Mop Head Support Tool

Abstract

Mop head support tool particularly designed for reception, support, quick release, and replacement of a wet-type mop head, and wherein the mop head retaining means comprises a trough-shaped section attached to the handle of the tool, a first rod-shaped section cooperating therewith to grip a mop head and being movable into and out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section by means of a second rod-shaped section attached to the first section and extending along the axis of the handle.

Parent Case Text

This is a division of application Ser. No. 117,518, filed Feb. 22, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,441 issued May 29, 1973.

Description

This invention relates to mops and, more particularly, to means for removably securing a replaceable mop head on a mop handle.

In the use of mops to clean floors, particularly in commercial and industrial establishments, it is a common practice to provide means for removably replacing the mop heads on their support handles. This not only facilitates periodic cleaning of the mop heads during use, but permits ready replacement of worn mop heads and permits use of a common handle and support for many mop heads.

The present invention is directed to a mop head holder or tool for support and ready replacement of wet-type mop heads, which heads are of the generaly type construction described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,492,232 and commonly assigned U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 36,924, filed May 15, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,207. Such wet-type mop heads are generally constructed of a plurality of elongate, generally parallel strings or threads which are attached at their midpoint by a fabric band or the like. In use the mop is folded at its midpoint of attachment about a suitable support rod or bracket on the end of a mop handle. One such bracket supporting means is described in the above mentioned co-pending patent application.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool for support of a wet-type mop head which securely supports the mop head during use and permits quick release and replacement of a used mop head with a fresh mop head with minimum handling of the mop head during release and replacement.

The above as well as other objects of the present invention will be better understood and explained from the following detailed description and by reference to accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view, with parts in section, of a wet mop including a handle, mop head, and retaining means for removably supporting the mop head;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the mop of FIG. 1, with the retaining means shown in an open position with the mop head removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rod-shaped retaining member of the retaining means shown in FIG. 2, taken generally along line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view, with parts in section, of a form of the mop head retaining means of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation view, with parts in section, of a modified form of the mop head retaining means of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the mop tool of FIG. 1 showing the shape of the trough-shaped clamping means of the mop headretaining section, with the movable clamping rod of the retaining section removed for clarity.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the mop head supporting tool generally comprises an elongate mop handle 10 and mop head retaining means 12 to which is removably attached a wet-type mop head 14. Mop handle 10 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, metal, plastic, or the like. As shown, the handle is composed of a hollow aluminum tube 16, the upper end of which is provided with a suitable cap 18.

Attached to the lower end of the mop handle is the mop head retaining means 12 formed of suitable material, such as metal or plastic, and which comprises a stub shaft 20 which is matingly received in the end of tube 16 and secured thereto by suitable means, such as a rivet or screw, not shown. Integrally attached to shaft 20 is a first elongate clamping means shown as an elongate trough-shaped section 22. Pivotally attached by a sleeve and cross-pin 24 to one end of the trough-shaped section 22 is second clamping means comprising an elongate rod-shaped member 25 having a mop head-engaging section 26 (FIG. 2) and a hand-engageable section 28 which extends up and around tube 16 (FIGS. 2 & 3).

With a mop head supported in the retaining means of the mop tool, the trough-shaped section 22 and the mop head-engaging section 26 extend generally perpendicular to the axis of the handle 10 to clamp the midportion of the mop head firmly therebetween (FIG. 1). To maintain section 26 in mating engagement with trough-shaped portion 22 and thereby retain the mop head 14 on the mop handle for use, hand-engageable section 28 is frictionally retained in position closely adjacent handle 10 (FIG. 1) by a retaining ring 30 which is upwardly slidable on the handle to release hand-engageable section 28. As can be seen in FIG. 2, when retaining ring 30 is moved to its upper position, rod-shaped member 25 pivots about pin 24, and the mop head may be readily removed from the open end of the clamping means. This is accomplished without having to touch the mop head by releasing the hand-engageable section 28 and turning the mop tool with the open end of the retaining means downward to permit the mop head to fall by gravity from the retaining section.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the mop tool of the present invention wherein the mop head retaining means comprises a second clamping means composed of an elongate, mop headengageable, generally U-shaped rod 32 which is movably attached to the end of handle 34 by a connection section 36.

Connection section 36 comprises a stubshaft 38 the lower end of which is attached to rod 32. The upper end of shaft 38 extends into the hollow end of handle 34 and carries a cross-pin 40, the outer ends of which extend through opposing elongate vertical slots in handle 34 and mate with an internal annular groove in a rotatable nut 42 surrounding the lower end of the handle 34. Nut 42 is threadably secured to a sleeve 44 integral with handle 34 whereby rotation of the nut 42 moves the mop head-engaging rod 32 into and out of mating relationship with trough-shaped clamping section 46. When rod 32 is in its lowermost position shown in full lines of FIG. 4, a mop head may be readily inserted between the U-shaped legs of the rod by inserting it through the left hand open end of the mop head retaining means. Nut 42 is then rotated to the broken line position indicated in FIG. 4 to raise the rod 32 into mating engagement with trough-shaped section 46 and thereby firmly grip and retain the mop head between the rod and trough-shaped section for use. Replacement of the mop head is readily accomplished by reversing the procedure described and the mop head may be released from the retaining means without touching the head by turning the mop with the open end of the retaining means down so that the head falls by gravity from the rod 32.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the mop tool of the present invention wherein the mop head-retaining means comprises a second clamping means composed of an elongate U-shaped rod 70 the upper end portion 72 of which is slidably received within the hollow end of handle 73. Spring 74 is positioned between a fixed collar 76 on the upper end of rod portion 72 and a movable collar 78 which is slidably mounted on the rod portion 72 and is attached through an elongate slot 79 in handle 73 to a hand-engageable toggle lever 80.

