US2073726A - Mop - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1937. J. D. BATES 2,073,726

' MOP Filed Sept. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 16, 1937. J, D, BATE 2,073,726

MOP

Filed Sept. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 memes 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to mops and, more particularly, to a roller mop having wringer means carried thereby.

It is proposed by the present invention to pro' vide a roller mop which may be rolled freely in one direction to spread water or other cleaning fluid upon a surface to be cleaned, and which will be held from rotation when moved in the opposite direction in order to wipe the surface over which the cleaning fluid has been spread. In carrying out the invention, I provide a mop roller having a cylindrical layer of mopping material thereon, and associated with which is a one-way braking or locking device which insures that the mop roller will rotate in only one direction.

The invention also includes the provision of means for wringing or squeezing the mopping material which is carried by the mop roller. According to the invention such means comprise a wringer roller which is so mounted with respect to the mop roller that it may be moved about the entire circumference of the mop roller in wringing or squeezing engagement with the mopping material thereon. Means are also provided by the invention for locking the wringer roller in squeezing engagement with the mopping material on the mop roller.

By means of the present invention it will be seen that the mopping material-on the mop roller may be squeezed dry of any cleaning fluid therein by locking the wringer roller in squeezing engagement with the mopping material and then moving successive portions of such material into engagement with the wringer roller. In this operation the one-way brake operates to permit r0- tation of the mop roller to bring successive portions of the mopping material into engagement with the wringer roller, and subsequently permitting free return of the mop. roller frame to such a position as to permit another portion of the mopping material to be moved under the wringer roller.

In addition to the objects and general features of. operation and construction set forth, it is an object of the invention to provide a mop device which will be light in weight and strong in construction, but which will be of such simple construction that it may be easily and cheaply manufactured and quickly assembled.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description and. the drawings, it being expressly understood, however, that the invention is in no way limited by such description and drawings or otherwise than by the appended claims. v

the wringer roller about to be moved to wringing position;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the mop device showing the wringer roller and frame in wringing, position;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the mop device showing the wringer roller and frame about to be moved to inoperative position; and

Fig. 6 is an explodedview showing parts of the mop device.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that a hollow cylindrical mopping element l is provided, the same being formed of any suitable material, although sponge rubber .is believed to be preferable. The mop member I is sleeved about -and carried by, a cylindrical roller member 2 which is rotatably mounted in the ends of the arms 3, 4 of a U- shaped frame 5 by means of the pins 6, although any suitable supporting means other than such pins may be employed. Attached in any suitable manner to the central portion ,of the U-shaped frame 5 is a socket member I having a generally cylindrical form and into which the end of an operating handle 8 may be received. The socket member I is longitudinally split as at 9 in Fig. 1 and ears l0, integrally formed with cylinder 1, are disposed at each side of the split. Aligned screw-threaded holes are formed in the ears and a screw I l is threaded into the same for drawing the ears together to tighten the socket I on the end of handle 8, although it will be obvious that any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose. Formed integrally with each of the ears Ill on the lower sides thereof are depending lugs I2 which provide latching means for a purpose to be explained fully hereinafter,

Means are provided by the present invention .for permitting free rotation of the roller 2 and mop lwhen the mop device is moved in one direction, and for causing these elements to be -lar, outwardly-extending flange l5. Disposed within the open-sided drum formed by the plate I3 and flange I5 is a one-way braking device or stop member I6 which is eccentrically pivoted to the arm 4 of frame 5 by a pin I1, all as clearly 5 disclosed in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the pin I1 is disposed rearwardly of the radial center line of the brake device I5. The stop member I5 is formed with an inner wall I 8 which is closely adjacent the bearing pin 5 but does not touch the 10 same, while the outer wall I9 of the stop member is formed on an arc closely paralleling the inner face of flange I5 and is disposed in very close proximity thereto. The forward portion of the circumferential face of outer wall I9 is provided with a series of teeth 20, the same being inclined forwardly, or in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 2, while the greater remaining length of this face is smooth, as at 2I. A bore or socket 22 is provided in the braking member I6 and extends from the face I8 in a radial direction through the approximate radial center line of the clutch member, terminating intermediate the faces I8 and I9. A coiled compression spring 23 is disposed within the bore 22 and bears at one 5 end against the bottom of the bore and at its other end against the pin or shaft 5. It will be apparent that spring 23 constantly urges the braking member I6 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I1, thereby urging the teeth 20 0 into engagement with the flange I5. It will be understoodthat the spring 23 is very light and exerts only a slight force on the cam or clutch member I5.

