U.S. patent number 3,792,505 [Application Number 05/264,815] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-19 for combination dust cloth and dust mop.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Uniform Company. Invention is credited to Julian I. Saltzstein.
United States Patent |
3,792,505 |
Saltzstein |
February 19, 1974 |
COMBINATION DUST CLOTH AND DUST MOP
Abstract
A combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head
having a platform with a mop handle mounted on one side thereof and
a clasping device disposed on the other side thereof, a soft
pliable cloth having a dusting surface and a back surface, a
separable fastening device including a first fastening member
mounted in the clasping device and being removable therefrom and a
second fastening member mounted on the back surface of the cloth
for detachably mounting the cloth on the platform, the cloth
covering the platform and extending a short distance therebeyond
around the periphery of the platform to provide a marginal portion
therearound.
Inventors: |
Saltzstein; Julian I.
(Cleveland, OH) |
Assignee: |
American Uniform Company
(Cleveland, TN)
|
Family
ID: |
23007720 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/264,815 |
Filed: |
June 21, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/231; 15/147.2;
24/306; 15/176.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
13/256 (20130101); Y10T 24/2708 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
13/256 (20060101); A47L 13/20 (20060101); A47l
013/256 (); A47l 013/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/147A,229R,229A,229B,228,230,230.12,230.17,231 ;24/204,DIG.18
;51/358,400,404,406 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blum; Daniel
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Prangley, Dithmar, Vogel, Sandler
& Stottand
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head
including a platform having a mop handle mounted on one side
thereof and a resilient clasping device disposed on the other side
thereof, a soft pliable cloth having a dusting surface and a back
surface, a separable fastening device including a first fastening
member provided with a large number of closely spaced
interengageable first hooking elements and a second fastening
member provided with a large number of closely spaced
interengageable second hooking elements for detachably securing
said first and said second fastening members together, one of said
fastening members being mounted in said clasping device and being
removable therefrom for easy replacement thereof, the other of said
fastening members being mounted on the back surface of said cloth
for detachably mounting said cloth on said platform, said cloth
covering said platform and extending a short distance therebeyond
around the periphery of said platform to provide a marginal portion
around said platform, whereby said cloth before attachment to said
mop head may be first used as a dust cloth and thereafter said
cloth may be mounted on said mop head by placing said cloth on a
support surface with said back surface disposed upwardly and
pressing said fastening member in said clasping device against said
fastening member on said cloth to provide a dust mop and thereafter
said cloth may be removed from said mop head by fixedly holding
said marginal portion and pulling said mop head therefrom.
2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said mop head is
rectangular in shape.
3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said mop head is a
synthetic organic resin.
4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said mop head is a
polypropylene synthetic organic resin.
5. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said cloth is
generally oval in shape and has a nap on the dusting surface
thereof.
6. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said fastening
member mounted in said clasping device has a greater surface extent
than said fastening member mounted on said back surface of said
cloth.
7. A combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head
including a platform having a mop handle mounted on one side
thereof and a clasping device disposed on the other side thereof, a
soft pliable cloth having a dusting surface and back surface, a
separable fastening device including a first fastening member
provided with a large number of closely spaced interengageable
first hooking elements and a second fastening member provided with
a large number of closely spaced interengageable second hooking
elements for detachably securing said first and said second
fastening members together, one of said fastening members being
mounted in said clamping device and being removable therefrom for
easy replacement thereof, the other of said fastening members being
mounted on the back surface of said cloth for detachably mounting
said cloth on said platform, said clamping device including a
plurality of opposed resilient fingers to accommodate snap movement
of one of said fastening members between a position wherein said
fastening member is mounted in said clasping device and a position
wherein said fastening member is spaced from said clasping device,
said cloth covering said platform and extending a short distance
therebeyond around the periphery of said platform to provide a
marginal portion around said platform, whereby said cloth before
attachment to said mop head may be first used as a dust cloth and
thereafter said cloth may be mounted on said mop head by placing
said cloth on a support surface with said back surface disposed
upwardly and pressing said fastening member in said clasping device
against said fastening member on said cloth to provide a dust mop
and thereafter said cloth may be removed from said mop head by
fixedly holding said marginal portion and pulling said mop head
therefrom.
8. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said first
fastening member consists of two spaced apart elongated strips and
said second fastening member consisting of two spaced apart
elongated strips.
9. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said fastening
member mounted in said clasping device is provided with a
substantially rigid backing to facilitate the snap movement into
and out of said clasping device.
10. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said clasping
device consists of four sets of opposed flexible fingers extending
transversely of said platform, each of said four sets of opposed
flexible fingers being adapted to receive therein a strip including
a rigid backing member having a larger number of closely spaced
interengageable hooking elements extending therefrom.
11. A combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head
including a platform having a mop handle mounted on one side
thereof and a clasping device disposed on the other side thereof, a
soft pliable cloth having a dusting surface and a back surface, a
separable fastening device including a first fastening member
provided with a large number of closely spaced interengageable
first hooking elements and a second fastening member provided with
a large number of closely spaced interengageable second hooking
elements for detachably securing said first and said second
fastening member together, one of said fastening members being
mounted in said clasping device and being removable therefrom for
easy replacement thereof, the other of said fastening members being
mounted on the back surface of said cloth for detachably mounting
said cloth on said platform, a force transmitting member having a
substantially flat bottom surface mounted on the other side of said
platform and being connected to said handle, said cloth covering
said platform and extending a short distance therebeyond around the
periphery of said platform to provide a marginal portion around
said platform, whereby said cloth before attachment to said mop
head may be first used as a dust cloth and thereafter said cloth
may be mounted on said mop head by placing said cloth on a support
surface with said back surface disposed upwardly and pressing said
fastening member in said clasping device against said fastening
member on said cloth to provide a dust mop and thereafter said
cloth may be removed from said mop head by fixedly holding said
marginal portion and pulling said mop head therefrom, force applied
to said mop handle being transmitted through said force
transmitting member to provide an evenly distributed force over
said bottom surface and said cloth thereunder.
12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein said force
transmitting member is a synthetic organic resin.
13. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein said force
transmitting member is a polypropylene synthetic organic resin.
14. The combination set forth in claim 11, wherein said force
transmitting member is movable between a position wherein said
force transmitting member is mounted on the other side of said
platform and is connected to said handle and a position wherein
said force transmitting member is spaced from said platform.
15. A combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head
including a platform having a mop handle mounted on one side
thereof and a clasping device disposed on the other side thereof, a
soft pliable cloth having a dusting surface and a back surface, a
separable fastening device including a first fastening member
provided with a large number of closely spaced interengageable
first hooking elements and a second fastening member provided with
a large number of closely spaced interengageable second hooking
elements for detachably securing said first and said second
fastening member together, one of said fastening members being
mounted in said clasping device and being removable therefrom for
easy replacement thereof, the other of said fastening members being
mounted on the back surface of said cloth for detachably mounting
said cloth on said platform, a force transmitting member having a
substantially flat bottom surface mounted on the other side of said
platform and being connected to said handle, the thickness of each
of the engaged fastening members being substantially equal to the
distance between said clasping device and said bottom surface of
said force transmitting member to provide a substantially flat
dusting surface after the attachment of said cloth to said mop
head, said cloth covering said platform and extending a short
distance therebeyond around the periphery of said platform to
provide a marginal portion around said platform, whereby said cloth
before attachment to said mop head may be first used as a dust
cloth and thereafter said cloth may be mounted on said mop head by
placing said cloth on a support surface with said back surface
disposed upwardly and pressing said fastening member in said
clasping device against said fastening member on said cloth to
provide a dust mop and thereafter said cloth may be removed from
said mop head by fixedly holding said maginal portion and pulling
said mop head therefrom, force applied to said mop handle being
transmitted through said force transmitting member to provide an
evenly distributed force over said bottom surface and said cloth
thereunder.
