US3872536A

US3872536A - Reversible sponge rubber mop, brush or duster

Info

Publication number: US3872536A
Application number: US406847A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert A Siemund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-16
Filing date: 1973-10-16
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25
Also published as: CA1015108A

Abstract

A reversible sponge-like mob device provided with a retainer cage or rigid wire frame including a supporting element or rigid wire on which an operator may selectively fold a sponge-like member with leg portions at opposite sides, and a holder means or rigid wire loop of the frame which may be positioned in a cooperative relation to maintain the leg portions in an operative work relation. Releasable means connect a manipulating handle of the device to the supporting element of the frame so as to be effective upon actuation of the handle in one sense to adjustably position and secure the supporting element at an inner side and the holder means in said cooperative relation at the outer side surfaces of the folded member. Upon actuation of the handle in another sense, the releasable connecting means effectively disconnects the handle and enables the folded member to be released from the frame.

Description

Unite States Patent 1191 Siemund 1 Mar. 25, 1975 1 REVERSIBLE SPONGE RUBBER MOP,

BRUSH OR DUSTER [21] Appl. No.: 406,847

[52] US. Cl. 15/244 CH, 15/153 [51] Int. Cl. A471 13/25, A471 13/46 [58] Field of Search 15/147, 168, 151, 153,

15/173, 174, 175, 177,205, 223,224, 228, 229 A, 244 R, 244 CH 12/1955 Australia l5/244 R 8/1952 United Kingdom 15/153 Primary E.\'aminerDaniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard 'J. Cowling [5 7] ABSTRACT A reversible sponge-like mob device provided with a retainer cage or rigid wire frame including a supporting element or rigid wire on which an operator may selectively fold a sponge-like member with leg portions at opposite sides, and a holder means or rigid wire loop of the frame which may be positioned in a cooperative relation to maintain the leg portions in an operative work relation. Releasable means connect a manipulating handle of the device to the supporting element of the frame so as to be effective upon actuation of the handle in one sense to adjustably position and secure the supporting element at an inner side and the holder means in said cooperative relation at the outer side surfaces of the folded member. Upon actuation of the handle in another sense, the releasable connecting means effectively disconnects the handle and enables the folded member to be released from the frame.

' 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures REVERSIBLE SPONGE RUBBER MOP, BRUSH OR DUSTER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS AND U.S. LETTERS PATENT This invention relates to improvements and modifications in the subject-matter of invention described and claimed in a copending U.S. application Ser. No. 253,880, filed May 16, 1972, by Herbert A. Siemund for a Reversible Sponge Rubber Mop, Brush or Duster, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,919, granted Jan. 29, 1974; and to improvements and modifications in the subject-matter of an invention described and claimed in another copending U.S. application Ser. No. 264,612, filed June 20, 1972, by Herbert A. Siemund for Combination Window Washer, Scraper and Squeegee" now U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,469, granted Jan. 8, 1974. Both of the U.S. Pat. Nos. were granted on copending applications filed by Herbert A Siemund, the inventor of the subject-matter of the improvements disclosed and claimed herein. Neither of the copending applicationsdisclose the arrangement and distinctively different idea of means of the present invention, particularly the provision of a retainer, cage or rigid wire frame, including a rigid wire support whereby an operator may reversably mount and selectively form a sponge rubber block or sheet in alternate converse V- shaped configurations having projecting resiliently compressible leg portions, together with other means or a rigid wire loop for retaining the projecting leg portions in an operative relation as in the improvement of the present invention described and claimed herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a cleaning implement and has particular relation to a sponge rubber mop, brush or duster of a type having a resiliently compressible block or sheet of a synthetic or substantially foam or sponge rubber body construction, and means to reversibly mount the sheet in relation to the implement so as to expose various surfaces of the sheet to a work surface to be cleaned, and more particularly the invention relates to an improved retainer cage including releasable means for mounting the sponge rubber sheet on the cleaning implement in such a manner that an operator may selectively fold or form the sponge rubber sheet in V-shaped configuration or alternate converse relation. Each such configuration of the sponge rubber sheet, as so formed, includes a pair of projecting resiliently compressible leg portions, while the retainer cage includes other means cooperatively arranged to maintain the projecting leg portions in an operative relation effective to present for use sides or surfaces of the leg portions which may be exposed to the work surface to be cleaned upon suitable manipulation of the cleaning implement by the operator.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, in a U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,420 granted Oct. 22, 1968, to Herbert A. Siemund, the inventor of the subject-matter of the present invention, there has been disclosed a cleaning implement of a type including a pair of juxtaposed roll shaped sponge like portions which may be selectively positioned by an operatoroperative handle so as to present surfaces of one or another or both of the sponge like portions in an operative relation to a work surface to be cleaned.

However, in such prior patent, the formation of the roll shaped sponge-like portions has necessitated a complex and tedious sewing and stitching of a sponge rubber block, as has been explained in the patent.

