WO2010141640A1

WO2010141640A1 - Self-spinning mop

Info

Publication number: WO2010141640A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/037142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuhao Shen; Chun-Ming Huang
Original assignee: W-LOK Corp
Current assignee: W-LOK Corp
Priority date: 2009-06-03
Filing date: 2010-06-02
Publication date: 2010-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-03
Also published as: TWM369750U

Abstract

A self-spinning mop includes a stick, a sleeve, a one-way spinning unit, a helical element and a head. The stick is movably inserted in the sleeve. The sleeve includes at least one groove defined in an internal side. The one-way spinning unit includes at least one fin. The one-way spinning unit is connected to the stick so that the one-way spinning unit is movable together with the stick. The one-way spinning unit is located in the sleeve and the fin is located in the groove so that the one-way spinning unit is movably located in the sleeve. A helical element is inserted through the one-way spinning unit so that the helical element is spun by the one-way spinning unit in an intended direction when the spinning unit is reciprocated in the sleeve. The head is connected to the helical element.

Description

Self-Spinning Mop

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority based on a Taiwan patent application No. 098209694 filed on June 3, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a mop and, more particularly, to a self-spinning mop.

2. RELATED PRIOR ART

There are two types of mops. The first type includes a block of sponge for absorbing water before a round of moping, a stick operable to move the block of sponge on a floor, and a squeezing unit operable to squeeze the water out of the block of sponge after the round of moping. It is easy to use the squeezing unit to squeeze the water out of the block of sponge. It is however difficult to use the block of sponge to mop corners of the floor since the block of sponge includes limited flexibility. The second type includes strips of cotton for absorbing water before a round of moping and a stick operable to move the strips of cotton on a floor. It is easy to use the strips of cotton to mop corners of the floor since the strips of cotton includes excellent flexibility. It is however difficult to squeeze the water out of the strips of cotton after the round of mopping. There has been devised a spinning device including a bucket and a pedal.

After a round of mopping, the strips of cotton are located in the bucket, and the i pedal is trodden to spin the bucket and hence the strips of cotton. Thus, the water is spun out of the strips of cotton. The spinning device however costs extra money and occupies a lot of space.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a compact and inexpensive self-spinning mop. To achieve the foregoing objective, the self-spinning mop includes a stick, a sleeve, a one-way spinning unit, a helical element and a head. The stick is movably inserted in the sleeve. The one-way spinning unit is movably located in the sleeve and connected to the stick so that the one-way spinning unit is movable together with the stick in the sleeve. The helical element is inserted through the one-way spinning unit so that the helical element is spun by the one-way spinning unit in an intended direction when the one-way spinning unit is reciprocated in the sleeve. The head is connected to the helical element so that the head can be spun together with the helical element.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a self-spinning mop according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the self-spinning mop shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the self-spinning mop shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the self-spinning mop in another position than shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the self-spinning mop shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a self-spinning mop 100 includes a stick 10, a sleeve 20, a collar 30, a one-way spinning unit 40, a spring 50, a helical element 60, a bushing 70, a head 80 and a joint 90 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The stick 10 includes a first tube 11 , a second tube 12, a joint 13 and a cap 14. The diameter of the first tube 11 is larger than that of the second tube 12. The joint 13 includes a first section fit in the first tube 11 , a second section fit in the second tube 12, and an annular rib 131 formed between the first and second sections. The cap 14 is provided on and around the first tube 11. The cap 14 includes a lug 141 with which the self-spinning mop can be hung on a nail on a wall or the like.

The sleeve 20 includes two grooves 21 longitudinally defined in an internal side. The second tube 12 is movably inserted in the sleeve 20. The second tube 12 can be reciprocated in the sleeve 20.

The collar 30 is provided on and around the sleeve 20. The one-way spinning unit 40 includes a spinning element fit in a one-way bearing. The spinning element is in the form of a disc with a slot defined therein. The one-way bearing includes balls or rollers arranged between internal and external rings. Two fins 41 are longitudinally formed on an external side of the external ring of the one-way bearing. The one-way spinning unit 40 is located in the sleeve 20, with the fins 41 located in the grooves 21. Thus, the external ring of the one-way bearing is movably but not rotationally located in the sleeve 20. The external ring of the one-way bearing includes a reduced portion fit in the second tube 12. A pin, adhesive or punching can be used to enhance the connection of the reduced portion of the external ring of the one-way bearing to the second tube 12.

The spring 50 is located in the sleeve 20. An end of the spring 50 is in contact with the one-way spinning unit 40.

The helical element 61 is located in the sleeve 20. Moreover, the helical element 61 is inserted through the slot of the internal ring of the one-way bearing. The helical element 60 includes a block 61 formed at or connected to an end and an axle 62 formed at or connected to an opposite end.

