GB2206037A

GB2206037A - Sweep mop pad holder

Info

Publication number: GB2206037A
Application number: GB08714958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Michael Jones
Original assignee: Scot Young Service Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Scot Young Service Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-25
Filing date: 1987-06-25
Publication date: 1988-12-29
Also published as: GB8714958D0; JPS645516A

Abstract

A collapsible sweep mop pad holder comprises two opposite end leaves 4,5 which are pivotally mounted on a support block 1 and a catch member 23 slidable on leaf 5 between a free position and a latching position in which it engages the leaf 4 to latch both leaves 4 and 5 together and thus maintain an erected operative condition of the holder. <IMAGE>

Description

SWEEP MOP PAD HOLDER" The invention relates to sweep mops which comprise a mop pad mounted on a pad holder attached through an articulating joint to a handle, so that the operative area of the pad lies flat on the floor as the mop is used- with a sweeping action. Such mops are in general use for mopping of large floor areas, such as in hospitals and offices for example.

Particularly for use in a wet mopping system, including a mopping unit comprising a mop bucket combined with a wringer having two squeeze rollers between which the mop pad can be wrung out, collapsible pad holders are known which comprise two leaves hinged to a central support connected to the handle so that, when collapsed, the pad hangs down and can be pulled through the wringer. Locking of the leaves, in a generally aligned positioning and respectively projecting at opposite ends of the central support, when the holder is erected is achieved by releasable catch or latch means. Prior arrangements in which the end leaves are each latched to the central support are complex, and/or inconvenient or difficult to operate, in respect of the catch or latch means.

It has been proposed that the leaves should consist of wire frames with a catch arrangement operative to latch the two leaves directly one to the other in the region of the central support, thereby maintaining the erected condition of the holder. According to this proposal the catch arrangement comprises a catch block provided as an inner end extension of one leaf and engaging the side limbs of the frame forming the other leaf, thus utilizing the flexibility and resilience of that frame for resilient catch engagement.

Although the foregoing proposal has advantages, particularly that of reduced handling, as compared with prior catch arrangements it introduces the problem that the effective catch engagement depends on the weight of the mop pad used, such pads being available in a range of thicknesses or weights. This problem is particularly noticeable with the longer mop pads which are now coming into use, the difference in effective catch engagement with heavy and light pads having a length of say 80 cm, for example, being considerable.

The invention has for an object to provide the advantages of latching the two leaves one to the other, rather than separately to the central support, without the disadvantage referred to of resilient catch engagement.

According to the invention a collapsible mop holder comprises two opposite end leaves pivotally mounted on a central support connected or connectible to a handle, and catch means comprising a catch member slidable on one of the leaves between a free position and a latching position in which it engages the other leaf to latch both leaves together and thus maintain the erected condition of the holder.

Preferably the catch member is a block slidable on said one leaf and formed for latching engagement with the inner end of the other leaf which is extended inwardly beyond its pivot mounting for this purpose. When latched said inner end of said other leaf may be received within the catch block. Two wire frames may respectively provide the two leaves of the collapsible mop holder, with the catch block being moulded with side grooves slidably engaged with the side limbs of the wire frame forming said one leaf.

The catch member and the central support are conveniently both plastics mouldings, and if desired the end leaves also could be plastics mouldings to provide a holder consisting substantially entirely of an assembly of plastics mouldings. Such a plastics assembly, particularly employing the hand operation of the catch means which is achievable with the invention, is especially suitable for a mop to be used for the cleaning of wall surfaces, as in corridors for example, and large window areas.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, a sweep mop embodying a collapsible pad holder in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top perspective view showing the complete mop in erected condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mop in collapsed condition; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively partial side and underneath views illustrating a central portion of the pad holder; Figs. 5 and 6 are side and plan views of one of two leaf frames of the holder; Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views of the other leaf frame; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a catch block of the pad holder; and Fig. 10 is an inner end view of the catch block.

The mop pad holder assembly illustrated comprises a central support block 1, in the form of a plastics moulding, to which a handle 2 is attached by means of a universally-jointed handle mounting 3. Opposed end leaves 4 and 5, in the form of wire frames, are pivotally mounted on the block 1. The frames 4 and 5 are of rectangular shape in plan view with outer ends which engage in end pockets 8 and 9 of a mop pad 10. In the erected operative condition of the holder the frames 4 and 5 are aligned, as shown in Fig. 1, with the pad 10 held stretched in flat configuration below the pad holder.

Spaced cross members 11 and 12 maintain the shape of the frame 4, and the frame 5 has a single integral cross member 13 towards its outer end. Both frames 4 and 5 are upwardly joggled at 14 and 15 respectively to provide main outer portions, coplanar with the bottom of the support block 1, and parallel inner end portions 16 and 17, respectively. The cross member 11 of the frame 4 and an inner end limb 18 of the frame 5 are respectively pivotally received in cross slots 19 and 20 in the lower side of the mounting section 1, being retained therein by a securing plate 21 attached by screws such as 22, this plate being shown partially cut away in Fig. 4.

The upwardly joggled inner end portion 16 of the frame 4 extends beyond the handle mounting 3, and moulded plastics catch block 23 is mounted on the inner end portion 17 of the frame 5. The block 23 is moulded with edge recesses 24 in which the side limbs of the upwardly joggled inner end portion 17 of the frame 5 engage, so that the block 23 is laterally gripped and slidably retained in the frame 5. The block is slidable between the unlocked position illustrated in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, which allows the mop holder to collapse with the mop pad 10 hanging down as shown in Fig. 2, and the locked position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. In the latter locked position the inner end portion 16 of the frame 4 is received in a moulded internal recess 25 in the catch block 23. Thus the two frames 4 and 5 are latched one to the other, via the catch block 23, and hence both frames 4 and 5 are retained in the aligned erected condition illustrated in Fig. 1.

When the mop has to be collapsed for wringing out of the mop pad 10 the handle 2 is held positioned as shown in Fig. 1, that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pad holder and directed away from the catch block 23.

Movement of the catch block 23 to the unlocked position, by hand or foot, releases the frames 4 and 5 which then hang downwardly, in the collapsed condition of the pad holder, with the mop pad 10 draped in a loop below them as shown in Fig. 2. The mop can then be wrung out, the mop pad 10 being doubled to pass through the wringer. Thus collapsing of the mop and the wringing out can be accomplished without handling of the wet mop pad 10.

The handle 2 is then turned through 1800, so that whilst still aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pad holder it extends over the top of the block 23. Thus the handle can be held so that it engages the inner end portion 16 of the frame 4 to hold the frame 4 at a suitable inclination for it to be engaged with the floor with the frames 4 and 5 suitably mutually inclined, whereupon pressing the mop down upon the floor will move the frames 4 and 5 back to the erected condition. With the frames 4 and 5 moved into alignment the catch block 23 can be slid on the frame 5 to the locking position engaged with the inner end portion 16 of the frame 4, again either by hand or foot. Thus erection, after wringing out the mop pad 10, is also accomplished without handling of the latter.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A collapsible mop holder comprising two oppositely extending end leaves pivotally mounted on a central support connected or connectible to a handle, and catch means comprising a catch member slidable on one of the leaves between a free position and a latching position in which it engages the other leaf to latch both leaves together and thus maintain an erected operative condition of the holder

2. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 1, wherein the catch member is a block slidable on said one leaf and formed for latching engagement with the inner end of said other leaf.

3. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said other leaf is extended inwardly beyond its pivotal mounting on said support for the purpose of latching engagement by the catch member.

4. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 3, wherein said other leaf is extended inwardly beyond a handle mounting on said support.

5. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 2 and claim 3, wherein when the leaves are latched together said inner end of said other leaf is received within the catch block.

6. A collapsible mop holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said leaves is in the form of a wire frame.

7. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 2 and claim 6, wherein the catch block has side grooves slidably engaged with side limbs of the wire frame forming said one leaf.

8. A collapsible mop holder according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the catch block has an end opening or recess facing towards said other leaf and in which the inner end of the latter is received for latching engagement therewith.

9. A collapsible mop holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of said end leaves is a plastics moulding.

10. A collapsible mop holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the catch member and the central support are both plastics mouldings.

11. A collapsible mop holder constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.