US2896240A - Combination cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1959 A. J. RACINE COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 2 sheat s-Sheet 1 Fig./

Armand J. Racine INVENTOR.

w mm July 28, 1959 A. J. RAclNE 2,896,240

COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9a Fig.6

Armand J. Racine IN VEN TOR.

BY Mm United States Patent Ofice 2,896,240 Patented July 28, 1959 COMBINATION CLEANING DEVICE Armand J. Racine, Cambridge, Mass, assignor to Louis L. Shorette, Malden, Middlesex County, and William L. Shorette, Lynn, Essex County, Mass.

Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,179

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-148) This invention relates to cleaning devices, and particularly to a cleaning device which has interchangeable cleaning implements.

An object of the invention is to provide a handle on the end of which there are means for releasably connecting a mop, brush, waxer, polisher, or other implement so that the handle functions as a support for a selected one of a number of implements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination device capable of being optionally used as described above, this device being of simplified construction so that the removal and attachment of the various implements are accomplished without a number of adjustments or manipulations, such as would render use of the combination device impractical.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination cleaning device handle on one end of which there is a frame that supports a roller, a second roller held in parallel relationship to the first roller and in the frame by a manually releasable latch, the second roller supporting a selected one of the number of mentioned implements and others that may occur to those skilled in this art.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top view of the combination cleaning device with the mop implement attached and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure in Figure 1; opposite to the crank handle;

Figure 3 is a side view of the structure in Figure l with the means that retain one of the rollers Within the frame released;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of another form of the combination cleaning device;

Figure 7 is a side view of the device in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another implement which may be used in either the device of Figure 1 or the device of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top view of a further modification wherein power drive means are attached to the cleaning device; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 1010 of Figure 9.

In the accompanying drawings, there are illustrated a number of embodiments of the invention. In each there is a handle 10 which is preferably of light weight tubular material. However, the handle may be made solid if found desirable. A U-shaped frame 12 having sides 14 and 16 together with a connecting part 18 is fastened intermediate that connecting part to the handle 10. Aligned Z apertures in the sides 14 and 16 accommodate the trunnions 20 and 22 of roller 23, the latter being fitted between the sides of the frame 12. A second roller 24 having trunnions 26 and 28 is attached to the sides 14 and 16 of the frame 12 by having the trunnions 26 and 28 retained in slots 30 at the ends thereof.

Means retaining the roller '24 within the slot 30 are carried by the combination cleaning device. The preferred means consists of a yoke 34 which comprises a cross member 36 having parallel legs 38 and 40 at the ends thereof. Hooks 42 and 44 are formed at the outer ends of each of the legs 38' and 40, these hooks embracing the trunnions 26 and 28 and functioning as a bearing a between the parallel ears 49 and 50. A pivot pin 51 connects the push rod to the ears 49 and '50, these cars being fixed to the locking bracket 54.

Bracket'54 is formed as a curved saddle which has a pivot pin 56 extending through opposed portions thereof. This pin extends through aligned slots 58 in the lower end of handle 10. A finger grip 60 rises upwardly from the saddle bracket 54 and is adapted to be held firmly in place on the handle 10 by means of a pair of spring clips 63,

each consisting of a short spring finger with an inwardly extending part. These clips are fixed to the handle .10 in .the normal line of travel of the saddle bracket 54 so that when this bracket is juxtaposed on the handle 10, it is releasably latched in place by the clips 63.

A spring 66 is disposed in bore 68 that is formed at the lower end of handle 10. The spring seats upon a plate'69 that is secured, as by screw 70, in one end of bore 68 and also seats upon a plate 72 having a bracket depending therefrom which is mounted on the pivot'56. Accordingly, the spring 66 biases plate 72 downwardly in bore 68, tending to'pull the saddle bracket 54 downwardly of the handle. The result is that there is a tendency to rotate the saddle bracket 54 about pivot pin 51 as an axis, thereby holding the saddle bracket 54 firmly in place on the handle v10 and in a latched condition. 7 saddle bracket 54 is manually actuated, the finger grip 60 is pulled from between the spring clips 63, thereby pivotally actuating the saddle bracket '54 about the pin 56 as an axis and pushing rod 46 downwardly of handle 10. This movement separates the hooks 42 and 44 from the trunnions 26 and 28 and permits the roller 24 to be separated. One of the implements which may be used in connection with the device is the continuous web 75 made of fabric or other flexible material which is moisture-absorbent. When roller 24 is removed the web may be slipped thereon and then the roller replaced and latched. Accordingly, the device of Figure l or 2 results whereby the device is usable as an ordinary mop. However, when the mop becomes saturated with liquid or when it is desired to extract liquid from the web 75 for any other reason whatsoever, the crank 79 is pivotally swung to a usable position, this crank being pivoted to an end of trunnion 20. Rotation of crank 79 causes roller 23 to rotate and the web 75 to be moved between the rollers 24 and 23 in order to squeeze the liquid therefrom.

