US2967317A - Scrubbing mop - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1961 w, H, R R 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 uii 'jfln 35 INVENTOR.

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A TTORNE Y Jan. 10, 1961 w. H.IRICHARDS 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR. W. H. RICHARDS ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1961 w. H. RICHARDS 2,967,317

SCRUBBING MOP Filed Nov. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FIG. I3 w. H. RICHARDS ATTORNEY SCRUBBING MOP William H. Richards, 1610 W. 14th St., Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,415

Claims. (Cl. -119) This invention relates to a scrubbing mop, and more I particularly is an improvement upon the structure disclosed in prior United States Patent 2,757,398 to Richards et al.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mop of the type employing cellulosic sponge scrubbing element and embodying a pair of hinged head plate sections and novel means to shift or swing said sections to positions for compressing the scrubbing element and squeezing Water from the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a mop of the above-mentioned character improved means for shifting the head plate sections together for expelling water from the mop, without subjecting the head plate sections to extreme bending or twisting stresses, likely to damage the same.

Another object is to provide mop squeezing means which is very smooth in operation and easy to operate with minimum physical effort and highly efficient for expelling the water from the cellulosic sponge scrubbing element.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and simplified means for readily detachably securing the cellulosic sponge scrubbing element to the head plate sections of the mop, so that the scrubbing element may be quickly removed for cleaning and/or replacement on the head plate sections whenever desired.

A further object is to provide a mop of the abovementioned character embodying an extremely sturdy built-in scraper for removing chewing gum or other stubborn foreign matter from floors or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the mop handle angularly with respect to the head plate sections and scraper.

Further and more general objects of the invention are to provide a mop of the above-mentioned character which is simplified in construction throughout, extremely rugged and durable, inexpensive to manufacture, highly convenient to use for a variety of purposes and very eflicient inoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mop embodying the invention, with part of the handle broken away,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mop shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the mop with the sponge cleaning element removed, parts broken away,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of: Figure 4 and showing the sponge cleaning element partly assembled to the hinged head plate sections,

nited States Patent "ice Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a handle adapter and scraper element and a coacting bracket to which the head plate section are hingedly secured,

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Figure 2 but with the mop squeezing means arranged in an intermediate operative position relative to the handle and head plate sections,

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the mop in a partly folded position under the influence of the mop squeezing means,

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the mop as illustrated in Figure 9, partly in section,

Figure 11 is a further side elevation of the mop in the completely folded position for expelling all water from the sponge scrubbing element,

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the mop as illustrated in Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the mop showing the parts adjusted to permit utilization of the built-in scraper,

Figure 14 is a plan view of a cellulosic sponge scrubbing element and backing plate sections having attaching elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates generally a support member or adapter to which the mop handle and squeezing means are directly connected, along with the bracket means carrying the hinged head plate sections to be described. The support member 20 is preferably formed from a unitary section of relatively heavy gage sheet metal and is preferably quite rigid. It comprises an inverted U- shaped body portion 21, including depending spaced parallel flanges 22, as shown. Rearwardly of the body portion 21, the support member 20 further embodies a transversely elongated plate extension 23, adapted to serve as a scraper as will be further described. The plate element 23 extends for equal distances beyond opposite sides of the body portion 21 and has integrally secured thereto a pair of side depending flanges 24, which are spaced laterally outwardly of the flanges 22 near the rear portions of the latter. The lower edges of the flanges 22 and 24 preferably lie in the same horizontal plane, as shown.

The forward end of the member 20 is provided with an integral extension 25, having a pair of upstanding spaced apertured lugs 26, for a purpose to be described.

Underlying the inverted U-shaped body portion 21 in assembly is a head plate adapter bracket 27, embodying a longitudinally elongated plate 28, having a pair of in tegral downturned ends 29, provided therethrough with laterally spaced aligned openings 30 for a purpose to be described. The adapter bracket 27 extends longitudinally of the body portion 21 and is rigidly secured to the lower surface of the top wall of such body portion by rivet or bolt means 31, engageable through registering openings 32 and 33 of the adapter bracket 27 and member 20 respectively.