There is no suggestion in U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,420 of any means whereby the roll shaped sponge portions may be alternately or selectively repositioned by the operator in a reverse or converse relation to that shown by the patent. Further, the patent does not suggest the simplified and improved idea of means of the present invention.

In a prior U.S. Pat. No. 126,399, granted May 7, 1872, to Hugh S. Kerr; there is disclosed an implement in which a wire loop or hoop of a rigid material may serve as a means for mounting a sponge on a handle of a mopor the like.

The US. Pat. No. 126,399 does not suggest the simplified and improved idea of means of the present invention, particularly the aforenoted wire element or support on which the operator may selectively position the sponge rubber sheet so as to form or fold said sheet, as heretofore noted, in alternate and converse U- shaped configurations. More specifically, the prior art fails to support or suggest a rigid wire element projecting from and longitudinally across a rigid wire loop. Moreoever, in the present invention, the wire element may support the sponge rubber sheet in such a manner that the operator may selectively fold or form the sheet thereon in V-shaped configurations of alternate converse relation and with projecting leg portions retained in an operative relation by the other means or rigid wire loop so as to provide a distinctly different idea means from that disclosed in the aforementioned Letters Patent.

There have also been noted of interest a U.S. Pat. No. 2,260,390, granted Oct. 28, 1941, to Irvin H. Lorenz, for a Sponge Rubber Brush, and a U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,229, granted June 5, 1962, to Howard A. Anderson, for a Self Wringing Mop. Both of these patents disclose a sponge-like cleaning element having a vertical slot for receiving a reinforcing element or supporting bar attached by a bolt or shank to an outer operating handle.

In the disclosure ofU.S. Pat. No. 2,260,390 a cement is applied to the inner faces of the folded portions of the sponge rubber element. The disclosure of such cemented folded portions of the sponge rubber element is a requisite of the disclosure of the patent which negatives any suggestion that the folded portions of the sponge rubber element are to be re-positioned to a reverse or converse V-shaped configuration or relation.

Similarly, the disclosed arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,229 of a supporting bar in a vertical slot of a sponge like element is diametrically opposite to any concept of a repositioning of the sponge like element to a reverse or converse relation to that shown by the patent, or to present for use any work surface other than the upwardly diverging work faces."

Thus, the disclosures of these patents suggest neither a repositioning of a sponge rubber element or sheet in such a reverse or converse relation, nor the simple structure and arrangement of the retainer cage to support the sponge rubber sheet in reverse selected relations so that the operator may alternately fold or form the sheet in converse V-shaped configurations from that shown, with projecting leg portions maintained in an operative relation by a retainingmeans or rigid wire loop, as in the present invention. 4

- There may be further noted a U.S. Pat. No. 2,374,782, granted May 1, 1945, to Hilda Schaffhauser for a Mop Head and Mop in which a sponge rubber sheet or mop is folded longitudinally midway of its side edges by means of a mop head or clamping mechanism applied to the folded sponge rubber sheet, as explained, in the patent. Neither the structure and arrangement of the Mop Head nor that of the Mop disclosed by the patent are suggestive of the simplicity of the structure of the retainer cage and sponge rubber sheet in the cooperative arrangement of thepresent invention, nor suggestive of the improved results effected by the idea means of the present invention. a

The Mop Head disclosed by the prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,374,782 manifestly has a greater complexity in the structure of the clamping mechanism, in which there is provided a stationary jaw and a movable jaw pivotally mounted on a pin carried by ears of the respective jaws.

Moreover, the sponge rubber sheet or Mop disclosed by the patent also has a greater complexity of parts in the structure of the sponge rubber sheet provided for cooperation with additional parts or structure of the Mop Head.

However, in the present invention there has been eliminated not only the complex structure and great number of moving parts subject to wear of the Mop Head or clamping mechanism disclosed by the prior patent, but also the complexity and great number of additional parts of the sponge rubber sheet. Furthermore, the arrangement of the other loop por tions of the elastic strap at only the outer side surface of the folded sponge rubber sheet, as disclosed in the patent, is clearly effective to negative any suggestion that the sponge or rubber sheet be folded by an operator selectively in an alternate reverse or converse V- shaped configuration to that shown in the aforementioned patent. The patent thus fails to suggest such improved result that may be accomplished by an operator through the idea' of means of the present invention.

The device of the present invention is of that class of worthy and sustainable inventions, whereby adding a new idea and a new feature, particularly in the provision of an improved retainer cage or rigid wire frame in which a sponge rubber block or sheet may be selectively inserted in an alternate and a reversible mounting of the sponge rubber sheet, there may be effected in the assembly of older features an improved result in such reversible mounting of the sponge rubber sheet which may be reached with less expense.

