US3068505A

US3068505A - Mop and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US3068505A
Application number: US86885A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert J Lindstrom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-02-03
Filing date: 1961-02-03
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 R. J. LINDSTROM 3,068,505

MOP AND METHOD OF MAKlNG SAME Filed Feb. 3, 1961 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. LINDSTRAM BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,068,505 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 MGP AND METHIED OF MAKING SAME Robert J. Lindstrom, Zephyr Mfg. 00., 469440 W. 2nd St, Sedalia, Mo.

Filed Feb. 3, 1961, er. No. 86,885 7 Claims. {CL -229) This invention relates to mops and the method of making same, and more particularly to mops such as deck mops and the like, and to the fastening and retaining of mop heads of yarn, string or the like on handles there for.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a novel mop structure and method of making same to positively fasten and retain a looped mop head or body to one end of an elongate handle to form a deck mop or the like; to provide an efiicient method of securing mop heads to handles and retain the yarn or string or other fabric of the head at the point of fastening against movement relative to the handle; to provide such a structure having a compact looped head below the terminus of the handle with a protector sleeve or cap to prevent damage to base boards and the like adjacent to areas to be mopped; and to provide a mop structure that is economical to manufacture, eflicient in use and that is sturdy and capable of long life without loosening of the fastening of the head to the handle.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a mop constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through connected portions of the handle and head.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the handle and fastening structure taken on the line 33, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the handle and sleeve taken on the line 44, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the mop head fabric and retainer prior to application to a handle.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the step of applying the mop head to a handle FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 6 after prongs on the mop head retainer are anchored in the handle.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 7 with the loop of the retainer clamped to clamp the fabric of the mop head to the handle.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The numeral 1 generally designates a mop such as a deck mop or the like generally consisting of an elongate handle 2 formed of suitable material such as wood or the like, a mop head 3 and a sleeve or cap 4 on the handle with a portion extending over the adjacent or looped end of the mop head. The mop head 3 preferably consists of a plurality of strands of yarn, cotton cord, strands of sponge-like-material, string or other suitable fabric, andhaving a length substantially twice the length desired from the end or lower terminus 5 of the handle 2 and the end.

6 of the mop head remote from said handle.

A retainer 7 is used to secure the mop head to the legs 9 may be slightly different in length so the prongs are not aligned. The retainer, prior to application to the handle, is preferably substantially as illustrated in FIG. 5, with the closed end or loop portion 8 extending for approximately three-fourths of a circle and then turned outwardly as at 11 to provide diverging legs 9 with the inwardly turned prongs 10 on the free ends thereof, said prongs preferably being arranged relative to the legs whereby each prong extends inwardly at an angle with the respective leg in the nature of degrees. One prong is preferably beveled as at 12 on the side remote from the loop 8 and the other prong is beveled as at 13 on the side toward the loop whereby each of the prongs have sharpened, inner ends 14. The loop or closed end portion 8 of the retainer is of a suitable size to receive the mid-portions of all of the lengths of string or strands of the mop head therein with the strands of the head providing a snug fit in said loop.

In the illustrated structure, the handle 2 is substantially cylindrical and preferably has a flat end 15 and diametrically opposed grooves 16 extending longitudinally of the handle from said flat end, the grooves being of a size to receive the legs 9 of the retainer therein and of a depth slightly less than the diameter of the material forming said legs. The handle also has transverse grooves or recesses 17 extending therein from the surface 18, there preferably being two such recesses diametrically opposed in the handle for receiving teeth or lugs 19 of the sleeve 4, as later described. The recesses 17 are spaced from the flat end 15 a distance greater than the length of the legs 9 or the grooves to receive same.

A sleeve 4 preferably formed of non-corrosive material having some flexibility, such as polyethylene or other suitable synthetic resin, consists of a cylindrical portion 20 having a bore 21 that is a snug fit on the handle, said cylindrical portion preferably having the teeth or lugs 19 at one end to engage in the recesses 17 with the cylindrical portion being of a length to extend slightly beyond the flattened end 15 of the handle. The sleeve has an outwardly curved generally bell-shaped portion 22 that extends over the loop portion of the head to compact same and form a cap therefor to protect against damage to base boards or other adjacent structures and also prevent the retainer 8 at the end of the handle from contacting the surface being mopped. It is preferable that the bell-shaped portion 22 have flutes or other contour 23 both for an attractive appearance and also to provide stiffness longitudinally of the bell-shaped portion and flexibility circumferentially thereof to spread for accommodating larger hanks of yarn whereby the same structure may be used for different size mops.

