CA1238157A - Mop construction - Google Patents

Mop construction

Info

Publication number
CA1238157A
CA1238157A CA000503294A CA503294A CA1238157A CA 1238157 A CA1238157 A CA 1238157A CA 000503294 A CA000503294 A CA 000503294A CA 503294 A CA503294 A CA 503294A CA 1238157 A CA1238157 A CA 1238157A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
handle
mop
cap
strap
construction
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000503294A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kevin W. Worrell
Dennis A. Hammond
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rubbermaid Inc
Original Assignee
Rubbermaid Canada Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rubbermaid Canada Inc filed Critical Rubbermaid Canada Inc
Priority to CA000503294A priority Critical patent/CA1238157A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1238157A publication Critical patent/CA1238157A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L13/00Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L13/10Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
    • A47L13/20Mops
    • A47L13/24Frames for mops; Mop heads

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

There is provided a new and useful mop construction comprising a handle, an opening through the handle adjacent one end thereof, a flexible strap extending through the opening and forming a loop extending longitudinally beyond the end of the handle, a group of mop strands secured within the loop, and a cap secured on the handle and extending over the strap and a part of the strands, the cap including on the interior thereof restraining means for maintaining the position of the loop against rotation transverse to the handle.

Description

I

This application relates to a mop construction.

BACKGROUND 01~ THEA INV~NTIOl~

In both the domestic and commercial cleaning fields there have been numerous developments over the years aimed at simplifying the problems attendant on floor cleaning. For example, various types of vacuum cleaning devices have been developed for both wet and dry cleaning, sometimes including combination tools which both apply water and cleaning agent and collect by means of vacuum the residue of the cleaning liquid.
Notwithstanding these apparent advances, there has remained a very large market for simple and inexpensive hand tools. One such example comprises various types of mops. Of particular importance in the mop grouping is the string or yacht type mop utilized mainly in the washing of floors.
A very high volume of yacht mops is produced for the cleaning industry, and, since costs on a per mop basis must be kept low there has been a continuing effort for many years to develop faster and less expensive construction techniques than have been available in the past. This has led to a wide variety Of proposed new mop constructions and methods for assembling those constructions.
A number of problems have been presented by all of the new constructions that are presently available. An important one of these arises from the difficulty of maintaining the bunch of ... . . , I;

~3~3~L57 mop strands in proper alignment with the handle. Since the mop strands absorb a substantial quantity of water and are always used when wet, and because of the leverage contributed by the long mop handle, considerable transverse forces are exerted on 5 the mop strands at the point of connection with the handle.
These are multi-directional forces which impart both transverse and twisting moments to the bunch of mop strands.
The result of these forces has been that the bunch of mop strands becomes displaced relative to the handle so that the 10 mop cannot be used properly without repositioning the bunch.
This immediately leads to increased labor costs in the context of commercial cleaning. Furthermore, once the bunch has been initially displaced, the restraining components may well have been stretched, so that the problem is worsened and becomes 15 repetitive. Because of these problems, proposed constructions which would decrease the time and costs of manufacture of these mops have not been accepted. Rather, the fact is that in a large segment of the market these yacht mop types are still made by wiring a portion of the strand bunch directly around the mop 20 handle. This is a most inefficient method of construction, since the winding of the wire around the bunch and the handle is done by hand. Furthermore, in order to produce mops of consistently good quality at a reasonable rate of production, it is necessary that those applying the wire to the construction must be skilled 25 craftsman of long experience. This again increases the cost of production and, as well, results in difficulties in obtaining ~3~3~L57 personnel with sufficient skills.
The present invention is aimed at an alleviation of these problems by putting forward a mop construction which is simple and inexpensive, while at the same time being sturdy and 5 reliable. Furthermore, personnel involved in manufacture of the new mops may be workers with minimum skills who will require little training.