Furthermore, the present invention rests in a conception which provides an improvement in implements of the types disclosed by the aforementioned patents, particularly in the reducing of the number of parts in structures such as disclosed in the aforenoted U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,374,782 and 3,406,420. Thus, the improved assemblage of the implement of the present invention is provided by a rigid retainer cage or wire frame in which there may be received and selectively positioned by an operator a sponge rubber sheet to be'mounted on a supporting element in the retainer cage. The sheet may be received in said selective and alternate mounting so as to expose different or new wearing edge or surface to the work dependent upon the selected position of the sheet in the retainer cage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toa cleaning implement such as a mop, brush or duster, and more particularly to a simplified means to form a resilient sponge like member into a V-shaped or U-shaped configuration so as to provide a pair of juxtapositioned sponge like leg portions of the cleaning implement, the forming means, including a supporting element, and operator operating means to mount the sponge like member on the supporting element with the supporting element extending in a juxtaposed relation on a selected side surface of the sponge like member and intermediate opposite end portions of the member, the opposite end portions of the resilient sponge like member being adapted to be folded by the operator in such a sense as to form the V-shaped or U-shaped configuration to provide the pair of resilient sponge like leg portions projecting at opposite sides of the supporting element, other means being selectively rendered effective by the operator for retaining the projecting leg portions in an operative relation so as to expose surfaces of the sponge like leg portions to the work to be cleaned upon manual manipulation of the implement by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a releasable securing means operable by the operator in one sense to secure the sponge like member on the aforementioned supporting element and in another sense to release the sponge like member mounted on the supporting element of the simplified forming means so that the sponge like member may be readily removed by the operator'from the supporting element and thereafter turned and repositioned by the operator in a reversely mounted relation on the supporting element with the supporting element extending in a juxtaposed relation to an opposite selected side surface of the sponge like member, the member being thereafter adapted to be folded, as heretofore described, in a sense to form a converse V-shape or U-shape configuration to provide the pair of resilient sponge like leg portions, and other means being thereafter selectively rendered effective by the operator for retaining the last mentioned projecting leg portions in an operative relation effective to expose other surfaces of .the sponge like leg portions to the work to be cleaned upon manual manipulation of the implement by the operator in relation thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversible sponge rubber mop, brush or duster including a resilient sponge rubber sheet that may be folded and held in place by a retainer cage, including a supporting element for the sheet on which the resilient sponge rubber sheet may be folded by an operator, and a holder for retaining the resilient sponge rubber sheet in the folded relation, the supporting element and holder including means operative in one sense to secure the retainer cage to an operating handle and the sponge rubber sheet in the retainer cage in said folded relation effective to expose surfaces of the sheet to a work to be cleaned, and said last mentioned means being operative in another sense to release said retainer cage from the operating handle and the sponge rubber sheet from the retainer cage so that the sheet may be readily removed from the holder and the supporting element by the operator and turned and replaced on the supporting element and in the holder to be secured in the retainer cage upon, the securing means being operated in said ator actuating the handle in a releasing sense, and the sponge-like member being thereafter turned and replaced in the retainer cage so as to effectively expose a different or new wearing or work edge or surface to the work to be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop, brush or duster, including a readily reversible rectangular sponge rubber block or sheet arranged to be selectively received in a rigid wire loop holder and supporting wire frame structure carried by the handle of an implement which holds the sponge rubber block or sheet in a predetermined folded V-shape or U-shape configuration so as to be readily operable by the operator by manual manipulation of the handle; while at the same time permitting the manufacture and sale of the complete mop, brush or duster at a low cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are pointed out in the following description in terms of the embodiments thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings in which corresponding parts have been indicated by corresponding numerals:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved cleaning implement embodying a preferred form'of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved cleaning implement embodying a modified form of my invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the several parts in the simplified assembly of the embodiment of the invention shown by FIG. 1. The several parts shown by the exploded view of FIG. 3 include a rigid retainer cage in which may be inserted a resilient rectangular sponge like member shown in a flat relation with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate pictorially that the member may be of a synthetic sponge rubber material.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE INVENTION Referring to the preferred form of the invention of FIGS. 1 and 3, there is indicated by the numeral a resiliently compressible rectangular member, block or sheet of an absorbent sponge-like material or synthetic or substantial foam or sponge rubber body construction. The rectangular sheet 10 has side edges 12 and 14, and a length X and breadth Y substantially greater than its thickness Z, as shown by FIG. 3.

The rectangular resilient sheet 10 may be folded by an operator longitudinally midway its edges 14 and at a mid portion along an indicated midway or fold line 16-16, as shown by FIG. 3, upon insertion of the member 10 by the operator in a retainer cage 18. A

side surface

20 or 22 of the resilient member 10, as selected by the operator on inserting the member 10 in the retainer cage 18, may then be in ajuxtaposed relation to a supporting element 24 of the retainer cage 18,

as shown bestby FIG. 1, while the

opposite side surface

20 or 22 of the member 10 may then provide an outer side surface of the cleaning implement, as shown in an assembled relation by FIG. 1.

