AU727066B2 - Sponge mop attaching device - Google Patents

Description

46723 DP:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: SABCO AUSTRALIA LIMITED

S

Name of inventor: GREGORY CLEGG SPOONER Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 *3S*S.

Invention Title: SPONGE MOP ATTACHING DEVICE Details of Associated Provisional Applications: P03154 dated 24th October 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sponge mop and, in particular to an improved means for attaching a replaceable sponge pad to a sponge mop.

Sponge mops including replaceable sponge pads have been known for many years. Typically the sponge mop includes a handle, a squeeze mechanism and a sponge pad. The squeeze mechanism is usually operated by a grip which is slidably mounted on the mop handle, or alternatively a lever/rod mechanism. The operator of the mop is therefore able to squeeze the mop by moving the grip 1 0 down the handle towards the mop head which causes the squeeze mechanism to fold the sponge pad along an axis parallel to one side of the mop, squeezing two opposing sides of the pad together thereby extracting water held in the sponge pad. To assist in operation of the mop, the sponge pad is usually spring biased into an open position leaving the pad available for use and thus, the operator is t required to work against the spring in closing the pad in the squeezing operation.

In many cases the sponge pad is a rectangular element, and the sponge pad can be folded along either a long axis or a short axis. For reasons of efficiency, folding of the sponge pad along the short axis is preferred, the mop being known as a butterfly mop in this instance.

4* 20 In some cases the replaceable sponge pads are attached to the mop head by means of upstanding threaded studs attached to a backing plate on the sponge pad. The sponge pad is placed against a lowermost surface of the mop head such that the studs can be located in apertures provided in the mop head and secured by nuts on the upper side of the mop head or alternatively, plastic studs S2 5 may be located in a threaded hole. One or more stud connections are normally S* provided on either side of the fold axis of the sponge pad. Other methods of sponge attachment are also available.

The process of removing a used sponge pad and attaching a replacement pad requires the used pad to be disengaged by unscrewing the nuts and separating the pad from the mop head by pulling downwardly on the pad, or by pressing the studs through the apertures in the mop head. This process has been criticised by users of mops. The space provided on the mop head is not large and the mop handle can interfere with easy handling of the sponge pad. Some dexterity is therefore required to complete the task.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the public with a sponge mop which incorporates an alternative method of securing a sponge pad to a mop head.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of securing a sponge pad to a mop head which does not require the use of threaded stud connectors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sponge mop characterised in that it comprises: a mop head attached to one end of a shaft, the shaft including a grip handle slidably received thereon; a squeeze mechanism extending from the mop head to the grip handle, the squeeze mechanism being adapted to be operated in response to movement of the grip handle along the shaft; o*o.

15 the mop head comprising a base member including a pad securing means adapted to secure a sponge pad to the mop head, said base member having two portions pivoted to each other whereby the sponge pad can be *moved from an open position to a closed position; 0 the pad securing means being movable between an engaged position in which the sponge pad is attached to the mop head, and a disengaged position in which the sponge pad is released from the mop head; the mop head further including means for resiliently biasing the pad securing means into the engaged position, wherein the means for resiliently biasing the pad securing means into the engaged position further serves as a means for biasing the sponge pad into an open position.

By using a biased pad securing means the sponge pad can be engaged and released by bringing appropriate pressure to bear on the biasing means.

Moreover, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a biasing spring used to bias the sponge pad into an open position for use as described above can also act as a means of biasing a pad securing means into the engaged position.

Thus, the invention may further comprise a pad securing means in the form of a clip having an integrally formed hinge located at one end thereof, the clip being provided with a tongue adapted to engage an upstanding hook on a sponge pad to form a secure connection to the sponge pad in the engaged position and being retractable to the disengaged position in which the clip and sponge pad are not connected, the resilient biasing means acting on the clip so as to maintain the clip with the tongue engaging the upstanding hooks on the sponge pad.

