EP0632991A1 - Sponge mop - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sponge-headed mop including a fixture (1) connected to a handle (2), this fixture comprising at least one elongate support element (3) intended to receive a spongy layer (4). According to the invention, the spongy layer (4) is fixed to the support (3) by removable fixing means consisting of at least two fixing tabs (5) integral with the support (3) and of at least one fastening plate (7) integral with the spongy layer (4) and intended to interact with the fixing tabs (5). These tabs are mounted so that they can slide in means (8) forming a slideway. Furthermore, the sponge-headed mop according to the invention includes two lateral wings mounted so they can pivot and are able to be operated between a mopping position and a wringing position through the use of operating means (14 to 30). A connection apparatus (31 to 37) may be provided for fitting the handle (2) to the fixture (1). The handle may be mounted so that it is orientable, and a scraper (44) may be provided on the front face of the fixture (1). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a sponge mop comprising a frame connected to a handle inclined upwards and backwards, this frame comprising at least one elongated support element, suitable for receiving a sponge layer, constituted for example by a sponge, fixed by removable means.

Known sponge brushes have complicated and expensive means of fixing the sponge. These means consist for example of two fixing heads secured to a semi-rigid plate glued to the sponge, and capable of being inserted into keyhole openings formed in the body of the support. The installation of the sponge is carried out by introducing the fixing heads into a wide part of the keyhole openings and by sliding this sponge towards a narrower part of the openings.

The need to manufacture and glue a semi-rigid plate of the type described above to the sponge very significantly increases the cost price of replacement sponges. This constitutes an excessive expense for the housewives who often have to replace the used sponges.

In addition, everyone has observed that the volume of a sponge varies significantly depending on whether it is dry or wet. In fact, the volume decreases when the sponge dries up to adopt a strongly shrunk state. On the contrary, when the sponge is moistened, its volume increases until a state of maximum extension. The known means of fixing the sponges on a conventional sponge mop go against this natural deformation process. This results in strong internal tightness when the sponge retracts after being moistened. These tightnesses are capable of giving rise, within the structure of the sponge, to tears which considerably accelerate wear.

This poses an additional problem for housewives, who often have to change expensive sponges.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose fast and easy-to-use fixing means, making it possible to lower the cost prices of the sponges and to increase their lifespan.

The use of a sponge mop is particularly practical for housewives when a sponge wringing system is provided.

In this context, the present invention also relates to a sponge mop provided with the removable fixing means mentioned above, the frame of which comprises an elongated support constituted by two side wings mounted pivoting around at least one anteroposterior axis situated at their internal ends, and comprising means for controlling the position of the lateral wings between an aligned sponge position and a wringing position in which they are brought together by pivoting.

Such known control means comprise, for example, a relatively bulky pusher guided relative to the handle of the broom, and the lateral branches of which are capable, when it is moved downward, of pressing on the wings to bring them closer to one of the other by rotating them around their axis. The wings can be returned to the aligned sponge position under the action of an elastic member, for example a spring.

These means have the drawback of being relatively bulky and weigh down the structure of the sponge mop. In addition, the wing control is subject to two organs, the pusher and the spring, which increases the risk of malfunction.

The present invention therefore also aims to provide, for controlling the position of the wings, means whose size and weight are limited and which are directly implemented by the same control member, both during the transition to the position only when returning to the sponge position.

More specifically, a first object of the invention is to propose fixing means using, on the one hand, at least two hook-and-loop fastening plates placed on the underside of the elongated support of the brush, and on the other hand , one or more easy and inexpensive hooking plates, integral with the upper face of the sponge or the sponge layer. The attachment of the sponge to the support is simply carried out by applying this sponge against the underside of the support, so that the hook-and-loop plates and the attachment plate or plates previously placed opposite each other, cooperate between them and keep the sponge hanging.

In order to replace the sponge, it is very easily detached from the support by a simple pulling movement.

The life of the sponge is lengthened by mounting the hook-and-loop fastening plates in means forming a slide provided on the underside of the support element and arranged in the lengthwise direction of this element. Thus, when the sponge dries up, the fixing plates aligned in one or more slides come closer to each other without opposing the retraction of the sponge. When, on the contrary, the sponge is moistened and regains its largest dimensions, the aligned plates move away from each other accompanying this extension. Although not only the length, but also the width of a moistened sponge increases, it is not necessary to provide plates having a degree of freedom in the width direction of the sponges. Indeed, in the case of an elongated support whose length is quite clearly greater than the width, a sponge adapted to such a support will see, during a humidification, its length increase much more strongly than its width.

It is however advantageous that the movement of the plates in the slide means is limited on both sides by stops. These stops prevent improper positioning of the plates and prevent them from detaching from the elongated support.

Insofar as the sponges are generally delivered in a conformation corresponding substantially to their largest humidification dimensions, it is advantageous to provide elastic means capable, in the absence of a sponge, of holding the fixing plates in position natural spacing. Such elastic means, constituted for example by springs, further simplify the step of fixing the sponge to the support, since they eliminate all the prior adjustments to the position of the fixing plates in the means forming a slide.

