GB2191937A - Mop holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A mop holder 2 comprises a sleeve 4 for receiving a handle end, and a cup-shaped base 10 provided with a pivotable bar 15 for clamping yarn 26 to the holder, the bar having a catch 22 engageable via opening 20 with part 24, and a slot 38 for reception of a clinching eyelet 36 of a flexible strap 32 which encircles the yarn. Teeth 42 may be provided within the base for gripping the yarn. In a modification, a recess is formed within the base for receiving the eyelet, instead of a slot within the bar. The construction of the holder ensures good gripping and positioning of the bundle of yarn in the holder and permits removal and replacement thereof readily. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mop holder The present invention relates to a holderfor receiving the handle and for securing the yarn of yacht mop orthe like.

Traditionally, a wooden handle yacht mop, consisting of long lengths ofyarn or string, has been made bywrapping wire about the upper ends ofthe lengths of yarns positioned about the end ofthe handle, so thatthe yarns are secured in this manner to the handle. As the mop was used and became worn,theentiremopwasthrown away and replaced with a new one. With the increasing cost of materials in more recent times, it has been desirable to develop hoiders forthe yarn of yacht mops in which eitherthe holders and yarn, or yarn alone, can be detached from the handles and replaced. In this waythe handle or handle and holder can be salvaged for continued use.

In my earlier U.S. Patent No. 4,417,364 issued November 29,1983, one such holder device is described and illustrated in which there is a sleeve to receive in one end the handle of a mop. A base is provided having aconcave interioragainstwhichtheyarn ofthe mop isto be held. The base is centrally secured to the other end of the sleeve. Through a pair of spaced slots provided in the base a flexible bundling strap is passed, the bundling strap wrapping around and holding securely in position in the holder, the yarn of the mop. The holder and yarn may be thrown away and replaced with another holder and yarn as required saving the handle for reuse. In another such device illustrated in Canadian Patent No. 1,070,064 issued January 22,1980 of Stevenson (U.S.Patent No. 4,135,272 issued January 23,1979),there is described a holderforthestrings of a yacht mop which consists of a dome-shaped base having a flexible strap extending through a slot in one side ofthe base, aboutthe midpoint of a bundle of yarn, and out a slot on the other side thereof where the strap is secured. When the strap is tightened, it clamps the yarn againstthe interior surface of the base. It has beenfound howeverwithsuchaholderthatevenby pulling the strap tightly, lengths of yarn which are located aboutthecenterofthe dome-shaped base tend not to be held sufficientlytightlyand become displaced or completely removed from the mop.

Other patents of general background interest describing and illustrating mops or the like in which the yarn (or the equivalent) is held in position in a holder head by a strap or the like, include Canadian Patent No. 238,945 of Pendergast issued March 25,1924, U.S. Patent No. 2,242,543 of Phipps issued May 20, 1941, U.S. Patent No.2,201,732 ofJohnson issued May 21, 1940, Canadian Patent No. 161,058 of Hum phries issued March 2, 1915, Canadian Patent No.

135,561 of Lackey issued September 191 1 and U.S. Patent No. 4,377,879 of Christo issued March 29, 1983.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holderforyarns or strings for a yacht mop or the like which can securely hold the yarn in place during use, and yet release the yarn when required for cleaning or replacement.

Accordingtothe presentinventionsuch a holder is provided comprising a sleeve to receive in one end the handle of the mop or brush and a base having an exteriorsurface,a concave interiorsurface against which the yarn is to be held, and a lower rim which defines an opening to the interior surface of the base, through which opening the yarn, when held in position, is to extend. The base is centrally secured to the other end of the sleeve. A bar, one end of which is hinged to one side of the opening extends centrally across the opening when in closed position and swings clear of the opening when in open position.

The other end of the bar is provided with a catch means. The corresponding side of the base is provided with a slot to receive the other end ofthe bar.