In making a mop constructed as described, the strands or yarn of the mop head are moved through the loop portion of the retainer 7 and said retainer positioned with the closed end portion 8 against a plunger 24 and the free ends of the legs 9 engaged by plungers or

rams

25 and 26.

The handle 2 is moved to position the flat end 15 at the tion the ram-s 25 and 26 are moved to bend the legs as at 27 toward each other and into the grooves 16 of the handle, driving the prongs 10 into the handle with the beveled portions of the prongs causing said prongs to beclenched into the handle as illustrated in FIG. 2 whereby the prongs 10 and bends at 27 cooperate to help hold the retainer secured to the handle. The grooves 16 may be formed in the handle by pressing the legs f therein during assembly operation if desired. Then, while the rams 25' and 26 hold the legs of the retainer in place, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the ram 24 is moved toward the handle to bend the closed or looped end of the retainer inwardly to provide a reverse bend 28 therein toward the handle to tightly clamp the fabric, yarn or strand between the closed end of the retainer and the fiat end of the handle. The

rams

24, 25 and 26 are their retracted and the sleeve 4 moved over the handle toward the rnop head, stretching the cylindrical portion of the sleeve over the handle and legs 9, the movement continuing until the lugs 19 engage in the recesses 17 to retain the sleeve in place whereby the sleeve forms a decorative protector cap over the looped portion of the mop head and also provides a projector over the legs of the retainer that further tends to hold the legs and prongs thereof in assembled relation to the handle, thereby providing a reinforcement and a neat finish to the article.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mop comprising, an elongate handle, a head of fibrous strands at one end of said handle, a retainer member of wire having a loop portion extending around the strands of the head midway the length thereof with legs extending therefrom and terminating in inwardly turned sharpened prongs extending into the handle in crimped relation with the strands of the head tightly held between the loop portion and the handle, said loop portion of the retainer remote from the handle being bent toward the handle in a reverse bend of substantial depth to compress the strands of the head between the bent loop portion and the handle, and a flexible sleeve having a portion snugly engaging the handle over the legs and having a bell-shaped portion extending from adjacent the end of the handle over the head to provide a cap therefore.

2. A mop comprising, an elongate handle, a head of fibrous strands at one end of said handle, a retainer member of wire having a loop portion extending around the strands of the head midway the length thereof with legs extending therefrom and terminating in inwardly turned sharpened prongs extending into the handle in crimped relation with the strands of the head tightly held between the loop portion and handle, said loop portion of the retainer remote from the handle being bent toward the handle'in a reverse bend of substantial depth to compress the strands of the head between the bent loop portion and the handle, a flexible sleeve having a portion snugly engaging the handle over the legs and having a bell-shaped portion extending from adjacent the end of the handle over the head to provide a cap therefor, said handle having opposed recesses therein spaced from ends of said legs, andlugs on said sleeve engaging in said handle recesses to retain the sleeve on the handle.

3. A mop comprising, an elongate handle, a head of fibrous strands at one end of said handle said handle having diametrically opposed grooves extending longitudinally thereof from said one end, a retainer member of wire having a loop portion extending around the strands of the head midway the length thereof with legs extending therefrom 'and terminating in inwardly turned sharpened prongs with said legs positioned in said longitudinal grooves and the prongs extending into the handle in crimped relation with the strands of the head tightly held between the loop portion and the handle, said loop portion of the retainer remote from the handle being bent toward the handle in a reverse bend of substantial depth to compress the strands of the head between the bent loop portion and the handle, and a flexible sleeve having a portion snugly engaging the handle over the legs and having a bell-shaped portion extending from adjacent the end of the handle over the head to provide a cap therefor.

4. A mop comprising, an elongate handle, a headof fibrous strands at one end of said handle, said handle having diametrically opposed grooves extending longitudinally thereof from said end, a retainer member of wire and having an open loop portion with legs extending from the loop opening and terminating in inwardly turned sharpened prongs, said loop portion extending around the head with the fibrous strands thereof extending substantially equally in opposite directions from said retainer, the legs of the retainer lying in said grooves in the handle with the prongs extending into the handle in crimped relation, said head being tightly clamped between the loop and the handle, the loop portion opposite the handle end relative to said head being bent toward the handle in a reverse bend of substantial depth to grip the head between said bent loop portion and the end of the handle, said handle having diametrically opposed transverse recesses therein in spaced relation to the prongs of the retainer, a flexible sleeve surrounding the handle from the end thereof to beyond the legs, said sleeve having a bell-shaped end extending from said handle end over said head to form a cap for the portion adjacent the retainer, and lugs on said sleeve engaging in said transverse recesses to retain the sleeve on the handle.

