WO1994026159A1

WO1994026159A1 - Squeezing device for flat mops

Info

Publication number: WO1994026159A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/001414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Cervellin
Original assignee: Sergio Cervellin
Priority date: 1993-05-07
Filing date: 1994-05-04
Publication date: 1994-11-24
Also published as: AU6795294A; IT231861Y1; ITVE930010U1; ITVE930010V0

Abstract

A squeezing device for flap mops, comprising a structure (1) applicable to a container for the water to be squeezed out and provided with a seat for the insertion of a flat mop (62) and its retention in a position suitable for squeezing, and with a support frame (40) for a presser roller (44) supported by at least two telescopic rods (36, 38) hinged to said structure about a single axis, at least one of said rods being rigid with a lever (26) operable in accordance with a vertical component, characterised by comprising means (56) for sliding the frame (40) relative to the structure side walls (2) along guides (58) extending substantially parallel to the mophead, the presser roller (44) being retained at its ends in a pair of slotted seats (50) provided in the frame (40) and having their ends at different distances from the axis of rotation of the operating lever, that end at the greater distance corresponding to the position occupied by the presser roller (44) during the squeezing stage in which the lever is rotated downwards, and that end at the lesser distance corresponding to the position occupied during the return stage in which the lever is rotated upwards.

Description

SQUEEZING DEVICE FOR FLAT MOPS

This invention relates to a squeezing device for flat mops.

Squeezing devices for flat mops comprising a rigid flat frame with a mophead applied thereto are known. Compared with traditional mops, a flat mop has a larger working face and a substantial rigidity which enables floor cleaning to be effected more rapidly and efficiently.

One known squeezing device comprises, on a support structure, a seat into which a flat mop can be inserted and be retained in a position suitable for squeezing, and a cylindrical presser. The device is provided with means to cause this cylindrical presser to roll along the head of the mop while positioned' in its seat, and to maintain the cylindrical presser adhering elastically against the head with a determined pressure.

However these known devices have certain drawbacks, and in particular:

- they do not ensure a uniform squeezing pressure,

- during the return stage there is difficulty in operating the presser control lever due to the friction of the now squeezed mophead against said presser.

These drawbacks are obviated according to the invention by a squeezing device for flat mops as described in claim 1. The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a squeezing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section ther through; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section therethrough on the line III-

III of Figure 2.

As can be seen from the figures, the squeezing device according to the invention comprises a structure 1 of moulded plastics material, formed from a pair of side walls 2 connected together upperly by a cover 4 comprising a transverse aperture 6 the edges of which are shaped in such a manner as to form two ribs 8.

Each side wall 2 is provided with a downwardly facing vertical appendix 10 for gravity-hooking the device to an edge of a conventional bucket 12 for collecting the water squeezed out.

The two side walls 2 support a shaft 14, the ends of which are housed in corresponding seats 16 provided in the side walls.

One end of the shaft comprises a frusto-conical seat 18 facing an aperture 20 provided in the side wall and with its annular surface comprising toothing 22 cooperating with corresponding annular toothing 24 provided at the end of an operating lever 26 positioned external to the corresponding side wall. A screw 34 maintains the two portions 22 and 24 engaged. The operating lever 26 comprises a tubular portion 28 which engages in an inclined portion 30 and is fixed to this by a pin 32.

Two rods 36 are rigid with the shaft 14 at their lower ends and engage telescopically in two corresponding sleeves 38 of a support frame, indicated overall by 40, and provided with brackets 42 for articulatedly supporting a presser roller 44. The presser roller 44 comprises an aluminium spindle 46 supporting , a finned rigid plastic core covered with thermoplastic rubber with a hardness of about 20 Sh. Specifically, the ends 48 of the spindle 46 engage in slotted seats 50, each formed from two portions set at an angle apart such that one portion extends circumferentially with its centre of curvature on the axis of the shaft 14 and the other portion is inclined downwards in the direction of advancement of the roller during the squeezing stage.