On the sponge, the attachment plate is advantageously constituted by a plate of aerated fibrous material, secured by gluing to the spongy material. In this case, the gripping members of the fixing plates are advantageously mushroom-shaped lugs, the head of which is capable of catching on the fibers of the attachment plate.

In the following, the underside of a component of the sponge mop will designate the face of this element naturally located near the ground during sponging; the upper side will obviously be the opposite side. The front face will designate the face located opposite the handle, while the rear face will be the face located on the side of the handle.

The above-mentioned means for fixing the sponge are advantageously adapted to a sponge mop comprising an elongated support element constituted by two lateral wings mounted to pivot around at least one anteroposterior axis. Such a sponge mop further comprises means for control the position of the wings between a sponge position and a spin position.

A second object of the invention is to propose improved means for controlling the position of the wings.

These means comprise two guide slots or slides each placed on the upper face of one of the two side wings, two guide rods pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and perpendicular to the pivot axis of the side wings, and of which the front part cooperates with the guide slots. The rear part of these rods is connected to means for simultaneously controlling the pivoting thereof. These pivoting control means advantageously comprise an articulation joint, connected to a rod substantially arranged along the handle, and a pusher intended to slide along the handle, connected by an articulation to this rod. This pusher, of reduced dimensions, can be constituted by a simple ring enclosing the handle and comprising, on its rear part, a housing adapted to receive in an articulated manner the control rod raised.

It is easily understood that the fact of moving the pusher down the handle, controls the guide rods to pivot downwards via the control rod and the articulation joint. The front part of each guide rod is placed on a wing and slightly offset towards the outside relative to the pivot axis of the latter. Thus, when the guide rods are actuated in pivoting downwards, they cooperate with the underside of the guide slots so as to push the wings downwards by bringing them closer to one another. The guide slots must be arranged on the wings, at least obliquely to their pivot axis. They form, for example, a circular arc going from the rear face of the wings towards their front face and the center of which corresponds substantially to the pivot axis of the guide rods.

A movement of the pusher in the opposite direction controls the guide rods in pivoting upwards to bring them back to their initial position. During this pivoting movement, the front part of the rods cooperates with the upper face of the guide slots situated opposite the upper face of the wings, until these wings are returned to the aligned sponge position.

It can therefore be seen that the means for controlling the position of the wings according to the invention make it possible to completely control the movement thereof both when passing to the spinning position and when returning to the sponge position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sponge mop comprises a fitting device for fixing the handle to the frame. Such a fitting device allows quick and easy assembly of the handle and the mop of the sponge mop; it also allows to adapt to the frame any handle whose end has no special device, which is an advantage if the replacement of the handle is necessary.

The fitting device recommended according to the invention has the advantage of producing a particularly reliable double fixing by using, on the one hand, fixing means and, on the other hand, clamping means.

This fitting device comprises a first element integral with the frame and having a cavity intended to receive the handle. This cavity narrows downwards and is provided with fixing means, constituted, for example, by an internal toothing. The outer wall of this first element is extended upwards by elastic clamping means and has a threaded part.

The device further comprises a second element constituted by a clamping ring threaded on the handle. This clamping ring has, downwards, a tapped part intended to cooperate with the threaded part of the first element, followed by a part whose inner wall has the shape of a cone which tends to tighten upwards, leading to a part with cylindrical section.

When the end of the handle is disposed in the cavity of the first element, it is retained by the fixing means of this cavity. The clamping ring is then screwed onto the first element, which causes its conical inner wall to cooperate with the elastic clamping means of this first element by pushing them against the handle. An additional fixing of the handle on the frame is thus ensured. The elastic clamping means are constituted by tongues directed axially and capable of being deformed radially to grip the handle.

It is advantageous for the tongues to be able to be brought inwards until it is possible to grip a handle with a diameter equal to the smallest diameter of the cavity of the first element. It is therefore understood that the fitting device is capable of retaining sleeves whose diameter varies between a minimum value equal to the smallest diameter of the cavity and a maximum value acceptable by at least the upper part of the cavity of the first element provided with fixing means.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sponge mop is orientable, that is to say that the first element of the fitting device has a bend leading to a front part constituted by a pin intended to be mounted to rotate and immobilized in translation in a sleeve secured to the upper part of the mop mount. The sleeve is directed along the median anteroposterior axis of the frame, which allows the journal to rotate along this axis. In this embodiment, a scraper is mounted at the end of the journal, slightly advanced on the front face of the frame.

Thus, by rotation of the handle, obviously causing the trunnion to rotate, it is possible, as desired, to put in contact with the ground either the spongy layer or the scraper. This gives the sponge mop a double scraping and sponging efficiency.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the scraper is separable from the rest of the sponge mop; for this purpose, it is constituted by a pad secured to an extended plate, on its rear face, by a finger capable of being fitted into jaws provided on the front end of the journal. The scraper finger and the jaws of the trunnion advantageously comprise the complementary elements of a clipping device. The scraper advantageously comprises a removable pad provided with a rigid rear face, mounted by removable securing means on the plate. These means are advantageously constituted by a projecting rail with a dovetail profile mounted sliding on a groove of complementary shape. To avoid inadvertent separation of the buffer, the rail and the groove have a first end forming a stop and a second end comprising complementary elements of clipping means.