The retainer cage or rigid wire frame 18, shown in detail by the exploded view of FIG. 3, includes a wire form or loop holder 26 of a rigid material having a shape which generally corresponds to that of the resilient rectangular member 10. Upon the member 10 being folded by the operator along the mid line 16-16 into a V-shape or U-shape configuration in which opposite end portions of the member 10 may provide a pair ofjuxtapositioned sponge like

leg portions

28 and 30 of the assembled cleaning implement, as shown by FIG. I.

The wire loop holder 26 is somewhat smaller in size than the size of the folded

leg portions

28 and 30 of the member 10, but is sufficiently large that, upon the resilient sponge rubber member 10 being so folded, the

resilient leg portions

28 and 30 may be compressed by the operator so as to be received in the wire loop holder 26. Upon the

leg portions

28 and 30 being so compressed, the rigid wire loop holder 26 may extend about the pair of

resilient leg portions

28 and 30 in a compressive engaging relation with the outer side and edge surfaces thereof and intermediate the midline 16-16 and the side edges 14, as shown by FIG. 1, so that the wire loop holder 26 may effectively retain the projecting

leg portions

28 and 30 in an operative relation.

Further, the retainer cage or rigid wire frame 18, as shown by FIG. 3, is so arranged that the supporting means or rigid wire supportingelement24 extends between

arms

32 and 34 projecting from opposite end portions of the rigid wire loop holder 26 intermediate side portions of the wire loop holder 26. The rigid wire supporting element 24 is so arranged as to extend between the rigid projecting

arms

32 and 34 and longitudinally across the rigid wire loop holder 26.

Projecting from the wire supporting element 24 and intermediate opposite ends thereof is a bolt or shank 36 having a screw threaded outer end portion 38. The bolt or shank 36, as shown by the exploded view of FIG. 3, is arranged to be received in a close fitting relation in a central aperture 40 extending through the resilient sponge-like member 1.0 at a point on the mid line 16-16 an equal distance between the

edges

12 and 14 of the member 10. The bolt 36, in the assembled relation of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1, extends from the supporting element 24 at the inner side surface 'of the resilient member 10 through the aperture 40 and a corresponding aperture 42 formed in an arcuate clamping plate 44, as best shown by FIG. 3.

The bolt 36 is slidably mounted in the aperture 42 formed in the arcuate clamping plate 44, while the clamping plate is arranged to be adjustably positioned on the bolt 36 and adjacent an outer side surface of the folded member 10 along the midwar or fold line 16-16, upon the member 10 being in the assembled folded relation. In the assembled relation shown by FIG. 1, the side surface 22 is shown as the selected outer side surface of the folded member 10, while the side surface 20 is shown as the selected inner side surface of the member 10. The side surface 20 is shown in juxtaposition to the supporting element 24.

The screw threaded outer end portion 38 of the bolt 36, which thereby projects through the sponge-like member 10 and clamping plate 44, may be screw threadedly engaged by a nut 46 carried by an end portion 48 of an outer operating handle 50. The end portion'48 bears upon an outer side surface of the clamping plate 44 so that appropriate angular adjustment of the handle 50 by the operator may cause the nut 46 to move longitudinally on the screw threaded end portion 38 of the bolt 36 in a sense to cause the clamping plate 44 to effectively compress the resilient sponge-like member 10 between the clamping plate 44 to effectively compress the resilient sponge-like member 10 between the clamping plate 44 and the supporting element 24 adjacent the fold line 1616.

The operator may thereby releasably secure the resilient sponge-like member 10 on the supporting element 24 of the retainer cage 18 by appropriate actuation or rotation of the handle 50 in a sense to tighten by increasing the engagement of the nut 46 on the screw threaded outer end portion 38 of the bolt 36. Such actuation of the handle 50 will, in turn, cause the end portion 48 thereof bearing upon the clamping plate 44 to adjustably position the clamping plate 44 in opposition to the resilient folded member) and in a sense to compress that portion of the resilient member 10 adjacent the midway fold line 16-16 between the clamping plate 44 at the outer side surface 22 and the supporting element 24 of the retainer cage 18 at the inner side surface 20 of the folded member 10, as shown by FIG. 1.

Furthermore, the sponge-like member 10, as so folded in the V-shape or U-shape configuration, provides a pair of resilient sponge-

like leg portions

28 and 30, projecting at opposite sides of the supporting element 24. The loop holder 26 of the retainer cage 18 extends about the pair of

resilient leg portions

28 and 30 in a compressively engaging relation with the outer side surfaces 22 and edge surfaces of the member 10 intermediate the mid or fold line 16-16 and the side edges 14 thereof, so as to retain the projecting

leg portions

28 and 30 in an operative relation for the assembled implement, as best shown by FIG. 1.

