US2670488A - Foldable mop - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 w. H. RICHARDS AL ,670,4

FOLDABLE MOP Filed April 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

W. HRICHARDS & W.F RICHARDS.

ATTORNEY INVENTORS March 2, 1954 w. H. RICHARDS ET AL FOLDABLE MOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1952 INVENTORS W. H. RlcHAR us ATTORNEY a, W, FRI HARDS lll |||||| Ill:

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Patented Mar. 2, 1954 STATES PAT EINT OFFICE FOLDABLE MOP Williamllz- Richardsand WiliiamJF. Richards, Rehoboth, Deli AppiioationApril f5, 195.2, SeriaFNo'. 2823367 (01. Ha -T19 2- Claims; 1 Our invention relates to scrub mops;

primary object of the'invention is to providea: scrub mop embodying a fol'ciabl'e mophead which greatly facilitates squeezing liquid from the absorbent scrubbing element of the'mop.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a cleaning or scrubbing device having a novel adj'nst'able handle'whi'ch" enables the device to be used for a Wide variety of purposes, such as scrubbing fioorsand windows; and cleaning under low'o'bjects'such as? radiators and the like:

A further object istc provide a cleaning device or" mop" of the" ab'ov'e mentioned character which has a readily detachable. handle, whereby the device may be usedeither as a long handle mop or" as a hand-scrubbing: implement.

A further object is'to provide a mop assembly having. an adjustable handle which may be raised and lowered and also turned with respect to the mopih'ead and releasably locked in the selected. adjusted'position.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to pro-- vide a device of the above-mentioned. character which is sturdy and durable, simplified and economical in construction and reliable in" operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the: following description.

In the accompanying; drawings forming apart of this application and in which like numerals are employed" to designate like parts, throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of'a mop o'r' scrubbing device embodying our" invention, part: broken away,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3' is an end elevation of:them-op;-

Figure 4 is a central vertical section on line" f-ofi=igare 2,

Figure 5. is" a fragmentary rear side elevation O'f'the mop,

Figurefi is a fragmentaryplanview of the's'a'me with the adjustable handle assembly removed,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the mop with the handle extending longitudinally of the mophead and arranged in the lowered or horizontal position', and,

Figure 8" is a side elevation of the map as" i-llustrated in Figure? and showing in clotted lines the operation of the folda'b'le mop-head for eX- pel-lm the liquid from the absorbent element of them'op;

In thed'rawines, Wherefor the purpose of'il' lustrati'onis shown. a preferred embodiment of 2? orally a fold'abl'emophead or body portion which is" elongate-c1- and rectangular, as shoWn.-- The" mophead it; comprises an elongated rectangular block or pad H, preferably formed of cell'ulos'ic sponge material, or' the like. The sponge block l"l-' is preferably of substantial thickness and'may' be approximately an inch and one-quarter thick, althou h this thickness ma be varied as desired. pair of separate substantially Hatand rigid backingfplatesl2 and I 3 are fixedly secured to the top of the sponge block H" by means of waterproof cement, or the like, and these" backing plates are generally rectangular and cover the I major portion of the area of the top of the spongeblock l t, as shown. The backing plate'sl'Z and be provided at their opposite sides with short depending flanges Hi, integral therewith and extending downwardly for a short distance over the sides of the sponge block i 5. These flanges M add rigidity to the backing plates l2- and" i3; and further aid in firmly securing the sponge block to the backing plates. 'Ihe'opposit'e ends of theelong'ated sponge block H preferably" project a slight distance beyond the-outer ends of the backing plates 52 and ii, to prevent mar riiig or scratching of furniture and the likedur ing" the" operation of the mop, since the spongeblock is soft andpli'able.