According to any one of the embodiments of the sponge mop comprising the pivoting lateral wings previously mentioned, means are advantageously provided for defining the aligned position of sponging the wings and for maintaining them in this position.

In the case where the sleeve is provided, the latter advantageously forms a body with a median support which allows the above-mentioned means to be produced.

To this end, the lateral faces of the median support advantageously comprise abutment faces capable of cooperating with the internal faces of the lateral wings to define the aligned position of the latter.

One can also provide a clipping device with a first part secured to the median support and a conjugate part secured to the face. upper wings. An alternative embodiment of a clipping device consists in the use of the front parts of the guide rods as the first clipping member and in the production, on the surface of each wing, of a hollow part intended to receive removably this first clipping member.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective du balai-éponge en position d'épongeage,
• la figure 2 représente en perspective le même balai-éponge en position d'essorage,
• la figure 3 présente le support seul vu de dessous,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du support et de l'éponge non montés,
• la figure 5 présente le support vu de dessous selon un autre mode de réalisation,
• la figure 6 montre en coupe le détail de la fixation de l'éponge,
• la figure 7 est une vue selon la flèche VII de la figure 2,
• la figure 8 est une vue selon la flèche VIII de la figure 1,
• la figure 9 présente le dispositif d'emmanchement non monté,
• la figure 10 présente le dispositif d'emmanchement monté,
• la figure 11 est une coupe prise à plus grande échelle suivant la ligne XI-XI de la figure 1,
• la figure 12 est une vue de dessus suivant la flèche XII de la figure 11,
• la figure 13 est une vue en perspective du grattoir seul partiellement monté,
• la figure 14 est une vue selon la flèche H de la figure 13 du grattoir démonté.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the following description of an embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example. The description refers to the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sponge mop in the sponge position,
• FIG. 2 shows in perspective the same sponge mop in the wringing position,
• FIG. 3 shows the support alone seen from below,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support and the sponge which are not mounted,
• FIG. 5 shows the support seen from below according to another embodiment,
• FIG. 6 shows in section the detail of the attachment of the sponge,
• FIG. 7 is a view along arrow VII of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 8 is a view along arrow VIII of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 9 shows the fitting device not mounted,
• FIG. 10 shows the fitted fitting device,
• FIG. 11 is a section taken on a larger scale along the line XI-XI of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 12 is a top view along arrow XII of FIG. 11,
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the partially mounted scraper alone,
• Figure 14 is a view along arrow H of Figure 13 of the disassembled scraper.

Figure 1 shows a sponge mop having a mount 1 connected to a handle 2 inclined upwards and backwards. This frame 1 comprises at least one elongate support element 3, adapted to receive a sponge layer 4 fixed by removable means. This spongy layer is, for example, constituted by a sponge.

According to the invention, as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, the removable means for fixing the sponge are in two parts. They are in fact constituted, on the one hand, by at least two fixing plates 5 integral with the support element 3 and the lower face of which is provided with gripping lugs, and on the other hand, by at least one attachment plate 7 secured to the upper face of the sponge 4 and placed opposite the fixing plates. The gripping lugs 6 are capable of clinging to this hooking plate 7 in a removable manner. As seen in Figures 3 and 5, the mounting plates 5 are arranged along the length of the support element 3. They are slidably mounted in means 8 forming a slide, provided on the underside of the element support 3. These slide-forming means are obviously arranged along the length of the support element 3. Thus, the fixing plates 5 are likely to approach one another while accompanying the retraction of the sponge and move away from each other by accompanying the extension of this sponge.

Figures 3 and 5 illustrate an embodiment according to which the fixing plates are four in number. In this case, the plates may approach or move away from each other depending on the conformation of the sponge, are obviously the ones that are aligned. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the two plates situated towards the left are in the retraction position of the sponge, that is to say that they are brought closer to the middle of the support. Conversely, the fixing plates located on the right of these figures are in the extended position of the sponge, that is to say that they are distant from the middle of the support element and that they are near its end.

As also shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, stops are advantageously provided on either side of the fixing plates 5. Thus, the travel of each fixing plate in the means 8 forming slide is limited on one side by a first stop 9 placed towards the inside of the support element 3 and, on the second side, by a second stop 10 placed towards the outside of this support element 3. As can be seen in the figures, the inner stop 9 can be simply produced by a slightly projecting face of the support element 3, substantially perpendicular to the slides 8. The outer stops are formed by projections located towards the outside of the support element.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the fixing plates 5 are advantageously associated with elastic means 11 intended to keep them in the natural spacing position. In the embodiment shown, these elastic means 11 associated with each fixing plate 5 are constituted by an extension forming a spring from the inner end of each plate. This spring abuts against the first stop 9 in order to recall the plate fixing 5 in the separated position of the first stop. This is illustrated by the right part of FIG. 5. On the left part of this figure, the springs 11 are compressed due to the retraction of the sponge (not shown).

Other embodiments of these elastic means can be provided. One can for example associate a return spring to the outer end of the fixing plates.