When the web 75 is used for mopping purposes, the web is held firmly in place between the rollers 23 and 24 by the squeezing action of roller 24 toward roller 23. As shown in Figure 2 a part of the web 75 is compressed between these rollers.

This same squeezing action is resorted to in order to hold other implements in the operative, usable position. For example, in Figure 8, the implement is a brush 80 having straps 81 and 82 secured at their ends to the brush body 83. The straps are of such size that they hold the roller 24 snugly pressed against the brush body 83. Ac-

When the cordingly, in the use of this arrangement, the handle has the brush 80 attached by fastening roller 24 in frame 12 after the brush is securedthereto by means of straps 81 and 82. In tightening the saddle bracket 54down against the handle 10, the roller 24 is pulled tightly upwardly .toward roller 23, squeezing between these : rollers straps 81 and 82.

In Figure 6, a further arrangement .is illustrated, this arrangement including the handle 10 together with a slightly different structure for holding the roller 90 tightly in place. Frame 12 is identical :to the previously mentioned frame 12 in Figure 1, but the yoke 96 is dilferent. It includes legs 97 and 98, each having an inwardly ex,- tending member 99 and 100 respectively to which parallel members 101 and 102 are aflixed. Parallel members 101 and 102 are pivoted as at 103 and 104 to a bracket 106 intermediate the ends thereof. The lower ends of the bracket 106 are pivoted by means of pins 108 to the handle 10, the pin 108 extending through aligned slots 109. These slots are identical in function and construction to the slots 58 and allow the pivot pin 108 to travel longitudinally of the handle 110 against the bias of the spring that is identical to spring 66. Accordingly, the holding of attachment 91 and the releasing thereof takes place by actuation of bracket 106 in the same manner that actuation of saddle bracket 54 released roller 24.

The implement or attachment 91 comprises a base about which a waxer cloth or sander 92 is attached. Straps 94 and 95 are secured at their ends to the base and are in tight embrace with the roller 90. After applying the straps 94 and 95 to the roller 90, the roller is secured to the frame 12 in the same manner that the roller 24 is secured to the frame in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1. Then the device is ready for use as a waxer.

Although other attachments may be used in connection with the handle 10, practical limitations as to space prohibit the illustration and description of the numerous attachments which may be held by straps or the like be tween the rollers of Figure 1 or Figure 6.

In addition to the manual crank 79 for actuating the rollers,these rollers may be power operated as by a motor-driven, flexible cable 120 which has a coupling 122 at one end this coupling having a non-circular bore therein. The end of one of the trunnions of roller 23 is similarly shaped in order to fit in the non-circular bar whereby drive connection for the roller 23 may be established.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In a combination appliance, a handle having a bore at one end, a U-shaped frame having sides and a cross memher, said cross member secured intermediate its ends to said end of said handle, said sides having a pair of apertures therein, a first roller mounted for rotation in said apertures, said sides having a pair of outwardly opening slots at the ends thereof, asecond roller having trunnions at the ends thereof and disposed in said slots, an implement that has means thereon attached to said second roller and clamped between said first and second rollers, means including a yoke for securing said second roller in said I 7 slots and for holding said secondroller in place, said yoke having sides with hooks at the outer extremities thereof and in engagement with said trunnions, a latch connected with said yoke and including a bracket, means slidably and pivotally securing said bracketto said handle, a spring reacting on said bracket sliding and pivotally securing means and disposedin said bore in said handle and opposing the movement of said bracket in one direction and aiding the pivotal movement of the bracket in the other direction with respect to said handle, and said yoke pivoted to said bracket for .motion in response to the spring urged movement of the entire bracket with respect to the handle and also for motion caused by pivotally operating said bracket on said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,313 Held May 6, 1902 1,020,809 Dupre Mar. 19, 1912 1,026,625 Dupre May 14, 1912 1,999,450 Fatland Apr. 30, 1935 2,653,337 Bathurst Sept. 29, 1953

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