US2845643A

US2845643A - Scraper applicable to a conventional spring-clamp floor mop without modification of the latter

Info

Publication number: US2845643A
Application number: US450288A
Authority: US
Inventors: Athena M Provencal; Ralph J Provencal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-08-17
Filing date: 1954-08-17
Publication date: 1958-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1975-08-05

Description

1958 A. M. PROVENCAL ET AL 2,845,643

SCRAPER APPLICABLE TO A CONVENTIONAL SPRING-CLAMP FLOOR MOP WITHOUT MODIFICATION OF THE LATTER Filed Aug 17 1954 uZi/zem Mframsvzgal a Rajah JIP/vue/wqJ 46 (f l M N a United States Patent Athena M. Provencal and Ralph J. Provencal, Waltham, Mass.

Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,288

4 Claims. (Cl. 15105) This invention pertains to floor mops, in particular to mops of the kind customarily employed for domestic use and wherein a mass of absorbent material, forming the mop head, is releasably attached to the end of an elongate handle. While of more general utility the invention is herein, by way of example, illustrated and described with reference to its embodiment in a mop wherein a spring-actuated clamp is fixed to one end of a wooden handle, the clamp having opposed jaws which normally grip the absorbent material between them, the jaws being separable at will to permit the absorbent material to be removed, for example, for cleaning or for replacement by new material.

In the use of such a mop for floor washing it is a common experience to encounter pieces of material (which are insoluble or difiicultly soluble) stuck to the floor so firmly that the rubbing action of the soft mop head will not loosen it. For the removal of such material (for example, dried dough or the like) it has been necessary to employ some sort of scraping implement, for instance a kmfe, screw driver, razor blade or the like, but such a procedure takes time, in particular if the worker is not equipped with the requisite scraping implement and must first search for one before it can be used. The use of such a device requires that the'worker stoop, which is not an easy matter for many persons, and this mode of procedure greatly delays the Washing operation. It has been proposed to provide mops with scraper devices for use in loosening such stuck down masses of material, but so far as is known to us such prior devices have either formed elements of the mop device when manufactured, such special mops being much more expensive than the conventional household mop or, as if, as has sometimes been proposed, scraper attachments for existing mops have been provided, the application of such attachments to the mop has required the drilling and threading of holes or other mechanical operations not readily performed by the housewife or other person who customarily uses the mop.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of means, applicable to the conventional spring- 55 clamp type of mop, without requiring any change or modification of the latter whereby it becomes possible, without stooping, readily to loosen stuck down material during the normal mopping operation. A further object is to provide a scraper device which may readily be applied to 60 the ordinary conventional spring-clamp mop and Which does not in any way interfere with the'mode of use of the mop or with the application of the mop head to the handle and which is of such simple construction that it may be sold at a price making it available to almost anyone who customarily uses a mop. A further object is to provide a scraper device which may, if desired, have rigid scraper means at one end and a yieldable scraper device, in the nature of a stiff bristle brush at its other end, and which is readily exchangeable for other scraper devices if one or the other of the scraping elements becomes worn from i use. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of more or less diagrammatic character showing a mop of a conventional type but having the scraper device of the present invention associated therewith, the mop handle being broken off;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 1 1' of Fig. 5;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the scraper device of the present invention removed from the mop and drawn to larger scale than Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2',

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the mop device, the handle being broken away and the absorbent mop head being omitted, showing the jaws separated and with the scraper device of the present invention arranged be-' tween the jaws;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 2, but to smaller scale, illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a mop of a conventional type having the handle 11, which is usually of wood, to whose lower end there is permanently secured the upper jaw 12 forming a part of the means for clamping the mop head to the handle. As here illustrated (Figs. 1 and 6), the jaw 12 is made of sheet metal and has the upwardly directed flanges 12 and'12 ,"each of which is provided at its central portion with an arcuate' socket member 13 (Figs. 1 and 5) between which the lower end of the handle is positioned, .the socket members being secured to the handle by means of a pin 14 or thelike. Usually, in conventional mop devices of this sort the member 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1 is upwardly con-r cave in order, in cooperation with the lower jaw, to'insure a firm grip on the mop head.

