US3152348A

US3152348A - Dustmop and dustmop frames

Info

Publication number: US3152348A
Application number: US207579A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton A Zelinkoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-07-05
Filing date: 1962-07-05
Publication date: 1964-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1964 M. A. ZELINKOFF DUSTMOP AND DUSTMOP FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1962 INVENTOR. MILTON A .ZEUNh'OFF A WPAEX Oct. 13, 1964 M. A. ZELINKOFF 3,152,348

DUSTMOP AND DUSTMOP FRAMES Filed July 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w \a $5 V 7 w 0 m k LQRNE 9 if LO Q Q E N & & 6 QB QM wi N & T. I g a a United States Patent Ofifice 3,152,348 Fat-elated Get. 13, 1964 AND '"JUEETMGP if, 345 N. 82., Wis Eta, Kans.

y 5, 1952, er. ..{)'7,579

e Gaines. (Cl. -1 .7)

This invention relates to dustmops and dustrnop frames therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a single dustmop frame provided with improved means to permit the dustmop to be used either as a full swivel controlled mop, or for rigid action for sweeping. Heretofore two frames were required, one for swivel action and one for rigid action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dustmop frame of the character described in which the dustmop head may be placed at any angle just by turning the handle, and without flopping around like ordinary swivel frames heretofore in use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a dustmop frame of the character described, a dustrnop head having a longitudinal, straight round portion located centrally relative to the ends of the head and between the front and rear of as head, a clamp swivelly engaging said round portion for rotation about the axis thereof, and a connector to which the dust mop handle may be screwed, mounted on the clamp for rotation on an axis at right angles to the axis of said round portion, with a single screw bolt attaching said connector to the clamp and said clamp to said round portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a dustrnop frame of the character described, a clamp comprising a pair of separate clamp plates which may be easily assembled with said screw bolt and connector.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dustmop frame of the character described comprising a dustmop head made of a piece of wire stock forming a loop with front and rear parallel portions and round ends, and flat cross-bars interconnecting the front and rear portions, and the rear portion having an inset providing the centrally located portion to which the clamp is swivelled (with the connector swivelled to the clamp), and braces removably attached to screws fastened to the cross-bars and having means to embrace the handle and hold it in a rigid position relative to the head, for sweeping.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable dustmop frame which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, in which all parts are easily replaceable, which shall be easy to use and yet practical and eficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FlG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dustrnop frame with dustmop attached thereto, and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dustmop frame with the braces removed and with the handle and its connector swung down to the plane of the head and at right angles thereto;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the dustmop frame with the handle held in rigid position by the braces;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

PK}. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FlG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the dustmop frame head, connector and clamp, with the connector swung down to the head and in alignment therewith; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dustrnop frame embodying a modified form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 19 designates a dustmop frame embodying the invention, and 11 designates a dustrnop to be mounted in the head 12 of said frame.

The dustmop head 12 comprises a looped member 13 which may be made of round wire stock such as onequarter inch plated steel. Member 13 has a front longitudinal portion 14, from the ends of which extend semicircular portions ILS. Extending from said semi-circular portions 15 are aligned similar rear portions 16. Extending from the inner ends of portions 16 are parallel, similar portions 17 interconnected by a longitudinal portion 13 which is centrally located between the ends 15 and centrally between portions 14 and 16. Member 13 is all in one plane.

interconnecting the portions 16 with portion 14 are cross-bars 2t located in spaced relation to the ends 15 of member 13. Each cross-bar 29 has an elongated top wall 21 from the ends of which extend rolled-over portions 22 extending around portions 14 and 16 and crimped thereto to prevent movement of the cross-bar relative to member 13. Extending down from the sides of top wall 21 are reinforcing flanges 23 located between portions 14 and 16. Each top wall 21 has a central opening 24. A screw 25 having a lower head 26 and an upwardly extending shank 27 is fixed to each top wall by passing the shank upwardly through the hole 24 and Welding the head 26 to the underside of top wall 21. The purpose and use of the screws 25 will be explained hereinafter.

Rotatably engaging portion 18 of member 13 is a combination clamp and connector 30 comprising a clamp 31 and a connector 31a. The clamp 31 comprises a pair of opposed clamp plates 32, 33, which may be made of metal. Clamp plate 32 has a wall 34 formed with a through opening 35. Extending from the lower end of wall 34 is a part-cylindrical portion 36 of curved crosssection to engage one side of portion 18. Extending inwardly from the sides of wall 34 are flanges 37. Extending inwardly from the top of wall 34 is a tongue 38. Wall 34 has a semi-circular upper edge 39.