16. The combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said one
fastening member includes spaced apart rectangularly shaped rigid
strips having said hooking elements depending therefrom and said
other fastening member includes spaced apart and rectangularly
shaped strips mounted on said cloth.
17. A mop head for use with an associated dust cloth as a dust mop,
wherein the dust cloth is soft and pliable and has a dusting
surface and a back surface with a fastening member thereon provided
with a large number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking
elements, said mop head comprising a platform having a mop handle
mounted on one side thereof and a resilient clasping device
disposed on the other side thereof, and a fastening member provided
with a large number of closely spaced interengageable second
hooking elements mounted in said clasping device and being
removable therefrom for easy replacement thereof and for detachably
mounting the dust cloth on said platform, the dust cloth covering
said platform and extending a short distance therebeyond around the
periphery of said platform to provide a marginal portion around
said platform, whereby the dust cloth may be mounted on said mop
head by placing the dust cloth on a support surface with the back
surface disposed upwardly and pressing said fastening member in
said clasping device against the fastening member on the dust cloth
to provide a dust mop and thereafter the dust cloth may be removed
from said mop head by fixedly holding the marginal portion and
pulling said mop head therefrom.
18. The mop head set forth in claim 17, wherein said mop head is
rectangular in shape.
19. The mop head set forth in claim 17, wherein said mop head is a
polypropylene synthetic organic resin.
20. The mop head set forth in claim 17, wherein said fastening
member mounted in said clasping device has a greater surface extent
than said fastening member mounted on said back surface of said
cloth.
21. A mop head for use with an associated dust cloth as a dust mop,
wherein the dust cloth is soft and pliable and has a dusting
surface and a back surface with a fastening member thereon provided
with a large number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking
elements, said mop head comprising a platform having a mop handle
mounted on one side thereof and a clasping device disposed on the
other side thereof, and a fastening member provided with a large
number of closely spaced interengageable second hooking elements
mounted in said clasping device and being removable therefrom for
easy replacement thereof and for detachably mounting the dust cloth
on said platform, said clasping device including a plurality of
opposed resilient fingers to accommodate snap movement of one of
said fastening members between a position wherein said fastening
member is mounted in said clasping device and a position wherein
said fastening member is spaced from said clasping device, the dust
cloth covering said platform and extending a short distance
therebeyond around the periphery of said platform to provide a
marginal portion around said platform, whereby the dust cloth may
be mounted on said mop head by placing the dust cloth on a support
surface with the back surface disposed upwardly and pressing said
fastening member in said clasping device against the fastening
member on the dust cloth to provide a dust mop and thereafter the
dust cloth may be removed from said mop head by fixedly holding the
marginal portion and pulling said mop head therefrom.
22. The mop head set forth in claim 17, wherein said clasping
device consists of four sets of opposed flexible fingers extending
transversely of said platform, each of said four sets of opposed
flexible fingers being adapted to receive therein a strip including
a rigid backing member having a large number of closely spaced
interengageable hooking elements extending therefrom.
23. The mop head set forth in claim 17, wherein said fastening
member mounted in said clasping device is provided with a
substantially rigid backing to facilitate the snap movement into
and out of said clasping device.
24. A mop head for use with an associated dust cloth as a dust mop,
wherein the dust cloth is soft and pliable and has a dusting
surface and a back surface with a fastening member thereon provided
with a large number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking
elements, said mop head comprising a platform having a mop handle
mounted on one side thereof and a clasping device disposed on the
other side thereof, a fastening member provided with a large number
of closely spaced interengageable second hooking elements mounted
in said clasping device and being removable therefrom for easy
replacement thereof and for detachably mounting the dust cloth on
said platform, and a force transmitting member having a
substantially flat bottom surface mounted on the other side of said
platform and being connected to said handle, the dust cloth
covering said platform and extending a short distance therebeyond
around the periphery of said platform to provide a marginal portion
around said platform, whereby the dust cloth may be mounted on said
mop head by placing the dust cloth on a support surface with the
back surface disposed upwardly and pressing said fastening member
in said clasping device against the fastening member on the dust
cloth to provide a dust mop and thereafter the dust cloth may be
removed from said mop head by fixedly holding the marginal portion
and pulling said mop head therefrom, force applied to said mop
handle being transmitted through said force transmitting member to
provide an evenly distributed force over said bottom surface and
the dust cloth thereunder.