The lower jaw 15 (Fig. 5) consists .of a length of stiff wire which is bent at right angles at its opposite ends" to provide the parallel portions lfiand 17 which extend up through guide openings such as the opening 12'? (Fig? 6) in the jaw member 12, the parallel portions 16 and 17' being of such length as to provide for the desired maximum separation of the jaws 12 and 15. Beyond the upper ends of these

parallel portions

16 and 17 the wire is bent inwardly (Fig. l) as shown at 16 and 17 respectively, the terminal portions of the wire being formed as hooks which engage openings in the right and left portions of an 0 actuating lever 18 which is hinged at its lower end at 19 upon the upper coil of a coiled compression spring G which embraces the lower part of the handle andwhi'ch also encircles the socket members 13, the lower end of the spring being anchored to the socket members. 1 The upper end portion 18 of the lever 18 is desirably'concave so as to fit snugly against the handle 11, its upper edge being bent outwardly to provide a finger grip by means of which the lever 18 may be swung downwardly for the purpose of opening the jaws so as to receive the mop head between them.

In accordance with the present invention, there is pro vided a scraper device S (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) which is desirably made of a metal which will not rust, for example, stainless steel, hard brass or aluminum alloy, although it is: contemplated that other metals, properly rust-proofed, hard wood, or certain of the synthetic resins, for example, resins of the styrene type, particularly if reinforced with some material such as Fiberglas or hardened by the incorporation of abrasive powders, maybe employed for the purpose. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the scraper is elongate, having a longitudinal slot 20 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) Patented Aug. 5, 1958- of. a transverse width somewhat greater than the diameter of the wire forming the

parts

16 and 17, the length of the slot somewhat exceeding the distance between the

parts

16 and 17 so that the lower jaw may be slipped into the slot and the scraper may then be moved upwardly along. the

members

16 and 17 to a position: such as indicated in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the scraper comprises the parallel, spaced

side members

20 and 20*, andthe metal forming these side members is desirably twisted near the ends of the scraper sothat' these

side members

20 and 20* are inclined upwardly in converging relation, so that when the scraper is assembled with the jaw 12 it may fit snugly within the concavity at the underside of the part 12.

The scraper illustrated in Fig. 2 is provided at one end with a scraping edge 21 perpendicular to the length of the scraper. This scraping edge 21 may be merely the edge of the metal resultant from the cutting of the part from sheet metal, or it may be beveled, if desired, to provide a sharpedge.

At its opposite end the scraper shown in Fig. 2 is provided with integral tab portions 22 and 23 (Fig. 4) which are bent to cooperate with the main portion of the end of the scraper to form a socket which holds a stiff bristle brush B which may be used in place of the rigid scraper edge 21, for example, for loosening material which does not require so violent a scraping action as that performed by the edge 21.

In Fig; 7 there is illustrated a modified form of scraper, indicated at S, which in all respects is similar to the scraper of Fig. 2 except that instead of the brush B- it is provided at its right-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 7, with a rigid scraper edge 21 similar to the edge 21.

Preparatory to using this scraper device, the clamping jaws 12 and 15 of the mop are first separated by operation of the handle 18 so that they occupy positions such as illustrated in- Fig. 5, and then the scraper device S is applied by moving it up so that the lower jaw 15 of the mop passes through the slot 20 in the scraper, the scraper being moved until its surfaces 20 and 20 (Fig. 3) are received within the concavity at the underside of the upper jaw 12. The material forming the mop head M may then be introduced between the jaw 15 and the lower surface of the scraper, the latter thus acting as an intermediate or auxiliary jaw. After having introduced the mop material between the parts 15 and 20, the handle 18 is manipulated to draw the jaw 15 upwardly, thus firmly clamping the mop material between the parts 15 and S. The mop is now ready for use in the customary way, but if it becomes necessary during the mopping operation to remove stuckdown material from the floor, the user merely turns the mop handle so as to bring the edge 21 or the brush B into position for use in loosening the struck down material. The loosening of this material is accomplished while holding the mop handle at approximately the same angle as is used when using the mop for washing the floor so that the operator is not required to stoop for loosening the stuck-down material. Since the operative ends of the scraper project beyond the mop head, the latter does not interfere with the scraping operation and need not be pulled out of the way or otherwise manipulated by the hands in order to expose the scraper for use.

