U.S. patent application number 09/825546 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for sponge mop with flexible ends.
Invention is credited to Cioci, Kathryn.
Application Number | 20020174502 09/825546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25244281 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020174502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cioci, Kathryn |
November 28, 2002 |
SPONGE MOP WITH FLEXIBLE ENDS
Abstract
A sponge mop (10) having unique features such as squeegee left
lever slide flexible member (18LAA) and squeegee right lever slide
flexible member (18RAA) permitting the user to mop a horizontal
floor while concurrently cleaning a vertical baseboard.
Inventors: |
Cioci, Kathryn; (Watermill,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kathryn Cioci
126 Wilderness Trail
Watermill
NY
11976
US
|
Family ID: |
25244281 |
Appl. No.: |
09/825546 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/119.2 ;
15/244.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/258 20130101;
A47L 13/146 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/119.2 ;
15/244.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/146 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sponge mop (10) comprising: A) a shaft (12): B) a mop head
(14) movably connected to the shaft (12) by a mop head hinge (14A),
the mop head (14) further comprises a left mop head (14L) securely
connected to a left side of the mop head hinge (14A) extending
outwardly therefrom and a right mop head (14R) securely connected
to a right side of the mop head hinge (14A) extending outwardly
therefrom, the left mop head (14L) comprises a hollow left mop head
housing (14LA) securely affixed on a top surface thereof, the right
mop head (14R) comprises a hollow right mop head housing (14RA)
securely affixed on a top surface thereof; C) a flexible sponge
(16) having a sponge body (16A) is removably securely affixed to
the mop head (14), the sponge (16) comprises a sponge left base
plate (16L) removably securely affixed to a bottom surface of the
left mop head (14L) and a sponge right base plate (16R) removably
securely affixed to a bottom surface of the right mop head (14R),
the sponge (16) further comprises a sponge left outer plate (16LA)
positioned on a left distal end of a top surface of the sponge body
(16A) adjacent to the sponge left base plate (16L) and a sponge
right outer plate (16RA) positioned on a right distal end of a top
surface of the sponge body (16A) adjacent to the sponge right base
plate (16R); D) a squeegee (18) having a squeegee slider (18A)
movably mounted around the shaft (12), the squeegee (18) further
comprises a squeegee left lever (18L) hingably affixed at a top
distal end to a bottom left end of the squeegee slider (18A) and
hingably affixed at a bottom distal end to a rigid squeegee left
lever slide (18LA) having a squeegee left lever slide flexible
member (18LAA) extending outwardly therefrom, the squeegee left
lever slide (18LA) is movably mounted within the left mop head
housing (14LA), the squeegee (18) further comprises a squeegee
right lever (18R) hingably affixed at a top distal end to a bottom
right end of the squeegee slider (18A) and hingably affixed at a
bottom distal end to a rigid squeegee right lever slide (18RA)
having a squeegee right lever slide flexible member (18RAA)
extending outwardly therefrom, the squeegee right lever slide
(18RA) is movably mounted within the right mop head housing
(14RA).
2. The sponge mop (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the
squeegee slider (18A) comprises a squeegee top handle (18BT)
securely affixed thereto extending therefrom.
3. The sponge mop (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the
squeegee slider (18A) comprises a squeegee bottom handle (18BB)
securely affixed thereto extending therefrom.
4. The sponge mop (10) as described in claim 1 further comprises a
handle (20) securely affixed to a top distal end of the shaft
(12).
5. The sponge mop (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the shape
of the handle (20) is selected from a group consisting of round,
triangle, square, rectangle, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal and
octagonal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a sponge mop. More
particularly, the present invention relates to sponge mop having
flexible outer distal ends functioning to permit cleaning of
baseboards while mopping.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Numerous innovations for mops are present in the prior art.
Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific
individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the
present invention as hereinafter contrasted.
[0005] The patented inventions differ from the present invention
because they fail to describe or claim at least one combination of
the following features depicted in the present invention: sponge
left outer plate, sponge right outer plate, squeegee left lever
slide, squeegee left lever slide flexible member, squeegee right
lever slide, squeegee right lever slide flexible member, left mop
head housing and right mop head housing.
[0006] Numerous innovations for mops are present in the prior art
that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be
suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they
address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present
invention as heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a sponge mop. More
particularly, the present invention relates to sponge mop having
flexible outer distal ends functioning to permit cleaning of
baseboards while mopping.
[0008] The types of problems encountered in the prior art are
sponge mops do not permit the user to clean baseboards while
mopping.
[0009] In the prior art, unsucessful attempts to solve this problem
were attempted namely: fixed vertical members mounted on mops.
However, the problem was solved by the present invention because it
functions as both a horizontal sponge mop and combination
horizontal/vertical sponge mop for cleaning baseboards.
[0010] Innovations within the prior art are rapidly being exploited
in the filed of cleaning utensils.
[0011] The present invention went contrary to the teaching of the
art which describes and claims fixed vertical mops.
[0012] The present invention solved a long felt need for a sponge
mop capable of cleaning both horizontal and vertical surfaces
concurrently.
[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a sponge mop having a shaft, mop head, sponge, squeegee,
and handle.
[0014] More particularly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide the mop head having a mop head hinge, left mop head,
left mop head housing, right mop head, and right mop head
housing.
[0015] In keeping with these objects, and with others which will
become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention
resides, briefly stated, in the sponge having a sponge body, sponge
left base plate, sponge left outer plate, sponge right base plate,
and sponge right outer plate.
[0016] When the squeegee is designed in accordance with the present
invention, it has a squeegee slider, squeegee top handle, squeegee
bottom handle, squeegee left lever, squeegee left lever slide,
squeegee left lever slide flexible member, squeegee right lever,
squeegee right lever slide, and squeegee right lever slide flexible
member.