The catch means cooperates with the base in the vicinity of the slot when the bar is in closed position to securely hold yarn in the base against the concave interior surface and to prevent unpurposeful disengagement of the bar. The catch means is manually releasable from its co-operation with the base as requiredto permit this other end ofthe barto be removed from the slot so that the bar may be pivoted to open position. A socket means is associated with the holderto receive a clinching eyelet of a flexible bundling strap which circumscribes and securely holds the yarn, when the clamp bar is in closed position, and to hold the bundling strap and yarn in position in the holder.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slot means is centrally positioned in the bar.

The mop holder according to the present invention provides a relatively simple, economical construction which has the ability to grip the yarn of the mop verytightlyto minimize the chances of lengths of yarn held thereby becoming dislodged or loose. At the same time the construction permits the ready re placementoftheyarn,withoutthe need to throw away the holder thereby providing greater economy in use of such a device over prior art devices which require throwing away of the holder portion as well as the yarn when dirtyorworn.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which: Figure 7 is a perspectiveviewofaholderforthe yarn of a yacht mop according to the present invention; Figure2 is a side section view of the holder of Figure 1 in which yarn is secured; Figure 3 is a plan viewfrom the bottom of the hol der of Figure 1 in which yarn is secured; and Figure 4 is a plan view from the bottom of an alternative embodiment of holder in accordance with the invention, in opened position and empty of yarn.

While the invention will be described in conjunc tion with example embodiments, it will be under stood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to coverall alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

Inthefollowing description, similarfeatures have been given similar reference numerals.

Turning to the drawings there is illustrated in Figure 1 a holder 2 foryarn for a yacht mop in accordance with the present invention. The holder 2 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 4to receive the end 6 of a handle 8 fora yacht mop. To the bottom end of sleeve 4 is integrally, centrally secured a cup-shaped base 10. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, base 10 has a concave interior surface 12. Rim 14 (Figure 3) circumscribes the bottom of base 10 atthe entrance to interiorsurface 12.

Clamp bar 15 is secured to base 10 by means of pivot 16, atone side of base 10 near rim 14, and pivots as illustrated in Figure 2 to extend centrally across the bottom of holder 10. The free end 18 of bar 15 extends upwardly, as illustrated, through slot 20.

Outwardly extending ear 22 rests on the exteriorsurface 24 ofthe corresponding portion of base 1 Oto hold bar 15 in closed position as illustrated in Figure 2, when yarn 26 is being held in holder 2 as illustrated. Bar 15 is preferably made of a somewhat resilient material. Yarn 26 acting against bar 15 provides a downward bias to hold ear 22 in seated position when bar 15 is in closed position on such yarn. Latch guard ribs 28 spaced on either side of slot 20 prevent ear 22 from coming udintentionally dislodged from seated position. When it is desired to open bar 15, the user merely laterally moves end 18 in slot 20, so that ear 22 becomes dislodged from its seated position on exterior surface 24 of base 10.

When ear 22 clears the corresponding edge of slot 20, end 18 is free to pass through slot 20 thereby permitting bar 15 to be opened. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, support ribs 30 extend inwardly, vertically on the inside surface 12 of base 10, and are positioned so as guide end 1 towards slot 20 when bar 15 is being closed. Once in closed position, ribs 30 also provide support against twisting or lateral movement of bar 15.

The yarn 26, which is held within base 10 by means of bar 15 when in closed position, is circumscribed, at a central position, bya flexible bundling strap or cable tie 32 (Figure 3), the strap having an elongated body portion one end of which is a tail 34 and the other end of which is a clinching eyelet 36. When tail 34 extends through eyelet36 itcannotnormally be removed or loosened. The strap is tightened about yarn 26 so thattheyarn is securely held within the bundling strap.In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1,2 and 3, the clamp bar 15 is provided with a slot 38 which receives the clinching eyelet of the bundling strap 32 in such a mannerthatthe yarn is not only centered within base 10, but also is preven- ted, when bar 15 is in closed position, from becoming dislodged therefrom. lftheyarn held within bundling strap 32 is pulled from either end, when held in base 10 by bar 15, it cannot be removed from base 10 since eyelet 36 is held in position by the edges of slot38. Thus the yarn remains positioned during normal use, even through twisting or other motions.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, instead ofthe slotfor eyelet 36 being formed in bar 15,thatslot40 is formed in an appropriate location in inner surface 12 of base 10 (atthetop thereof in this illustration). In both embodiments, it is preferred to provide a channel 42 at the top of the base to extend on either side of the corresponding portion of bundling strap 32 about yarn 26, to further assist in centering the yarn and prevent its becoming dislodged by lateral movement. This channel 42 is formed by spaced, parallel lines of teeth 44, which teeth extend into yarn 26 when in position to thereby further assist in preventing its becoming dislodged.