Figure 6 illustrates in detail the attachment of the fixing plates on the sponge layer according to a preferred embodiment. In this figure, the lugs 6 of the fixing plates 5 are constituted by mushroom-shaped protuberances formed on the underside of the plates. The attachment plate 7 of the sponge 4 is constituted by a plate of aerated fibrous material glued to the upper face of the sponge. The head of the gripping lugs 6 in the shape of a mushroom is capable of catching on the fibers of the hooking plate 7 to fix the sponge to the frame. It is more likely to be detached from these fibers during the disassembly of the sponge 4.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, another aspect of the mop according to the invention will now be described. In these figures, the elongate support element 3 is constituted by two lateral wings 12 and 13, pivotally mounted around at least one anteroposterior axis A, A '. The two wings can be pivotally mounted around the same anteroposterior axis when their internal faces are contiguous. In the embodiment shown, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the axes A and A ′ of pivoting of the lateral wings 12 and 13 are parallel and located at their internal ends. In this embodiment, the sponge mop comprises means for controlling the position of the lateral wings 12 and 13 between the sponge position and a wringing position. These means are capable of bringing the lateral wings 12 and 13 on the same horizontal plane into a sponging position, and of rotating them by bringing them closer to one another as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, towards a spin position in which the sponge is compressed.

The means for controlling the position of the lateral wings according to a preferred embodiment are described below. These means comprise two guide slots 14 and 15 placed on the upper face of each of the two side wings 12 and 13. These two guide slots extend at least obliquely relative to the pivot axis of the side wings and, preferably from a rear part of these wings. Each of the two slots 14 and 15 has a lower face 16, 17 formed on the surface of each of the two side wings 12 and 13, and an upper face 18, 19, located opposite the lower face. The means for controlling the position of the lateral wings further comprise two guide rods 20 and 21, each located above a lateral wing and slightly spaced from its pivot axis A or A '. These guide rods 20 and 21 have a front end 22 and 23, a front part 24 and 25, a rear part 26 and 27, and a rear end. The front ends 22 and 23 are pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis T. This axis T is perpendicular to the anteroposterior axis of pivoting of the wings and is located towards the front of the frame 1. The front parts 24 and 25 of each of the two rods 20 and 21 are mutually parallel and are each located along the upper face of one of the two lateral wings. In the sponge position, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, these front parts of the rods are parallel to the anteroposterior axis of pivoting of the wings. The rear parts 26 and 27 of the rods extend, from the front parts of these rods, towards the rear and beyond the rear face of the frame 1.

The means for controlling the position of the lateral wings 12 and 13 include means for simultaneously controlling the pivoting of the guide rods 20 and 21. The passage from Figure 1 to Figure 2 and from Figure 8 to Figure 7 illustrates the operation of these means. They are capable of pivoting the guide rods 20 and 21 downwards. During this pivoting movement, the guide rods, by their front parts 24 and 25, bear on the lower face 16, 17 of each of the two guide slots 14 and 15. This has the effect of bringing the lateral wings 12 and 13 from one another to bring them to their spin position. On the contrary, with a view to bringing the lateral wings back to their sponge-off position from this wringing position, the means for controlling the pivoting of the guide rods are capable of pivoting these rods upwards. During this upward pivoting movement, the rods act on the upper face 18, 19 of each of the two guide slots 14 and 15. This has the effect of bringing the two lateral wings towards their alignment position in a plane horizontal.

The effectiveness of the cooperation between the guide rods and the guide slots is linked to the fact that these slots are not parallel to the anteroposterior pivot axis of the lateral wings and have at least one part located towards the rear. the pivot axis of the guide rods. In the figures shown for information, the guide slots have the shape of arcs of a circle extending from the inner side of the rear face of each lateral wing and whose center corresponds to the pivot axis of the guide rods. One can also provide any other suitable form of guide slot.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the means for simultaneously controlling the pivoting of the two guide rods 20 and 21 comprise a pusher 28, a control rod 29 and an articulation joint 30. As can be seen in the figures, the pusher 28, which for example consists of a ring enclosing the handle 2, is guided along this handle and receives the upper end of the control rod 29. The side views of FIGS. 7 and 8 show that this junction between the pusher 28 and the rod 29 is produced by means of a hinge pin A₁. This axis A1 is horizontal and perpendicular to the handle 2 of the sponge mop. The articulation joint 30 has two articulations perpendicular to one another. It comprises an upper part to which the lower end of the control rod 29 is connected by means of a first articulation axis A2. This axis is parallel to the axis A1 of the articulation of the upper end of the rod 29. The articulation joint 30 further comprises a lower part which is pivotally mounted on the upper part around a second axis A3 of articulation. As shown in the figures, this axis is directed substantially from top to bottom and is perpendicular to the first axis A2 of articulation of the joint. The lower part of this articulation joint 30 receives, on either side of the second articulation axis A2, the rear ends of each of the two guide rods 20 and 21.

In order to control the pivoting of the guide rods downwards, the pusher 28 can be pushed back towards the lower part of the handle 2 of the sponge mop. Thus, the control rod 29 is pushed down; this has the effect, by means of the articulation joint 30, of pivoting the guide rods downwards around their pivot axis T. On the contrary, in order to pivot the guide rods 20 and 21 towards the top, the pusher 28 is capable of being brought back towards the upper part of the handle 2 of the sponge mop in order to pull the control rod 29 upwards. Then, through the articulation joint 30, the guide rods 20 and 21 are pivotally controlled upwards.

