US2769995A

US2769995A - Household sponge cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US2769995A
Application number: US415220A
Authority: US
Inventors: Klein Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-03-10
Filing date: 1954-03-10
Publication date: 1956-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1973-11-13

Description

Nov. 13, 1956 M. KLEIN 2,769,995

HOUSEHOLD SPONGE CLEANING DEVICE Filed March 10, 1954 MICHAEL KLEIN United States Patent 2,769,995 HOUSEHOLD SPONGE CLEANING DEVICE Michael Klein, New York, N. Y. Application March 10, 1954, Serial No. 415,220 1 Claim. (Cl. 15244) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in household mops and cleaning devices.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved sponge mop. and cleaning device having a handle to which a sponge mop can be mechanically and removably attached quickly and easily without cement or other adhesives.

Still further, the present invention proposes forming the handle with a mop attachment member at one end which can be removably attached to a stiffener or backing plate buried in a sponge mop block.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the sponge mop block with a lengthwise slit or split terminating in a transverse split or slit adjacent to and spaced from the top of the block to form foldable flaps which can be opened to insert the stiffener or backing plate in the block and then folded over the plate and covered by the mop attachment member on the mop handle.

Another object of the invention proposes arranging the mop handle and stiffener or backing plate so that any commercially available sponge block can be adapted by the user for use therewith.

A still further object of the invention proposes constructing the stiffener or backing plate and the mop attachment member of the handle with mating sponge locking flanges and grooves securely to hold the sponge block to the handle without twisting or turning.

It is a further object of the present invention to arrange the mop attachment member of the handle so that a person can find the fastened members by touch or feel as easily as by sight to facilitate changing sponge mop blocks in poor or no light.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sponge mop and cleaning device constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mop.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the mop with the sponge mop block removed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sponge mop block partly folded back.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another stiffener or backing plate illustrating a modification of the present invention.

The mop or cleaning device, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, has an absorbent and resilient block preferably of sponge or sponge material such as cellulosesponge.

Patented Nov. 13, 1 956 Block .-15 has an upper face 16, a lower face 17,

sides

18 and 19 and ends 20 and 21. The block is centrally split lengthwise down the middle of the upper face 16 by a .split or slit 22 extending from the upper face 16 to a point or depth 23 which is less than the depth of the block and preferably is not far from the upper face. In addition, the block 15 is split transversely at depth point 23 by splits or slits 24 extending from the central lengthwise split 22 toward the

sides

18 and 19 of the block but terminating less than the width of the block and from each of the

sides

18 and 19. In this manner, two openable and

closeable folding flaps

25 and 26 are formed (see Fig. 6).

A rigid stiffener or backing plate 27 of a length less than the length of block 15 and of a Width adapted to fit in transverse slits 24 is provided with upturned side

edge gripping flanges

28 and 29. Fixed to the plate 27 and spaced thereon to extend therefrom are posts or screws 30 containing upper threaded portions 31.

A mop handle 32 is secured at one end either fixed or removable, to a mop attachment member 33. The member 33 is in the form of a plate with spaced

grooves

34 and 35 in its bottom surface 36 to mate with the

upturned gripping flanges

28 and 29 on the stiffener plate 27.

The plate is formed of plastic material but may be formed of any other suitable material.

Mop attachment member 33 on the handle 32 also contains spaced post or screw openings 37 disposed for alignment with and to pass the posts or screws 30 on the stiffener plate 27 On the top surface 38 of the mop attachment member 33 raised annular portions 39 are formed around the post openings 37. Wing nuts 40 are provided for the posts or screws 30 of the stiffener plate 27. The wing nuts 40 fit inside the raised annular portions 39 on member 33 when the posts 30 are extending through post openings 37 and the nuts are screwed down;

Stiifener plate 27 is inserted and buried in sponge block 15 by opening or folding back the

flaps

25 and 26. These flaps are then closed or folded down over the plate 27 and the posts 30 extend through the lengthwise split 22 between the flaps. Mop attachment member 33 on the handle is then placed over the flaps and posts 30 extend through the post openings 37 to align the member 33 on the block so that

block gripping flanges

28 and 29 of plate 27 are aligned with

mating grooves

34 and 35 of the member 33. Tightening the wing nuts 40 on the posts 30 then force the member 33 and the plate 27 toward one another and the block flaps are firmly gripped therebetween. The flanges and

grooves

28, 29 and 34 and 35 prevent any shifting of the sponge mop block 15 on the handle.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is characterized by the provision of a stiffener or backing plate 41 which is arched transversely so that an ordinary round headed screw 42 can be passed through an opening 43 therein and the head of the screw be disposed in the arched portion of the plate.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A mop and cleaning device comprising an absorbent and resilient elongated block having an upper face, said block being centrally split lengthwise from the upper face to a point less than the depth of the block and transversely split at such point of depth less than the width of the block to form two centrally disposed foldable flaps, a rigid stiffener plate removably disposed in the transverse split beneath the flaps, a handle with a mop attachment member at one end thereof, said member having spaced post openings therethrough, spaced posts fixed to the stiffener plate and extendable through the lengthwise split in the block between the flaps and through the post openings in the mop attachment member of the handle when the flaps are folded over the stiffener plate and said member is over the flaps, and removable fastener elements removably to secure the posts to the mop attachment member, said posts being threaded and said fastenerlelements being wing nuts, spaced raised gripping fianges on said stiffener plate for disposal beneath the flaps and mating like spaced grooves on the mop attachment member, said mop attachment member having raised annular portions around said post openings to locate said wing nuts by touch as Well as by sight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,907 Dragelin June 4, 1929 1,840,189 Dwork Jan. 5, 1932' 2,648,863 Darling Aug. 18, 1953 2,660,747 Vaughn Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 193,299' Switzerland Dec. 16, 1937 Canada July 11,