NZ204846A - Mounting means for mop head:elongated aperture allows adjustment of fixing means - Google Patents

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 19 53 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL NO.204846 DATED: 8 JULY 198 3 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MOPS WE, RAVEN PRODUCTS LIMITED, a New Zealand company of Dryden Place, Ellerslie, Auckland 5, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to improvements in mops, and more particularly to improvements in mounting mop heads with mops.

In the past, there have been significant problems in the mounting of mop heads with mops, especially those mops incorporating sponge block with a pair of mounting plates positioned on a back surface thereof spaced from one another, each plate having an aperture through which a fixing stud is engaged, the fixing stud facilitating engagement of the mop head with the mop owing to an inter-engagement of the fixing stud through an aperture inadjacent mop parts.

Owing to small manufacturing variances and differing tolerances in manufacture/ on occasions a mop head can be difficult to engage with the mop. Insertion of the fixing stud is often difficult in the apertures of the mop head.

Free movement between the fixing stud and the mop plate has been provided, however, this requires a compromise between providing enough free movement to facilitate convenient engagement yet make the aperture small enough to prevent the fixing stud from becoming accidentally dislodged from the aperture and lost. This is a particular problem experienced during manufacturing stages.

Hitherto, usually insufficient free movement has been provided owing to the problem of the fixing studs becoming disengaged.

It is an object of this invention to come at least some way in overcoming the abovementioned problems or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

«•- O U O Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a mop plate for mounting a mop head with remaining portion"of a mop, said mop plate having an aperture therein for engaging a fixing stud, the fixing stud engaging the mop plate with the remaining portion of the mop, characterised in that the aperture is transversely elongated to facilitate variation in axial position of the stud, a portion of the shank and aperture having abutting portions, said abutting portion on said shank positioned spaced from a head thereof a distance greater than the depth of the aperture, abutment of the abutting portions maintaining engagement of said stud in said aperture when a head of said stud is engaged adjacent one side of said mop plate and the abutting portion adjacent and opposite side of said mop plate.

Other aspects of this invention which have been considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description. Modifications are envisaged and may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

The preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and with reference to one embodiment in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an upper side of a mop head showing a pair of spaced apart mop plates and fixing stud engaged therewith; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of a portion of one mop plate of Figure 1 according to lines A-A of Figure 1.

The mop head as generally indicated by arrow 1 is preferably provided with an elongate sponge block 2 of a predetermined size (preferably to match the mop with which it is to be engaged).

An upper surface 2a of the sponge block 2 is provided with a pair of spaced apart mop plates 3 which in this form of the invention are engaged, for example by adhesive and the like with the upper surface 2a of the sponge block 2. The mop plates 3 incorporate reinforcing ribs 4 thereon, and each provide an aperture 5 substantially medially thereof, mounting a fixing stud 6 (see Figure 2).

The fixing stud 6 in this form of the invention preferably has a head 7 and a shank portion 8, an outer end 9 of the shank is externally screw threaded and an inner portion 10 thereof is preferably formed of a substantially square or other, angular section to prevant the stud turning relative to the aperture 5.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the aperture 5 is transversely enlarged in a direction, substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the mop head to enable the centre spacing of 2 fixing studs to be varied relative to each other, and thus facilitate the engagement of the fixing stud 6 through apertures (not shown) of a remainder of a mop and to account for discrepancies in the positioning of the apertures and the dimensions of the sponge block 2.

With particular reference to Figure 2, each fixing stud 6 201316 in this form of the invention is provided to be a substantially loose, sliding fit within it6 elongated aperture 5. A projection 11 is in this form of the invention provided as a rib about the shank 9 of this fixing stud 6 of a dimension preferably a substantially interference fit with the aperture 5 so that the fixing stud 6 can be forced through the aperture 5, the projection 11 positioned on one side of.the aperture 5 and the head 7 on the other.

Preferably a spacing between the head 7 and the projection 11 is slightly greater than the depth of the aperture 5 so as to provide a small degree of free movement of the fixing stud 6 longitudinally thereof within the aperture 5 and to facilitate convenient transverse movement of the fixing stud 6 in the aperture Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the provision of a projection 11 in the form of a rib, the projection could alternatively be formed as one or a number of projections provided on the shank 9 or alternatively via an inward projection of the aperture 5 engaging within a recess provided on the shank 9 in a substantially corresponding position.

It will thus be appreciated that the fixing stud 6 is held securely, but with free movement in the aperture 5 to facilitate convenient engagement of the fixing stud 6 and thus the mop head 1 with apertures in the mop.

ZjUU986gf O I V * 204346 6

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A mounting means for a mop head including at least one mop plate, a fixing means mountahle with said mop plate via an aperture passing through said mop plate, the fixing means engaging the mop plate with remaining portions of the mop, characterised in that the aperture is elongated substantially in a plane of said plate to enable movement of the fixing means relevant to said plate substantially in said plane, portions of a shank of the fixing means and portions of the plate defining the aperture having abutting portions, the abutting portion on said shank spaced from a head of said fixing means a distance greater than a depth of the aperture, engagement of said fixing means with said aperture being via and past an interference fit of said aperture and shank ahutting portions to a position where the head of the fixing means is engaged adjacent one side of said mop plate and the shank abutting portions adjacent an opposite side of said plate, sufficient space provided between adjacent portions of said fixing means and said plate to facilitate the movement of said fixing means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ahutting portion on the shank is provided as a projection extending outwardly from said shank.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a portion of the shank engagable within the aperture is provided of a dimension less than the remainder of the shank, to facilitate said movement of said fixing means within said aperture. 204346

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the distance between the head and the abutting portion of the fixing means is sufficiently greater than the depth of the aperture through the mop plate so as to facilitate a degree of movement of the fixing means within the aperture in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mop plate.

5. A mop head and mounting means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the mop head being elongate, foTmed in an absorbent material and having a pair of the said mop plates attached adjacent opposite ends of one face thereof, spaced apart and arranged so that the elongation of each of said apertures is in a direction substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the mop head.

6. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. RAVEN PRODUCTS LIMITED By Their Attorneys, BALDWIN, SON 6 CAREY 41 41A