U.S. patent application number 14/297684 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for flexible surface cleaning device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Robert Katsnelson. Invention is credited to Robert Katsnelson.
Application Number | 20150351603 14/297684 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52213635 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150351603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katsnelson; Robert |
December 10, 2015 |
FLEXIBLE SURFACE CLEANING DEVICE
Abstract
Disclosed is a mop with a bendable handle member. The mop
comprises a mop head and a handle member comprising elongate top
and bottom handle segments coupled by a knuckle joint comprising
conventional single and double eye members. An elongate lock pin
that axially and longitudinally extends through the double eye
member is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock
pin engages the single eye member so as to lock the angular
position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a
backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the
double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.
Inventors: |
Katsnelson; Robert; (Staten
Island, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Katsnelson; Robert |
Staten Island |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52213635 |
Appl. No.: |
14/297684 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/144.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20130101;
B25G 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20060101
A47L013/20 |
Claims
1. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a mop head; and (b) a
handle member comprising: (i) an elongate top handle segment; (ii)
an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom
handle segment connected to the mop head; and (iii) a knuckle joint
connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint
comprising: (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom
extremity of the top handle segment; and (2) a bottom single eye
member connected to a top extremity of the bottom handle segment;
(c) an elongate lock pin; and wherein, the lock pin is movable
between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while
extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye
member at at least one lock point thereon so as to lock the angular
position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a
backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the
double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein, the lock pin is biased towards
the lock position.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pin handle extending
from the lock pin, the pin handle for retracting the lock pin to
the unlock position.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle integrally extends
from the lock pin.
5. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle is at right angles
with respect to the lock pin.
6. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle extends from an
extremity of the lock pin.
7. The device of claim 3 wherein, the pin handle is slidably
disposed within an elongate pin handle recess, which is disposed on
the exterior surface of the top handle segment, the pin handle
recess defined between a proximal end and a distal end wherein, in
the lock position, the pin handle is at the distal end of the pin
handle recess, and wherein, in the unlock position, the pin handle
is at the proximal end of the pin handle recess.
8. The device of claim 3 further comprising a lock sleeve slidably
disposed over the handle member, the lock sleeve disposed in
operative connection with the pin handle whereby, the pin handle
can be operated by manually sliding the lock sleeve.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein, the double eye member comprises a
thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess, within which, the lock
pin is slidably disposed.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein, each of the at least one lock
point is radially aligned with respect to the eye of the single eye
member.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein, the mop head is pivotally
secured to the handle member.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein, the top handle segment is
telescopically built so as to be extended or retracted to suit
individual height preferences.
13. The device of claim 1 wherein, each of the top and bottom
handle segments is tubular.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein, the at least one lock point
comprises one lock point.
15. The device of claim 15 wherein, the lock point comprises a lock
hole for slidably receiving the lock pin therewithin.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein, the angular position between
the top and the bottom handle segments at the lock position
comprises 180 degrees.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein, the knuckle pin prevents the
angular movement beyond 180 degrees.
18. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a mop head; and (b) a
handle member comprising: (i) an elongate top handle segment; (ii)
an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom
handle segment connected to the mop head; and (iii) a knuckle joint
connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint
comprising: (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom
extremity of the top handle segment, the double eye member
comprising a thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess; and (2) a
bottom single eye member connected to a top extremity of the bottom
handle segment, the single eye member comprising at least one lock
hole disposed thereon such that, the at least one lock hole is
radially aligned with the eye thereof; (c) an elongate lock pin
slidably disposed within the lock recess; and (d) an elongate pin
handle extending from the lock pin; wherein, the lock pin is
movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while
extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye
member at a lock point thereon so as to lock the angular position
between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward
unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double
eye member disengaged from the single eye member, the lock pin
biased towards the lock position, the lock pin retractable by the
pin handle into the unlock position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/838,810, filed Jun. 24,
2013, entitled "Flexible Hinged Handle Dust Mop", owned by the
assignee of the present application and herein incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to manually operated surface
cleaning devices and more particularly, to a surface cleaning
device that employs a handle that not only can be bent (or folded)
any angle but also can be locked at the bent angle.
[0003] A conventional surface cleaning device, a mop, basically
comprises a mop head that actually cleans the surfaces by contact,
and a handle about which the mop is operated by a user. Although,
the mop head is pivotally connected to handle, the handle itself is
rigid as it generally comprises a unitary piece made of plastic,
wood, lightweight metal, etc. This general unitary construction of
the mop is hassle-free when dealing with free spaces. But, when it
comes to cleaning tight or hard-to-reach spaces such as, underneath
a couch, table, etc., the handle restricts the egress of the mop
head into those tight spaces. As a result, the user has to bend or
even crouch so as to further tilt and, at the same time, control
the handle in order to clean the tight spaces. This clearly is a
great inconvenience.