The end of toggle lever 80 is pivotally attached to the upper surface of trough-shaped section 82 and is movable from the full line position indicated in FIG. 5 wherein the elongate mop head engaging rod 70 is opened from the trough-shaped section 82 to the broken line position indicated in FIG. 5 with the rod 70 in mating relation with the trough-shaped section 82.

Thus, when the rod 70 is positioned as shown in full lines in FIG. 5, the mop head may be placed between the U-shaped leg of the rod 70 through the left hand open end of the clamping means and the lever raised to the broken line position to firmly secure the mop head between the rod 70 and the trough-shaped section 82.

In each of the embodiments shown in the drawings, means are provided for adjusting the gripping force exerted on the mop head by the clamping means to compensate for various mop head constructions and for wear of the mop. As seen in FIG. 1, the hand-engageable section 28 of the pivotal rod-shaped clamping member extends upwardly inward toward tube 16 such that as retaining ring 30 is moved further downward on the tube, the mop head-engaging section 26 will be moved closer to the inside lower surface of the trough-shaped section 22. Therefore, depending on the thickness of the mid-portion of the mop head held on section 26, the position of the section can be adjusted to compensate therefor and ensure positive gripping of the mop head during use.

In like manner, the position of rod 32 relative to trough-shaped section 46 in FIG. 4 may be varied by adjusting nut 42 upwardly or downwardly on the end of handle 34 to compensate for variations in mop head construction or wear. Also, the biasing force of spring 74 in the construction of FIG. 5 adjustably compensates to accommodate mop heads of various construction between the rod 70 and trough-shaped member 82.

From the foregoing detailed description, it can be seen that the mop tool of the present invention may be readily employed to removably support various mop head constructions for use, and will permit ready removal and replacement of the mop heads by the user.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. A tool for supporting a mop head comprising an elongate handle and mop head retaining means attached to one end of said handle, said retaining means comprising a trough-shaped section having closed ends attached to said end of and extending generally perpendicular to the axis of the handle, a first rod-shaped section extending generally co-extensive with said trough-shaped section, a second rod-shaped section attached to said first section extending along the axis of said handle and operatively connected to the handle for movement into and out of the end of the handle to locate said first rod-shaped section in and out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section to releasably grip and retain a mop head therebetween, and wherein said first rod-shaped section comprises first and second elongate portions extending in spaced generally parallel relation generally perpendicular to the axis of the handle, said portions being connected at one end with the other ends thereof forming an open side whereby a mop head may be readily inserted and retained therebetween and may be readily released therefrom by gravity when the open side is positioned in a downward facing direction.

2. A tool as defined in claim 1 including hand manipulatable means operatively attached to said second rod-shaped section and handle for moving said second section along the axis of said handle to move the first rod-shaped section into and out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section.

3. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said hand manipulatable means comprises a sleeve threadably secured to the end portion of said handle in surrounding relation thereto and means operatively connecting said sleeve to said second rod-shaped section whereby rotation of the sleeve moves the first rod-shaped section along the axis of the handle selectively toward and away from the trough-shaped section.

4. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said hand manipulatable means includes a hand-engagable lever attached to and pivotally movable toward and away from the handle for positioning the first rod-shaped section in the trough-shaped section.

5. A tool as defined in claim 1 including means for adjusting the distance between the trough-shaped section and the first rod-shaped section when the rod-shaped section is in mating relation therewith to compensate for variations in the mop head dimensions and thereby facilitate retention of a mop head therebetween.

6. A tool for supporting a mop head comprising an elongate handle and mop head retaining means attached to one end of said handle, said retaining means comprising a trough-shaped section attached to said end of and extending generally perpendicular to the axis of the handle, a first rod-shaped section extending generally co-extensive with said trough-shaped section, a second rod-shaped section attached to said first section extending along the axis of said handle and operatively connected thereto for sliding movement into and out of the end of the handle to locate said first rod-shaped section in and out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section to releasably grip and retain a mop head therebetween, and a hand-engagable lever operatively attached to said second rod-shaped section and handle for moving said second section along the axis of the handle and said first rod-shaped section into and out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section, said lever being pivotally movable between a first position extending alongside, closely adjacent, and generally parallel to the handle when the rod-shaped and trough-shaped sections are in mating relation, and a second position extending away from the handle when the first rod-shaped section is out of mating relation with the trough-shaped section to release a mop therefrom, and means operatively connected to said lever for adjusting the position between the trough-shaped section and the first rod-shaped section when they are in mating relation with each other to compensate for variations in mop head dimensions while maintaining said lever in said first position alongside said handle.