Conversely, upon the handle 50 being rotated by the operator in an opposite sense to that heretofore described, the nut 46 carried by the handle 50 may be effectively released from its engagement with the screw threaded outer end portion 38 of the bolt 36. The bolt or shank 36 may be then withdrawn by the operator from the aperturel42 of the arcuate clamping plate 44 and the central aperture 40 of the sponge-like member 10. The withdrawal of the bolt 36 by the operator from the aperture 40 may, in turn, cause the member 10 to be removed from the supporting element 24 and permit the operator to thereafter withdraw the opposite ends or

leg portions

28 and 30 of the folded sponge-like member 10- from the loop holder 26 of the retainer cage or rigid wire frame 18. 7

After the foregoing withdrawal of the member 10 from the retainer cage 18 has been completed by the operator, the member 10 may then be turned by the operator and re-inserted in the retainer cage 18 in a reversely mounted relation on the supporting element 24 and in the loop holder of the retainer cage or rigid wire frame 18 with the sponge-like member 10 being folded by the operator in a converse V-shape or U-shape configuration.

The supporting element 24 may then extend in a juxtaposed relation to the side surface 22 of the member 10 rather than to the side surface 20, as shown by FIG.

8 1, while the pair of resilient sponge-like leg portions in such converse V-shape or U-shape configuration of the member 10 may be effective to expose other surfaces of the sponge-like member 10 to the work to be cleaned, because of the reverse mounting of the sponge-like member 10.

It may be seen that through the foregoing simplified means, the single handle 50 may be (1) operatively connected for utilization bythe operator in a sense to manipulate the cleaning implement and thereby the sponge-like member 10 in an assembled operative relation in the implement so as to effect a cleaning function; (2) the handle 50 may be also operatively connected through the nut 46 in screw threaded engagement with the bolt or shank 36 for actuation by the operator in a different sense to secure the sponge-like member 10 in the assembled operative relation in the cleaning implement; and (3) the handle 50 may be selectively actuated by the operator in an opposite sense to cause the nut 46 to disengage the screw threaded end portion 38 of the bolt 36 so as to release the bolt 36 and thereby the sponge-like member 10 from the assembled operative relation in the cleaning implement. Such disengagement may, in turn, permit the operator to withdraw the sponge-like member 10 and to reinsert it in the cleaning implement in the converse operative relation as heretofore described.

In the assembly or insertion of the resilient spongelike member, such as the flat sponge rubber block or sheet 10, in the retainer cage 18 of the cleaning implement of the present invention, an operator may suitably compress a part of the selected end portion 28 of the sheet 10 so as to permit insertion in the end portion 28 in the loop holder 24 with a selected side surface 20 of the sheet 10 in a juxtaposed relation to the supporting element 24 of the retainer cage 18.

During such insertion of the selected end portion 28 in the loop holder 24, it may be seen that, as the midway or fold line 16-16 of the sheet 10 approaches an alignment with the supportive element 24 of the retainer cage 18 and the bolt or shank 36 projecting from the supporting element 24 approaches a position which coincides with the central aperture 40 provided in the flat sponge rubber sheet 10, the bolt 36 may be inserted through the aperture 40 upon the resilient sponge rubber sheet 10 being folded by the operator at the fold line 1616 in a V-shape or U-shape configuration. The operator may then suitably compress a part of the opposite end portion 30 of the sheet 10 so as to permit insertion of the opposite end portion 30 in the loop holder 24 with the selected side surface of the opposite end portion 30 of the sponge rubber sheet 10 being in a juxtaposition to the selected side surface of the first mentioned end portion 28, as shown by FIG. 1.

Thereafter, the operator may insert the outer end portion 38 of the bolt 36, projecting from the central aperture 40 formed in the sponge rubber sheet 10, through the aperture 42 provided in the arcuate clamping plate 44. The arcuate clamping plate 44 may be positioned by the operator on the bolt 36 projecting therethrough so that the arcuate clamping plate 44 extends in alignment with the midway line 16--16 of the folded sponge rubber sheet 10, whereupon the operator may cause the screw threaded outer end portion 38 of the bolt or shank 36 to be screw threadedly engaged by the nut 46 carried by the portion 48 of the handle 50.

The end portion 48 bears upon the outer side surface of the clamping plate'44 and is effective upon the handle 50 being angularly adjusted in a sense to cause the nut 46 to be tightened in screw threaded engagement on the outer screw threaded portion 38 of the bolt 36 to compress the resilient sponge rubber member 18 between the clamping plate 44 and the supporting element 24 to effectively secure the folded sponge rubber member 10 in the assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown by FIG. 1.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated by FIG. 2, in which a compressive action on the folded sponge rubber member 10, effected by the clamping plate 44 in the form of the invention of FIG. 1, is provided in the modified form of the invention of FIG. 2 by the end portion 48, which bears upon a more limited area of the folded sponge rubber member-10 to compress that area, as shown by FIG. 2, between the end portion 48 of the handle 50 and the supporting element 24 of the retainer cage 18, shown in detail in the exploded view of FIG. 3.