[0004] In the light of what is discussed above, there is long felt
need in the art for a solution for the aforementioned problem.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention comprises a manually-operated,
flexible cleaning device comprising a mop head pivotally connected
to a flexible or bendable handle member. More particularly, the
handle member is divided into top and bottom handle segment that
are coupled together by means of a knuckle joint. Not only the
cleaning device, by virtue of the knuckle joint allows for the
angular movement of the top and bottom handle segments with respect
to one another, but also enables the user to lock the handle member
at an angular position of 180 degrees by engaging a lock pin within
a lock hole wherein, the lock pin and lock hole are disposed within
and on the knuckle joint itself. Having the handle member to bend
(or fold) prevents the user from bending in order to reach the
aforesaid tight spaces as the handle member bent to a desired angle
(say, 90 degrees) can be easily used for reaching the tight
spaces.
[0006] Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of a perspective view of the surface cleaning
device.
[0008] FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of pivot joint connecting the mop head and the
handle member.
[0009] FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of a perspective of the mop head.
[0010] FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle member.
[0011] FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of the knuckle joint connecting the top and
bottom handle segments.
[0012] FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of the pin handle recess.
[0013] FIG. 7, according to an alternate embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the handle
member.
[0014] FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of a perspective view of the knuckle joint.
[0015] FIG. 9, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
is an illustration of a perspective view of the double eye
member.
[0016] FIG. 10, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of the
double eye member.
[0017] FIG. 11, according to the embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the single
eye member.
[0018] FIG. 12, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of another perspective view of the
single eye member.
[0019] FIG. 13, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the lock
member.
[0020] FIG. 14, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of the lock member assembled into the
spring-loaded bracket.
[0021] FIG. 15, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a perspective sectional view of
the handle member.
[0022] FIG. 16, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of a perspective side view of the
handle member.
[0023] FIG. 17, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, is an illustration of the handle member bent at right
angles.
[0024] FIG. 18, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the
surface cleaning device with the lock sleeve.
[0025] FIG. 19, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of the
lock sleeve.
[0026] FIG. 20, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is an illustration of a top view of the lock
sleeve.
[0027] FIG. 21, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is a closer view of the lock sleeve in unlock
position.
[0028] FIG. 22, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of
the handle member with the lock sleeve in unlock position.
[0029] FIG. 23, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is a closer view of the lock sleeve in lock
position.
[0030] FIG. 24, according to an additional embodiment of the
present invention, is an illustration of a side sectional view of
the handle member with the lock sleeve in lock position.
FIGURES
Reference Numerals
[0031] 10--Surface Cleaning Device [0032] 12--Mop Head [0033]
14--Handle Member [0034] 16--Pivot Joint [0035] 18--Mop Material
[0036] 20--Mop Holder [0037] 22--Top Handle Segment [0038]
24--Bottom Handle Segment [0039] 26--Knuckle Joint [0040] 28--Pin
Handle Recess [0041] 30--Double Eye Member [0042] 32--Single Eye
Member [0043] 34--Knuckle Pin [0044] 36--Top Knuckle Rod [0045]
38--Side Extension Member [0046] 40--Side Hole [0047] 42--Lock
Recess [0048] 44--Bottom Knuckle Rod [0049] 46--Central Extension
Member [0050] 48--Central Hole [0051] 50--Lock Hole [0052] 52--Lock
Member [0053] 54--Lock Pin [0054] 56--Pin Handle [0055]
58--Spring-loaded Bracket [0056] 60--Lock Sleeve [0057] 62--Lock
Sleeve Recess
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0058] In the following detailed description, a reference is made
to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which
the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of
illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail
to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and
it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to
be taken in a limiting sense.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention
comprises a manually-operated, flexible surface cleaning device 10
that is specifically designed to reach tight spaces such as,
underneath a couch, table, etc., thereby negating the need for the
user thereof to bend over (so as to reach the tight spaces). The
device 10 comprises a mop head 12 and a handle member 14 wherein,
the handle member 14 is connected to the mop head 12 centrally.
More particularly, the mop head 12 is connected to the handle
member 14 by means of a pivot joint 16 as seen in FIG. 2. In one
embodiment, the mop head 12 may be connected to the handle member
14 by means of a ball joint so as to allow for rotation and angular
movement along multiple planes. Referring particularly to FIG. 3,
the mop head 12 further comprises a mop material 18, which
comprises an absorbent material, such as, sponge, yarn, etc., and a
mop holder 20 for holding the mop material 18. The mop holder 20 is
preferably rectangular in shape so as to reach corners. The mop
holder 20 is preferably made of a plastic material.
[0060] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, the handle member 14
comprises elongate, tubular, top and bottom handle segments 22 and
24 wherein, the top extremity of the bottom handle segment 24 and
the bottom extremity of the top handle 22 segment are connected
together by a knuckle joint 26 (as seen in FIG. 5), which, as well
known in the art, allows for the angular movement of the top and
bottom handle segments 22 and 24 with respect to one another within
a plane. More particularly, the top and bottom handle segments 22
and 24 are connected to the knuckle joint 26 by means of common
place fasteners such as, screws, rivets, etc. The top handle
segment 22 comprises an elongate pin handle recess 28 disposed on
the exterior surface thereof wherein, the utility of the pin handle
recess 28 will become apparent from the following body of text. In
one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 7, the top handle segment 22 is
configured to be telescopically expandable and retractable in order
to suit the individual height preferences of a user. The top and
bottom handle segments 22 and 24, for lightness, may be made of
plastic, or metals such as, aluminum, etc.