Means are provided by the invention for wringing the water out of the mop member I when it is desired to do so. Such means comprise a secondary or auxiliary frame 24, the same being U-shaped in construction and comprising the parallel leg members 25, 25 and the connecting piece 21. The ends of the parallel leg members 25, 25 are rotatably journaled on the pins or shaft 6, preferably externally of the legs 3, 4 of the handle-supporting frame. The connecting member 21 of frame 24 is formed of resilient material whereby the central portion thereof may be sprung downwardly to allow the same to pass the lugs I2 on ears I0. By this means it will be apparent that frame 24 may be latched in inoperative position behind lug I2, and may be released from such position by merely springing the connecting member 21 from behind such lug. Referring to the drawings, it will be seen thatleg 25 is provided with an integrally-formed offset portion 21 which extends from leg 25 in such a way that the extremity thereof overlies the leg 4 when leg 25 is in inoperative or latched position. Formed in the leg 25 and in the offset portion 21 is a slot 28, the longitudinal length of which is at an anglev to the leg 25 and extends from the approximate center line of the leg 25 toward the leg 4. The slot 28 terminates at one end in the offset portion 21 and said end overlies the edge of mop element I when the frame 24 is in latched position. This end of the slot 28 is provided with an upwardly-extending recess 3I, as disclosed clearly in the drawings. An exactly similar construction is provided on leg 25 of frame 24 and will not be described further in detail.

Disposed between the legs 25, 25 is a wringer roller 32, the same being provided at its ends with pins 33 which ride in the above-described slots in the leg members 25, 26. The length of wringer roller 32 is such that it snugly but freely fits between the legs 25, 26 and when in such position the end portions of the periphery of the wringer roller abut the edges of legs 4, 5. The diameter of the roller is such, and the length and dispositionof the slots 23 are so arranged, that when the frame 24 is in its latched or inoperative position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the legs 4, 5 will abut the extremities of roller 32 and force the pins 33 to the rearward ends of slots 25 and thereby rigidly maintain the roller 32 in such a position that the periphery thereof will be just barely out of contact with the mop element I.,

thus providing a rigid inoperative position for the wringer roller when the same is not in use.

In the operation of the above-described structure, if it is desired to mop or clean any type of surface, the wringer frame 24 is first placed in its inoperative position by engaging the cross member 21 behind the lugs I2 on ears I0, thereby disposing the wringer roller 32 out of contact with the mop element I, with the pins 33, 34 held in the end of slots 28 by the pressure of legs 3, 4 on the peripheral ends of roller 32, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The mop may now be manipulated over the surface to be cleaned by means of the handle 8. It will be observed that when the mop is moved in a forward direction, as in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 2, the clockwise rotation of roller 2 and flange I5 will exert such a force on the outer peripheral face of the clutch member I5 as tocause thesame to move a very slight distance in a clockwise direction about pin I1, thereby slightly compressing spring 23 and moving the teeth 20 on braking member I5 out of engagement with the flange I5. The teeth 20 having been moved out of engagement with flange I5 it will be apparent that the roller 2 and mop element I will be free to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig 2, as long as the mop is moved forwardly, as shown by the arrow A in Fig. 2. In this way, water with which the mop element I has been saturated, may be spread freely on the surface to be cleaned.

