US2605492A - Mop squeezing attachment for mop pails - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1952 TWERDAHL' 2,605,492

MOP SQUEEZING ATTACHMENT FOR MOP FAILS Fi led Dec. 51 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR.

1952 v E. A. TWERDAHL 2,605,492

M01? SQUEEZ ING ATTACHMENT FOR MOP FAILS Filed Dec'. 51, 1946 2 SHEET$SHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

of standard dimensions and is easy to. use.

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 MOP sooanznve ATTACHMENT FOR MOP ans Edward A. Twerdahl, Evanston, 11!.

Application December 31, 1946, Serial No. 719,601

The present invention relates to apparatus for mopping floors and the like and more particularly to an improved attachment for a mop ,pail which may be used in combination'with a mop of improved construction to reduce the drudgery ordinarily attendant with this type of work.

Conventional mopping apparatus consists of a string mop and a water pail for containing the mopping liquid, with no facilities being provided for wringing out the mop. This means that in using the apparatus the mop must be wrung out by hand. Various crank operated wringing devices usually. adapted for attachment to the mop pail,: have been developed and sold commercially to eliminate the hand wringing operation. However, all such devices as. well as hand wringing require that the mop user stoop over and either crank the wringing device or twist or squeeze the mop during each mop wringing operation. Hence, conventional methods of mop wringing are laborious and time consuming.

2 Claims. (Cl. 1'5260) It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved, simple and low cost mopping apparatus of light easily portable conliquid. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved mop squeezing or wringing attachment of low cost construction which may be easily and quickly attached to any mop pail The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further'objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the-following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational perspective view of an improved mop squeezing attachment characterized by the features of the present invention as attached to a standard mop pail;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the parts in changed positions;

Fig. 3 is an elevational perspective view of the attachment when detached from the pail; and

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section more clearly illustrating the manner in which the attachment may be detachably secured to the rimof a pail.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to. Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the present improved mopping apparatus is there illustrated as comprising a standard mop pail I0 and a mop structure of improved construction indicated generally at I. In brief,,the pail IQ is in the form of an open top liquid container of generally round configuration having a beaded flange 12 around the rim thereof.

Preferably, the mop l l is of the improved form disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 698,275, filed September 20, 1946. In brief, it comprises a combination support and squeezing plate H of rectangular configuration which is adapted to be mounted upon the threaded end of a mop handle M by means of a threaded socket element It rivet connected to the plate I3 at the upper side thereof. At its underside, the plate i3 is adapted to supp rt a mopping element. It which preferably is of the synthetic or natural sponge type and may be of any reasonable thickness such, for example, as two inches. In order to secure the mop element tothe plate I3,- this element is stitched, adhesivelybonded or otherwise secured to a flexible textile fabric backing element having free end extensions lla and Ill), which are adapted to be wrapped around the front .and rear edges of the plate I3, and have eyelets respectivelyprovided therein at spaced points therealong. Laces I8 and IQ of the shoe string variety, appropriately threaded back and forth between these eyelets and having their respective ends tied together, may be employed to pull the fabric element taut about the plate I3 and thus fixedly secure the mopping element It to-this' plate. For the purpose of forcing the plate l3toward the mop squeezing means described below, thereby to expunge cleaning liquid from the mopping element I6, a pair of raised steps 20 and 2| are mounted upon the plate 13 along the top side thereof. More specifically, thesesteps are of identical U- shaped configuration and each is provided with laterally extending .leg ends rivet connected to the plate l3. Preferably, .the two steps are mounted to extend transversely of the long side of the plate I3 and are spaced equidistant from the respective ends thereof on opposite sides of the socket element I5.

I In accordance with the present invention, flat rectangular mop squeezing meansindicated genplate |3 in squeezing the mopping element l6 dry after each mopping operation, together with means in the form of a one-piece, resilient wire like element 23 for detachably mounting the mop squeezing means upon the rim of the pail ID for pivotal movement about one of the long edges thereof. More specifically, the mop squeezing means 22' is in the form of a screen covered frame comprisedof a U-shaped member 24 having a cross rod 25 spot welded to the extremities of its legs 24a and 24b, and having the ends of its base 240 detachably held in engagement with the rim of the pail H! by the element 23' in the manner described below. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the cross rod 25 is adapted to en-- gage the rim of the pail ID at the ends thereof when the frame is pivoted to its lowered mop squeezing position and to this end is of greater length than the width of the pail rim at the points of engagement therewith. A heavy wire screen 26 covers the area defined by the four secti'ons 24a, 24b, 24c and 25 of the frame to provide the mop squeezing surface. This screen is fixedly secured to all four sections of the frame as by soldering, welding or the like. Alternatively, the mop squeezing surface may be defined by cross rods spanning the legs 24a. and'24b of the frame and spot welded to these legs at spaced which the mop squeezing structure is formed,

this structure should have openings therethroug'h of sufiicient size to permit free liquid drainage into the pail |0.

Referring now more particularly to the construction of the supporting element 23, this element is illustrated as comprising a U-shaped part 21 adapted to be inserted into the pail l9 and having legs 28 and 29 which terminate in clip portions 30 and 3|, respectively. These clip portions are adapted clampingly to embrace the base 240 of the frame member 24- and the beaded rim l2 of a mop pail l0, thereby detachably to mount the mop squeezing means upon the rim of the pail for pivotal movement about the edge thereof defined by the base 240 of the frame member 24. More specifically, the clip portions 30' and 3| embrace the frame member 24'at the corners thereof and have parts 32 and'33, respectively, at the ends thereofwhich are looped back to engage theframe legs 24a and 24b intermediate the" ends of these legs and serve to bias the mop squeezing means to anon-covering position relative to the top of the pail, i; e., to a position extending outward and away from the top of the pail. Preferably, the loop parts 32 and 33 en-' age the frame legs 24a and and 24b, respectively, at the outer sides thereof, thereby to bias the clip portions 30 and 3| of the element 23 into the corners of the frame member 24', and are provided with intur'ned fingers 32a and 3311. which extend under the frame'legs 24a andv 24b.