In the modified form of the invention of FIG. 2, the handle 50 includes the end portion 48 of a structure corresponding to that shown by FIG. 3, in which a nut 46 carried by the end portion 48 of the handle 50 is arranged so as to screw threadedly engage the corresponding screw threaded outer end portion 38 of the bolt 36.

Accordingly, in the modified form of the invention of FIG. 2, as in the preferred form of the invention of FIG. I, there is provided a single handle 50 whereby the operator may manipulate the implement in a cleaning action as well asreleasably secure the folded sponge rubber sheet 10 in a readily reversible mounting of the cleaning implement.

In the operation of the implement in a cleaning action, it will be seen that the folded sponge rubber sheet 10, as shown by both forms of the invention of FIGS. 1 and 2, provides a pair of projecting

leg portions

28 and 30 which are freely flexible and which are separated by a space or gap defined by the inner side surfaces so related that when the projecting

leg portions

28 and 30 are flexed in the use of the implement by an operator, the projecting

leg portions

28 and 30 may move against one another collapsing the gap so that a space may be defined between the tips of the projecting

leg portions

28 and 30, within which space swept dust or dirt may accumulate in effecting the cleaning action.

In both forms of the invention, the handle 50, as heretofore explained, may be angularly or rotatably adjusted by the operator in one sense to secure the folded sponge rubber sheet 10 in such operative relation in the retainer cage 18 of the cleaning implement or the operator may angularly or rotatably adjust the handle 50 in another sense to release the folded sponge rubber sheet 10 from such operative relation.

There is thereby provided by'both forms of the invention a reversible sponge rubber mop, brush or duster, including the afore described means, whereby different side surfaces of the sponge rubber block or sheet 10 can be selectively exposed to the work or surface to be cleaned.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of the parts, which will now appear obvious to those skilled in the art, may

10- be made without departing from thescope of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device-of the type including a resilient sponge member, means to maintain the sponge member in a folded relation with end portions of the folded member providing a pair of projecting sponge leg portions, and a handle connected to the device whereby an operator may manipulate the device and thereby the folded sponge member to cause the pair of projecting leg portions to effect a cleaning action on a work surface; the means to maintain the sponge member in said folded relation including an improvement comprising a retainer cage including a supporting element for said folded sponge member, said supporting element being arranged in juxtaposition to an inner side surface of the folded member at a mid portion of the folded member intermediate the projecting leg portions of the sponge member, and holder means arranged in a cooperative compressive relation to outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member in such a manner as to maintain the projecting leg portions in an operative relation, the supporting element being affixed to the holder means so as to carry and adjustably position the holder means relative to the outer side surfaces of the projecting leg portions upon an adjustment in the position of the supporting element relative to the inner side surface of the folded member; and means interconnecting the supporting element and thereby the holder means to said handle to effect the adjustment in the position of the supporting element and thereby the relative position of the holder means affixed to the supporting element, said interconnecting means extending through the sponge member and including releasable coupling means operative upon actuation of the handle in one sense to position and secure the supporting element in said juxtaposition relative to the-inner side surface at the mid portion of the folded member, and the holder means being thereupon positioned in said cooperative relation so as to cause the projecting leg portions to be maintained in said operative relation to effect the cleaning action on said work surface upon the manipulation of the handle by the operator, and said releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation ofthe handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect the handle from the supporting element, thereupon the supporting element and the holder means affixed to the supporting element may be positioned relative to said inner and outer side surfaces of the folded sponge member so as to release the pair of projecting leg portions from being maintained in said operative relation by the holder means.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 in which the coupling means interconnecting the supporting element and thereby the holder means to the handle includes releasable clamping means operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to secure the supporting element in said juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member and thereby said holder means in said cooperative relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded member in said operative relation, and said releasable securing means being operative upon acutation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect the handle from the supporting element and leg portions of said folded sponge member from said operative relation.