It will be readily understood thatwhen it is desired to clean or replace existing yarn in a mop having a holder in accordance with the present invention, one only need open bar 15 and replace the existing bundle of yarn 26 with a new bundle thereof(circum- scribed by a bundling strap of the type in question), placing the bundling strap in the proper orientation and ensuring that clinching eyelet 38 is in the appropriate slot in the strap or interior surface of holder 10.

Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a holder that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages setforth above. 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, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A holderfor receiving the handle and securing the yarn of a mop or brush comprising: (a) a sleeve to receive in one end the handle ofthe mop or brush; (b) a base having an exterior surface, a concave interior surface against which the yarn is to be held, and a lower rim defining an opening to the interior surface ofthe base, through which opening the yarn, when held in position, is to extend, the base being centrally secured to the other end ofthe sleeve;; (c) a bar, one end of which is hinged to one side of the opening to extend centrally across the opening when in closed position and to swing clear of the opening when in open position, the other end of the bar being provided with a catch means, the correspond ing side of the base being provided with a slot re- ceive said other end ofthe bar, the catch means to cooperate with the base in the vicinity of the slot when the bar is in the closed position to securely hold yarn in the base against the concave interior surface and to prevent unpurposeful disengagement of the bar, the catch means being manually releasable as required from its co-operation with the base to permit said otherend ofthe barto be removed from the slot so that the bar may be pivoted to open position; and (d) socket means associated with the holder re- ceive a clinching eyelet of a flexible bundling strap circumscribing and securing holding theyarn,when the bar is in closed position, to hold the bundling strap and yarn in position in the holder.

2. A holder according to claim 1 in which the socket means for the clinching eyelet comprises a slot centrally positioned in the bar.

3. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the socket means for the clinching eyelet comprises a slot centrally positioned in the concave interior surface of the base.

4. A holder according to claim 2 further provided with a channel on the interior surface of the base, the channel to receive, position and maintain in position the bundling strap oftheyarn whenthe bar is in closed position securing yarn within the base.

5. A holder according to claim 4 wherein the channel informed by a plurality of spaced, aligned pins outwardly extending from the interior surface, the pins to dig into the yarn and prevent its sliding out of the base when the bar is in closed position.

6. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the catch means comprises an earoutwardlyextending from said other end of the bar and, when the bar is in closed position securing yarn in place seated on the exterior surface ofthe base, the bias of yarn acting on the bar causing the catch means to resist unpurposeful disengagement.

7. A holder according to claim 6 wherein the bar is made of flexible material and the slot is of sufficientwidth to permit lateral movement of the end of the bar to free the earfrom seated engagement on the exterior surface of the holder and thereby free the barto open.

8. A holder according to claim 7 wherein latch guard ribs are positioned on either side of the slot on the exterior surface of the holder to prevent unpurposeful lateral movementofsaid other end ofthe barwhen the bar is in closed position.

9. A holder according to claim 7 wherein the in teriorsurfaceofthe base is further provided with a pair of spaced ribs to co-operate with said other end ofthe bar, when moving from open to closed position to guide said other end to closed position within the slot, and when in closed position to support said other end ofthe bar against unintended movement.

10. A holder according to claim 2 wherein the in teriorsurfaceofthe holder is further provided with a pair of spaced ribs to cooperate with said other end ofthe bar, when moving from open to closed position to guide said other end to closed position within the slot, and when in closed position to support said other end ofthe bar against unintended movement.

11. A holder according to claim 1 in combination with a plurality of strips of yarn, the yarn being circumscribed and securely held by a flexible bundling strap having an elongated body portion, one end of which is a tail and the other end of which is a clinching eyelet through which the tail of the strap passes and which securely holds the strap against unpurposeful disengagement, the strap to be positioned, when the clamp bar is in closed position, with its clinching eyelet in the socket means.

12. A holder according to claim 2 in combination with a plurality of strips ofyarn, yarn being circu- mscribed and securely held by a flexible bundling strap having an elongated body portion, one end of which is a tail and the other end of which is a clinching eyelet through which the tail of the strap passes and which securely holds the strap against unpurposeful disengagement, the strap to be positioned, when the clamp bar is in closed position, with its clinching eyelet in the socket means.

13. A holder according to claim 4 in combination with a plurality of strips of yarn, the yarn being circumscribed and securely held by a flexible bundling strap having an elongated body portion, one end of which is a tail and the other end of which is a clinching eyelet through which the tail of the strap passes and which securely holds the strap againstunpurposeful disengagement, the strap to be positioned, when the clamp bar is in closed-position,with its clinching eyelet in the socket means.

14. A holder according to claim Sin combination with a plurality of strips of yarn, the yarn being circumscribed and securely held by a flexible bundling strap having an elongated body portion, one end of which is a tail and the other end of which is a clinching eyelet through which the tail of the strap passes and which securely holds the strap against un purpqsefui disengagement, the strap to be positioned, when the clamp bar is in closed position, with its clinching eyelet in the socket means.

15. A holder for receiving the handle and securing the yarn of a mop or brush comprising: (a) a sleeve to receive in one end the handle of the mop or brush; (b) a base having an exterior surface, a concave interior surface against which the yarn is to be held, and a lower rim defining an opening to the interior surface of the base, through which opening the yarn, when held in position, is to extend, the base being centrally secured to the other end of the sleeve;; (c) a bar made of flexible material, one end of which is hinged to one side of the opening to extend centrally across the opening when in closed position and to swing clear of the opening when in open position, the other end of the bar being provided with a catch means,thecatch means comprising an ear out wardly extending from said other end of the bar and, when the bar is in closed position, seated on the ex teriorsurfaceofthe base, the bias of the yarn acting on the bar causing the catch means to resist unpurposeful disengagement, the corresponding side of the base being provided with a slot to receive said other end of the bar, the slot being ofsufficientwidth to permit lateral movement of the end of the barto free the earfrom seated engagement on the exterior surface of the holder and thereby free the barto open, the catch means to cooperate with the base in the vicinity of the slot when the bar is in closed position to securely hold yarn in the base against the concave interior surface and to prevent unpurposeful disengagement of the bar, the catch means being manually releasable as required from its cooperation with the base to permit said other end of the barto be removed from the slot so that the bar may be pivoted to open position; ; (d) a slot centrally positioned in the barto receive a clinching eyelet of a flexible bundling strap circumscribing and securely holding the yarn, when the bar is in closed position, to hold the bundling strap and yarn in position in the holder; (e) a channel, formed by a plurality of spaced, aligned pins outwardly extending from the interior surface ofthe base, the pins to dig into the yarn and prevent its sliding out of the base when the bar is in closed position, the channel to receive, position and maintain in position the bundling strap of the yarn when the bar is in closed position securing yarn within the base; and (f) spaced ribs on the interior surface of the base to co-operate with said other end ofthe bar, when moving from open to closed position to guide said other end to closed position within the slot, and when in closed position to support said other end of the bar against unintended movement.

16. A holder according to claim 15 wherein latch guard ribs are positioned on either side of the slot on the exterior surface ofthe holderto prevent unpurposeful lateral movement of said other end ofthe bar when the bar is in closed position.

17. A holderas claimed in claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any one of the examplesshown in the accompanying drawings.