective cleaning.

In one embodiment, the fastening means may permanently attach the cleaning head to the handle. In another embodiment, the fastening means may releasably attach the cleaning head to the handle, where the cleaning head may be removed from the handle by pushing the protrusions so they retract back through the hole in the handle and pulling the cleaning head off of the handle.

The fastening means can be formed of different materials or created from various processes as long as the material allows for the living hinge. In one embodiment, the fastening means may be formed of metal, such as, but not limited to, aluminum or steel. In another embodiment, the fastening means may be formed of a plastic material, such as, but not limited to polypropylene or nylon. When the fastening means is formed of a plastic material, the fastening means may formed by injection molding.

The cleaning head of the present invention can be attached to either a standard handle or a soap-loaded handle which dispenses liquid soap. When used with a soap- loaded handle, the features and geometry of the fastening means can work with the soap in multiple ways. One way is to restrict the flow of the soap to the top of the cleaning head after it is dispensed, allowing the soap to slowly transfer through the cleaning pads, which are generally porous. The end product is a cleaning head that will suds when used with water. Another method is to create a pathway that directs the soap to the exterior of the fastening means, from above or within the cleaning pads and down the sides. This allows the user to see the soap come out, and to allow the soap to come in direct contact with the exterior surface of the cleaning pads. Another method for soap dispensing is to include a hollow section or cutout in the cleaning pads. When layered, this cutout will create a deeper channel down the length of the cleaning head for the soap to travel and more quickly transfer into the cleaning head compared to entering from the top.

The cleaning head can be disposable, while retaining the handle for subsequent use. As such, the cleaning head can be provided as a refill to the end user. In one embodiment, the refill includes the cleaning pads already installed within the fastening means. In another embodiment, the fastening means can also be used multiples times and the refill includes only the cleaning pads, with the end user positioning the cleaning pads into the fastening means and onto the handle.

The cleaning tool of the present invention is a full body, generally cylindrical shape with 360 degree surface contact, allowing for less twisting and turning to get around the inside of wider glassware. The cleaning head is also able to contact the entire circumference of narrower glassware for fast and easy cleaning. The cleaning pads can be a single material or a combination of materials layered together in different configurations or orders to impact the end shape and the desired effectiveness of cleaning. Individual layers can be formed from a single material or can be a laminate construction of multiple materials, adding increased functionality such as wiping plus scouring.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning head comprising:

a first cleaning pad having a top end, a bottom end, a first side, a second side, a first surface and a second surface;

a second cleaning pad having a top end, a bottom end, a first side, a second side, a first surface and a second surface;

a third cleaning pad having a top end, a bottom end, a first side, a second side, a first surface and a second surface; and

a fastening means holding the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad together;

wherein the first and second sides of each of the cleaning pads extend radially from a vertical axis of the cleaning head, and

wherein the first, second and third cleaning pads, in combination, are formed from at least a first material and a second material.

2. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cleaning pads comprises a first material and a second material.

3. The cleaning head of claim 2, wherein the first cleaning pad and the third cleaning pads are layered laminates.

4. The cleaning head of claim 3, wherein the first cleaning pad and the third cleaning pad each have a first scouring material layer and a second wiping material layer.

5. The cleaning head of claim 4, wherein the first scouring material layer is a non- woven scouring pad and the second wiping material layer is foam.

6. The cleaning head of claim 5, wherein the non-woven scouring pad is an open, low density, three-dimensional, non-woven web of fibers and the foam is a polyurethane foam.

7. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first surface of the first cleaning pad is in contact with at least a portion of the first surface of the second cleaning pad and at least a portion of the first surface of the third cleaning pad is in contact with at least a portion of the second surface of the second cleaning pad.

8. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning head are held together along at least a point along a vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads.

9. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads is parallel or in-line with the respective cleaning pad.

10. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a clip.

11. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein each of the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad includes a slit extending from the top end of each of the cleaning pads.

12. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the fastening means holds together the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad at the slits.

13. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the slits extend along a vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads.

14. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the first side of the first cleaning pad and the first side of the second cleaning pad are separated by an angle of between about 10 and about 80 degrees.

15. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides of the first surface of the first cleaning pad form an angle of between about 20 and about 160 degrees.

16. The cleaning head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cleaning pads comprises at least one slit.

17. A cleaning tool comprising:

a handle attached to the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning pad;

wherein the first and second sides of each of the cleaning pads extend radially from a vertical axis of the handle, and

wherein the cleaning pads, in combination, are formed from at least a first material and a second material.

18. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein at least one of the cleaning pads comprises a first material and a second material.

19. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first surface of the first cleaning pad is in contact with at least a portion of the first surface of the second cleaning pad and at least a portion of the first surface of the third cleaning pad is in contact with at least a portion of the second surface of the second cleaning pad.

20. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the first cleaning pad, the second cleaning pad, and the third cleaning head are held together along at least a point along a vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads.

21. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the vertical axis of each of the cleaning pads is parallel or in-line with the respective cleaning pad.

22. The cleaning tool of claim 13, further comprising a fastening means for attaching the cleaning pads to the handle.

23. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the second surface of the first cleaning pad and the first surface of the second cleaning pad are separated by an angle of between about 10 and about 80 degrees.

24. The cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the first and second sides of the first surface of the first cleaning pad form an angle of between about 20 and about 160 degrees.

25. A method of assembling a cleaning head comprising:

providing a first cleaning pad, a second cleaning pad, and a third cleaning pad, wherein at least the first cleaning pad and the second cleaning pad comprise at least a first material and a second material;

cutting a slit along a portion of a vertical axis of each the first, second, and third cleaning pads;

positioning the cleaning pads adjacent one another;

inserting a fastening means at the slits of the first, second and third cleaning pads such that side surfaces of the cleaning pads extend radially from the fastening means; and

attaching the fastening means to a handle.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the cleaning pads comprises a first material and a second material.