S 9 9 In a preferred form of the invention the pad securing member comprises a pair of clips, each clip having an integral hinge arranged on sides of the mop head, a single, centrally located biasing spring serving to connect the securing clips. The sponge pad is then conveniently removed by a user in a two handed operation.

Preferably the securing clip is formed of a material with a low coefficient of friction and the ability to be moulded with an integral hinge, for example nylon or polypropylene.

Preferably, the pad securing means is adapted to be fitted in the mop head and forms a part of an outer surface of the mop head, the clip including adjacent one 1 0 end thereof an integrally formed hinge, and being attached at a remaining end to the resilient biasing means, an outer part of the clip being able to bear against the mop head and pivot about the integrally formed hinge and thereby causing a retraction of the biasing means and consequent disengagement of the tongue of the clip from the hooks on the sponge pad, thereby releasing the sponge pad.

15 Preferably, the clip comprises a flat base and an upstanding external tab located at one end thereof, an inner wall of the tab forming the integral hinge with the base, and an outer surface of the tab being shaped to fit a shape of the mop head when the clip is in the engaged position, the clip further including attachment means for a spring being formed at an inner end thereof, the tongue extending 2 0 into a partially cut out portion of the flat base.

Preferably, the mop head includes a shroud, a cover and a hinge base, the cover corresponding to the size of the sponge pad an including a pair of slots therein cut into opposing sides of the cover, each slot being adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped external tab of a clip, the cover further including a raised central spine including a channel adapted to receive a centrally located spring, each end of the spring being secured to a respective clip, the spring being arranged so as to bear against the squeeze mechanism so as to bias the sponge pad into an open position.

The invention also comprises a sponge pad adapted for use with a sponge mop as described above, and therefore, according to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sponge pad including a sponge element and a backing plate attached thereto, the backing plate including one or more upstanding hooks retractably connectable to a pad securing member.

Advantageously, the sponge pad may also include one or more upstanding studs 3 5 for connection to conventional mop heads, the studs also serving as a means to locate the sponge pad accurately on the mop head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying representations in which: FIG 1 illustrates in perspective view a sponge mop and attached sponge pad in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention; FIG 2 illustrates the mop of FIG 1 with the sponge pad detached from the mop; FIG 3 shows the mop head of the sponge mop of FIG 1 in front view and 1 0 in part sectional view; oFIG 4 shows the mop head of the sponge mop of FIG 1 in crosssectional side view; FIG 5 illustrates in cross sectional side view the mop head of the sponge mop of FIG 1 with the pad securing member in a disengaged position; FIG 6 shows schematically the pad securing member and pad element; and FIG 7 represents the sponge mop of FIG 1 in a squeezed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a squeeze mop 10 formed in accordance with the present invention. The squeeze mop 10 includes a shaft 12, mop head 14 and squeeze linkage 16. The squeeze linkage is connected at an upper end to a grip handle (not shown) slidably received on the shaft 12. Attached to the mop head 14 is a sponge pad 18. The mop head 14 and sponge pad 18 are of rectangular shape.

As can be seen in the drawings the mop head 14 is composed of a number of separate elements and includes a shroud 20, cover 22 and hinge base 26, the cover 22 and hinge base 26 formed in one piece. The shroud 20 incorporates a raised central socket 28 which receives the shaft 12, walls of the socket forming an interference fit with the shaft 12 to thereby secure the shaft in position. The shroud 20 also includes a lowermost skirt 30 which extends outwardly and downwardly from the socket 28 over the mop head.

Detail of the cover 22 can be seen most clearly in FIG 7. The cover 22 corresponds in size to the sponge pad 18, being rectangular, and includes a pair of opposed slots 34 which are located one on each of the short sides of the cover 22. Aligned with each of the slots 34 is a respective aperture 36, each aperture 36 being spaced inwardly from the slots 34. The cover 22 also includes a raised 1 0 central spine 38 and lower stepped portions 40 located on either side of the rib 38. The spine 40 forms a hinge about which the mop head 14 and attached sponge pad 18 can be folded in a squeezing action.