The mop further embodies a pair of separate generally rectangular head plate sections 34 and 35, formed at their inner ends to provide pairs of spaced integral hinge knuckles 36 and short upper plate extensions 37 which overlie and contact the top faces of the head plates near their inner ends.

A pair of longitudinally extending bolts 38 or the like engage through the hinge knuckles 36 and through'the openings 30 of adapter bracket 27 for hingedly securing I head plate sections 34 and 35 are provided centrally with keyhole shaped openings 40, including, enlarged circular portions 41 which are arranged innermost, and relatively narrow elongated slot portions 42 which are arranged outermost. The keyhole shaped openings 4% are in alignment, transversely of the mop, and they are arranged at the transverse centers of the head plate sections 34 and 35, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The head plate sections 34 and 35 are further provided with raised opposed generally U-shaped cam tracks 43, which taper upwardly gradually from points 44 adjacent the plate portions 37 to points 45 of maximum height, near and inwardly of the outer ends of the head plate sections. The cam tracks 4.3 surround the openings 40 symmetrically as clearly shown in the drawings. Each cam track 43 has an upwardly struck stop element 46 in its outer curved portion for a purpose to be fully described.

A. pair of torsional coil springs 47 surround the bolt means 38 between the pairs of knuckles 36, Figure 4, and these springs have ends 48 and 49 which engage respectively the bottom surface of the bracket 27 and the bottom surfaces of the head plate sections 34 and 35. These springs serve to normally maintain the head plate sections 34 and 35 in their extended or fully separated positions shown, for example, in Figure 1. In such positions, the plate portions 37 of the head plate sections abut the lower edges of the flanges 24, which flanges then serve as stops to positively limit the upward swinging movement of the head plate sections and to maintain them in the same plane, as shown in the drawings.

The mop further comprises a readily detachable and/ or replaceable cellulosic sponge scrubbing element or pad 50 of rectangular configuration and formed in the desired thickness. The sponge element 50 has a pair of flat rectangular metal backing plate sections 51 cemented or otherwise firmly and permanently anchored to the top face thereof, in spaced relation. Short upstanding headed fastener elements or studs 52 are rigidly secured to the backing plates 51 and project a slight distance above the same, for ready engagement within the keyhole shaped openings 40 of the head plate sections 34 and 35, as shown in the drawings.

The sponge scrubbing element 50 is preferably somewhat wider than the head plate sections 34 and 35 and also somewhat longer than the combined lengths of the head plate sections when the latter are in their extended positions, Figure 1. By virtue of this arrangement, the depending flanges 39 of the head plate sections automatically bite into or become partly embedded in the top of the sponge scrubbing element 50, when the latter is secured thereto through the interengagement of the headed studs 52 and keyhole shaped openings 49. This serves to anchor the sponge element more firmly to the head plate sections 34 and 35 and affords a marginal cushion portion around all sides of the mop and outwardly of the edges of the head plate sections, so that the latter will not damage or scratch furniture legs and the like. The sponge scrubbing element 50 is not cemented or in any manner permanently secured to the head plate sections 34 and 35, but rather is detachably secured thereto solely by means of the headed studs 52 and the coacting openings 44 When the sponge element 50 is assembled to the head plate sections 34 and 35 as in Figure 1, the headed studs 52 are disposed at the outer extremities of the slot portions 42. The central portion of the sponge element 50 is then preferably under some longitudinal compression, so that the studs 52 will be resiliently held at the outer extremities of the slot portions 42 and will not tend to shift inwardly toward the circular openings 41. When the sponge element 59 is damp, it is highly pliable or soft so that the studs 52 are readily separable from the head plate sections by shifting the same inwardly through the slot portions 42, until the heads of the studs register with the circular openings 41, through which they may readily pass. The heads of the studs 52 are somewhat wider than the slot portions 42 but are also narrower than the circular openings 41, to facilitate rapid engagement and disengagement of the sponge scrubbing element with the head plate sections.

