US2741787A - Hand sponge cleaner and wringer - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1956 J. PALMA, JR ET AL 2,741,787

HAND SPONGE CLEANER AND WRINGER Filed July 31, 1951 ATTORNEYS.

United States Pate HAND SPONGE CLEANER AND WRINGER Joseph Palina, Jr., B'erwyn, and James G. Knapp, Lombard, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to American-Marietta Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application July 31, 1951, Serial No. 239,583

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-419) This invention relates to a hand sponge cleaner and wringer.

An object of the invention is to provide a hand sponge cleaner and wringer therefor in which the sponge may be employed for cleaning purposes and then quickly flushed by manipulating a cleaner structure supported internally of the sponge body. A further object is to provide a segmental sponge body equipped with wringer members interposed between the segments of the sponge. A still further object is to provide a handle-equipped sponge which may be employed for cleaning dishes and other articles or surfaces While the handle is supported away from the liquid and while providing means adjacent the handle for flushing or wringing the sponge, as desired. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a hand sponge cleaner embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation, a portion of the structure being shown in longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the sponge in contracted position; and Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 44 of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given, designates a handle which may be formed of plastic, wood, composition material, or any other suitable material. The handle 10 comprises an inclined portion 11 adapted to be grasped by the hand and an offset forward portion 12 provided with a longitudinal aperture 13. The aperture 13 is adapted to receive slideably a rod member 14 having a reduced threaded end 15 threadably engaging a threaded recess in the knob or ring member 16. The rod 14 is preferably provided with square sides, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, and the opening or passage 13 in the offset portion 12 is also formed with square sides for snugly receiving the rod 14 so that the ring knob 16 is held in a vertical plane for ready grasping when it is desired to pull the rod 14.

The handle member 19 is provided at its forward end with a reduced portion 17 receiving thereon a collar 18 provided with a backing plate or flange 19 that is preferably integral but which may be a separate member. Forwardly of the flange 19 are the sponge segments 20. The forward end 21 of rod 14 is threaded and received within a nut 22 equipped with an integral laterally-extending draw plate or plate flange 23. The plate flange 23 is operative in conjunction with the stationary backing flange 19 to squeeze the sponge body interposed therebetween. The plate 23 is anchored to the outermost sponge segment by adhesive or other suitable means and, since preferably sponge segments are used in lieu of a solid sponge body, centrally apertured discs 24 extend between the intermediate sponge segments 2fl, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. A compression spring 25 lies between the reduced handleportion 17 and the nut 22 and tends to hold the sponge segments in extended relation.

Operation In the operation of the sponge, the handle 10 is grasped and the sponge is immersed in water and applied against dishes or other surfaces which are to be cleaned. Since the supporting structures for the sponge segments are located well within the interior of the sponge segments, the composite sponge may be used freely without bringing any of such supporting structure into contact with the surfaces being cleaned. When it is desired to squeeze the sponge, the member 16 may be drawn rearwardly to contract the sponge segments, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The plates 19, 23 and 24 serve asbearing surfaces for compressing the sponge segments to squeeze the liquid from the sponge members. Upon release of the member 16, the spring 25 urges the sponge segments back to the positions illustrated in Fig. 2.

In squeezing the sponge segments, the handle 10 may be grasped in one hand and the member 16 grasped in the other hand for effecting a squeezing of the sponge members; or, if desired, the handle 10 may be grasped in one hand and a finger of the same hand used for contracting the sponge members.

The handle It) is inclined and has an offset portion 12 which enables the sponge device to be supported in any desired position. For example, in washing dishes, it is desirable to invert the structure from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 so that the handle 10 is inclined downwardly and forwardly toward the mop body which will be immersed in the water. When, however, cleaning elevated surfaces, the handle 10 may be supported in the position shown in the figures.

While in the foregoing specification, we have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a sponge cleaner and wringer device for hand operation, a handle equipped with an offset end portion having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a rod slidably mounted in said passage and equipped at its rear with a draw knob, a relatively flat backing plate secured to the forward end of said offset portion and being apertured to permit said rod to pass freely therethrough, a relatively fiat draw plate carried by the forward end of said rod, a plurality of sponge segments interposed between said plates and a sponge segment carried upon the forward side of said draw plate, and a relatively fiat plate interposed between adjacent sponge segments, all of said plates having substantially equal dimensions.

2. In a hand sponge cleaner and wringer, a handle extending rearwardly and being inclined downwardly at a relatively sharp angle and being equipped at its forward end with an upwardly-extending offset portion providing a substantially vertical forward wall and having a horizontal passage therethrough, a rod slidably mounted in said passage and extending forwardly therethrough and being equipped at its rear end with a draw ring, said draw ring being disposed in substantially abutting relation with said handle adjacent the forward end thereof, a relatively flat backing plate secured to the forward wall of said offset portion, a relatively flat draw plate carried by the forward end of said rod, a plurality of sponge segments interposed between said plates and a sponge segment carried upon the forward side of said draw plate, and a relatively flat plate interposed between adjacent sponge segments, all of said plates having substantially equal dimensions.

3. In a sponge cleaner and wringer device of the character described, a handle equipped with an offset end portion having a backing plate inabutting relation with the forward side thereof, a draw rod extending through said backing plate and being movable along its longitudinal axis and with respect to the backing plate and said handle, a draw plate anchored to said rod at the forward end thereof, a plurality of plates interposed between said backing plate and draw plate and slidably passing said draw rod therethrough, a plurality of sponge segments interposed between said backing plate and draw plate and being arranged so that one of said last mentioned plates is positioned between each of the adjacent sponge segments, a sponge segment carried by said draw plate on the forward side thereof and being secured thereto, and means biasing said draw rod forwardly so r 4 a as to maintain said sponge segments in expanded condition.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,100,367 Gambill, June 16, 1914 1,502,148 Magaton July 22, 1924 2,357,446 Bendar Sept. 5,1944 2,699,563 Duncan Jan. l8, i955 FOREIGN PATENTS 154,660 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1920 243,064 Switzerland g Dec. 12, 1946 623,896 Great Britain May 25, 1949 980,240 France Dec. 20, 1950

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