GB2475855A

GB2475855A - A squeeze mop head

Info

Publication number: GB2475855A
Application number: GB0921096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Fuchs
Original assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Current assignee: Vale Mill Rochdale Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Also published as: GB0921096D0

Abstract

A squeeze mop head 1 comprises two sections 3, 5. One of the sections 5 has a handle 19 that may be used to urge that section towards the other section 3. Each section 3, 5 also has means for affixing one or more pads 29 to that section 3, 5. The sections 3, 5 may be arranged such that one region of the or each pad 29 may be urged toward another region of the or each pad 29 or a region of a different pad 29. The first section 3 and the second section 5 may be releasably engageable to one another. The two sections 3, 5 of the mop head 1 may be directly or indirectly pivotally connected and may have an intermediate section 9. The handle 19 may snap fit with the main handle 15 of the mop.

Description

A Squeeze Mop Head The present invention relates to a squeeze mop head.

Conventional squeeze mops typically comprise a handle and a mop head having two parts that are hinged together. A first part of the mop head is fixed to an end of the mop handle and the second part is free to move relative to the first. Thus, the second part can be folded in toward the first part so that a sponge fixed to the mop head is squeezed between the two parts, so as to expel water from the sponge.

The squeezing action is usually activated by an external force which is exerted on the second part by a rod that connects the second part to a sliding collar or lever on the mop handle. Moving the collar or lever from one position to another causes the rod to apply a force to the second part so that it is urged towards the first part.

A problem with conventional squeeze mops is that the mechanical assembly used to activate and deactivate the squeezing action is complicated and costly to manufacture.

An object of embodiments of the invention is to mitigate the above difficulties.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a squeeze mop head comprising two sections, one of the sections comprising a handle that may be used to urge that section towards the other section and each section further comprising means for affixing one or more pads to that section.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a squeeze mop head comprising two sections, one of the sections comprising a handle that may be used to urge that section towards the other section and each section further comprising a pad.

Providing one section of the mop head with a handle that may be used to urge the two sections of the mop head together, to squeeze a cleaning pad or pads on the sections, facilitates manufacture and thus reduces the cost of manufacture, as compared to conventional squeeze mop heads.

The mop head may further comprise one or more pads affixed to one or more sections of the mop head. The or each pad may extend across at least two sections of the mop head. The sections may be arranged such that one region of the or each pad may be urged toward another region of the or each pad or a region of a different pad.

The or each pad may comprise a frame which may be releasably engaged with the mop head. The or each pad may comprise a sponge.

The mop head may be formed in a single piece. The mop head may be made from injection moulded plastics material. The mop head handle may be shaped and configured to be held by one or two hands of a user of the mop head.

The two sections of the mop head may be directly or indirectly pivotally connected. The handle may be unitarily formed with a section of the mop head.

The mop head may comprise receiving means for receiving a second handle, or may comprise a second handle. The second handle may be an elongate rod and the receiving means may comprise a bore. The bore may be generally cylindrical and may comprise inwardly extending ribs into which a thread formed on a second handle may bite.

The means for mounting the second handle, or a second handle, may be provided on the other section of the mop head to the first handle. The first handle may comprise a formation arranged to releasably engage with the receiving means for receiving a second handle, or a second handle, thereby to hold the two sections in a desired relative orientation. The formation may be of U-shaped cross-section for receiving the receiving means or second handle with a snap-fit.

The mop head may comprise a first section and a second section which may be releasably engageable to one another. The means of engagement may comprise a friction fit. The means of engagement may comprise a latch mechanism. The means of engagement may comprise one or more male connectors on one section and one or more female connectors on the other section that are alTanged to engage one another.

The second section may be arranged to partially surround the first section when in an engaged position, or vice versa. The mop head may additionally comprise an intermediate third section to which the first and second sections are hingedly connected. The first section and the second section may be arranged such that, when they engage one another, the mop head is configured for cleaning.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a mop head according to the invention when in a non-squeezed state; Fig. 2 is a side view of the mop head shown in Fig. 1 when in a squeezed state; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sponge plate of the mop head shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sponge plate shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side view of the sponge plate shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the mop head shown in Fig. 1 without a mop handle or sponge plate; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mop head shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a perspective top view of the mop head shown in Fig. 1 without mop handle or sponge plate; and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mop head shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mop head 1 formed in one piece from injection moulded plastics material and which comprises a first main section 3 and a second main section 5. The two sections 3, 5 are hingedly attached to an intermediate third section 9 such that the two sections 3, 5 can be folded toward one another. The hinging is provided by relatively thin, flexible, webs 7 connecting the third section 9 to the main sections 3 and 5. The width of the intermediate third section 9 (distance between either web 7) is chosen to allow for the thickness of a sponge attached to the mop head 1 in the squeezing action such that the face of the sponge meets when the two sections 3, 5 to which the sponge is attached are folded toward one another.

Extending from the first section 3 is a hollow generally cylindrical portion 13 which is configured to receive an end of an elongate plastic mop handle 15. The cylindrical portion 13 defines a substantially cylindrical internal bore into which extend a plurality of ribs 17. These internal ribs 17 provide a surface which may be engaged by the thread on the end of the mop handle 15. Thus, when the mop handle 15 is screwed into the cylinder 13 of the mop head 1, it self screws and creates its own receiving thread on the ribs 17. The mop head 1 can therefore be easily connected or disconnected from the mop handle 15 depending upon the desired use.