The bushing 70 is fit in the sleeve 20. An opposite end of the spring 50 is in contact with the bushing 70. Thus, the spring 50 is compressed between the one-way spinning unit 40 and the bushing 70. The axle 62 is inserted through the bushing 70. The bushing 70 can be replaced with a self-lubricating bearing in another embodiment.

The head 80 includes a disc 81 , strips of cotton 82 and a socket 83. The strips of cotton 82 are attached to a lower side of the disc 81. The socket 83 is fit in an aperture centrally defined in the disc 81. The socket 83 includes a recess 831 defined in a lower side.

The joint 90 includes a cavity defined in an upper side and a tunnel horizontally defined therein. The axle 62 is fit in the cavity of the joint 90. A pin, adhesive or punching can be used to enhance the connection of the axle 62 to the joint 90. The join 90 is located between two ears formed on an upper side of the disc 81. A pin is driven in the tunnel of the joint 90 through the ears formed on the upper side of the disc 81. Thus, the angle between the disc 81 and the stick 10 is adjustable.

Before a round of moping, the head 80 is submerged in water so that the strips of cotton 82 absorb water. With the water absorbed by the strips of cotton 82, the self-spinning mop 100 is operated to mop a floor or a wall.

After the round of moping, a tip of a supporting object 91 (FIG. 5) is located in the recess 831 of the socket 83. A downward force is exerted on the stick 10 so that the spring 50 is compressed and that the one-way spinning unit 40 is moved downwards as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The helical element 60 is spun in an intended direction by the one-way spinning unit 40. The axle 62 is spun. The joint 90 is spun. The head 80 is spun. The water is cast out of the strips of cotton 82.

When the downward force is removed, the spring 50 automatically lifts the one-way spinning unit 40 and the stick 10. The one-way spinning unit 40 does not spin the helical element 60 and the head 80 in a direction opposite to the intended direction but allows the spinning of the helical element 60 and the head 80 in the intended direction.

The downward and upward movement of the one-way spinning unit 40 can be repeated several times to continue to accelerate the spinning of the helical element 60 of the head 80 in the intended direction. Thus, the spinning of the head 80 can reach an extent to effectively cast the water from the strips of cotton 80. A user does not have to exert an upward force on the stick 10. That is, the user can conveniently use only one hand to operate the self-spinning mop 100 to cast the water from the head 80. The upward movement of the stick 10 and therefore the one-way spinning unit 40 is limited by abutment of the block 61 against the one-way spinning unit 40. The downward movement of the stick 10 and hence the one-way spinning unit 40 is limited by abutment of the annular rib 131 of the joint 13 against the collar 30. Thus, excessive compression of the spring 50 and damage of the other elements are avoided. The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A self-spinning mop including: a stick 10 operable by a user; a sleeve 20 movably provided around the stick 10; a one-way spinning unit 40 movably located in the sleeve 20 and connected to the stick 10 so that the one-way spinning unit 40 is movable together with the stick 10 in the sleeve 20; a helical element 60 inserted through the one-way spinning unit 40 so that the helical element 60 is spun by the one-way spinning unit 40 in an intended direction when the one-way spinning unit 40 is reciprocated in the sleeve 20; and a head 80 connected to the helical element 60 so that the head 80 can be spun together with the helical element 60.

2. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , including a collar 30 provided on and around the sleeve 20.

3. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , wherein the stick 10 includes a first tube 11 , a second tube 12, and a joint 13 for connecting the first tube 11 to the second tube 12.

4. The self-spinning mop according to claim 3, wherein the joint 13 includes an annular rib 131 located between the first and second tubes 11 , 12.

5. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , including a cap 14 provided on and around the stick 10.

6. The self-spinning mop according to claim 5, wherein the cap 14 includes a lug 141 formed thereon.

7. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , including a spring 50 compressed between a portion of the sleeve 20 and the one-way spinning unit 40.

8. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , including an axle 62 connected to the helical element 60.

9. The self-spinning mop according to claim 8, including a bushing 70 fit in the sleeve 20, wherein the axle 62 is inserted through the bushing 70.

10. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , including a block 61 connected to the helical element 60, wherein the movement of the one-way spinning unit 40 in a direction is limited by the block 61.

11. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , wherein the head 80 includes a disc 81 connected to the helical element 60 and strings of cotton 82 connected to the disc 81.

12. The self-spinning mop according to claim 11 , wherein the head 80 includes a socket 83 connected to a center of the disc 81 , wherein a tip of a supporting element 91 can be located in the socket 83 to smooth the spinning of the head 80.

13. The self-spinning mop according to claim 11 , including a joint 90 for pivotally connecting the disc 81 to the helical element 60.

14. The self-spinning mop according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve 20 includes at least one groove 21 defined in an internal side, wherein the one-way spinning unit 40 includes at least one fin 41 formed thereon, wherein the fin 41 is movably located in the groove 21.