As the figures show, the rear part 26, 27 of the guide rods 20, 21 is advantageously inclined upwards so as to limit the rear dimensions of the means for controlling the position of the lateral wings 12 and 13.

The pivot axis T of the guide rods 20, 21 is advantageously constituted by the front ends of these rods folded inwards. It is also advantageous to provide means for limiting the displacement of the pusher towards the top of the handle, so that the extreme upward position of this pusher 28 corresponds to the maintenance of the two lateral wings 12 and 13 in the same plane in position. sponge. These means can be constituted by a stop formed projecting from the handle and intended to cooperate with the pusher for the aforementioned purpose. It is also possible that these means are constituted by abutment faces formed on the lateral wings themselves.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, there will now be described a fitting device capable of being adapted to the sponge mop according to any one of the embodiments previously mentioned. This fitting device is intended to fix the handle 2 to the frame 1. It comprises a first element 31 integral with this frame 1, having an upper part open on a cavity 32 intended to receive the handle 2 and a middle part provided with 'an external thread 33. As can be seen in the figures, at least part of this cavity 32 has the shape of a cone, the diameter D of which narrows towards the bottom; this cavity, and more specifically the part mentioned above, is also provided with means 34 for fixing the handle 2. The upper part of the first element 32 has clamping means 35 which are constituted by elastic tongues 36 directed axially and whose upper end is free. These tongues 36 are therefore capable of being pushed elastically inwards, so as to grip the handle.

The fitting device further comprises a second element 37 constituted by a clamping ring. This clamping ring 37 has a tapped lower part 38 of larger diameter, intended to cooperate with the external thread 33 of the middle part of the first element 31. The clamping ring also has a middle part whose internal wall 39 has the shape of a cone narrowing upwards from the lower part 38 of larger diameter. This conical part opens onto an upper part provided with a cylindrical bore 40, of diameter obviously equal to the smallest diameter of the conical internal wall 39. In order to fix the handle, the smallest diameter of this clamping ring is at least equal to the outside diameter of the handle 2.

As shown in Figure 10, the clamping ring 37 is intended to be screwed, around the handle 2, on the first element 31 secured to the frame. Thus the conical inner wall 39 of the middle part of the clamping ring 37 cooperates with the elastic tongues 36 of the first element 31 and pushes them inwards against the handle 2. It can therefore be seen in FIG. 10 that the handle 2 is fixed to the frame on the one hand by the means 34 for fixing the cavity 32 of the first element 31 and on the other hand, by the end of the elastic tongues 36 pushed against this handle by the clamping ring 37.

In order to facilitate the cooperation of the tongues 36 with the conical inner wall 39 of the clamping ring 37, the free end of these tongues 36 advantageously has a conical outer wall.

The tongues are advantageously capable of being pushed inwards at least until their ends delimit an opening of diameter equal to the smallest diameter of the cavity 32 of the first element 31.

It is advantageous for the inclination and the axial length of the conical internal wall 39 of the middle part of the clamping ring 37 and the length of the tongues 36 to be such that when said clamping ring 37 is screwed onto the first element 31, the ends of the tongues 36 are capable of tightening a handle 2 of diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter of the cavity 32 of the first element 31. The fitting device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to fix a handle whose diameter varies between the smallest diameter of the cavity 32 of the first element 31 and a larger diameter corresponding to the largest diameter of the part of the cavity 32 provided with the fixing means 34.

These fixing means 34 of the handle 2 in the cavity 32 of the first element 31 of the fitting device advantageously consist of a toothing projecting inside this cavity 32.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, illustrated more precisely by FIGS. 11 and 12, the first element 31 of the fitting device has a bent part leading to a front part constituted by a pin 42. The angle x of the bent part of the first element 31 of the fitting device is between 30 ° and 60 °, and is preferably substantially equal to 45 °. In this case, a sleeve 43 directed along the anteroposterior axis M of the frame 1 is integral with this frame and is located on its upper part. The pin 42 is mounted to rotate about this median antero-posterior axis M and is immobilized in translation in the sleeve 43. According to this embodiment, a scraper 44 visible in particular in FIG. 1, is advantageously mounted at the end of the pin 42 and extends close to the face front of the frame 1. By rotation of the handle 2 driving the first element 31 of the fitting device in rotation about its own axis, it is then possible to bring the sponge 4 or the scraper 44 into contact with the ground.

A cover 64 can be placed around this sleeve and makes contact between the sleeve and the bent front part of the first element 31 of the fitting device. In order to be immobilized in translation, the pin 42 of the first element 31 of the fitting device advantageously has a shoulder 45 located near the bent part of this first element and a front end constituted by jaws 46 elastically deformable. The concomitant stop action of these jaws 46 on the front face of the sleeve and of this shoulder on the rear face of the sleeve obviously immobilizes the pin 42 in translation. In the case where the cover 64 is provided, the stop action of the jaws 46 is carried out on the front face of the cover 64, and the stop action of the shoulder 45 is carried out on the rear face of the cover 64. The mounting the scraper 44 at the end of the journal 42 is carried out by means of a finger 49 extending this scraper towards the rear. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the scraper 44 comprises a pad 47 secured to a plate 48 forming a body with the finger 49 capable of being fitted between the jaws 46 constituting the front end of the journal 48. Clipping means can be provided at the end of the finger, in order to cooperate with the jaws of the journal.