An open channel 42 formed in the spine 40 is aligned with the slots 34 and apertures 36. The channel 42 houses a biasing spring 44, each end of the biasing spring 44 terminating in a hooked section A respective sponge pad securing means in the form of a securing clip 46 is disposed between the cover 22 and the hinge base 26 on either side of the spine 38. Each securing clip 46 includes flat base 48 having an upstanding externally visible tab 50 located at one end thereof and a hook 52 located at an inner end 20 thereof. The external tab 50 is integrally formed with the base 48, an inner wall of the tab 50 forming an integral hinge 56 with the base 48. A curved outer portion 58 of the tab 50 extends from the upper end of the inner wall. A tongue extends partially into a cut out portion 47 formed the base 48. At least a part of the cut out portion 47 remains clear.

25 The pad securing clips 46 are located in the mop head 14 beneath the cover 22 such that the outer portion of the 58 of the external tabs 50 fit snugly into the slots 34 and the hooks 52 interlock with terminal hooks 45 on the biasing spring 44.

Moreover, the tongue 60 of each pad securing element is located directly beneath a respective aperture 36.

3 0 The underside of the hinge base 26 is shown in FIG 2. The hinge base 26 is formed in one with the cover 22 by means not shown. There are a pair of spaced furrows 62 formed in the base 26, the furrows 62 extending between long sides of the hinge base 26. The furrows 62 are positioned so as to lie on either side of the spine 38 and act as hinge points for the closing of the mop head 14 as shown in FIG 7. The hinge base 26 also provides anchoring points for the sponge pad 18 in the form of slot 64 and sockets 66. The slots 64 are located in the hinge base so as to lie directly beneath a respective tongue 60 of a pad securing member 46.

The sponge pad 18 comprises a sponge 68 of corresponding shape to the mop head 14 and a backing plate 70. The backing plate 70 is fused to the sponge 68 by known techniques.

The backing plate include a central web 72 which in use is sufficiently flexible to allow the sponge 68 to be folded in use as shown in FIG 7. The web 72 connects four backing plate sections 74, each section 74 occupying a corner of the sponge 1 0 68. An upstanding stud 76 is formed on each backing plate section 74, the studs 76 fitting into the sockets 66 in use.

The backing plate 70 also includes a pair of spaced upstanding hooks 78. The hooks 78 are insertable into a respective slotted aperture 64. The hooks 78 and tongue 60 together form a means of attachment for the pad 18 to the mop head 15 14.

Thus, in use, a sponge pad 18 is firstly placed against the underside of the hinge base 26 with the hooks 78 and studs 76 correctly located in the slotted apertures 64 and sockets 66. To connect the sponge pad 18 to the mop head 14 the external tabs 50 of the pad securing clips 46 are rotated upwardly about the integral hinge 56 and brought to bear against an inner wall of the cover 22 as shown in FIG 5. By doing so the pad securing clips 46 are retracted outwardly against the biasing spring 44 in the direction indicated by the arrow on FIG 6. In this position the cut out portions 47 are positioned such that the clear position not occupied by the tongue 60 is coincident with the slotted apertures 64 allowing the 2 5 hooks 78 to pass through the cut out portions 47. Whilst the use of the hinge 56 facilitates the disengagement of the pad 18 from the mop head 14, it will be appreciated that nothing more than a simple retraction of the clip 46.

When the pressure on the tabs 50 is released the biasing spring 44 returns the pad securing clip to the original position and the tongue 60 is received in the 3 0 hooks 78 securing the sponge pad 18 in the mop head 14.