[0061] Referring to FIGS. 5, and 8 through 10, the knuckle joint 26
comprises a top double eye member 30, a bottom single eye member 32
and a knuckle pin 34 for coupling the single and double eye members
30 and 32. The double eye member 32, as well known in the art,
comprises a top knuckle rod 36 and a pair of side extension members
38 integrally and longitudinally extending from the top knuckle rod
36. Each side extension member 38 comprises a circular side hole 40
wherein, the axis passing through the center of the side holes 40
is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top knuckle rod
36. The double eye member 30 further comprises a centrally
disposed, thorough, elongate, longitudinal lock recess 42 disposed
therein.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 5, 8, 11 and 12, the single eye member
32, as well known in the art, comprises a bottom knuckle rod 44 and
a central extension member 46 integrally and longitudinally
extending from the bottom knuckle rod 44. The central extension
member 46 comprises a circular central hole 48 such that, the axis
passing through the center of the central hole 48 is perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the bottom knuckle rod 44. The central
extension member 46 further comprises a lock hole 50 disposed
thereon wherein, the axis passing through the centre of the lock
hole 50 is perpendicular to the axis passing through the centre of
the central hole 48 as see clearly in FIG. 12. The utility of the
lock hole 50 will become apparent from the following body of text.
In order to assemble the knuckle joint 26, the central extension
member 46 is received between the pair of side extension members 38
(FIG. 9) such that, the side holes 40 (FIG. 9) are aligned with the
central hole 48. The knuckle pin 34 is received with the aligned
holes and thereafter secured therewithin by means of a knuckle
collar (not shown) and suitable fasteners (not shown). Notably, as
the knuckle joint 26 is assembled, the lock hole 50 is adapted to
align with the lock recess 42 when the angular position between the
single and double eye members 30 and 32 is 180 degrees.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, 13, and 14 through 16, the handle
member further comprises an L-shaped lock member 52, which further
is divided into an elongate lock pin 54 and an elongate pin handle
56 which are integral and at right angles with respect to one
another. A rear portion of the lock pin 54 (towards the pin handle
56) is disposed within spring-loaded bracket 58, while a front
portion of the lock pin 54 is snugly and slidably received within
the lock recess 42. The pin handle 56 is received within the pin
handle recess 28 as the lock pin 54 is received within the lock
recess 42 whereby, the sliding movement of the lock pin 54 within
the lock recess 42 is manually controlled by the to-and-fro
movement pin handle 56 within the pin handle recess 28. Therefore,
as the pin handle 56 is slid within the pin handle recess 28, the
lock pin 54 is simultaneously slid within the lock recess 42. The
lock pin 54 is movable between an unlock position, where the pin
handle 56 is at a proximal extremity of the pin handle recess 28
and the lock pin 54 is entirely within the lock recess 42
disengaged from the lock hole 50, and a lock position, where a
front portion of the lock pin 54, upon alignment with the lock hole
50, is received with a lock hole 50, while the rest of the lock pin
54 is within the lock recess 42.
[0064] Notably, the spring-loaded bracket 58 causes the lock member
52 to be biased towards the lock position. In the lock position (as
depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16), as the lock pin 54 is received within
the lock hole 50, the angle between the top and bottom handle
segments 22 and 24 is locked or fixed unless the lock pin 54 is
retracted by the pin handle 56 into the unlock position. In order
to utilize the handle member 14, the pin handle is retracted into
unlock position and the top and bottom handle segments 22 and 24
are bent at right angles with respect to each other about the
knuckle joint 26 as seen in FIG. 17.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 18 through 20, in one embodiment, the
handle member 14 comprises a cylindrical lock sleeve 60 snugly and
slidably disposed thereover. The lock sleeve 60, as can be
appreciated from FIGS. 19 and 20, comprises an elongate rectangular
lock sleeve recess 62 disposed thereon wherein, the utility of the
lock sleeve recess 62 will become apparent from the following body
of text.
[0066] Referring to FIGS. 21 through 24, the lock sleeve 60 is
operably coupled to the pin handle 56 as the pin hand 56 extends
through the lock sleeve recess 62 whereby, the pin handle 56 is
operated (for retraction) by manually sliding the lock sleeve 60
backwards (i.e., away from the knuckle joint). More particularly,
the pin handle 56 abuts a front extremity of the lock sleeve recess
62 as the lock sleeve 60 is slid backwards. On the other hand, at
lock position, sliding the lock sleeve 60 forward till the pin
handle 56 abuts a rear extremity of the lock sleeve recess 62
causes the lock sleeve 60 to slide over the knuckle joint in order
to conceal the same as seen in FIG. 23.
[0067] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will
so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that
others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or
adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without
departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such
adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be
comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the
disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology
or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have
been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in
the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced
with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
[0068] Although the embodiments herein are described with various
specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in
the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all
such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the
claims.
* * * * *