Extending from the second section 5 is a short handle 19 which is sized and configured so that a user can comfortably grip it with one or two hands. The handle 19 extends from the second section 5 such that, when in a cleaning configuration (as shown in Fig. 1), it extends along the length of the mop handle 15 to which the mop head 1 is connected and with sufficient clearance from the mop handle 15 for the mop head handle 19 to be grasped by a user.

The handle 19 comprises a semi-cylindrical portion 21 (of generally U-shaped cross-section) which is dimensioned to fit partially around the circumference of the cylindrical portion 13 of the first section 3. The semi-cylindrical portion 21 is positioned such that it faces and engages with the cylindrical portion 13 when in a cleaning configuration. The means of engagement comprises a protruding edge 23, which extends upwardly from the top of the cylindrical portion 13, and two protruding teeth 24 that are positioned on opposite sides respectively of the inner wall of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 such that they engage the protruding edge 23 with a snap fit when in a cleaning configuration.

An aperture 25 is provided at each corner of the mop head 1 to enable a sponge plate 27 to be mechanically attached thereto. The sponge plate 27 comprises a block of sponge 29 which is adhered on one of its faces to a plastic frame 31 which is separated along its central longitudinal axis to permit the sponge 29 to be flexed and squeezed. The frame has two stubs 33 on opposite sides respectively of the frame 27 which are positioned so that they may be aligned with corresponding apertures 25 on the mop head 1.

Each of the stubs 33 comprises two separate, flexible protrusions 37, 38 that extend outwardly from the frame 27 and may be urged toward one another with the application of pressure. This flexing ability permits the stubs 33 to be inserted through corresponding apertures 25 in the mop head 1 where the stubs 33 return to their rest position and retain the sponge plate relative to the mop head 1. Two slits are also provided at the other end of the sponge plate 27 and provide a recess into which two correspondingly positioned protrusions 42 on the mop head 1 may be inserted so that both ends of the sponge plate 27 may be firmly retained in place on the mop head 1.

Used sponge plates 27 may therefore be easily replaced with new sponge heads 27 when the sponge is worn or otherwise not usable.

In use, a mop handle 15 is screwed into the cylindrical portion 13 of the mop head 1. The mop head is placed in a cleaning configuration (as shown in Fig. ) by engaging the second section 5 with the first section 3. A sponge plate 27 is then mechanically fixed to the underside of the mop head 1 by inserting the two stubs 33 through respective apertures 25 in the mop head 1 and also inserting the two protrusions 42 of the mop head 1 into respective slits 40 in the sponge plate 27.

When the sponge 29 requires squeezing a user urges the shorter handle 19 away from the longer handle 15, disengaging it from the generally cylindrical formation 13 and moving it into the position shown in Figure 2. The handle 19 is then used to urge the undersides of the two sections 3,5 of the mop head together, folding the sponge 29 in two and squeezing it between the two sections. The handle 19 is then returned to the position shown in Figure 1, snapping it into engagement with the cylindrical formation 13, thereby retaining the two sections 3,5 in the cleaning configuration.

Conveniently, the mop head 1 can be detached from, and used independently of, the mop handle 15.

It is of course to be understood that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A squeeze mop head comprising two sections, one of the sections comprising a handle that may be used to urge that section towards the other section and each section further comprising means for affixing one or more pads to that section.
2. A squeeze mop head comprising two sections, one of the sections comprising a handle that may be used to urge that section towards the other section and each section further comprising a pad.
3. A mop head as claimed in claim I, further comprising one or more pads affixed to one or more sections of the mop head.
4. A mop head as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each pad extends across at 0 least two sections of the mop head.

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5. A mop head as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sections are arranged such that one region of the or each pad may be urged toward another region of the or each pad or a region of a different pad.
6, A mop head as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the or each pad comprises a frame which may be releasably engaged with the mop head.
7. A mop head as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the or each pad comprises a sponge.
8. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mop head is formed in a single piece.
9. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mop head is made from injection moulded plastics material.
10. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mop head handle is shaped and configured to be held by one or two hands of a user of the mop head.
II. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two sections of the mop head are directly or indirectly pivotally connected.
12. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is unitarily formed with a section of the mop head.
13. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a second handle.
14. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising receiving means for receiving a second handle.0
15. A mop head as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second handle is an elongate rod and the receiving means comprises a bore. (41
16. A mop head as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bore is generally cylindrical and comprises inwardly extending ribs into which a thread formed on a second handle may bite.
17. A mop head as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the means for mounting the second handle, or the second handle, is provided on the other section of the mop head to the first handle.
18. A mop head as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first handle comprises a formation arranged to releasably engage with the receiving means for receiving a second handle, or a second handle, thereby to hold the two sections in a desired relative orientation.
19. A mop head as claimed in claim 18, wherein the formation is of U-shaped cross-section for receiving the receiving means or second handle with a snap-fit.
20. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mop head comprises a first section and a second section which are releasably engageable to one another.
21. A mop head as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means of engagement comprises a friction fit.
22. A mop head as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the means of engagement comprises a latch mechanism.
23. A mop head as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the means of 0 engagement comprises one or more male connectors on one section and one or more female connectors on the other section that are arranged to engage one (4 F-another.C\I 15
24. A mop head as claimed in any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the second section is arranged to partially surround the first section when in an engaged position, or vice versa.
25. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mop head additionally comprises an intermediate third section to which the first and second sections are hingedly connected.
26. A mop head as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first section and the second section are arranged such that, when they engage one another, the mop head is configured for cleaning.
27. A mop head as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.