When the sleeve 43 is present, the lateral wings 12 and 13 of the mount 1 are advantageously pivotally mounted on this mount by means of a median support 50 integral with the sleeve 43. In this case the pivot axis A , A 'of each lateral wing 12, 13 is an anteroposterior axis situated on each side of this median support 50. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lateral faces 51 of the median support 50 advantageously include abutment faces to define the aligned position for sponging the lateral wings 12 and 13.

In this same figure, it can be seen that each lateral wing 12, 13 is advantageously retained by a clipping device 52. This clipping device 52 comprises a first element 53 secured to the median support 50 and a second element 54 secured to the upper face of each side wing 12, 13. In the case where the cover 64 is present, the first element of the clipping device can be directly integral therewith. As shown in particular in FIG. 1, the first and the second element 53 and 54 of the clipping devices of each lateral wing 12 and 13 are capable of cooperating with each other so as to keep the side wings in the sponge position. The first element of each clipping device 52 advantageously comprises a tongue 53 secured to the front part of the sleeve. In this case, the second element of each clip device has a slot 55 which advantageously has slight internal protuberances. The tongue 53 is then likely to be at least partially inserted into this slot 55 and to be detachably retained by its internal protuberances.

An alternative or complementary embodiment of the clipping devices uses the front ends 22 and 23 of the guide rods 20 and 21. For this purpose, these front ends are advantageously folded inwards and each constitute at least partially the first element of each clipping device. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the second element 54 of each clipping device can include a hollow part 56 intended to receive in a removable manner each folded front end 22 and 23 of each guide rod 20 and 21.

In the following, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the scraper 44 according to the invention is described. According to this embodiment, the pad 47 is constituted by a scraping layer integral by its rear face with a rigid plate 57. This rigid plate 57 and the plate 48 are then provided with additional removable securing means. As seen in Figures 13 and 14, these removable securing means are advantageously constituted on the one hand, by a projecting rail 58 showing a dovetail profile provided on the front face of the plate 48 and, d on the other hand, by a groove 59 showing a conjugate profile provided on the rear face of the rigid plate 57.

In order to avoid any untimely separation of the buffer 47 and the plate 48, the projecting rail 58 of the front face of this plate 48 advantageously has a first abutment face 60 situated on one end and a first part 61 of a clip system, located towards the opposite end. The groove 59 of the rear face of the rigid plate 57 then has a second abutment face 62 located on one end and a second part 63 of the same clipping system, located towards the opposite end. It is easily understood that the pad 47 is mounted on the plate 48 by sliding the groove 49 on the projecting rail 58. This sliding is continued until the first and second abutment faces 60, 62, on the one hand , and the first and second parts of the clipping system 61, 63 on the other hand, cooperate with each other so as to keep the pad in the locked position on the plate. It is obviously possible to provide a equivalent system comprising a projecting rail formed on the rear face of the rigid plate integral with the pad 47 and a groove of complementary shape formed in the front face of the plate 48.

Various modifications can be made to the sponge mop which has just been described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (27)