The other clamp member 33 has a wall 44) opposed to wall 34 and said walls 34, 4t? may taper slightly upwardly toward each other. Extending from the lower end of Wall 46 is a transversely curved part-cylindrical portion 41 gripping an opposite side of portion 18. \Vall 40 has a central hole 42 aligned with hole 35 in wall 34. Extending from the sides of wall 49 are flanges 43 contacting the inner sides of flanges 37. The end of tongue 38 abuts or contacts the inner side of wall 49. The upper end 45 of wall 4% is also semi-circular and is aligned with semicircular edge 32 of wall 34.

Extending through the openings 35, 42 i the shank 45 of a screw bolt 4-7.

The connector 31a may be made of plastic or metal and has a slot 59 at its lower end in which the clamp plates 32, 33 fit, thereby forming a pair of downwardly extending bifurcated cars 51, 52, one contacting clamp plate 32 and the other contacting clamp plate 33. Said ears 51, 52 are formed with aligned through openings 51a,

and contacting the washer 55 holds the clamp and connector in assembled condition.

I It will now be understood that the clamp may swivel on portion 18 of the looped member 13, and that the connector 31a may swivel about the axis of bolt or screw 47. Said screw 47 is at right angles to said portion 18 and spaced therefrom. Due to the double swivel action, the head 12 has a universal relation to the connector 31a.

Said connector 31a comprises a socket 60 above the ears 51, 52. Socket 60 has an upper larger opening 61 at the lower end of which is an annular shoulder 2, and below which is a coaxial internally threaded opening 63. The elongated mop handle 64 has a reduced externally threaded lower end portion 65 engaging the threaded opening 63, and having a shoulder 66 contacting the shoulder 62.

The dustmop 11 may be of usual construction having a top wall 69 from which extend pocket flaps 79 forming a pocket 79a to receive the loop 13, depending mop fibers 71 and tie strings 72 to attach opposite sides of the pocket together.

Means is provided to hold the handle in rigid position relative to the head 12. To this end there is provided a pair of

brace members

88, 31 made of fiat bar stock.

Brace member 8% has a lower horizontal forwardly extending foot 82 contacting the top of one cross-bar 29. Foot 82 is formed with an opening 83 through which the shank 27 of the screw on that cross-bar, passes. A wing nut 84 screwed to the shank 27 presses down on the foot 82. The screw shank 27 may pass up between the pocket flaps 70. Extending upwardly from foot S2 is an upwardly and inwardly curved portion 85 located in a plane inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said foot at an angle of about 60. Extendingupwardly from portion 85, in its plane, but converging toward the handle 64, is a straight portion 86 from which extends inwardly a horizontal portion 87, in the plane of portions 85, S6 and having an intermediate forwardly offset semi-cylindrical portion 88 extending around the front of handle 64. Welded to portion 87 on Opposite sides of half-round portion 88, are screws 90 projecting rearwardly.

Brace member 81 is similar to and symmetrically disposed relative to member 843. Its upper end comprises a horizontal portion 91 contacting the back of portion 87 of member 89, and formed with an intermediate semicylindrical portion 92 passing around the back of the handle so that the handle is between and surrounded by

portions

88, 92. Portions 91 are formed with holes 95 through which the screws 90 pass, and wing nuts 96 are screwed to said screws.

It will now be understood that the brace members 89, 81, when applied, hold the handle rigidly at an angle of 60 to the head 12 and in a vertical transverse plane, so that the dustmop device may be used for sweeping. The braces may be easily removed and re-applied. When the braces are removed, the controlled swivelling action may be used.

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated a dustmop frame 11a similar to dustmop frame 11 except that its head 13a has two cross-bars 20a at each end, similar to the cross-bars 20. Also, the braces 89a, 81a are connected to the outer cross-bars and in turn are connected by supplementary brace members 160 to the inner cross-bars 20a. Braces 100 each has a lower foot similar to the foot 82 of brace 80. The upper ends of braces 100 may be screwed to braces 80a, 81a in any suitable manner. The connection of braces 100 to braces 80a, 81a is preferably about halfway between the upper and lower ends of said latter braces.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article 4: in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a dustmop head comprising a loop having integral parallel front and rear portions, crossbars interconnecting said parallel portions, a longitudinal, centrally located bar portion rigid with said loop, a clamp having opposed spaced relatively movable portions provided with portions rotatably engaging opposite sides of said bar portion, a connector comprising a one-part member having a slot at its lower end, forming integral ears receiving said opposed portions of the clamp therebetween, a pivot bolt passing through aligned openings in said opposed portions of the clamp and through openings in said ears, said connector having an upper socket portion to receive the end of a mop handle for connection thereto, said pivot bolt being at a right angle to said engaging portions and spaced therefrom, a pair of braces having feet contacting said cross-bars, means to detachably fix said feet to said cross-bars, said braces having integral, mutually overlapping interconnecting parts formed with opposed half-round portions to straddle opposite sides of a handle attached to said connector, and means to detachably attach said overlapping parts together.

2. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector, means to connect said connector to said head for universal movement of said connector relative to said head, said head including transverse portions at opposite sides of said connector, screws fixed to said transverse portions and extending upwardly therefrom, a dustmop handle attached to said connector, brace means, means on said head independent of said connector to rigidly and detachably connect said brace means to said head, said brace means including a pair of arms interconnected by means forming a central hole through which the dustmop handle attached to the connector passes, and said means to connect said brace means to said head comprising offset apertured feet integral with the ends of said arms for receiving said screws and nuts to hold the feet against said transverse portion.

3. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector, means to connect said connector to said head for movement of said connector relative to said.

head about two axes at right angles one to the other, said means permitting universal movement of said connector with respect to said head, means to selective lock said connector against said universal movement, said last named means comprising a pair of braces, each having a foot portion rigidly and detachably secured to said head, said braces having upwardly extending portions from which extend overlapping contacting portions formed with halfround portions through which a dustmop handle attached to said connector may pass, and means to attach said overlapping, contacting portions together.

4. In combination, a dustmop head having a central bar portion rigid with said head, a clamp having opposed spaced relatively movably portions provided with portions rotatably engaging opposite sides of said bar portion, a connector comprising a one part member having a slot at its lower end, forming integral ears receiving said opposed portions of the clamp therebetween, a pivot bolt passing through aligned openings in said opposed portions of the clamp and through openings in said ear, said connector having an upper socket portion to receive one end of a mop handle for connection thereto, said pivot bolt being at right angles to said engaging portions and spaced therefrom, a pair of braces, means on said head independent of said connector, to detachably and rigidly fix the lower ends of said braces to portions of said head on opposite sides said bar portion, and means interconnecting the upper ends of said braces and provided with means forming an opening through which the handle connected to said socket may pass, to hold the handle rigid to said head, and said handle and connector being movable relative to said head about the axes of said bolt and bar, when the braces are detached from said head and removed.

5. The combination of claim 4, said means interconnecting the upper ends of said braces including means to detach the braces from one another.

6. A dustmop comprising a dustmop head, a dustmop handle connector, means to connect said connector to said head for universal movement of said connector relative to said head, a dustmop handle attached to said connector, brace means, means on said head, independent of said connector to rigidly and detachably attach said brace means to said head, said brace means having means to engage said handle and hold said handle and connector against said universal movement relative to said head with the handle inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said head, said head comprising opposed elongated portions interconnected by end portions, transverse members interconnecting said opposed portions at opposite sides of said connector, said brace means comprising integral, rigid portions removably fastened to said transverse members by said attaching means, and interconnected by a portion forming a hole through which the dustmop handle on the connector may pass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,684,379 Anderson Sept. 18, 1928 1,807,434 Redlinger May 26, 1931 2,050,762 Preisset et al Aug. 11, 1936 2,240,628 Schulman May 6, 1941 2,581,141 Raptis Jan. 1, 1952 2,655,413 Russel Oct. 13, 1953 2,804,638 Voshikian et a1 Sept. 3, 1957 2,903,730 Murphy Sept. 15, 1959 2,940,800 Knapp June 14, 1960 2,943,892 Hessler et a1 July 5, 1960 3,012,264 Nash Dec. 12, 1961 3,031,707 Wiley et a1 May 1, 1962 3,082,460 Haivala Mar. 26, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,094,927 France Dec. 15, 1954 74,263 France Nov. 17, 1960 (1st addition to No. 1,171,669)

488,619 Italy Dec. 29, 1953 556,185 Belgium Apr. 15, 1957

Claims

3. A DUSTMOP COMPRISING A DUSTMOP HEAD, A DUSTMOP HANDLE CONNECTOR, MEANS TO CONNECT SAID CONNECTOR TO SAID HEAD FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID CONNECTOR RELATIVE TO SAID HEAD ABOUT TWO AXES AT RIGHT ANGLES ONE TO THE OTHER, SAID MEANS PERMITTING UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONNECTOR WITH RESPECT TO SAID HEAD, MEANS TO SELECTIVE LOCK SAID CONNECTOR AGAINST SAID UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF BRACES, EACH HAVING A FOOT