3. The combination defined by claim 1 in which the coupling means interconnecting the supporting means and the holder means to the handle includes releasable means projecting through an aperture provided in the sponge member at said mid portion of the folded member to interconnect the supporting element and thereby the holder means to the handle, said coupling means being rendered effective upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to connect the handle to said supporting element and thereby said holder means, and clamping means rendered effective to clamp said mid portion of the folded member to said supporting element upon the coupling means being rendered effective bythe actuation of the handle by the operator in said one sense, the clamping means thereupon securing the supporting element in said juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member and the holder means being thereupon secured insaid coopera tive relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded member in said operative relation, and said coupling means being alternately effective upon actuation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect said handle from said supporting element and said holder means and to render said clamping means ineffective to clamp said mid portion of the folded member to said supporting element so as to thereupon release the supporting element and the holder means and thereby the pair of projecting leg portions of 'said folded sponge member from said operative relation, whereupon the sponge member may be removed by the operator from the supporting element and the holder means, and thereafter the sponge member may be selectively positioned by the operator in a converse folded relation on the supporting element and in the holder means so that upon the handle being actuated again in said one sense the clamping means may be thereupon rendered effective to secure the supporting element in juxtaposition to an inner side surface at a mid position intermediate the pair of projecting leg portions of the then conversely folded sponge member, the holder means being thereupon secured in said cooperative relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said conversely folded member in an operative relation to effectively expose other surfaces of the leg portions of the sponge member to the work to be cleaned upon the aforesaid manipulation of the handle by the operator.

4. The combination defined by claim 1 in which said holder means includes affixed to the supporting element a rigid loop member arranged in relation to the outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member in such a manner as to maintain the projecting leg portions in operative relation.

5. The combination defined by claim 1 in which said supporting element includes a rigid supporting member arranged in juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member at the mid portion of the folded member and extending substantially across the breadth of the sponge member at the mid portion intermediate the projecting leg portions of the sponge memher; and the holder means including affixed to said element a rigid loop member arranged in relation to the outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member in such a manner as to maintain the projecting leg portions in operative relation.

6. The combination defined by claim 1 including the retainer cage comprising a rigid wire frame in which the holder means includes a rigid wire loop and the supporting element includes a rigid supporting wire carried by arms projecting from opposite end portions of the wire loop and extending longitudinally across the wire loop and between said projecting arms, the rigid supporting wire being arranged in juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member at the mid portion of the folded member and extending substantially across the breadth of the sponge member at the mid portion intermediate the projecting leg portions of the folded sponge member, and the projecting leg portions being positioned in the rigid wire loop of the wire frame, and the rigid wire loop being so arranged in relation to the outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member as to maintain the projecting leg portions in operative relation.

7. The combinationdefined by claim 6 in which the means interconnecting the supporting element and the holder means to the handle includes said releasable coupling means operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to secure. the rigid supporting wire in juxtaposition to the innerside surface of the folded sponge member and said wire loop in said relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of the folded sponge member in said operative relation, and said releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect the handle from the rigid supporting wire of the wire frame and thereby release the pair of projecting leg portions from being retained in said operative relation by the rigid wire loop of the wire frame.

8. The combination defined by claim 7 in which the sponge member comprises a rectangular sponge rubber sheet having a length and a breadth greater than its thickness, the sponge rubber sheet being folded on the rigid supporting wire of the wire frame at a mid portion of the sheet intermediate opposite end portions thereof, the end portions of the sheet providing the pair of projecting leg portions, the rigid supporting wire extending in juxtaposition to an inner side surface of the folded sheet at said mid portion, and the rigid supporting wire extending substantially across the breadth of the folded sponge rubber sheet at the mid portion, the handle being mounted exteriorly of the folded sheet, and the mid portion of the sheet having an aperture extending through the sheet for receiving the interconnecting means the releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation of the handle in said one and said other senses to connect and disconnect said handle and said rigid supporting wire, and a clamping plate in juxtaposition to an outer side surface of the folded sponge rubber sheet at said mid portion and extending substantially across the breadth of the folded sponge rubber sheet at the mid portion, the clamping plate being positioned between an end portion of the handle and said outer side surface of the folded sponge rubber sheet at said mid portion, and said plate being rendered effective to clamp said mid portion of the folded sheet to said'rigid supporting wire upon the coupling means being rendered effective by the actuation of the handle by the operator in said one sense and to release said clamping action upon the handle being actuated by the operator in said other sense.