Sponge mop comprising a frame (1) connected to a handle (2) inclined upwards and backwards, said frame comprising at least one elongated support element (3) adapted to receive a sponge layer (4) fixed by removable means, characterized
in that said removable fixing means consist firstly of at least two fixing plates (5) integral with said support element (3) and the lower face of which is provided with gripping lugs (6), and on the other hand by at least one attachment plate (7) secured to the upper face of the sponge layer (4) and placed opposite said fixing plates (5), said gripping lugs (6) being capable of catching on said hooking plate (7) can be dismantled, and
in that the fixing plates (5) are slidably mounted in means (8) forming a slide provided on the underside of the support element (3) and arranged along the length of said support element, so that said fixing plates (5) are capable of approaching one another while accompanying the retraction of the sponge layer (4) and of deviating from one another by accompanying the extension of said sponge layer . Sponge mop according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel of each fixing plate (5) in the means (8) forming a slide is limited by a first stop (9) placed towards the inside of the support element (3) and by a second stop (10) placed towards the outside of said support element. Sponge mop according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each fixing plate (5) is associated with elastic means (11) intended to maintain the fixing plates in the natural spacing position. Mop according to claim 3, characterized in that said elastic means (11) associated with each fixing plate (5) are constituted by a spring extension of the inner end of said plate, said spring (11) coming abutment against said first abutment (9) in order to return the fixing plate (5) in a position spaced from said first abutment. Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gripping lugs (6) of the fixing plates (5) consist of mushroom-shaped protuberances formed on the underside of said plates,
in that the attachment plate (7) of the sponge layer (4) consists of a plate of aerated fibrous material bonded to the upper face of said sponge layer, and
in that the head of said gripping lugs (6) in the form of a mushroom is capable of catching on the fibers of said attachment plate (7) to fix the sponge layer (4) to the frame (1), and be detached from said fibers during disassembly of the sponge layer. Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said support element (3) consists of two lateral wings (12, 13) pivotally mounted around at least one anteroposterior axis (A , A ') located at their internal ends, and
in that the sponge mop comprises means for controlling the position of said lateral wings, capable of bringing these lateral wings (12, 13) on the same horizontal plane into a sponging position and of rotating them by bringing them closer together. 'from one another to a wringing position in which the sponge layer (4) is compressed. Mop according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for controlling the position of the lateral wings (12, 13) comprise:
two guide slots (14, 15) respectively placed on the upper face of each of the two lateral wings (12, 13) and extending at least obliquely with respect to said anteroposterior axis (A, A '), said slots ( 14, 15) having a lower face (16, 17) formed on the surface of each lateral wing and an upper face (18, 19) situated opposite said lower face,
two guide rods (20, 21) each located above a side wing (12, 13) and slightly spaced from the pivot axis (A, A ') of said side wing, said guide rods (20 , 21) having a front end (22, 23), a front part (24, 25), a rear part (26, 27) and a rear end, said front ends (22, 23) being pivotally mounted around a same horizontal axis (T), perpendicular to said anteroposterior axis (A, A ') and located towards the front of the frame (1), said front parts (24, 25) being parallel to each other, respectively located along the upper face of each lateral wing (12, 13) and being parallel to said antero-posterior axis (A, A ') in the sponging position, said rear parts (26, 27) extending from said front parts, backwards beyond the rear face of the frame (1), and
means for simultaneously controlling the pivoting of the guide rods (14, 15) about their common pivot axis (T) capable of pivot said rods downwards, whereby they press on the underside (16, 17) of each of the two guide slots (14, 15) by bringing the lateral wings (12, 13) one of the 'other, and, from this position, to rotate said rods upwards, whereby they act on the upper face (18, 19) of each of the two guide slots (14, 15) by bringing the two lateral wings (12, 13) towards their alignment position in a horizontal plane. Mop according to claim 7, characterized in that the means for simultaneously controlling the pivoting of the two guide rods (20, 21) comprise a pusher (28), a control rod (29) and an articulation joint ( 30), said pusher being guided along the handle (2) of the sponge mop and receiving the upper end of said control rod (29) by means of an upper articulation axis (A₁) horizontal and perpendicular to the handle (2), the articulation joint (30) comprising an upper part to which the lower end of the control rod (29) is connected via a first articulation axis of the joint (A₂ ), parallel to said upper articulation axis (A₁), and a lower part pivotally mounted on said upper part around a second articulation axis of the joint (A₃), directed substantially from top to bottom and perpendicular to said first axis d 'joint of the joint (A₂), said lower part of the articulation joint (30) receiving, on either side of said second articulation axis (A₃), the rear ends of each of the two guide rods (20, 21),
in that the pusher (28) can be pushed back towards the lower part of the handle (2) of the sponge mop to push the control rod (29) down and, via the articulation joint (30), to pivot the guide rods (20, 21) down around their common pivot axis (T), and in that the pusher (28) is capable of being brought back towards the upper part of the handle (2) of the sponge mop to bring the control rod (29) upwards and, via the articulation joint (30), to pivot the guide rods (20, 21) upwards . Sponge mop according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the rear part (26, 27) of the guide rods (20, 21) is inclined upwards so as to limit the rear space requirement of the means to control the position of the side wings (12, 13). Sponge mop according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the pivot axis (T) of the guide rods (20, 21) is constituted by the front ends (22, 23) of said rods, folded towards the inside. Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises means for limiting the displacement of the pusher (28) towards the top of the handle (2), so that the extreme position towards the top of said pusher (28) corresponds to the maintenance of the two lateral wings (12, 13) in the same plane, in the sponging position. Sponge mop according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises a fitting device for fixing the handle (2) to the frame (1), this fitting device comprising a first element (31) integral with the frame (1) having an upper part open on a cavity (32) intended to receive the handle (2) and a median part provided with an external thread (33), at least part of said cavity (32) having the shape of a cone tightening downwards and being provided with means (34) for fixing the handle (2), the upper part of this first element (31) having elastic clamping means (35 ) constituted by elastic tongues (36) directed axially and the upper end of which is free so that the tongues (36) are capable of being pushed radially inwards, the fitting device further comprising a second element (37) made up of r a clamping ring having a tapped lower part (38) of larger diameter intended to cooperate with the external thread (33) of the middle part of the first element (31), a middle part whose inner wall (39) has the shape of a cone constricting upwards from said lower part (38) of larger diameter, and an upper part provided with a cylindrical bore (40) of diameter equal to the smallest diameter of the conical internal wall ( 39) of said middle part, said smallest diameter being at least equal to the outside diameter of the handle (2), said clamping ring (37) being intended to be screwed, around the handle (2), on the first element (31 ), so that said conical inner wall (39) of the central part of this clamping ring (37) cooperates with said elastic tabs (36) of the first element (31) by pushing them inwards against the handle (2). Sponge mop according to claim 12, characterized in that the upper end of the tongues (36) has a conical outer wall (41) capable of cooperating with the conical inner wall (39) of the middle part of the clamping ring (37). Sponge mop according to any one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the tongues (36) are capable of being pushed inwards at least until their ends determine an opening of diameter equal to the diameter the smallest of the cavity (32) of the first element (31). Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the inclination and the axial length of the conical internal wall (39) of the middle part of the clamping ring (37) and the length of the tongues (36) are such that, when said clamping ring (37) is screwed onto the first element (31), the ends of the tongues (36) are capable of tightening a handle (2) of diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter of the cavity (32) of the first element (31). Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the fixing means (34) of the handle (2) in the cavity (32) of the first element (31) of the fitting device are constituted by a toothing. Sponge mop according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized
in that the first element (31) of the fitting device has a bent part leading to a front part constituted by a pin (42),
in that a sleeve (43) directed along the antero-posterior median axis (M) of the frame (1) is integral with said frame and is located on its upper part, said journal (42) being mounted rotating around said median anteroposterior axis (M) and being immobilized in translation in said sleeve (43), and
in that a scraper (44) is mounted at the end of the journal (42) and extends near the front face of the frame (1) so that, by rotation of the handle (2) driving the first element ( 31) of the fitting device in rotation about the axis of the handle, it is possible to bring into contact with the ground, either the spongy layer (4) or the scraper (44). Sponge mop according to claim 17, characterized in that the pin (42) of the first element (31) of the fitting device has a shoulder (45) located near the bent part of said first element and a front end constituted by jaws (46) elastically deformable, said pin (42) being immobilized in translation by the concomitant stop action of these jaws (46) on the front face of the sleeve (43) and of this shoulder (45) on the rear face said sleeve (43), and
in that the scraper (44) comprises a pad (47) integral with a plate (48) forming a body with a finger (49) capable of being fitted between the jaws (46) constituting the front end of the journal (42 ). Sponge mop according to claim 17, characterized in that a cover (64) is arranged on the frame (1) so as to cover the sleeve (43),
in that the pin (42) of the first element (31) of the fitting device has a shoulder (45) located near the bent part of said first element and a front end constituted by jaws (46) elastically deformable, said pin (42) being immobilized in translation by the concomitant stop action of these jaws (46) on the front face of the cover (64) and of this shoulder (45) on the rear face of said cover (64) and
in that the scraper (44) comprises a pad (47) integral with a plate (48) forming a body with a finger (49) capable of being fitted between the jaws (46) constituting the front end of the journal (42 ). Sponge mop according to any of claims 17 and 19, characterized
in that the lateral wings (12, 13) of the mount (1) are pivotally mounted on said mount by means of a median support (50) integral with the sleeve (43), the pivot axis ( A, A ') of each lateral wing (12, 13) being an anteroposterior axis located on each side of said median support (50). Sponge mop according to claim 20, characterized in that the lateral faces (51) of the median support (50) have abutment faces to define the aligned sponging position of the lateral wings (12, 13). Sponge mop according to either of Claims 20 and 21, characterized in that each lateral wing (12, 13) further comprises a clipping device (52) comprising a first element (53) integral with the median support (50) and a second element (54) integral with the upper face of the lateral wing (12, 13), said first and second elements (53, 54) of the clipping devices (52) of the two lateral wings (12, 13) being capable of cooperating with each other, so as to maintain said wings in the sponging position. Mop according to claim 22, characterized in that the first element of each clipping device (52) comprises a tongue (53) integral with the front part of the sleeve (43), and
in that the second element (54) of each clipping device (52) has a slot (55) having slight internal protuberances, said tongue (53) being capable of being at least partially inserted into said slot (55) and of being detachably retained by said internal protuberances. Mop according to any one of claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the front ends (22, 23) of the guide rods (20, 21) of the means for controlling the position of the side wings (12, 13) are folded inwards and each constitutes, at least partially, the first element of each clipping device (52), and
in that the second element (54) of each clipping device (52) has a hollow part (56) intended to detachably receive said front end (22, 23) folded back from each guide rod (20, 21) . Sponge mop according to any one of Claims 18 to 24, characterized
in that the pad (47) consists of a scraping layer secured, by its rear face, to a rigid plate (57), and
in that said rigid plate (57) and the plate (48) are provided with additional removable securing means (58, 59). Sponge mop according to Claim 25, characterized in that the said detachable fastening means consist, on the one hand, of a projecting rail (58) showing a dovetail profile provided on the front face of the plate (48 ) and on the other hand, by a groove (59) showing a conjugate profile, provided on the rear face of the rigid plate (57). Mop according to claim 26, characterized in that the projecting rail (58) of the front face of the plate (48) has a first abutment face (60) located on one end and a first part (61) d '' a clipping system located towards the opposite end,
in that the groove (59) of the rear face of the rigid plate (57) has a second abutment face (62) situated on one end and a second part (63) of said clipping system situated towards the opposite end, and
in that the pad (47) is mounted on the plate (48) by sliding the groove (59) on the projecting rail (58) until said first and second abutment faces (60, 62) d on the one hand, and said first and second parts (61, 63) of the clipping system on the other hand, cooperate with one another so as to keep the pad (47) in the locked position on the plate (48).

Images