GB2249947A

GB2249947A - Twist action mop

Info

Publication number: GB2249947A
Application number: GB9025627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: P Mckay
Original assignee: P Mckay
Current assignee: P Mckay
Priority date: 1989-11-30
Filing date: 1990-11-26
Publication date: 1992-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-26
Also published as: GB2249947B; GB9025627D0

Abstract

A twist action mop comprises a handle 16 and a string-type mop head 15 connected at one end to the lower end of the handle and at its other end to a tube 17 mounted on the handle is provided with a mechanism for twisting the mop head about the lower end of the handle by a pulling and rotary action on the tube. Guide pins 19 co-operate with a track 18 on the handle 16. At a pull of a handle 23 the tube travels straight up until the mop head 15 is under tension in line with the handle, the load on a spring 26 being just enough to support the water laden mop head. A further pull of the handle 23 creates at least one full rotation of the tube 17 and a final wringing out process is achieved by rotating the tube by a lever 24. Instead of a handle 23 to lift the tube 17, an electric motor with rechargeable batteries may be employed driving a rack-and-pinion mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

TWIST ACTION MOP This invention relates to a domestic or industrial cleaning mop.

The domestic cleaning mop is one of the most familiar household objects, two types currently dominate the market. The oldest and most popular being the basic string mop-head on a wooden pole.

In recent years there have been variations on this design e.g.

ribbons of absorbent material on an aluminium pole. The aforementioned mops need a mop-bucket with a device to wring it out, e.g. a cone shape receptacle with holes in it, into which the mop-head is squeezed.

The other popular design is the sponge mop, this has a mechanism on it, that at the pull of a lever the sponge mop-head is squeezed out.

According to the present invention the mop is constructed with a mop-head that looks like a conventional string mop-head.

The design of the mop-head allows it to be connected to a mechanism on the pole, and that by pulling a handle, lever, or by activating an electric motor, causes the mop-head to move up and twist around the pole, thus wringing it out in one simple action. This requires minimum physical effort.

Figure 1 shows the configuration of the mop-head; Figure 2 shows the mop in operational mode: Figure 3 illustrates the mop in the wringing out position.

Referring to the drawing, the mop-head Fig 1, is constructed so that it has two centre cores; a top 12, and bottom core 14, the two cores are connected by the absorbent material 15 e.g. string, rope, ribbon. The material connecting the two cores should have a resistances to stretching, as this will have an affect on the travel of the mechanism. The bottom core is in a fixed position at the end of the pole 16. The top core has an aperture in the centre that allows it to move freely; up and down the lower part of the pole.

The top core is connected to an outer tube 17, the outer tube is free to move up and down the pole on a track 18, by means of two guide pins 19 protruding from the inside of the tube. The track is shaped so that at the pull of the handle 23 the outer tube will travel straight up until the absorbent material is under tension in line with the pole, this is to stop the mop-head getting tangled-up before it spirals around the pole. Further movement is made possible by a spring loaded telescopic section 25 in the outer tube. The bottom outer section of the telescopic tube is connected to the top core 12, and the top inner section is connected to the lever 24, and also houses the guide pins.

The telescopIc section has splines that transfer the rotational movement from the track, and the guide pins to the top core, and thus the absorbent material. The load on the spring should be fust enough to support the water laden absorbent material, as it is lifted to the point of tension.

At a further pull of the handle 23 the mechanism will create at least one full rotation of the top core and outer tube, the final wringing out process is achieved by rotating the lever 24.

The section of the inner pole which the absorbent material spirals around, should be as narrow as constructional strength will allow, as this greatly assists the wringing out process.

The lever 24 is permanently and rigidly fixed to the outer tube at the top, the bearing 20 is also located at the tcp of the outer tube, the static half of the bearing is fitted to a sleeve 21, the aforementioned sleeve has no rotational movement, but will only move up and down the pole.

The mechanism to put the movement into the system is connected to the sleeve, and could be as simple as a handle 23 arrangement (see drawing).

The aforementioned description is one example of how this type of mop could be constructed. It is obvious that there are many variations of handles, levers, tracks and telescopic sections that could be used, e.g. the guide pins could be on the pole and the track on the inside of the outer tube.

The construction of this type of mop would also lend itself well to the use of an electric motor to drive the mechanism, e.g.

an electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries driving a rack and pinion connected to the aforementioned mechanism, or more directly by replacing one or more of the guide pins position as stated in previous paragraph) with a pinlon, and replacing the spiral track with a spiral rack.(not shown

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A domestic or industrial cleaning mop, the mop is constructed with a mop-head that looks like a conventional string, rope or ribbon type mop-head. The construction of the mop-head allow it to be connected to a mechanism on the pole, and that by pulling a handle causes the mechanism to move the mop-head up and the twist it around the pole, thus wringing it out.
2 A domestic or industrial cleaning mop as claimed in claim 1 that has an additional lever on the mechanism as well as a handle, to increase the ability to wring out the absorbent material.
3 A domestic or industrial cleaning mop as claimed in claim 1 that has an electric motor to drive the mechanism. Rechargeable batteries would be used as the power supply. The battery charger could be built into the body of the mop, or a wall mounted unit may be used.