25. The mop head set forth in claim 24, wherein said force
transmitting member is a synthetic organic resin.
26. The mop head set forth in claim 24, wherein said force
transmitting member is a polypropylene synthetic organic resin.
27. The mop head set forth in claim 24, wherein said force
transmitting member is movable between a position wherein said
force transmitting member is mounted on the other side of said
platform and is connected to said handle and a position wherein
said force transmitting member is spaced from said platform.
28. A mop head for use with an associated dust cloth as a dust mop,
wherein the dust cloth is soft and pliable and has a dusting
surface and a back surface with a fastening member thereon provided
with a large number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking
elements, said mop head comprising a platform having a mop handle
mounted on one side thereof and a clasping device disposed on the
other side thereof, a fastening member provided with a large number
of closely spaced interengageable second hooking elements mounted
in said clasping device and being removable therefrom for easy
replacement thereof and for detachably mounting the dust cloth on
said platform, and a force transmitting member having a
substantially flat bottom surface mounted on the other side of said
platform and being connected to said handle, the thickness of each
of the engaged fastening members being substantially equal to the
distance between said clasping device and said bottom surface of
said force transmitting member to provide a substantially flat
dusting surface after the attachment of the cloth to said mop head,
the dust cloth covering said platform and extending a short
distance therebeyond around the periphery of said platform to
provide a marginal portion around said platform, whereby the dust
cloth may be mounted on said mop head by placing the dust cloth on
a support surface with the back surface disposed upwardly and
pressing said fastening member in said clasping device against the
fastening member on the dust cloth to provide a dust mop and
thereafter the dust cloth may be removed from said mop head by
fixedly holding the marginal portion and pulling said mop head
therefrom, force applied to said mop handle being transmitted
through said force transmitting member to provide an evenly
distributed force over said bottom surface and the dust cloth
thereunder.
Description
This invention relates to a combination dust cloth and dust mop,
and more particularly to a dust mop provided with a clasping device
in which may be mounted a fastening member, the dust mop being also
provided with a force transmitting member for transmitting force
applied to the handle to the dust cloth.
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a
combination dust cloth and dust mop comprising a mop head including
a platform having a mop handle mounted on one side thereof and a
clasping device disposed on the other side thereof, a soft pliable
cloth having a dusting surface and a back surface, a separable
fastening device including a first fastening member provided with a
large number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking
elements and a second fastening member provided with a large number
of closely spaced interengageable second hooking elements for
detachably securing the first and the second fastening members
together, one of the fastening members being mounted in the
clasping device and being removable therefrom for easy replacement
thereof, the other of the fastening members being mounted on the
back surface of the cloth for detachably mounting the cloth on the
platform, the cloth covering the platform and extending a short
distance therebeyond around the periphery of the platform to
provide a marginal portion around the platform, whereby the cloth
before attachment to the mop head may be first used as a dust cloth
and thereafter the cloth may be mounted on the mop head by placing
the cloth on a support surface with the back surface disposed
upwardly and pressing the fastening member in the clasping device
against the fastening member on the cloth to provide a dust mop and
thereafter the cloth may be removed from the mop head by fixedly
holding the marginal portion and pulling the mop head
therefrom.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination
dust cloth and dust mop of the type set forth wherein there is
provided a force transmitting member having a substantially flat
bottom surface mounted on the other side of the platform and being
connected to the handle, force applied to the mop handle being
transmitted through the force transmitting member to provide an
evenly distributed force over the flat bottom surface and the cloth
thereunder.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
combination dust cloth and dust mop of the type set forth wherein
the thickness of each of the engaged fastening members is
substantially equal to the distance between the clasping device and
the bottom surface of the force transmitting member to provide a
substantially flat dusting surface after the attachment of the