It is apparent from the above description that the scraper of the present invention may be applied to an existing mop without requiring; any change or modification whatsoever in the latter, and that its application does not require the use of tools and that its presence does not in any way interfere with the application of the mop head or the customary use of the mop.

While desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been shown and described by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. For use with a conventional mop having a narrow elongate upper jaw fixed to a handle and a movable elongate lower jaw provided with parallel guide elements which are slidably received in openings near the opposite ends respectively, of the upper jaw; a scraper comprising a narrow length of substantially rigid material having therein an elongate slot extending through a major portion. of its length and of such dimensions that the lower jaw with its guide elements may be passed through the slot, the scraper, when cperatively associated with the jaws, acting as an auxiliary upper jaw to receive the mop head between it and the lower jaw, the scraper having at one end at least a scraper edge which is substantially perpendicular to the length of the scraper, the scraper being of such length that its scraping edge is exposed beyond the end of the upper jaw, the scraper being provided at one end, at least, with a still bristle brush.

2. For use with a conventional mop having a narrow elongate upper jaw fixed to a handle and a movable elongate lower jaw provided with parallel guide elements which are slidably received in openings in the opposite ends, respectively, of the upper jaw, a scraper comprising a narrow length of substantially rigid material having therein an. elongate slot extending through a major portion of its length and of such dimensions that the lower jaw with its guide elements may be passed through the slot, the scraper, when operatively associated with the jaws, acting as an auxiliary upper jaw to receive the mop head between it and the lower jaw, the scraper having at one end, at least, a scraper edge which is substantially per: pendicular to the: length of the scraper, the scraper being of such length that its scraping edge is exposed beyond the end of the upper jaw, the under surface of the upper jaw being upwardly concave, and the scraper comprising parallel, marginal parts at opposite sides, respectively, of its elongate slot, said parts converging upwardly toward each other, whereby the scraper may fit snugly into the concavity of the upper jaw.

3 In combination with a mop of the kind wherein an upper jaw is fixed to the lower end of a handle, said jaw having guide openings at its opposite ends, respectively, and a movable lower jaw, parallel to the upper jaw, having parallel guide elements which extend upwardly through the openings in the upper jaw, and resiliently yielda'ble means for drawing the lower jaw upwardly toward the upper jaw, a scraper comprising a narrow length of substantially rigid material interposed between said jaws and having therein a closed elongate slot extending through a major portion of its length and of such dimensions that the lower jaw with its guide elements may be removably passed through the slot, said scraper being freely movable toward and from the upper jaw and in use being retained in operative position by the material which forms the mop head interposed between it and the lower jaw, said scraper having a rigid scraping edge at one end, said edge being exposed beyond the adjacent end of the upper jaw, the scraper having a stiff bristle brush at its opposite end.-

4. In combination with a mop of the kind wherein an upper jaw is fixed to the lower end of a handle, said jaw having guide openings at its opposite ends, respectively, and a movable lower jaw, parallel to the upper jaw, having parallel guide elements which extend upwardly through the openings in the upper jaw, and resiliently yieldable means for drawing the lower jaw upwardly to ward the upper jaw, a scraper comprising a narrow length of substantially rigid material interposed between said jaws, and having therein a closed, elongate'slot extending through the major portion of its length and of such dimensions that the lower part with its guide elements may be removably passed through the slot, the scraper being freely movable toward and from the upper jaw and in use being retained in operative position by the material which forms the mop head interposed between it and the lower jaw, the scraper having a rigid scraper edge at one end, said edge being exposed beyond the adjacent end of the upper jaw, those portions of the scraper which border the longitudinal edges of the slot converging upwardly thereby to permit the scraper to fit snugly within a cavity in the upper jaw of the mop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Ritschard Dec. 18, Dunn May 11, Tringa May 14, Hertzberg July 19, Paul Oct. 11, Kalinowski May 12,

FOREIGN PATENTS France July 24, Norway Oct. 12, Norway Sept. 11,