If it is'now desired to cause a wiping or scrubbing effect on the surface to be cleaned the mop may be moved rearwardly over such surface, i. e., in a direction opposite to that of the arrow A of Fig. 2. When such rearward movement is initiated, it will be apparent that the clockwise force exerted by flange I5 on the outer peripheral edge of braking member I5 will be relieved and the spring I8 will therefore move the member I6 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I1, whereby the teeth 20 on member I6 will be moved into engagement with the inner periphery of flange I5. As soon as such engagement occurs, any further force tending to move flange I5 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the teeth 20 to tightly grip the flange and, due to the eccentric mounting of the member I6 on pin I1, these teeth will be tightly forced into engagement with the flange, whereby further counterclockwise rotation of the flange I5, roller 2 and mop element I will be prevented and the mop element will be wiped or scraped across the surface to be cleaned as the entire mop structure is moved in a rearward direction.

If it is now desired to wring the water or other cleaning fluid out of the mop element I, such operation is performed by manipulation of the wringer roller 32. Such roller is normally positioned as shown in Fig. 2, being held out of engagement withmop element I as described hereinbefore. and the wringer frame 24 being held in inoperative position by lug 2. 'In order to operate the wringer, the frame 24 is first detached from behind lug l2 by depressing the central portion of cross member 21. The entire wringer frame with the wringer roller carried thereby is now moved in a counterclockwise direction about the pins or shaft 6 until the ends of the periphery of the wringer roller abut the edges of legs 3, 4, such position being clearly disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Further counterclockwise movement of frame 24 forces the wringer roller 32 against the legs 3, 4 whereby the pins 33 on such roller will be moved in the slots 28 toward the recess 3| and. against the tension of the mop element exerted on the roller. Suflicient force may be exerted on the frame 24 as described above to cause the pins 33 to be moved to the lower extremities of slots 28 and, by reason of the radial tension exerted by the mop .element on the wringer roller, such pins will be forced into the recesses 3| at the extremities of the slots and maintained therein by the tension of the mop element exerted on the face of the wringer roller. The parts are so designed, as described hereinbefore, that when the pins 33 are disposed within the recesses 3| the mop element, or a portion thereof, will be compressed between the wringer roller and the roller 2 within the mo'p element. The parts are now in the position disclosed in Fig. 4 and, if the wringer roller frame is now moved in a clockwise direction while the mop frame is held from movement, the mop roller 2 and mop element will also be moved in a clockwise direction about the pins 6. Such movement of the mop roller and mop element is caused by the engagement between the mop roller and wringer roller due to the fact that the mop element I is tightly compressed between these two rollers, thereby acting inthe manner of a connection between the two-rollers. When such clockwise movement is initiated, the clutch member I6 is moved slightly in a clockwise direction about the pin whereby the teeth 20 on the braking member l6 are removed from engagement with flange l5 sufiiciently to permit free rotation of the flange, mop roller and mop element in a clockwise direction with the wringer frame and wringer roller. 1

If the wringer frame and wringer roller are now moved in the reverse or counterclockwise direction about the pins 6, it will be apparent that the teeth 20 on member It will engage the inner periphery of flange IS in the manner described hereinbefore, thereby preventing counterclockwise rotation of the flange l5, mop roller 2' and mop element l. The wringer frame and wringer roller carried thereby are, of course, free to rotate in either direction, and a relative movement'is therefore caused between the mop roller and element and the wringer frame and roller, the mop roller and element remaining stationary while the wringer frame and roller move in a counterclockwise direction. It will be apparent that as the wringer roller is moved in a counterclockwise direction over the stationary mop roller and mop element, successive portions of the mop element will be compressed between the mop roller and the wringer roller, thereby squeezing the water out of the mop element. 70

It will also be apparent that a reciprocating movement of the wringer frame will successivecontlnued until the entire mop element has been freed from water.

When the wringing operation is completed the wringer frame may be moved to the position shown in'Fig. 5, wherein the arms 3, 4 of the mop frame abut the ends of the periphery of the wringer roller. Further movement of the wringer frame will cause the arms 3, 4 to force the pins 33 out of recesses 3| and into the other ends of slots 28 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the wringer frame being maintained in such position by engagement of the cross member 21 behind the lug l2.

While I have described and illustrated certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that further modifications and improvements are contemplated and may be practiced without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journalled in the open end of said frame and having an outer surface of mop material, a second U-shaped fram journalled at its open end to said mop roller for movement around the. periphery thereof, said second frame having aligned slots in the side members thereof and extending toward said mop roller, and a wringer roller journalled in said slots and movable therein from a position removed from said mop roller to a position in engagement with said mop roller for wringing said mop roller.

2. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame, a second frame pivotally mounted with respect to said mop roller and journalled in said frame and having a surface of resilient material, a second frame journalled to said mop roller and having therein aligned slots extending toward said mop roller and communicating laterally extending locking recesses at the ends of said slots which are toward the mop roller, a wringer roller journalled in said slots and movable toward said mop roller and adapted to be locked in wringing position in said recesses by said mop roller, whereby the mop may be wrung upon relative rotation between the second frame and the mop roller.

4. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame and having a surface of resilient material, a second frame pivotally mounted with respect to said mop roller /and movable about the periphery thereof and having therein aligned slots extending toward said mop roller, and communicating laterally extending locking recesses at the ends of said slots which are toward the mop roller, a wringer roller journalled in said slots and movable toward said mop roller and adapted to be locked in wringing position in said recesses by the material on said mop foller, and means for holding said mop roller from rotation in one direction whereby relative wringing movement of said wringer roller and mop roller may be efiected.

5. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journalled in said frame, a second frame journalled to said mop roller for movement around the periphery thereof and having aligned slots therein extending toward said mop roller, a wringer roller journalledin said slots and movable therein toward and away from said mop roller, and means for locking said wringer roller in said slots in engagement; with said mop roller.

6. A mop comprising a frame, a mop roller journaled in said frame and having resilient mop material on the surface thereof, a second frame journaled to said mop roller and having side arms in which are formed aligned slots extending toward said mop roller and having recesses communicating with said slots at the ends of said slots adjacent said mop roller and extending latorally of said slots, :1 wringer roller journaled in said slots and movable therein toward and away from said mop roller, the peripheral portions of the ends of said wringer roller overlapping and abutting portions of said first-named frame, said resilient mop material and said wringer roller cooperating to maintain said wringer roller in said recesses when said wringer roller is in wringing position.

'7. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journalled in the open end of said frame and having an outer face of mop material, a second U-shaped frame journalled at its open end to said mop roller for movement about the face thereof, a wringer roller so carried by said second frame as to be movable in said frame from a position removed from said mop material to a position in wringing relation to said mop material, and means for preventing rotation of said mop roller in one direction when said wringer roller is engaged with said mop material and is rotated about the periphery thereof.

8. A mop comprising a frame, a. mop roller journalled in said frame and having an outer face of mop material, a second frame journalled to said mop roller for rotation about the periphery thereof, a wringer roller so mounted in said second frame as to be movable therein from a position removed from said mop material to a.

wringing position in engagement with said mop material. means for locking said wringer roller in wringing position, and means for holding said mop roller from rotation in one direction when said second frame and wringer roller are moved about the periphery of said mop roller.

9. A mop comprising a U-shaped frame, a mop roller journaled in the open end of said frame and having a cylindrical layer ofmop material on the surface thereof, a second U- shaped frame member having said arms journaled to the ends of said mop roller, said side arms being provided with aligned slots extending toward said mop roller and having aligned recesses at the ends thereof toward said mop roller and which extend laterally of said slots, a wringer roller journaled in said slots and movable therein toward and away from said mop roller, said mop material and said wringer roller cooperating to maintain said wringer roller in said recesses when said wringer roller is in wringing position.

JOSEPH D. BATES.

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