The mop further embodies a handle 53 of any desired length, and provided at its lower end with an attaching yoke including diverging arms 54 rigid therewith. The lower ends of the yoke arms 54 are formed to provide circular knuckles 55, which receive a sturdy transverse bolt 56, and which. bolt also engages through aligned openings 57 and 58, formed through the flanges 22 and 24 respectively of the member 20. By this construction, the handle 53 is pivotally secured to the supporting member 20 for vertical swinging movement relative to the body portion of the mop, as should be obvious. The lower portions of the arms 54 and their knuckles 55 are disposed between the flanges 22 and 24, as best shown in Figure 5.

To facilitate angularly adjusting the handle 53 with respect to the member 20 and head plates 34 and 35, the handle is provided near its lower end and in its forward side with a plurality of spaced adjusting notches 59, adapted to selectively receive the upper end of a stiff wire adjusting brace or ball 60, substantially similar to the adjusting bail 47 shown in Patent 2,757,398 to Richards et al. The adjusting bail 60 of the present invention has its lower transverse end 61 engaging pivotally through the apertures of the upstanding lugs 26. A torsional coil spring means 62 surrounding the lower end 61 of the adjusting bail 60 serves to bias the bail toward engagement with the adjustable handle 53 and the slots 59 thereof. The bail 65 may have its upper end readily lifted by a slight finger action beneath the bail, so that the same may engage within any selected one of the notches 59. By this means, the handle 53 may be adjusted angularly to any desired position with respect to the head plates and sponge element 50; and, for example, the handle 53 may lie horizontally in substantially the plane of the member 20 or it may extend above the member 20, substantially perpendicular thereto. The feature of adjustability of the handle 53 is substantially the same as that of the handle 37 in the mentioned United States Patent 2,757,398 to Richards et a1.

Extractor or squeezer means for the mop is provided, and such means comprises a handle 63 formed of heavy wire or the like and having spaced downwardly diverging stretches 64 and an upper clip 65, adapted to frictionally embrace the handle 53 for maintaining the extractor handle 63 secured thereto normally, as shown in Figure 1.

As most clearly shown in Figures 8, 9 and 11, the lower ends of the handle stretches 64 are reversely bent so as to form short extensions 66, forming obtuse angles with the stretches 64 and extending rearwardly thereof. Rounded shoulders 67 are formed at the junctures of the extensions 66 and stretches, as shown, and these shoulders 67 are adapted to bear against the tops of the plate portions 37 of head plate sections 34 and 35 when the extractor handle 63 is swung away from the handle 53 and toward its positions shown in Figures 8 through 11 for squeezing the sponge element 50. The extremities of the short extensions 66 are formed to provide circular knuckles 68, which pivotally receive the bolt 56, just inwardly of the previously described knuckles 55, see Figure 5. The arrangement is such that the extractor handle 63 is freely swingable vertically upon the transverse bolt 56 between the inactive position of Figure 1' and the fully active or extracing position of Figure 11.

Somewhat above the angular extensions 66, the stretches 64 have freely journaled thereon downwardly tapering conical extractor rolls 69, which are suitably held against axial movement on the stretches or rods 64. The rolls 69 include at their tops short cylindrical sections 70, integral therewith.

When it is desired to squeeze the cellulosic sponge element 50 to extract the water therefrom, the extractor handle 63 is disengaged from the mop handle 53 and swung forwardly or downwardly in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 8, 9 and 11. Until the extractor handle 63 reaches the initial active position shown in Figure 8, no movement of the head plate sections 34 and 35 takes place, and the latter remain in their fully extended positions shown in Figure 1. When the short extensions 66 become parallel to the head plate sections, Figure 8, further clockwise movement of the extractor handle 63 causes the rounded shoulders 67 to begin to bear against and slide over the plate portions 37 .of the head plate sections. The head plate sections will now begin to swing downwardly or toward each other, and it is to be noted that the shoulders 67 engage the head plate sections near their inner ends and at the transverse centers thereof, rather than at or near either longitudinal edge of the head plate sections. This arrangement renders the extractor means much smoother in operation, and very little physical effort is required to operate the extractor means, due to the booster effect afforded by the engagement of the shoulders 67 against the plate portions 37, at the start of the extraction operation. Additionally, because of the engagement of the shoulders 67 with the head plate sections at the transverse centers thereof, there is absolutely no tendency for the head plate sections to twist or bend under the action of the extractor handle. This is an important feature of the invention which constitutes a distinct improvementover the prior art as exemplified by Patent 2,757,398 and other prior art patents.