5. A mop comprising, an elongate handle, a head of fibrous strands at one end of said handle, said handle having diametrically opposed grooves extending longitudinally thereof from said end, a retainer member of wire and having an open loop portion with legs extending from the loop opening and terminating in inwardly turned prongs, said prongs each being at an angle of less than degrees with the respective legs, said prongs being oppositely beveled to provide sharpened ends, said loop portion extending around the head with the fibrous strands thereof extending substantially equally in opposite directions from said retainer, the legs of the retainer lying in said grooves in the handle with the prongs extending into the handle in crimped relation effected in response to said beveled prongs entering the handle, said head being tightly clamped between the loop and the handle, said loop portion opposite the handle end being bent toward the handle in a reverse bend of substantial depth to grip the head betweensaid bent loop portion and the end of the handle, said handle having dimetrically opposed transverse recesses therein in spaced relation to the prongs of the retainer, a flexible sleeve surrounding the handle from the end thereof to beyond the legs to said opposed transverse recesses, said sleeve having a bell-shaped end extending from said handle end over said head to form a cap for the portion adjacent the retainer, and lugs on said sleeve engaging in said transverse recesses to retain the sleeve on the handle.

6. The method of making a mop comprising, inserting a plurality of fibrous strands through a loop of a retainer having spaced legs extending from the. loop and terminating in inwardly turned prongs, said plurality of fibrous strands collectively having a cross section substantially filling the loop portion or" the retainer, cutting the fibrous strands to provide the desired lengths thereof, moving an end of an elongate handle between the legs of the retainer to compress the plurality of strands between the end of the handle and the loop of the retainer with the legs of the retainer extending generally longitudinally of the handle, forcing said legs of the retainer toward each other into engagement with the handle while holding the handle and the loop of the retainer to compress the fibrous strands therebetween, the movement of the legs of the retainer into engagement with the handle driving the prongs into the handle, bending the loop portion of the retainer toward the'end of the handle while holding the legs of the retainer and the prongs thereof in the handle to provide a reverse bend in the loop portion of the retainer and clamp the fibrous strands between the handle and said loop portion, and moving a sleeve having a bell end on the handle to a position surrounding the end portion of the handle to retain the legs in position with the bell-shaped portion extending over the portions of the r fibrous strands adjacent said handle.

7. The method of making a mop comprising, inserting a plurality of fibrous strands through a loop of a retainer having spaced legs extending from the loop and terminating in inwardly turned prongs, said plurality of fibrous strands collectively having a cross section substantially filling the loop portion of the retainer, cutting the fibrous strands to provide lengths thereof extending substantially equally in opposite directions from said loop of the retainer, moving an end of an elongate handle between the legs of the retainer to compress the plurality of strands between the end of the handle and the loop of the retainer with the legs of the retainer extending generally longitudinally of the handle in diametrically opposed relation thereto, forcing said legs of the retainer toward each other into engagement with the diametrically opposed portions of the handle while holding the handle and the loop of the retainer to compress the fibrous strands therebetween, the movement of the legs of the retainer into engagement with the handle driving the prongs into the handle and crimping the prongs therein, bending the loop portion of the retainer toward the end of the handle While holding the legs of the retainer and the prongs thereof in the handle to provide a reverse bend in the loop portion of the retainer and clamp the fibrous strands between the handle and said loop portion, and moving a sleeve having a bell end on the handle to a position surrounding the end portion of the handle to retain the legs in position with the bell-shaped portion extending over the portions of the fibrous strands adjacent said handle and engaging lugs on the sleeve with recesses in the handle to retain :said sleeve in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,945 -Fenton Jan. 24, 1905 1,138,922 Allen May 11, 1915 1,573,686 Donahue Feb. 16, 1926 2,060,621 Jayne Nov. 10, 1936 2,299,480 Horsley Oct. 20, 1942 2,3 89,322 Olsen et a1 Nov. 20, 1945 2,673,124 Mellor Mar. 23, 1954 2,870,474 K-autenberg Jan. 27, 1959