US3049740A - Mops with extracting mechanism and aligning mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1962 P. s. VOSBIKIAN ETAL 3,049,740

MOPS WITH EXTRACTING MECHANISM AND ALIGNING MECHANISM THESEFOR Filed June 13,

fa r LE I ZQZQZ amsl wizzzzm ATTORNEY wM r \N \N N\ k United States atent 3,049 740 MOPS WITH EXTRACTIlJG MECHANISM AND ALIGNING MECHANISM TIEREFGR Peter S. Vosbikian, Melrose, Pa., and Thomas S. Vosbikian, 1012 70th Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,519 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) The object of this invention is to devise a novel strand type mop and novel extracting mechanism therefor.

A further object is to devise novel means for aligning automatically, on the return stroke of the extractor, the opening in the extractor with the mop head.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims, our invention comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a strand type mop and novel extracting mechanism which can be manually or automatically positioned for the forward or extracting stroke of the extractor.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which we have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited, except by the appended claims as to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a mop and extracting mechanism, embodying our invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation on line 22 of FIG- URE l, the extractor ring being shown in contact with the cam in position to be moved by the cam over the mop handle.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation with the guide link in section.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation with the extractor in section showing the extractor in the position it assumes in its forward extracting stroke.

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The mop handle 1 is of reduced size at its forward end and as shown terminates in a rectangular bar 2, having an off-center slot 3 forming an off-center hook 4. The hook 4 interlocks with the walls of an off-center opening 5 in the closed end of a cap sleeve 6 forming a part of a mop head 7. Folded absorbent strands 8 of any desired type such as for example cotton or spaghetti type are secured by a U-shaped rod in mop formation, the sides of the rod passing through the end of the cap sleeve and bent over to fix them to the cap sleeve. When the mop head and handle are angularly disposed to each other the hook 4 can be engaged with the walls of the slot or opening 5, and when such parts are brought into longitudinal alignment a locking cylinder 10 having its inner end closed is moved into frictional engagement with the cap sleeve to maintain the locked engagement of the mop head and its handle. The end of the cylinder is slotted to permit the bar 2 to pass therethrough.

An extractor 1'1 has a central opening 12 conforming in size and contour to the shape of the mop head and is provided with a bottom slot 13 whereby it can pass over the bar 2 to bring its opening into longitudinal alignment with the mop head. The upper portion of the extractor is fixedly connected with a controlling handle 14 by fastening devices 15.

The extractor handle 14 is pivoted at its rear end at 16 to a handle sleeve 17 having a pin "18 which travels in a longitudinal groove 19 in the handle 1. The handle 14 extends rearwardly beyond its pivot to form a finger or pressure piece 20 to efiect the raising of the extractor 11.

3,49,'Z40 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 The extractor handle passes through with a clearance a guide link 21 pivoted at 22 to the mop handle and has an inclined top bearing face for the handle 14.

In order to provide for the automatic alignment of the extractor with the mop head on the return or rearward movement of the extractor, we provide a cam 23 slotted to receive the bar 2 with a sleeve portion fitting on the inner portion of the mop handle and fixed thereto by a fastening device 24. The cam 23 has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam face 25 which is in the path of the extractor on the rearward movement of the extractor. The cam is preferably made of plastic.

The front face of the cam 23 is wedge-shaped having its central portion extending further forwardly than the sides and flaring outwardly to the sides. Thus, when the split ring on its rearward movement contacts the cam, the wedge-shaped portion of the cam will spread the sides of the split ring and force the extractor ring downwardly over the handle into aligned position with the mop head.

The side walls of the extractor are preferably flexible for expansion and contraction, and, if desired, a spring 26 can be mounted on the extractor, the spring having a slot which registers with the slot in the extractor.

In the operation, assuming that the extractor is in longitudinal alignment with the mop head, the operator moves the handle sleeve 17 forwardly as will be understood from FIGURE 4 to perform the extracting operation. He next presses the pressure piece 20 downwardly to raise the extractor above the mop head and moves the handle sleeve rearwardly. The extractor 11 contacts the cam 23 and is forced downwardly over the bar 2 into longitudinal alignment with the mop head ready for the forward extracting stroke of the extractor.

The guide 21 limits the upward movement of the extractor handle and extractor and guides the handle and extractor in their downward movement.

If desired the cam 23 can be omitted, in which case the extractor is moved downwardly into aligned position by the hand of the operator.

In a copending application, Serial No. 28,448, filed May 11, 1960, the extractor was pivotally carried by its handle and its alignment with the mop head was made on the forward stroke of the extractor, While in this invention, the extractor is fixedly connected with its handle and the extractor is aligned by a cam on the return stroke of the extractor.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mop, comprising a mop head and a handle connected with said mop head, in combination with extracting mechanism having a ring with a slot therethrough to permit the ring to pass over the handle into alignment with the mop head and movable over the mop head for a forward extracting stroke and movable rearwardly for a ring positioning stroke, a rod fixed at its front end to said ring, a sleeve slidable on the mop handle and pivotally connected with the other end of said rod to efiect forward and rearward movement of the ring, and cam means on the mop handle contacted by the ring during its rearward movement to cause the cam to move the ring over the mop handle into longitudinal alignment with the mop head.

2. The means defined in claim 1, wherein the sides of the ring are flexible and capable of expansion and contraction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS "the 1,384,555 Cunningham July 12, 1921 2,820,232 Vosbikian et al. Jan. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 771,160 France July 16, 1934

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