cloth to the mop head.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mop
head for use with an associated dust cloth as a dust mop, wherein
the dust cloth is soft and pliable and has a dusting surface and a
back surface with a fastening member thereon provided with a large
number of closely spaced interengageable first hooking elements,
the mop head comprising a platform having a mop handle mounted on
one side thereof and a clasping device disposed on the other side
thereof, and a fastening member provided with a large number of
closely spaced interengageable second hooking elements mounted in
the clasping device and being removable therefrom for easy
replacement thereof and for detachably mounting the dust cloth on
the platform, the dust cloth covering the platform and extending a
short distance therebeyond around the periphery of the platform to
provide a marginal portion around the platform, whereby the dust
cloth may be mounted on the mop head by placing the dust cloth on a
support surface with the back surface disposed upwardly and
pressing the fastening member in the clasping device against the
fastening member on the dust cloth to provide a dust mop and
thereafter the dust cloth may be removed from the mop head by
fixedly holding the marginal portion and pulling the mop head
therefrom.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a mop head
of the type set forth wherein there is provided a force
transmitting member having a substantially flat bottom surface
mounted on the other side of the platform and being connected to
the handle.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mop
head of the type set forth wherein the thickness of each of the
engaged fastening members is substantially equal to the distance
between the clasping device and the bottom surface of the force
transmitting member to provide a substantially flat dusting surface
after the attachment of the cloth to the mop head.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination dust cloth and dust
mop of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mop head, the force
transmitting member, the fastening devices and the dust cloth which
form the combination dust mop and dust cloth of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mop head of the present
invention showing the force transmitting member and the fastening
members in place in one portion thereof and showing the mop head
without the force transmitting member and without the fastening
members in another portion thereof;
FIG. 4 is a side view in section of the mop head shown in FIG. 3
taken along the lines 4--4 thereof;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the central portion of the mop head
shown in FIG. 4, wherein the force transmitting member is spaced
from the mop head; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the mop head shown in FIG. 4 and
circled by the line 6--6, particularly showing the fastening
members spaced from the mop head and the dust cloth in phantom.
Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a combination
dust cloth and dust mop 50 including a mop head 55 having a
platform 60 which includes two opposed slanted walls 61 and 62
which slant toward the ends of the platform 60 and two opposed
sloping walls 63 and 64 which respectively slant toward the front
and rear of the platform 60. In the center of the platform 60, and
particularly where the walls 61, 62, 63 and 64 meet, there are
provided two spaced apart and parallel upstanding trunnions 66,
each provided with an aperture 67 therein, the apertures 67 being
in registry. There are also provided two slots 69, each slot being
positioned adjacent to respective one of the trunnions 66 and
extending through the platform 60, the longer dimension of each
slot extending transversely of the platform 60. There is also
provided a reinforcement member 75 centrally located of the
trunnions 66. The reinforcement member 75 has an abutment surface
76 on one side thereof and side walls 77 on the other side thereof,
which extend into chamfered walls 78 which in turn blend into the
walls 63 and 64. The entire platform 60 and the reinforcement 75
may be molded as a single piece.
The platform 60 is further provided with a peripheral wall 80 which
extends completely around the perimeter of the platform 60 and
extends downwardly as shown in the drawings. The peripheral wall 80
is provided with recesses 81 at the end thereof, the recesses 81
being spaced apart and at the ends of the platform 60 and extending
transversely thereof along the entire width. The peripheral wall 80
is further provided with spaced apart openings 82 in the ends
thereof, each end wall having two openings therein.
The platform 60 of the mop head 55 is further provided with spaced
apart clasping members, each of the clasping members being
identical in construction wherein only one will be described
herein. Referring now to FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings, there is shown
a resilient finger 85 integrally formed from the end wall 80 and
being provided with a gripping surface 86 in the form of a notch.
