US2835914A

US2835914A - Mop having detachable head

Info

Publication number: US2835914A
Application number: US572910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis A Littleton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-03-21
Filing date: 1956-03-21
Publication date: 1958-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1975-05-27

Description

May 27, 1958 L. A. LaT'a-LETON MOP HAVING DETACHABLE HEAD Filed March 2l, 1956 United States Patent O l MOP HAVING DETACHABLE HEAD Louis A. Littleton, Point Pleasant, N. J.

Application March 21, 1956, Serial N o. 572,910

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-229) The present invention relates to mops of the type utilized for scrubbing and cleaning and, more particularly, to a device for attaching a bundle of mop strands to a handle.

Practically all mops, which are available at the present time, comprise a wooden handle formed with a threaded portion or a metallic threaded ferrule at one end, a mop head including a bundle of strands and a metallic threaded ferrule suitably attached to the bundle and having the handle ferrule secured therein. When the mop strands become frayed and soiled, the mop head is discarded and a new mop head is purchased for use with the old handle.

The cost of replacing the mop head is substantial and usually depends upon the size thereof `and the manner in i which the strands are secured to the handle receiving ferrule.

Another objection to such mop constructions is that the metallic ferrules corrode and that the metal-to-metal Contact of the ferrules induces corrosion thereof. Thus, in many instances an otherwise perfectly good handle must be discarded because its ferrule is in such condition that it no longer can be properly secured to the ferrule of a new mop head.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching the bundle of mop strands to the handle in a manner which overcomes the foregoing difficulties and objections.

Another object is to provide such a device which eliminates the necessity of a pre-fabricated mop bundle and enables the housewife to replace only the strands of yarn making up a bundle.

Another object is to provide such a device which enables loose strands of yarn to be arranged in a bundle by the housewife and then be secured as a mop bundle for attachment to the handle.

Another object is to provide such a device which enables the mop bundle to be removed from the handle and permits the mop bundle to be Washed in the usual manner without disarrangement of the strands.

Another object is to provide such a device which is simple, durable and economical in construction and can be readily manipulated by the housewife to attach or remove the mop bundle from the handle and to replace the strands of yarn making up the bundle.

A further object is to provide a mop construction wherein corrosive metallic parts are eliminated.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational View of a mop construction 2,835,914 Patented May 27, 1958 2 embodying the device in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of an element of the device in its extended form prior to assembly with a mop bundle.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the element shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the element of Figs. 2 and 3 folded upon itself for securement into a ferrule.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 on Fig. 1 illustrating in detail the device and its cooperation with the mop bundle and handle.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5 in detail, a mop construction is shown which generally comprises a conventional wooden handle 10 formed with a threaded portion 11 at its lower end, a bundle of strands of yarn 12, and a device 14, including an element 15 and a ferrule 16, for securing the strands in a bundle and the bundle to the handle.

The bundle 12 may comprise a plurality of parallel strands of yarn laid side by side and being of even length. The strands may be united by stitching or tying the same to provide a pre-fabricated bundle adapted for sale as a replacement part, or the bundle may be made up of loose strands by the housewife which are arranged and secured by the device 14 as disclosed herein. It is also contemplated that the mop bundle may consist of a piece of fabric such as a scrubbing cloth or a towel or even rags. v p

As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the element 15 comprises an elongate, relatively narrow strap section 17 and an arcuate enlargement 18 at each end of the strap section, such as substantially semi-cylindrical portions adapted to provide a hollow, substantially cylindrical conformation 18 when the element 15 is bent upon itself with the portions 18 placed together in the manner shown herein (Figs. 4 and 5). The strap section 17, by reason of its construction, substantially encircles the bundle of strands at its midpoint and serves to securely tie the strands together upon application and securement of the ferrule over the cylindrical conformation 18.

The element 15 is constructed of bendable material, preferably a plastic resin adapted to be molded to produce the element in a single operation. While natural or synthetic rubber may be used to good advantage, the use of polyethylene or other synthetic plastic materials having similar properties is preferred. Such plastics can withstand modern detergents and thus give the element 15 a long useful life.

The ferrule 16, preferably is constructed of the same type of material as the element 15 thus eliminating metallic parts, but can be somewhat stiffer to facilitate handling the same during securement of the conformation lil.

In order to removably secure the conformation 18 within the ferrule 16, the portions 18 are formed with thread sections 19 on the exterior wall which provide a continuous screw thread when the portions 1B are placed together as herein disclosed, and the ferrule is formed with a screw thread 2l) at the interior wall for cooperation with the thread of the element 15.

The portions 18 of the element 15 further are formed with thread sections 21 on the interior wall which cooperate when the portions 18 are placed together, to provide a continu-ous screw thread for securement of the threaded portion of the handle. Preferably, the outer diameter of the threaded portion 11, the wall thickness of the portions 13 and inner diameter of the ferrule 16 are so dimensioned that the portion 11 tends to expand the conformation 18 radially outwardly into snug engagement with the inner walls of the ferrule 16, whereby tight securement of the mop bundle to the handle is assured.

The facing edges 22 of the portions 18 are still further formed with complementary pins 23 and recesses 24 for interlocking the two portions 18 into the cylindrical conformation 18. v 4In the use of the mop, after the ferrule 16 has been secured over the conformation 18 with the strandspassing through the eye of the strapV section 17, a mop head construction is provided which may be attached to the handle or removed therefrom in the conventional manner. Should the strands of the mop bundle become soiled and/or frayed, the ferrule 16 is unscrewed from the element 15, the element is opened up to release the strands, and the strands are discarded. A new set of strands or a pre-fabricated or arranged mop bundle is then placed'over the strap section 17 which is then folded uponlitself and is again secured about the new bundle. Y yFrom the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a device which enables the housewife to maintain a mop in proper order simply by having an old handle anda supply of yarn, and purchasing the device in accordance with the invention. Thus, the housewife can enjoy the equivalentof several mops at the expense of less than one mop. rIfhis is assured because the device consisting of the strap element and the ferrule is durable, forms a secure bundle gripping and handlev connection, is not corrodable and can withstand detergents and other cleaning or sanitizing compositions.

Another advantage of enabling the housewife to construct her own mop handle is that she can choose the length of the strands to provide a mop head dimensioned to her personal satisfaction. Also, she may use yarns of different colors to create artistic effects or to match her kitchen decorations.r These conveniences and pleasures are not afforded by the conventional replacement mop head.

As various changes may lbe made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A mop comprising a handle formed with a threaded end portion, a mop bundle, an elongate element con-- structed of bendable plastic material having an intermediate strap section folded about said bundle and having a hollow substantially semi-cylindrical section with a flat, facing edge at each end of said strap section constructed and arranged to provide a hollow substantially cylindrical section, said facing edges having complementary pins and recesses for interlocking the semi-cylindrical sections into a cylindrical section, and a ferrule having said cylindrical section secured therein, said cylindrical section being internally threaded and said handle portion being threadedly secured therein. f

2. A mop according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical section is threadedly secured into said ferrule.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNrrED STATES PATENTSl