US2694212A - Sponge window mop having a detachable handle - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1954 c. .1. McGRAW SPONGE wmoow MOP HAVING A DETACHABLE HANDLE Filed July 21, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

M m C M m w 6 BY M W'% I TORNE 5 bers together.

United States P gan" SPONGE WINDOW MOP HAVING A DETACHABLE HANDLE George J. McGraw, Newark, N. J.

Application July 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,989

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-244) This invention deals with a mop suitable for cleaning windows, as well as Venetian blinds, walls, and the like. More specifically, it relates to a sponge-and-holder combination employing a replaceable and reversible sponge unit.

For some time there has been need for a mop which would enable a housewife to clean inside and outside panes of windows without excessive exertion or exposure to the outside atmosphere. There are a number of mops now on the market, but not one of them is able to meet these requirements. An additional difficulty encountered in the cleaning of windows is the fact that upper sashes are generally stuck or very difficult to lower, which requires the assistance of strong hands or even carpenters.

The device of the present invention has been found to enable a housewife to clean all of the window panes from a standing position inside the house, without excessive exertion. Furthermore, it enables her to satisfactorily clean such panes even though the upper sash is stuck. Other features of the invention will be elucidated in the forthcoming discussion herein and in the appended drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted.

Broadly, the invention comprises a flat, preferably thin, sponge, on one face of which is fastened (at its edges) a sheet of cloth or similar material, having a centrally disposed slit through which the upper portion of the holder may be inserted and held in engaging relation to the sheet. A handle is provided on the projecting end of the holder to complete the mop and enable manipulation of the sponge.

The invention may be understood more readily by reference to the attached drawing in which Figure 1 illustrates an isometric back view of a preferred embodiment, while Figure 2 depicts the upper portion of the holder to which the handle is attached and which is inserted between the sponge and cloth' cover thereof.

Referring again to the drawing, numeral 1 represents a flat sponge, preferably thin and of rectangular shape, the back face 16 of which has cemented thereto a sheet 2 of fabric or other material, preferably coated with plastic, and cemented to sponge 1 at its edges 3. Holes 4 and 4 may be provided in sheet 2 on the vertical edges near the corners. These allow entry of projections 8 in the holder or frame, thus insuring locking thereof and eliminating slippage of the frame between the cloth backing and the sponge. A centrally disposed lateral slit 5 is provided in the cloth backing for insertion therein of holder 17.

The laterally contractable holder or frame 17 comprises a wire structure wherein the two wires 6 from handle 12 are bent at right angles in opposite directions to give horizontal lengths 11, then upwardly at right angles forming vertical members 7. At the upper ends of members 7, sidewise projecting loops 8 are provided, which loops are designed to slip into openings 4 or 4' in backing 2 and thus serve as locking means for the frame and handle. Wire members 9 project laterally from loops 8 toward each other, and terminate with ends which are spaced apart leaving gap 10. Handle 12, which comprises a wire loop, is attached to the frame and a weld 14 may be provided to keep both Wire mem- Another weld 13 is also preferably provided to prevent separation of the two wire members leading into the frame or holder. Both the frame and handle may be made from a single length of wire in a simple bending operation.

2,694,212 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 To insert the holder or frame 17 into the sponge unit, the two wire members 7 are pressed toward each other until ends 15 touch each other. Then the top portion of the holder is inserted into slit 5 and the handle is slid into the space between backing 2 and sponge 1 by pushing handle 12 until projections 8 protrude through openings 4, which locks holder 17 in place. The mop is then ready for use.

In the cleaning of conventional windows, the device of the present invention allows the housewife to stand on the floor facing the window and to clean the outside or inside of the upper sash without need for climbing out of the window. Due to its thin, unimpeded construction, the mop can be inserted between the sashes, thereby allowing the cleaning of sashes which may be stuck. This is done by raising the bottom sash part way, for example, and inserting the mop between the sashes by reaching outside. A long enough handle may be provided to enable reaching the highest point without need for lifting the feet from the floor.

Dirty water in the sponge is squeezed readily by inserting the palm of the hand under wire members 11 and folding the sponge unit forwardly along the plane of slit 5 and squeezing the sponge. The sponge unit is replaceable by a new unit by merely removing the wire holder through slit 5. Also, the sponge unit may be reversed by turning it upside down and inserting the holder so that loops 8 fit into holes 4' instead of 4, in the manner already outlined.

It is preferred to employ a vertically tapered sponge which would allow insertion thereof between sashes that are extra tight. A sponge thickness of about /z" on top and about on the bottom has been found satisfactory for this purpose. A preferred sponge employed in this manner has a width of about 4" and length of about 6", while the backing of coated fabric or plastic sheet has a width of about 3% and length of about 5%", the cementing to the sponge being done along a /s wide edge prtion on the underside of the backing, excluding, of course, the edges around openings 4 and 4'. The holder for such sponge unit is preferably about 3%" wide and about 4 /2" long, while a handle of about 15" length is satisfactory. Upper projecting members 9 have been found very useful in keeping the sponge fiat and facilitating full sponge surface cleaning efiiciency.

Although a cellulose sponge is preferred for the sponge element, it is possible to use a rubber or natural sponge, as well as felt, cloth, or other absorbent material, preferably in shaped form.

For the backing, one may use woven fabric, coated fabric, plastic sheet, canvas, drill, duck, leather, Leatherette, sheet rubber, sponge sheet or similar heavy duty sheet material. This sheet is attached at the edges by a cement, such as a plastic or rubber base cement, to give.

a welded joint.

The manner in which the frame is inserted conceals the metal holder and prevents scratching by metal edges, of objects cleaned. Since the sponge edges are uncovered, they allow for absorption of excess liquid with which they may be brought into contact and, for this reason, are particularly advantageous in absorbing liquid remaining adjacent window sash or frame members. The mop has been found excellent for dusting purposes when the sponge is in the slightly moist state.

One added advantage of the backing is that it tends to prevent the sponge from disintegrating, and thus keeps it intact. The unit may be used easily for cleaning Venetian blinds by sliding the folded-over sponge, in the manner already outlined for squeezing, over each slat of the blind. Also, the mop can be used with conventional aqueous window cleaning solutions as well as with chemical glass cleaners.

The device of the present invention may be used advantageously for cleaning windows covered by screens or storm sashes, without necessity of unhooking or removing said screens or storm sashes.

I claim:

1. A sponge mop combination comprising a fiat sponge, a sheet backing attached to said sponge, a lateral slit in said backing disposed centrally with respect to said sponge, locking means on said backing comprising at least one small opening in each side edge thereof, a fiat holder fitting through said slit and adjacent said backing and serving as a support for said sponge, locking means on said holder coacting with said locking means on said backing and comprising a lateral projection capable of fitting into one of said openings in the backing, and a handle extending from said holder and projecting outside of said backing through said slit.

2. A sponge mop combination according to claim 1 in which the backing covers the entire back of the sponge, a pair of oppositely disposed peripheral openings above the slit in said backing and a similar pair below the slit in said backing, each pair capable of engaging a pair of similarly disposed projections in the holder.

3. A sponge mop combination according to claim 1 5 2,291,435

5 backing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,497,079 Gullborg et al. June 10, 1924 1,520,148 Shickluna Dec. 23, 1924 1,989,978 Gradinger Feb. 5, 1935 2,191,642 Carvalho Feb. 27, 1940 Anderson et a1. July 28, 1942

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