The resilient finger 85 may be formed at the left-end as shown in
FIG. 6 and with the gripping surface 86 facing inwardly, for a
purpose hereinafter to be explained. The finger 85 is formed of
three discrete portions as shown in FIG. 3, the portions being
denoted 85a, 85b and 85c. Each of the portions or segments is
identical in construction. Spaced apart from the resilient finger
85 is a support 90, the support 90 extending vertically downwardly
down from the sloping walls 61, 63 and 64. The support 90 carries
at the distal end thereof a resilient finger 91 having a gripping
surface or notch 92 therein, the notch 92 being in registry with
and facing the notch 86 of the finger 85. The support 90 is also
provided with a resilient finger 93 which has a gripping surface or
notch 94 facing away from the notch 94 and in the same direction as
the notch 86.
There is further provided a support 100 extending vertically
downwardly from the sloping walls 61, 63 and 64. The support 100 is
provided with an abutment surface 101 on one side and end thereof
and is provided with a resilient finger 103 on the other side
thereof, the resilient finger having a gripping surface or notch
104, the notch 104 is in registry with and faces the notch 94 of
the resilient finger 93. Similarly, a clasping device is provided
on the other side of the platform 60 wherein the supports 90 and
100 extend from the sloping walls 62, 63 and 64, thereby to provide
the same configuration as hereinbefore described except that it is
the mirror image thereof. It is to be understood that each of the
resilient fingers 90 and 100 are comprised of three identical
portions 90a, 90b and 90c and 100a, 100b and 100c corresponding to
the portions 85a, 85b and 85c hereinbefore described. By reference
to the drawings, it is seen, therefore, that resilient fingers 85a,
91a, 93a and 103a are in registry as are the corresponding portions
85b, 91b, 93b and 103b and the corresponding portions 85c, 91c, 93c
and 103c. The same configuration is provided on the right-hand side
of the platform 60 as viewed in FIG. 3, thereby to provide two
spaced apart clasping members near the ends of the platform 60 and
extending transversely thereof across substantially the entire
width of the platform.
The platform 60 is further provided with two transversely extending
struts 107 and 108, as seen in the right-hand portion of FIG. 3,
the struts 107 and 108 extending transversely of the platform 60
along the entire width thereof and interconnecting the opposed
peripheral side walls 80 of the platform. The strut 107 is in
alignment with two bosses 110, one positioned on the front edge and
one on the rear edge of the platform 60 and extending from the
bottom of the right-hand most recess 81, as seen in FIG. 3, whereas
the strut 108 is in alignment with two bosses 111, one positioned
on the front edge and one on the rear edge of the platform and
extending downwardly from the bottom of the left-hand most recess
81, as seen in the figure. The same construction is provided for
the left-hand portion of the platform, see FIG. 4.
The mop head 55 further includes a force transmitting member 120,
the force transmitting member 120 being movable into and out of
engagement with the platform 60. The force transmitting member 120
includes a substantially flat platform 121 having a top surface
122, a bottom surface 123 and a peripheral end surface 125
interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces. An upstanding side
wall 127 extends around the platform 121 in the shape of a
rectangle and is spaced from the peripheral surface 125 to form a
border 124 between the side wall 127 and the peripheral surface
125. The side wall 127 is provided with an outer peripheral
abutment surface 128. The force transmitting member 120 is provided
with two spaced apart upstanding ears 130, each of the ears 130
having an aperture 131 therein, the apertures being in registry.
The force transmitting member 120 includes four diagonally
positioned struts 123 extending from the respective corners formed
by the side wall 127 inwardly toward the upstanding ears 130. A
pair of parallel and spaced apart reinforcement members 134 are
provided between the upstanding ears 130. The struts 133 and 134
serve to distribute force more evenly over the entire surface area
of the platform 121, as will be explained.
