AU745002B2 - Sponge mop action allowing use of either a two-post or four-post sponge mop block - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 442015

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL 131] Application No(s) PP2123 Edgar Edmondson Imports Pty. Ltd.

Suite 702 1 Chifley Square Sydney New South Wales 2000

AUSTRALIA

Peter Charles Edmondson Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Sponge Mop Action Allowing Use of Either a Two-Post or Four-Post Sponge Mop Block APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[321 Application 4 March 1998 Date The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 11. BuyRB; SPONGE MOP ACTION ALLOWING USE OF EITHER A TWO-POST OR FOUR-POST SPONGE MOP BLOCK Field of the Invention The following invention relates to sponge squeeze mops.

A two-post sponge block refill for use with a two-post sponge squeeze mop action is shown in Fig. 1. The mop action of a two-post sponge squeeze mop requires a two-post sponge block to function initially and will for the life of the mop action require the exclusive use of a two-post sponge block refill as shown in Fig. 1. This refill includes a rectangular absorbent sponge having glued thereto a pair of plastics plates 2 in each of which there is an internally threaded hole 3 into which a plastics screw can pass to secure the refill to the mop action.

A four-post sponge squeeze mop requires a four-post refill as shown in Fig. 2. A four-post mop action requires a four-post sponge block to function initially and will for the life of the mop action require the exclusive use of a four-post sponge block refill as shown.

Sometimes, when purchasing a refill at the supermarket, it is difficult to remember whether it is a four-post or two-post refill that is required. This often results in the incorrect refill being purchased.

g Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage and/or more generally to provide a mop action with location holes so placed as to allow for the effective working of the sponge mop with either a two or fourpost sponge block Disclosure of the Invention 25 There is disclosed herein a mop action including a pair of plates mounted for pivoting movement about a common central axis, each plate having a first aperture through which a post or screw of a two-post sponge block can pass so as to be secured to the action, said first apertures being located on a first line extending substantially perpendicular to said axis so that said apertures are substantially equidistant from said central axis, each plate further having a second and a third aperture through which posts or screws of a four-post sponge block can pass to secure the block to the action, and wherein the second aperture and the third aperture of each plate are located on a second -[RLBM]69634.doc:yxa [:LIBM]663docyxa line, the second lines being substantially parallel to said axis and substantially normal to said first line so that the second and third apertures are substantially equally spaced from said first line and said second lines are substantially equally spaced from said axis.

That is, the mop action will generally include six apertures, four of which are each adapted to receive a post or screw of a four-post sponge block, and two of which are adapted to receive the post or screw of a two-post sponge block.

Preferably, the first apertures are closer to the central axis than the second and third apertures.

a a a [R:\LIBM]69634.doc yxa -L ~C$t Def inition As used herein, the terms "two-post sponge squeeze mop" and "two-post sponge block" and their derivatives are intended to encompass absorbent sponge or synthetic foam blocks having two internally threaded screw-receiving apertures or two externally threaded posts extending therefrom, each adapted to receive a nut or the like.

As used herein, the terms "four-post sponge squeeze mop" and "four-post sponge block" and their derivatives are intended to encompass absorbent sponge or synthetic foam blocks having four internally threaded screw-receiving apertures or four externally threaded posts extending therefrom, each adapted to receive a nut or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a two-post sponge block refill, Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a four-post sponge block refill, 15 Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a mop action secured to the refill of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of a mop action having affixed thereto the sponge block refill of Fig. 2.

*Detailed ofteDescription ofth nvention 20 In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a twopost sponge block refill 1. This refill is known in the art and includes a pair of plastics plates 2 affixed to an upper surface of the foam block 1. In each plate 2 there -is provided an internally threaded aperture 3 to receive a plastics screw or bolt.

Alternatively, a pair of externally threaded posts can be provided.

A standard two-post mop action bends the sponge refill about axis A whilst squeezing liquid therefrom.

In Fig. 2 there is schematically depicted a four-post sponge block refill also known in the art. This refill includes four plastics plates 4 adhered to the upper surface of the sponge block 6. Each plate 4 has an internally threaded aperture 5 therein to receive a screw or bolt of a mop action. Alternatively, four externally threaded posts can be provided.

Four-post mop actions generally bend the block 6 about axis B to expel liquid therefrom.

In Fig. 3 there is schematically depicted a mop action 10 which is typically formed of moulded plastics material. Action 10 includes a central member 11 having a hollow projection 14 extending therefrom. The projection 14 is typically internally threaded to receive the end of a mop handle. Hingedly attached to the central member (N:\LIBLL11372:KEH 11 is a pair of squeeze plates 12 and 13. Each squeeze plate includes ,a pair of short slots 16 through which bolts or screws 19 pass for threaded engagement with the apertures 3 of sponge block refill 1. Alternatively, where the sponge refill is provided with externally threaded posts, these posts can pass through the slots 16 and each receive a nut.

Each squeeze plate 12, 13 also includes sliding surfaces 15 against which other parts of the mop action (not shown) engage for the purpose of pivoting the squeeze plates 12 and 13 to squeeze liquid from the sponge block 1.

Each squeeze plate 12, 13 also includes a pair of apertures 17 positioned within respective recesses 18. It should be appreciated that the upper surface of each squeeze plate 12, 13 is thicker towards the central portion of each squeeze plate than at .9 the periphery of each plate. Recesses 18 are formed in this contour.

Fig. 4, the same mop action 10 is shown attached to the four-post sponge block refill of Fig. 2. To this end, four plastics bolts or screws pass through each of apertures 17 and into the corresponding internally threaded recesses 5 as shown in Fig.

2. Alternatively, where the sponge refill is provided with externally threaded posts, these posts can pass through the apertures 17 to receive nuts.

0. In use of the mop action 10 while attached to either of sponge block refills 1 or 6, the mop action is activated such that parts slide along surfaces 15 to pivot the 20 squeeze plates 12 and 13 downwardly toward one another about axis C to eject water the absorbent material of the sponge block refill.

Either two-post or four-post refills can be purchased and used with the above 0% 0 disclosed mop action.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.

For example, and with reference to the above definitions, the internally threaded recesses 3 and 5 can be replaced by externally threaded posts extending upwardly from the respective plastics plates 2 or 4. Also, the means of engaging the sponge block refills with the mop action need not be limited to threaded means. For example, snapon caps could be provided upon posts having an annular recess near their upper ends.

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Claims (3)

1. A mop action including a pair of plates mounted for pivoting movement about a common central axis, each plate having a first aperture through which a post or screw of a two-post sponge block can pass so as to be secured to the action, said first apertures being located on a first line extending substantially perpendicular to said axis so that said apertures are substantially equidistant from said central axis, each plate further having a second and a third aperture through which posts or screws of a four-post sponge block can pass to secure the block to the action, and wherein the second aperture and the third aperture of each plate are located on a second line, the second lines being substantially parallel to said axis and substantially normal to said first line so that the second and third apertures are substantially equally spaced from said first line and said second lines are substantially equally spaced from said axis.

2. The mop action of claim 1, wherein the first apertures are closer to the central axis than the second and third apertures.

3. A mop action substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 14 January, 2002 Edgar Edmondson Imports Pty. Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person 20 SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBM]69634.doc:yxa