With continued reference to Figures 8,9 and 11 of the drawings, when the extractor handle 63 reaches the position shown in Figure 9, substantially parallel to the planes of the now partly folded head plate sections 34 and 35, the narrow ends of the conical rollers 69 are positioned to begin their travel onto and along the U-shaped cam tracks 43. The booster shoulders 67 have now completed their work of swinging the head plate sections 34 and 35 to approximately the positions illustrated in Figure 10. Continued movement of the extractor handle 63 toward the fully active position shown in Figure 11 causes the conical rolls 69 to traverse the gradually inclined cam tracks 43, and ever wider portions of the conical rolls 69 pass over the cam tracks, until finally the cylindrical roll portions 70 engage the cam tracks just forwardly of the stop elements 46. Continued counterclockwise movement of the extractor handle 63 to its fully active position shown in Figure 11 causes the rolls 69 to engage the stop elements 46, which positively limits the counter clockwise swinging movement of the extractor handle, as shown in Figure 11. When this condition is reached, the cylindrical roll portions 70 are now upon the highest parts of the cam tracks 43 and the head plate sections 34 and 35 now assume their fully folded or opposed parallel positions as shown in Figure 12. In such positions, the sponge element 50 is tightly squeezed or compressedbetween the head plate sections of the mop and substantially all water is extracted from the same.

When the extractor handle 63 is returned to its inactive position of Figure 1, the springs 47 automatically return the head plate sections 34 and 35 to their normal fully extended positions of Figure l. The extractor handle 63 is extremely easy to operate and smooth in its action for squeezing the water out of the sponge element 50. There is no point of abrupt or rough engagement between the extractor means and the head plate sections likely to twist or damage the mop, and this has been one of the biggest disadvantages of prior art mops along this general line.

As best shown in Figures 8 and 13, the scraper element 23 projects somewhat rearwarclly of the sponge element 50 and head plate sections 34 and 35. When the mop handle 53 is adjusted to approximately the position shown in Figure 13, wherein it extends generally perpendicular to the member 20, the scraper element 23 is positioned so that it may be readily used to scrape chewing gum or 6 other foreign matter from a floor or the like. The scraper is extremely sturdy in construction and forms a permanent integral part of the mop, rather than a mere attachment thereto likely to become lost when separated from the mop.

The mop is entirely free of screw-threaded or like separable fastener elements which require manipulation by hand during the use of the mop. As previously explained, the sponge cleaning element 50 is readily separable from the head plate sections 34 and 35 to facilitate thoroughly cleaning the same or replacement thereof by a new refill unit after the sponge element is badly worn.

In the light of the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation of the mop will be readily understood by anyone skilled in the. art, and it should now be obvious that my mop possesses a number of distinct advantages and improved features over the prior art mops of this general character.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

, Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a mop, a supporting element having a rear transverse edge adapted to serve as a scraper, handle means piv otally secured to the supporting element forwardly of said rear transverse edge, resilient means connected with the supporting element and with the handle means and movable relative to the handle means to facilitate angular adjustment of the handle means with respect to the supporting element, a pair of head plate sections hingedly secured to the supporting means, resilient means connected with the head plate sections to maintain them normally separated, a compressible scrubbing element secured to the lower sides of the head plate sections and foldable therebetween when the head plate sections are swung together for extracting water from the scrubbing element, 'an'extractor handle, means pivotally securing the extractor handle to the supporting element rearwardly of the transverse centers of the head plate sections and forwardly of said rear transverse edge, booster shoulders on the extractor handle engageable with the tops of the head plate sections forwardly of said last-named means, and rollers carried by the extractor handle above said booster shoulders and engageable with the tops of the head plate sections subsequent to the engagement of the booster shoulders therewith.