The force transmitting member 120 is shaped to fit within the
platform 60 so that the upstanding ears 130 pass through the spaced
apart slots 69 and abut the inner surfaces of the spaced apart
trunnions 66 so that the apertures 131 are in registry with the
apertures 67. Further, the abutment surfaces 128 of the side walls
127 abut the abutment surface 101 of the supports 100 which also
abut the ledge 124 formed between the side wall 127 and the
peripheral surface 124 of the force transmitting member to provide
for frictional holding forces to maintain the force transmitting
member 120 in engagement with the platform 60. Generally, the
abutment surface 76 of the reinforcement member 75 is spaced from
the reinforcement member 134 due to the maintenance of the
apertures 67 and 131 in registry. The force transmitting member 120
will snap from a position of engagement with the platform 60, as
seen in FIG. 4, to the position shown in FIG. 5, wherein the force
transmitting member is spaced away from the platform 60.
There is further provided a dust cloth 140, the dust cloth 140
being generally oval in shape and having a back surface 141 and a
dusting surface 142. The dust cloth 140 is soft and pliable and is
provided with a substantial nap on the dusting surface 142 thereof.
The back surface 141 does not necessarily have the nap provided on
the dusting surface 142.
The dust cloth 140 is larger in surface area than the platform 60
so that a marginal portion of the dust cloth 140 is provided after
the dust cloth has been mounted to the mop head 55. The marginal
portion of the dust cloth 140 extends outwardly of the platform 60
to facilitate the removal of the dust cloth from the platform, as
will hereinafter be explained.
There is also provided a separable fastening device 150 including a
first fastening member 155 having a substantially rigid rectangular
backing sheet 156 having a peripheral abutment surface 157, the
rigid backing sheet 156 carrying a plurality of closely spaced
interengageable first hooking elements 158 extending therefrom. As
seen, two first fastening members 155 are provided for each side of
the platform 60 for a total of four fastening members 155, each of
the fastening members 155 snapping into position within the
clasping members as shown in FIG. 4 and being removable from the
platform 60 as shown in FIG. 6.
The separable fastening device 150 further includes a second
fastening member 165 which includes an elongated backing sheet 166
having a plurality of closely spaced interengageable second hooking
elements 168 extending upwardly therefrom, the second fastening
member 165 being fixedly mounted on the back surface 141 of the
dust cloth 140 by the stitches 169. It is apparent that there are
two second backing members 165, the backing members 165 being
spaced apart and parallel and having their longitudinal dimension
extending transversely of the dust cloth 140. The distance between
the second fastening members 165 generally corresponds to the
distance between the fastening members 155 when they are snapped in
place in the clasping device consisting of the resilient fingers
85, 91, 93 and 103. It will be noticed that the surface area of one
of the fastening members 165 is substantially less than the surface
area of side by side fastening members 155 to provide for easier
mounting of the dust cloth 140 on the platform 60.
There is also provided for the mop head 55 a mop handle 175, the
mop handle 175 including an elongated pole or rod 176 terminating
in a crosspiece 177, the crosspiece 177 being journaled for
rotation in the aligned apertures 67 and 131 provided in the
trunnions 66 and the upstanding ears 130. A yoke-shaped member 180
is positioned with the crosspiece 177 and provides two stub axles
which fit into the respective ones of the apertures 67 and 131, the
yoke-shaped member 180 being resilient so as to enable the member
180 to be compressed to permit removal of the stub axles from the
apertures 67 and 131 and the mop handle 175 from the mop head
55.
The operation of the combination dust cloth and dust mop 50 will
now be set forth. The dust cloth 140 may be used alone as a dust
cloth or in combination with the mop head 55 to provide a dust mop
construction 50. When the dust cloth 90 is detached, it may be used
to dust furniture and the like as any other dust mop, the shag or
nap depending from the dusting surface 142 thereof providing a good
dusting surface. When it is desired to convert the dust cloth 140
into a dust mop construction 50, the dust cloth 140 is positioned
on a support surface such as the floor with the shag or nap side,
that is the dusting surface 142, positioned downwardly and the
second fastening members 165 fixedly adhered to the back surface
141 of the dust cloth 140 positioned upwardly. The mop head 55 in
its fully constructed condition, as hereinafter will be explained,
is positioned over the dust cloth 140 so that the first fastening
members 155 are in registry with the second fastening members 165.
