EP1945087A1

EP1945087A1 - Floor washing implement

Info

Publication number: EP1945087A1
Application number: EP06809760A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Bachar; Dror Bachar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-20
Filing date: 2006-10-17
Publication date: 2008-07-23
Also published as: WO2007046092A1; US20090151099A1; IL171498A; CN201524041U

Abstract

A cloth floor washing implement wherein the cloth can be folded to enable squeeze-draining in the floor mop fashion namely with a strainer. The implement comprises a pair of arms (16a; 16b) pivotally connected to a slider (22). The arms are guided by respective slots (20c) and (20d). Driving the slider (22) along broom stick (12) will cause the spreading-apart or folding back of the arms. The washing cloth, preferably made of microfiber, is releasably attached to the distal ends of the arms.

Description

FLOOR WASHING IMPLEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, floor-washing implements fall into one of the following main categories: floor wipers ("squeegees") and mops made of cords.

Floor wipers comprise an elongated wiper fixed to the bottom end of a broomstick, with or without a rubber blade pointing downwards. A floor washing cloth or rag is spread over the wiper. At first, the rag is soaked in water and used to wet the floor. Then, the rag is manually squeezed dry, and used for absorbing the water from the floor.

Sometimes the floor is first wiped by the wiper blade and then dried by the rag.

In both cases, the rag needs to be separated from the broomstick for soaking it in a bucket of water, or to squeeze it, as the case may be. Working the cords mops is different (see Fig. 1). The bundle of cords A is inseparable from the broomstick. Therefore, wetting the floor takes place after the mop head has been soaked by dipping it in a water bucket B. Drying the floor needs first to squeeze or wring the bundle of cords A. This is achieved by forcing the bundle against a meshed receptacle or strainer C, usually seated over the rim of the bucket, above the water level. By pressing and twisting the mop broomstick, water is squeezed out and the bundle of cords is ready for the floor drying process.

Each of the above described methods has its relative advantages and drawbacks. The wiper washing quality and thoroughness are higher than those achieved by the cords mop method. However, the need to repeatedly dismount the rag and manually dipping or squeezing it is tiresome and unaesthetic.

On the other hand using the cords mop does not require the user to wet her/his hands, but the results are comparatively poor in rate and quality of floor cleaning.

It is therefore the general object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks but gain the benefits of both methods.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a floor washing implement that uses a rag as the floor washing element but does not dictate physical contact therewith.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support for the floor rag, which is collapsible from an extended position where it acts like the conventional wiper into a folded position whereby it becomes small enough to be squeezed with the standard strainer bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a floor washing implement comprising a broomstick; a slider device slideable over the broomstick; a pair of pivotal arms coupled to the broomstick and to the slider device so that sliding the device in one direction causes the arms to pivot one way from the other ("the floor washing position") and sliding the device in the other direction causes the arms to pivot one towards the other ("the wringing position"); and means for releasably attaching a piece of cloth to the free ends of the arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and additional constructional features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood in the light of the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Fig. 1 illustrates the routine of squeezing a conventional cord mop using a bucket-strainer;

Fig. 2 shows a floor working implement designed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the operational position; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the implement of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the implement in the folded position; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 illustrates the squeezing operation over a conventional strainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The floor washing implement generally designated 10 in Fig. 2 comprises a broomstick 12 to which a slider device designated 14 is moveably mounted as will be described below in greater detail. Mentioned at this stage is the fact that sliding the device upwards will cause double-armed wings 16a and 16b to pivot one in the direction of the other to reach the folded position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7.

A piece of cloth 18, most preferably of the type known as "microfiber" (see below) is attached to the distal ends of the wings 16a and 16b, the cloth being provided for that purpose with sewn eye-lets 18a and 18b. The wings are provided with restraining heads 16c and 16d. Obviously, any other fastening arrangement is applicable as long as the cloth 18 is easily placed and removed, at will. The use of microfiber is highly recommended thanks to its well-known properties as high liquid absorption capacity and easy dry-squeezing, which are most favorable for the purpose of reducing the present invention into practice.