The frame 40 comprises on both sides two seats 52 housing the ends 54 of two roller pins 56 having their other end guided along two horizontal slotted apertures 58 provided in the side walls 2 and protected by a guard 60.

Centrally, said slotted apertures have a slightly curved profile with its concavity facing upwards for the reasons which will be apparent during the description of operation. The operation of the device according to the invention, hooked to the edge of the water collection bucket, is as follows: the position of the lever 26 is firstly adjusted relative to the structure 1 such as to allow ergonomic use by the user operating it. This is done by slackening the screw 34 to release the mutual engagement of the toothed portions 22 and 24, then setting the lever in the most comfortable position and tightening the screw to clamp together the toothed portions 22 and 24. The flat mop 62 comprising the mophead to be squeezed is inserted through the aperture 6 below the shaped cover 4.

After the mop frame is completely housed in the seat and is unable to undergo any tangential movement relative to it by virtue of the presence of the two ribs 8 which engage below the articulated connection 66 of the handle 68 to the flat head, the user grips the lever 26 and rotates it downwards to cause the shaft 14 and the frame 40 fixed to it to rotate. As a result of this rotation the presser roller 44 is compelled to roll via its cylindrical surface along the mophead 64 so squeezing it, this movement also causing the system comprising the rods 36 and sleeves 38 to undergo slight shortening. This shortening is limited by the guided travel of the rollers within the slotted apertures 58, so that in passing from one to the other of the two extreme configurations the roller exerts a virtually constant pressure on the mophead.

On reaching the opposite end-of-travel position defined by the roller pins 56 resting against the lateral edge of the slotted apertures 58, the user repeats the operation in the opposite direction. During this stage the support pin 46 of the squeezing roller 44 engages in the lower end of the inclined portion of the slotted seats 50 so as to advance along an arc of lesser circumferential radius, so that there is no longer any contact with the mophead. The return is also facilitated by the elastic energy returned by a spring 70 positioned coaxial to the shaft 14 and previously loaded during the squeezing stage. From the aforegoing it is apparent that the device of the invention has numerous advantages, and in particular: - it ensures a constant squeezing pressure because of the particular shape of the slotted apertures formed in the side walls;

- it allows easy operation of the lever during squeezing because of the facility for adjusting its inclination;

- it allows easy lever operation during the return stage because of the withdrawal of the presser roller from the mophead.

Claims

C L A I M S 1. A squeezing device for flat mops, comprising a structure (1) applicable to a container for the water to be squeezed out and provided with a seat for the insertion of a flat mop (62) and its retention in a position suitable for squeezing, and with a support frame (40) for a presser roller (44) supported by at least two telescopic rods (36, 38) hinged to said structure about a single axis, at least one of said rods being rigid with a lever (26) operable in accordance with a vertical component, characterised by comprising means (56) for sliding the frame (40) relative to the structure side walls (2) along guides (58) extending substantially parallel to the mophead, the presser roller (44) being retained at its ends in a pair of slotted seats (50) provided in the frame (40) and having their ends at different distances from the axis of rotation of the operating lever, that end at the greater distance corresponding to the position occupied by the presser roller (44) during the squeezing stage in which the lever is rotated downwards, and that end at the lesser distance corresponding to the position occupied during the return stage in which the lever is rotated upwards.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the two telescopic rods (36, 38) are rigid with a common shaft (14) to which the rotation lever (26) is applied.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the frame (40) is provided with guide elements (56) slidable along corresponding substantially horizontal seats (58) provided in the side walls.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the frame (40) is provided with pins (56) slidable along two slotted apertures (58) provided in the side walls.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the slotted apertures (58) have a slight concavity facing upwards.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cover (4) for the -structure (l) comprises two ribs (8) for engaging the flat head (62) of the mop.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the support shaft (14) for the frame (40) is provided with a coil spring (70) loadable during the squeezing stage.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the connection between the shaft (14) and the lever (26) is made by engaging mutually cooperating toothed portions (22, 24) adjustable in their mutual position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the operating lever (26) consists of an off-vertical portion (28) and a portion (30) inclined to this latter.