The mop head 55 is then firmly pressed on to the cloth 140 thereby
to mount the cloth 140 to the mop head 55 with the engaged
fastening members 155 and 165 providing spaced apart fastening
devices. The greater surface area of the fastening members 155
compared to the fastening members 165 permit the mounting of the
dust cloth 140 to the mop head 55 without precise alignment of the
fastening members 155 and 165. The combination of the dust cloth
140, the mop head 55 and the mop handle 175 provides the dust mop
and dust cloth construction 50.
The fastening members 155 and 165 each are provided with a
plurality of closely spaced interengageable hooking elements such
as those described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,099,235, issued to G.
deMestral, Nov. 21, 1961 (the disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference), and sold under the trademark "VELCRO."
The first fastening members 155 may be snapped into and out of
position in the mop head 55 between the positions shown in FIG. 4
(the left-hand portion thereof) and the position shown in FIG. 2.
The advantage of the easy removability of the first fastening
members 155 is that they may be replaced if they become damaged or
wear out without replacing the entire mop head 55. Since the
fingers 85, 91, 93 and 103 are resilient, the first fastening
members 155 can be snapped into and out of position on the mop head
55, the bosses 110 and 111 preventing the fastening members 155
from sliding transversely of the mop head 55 when the fastening
members 155 are in the snapped-in position thereof. Removal of the
fastening members 155 from the mop head 55 is facilitated by the
openings 82 in the peripheral wall 80 of the mop head 55. A screw
driver or other flat instrument may be inserted into the openings
82 and the fastening members 155 may thereafter be pried from the
resilient fingers holding them in position.
The force transmitting member 120 is also removable from the
platform 60 of the mop head 55, the force transmitting member 120
snugly fitting between the supports 100 so that the abutment
surface 128 of the force transmitting member 120 is in contact with
the abutment surface 101 of the support 100, thereby firmly and
frictionally to hold the force transmitting member 120 within the
platform 60. Further, the upstanding ears 130 frictionally engage
the inside of the trunnions 66, thereby to provide additional
frictional engagement between the platform 60 and the force
transmitting member 120. Since the ends of the yoke-shaped member
180 fit into and through the apertures 131 in the upstanding ears
130, force applied to the handle 175 is transmitted through the
upstanding ears 130 along the struts 133 and 134 to the platform
121 which platform 121 has a substantial surface area as shown in
FIG. 3. The portion of the dust cloth 140 underneath the entire
bottom surface 123 of the force transmitting member 120, therefore,
will have a uniform of force transmitted thereto and evenly
distributed thereover to improve the dusting capabilities of the
combination dust cloth and dust mop 50.
It should be noticed that the distance between the backing sheet
156 of the fastening member 155 and the back surface 141 of the
dust cloth 140 when the fastening members 155 and 165 are engaged
is substantially equal to the distance between the notches 86, 92,
94 and 104 and the bottom surface 123 of the force transmitting
member 120. This construction is provided so that a smooth dusting
surface is produced when the dust cloth 140 is mounted to the mop
head 55, and the entire area of the dust cloth 140 under the force
transmitting member 120 contacts the area to be dusted without
variations in the force applied thereto.
In a constructional example, the platform 60 may be 12 inches in
length, 4 1/2 inches in width and may have a thickness at the end
thereof of 5/16 inch and a thickness at the trunnions 66 of 3/4
inch. The slots 69 may be three-fourths of an inch long and
five-thirty seconds of an inch wide. The distance between the
fingers 85 and 91 may be 0.968 inches which is also the distance
between the fingers 93 and 103. The force transmitting member may
have a length of 7.65 inches and a width of 4.5 inches, the
upstanding ears 130 being 1 1/16 inch from the center of the
aperture 131 to the bottom surface 123 of the force transmitting
member 120. The mop head 55 is preferably made from a synthetic
organic resin which is scratch resistant and non-brittle.
Polypropylene is the preferred material.
While there has been provided what is at present considered to be
the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood
that various modifications and alterations may be made therein, and
it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such alterations
and modifications as fall in the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
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