[0017] The novel features which are considered characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention
itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of
operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,
will be best understood from the following description of the
specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with
the accompanying drawings.
1 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS 10 - sponge
mop (10) 12 - shaft (12) 14 - mop head (14) 14A - mop head hinge
(14) 14L - left mop head (14L) 14LA - left mop head housing (14LA)
14R - right mop head (14R) 14RA - right mop head housing (14RA) 16
- sponge (16) 16A - sponge body (16A) 16L - sponge left base plate
(16L) 16LA - sponge left outer plate (16LA) 16R - sponge right base
plate (16R) 16RA - sponge right outer plate (16RA) 18 - squeegee
(18) 18A - squeegee slider (18A) 18BT - squeegee top handle (18BT)
18BB - squeegee bottom handle (18BB) 18L - squeegee left lever
(18L) 18LA - squeegee right lever slide (18LA) 18LAA - squeegee
right lever slide flexible member (18LAA) 18R - squeegee right
lever (18R) 18RA - squeegee right lever slide (18RA) 18RAA -
squeegee right lever slide flexible member (18RAA) 20 - handle (20)
22 - floor (220 24 - wall (24)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top left front perspective view of a sponge mop
(10).
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front partial view of a sponge mop (10)
exhibiting the sponge body (16A) on an open horizontal
configuration.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front partial view of a sponge mop (10)
exhibiting the sponge body (16A) on a closing vertical
configuration functioning to squeeze excess fluid therefrom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Firstly, referring to FIG. 1 which is a top left front
perspective view of a sponge mop (10) and FIG. 2 which is a front
partial view of a sponge mop (10) exhibiting the sponge body (16A)
on an open horizontal configuration. The sponge mop (10) comprises
a mop head (14) movably connected to a shaft (12) by a mop head
hinge (14A). The mop head (14) further comprises a left mop head
(14L) securely connected to a left side of the mop head hinge (14A)
extending outwardly therefrom and a right mop head (14R) securely
connected to a right side of the mop head hinge (14A) extending
outwardly therefrom. The left mop head (14L) comprises a hollow
left mop head housing (14LA) securely affixed on a top surface
thereof. The right mop head (14R) comprises a hollow right mop head
housing (14RA) securely affixed on a top surface thereof. The
sponge mop (10) may optionally further comprise a handle (20)
securely affixed to a top distal end of the shaft (12). The shape
of the handle (20) is selected from a group consisting of round,
triangle, square, rectangle, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal and
octagonal.
[0022] The sponge mop (10) further comprises a flexible sponge (16)
having a sponge body (16A) is removably securely affixed to the mop
head (14). The sponge (16) comprises a sponge left base plate (16L)
removably securely affixed to a bottom surface of the left mop head
(14L) and a sponge right base plate (16R) removably securely
affixed to a bottom surface of the right mop head (14R). The sponge
(16) further comprises a sponge left outer plate (16LA) positioned
on a left distal end of a top surface of the sponge body (16A)
adjacent to the sponge left base plate (16L) and a sponge right
outer plate (16RA) positioned on a right distal end of a top
surface of the sponge body (16A) adjacent to the sponge right base
plate (16R).
[0023] The sponge mop (10) further comprises a squeegee (18) having
a squeegee slider (18A) movably mounted around the shaft (12). The
squeegee (18) further comprises a squeegee left lever (18L)
hingably affixed at a top distal end to a bottom left end of the
squeegee slider (18A) and hingably affixed at a bottom distal end
to a rigid squeegee left lever slide (18LA) having a squeegee left
lever slide flexible member (18LAA) extending outwardly therefrom.
The squeegee slider (18A) optionally comprises a squeegee top
handle (18BT) securely affixed thereto extending therefrom and a
squeegee bottom handle (18BB) securely affixed thereto extending
therefrom, The squeegee left lever slide (18LA) is movably mounted
within the left mop head housing (14LA). The squeegee (18) further
comprises a squeegee right lever (18R) hingably affixed at a top
distal end to a bottom right end of the squeegee slider (18A) and
hingably affixed at a bottom distal end to a rigid squeegee right
lever slide (18RA) having a squeegee right lever slide flexible
member (18RAA) extending outwardly therefrom, the squeegee right
lever slide (18RA) is movably mounted within the right mop head
housing (14RA). When the sponge mop (10) is slid along the floor
(22) and contacts the wall (24), either the left or right distal
end of the sponge body (16A) is able to turn vertically from a
horizontal position by the flexibility of the squeegee left lever
slide flexible member (18LAA) or squeegee right lever slide
flexible member (18RAA).
[0024] Now referring to FIG. 3 which is a front partial view of a
sponge mop (10) exhibiting the sponge body (16A) on a closing
vertical configuration functioning to squeeze excess fluid
therefrom. During rinsing, excess fluid is removed from the sponge
body (16A) by the user moving the squeegee slider (18A) in a
downward direction which in turn moves the squeegee left lever
(18L) and squeegee right lever (18R) in an outward and downward
direction bending the sponge body (16A) in half via the mop head
hinge (14A) and moving the rigid squeegee left lever slide (18LA)
and rigid squeegee right lever slide (18RA) against the sponge left
outer plate (16LA) and sponge right outer plate (16RA),
respectively, squeezing the sponge body (16A) expelling fluid
therefrom.
[0025] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application
in other types of constructions differing from the type described
above.
[0026] While the invention has been illustrated and described as
embodied in a mop, it is not intended to be limited to the details
shown, since it will be understood that various omissions,
modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details
of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of
the present invention.
[0027] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
specific aspects of this invention.
[0028] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *