GB2412568A

GB2412568A - Mop press

Info

Publication number: GB2412568A
Application number: GB0400985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Robert Duncan; Stephen Basil Phillips
Original assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Current assignee: Numatic International Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-16
Filing date: 2004-01-16
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-16
Also published as: GB0400985D0; GB2412568B

Abstract

The mop press comprises frame 1, which accommodates pressure plate 2 and rotatable shaft 3. Pressure plate 2 is positioned above tank (6, fig. 2). Drainage holes 10 are formed in pressure plate 2. Shaft 3 is attached to lever 4, allowing torque to be applied to clamps 5 which are pivotable between an upper release position (fig. 3) and a lower ringing position (fig, 4). Clamps 5 are couple to rotatable shaft 3 by curved arms 7 and toggle links 8. In use, the mop is placed between pressure clamps 5 and pressure pad 20. Pressure is applied by the clamps, and water is squeezed from the mop.

Description

24 1 2568

IMPROVED MOP PRESS

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to mop presses for wringing liquid from mops. In particular, the present invention relates to a mop press adapted for wringing liquid from a mop of the kind which comprises a mopping pad, typically formed from a block of water-absorbent material or from tufts of a water-absorbent material, attached to a rigid backing plate.

Conventionally, mop presses for wringing liquid from mops comprise two plates, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other plate between an "open" and a "closed" configuration. When the plates are in the "open" configuration, a space is defined between the plates for accommodating the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung. As the plates are moved from the "open" configuration into the "closed" configuration, the mopping pad is squeezed between the plates, such that liquid retained in the mopping pad is wrung out from the mopping pad.

In some such mop presses, one of said two plates is fixed, whilst the other of said two plates is movable towards and away from said one fixed plate.

Mechanical means such as a gear-rack mechanism are provided for moving said other plate towards and away from said one fixed plate. The need for such mechanical means however render such devices both cumbersome to operate and expensive to construct.

Accordingly, in many known embodiments, said two plates are joined together by a hinge, and are pivotable on said hinge between "open" and "closed" configurations. The construction of such mop presses can be relatively straightforward and inexpensive. However, it has been observed that as the

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plates pivot into the "closed" configuration for wringing a mopping pad positioned between the plates, those parts of the mopping pad which are closest to the hinge are squeezed to the greatest extent, whilst those parts of the mopping pad which are remote from the hinge may remain unsqueezed.

Accordingly, the efficacy of the wringing operation is significantly impaired.

EP 160532 A discloses a mop press comprising two plates which are joined together by a floating hinge; the arrangement being such that as the plates pivot towards the "closed" configuration for wringing a mopping pad, the hinge is displaced away from the plane of the mopping pad, so as to allow more even application of pressure to the mopping pad. The floating hinge arrangement is however relatively complex in construction and delicate in operation.

There remains therefore a need for a mop press of simple and robust design, which is capable of wringing liquid effectively and efficiently from the mopping pad of a mop.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a mop press for wringing liquid from a mop of the kind comprising a mopping pad attached to a rigid backing plate; said mop press comprising: a pressure plate which is arranged to be contacted by the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung; pressing means adapted for applying pressure to at least one of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung when the mopping pad of said mop is in contact with said pressure plate; and liquid draining means for draining liquid from the vicinity of said pressure plate; the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in contact with said pressure plate, the application of pressure by said pressing means to one or both of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop causes or allows said mopping pad to be squeezed between said pressure plate and said rigid backing plate, such that liquid retained in said mopping pad is wrung out of said mopping pad and is drained away by said liquid draining means.

In use therefore, the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung can be placed flat against said pressure plate, and pressure can be evenly applied by said pressing means to wring liquid efficiently from said mopping pad. A mop press in accordance with the present invention may comprise a single pressure plate, and may thus be relatively simple and inexpensive in its design and construction. Such a construction obviates the need for complex hinge designs and plate operating mechanisms.

Preferably, said pressing means comprises at least one clamp, which clamp is movable between a wringing position, in which said clamp is arranged to contact and apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung, and a release position, in which said clamp is positioned to allow the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung to be placed in contact with and removed from said pressure plate. In preferred embodiments, said clamp is arranged to pivot between said wringing position and said release position.

Advantageously, said clamp may be coupled to a rotatable member, the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in contact with said pressure plate, the application of torque to said rotatable member in a first direction causes or allows said clamp to move into said wringing position and/or apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of the mop. Manually operable means, such as a lever, may be coupled to said rotatable member, to provide the necessary mechanical advantage.

In one aspect of the present invention, said mop press comprises an elongate toggle linking member for coupling said clamp to the rotatable member. Said toggle linking member may be pivotably mounted on said clamp and may be connected to said rotatable member such that the application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction urges said toggle linking member to pivot on said clamp in a forwards direction, thereby urging said clamp to move from said release position into said wringing position.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, said elongate toggle linking member can be locked from pivoting on said clamp in said forwards direction such that further application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction causes a pressing force to be applied to said clamp along the length of said elongate toggle linking member, thereby pressing said clamp against said one of the pressure plate and the backing plate of said mop. In particularly preferred embodiments, the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, the elongate toggle linking member is locked from pivoting in said forwards direction beyond an over- centre position in which said elongate toggle linking member is oriented substantially orthogonally to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop. The further application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction will then cause said pressing force to be applied to said clamp in a direction substantially orthogonal to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop, thereby pressing said pressure plate and said rigid backing plate of the mop firmly together for wringing the mop.

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Said rotatable member may comprise an arm mounted on a shaft, which arm is arranged to rotate about the axis of said shaft. Conveniently, said shaft is rotatable, and said arm is fixedly mounted on said shaft and is arranged to rotate therewith. Manually operable rotating means, such as a lever, may be coupled to said rotatable shaft for applying torque to said rotatable shaft.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, said mop press comprises a plurality of clamps, typically two clamps, for applying pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung.

Conveniently, each clamp is coupled to a rotatable member, each rotatable member being mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft.

A mop press in accordance with the present invention is conveniently arranged such that in normal use, the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is placed on top of said pressure plate for wringing. Thus, during the wringing operation, the rigid backing plate of said mop is positioned vertically above said pressure plate. Conveniently, said pressing means are adapted for applying pressure in a downwards direction to said rigid backing plate of the mop.

Said draining means may comprise a tank adapted for the storage of liquid, and channelling means for enabling the flow of liquid from the vicinity of said pressure plate into said tank. In preferred embodiments, said tank is positioned below said pressure plate, and said channelling means comprises at least one aperture provided in said pressure plate and communicating with said tank, the arrangement being such that liquid wrung from a mopping pad during the wringing operation is enabled to flow through said aperture into said tank for storage therein.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a mop press as hereinbefore described, wherein the pressure plate is provided with a resilient pressure pad attached to a mop receiving surface of the pressure plate, wherein said resilient pressure pad is capable of deforming under pressure applied by the pressing means to provide a more uniform squeezing of the mopping pad of a mop in the mop press.

The resilient pressure pad may be formed of a polymer foam such as a foamed synthetic elastomer. In use, the pad deforms to adopt the configuration of the mopping pad, forming an intimate contact therewith, and providing uniform pressure to the mopping pad, even where the pad is of non-uniform profile. In this way a much improved squeezing action is obtained, as compared to a press in the absence of the resilient pressure pad.

IS The draining means may comprise a plurality of drainage channels formed through the pressure plate. The resilient pressure pad may be formed with a plurality of pad drainage channels extending between opposite faces of the pad, thereby permitting fluid to travel through the pad.

In a preferred arrangement, the size and distribution of the pad drainage channels formed in the pressure pad corresponds to the size and distribution of drainage channels formed in the pressure plate, thereby permitting free drainage of liquid through both the pressure pad and the pressure plate.

Following is a description, by way of example only, of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a mop press in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation of the rotatable shaft and clamps of the mop press shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a transparent side view of the mop press shown in Figure 1, with the clamps in the upper release position.

Figure 4 shows a transparent side view of the mop press shown in Figure 1, with the clamps in the lower wringing position.

Figure 5 shows an overhead elevation of the mop press shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation of the mop press shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional exploded view of a mop press according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a mop press in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame 1, which frame 1 accommodates a pressure plate 2 and a rotatable shaft 3. Pressure plate 2 is positioned within said frame 1 above a tank 6 (shown in Figure 2), which tank 6 is adapted for the storage of liquid.

Pressure plate 2 comprises a plurality of draining holes 10 which are arranged to enable the flow of liquid from the vicinity of said pressure plate 2 into said tank 6 below for storage therein. Pressure plate 2 is arranged to accommodate the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung.

Rotatable shaft 3 is fixedly attached to a lever 4, which permits the manual application of torque to said rotatable shaft 3. Rotatable shaft 3 carries two clamps 5, each of which clamps 5 comprises a head portion 12 and an arm portion 14. Said arm portion 14 of each clamp 5 is pivoted at one end 15 thereof on said frame 1, such that each clamp 5 is pivotable between an upper release position (shown in Figure 3) and a lower wringing position (shown in Figure 4).

As shown in Figure 2, each clamp 5 is coupled to rotatable shaft 3 by means of a pair of curved arms 7 and a toggle link 8. Each pair of curved arms 7 is fixedly mounted on said rotatable shaft 3, for rotation therewith. The end 11 of each pair of curved arms 7 carries a toggle link 8 pivotably mounted thereon by means of a pin (not shown) which extends between the two curved arms constituting the pair; the other end 13 of each link 8 being pivotably mounted with arm portion 14 of clamp 5.

In use, with said clamps 5 initially placed in the upper release position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung (not shown) is placed in contact with said pressure plate 2, with the rigid backing plate of the mop uppermost.

The lever 4 is then moved in the direction marked "A" in Figure 3, thereby causing rotation of shaft 3 and the two pairs of curved arms 7 carried thereby.

Each toggle link 8, is thus also caused to rotate about the axis of said rotatable shaft 3, moving initially in the direction marked "C" in Figure 3.

Since the other end 13 of each toggle link 8 is constrained to rotate with said clamp 5 about said end 15 of the arm portion 14, as said one end 11 of each toggle link 8 rotates in direction "C" about the axis of said rotatable shaft 3, said other end 13 of each toggle link 8 is caused to rotate with said arm portion 14 and said head portion 12 about said end 15 of the arm portion 14, in the direction marked "D" in Figure 3. This causes each clamp 5 to move downwards in direction "D", towards the wringing position.

During this movement, said ends 11 and 13 of each toggle link 8 orbit the axis of rotatable shaft 3 and said end 15 of arm portion 14 respectively, whereby ends 11 and 13 of each toggle link 8 are caused to pivot on said pair of curved arms 7 and said arm portion 12 respectively, in order to accommodate the changing orientation of the toggle link.

Figure 4 shows the clamps 5 in the wringing position. In this position, each toggle link 8 is oriented substantially vertically. Said end 13 of each toggle link 8 abuts the rotatable shaft 3, such that said end 13 is prevented from pivoting on said arm portion 14 of the clamp 5 in the direction marked "G" in Figure 4.

Said head portion 12 of each clamp 5 abuts the rigid backing plate of said mop (not shown). In order to wring the mop, torque is applied to said lever 4 in the direction marked "E" in Figure 4. This torque is transmitted through said rotatable shaft 3 and each pair of curved arms 7 to said end 11 of each toggle link 8, thereby urging said end 11 to move in the direction marked "F" in Figure 4, and said end 13 to pivot in direction "G". Said end 13 of each toggle link 8 is however constrained from pivoting in direction "G" on said arm portion 12, and accordingly torque is transmitted to said arm portion 12 in the form of a substantially vertical downwards force which acts to press said head portion 12 against said rigid backing plate of the mop (not shown).

As each head portion 12 is pressed against the rigid backing plate of the mop, the mopping pad is squeezed between said rigid backing plate and said pressure plate 2 of the mop press. Excess liquid retained in the mopping pad is thus wrung out of the mopping pad, and flows through said draining holes 10 into the tank 6 below pressure plate 2. Said tank 6 can be periodically emptied, in order to avoid the excessive accumulation of liquid therein.

After wringing, said lever 4 can be manipulated to move said clamps 5 from the wringing position to the release position, thereby enabling the wrung mop to be removed from the press.

Each head portion 12 incorporates a threaded adjustment whereby the wringing pressure exerted on the mop may be adjusted so that the residual water content of the mop head after wringing may be adjusted.

In Figure 7, like features are numbered according to the scheme previously used for the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6.

A flat mop 25 comprises a mop stick 26 attached at a lower end thereof via a universal joint 24 to a rigid backing plate 27. The pressure plate has a lower surface 28 which is provided with a mopping pad 29. The mopping pad is formed of absorbent fabric as known in the art.

The shape and configuration of the mop press shown in this embodiment are identical to that of Figures 1 to 6, subject to the provision of a resilient pressure pad 20. The pad is a rectilinear sheet of foam material having a plan corresponding to the pressure plate 2. The pad is attached to the upper surface of the pressure plate by gluing or another suitable fastening. Alternatively, the pad may be loosely placed on the plate, without being fixed thereto. The resilient pressure pad is formed with a plurality of channels 21 therethrough.

The location and size of these channels 21 coincides with the draining holes or channels 10 formed through the pressure plate.

In use, the mop is placed in between the pressure clamps 5 and the pressure pad 20. As pressure is applied by the clamps, the resilient pressure pad deforms to intimately press against the entire surface of the mopping pad. Hence, a uniform squeezing action is obtained, notwithstanding any localised variations in thickness or texture of the mop pad.

Claims

Claims 1. A mop press for wringing liquid from a mop of the kind

comprising a mopping pad attached to a rigid backing plate; said mop press comprising: a pressure plate which is arranged to be contacted by the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung; pressing means adapted for applying pressure to at least one of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung when the mopping pad of said mop is in contact with said pressure plate; and liquid draining means for draining liquid from the vicinity of said pressure plate; the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in contact with said pressure plate, the application of pressure by said pressing means to one or both of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop causes or allows said mopping pad to be squeezed between said pressure plate and said rigid backing plate, such that liquid retained in said mopping pad is wrung out of said mopping pad and is drained away by said liquid draining means.
2. A mop press as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure plate is provided with a resilient pressure pad juxtaposed a mop receiving surface of the pressure plate, wherein said resilient pressure pad is capable of deforming under pressure applied by the pressing means to provide a more uniform squeezing of the mopping pad of a mop in the mop press.
3. A mop press as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the draining means comprises a plurality of drainage channels formed through the pressure plate.
4. A mop press as claimed in claim 3 wherein the resilient pressure pad is formed with a plurality of pad drainage channels extending between opposite faces of the pad, thereby permitting fluid to travel through the pad.
5. A mop press as claimed in claim 4 wherein the size and distribution of the pad drainage channels formed in the pressure pad corresponds to the size and distribution of drainage channels formed in the pressure plate, thereby permitting free drainage of liquid through both the pressure pad and the pressure plate.

6. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pressing means comprises at least one clamp, which clamp is movable between a wringing position, in which said clamp is arranged to contact and apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung, and a release position, in which said clamp is positioned to allow the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung to be placed in contact with and removed from said pressure plate.

7. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said clamp may be coupled to a rotatable member, the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in contact with said pressure plate, the application of torque to said rotatable member in a first direction causes or allows said clamp to move into said wringing position and/or apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of the mop. Manually operable means, such as a lever, may be coupled to said rotatable member, to provide the necessary mechanical advantage.

8. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mop press comprises an elongate toggle linking member for coupling said clamp to the

rotatable member.

9. A mop press as claimed in claim 8 wherein said toggle linking member may be pivotably mounted on said clamp and may be connected to said rotatable member such that the application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction urges said toggle linking member to pivot on said clamp in a forwards direction, thereby urging said clamp to move from said release position into said wringing position.

10. A mop press as claimed in claim 9 wherein the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, said elongate toggle linking member can be locked from pivoting on said clamp in said forwards direction such that further application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction causes a pressing force to be applied to said clamp along the length of said elongate toggle linking member, thereby pressing said clamp against said one of the pressure plate and the backing plate of said mop.

11. A mop press as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, the elongate toggle linking member is locked from pivoting in said forwards direction beyond an over-centre position in which said elongate toggle linking member is oriented substantially orthogonally to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop.

12. A mop press as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherein said rotatable member may comprise an arm mounted on a shaft, which arm is arranged to rotate about the axis of said shaft and said shaft is rotatable, and said arm is fixedly mounted on said shaft and is arranged to rotate therewith.

13. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mop press comprises a plurality of clamps, typically two clamps, for applying pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung. s

14. A mop press as claimed in claim 13 wherein each clamp is coupled to a rotatable member, each rotatable member being mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft.

15. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pressing means are adapted for applying pressure in a downwards direction to said rigid backing plate of the mop.

16. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said draining means may further comprise a tank adapted for the storage of liquid, and located under the pressure plate, or in liquid communication with the pressure plate to receive liquid expressed from the mop through the pressure plate.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows C lalllls 1. A mop press for wringing liquid from a mop of the kind comprising a mopping pad attached to a rigid backing plate; said mop press comprising: a pressure plate which is arranged to be contacted by the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung; pressing means adapted for applying pressure to at least one of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung when the mopping pad of said mop is in contact with said pressure plate; and liquid draining means for draining liquid from the vicinity of said pressure plate; the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in contact with said pressure plate, the application of pressure by said pressing means to one or both of said pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop causes or allows said mopping pad to be squeezed between said pressure plate and said rigid backing plate, such that liquid retained in said mopping pad is wrung out of said mopping pad and is drained away by said liquid draining means and wherein the pressure plate is provided with a resilient pressure pad juxtaposed a mop receiving surface of the pressure plate, wherein said resilient pressure pad is capable of deforming under pressure applied by the pressing means to provide a more uniform squeezing of the mopping pad of a mop in the mop press.

2. A mop press as claimed in claim 1 wherein the draining means comprises a plurality of drainage channels formed through the pressure plate.

3. A mop press as claimed in claim 2 wherein the resilient pressure pad is formed with a plurality of pad drainage channels extending between opposite faces of the pad, thereby permitting 1luid to travel through the pad.

4. A mop press as claimed in claim 3 wherein the size and distribution of the i pad drainage channels formed in the pressure pad corresponds to the size and distribution of drainage channels formed in the pressure plate, thereby permitting free drainage of liquid through both the pressure pad and the pressure plate.

S S. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pressing means comprises at least one clamp, which clamp is movable between a wringing position, in which said clamp is arranged to contact and apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung, and a release position, in which said clamp is positioned to allow the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung to be placed in contact with and removed from said pressure plate.
6. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said clamp may be coupled to a rotatable member, the arrangement being such that when the mopping pad of a mop to be wrung is in Contact with said pressure plate, the application of torque to said rotatable member in a first direction causes or allows said clamp to move into said wringing position and/or apply pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of the mop.
7. A mop press as claimed in claim 6 wherein manually operable means, such as a lever, may be coupled to said rotatable member, to provide the necessary mechanical advantage.
8. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mop press comprises an elongate toggle linking member for coupling said clamp to the rotatable member.
9. A mop press as claimed in claim 8 wherein said toggle linking member may be pivotably mounted on said clamp and may be connected to said rotatable member such /7 : : _, . 7 that the application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction urges said toggle linking member to pivot on said clamp in a forwards direction, thereby urging said clamp to move from said release position into said wringing position.
10. A mop press as claimed in claim 9 wherein the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, said elongate toggle linking member can be locked from pivoting on said clamp in said forwards direction such that further application of torque to said rotatable member in said first direction causes a pressing force to be applied to said clamp along the length of said elongate toggle linking member, thereby pressing said clamp against said one of the pressure plate and the backing plate of said mop.
11. A mop press as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the arrangement is such that when said clamp is in said wringing position, the elongate toggle linking member is locked from pivoting in said forwards direction beyond an over-centre position in which said elongate toggle linking member is oriented substantially orthogonally to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of said mop.
12. A mop press as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherein said rotatable member may comprise an arm mounted on a shaft, which arm is arranged to rotate about the axis of said shaft and said shaft is rotatable, and said arm is fixedly mounted on said shaft and is arranged to rotate therewith.
13. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mop press comprises a plurality of clamps for applying pressure to said one of the pressure plate and the rigid backing plate of a mop to be wrung. l8 l
14. A mop press as claimed in claim 13 wherein said mop press comprises two clamps.
15. A mop press as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein each clamp is coupled to a rotatable member, each rotatable member being mounted on and rotatable with said rotatable shaft.
16. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pressing means are adapted for applying pressure in a downwards direction to said rigid backing plate of the mop.
17. A mop press as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said draining means may further comprise a tank adapted for the storage of liquid, and located under the pressure plate, or in liquid communication with the pressure plate to receive liquid expressed from the mop through the pressure plate. 1'