The sliding device 14 comprises an inner sleeve 20, which is fixedly mounted to the broomstick 12, preferably from below intermediate cone- shaped portion 20a screwed on beveled portion 12a. The sleeve 20 can also be nailed to the broomstick or press-fitted thereto. The sleeve 20 comprises a radially flanged portion 20b having a pair of oppositely located slots 20c and 2Od (see Fig. 5) through which the wings 16a and 16b are freely passed. These slots serve as guide cams for the spreading apart of wings as will be described below.

Slider member 22 is provided, freely slidable on the sleeve 20. It further comprises a cap-shaped portion 22a (see Fig. 5) with a pair of ears 22b at one side and a pair of ears 22c at the other side, located underneath the cap 22a. Respective holes are made for securing the bent ends of the wings 16a and 16b respectively (see Fig. 6), serving as pivots for the wings.

There are formed two less than half-circulars distanced, cavities 2Oe and 2Of at the external surface of the sleeve 20 along a common generatrix thereof. These cavities cooperate with spring urged ball 24, which is adapted to click thereinto in the upper (Figs. 6 and 7) or the lower (Figs. 2 and 3) positions of the sliding device as will be explained below. The ball retaining component marked 24a is shown as an attachment to the slider member 22, but other arrangements can be employed as a matter of design. The third component of the slider device 14 is a ram member 26, which is affixed to the sleeve 20 at its bottom by a screw 28 (or can be directly nailed to the broomstick 12).

The operation of the floor washing implement is self-explanatory. In the spread-apart position of Fig.2, where the slider member is clicked into the lower position (ball 24 inserts cavity 200 and the cloth 18 is attached by eyelets 18a and 18b to the respective ends of the wings 16a and 16b.

After wetting the cloth, by simply dipping it in the bucket of water B, the user proceeds with the floor washing job.

For drying the floor, the slider 14 is clicked in the upper position (Fig. 6) whereby the cloth 18 becomes folded together into a bundle small enough to be inserted into the strait 30. The bundle is twisted to wrap around the base 26 (Fig. 7). Draining of the water soaked in the cloth is effected by pressing against the bottom of the strait bucket, for which the ram member 26 is particularly useful. Obviously, there is no need to detach the cloth from the broomstick for the squeezing operation.

While the invention has been illustrated by way of example by the above embodiment, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A floor washing implement comprising:

- a broomstick;

- a slider device slideable over the broomstick;

- a pair of pivotal wings coupled to the broomstick and to the slider device so that sliding the device in one direction causes the wings to pivot one way from the other ("the floor washing position") and sliding the device in the other direction causes the arms to pivot one towards the other ("the wringing position"); and

- means for releasably attaching a piece of cloth to the free ends of the arms.

2. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising means for locking the sliding device against the broomstick in any of the washing or the wringing positions.

3. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the locking means comprise a ball and socket coupling arrangement.

4. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the cloth is made of microfiber.

5. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 4 further comprising a ram member mounted to the broomstick at the bottom thereof.

6. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the slider device comprises an inner sleeve affixed to the broomstick, the sleeve being formed with a radially flanged portion with openings through which the wings are freely passed, and a slidable sleeve to which the wings are pivotally connected.

7. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the

piece of cloth is attached to the free ends of the wings by eye-lets sewn to the cloth at two distanced locations thereof.

8. A floor washing implement comprising:

- a broomstick;

- an operator device slidable on the broomstick;

- extendible means coupled to the broomstick and to the operator device; and

- means for releasably attaching a piece of cloth to the extendible means at two distanced locations of the piece of cloth,

whereby sliding the operator device from one position to another position along the broomstick causes the spreading and contracting

of the piece of cloth by said extendible means, respectively.

9. The floor washing implement as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the extendible means comprises a pair of wings pivotally connected to the operator device at one end thereof and passed through respective openings formed in a retaining member affixed to the broomstick said piece of cloth being attached to the free ends of

the wings.