2. In a mop according to claim 1, and cam tracks formed upon the tops of the head plate sections and being upwardly inclined outwardly upon the head plate sections and engageable with said rollers, and stops upon the head plate sections near their outer ends to limit the travel of the rollers in one direction upon said cam tracks.

3. A mop comprising a supporting member, a pair of spaced parallel hinge pins fixedly secured to said supporting member, a pair of head plate sections having inner end portions bent backwardly upon the head plate sections to form tubular hinge knuckles at the inner ends of the head plate sections and relatively short plate extensions which overlie the inner end portions of the head plate sections in contacting relation therewith, said knuckles receiving said hinge pins pivotally, downturned flanges on said support member engageable with said plate extensions to positively limit swinging movement of the head plate sections in one direction, a transverse pivot pin carried by said support member above the head plate sections and overlying said plate extensions, a mop handle pivotally secured to said. transverse pivot pin, an extractor handle including spaced stretches pivotally secured to said transverse pivot pin above said plate extensions, said stretches of the extractor handle bent near their lower ends and near the transverse pivot pin to form on said stretches curved elbow booster portions rockable upon said plate extensions when the extractor handle is swung in one direction upon the transverse pivot pin, tapered extractor rollers mounted upon said stretches near and above said elbow booster portions, generally U-shaped gradually inclined cam tracks upon the head plate sections and projecting thereabove and having their inner ends disposed close to said plate extensions and substantially flush therewith and engaged by said tapered extractor rollers subsequent to the engagement of said booster portions with said plate extensions when said extractor handle is swung in said one direction, and a compressible sponge scrubbing element secured to the bottom faces of said head plate sections.

4. A mop comprising a supporting member, handle means pivotally secured to said supporting member, a pair'of head plate sections hingedly secured to the supporting member, each head plate section having a keyhole slot formed therethrough centrally and outwardly of said supporting member, each keyhole slot having a relatively wide entrance portion arranged innermost and a relatively narrow elongated portion arranged outermost on each head plate section, a compressible sponge scrubbing element underlying the head plate sections and substantially coextensive therewith, backing plate sections secured to the top face of said scrubbing element and slidably engaging the bottom faces of the head plate sections, and upstanding headed studs rigid with said back plate sections of the scrubbing element and freely shiftably engaging Within said keyhole slots and serving to fioatingly secure the sponge scrubbing element to the head plate sections, said studs normally disposed at the outer ends of the relatively narrow keyhole slot portions due to longitudinal expansion of the sponge scrubbing element but freely shiftable toward the relatively wide keyhole slot zontal scraper plate extension formed integral with the top wall of said channel-shaped portion and having a rear transverse scraper edge, side depending longitudinal flanges carried by said scraper plate portion and projecting forwardly thereof and spaced outwardly of and parallel to the first-named depending flanges, the first and second-named depending flanges having aligned transverse openings formed therethrough, a transverse pivot pin secured within said aligned openings of said flanges, mop handle and extractor handle means pivotally secured to said transverse pivot pin between the first and secondnamed depending flanges, a generally U-shaped adapter bracket secured to the bottom of the supporting member between the first-named depending flanges and having end Vertical portions disposed substantially at right angles to said depending flanges, said vertical portions having laterally spaced aligned openings, longitudinal hinge pins secured within said aligned openings in said vertical portions of the adapter bracket and being substantially parallel, mop head plate sections hingedly secured to said hinge pins and underlying the first and second-named depending flanges and projecting outwardly of said flanges for substantial distances, and a compressible sponge scrubbing element underlying the head plate sections and secured thereto and foldable between the head plate sections when the latter are swung to extracting generally parallel positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,585 Vosbikian et a1 Dec. 6, 1955 2,730,743 Zottola Jan. 17, 1956 2,740,146 Vaughn Apr. 3, 1956 2,757,398 Richards et al Aug. 7, 1956 2,834,035 Vosbikian et al May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 258,484 Switzerland May 2, 1949 793,981 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1958

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