The mop 10 is now able to be used and the mop head squeezed where necessary to remove water therefrom. In the squeezed position, linkage wires are pivoted around their sockets in the spine 38 and close the mop head on furrows 8 62 formed in the hinge base 26. The biasing spring 44 is used in this instance to return the mop head 14 to the open position. However, when the mop head 14 is in the closed position the pad securing clip 46 is not affected being maintained in the engaged position by the inner wall of the external tab 50 bearing against the inner wall of the cover 22. Thus the action of the biasing spring 44 in the release and engagement of the sponge pad 18 is independent of the action of the biasing spring in the opening and closing of the mop head 14 in use.

Modifications and variations of the present invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

*A 9 .9 *a a°

Claims (9)

1. A sponge mop characterised in that it comprises: a mop head attached to one end of a shaft, the shaft including a grip handle slidably received thereon; a squeeze mechanism extending from the mop head to the grip handle, the squeeze mechanism being adapted to be operated in response to movement of the grip handle along the shaft; the mop head comprising a base member including a pad securing S. 10 means adapted to secure a sponge pad to the mop head, said base member having two portions pivoted to each other whereby the sponge pad can be moved from an open position to a closed position; a.. the pad securing means being movable between an engaged position in which the sponge pad is attached to the mop head, and a disengaged position in which the sponge pad is released from the mop head; the mop head further including means for resiliently biasing the pad securing means into the engaged position, wherein the means for resiliently biasing the pad securing means into the engaged position further serves as a means for biasing the sponge pad into an open position.

2. A sponge mop according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sponge pad securing means is provided with attachment means able to form a secure connection to a sponge pad when the clip is in the engaged position and able to be disconnected when the clip is moved into the disengaged position.

3. A sponge mop according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterised in that the pad securing means comprises a clip having an integrally formed hinge located at one end thereof, the clip being provided with a tongue adapted to engage an upstanding hook on a sponge pad to form a secure connection to the sponge pad in the engaged position and being retractable to the PA disengaged position in which the clip and sponge pad are not connected, the resilient biasing means acting on the clip so as to maintain the clip with the tongue engaging the upstanding hooks on the sponge pad.

4. A sponge mop according to claim 3, in which the pad securing means is adapted to be fitted in the mop head and forms a part of an outer surface of the mop head, the clip including adjacent one end thereof an integrally formed hinge, and being attached at a remaining end to the resilient biasing means, an outer part of the clip being able to bear against the mop head and pivot about the integrally formed hinge and thereby causing a retraction of the biasing means and consequent disengagement of the tongue of the clip from the hooks on the sponge pad, thereby releasing the sponge pad. .i 0*o0

5. A sponge mop according to any one of claims 3-4, in which the clip comprises a flat base and an upstanding external tab located at one end thereof, an inner wall of the tab forming the integral hinge with the base, and an outer surface O •0 of the tab being shaped to fit a shape of the mop head when the clip is in the engaged position, the clip further including attachment means for a spring being formed at an inner end thereof, the tongue extending into a partially cut out portion of the flat base.

6. A sponge mop according to claim 5 in which the mop head includes a shroud, a cover and a hinge base, the cover corresponding to the size of the 20 sponge pad and including a pair of slots therein cut into opposing sides of the cover, each slot being adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped external tab of a clip, the cover further including a raised central spine including a channel adapted to receive a centrally located spring, each end of the spring being secured to a respective clip, the spring being arranged so as to bear against the squeeze mechanism so as to bias the sponge pad into an open position.

7. A sponge mop according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sponge mop is a butterfly mop having a rectangular shaped mop head and being arranged to be foldable along a central spine aligned between shorter sides thereof, the sponge mop including a pair or spaced apart pad securing members located one on either side of the central spine.

8. A sponge pad when used with a sponge mop according to any one of claims 1-7, the sponge pad including on an upper surface thereof means for 11 engaging the sponge pad to the pad securing means.

9. A sponge pad according to claim 8 in which the sponge pad includes a pair of spaced upstanding hooks formed on the upper surface thereof, the hooks each being shaped so as to receive a tongue from a pad securing clip therein to thereby secure the pad against the sponge mop. A sponge mop substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 27th day of September 2000 SABCO AUSTRALIA LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO S