MXPA97009172A - Mop head retainer. - Google Patents

Abstract

A mop head retainer for a mop head, having a shank for connection to a mop handle, an elongated body secured at its middle to the shank, and a jaw cooperable and pivotal with respect to the body to releasably grip and retain the mop head between the jaw and the body and release it therefrom, wherein the elongated body is provide d with opposite, spaced first and second terminal extensions downwardly extending from the ends of the body, one end of the jaw being pivotably secured to the lower free end of the first extension, the other free end of the jaw and the inside surface of the lower end of the second extension being provided with co-operating engagement means releasable up on spacing apart of the lower end of the second extension and the free end of the j aw in a direction generally normal to the direction of rotation of the latter at its closed position, so that when in engaged position the jaw and the body are secured in spaced parallel orientation; the second terminal extensio n also extending upwardly from the corresponding end of the body and being pivotably associated between its ends with the body for outward movement of the lower free end of the second terminal extension away from the jaw; the retaining means being further provided with an elongated semirigid release member, one end of the member is attached to the shank at a point spaced from the body, the other end of the member is attached to the upper end of the second terminal extension, whereby downward pressure on a part of the release member between its ends causes deflection of the release member to pivot the second terminal extension and consequently move the lower end of the terminal extension away from the jaw to release the engagement means when in a closed position and permit the jaw to open, and removal of the downward pressure causes the release member and the second terminal extension to return to original positions to permit re-engagement of the engagement means when the jaw is to be closed; a protective member secured to the shank and extending towards the upper end of the second terminal extension, the release member being positioned between the protective member and the body, whereby the release member is shielded against unintentional disengagement of the engagement means by unintentional deflection of the unintentional deflection of the release member during use of the mop; the improvement comprising the protective member is provided with a pressure member having an abutable portion downwardly extending towards and adjacent the release member and operably abutable with the release member to effect the downward pressure on the part of the release member to effect the release of said engagement means. The pressure member allows for easier and cleaner manipulation of the retainer when replacement of t he mop head is carried out.