Claims

1. In a device of the type including a resilient sponge member, means to maintain the sponge member in a folded relation with end portions of the folded member providing a pair of projecting sponge leg portions, and a handle connected to the device whereby an operator may manipulate the device and thereby the folded sponge member to cause the pair of projecting leg portions to effect a cleaning action on a work surface; the means to maintain the sponge member in said folded relation including an improvement comprising a retainer cage including a supporting element for said folded sponge member, said supporting element being arranged in juxtaposition to an inner side surface of the folded member at a mid portion of the folded member intermediate the projecting leg portions of the sponge member, and holder means arranged in a cooperative compressive relation to outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member in such a manner as to maintain the projecting leg portions in an operative relation, the supporting element being affixed to the holder means so as to carry and adjustably position the holder means relative to the outer side surfaces of the projecting leg portions upon an adjustment in the position of the supporting element relative to the inner side surface of the folded member; and means interconnecting the supporting element and thereby the holder means to said handle to effect the adjustment in the position of the supporting element and thereby the relative position of the holder means affixed to the supporting element, said interconnecting means extending through the sponge member and including releasable coupling means operative upon actuation of the handle in one sense to position and secure the supporting element in said juxtaposition relative to the inner side surface at the mid portion of the folded member, and the holder means being thereupon positioned in said cooperative relation so as to cause the projecting leg portions to be maintained in said operative relation to effect the cleaning action on said work surface upon the manipulation of the handle by the operator, and said releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect the handle from the supporting element, thereupon the supporting element and the holder means affixed to the supporting element may be positioned relative to said inner and outer side surfaces of the folded sponge member so as to release the pair of projecting leg portions from being maintained in said operative relation by the holder means.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 in which the coupling means interconnecting the supporting element and thereby the holder means to the handle includes releasable clamping means operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to secure the supporting element in said juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member and thereby said holder means in said cooperative relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded member in said operative relation, and said releasable securing means being operative upon acutation of the handle by the operator in another sense to dIsconnect the handle from the supporting element and the holder means so as to release the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded sponge member from said operative relation.

3. The combination defined by claim 1 in which the coupling means interconnecting the supporting means and the holder means to the handle includes releasable means projecting through an aperture provided in the sponge member at said mid portion of the folded member to interconnect the supporting element and thereby the holder means to the handle, said coupling means being rendered effective upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to connect the handle to said supporting element and thereby said holder means, and clamping means rendered effective to clamp said mid portion of the folded member to said supporting element upon the coupling means being rendered effective by the actuation of the handle by the operator in said one sense, the clamping means thereupon securing the supporting element in said juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member and the holder means being thereupon secured in said cooperative relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded member in said operative relation, and said coupling means being alternately effective upon actuation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect said handle from said supporting element and said holder means and to render said clamping means ineffective to clamp said mid portion of the folded member to said supporting element so as to thereupon release the supporting element and the holder means and thereby the pair of projecting leg portions of said folded sponge member from said operative relation, whereupon the sponge member may be removed by the operator from the supporting element and the holder means, and thereafter the sponge member may be selectively positioned by the operator in a converse folded relation on the supporting element and in the holder means so that upon the handle being actuated again in said one sense the clamping means may be thereupon rendered effective to secure the supporting element in juxtaposition to an inner side surface at a mid position intermediate the pair of projecting leg portions of the then conversely folded sponge member, the holder means being thereupon secured in said cooperative relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of said conversely folded member in an operative relation to effectively expose other surfaces of the leg portions of the sponge member to the work to be cleaned upon the aforesaid manipulation of the handle by the operator.

5. The combination defined by claim 1 in which said supporting element includes a rigid supporting member arranged in juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member at the mid portion of the folded member and extending substantially across the breadth of the sponge member at the mid portion intermediate the projecting leg portions of the sponge member; and the holder means including affixed to said element a rigid loop member arranged in relation to the outer side surfaces of the pair of projecting leg portions of the sponge member in such a manner as to maintain the projecting leg portions in operative relation.

7. The combination defined by claim 6 in which the means interconnecting the supporting element and the holder means to the handle includes said releasable coupling means operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in one sense to secure the rigid supporting wire in juxtaposition to the inner side surface of the folded sponge member and said wire loop in said relation to maintain the pair of projecting leg portions of the folded sponge member in said operative relation, and said releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation of the handle by the operator in another sense to disconnect the handle from the rigid supporting wire of the wire frame and thereby release the pair of projecting leg portions from being retained in said operative relation by the rigid wire loop of the wire frame.

8. The combination defined by claim 7 in which the sponge member comprises a rectangular sponge rubber sheet having a length and a breadth greater than its thickness, the sponge rubber sheet being folded on the rigid supporting wire of the wire frame at a mid portion of the sheet intermediate opposite end portions thereof, the end portions of the sheet providing the pair of projecting leg portions, the rigid supporting wire extending in juxtaposition to an inner side surface of the folded sheet at said mid portion, and the rigid supporting wire extending substantially across the breadth of the folded sponge rubber sheet at the mid portion, the handle being mounted exteriorly of the folded sheet, and the mid portion of the sheet having an aperture extending through the sheet for receiving the interconnecting means the releasable coupling means being operative upon actuation of the handle in said one and said other senses to connect and disconnect said handle and said rigid supporting wire, and a clamping plate in juxtaposition to an outer side surface of the folded sponge rubber sheet at said mid portion and extending substantially across the breadth of the folded sponge rubber sheet at the mid portion, the clamping plate being positioned between an end portion of the handle and said outer side surface of the folded sponge rubber sheet at said mid portion, and said plate being rendered effective to clamp said mid portion of the folded sheet to said rigid supporting wire upon the coupling means being rendered effective by the actuation of the handle by the operator in said one sense and to release said clamping action upon the handle being actuated by the operator in said other sense.