Theinn'er ends of the backin plates [2' and I 3 are spaced apart longitudinally, and hingelinucicl'es F5 are formed upon the inner ends of the backing plates near the" longitudinal sides of the same, and integral therewith. The hinge knuckles l5 project abovethe to faces of" the" backingplat'es i2 and i3, as shown.

the pairs of knuckles i Siori'nedupon the backing plates. The adapter it further compriseselon gated longitudinal extensions it" at the ops-o site sides of the same and formed integral with the central portion -1- and extending lor'ig'itii dirial ly outwardly of the hinge knuckles- [-5 for substantial distances, as shown". The outer ends of the extensions it) are" d.'ownturnecl to provide short depending legs or stops 29 integral therewith and adapted to engage the tops of the back irrglates F2 to limit the upward movement of our"- invention, the numeral- 1 6* *clesignates gen- W tiresame: Transverse hingepins zl are-received- 3 by the interfitting knuckles l5 and I8, for hingedly securing the backing plates [2 and [3 to the adapter [6.

The arrangement is such that the mophead III is foldable downwardly from the adapter 16 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, for compressing and squeezing the sponge block H to expel water or the like from the same. The depending stops 28 prevent the backing plates l2 from swinging above the horizontal positions shown in Figures 2 and 8 during the use of the mop.

Our readily detachable and adjustable handle assembly 22 comprises a generally flat rigid base or mounting plate 23, slidably mounted upon the top of the adapter [6 and detachably pivotally connected therewith by an upwardly directed bolt or screw 24,- engaging through registering openings 25 and 26, formed centrally within the adapter portion IT and mounting plate 23, Figure 4. The bolt 24 is provided above the mounting plate 23 with a washer 2! and a winged nut 28 or the like, adjustable for releasably securing the handle assembly 22 in the selected adjusted position relative to the mophead H].

The handle mounting plate 23 has a rear integral flat extension 29, projecting horizontally beyond the rear side of the mounting plate 23, and the rear end of the extension 29 is downturned to form a short depending flange or stop 30. This flange 30 is adapted to engage either longitudinal edge 3! of the adapter [6, or either end of the same adjacent to the: depending stops 20, when the winged nut 28 is loosened sufficiently to permit turning of the mounting plate 23 upon the adapter H5. The arrangement is such that the mounting plate 23 may be turned a full 360 degrees relative to the adapter l6 and releasably locked in any one of four positions, each 90 degrees apart, by means of the engagement of the depending flange 3D with either longitudinal edge 3| or with either end of the adapter I 6. The depending flange 30 is long enough to bridge the gap between the longitudinal extensions l9, Figure 6, when the handle asembly 22 is adjusted to extend longitudinally of the mophead to. When the winged nut 28 is tightened against the mounting plate 23, the same is forced into tight engagement with the top of the adapter IB, and the depending flange 30 then locks the handle assembly 22 against pivotal or turning movement relative to the mophead Ill. The handle assembly 22 is therefore pivotally adjustable relative to the mophead it so that the handle may extend either transversely or longitudinally of the mophead, from either side or end of the same.

The mounting plate 23 is provided at its forward end with an integral transverse hinge knuckle 32, disposed above the mounting plate and extending for the full width thereof. At its rear end, the mounting plate 23 has a pair of transversely spaced hinge knuckles 33, integral therewith and disposed forwardly of the extension 29 and depending flange 30. A mop handle 34 of any desired length is provided at its lower end with a plate extension or web 35, rigidly secured thereto by screws 36 or the like and this plate extension is provided at its lower end with a hinge knuckle 37, integral therewith and interfitting with the hinge knuckles 33 of the mounting plate 23. A pin 38 is received by the interfitting knuckles 33 and 31, and serves to hingedly secure the lower end of the handle 34 to the handle mounting plate 23.

Means are provided to adjust the angle of the mop handle 34 from substantially vertical to sub;

4 stantially horizontal positions. Such means comprises a bail 39 of a stiff wire or the like, including upwardly converging sides 4|, formed at their upper ends to provide a transverse bar or latch element 42 having eyes or loops 43 at its opposite ends, and integral therewith. The lower ends of the sides 4! are bent to form short inwardly directed extensions 40, pivotally engaging within the ends of the forward knuckle 32, and removable therefrom by merely flexing the sides 4| outwardly. The bar 42 is adapted to selectively engage within transverse slots or notches 44, formed in the forward side of the handle 34 near its lower end. A retractable coil spring 45 surrounds the rear side of the handle 34 and has its opposite ends secured to the eyes 43 of the wire bail 39. The spring 45 serves to releasably secure the bar 42 within the selected one of the notches 44. By raising the wire bail 39 slightly against the force of the spring 45, the bar or latch element 42 may be readily shifted to any one of the notches 44, to thus change the angle of the handle 34 relative to the mophead l0, as desired. The arrangement is such that when the bar 42 engages the uppermost notch 44, the handle 34 is substantially vertical or perpendicular to the mophead l0, and when the bar a 42 engages the lowermost notch 44, the handle is substantially horizontal or parallel to the mophead Hl, as shown in Figures '7 and 8.