For the purpose of normally restrainingthe mop squeezing means in a raised angular position relative to the pail top against the bias afforded by the loop parts 32 and; 33', Le, in the positionillustrated'in Fig; 1 of the drawings, a flexible element 34 in the form of a short length of small link chain is provided to connect the base 23a of the element 23 with the screen 25.

Preferably the element 34 is connected to theinto the clip portions 30 and 3| even'when theattachment is detached from a pail II). By so doing, the flexible element 34 and the biasing loops 32 and 33 serve to hold all parts of the attachment fully assembled in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

With the components of the attachment fully assembled, the attachment may be mounted upon a mop pail H) of standard construction by inserting the Ushaped part2! of the element 23 into the pail and pushing. down on the clips 33 and 3| until these clips snap over the beaded rim I2 of the pail. As thus mounted upon the pail, the mop squeezing means is, through the action of the element 34 and the biasing loops 32 and 33, held in a raised angular position relative to the pail top; i. e., in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thus the top of the pail is uncovered sufficiently to permit the mop head to be readily inserted into and withdrawn from the pail. Further, the mop squeezing means is so positioned that the bail of the pail may readily be elevated to carry the pail and attachment from place to place without the mop 'users hand bumping against the cross rod 25.

In using the apparatus, the mop head is inserted through the open pail top to submerge the same in the cleaning solution in the pail and is then withdrawn'to carry out the desired mopping operation. Each time the mopping element l6 becomes'filled'with soiled or dirty solution picked up from the fioor being cleaned, the mop may be hand manipulated to position the mopping element IE on the mop squeezing screen 26, following which the mop user may-push down on the mop head to pivot the mop squeezing means 22' about the frame base 240 against the action of the biasing loops 32 and 33 until the cross rod 25 rests on the rim of the pail. With the mopping element l6 still positioned on top of the screen 26 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the user of the mop may place one foot on the steps 23 and 2| and step down on these two steps, thereby to force the plate |3 toward the screen 26, compress the sponge, and thus expunge the soiled or dirty cleaning solution from the mopping element l6. As the liquid flows out of this element, it drains through the openings in the screen back. into the pail. After the mopping element is thus squeezed dry, the'mop may be lifted, permitting the mop squeezing means 22 to spring back tozits elevated position, shown in. Fig. 1 of the drawings; under theinfiuence of the biasing loops 32 and 33, thereby to uncover the pail top sufiiciently to permit reinsertion of the mop head intothe pail.

From the foregoing explanation, it will .be understood. that the present improved mopping apparatus represents'a distinct advance in the art in that it serves completely to obviate one of the foremost disadvantages of. conventional mopping equipment. Thus it completely eliminates the necessity for the mop user to stoopover, either for the purpose of carrying out. the mopping operation or for the purpose of squeezing out the mopping element when this element becomes soaked with dirty liquid. Moreover, the structure of the attachment is simple in the extreme and all components thereof are capable of being manufactured and assembled through the use of low cost, high speed production methods. Further, the attachment is of very rugged construction such that it will withstand hard usage for an extended period of time.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein whichar-e within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A mop squeezing attachment for a mop pail, including flat mop squeezing means for at least partially covering the open top of a mop pail comprising a frame including means supported from said frame defining openings through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into the pail, means for detachably mounting said mop squeezing means upon the rim of a pail for pivotal movement relative to said pail and including a one-piece wire element having an intermediate portion thereof engageable with the inside of said pail and portions adjacent each end thereof defining loops embracing a portion of said frame and also engageable with the rim of said mop pail thereby to provide a fixed pivot for said mop squeezing means when said attachment is associated with said mop pail, the ends of said wire element defining resilient loops engaging said frame and biasing said mop squeezing means about said fixed pivot to a non-covering position relative t the pail top, and a flexible element connecting said mop squeezing means and said intermediate portion of said element to restrain said mop squeezing means in a raised angular position relative to the pail top, thereby normally to uncover the pail top suficiently to per mit insertion of a mop head into the pail, said mop squeezing means being adapted for pivotal movement about said fixed pivot against the action of said resilient loops to its lowered position at least partially covering the pail top, thereby to provide a mop squeezing surface through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into the pail.

2. A mop squeezing attachment for a mop pail, comprising flat mop squeezing means for at least partially covering the open top of a mop pail and having openings therethrough through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into the pail, a one-piece resilient wire element provided with a U-shaped part adapted to be inserted into a pail to engage the inside thereof and extensions for detachably engaging the rim of a mop pail and defining a fixed pivot for said mop squeezing means, said wire element including clip portions adjacent the leg extremities of said U-shaped part clampingly embracing a portion of said mop squeezing means to detachably mount said mop squeezing means upon the rim of the pail for pivotal movement about said fixed pivot, said clip portions of said element having resilient loops at their extremities the ends of which engage said mop squeezing means at points spaced from said fixed pivot to bias said mop squeezing means to a non-covering position relative to said pail top, and a flexible element connecting said mop squeezing means and said U-shaped part to restrain said mop squeezing means in a raised angular position relative to the pail top, thereby normally to uncover the pail top suificiently to.

permit insertion of a mop head into the pail, said mop squeezing means being adapted for pivotal movement about said fixed pivot against the action of said resilient means to its lowered position at least partially covering the pail top, thereby to provide a mop squeezing surface through which liquid squeezed from a mop may drain into said pail.

EDWARD A. TWERDAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patents UNITED STATES PATENTS

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