PRIOR ART

As indicated above, a number of attempts have been made 10 to produce a more effective mop construction. Canadian Patent 238,945, granted March 20, 1924, to Pendergast is one such example. The end of the mop handle is profiled with a series of notches designed to restrain the mop bunch, and a wire cage is constructed in a further attempt to restrain the movement of the 15 bunch Canadian Patent 1,070,064, issued January 22, 1980, to Atlas-Graham Industries Company Ltd. illustrates another approach to yacht mop assembly. Means are provided to restrain relative movement between the mop and the connector by means of pins and 20 projections operating on the individual strands.
Finally, U.S. Patent 2,242,543, granted May 20, 1941, to Fops illustrates a construction similar to Atlas-~raham.
None of these patents provides an adequate solution to the types of problems discussed above.

SMEAR OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present case illustrates a new approach to the restraining of transverse movement as between the mop strands and the mop handle. This is achieved without 5 interference with and consequent breakage and loosing of individual mop strands.
Thus, the invention provides a mop construction comprising a handle, an opening through the handle adjacent one end thereof, a flexible strap extending through the opening and 10 forming a loop extending longitudinally beyond the end of the handle, a group of mop strands secured within the loop, and a cap secured on the handle and extending over the strap and a part of the strands the cap including on the interior thereof restraining means for maintaining the position of the loop 15 against rotation transverse to the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THY DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partly disassembled of a 20 mop according to the invention.
FIGURE is a partly cutaway section through a mop according to the invention.

While the invention will be described in conjunction ~L~3~3~L57 with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of 5 the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ~BODIM~TS

The mop construction 10 includes the handle 12l the bunch 14 of strands 16 and the connecting and restraining system 18. The system 18 includes the connecting strap 20 and the lo restraining cap 22.
The cap 22 comprises an upper neck section 24 and a lower section 26 generally being bell shaped or truncated cone shaped. The neck section 24 fits closely around handle 12 and, when not secured, may be slid along the handle.
Extending inwardly from positions on the inner surface 28 of lower section 26 are restraining means 30 and 32. The restraining means 30 and 32 are located opposite each other within the cap 22.
The restraining means 30 and 32 each include a pair of 20 terminal members 34 and 36 which extend inwardly in cap 22. In the preferred case each of members 34 and 36 comprises a web.
In each of restraining means 30 and 32, the terminal members 34 and 36 are separated by a distance "d". Furthermore , .

~,38~L~;7 the opposing edges 38 and 40 and 42 and 44 respectively of terminal members 34 and 36 are separated by a distance "x".
The neck section 24 of the cap I has a diameter sufficiently greater than the diameter ox the handle 12 to allow the cap 22 to slide over the handle 12.
For assembly, the handle 12 is provided with a transverse opening 46 and, optionally, may be profiled to form two flat areas 48 and 50 on opposite sides of handle 12 and extending from the bottom 52 of the handle 12 to a level 54 above lo the opening 46.

In the preferred case the opening 46 is generally in the configuration of a slot.
The connecting strap 20 is preferably of plastic and includes a connector 56 which allows the strap 20 to be drawn into a loop of desired size.
In assembly, the strap 20 is passed through opening 46 and around the bunch 14 of strands 16. The strap 20 is tightened by means of the connector 56 to securely hold the bunch 14 between the bottom 60 of the loop 20 and the bottom 52 of the 20 handle 12. The cap 22 can then be positioned with the lower section 26 encompassing the connecting strap 20 and the top part 62 of the bunch 14.
The cap 22 is oriented such that the terminal members 34 and 36 of each of restraining means 30 and 32 are positioned 25 over the connecting strap 20 adjacent the flat areas 48 and 50.
The distance "d" is chosen such that it is just greater than the ~LZ3~3~L5~

width "w" of strap 20, so that strap 20 can be positioned between terminal members 34 and 36.
As well, the distance "x" separating edges 38 and A
and 42 and 44 of restraining means 30 and 32 is chosen to be just greater than the distance "y" between the flat areas 48 and 50 so that when properly positioned the edges 38 and 40 and 42 and 44 will lie very close to the surface of the flat areas I and 50.
The bottom sections of the edges may be angled outwardly slightly as at 61 to clear the strands 63 bunched around the lower end of 10 the handle.

Accordingly when the cap 22 is properly oriented and properly positioned on the handle 12, the terminal members 34 and 36 of the restraining means 30 and 32 will effectively lock the strap 20 and thus loop 58 in a longitudinal orientation relative to the handle 12. Accordingly, the various transverse and twisting forces applied as between the handle 12 and the bunch 14 will not displace these components relative to one another.
Clearly, the cap 22 and the restraining means 30 and 32 are preferably integral molded plastic.
A final step in the assembly of the mop comprises the fastening of the cap 22 to the handle 12 by means of a staple 64 or like means.
As a first alternative method of construction, if the projections 30 and 32, together with cap 22, are rotated by 90, the projections will still restrain the loop 20 against rotation transverse to the end 52 of handle 12.

.

~3~3~57 Clearly this alternative, when used in addition to the illustrated embodiment, will provide an even greater restraint on loop 20.
In a further alternative, the projections 30 and 32 may 5 extend into the strands, particularly in the first alternative described just above, to form broad wall effects against rotation of the strands, so that the strands and the loop are both held securely.
While the illustrated example includes the flat area I
10 and 50, these areas may be omitted and the distance "x" then adjusted as required by the curvature of handle 12.
There has thus been described a mop construction which overcomes serious difficulties in the prior art but which is capable of assembly by a person of low skill and training level 15 and which is inexpensive in terms of both cost of components and cost of labor and assembly.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a mop construction that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above.
20 While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, 25 modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A mop construction comprising:
a handle;
an opening through said handle adjacent one end thereof;
a flexible strap extending through said opening and forming a loop extending longitudinally beyond said end of said handle;
a group of mop strands secured within said loop;
and a cap secured on said handle and extending over said strap and a part of said strands, said cap including on the interior thereof restraining means for maintaining the position of said loop against rotation transverse to said handle.
2. The mop construction of claim 1 in which said handle is of circular cross section and said restraining means maintains said strap in position on opposite sides of said handle.
3. The mop construction of claim 2 in which said opposite sides of said handle are flattened from said end to a point beyond said opening.
4. The mop construction of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a pair of structures, one on each side of said cap adjacent respective sections of said strap, each said structure projecting from the interior of the wall of said cap to a position adjacent said handle and including a pair of terminal members, one of which projects on each side of said strap.
5. The mop construction of claim 4 wherein each said structure comprises a pair of webs projecting from said wall to positions adjacent said handle and on opposite sides of respective sections of said strap.
6. The mop construction of claim 5 in which said webs are elongated longitudinally of said handle.
7. The mop construction of claim 6 in which the webs approximate right angled triangles in which the hypotenuse lies along the cap wall and the right angle is adjacent said end of said handle.
8. The mop construction of claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said restraining means is integral with said cap.
9. The mop construction of claim 1 wherein each said restraining means comprises a pair of structures, one on each side of said cap on opposite sides of said loop formed by said strap, each said structure projecting from the interior of the wall of said cap to a position adjacent said handle and including a pair of terminal members projecting adjacent said strap at its entry and exit points from said opening.
10. The mop of claim 9 in which each said structure comprises a pair of webs.
11. The mop construction of claim 10 in which said webs project downwardly such that when assembled the said webs project into said bunch.
CA000503294A 1986-03-04 1986-03-04 Mop construction Expired CA1238157A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000503294A CA1238157A (en) 1986-03-04 1986-03-04 Mop construction

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000503294A CA1238157A (en) 1986-03-04 1986-03-04 Mop construction

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1238157A true CA1238157A (en) 1988-06-21

Family

ID=4132603

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000503294A Expired CA1238157A (en) 1986-03-04 1986-03-04 Mop construction

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1238157A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1129658A1 (en) * 2000-03-01 2001-09-05 The Libman Company String mop and connector therefor

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1129658A1 (en) * 2000-03-01 2001-09-05 The Libman Company String mop and connector therefor
US6321409B1 (en) 2000-03-01 2001-11-27 Robert Libman String mop and connector therefor

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Legal Events

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