With the above described arrangement for adjusting the angle of the handle 34 through a full degrees, and coupled with the pivotal adjustment of the handle assembly relative to the mophead IB, by means of the winged nut 28, locking flange 33 and associated elements, the mop is well adapted for use in a wide variety of cleaning operations. For example, with the handle 34 fully lowered and substantially horizontal, Figure 8, and the assembly 22 adjusted to extend longitudinally of the mophead I 0, the device is very handy for scrubbing under low radiators or other low pieces of furniture or the like. In other angularly adiusted positions of the handle 34, and with the handle assembly 22 extending transversely of the mophead I0, Figures 1 and 3, the mop is obviously capable of a wide variety of cleaning and scrubbing uses, such as scrubbing floors, washing windows or the like. It should also be mentioned that the sponge mop is also ideal for applying liquid wax or the like to floors, linoleum and the like.

Various component parts of the mop may be made from any desired material, although it is preferred to make the various parts such as they backing plates l2 and I3, adapter i6 and mounting plate 23 from sheet metal, such as aluminum or the like. While the pad or block I I has been described as a cellulosic sponge block, it should also be understood that any other absorbent pliable scrubbing element may be used, such as sponge rubber, sheepskin or the like.

It is to be understood that the form of our i vention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A mop comprising a compressible scrubbing pad, substantially rigid backing plate sections secured to a side of the scrubbing pad and covering a major portion of said side and being pro-- de? at r es dm nd th in e r a.

substantially rigid adapter arranged above the backing plate sections and having hinge parts interfitting with the hinge parts of the backing plate sections, pins engaging the hinge parts of the adapter and backing plate sections for hingedly connecting the same and allowing the backing plate sections to swing together in generally parallel relation forcompressing the scrubbing pad, the adapter engaging the backing plate sections when the same are longitudinally extended to prevent them frorii swinging in one direction, a mounting plate slidably mounted upon the adapter and having a flange selectively engageable with different sides of the adapter to releasably secure the mounting plate against turning movement relative to the adapter, adjustable bolt means connecting the adapter and mounting plate and permitting disengagement of the flange and difierent sides of the adapter, a handle hingedly connected with the mounting plate for angular adjustment relative thereto, and adjustable means connected with the handle to releasably lock the same in the selected angularly adjusted position.

2. A mop comprising a compressible scrubbing pad, backing plate sections secured to one side of the scrubbing pad and being provided at corresponding ends with hinge parts, an adapter plate arranged above the backing plate sections and having hinge parts interfltting with the hinge parts of the backing plate sections, pins engaging said hinge parts of the adapter plate and backing plate sections and hingedly connecting the same and allowing the backing plate sections to. swing together in generally parallel relation for compressing the scrubbing pad, the adapter plate engaging the backing plate sections when the same are longitudinally extended and preventing them from swinging in one direction, a mounting plate slidably mountedupon the adapter plate and having a flange selectively engageable with different sides of the adapter plate to releasably secure the mounting plate against turning relative to the adapter plate, adjustable bolt means connecting the adapter plate and mounting plate and permitting disengagement of said flange and different sides of the adapter plate, and a handle connected with the mounting plate.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDS.

WILLIAM F. RICHARDS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 911,791 Whitney Feb. 9, 1909 1,344,256 Blackman June 22, 1920 2,310,011 Cave et a1 Feb. 2, 1943 2,637,059 Vosbikian et al May 5, 1953 2,643,407 Vosbikian et a1. June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 463,790 Canada Mar. 21, 1950 466,474 Canada July 11, 1950

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