Wiper

Abstract

A mop includes a handle; a sliding sleeve slidingly disposed longitudinally on the handle and including a sleeve housing having a first side face, a second side face and an opening, the squeeze housing being movable from a mopping position to squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve; and a mopping device disposed at a bottom end of the handle and having a mop-head plate and a cleaning pad, the mop-head plate having two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings foldable toward one another and pressable against each other and at least partially introducible into the opening in response to the sliding of the sliding sleeve into the squeezing position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 041 640.4, filed Sep. 17, 2009.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a mop having a handle and a mopping device mounted at the bottom end of the handle that includes a mop-head plate and a cleaning pad, as well as a sliding sleeve, which is slidingly mounted on the handle in the longitudinal direction thereof and which has a squeezing device that is movable from a mopping position to a squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve, the mop-head plate having two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings that are foldable toward one another and pressable against each other in response to a sliding of the squeezing device into the squeezing position.

BACKGROUND

A mop of the type mentioned at the outset is known, for example, from the European Patent Application EP 1 208 788 A1. The known mop has a handle and a sliding sleeve that is slidingly mounted on the handle in the longitudinal direction thereof. At least two pressure arms project from the sliding sleeve toward a mopping device mounted at the bottom handle end, the mopping device having a mop-head plate having two mop-head plate wings that are pivotable between a mopping position and a wringing position and that have a cleaning pad. When the sliding sleeve is slid toward the mopping device, the mop-head plate wings swing against each other in response to the action of the pressure arms. The pressure arms slide over the mop-head plate wings, pressing them against each other to wring out the cleaning pad located therebetween. For alignment of the mop-head plate wings when they are drawn in between the pressure arms, the printed publication provides for grooves to serve as guide devices at the inner surfaces of the pressure arms into which associated protuberances on the mop-head plate wings engage.

On the one hand, it is a disadvantage of the known mop that the pressure arms must be mechanically very stable to withstand the counterforce exerted by the mop-head plates when they are pressed against each other. This entails a greater material expenditure. On the other hand, the above described guide devices also entail additional outlay for manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides an improved design for a mop of the known type that will make it simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture and that will offer advantages in terms of ease of handling.

The mop according to the present invention has a handle and a mopping device, which is mounted at the bottom end of the handle and has a mop-head plate and a cleaning pad, as well as a sliding sleeve, which is slidingly mounted on the handle in the longitudinal direction thereof and has a squeezing device. The squeezing device is movable from a mopping position to a squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve. The mop-head plate has two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings that are foldable toward one another and pressable against each other in response to a sliding of the squeezing device into the squeezing position. In the case of the mop described above, the present invention provides that the squeezing device be designed as a squeeze housing which has side faces and an opening facing the mopping device through which the folded-together mop-head plate wings are at least partially introducible into the squeeze housing.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the squeeze housing corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the folded-together mop-head plate wings, respectively, is somewhat smaller than the same in order to provide greater squeezing pressure. As a result of this measure, the opening of the squeeze housing forms a squeezing gap having mutually opposing pressing surfaces, through whose action, pressure is exertable onto the folded-together mop-head plate wings upon introduction of the same into the squeeze housing. It is well within the grasp of one skilled in the art to select suitable dimensions as a function of the cleaning pad used.

In the preferred embodiment described above for a mop, the squeeze housing has the shape of a flattened body having two wide side faces (oriented in parallel to the surfaces of the folded-together mop-head plate wings) and two narrow side faces (oriented perpendicularly to the surfaces of the folded-together mop-head plate wings).

The mop according to the present invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Since, in its squeezing position, the squeeze housing surrounds the mop on all sides, the mop-head plate is automatically aligned when it is pulled into the squeeze housing, independently of the angular position of the mop-head plate when it strikes against the opening. This eliminates the need for using guide elements, as are provided under the related art described above.

In addition, the squeeze housing may have an aesthetically very pleasing design, for example, by providing cutouts at appropriate locations to open up the general appearance. A further benefit of such cutouts is that they not only provide a material savings and thus also lead to a weight reduction, but they also facilitate access to surfaces that are otherwise difficult to clean.

In contrast to the pressure arms known from the related art, which essentially only exert pressure on the mop-head plate wings by punctual contact, in the case of the pressing surfaces bounding the squeezing gap, the pressure is distributed over a greater surface area, namely over an essentially strip-shaped area that covers the entire mop-head plate wing surface in the transversal direction. This reduces the expenditure of force required for folding the mop-head plate wings toward one another and pressing them against each other.

The pressing gap is fixed in its width in a simple manner by the lateral bounding surfaces configured perpendicularly to the pressing surfaces, without requiring any special outlay for material to increase mechanical stability.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, pressure rollers are provided at the pressing surfaces of the squeezing gap. This reduces the friction produced when the mopping device is introduced into the squeezing gap.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pressure rollers are supported in elongated holes, the distance between two elongated holes, which are configured opposite one another, tapering upwardly. Due to the frictional forces, a mopping device introduced into the squeezing gap entrains the pressure rollers upwardly, whereby, due to the conical orientation of the elongated holes, the distance between the pressure rollers, which are mounted opposite one another, and, thus, the width of the squeezing gap, is increasingly reduced. Here, the advantage is derived that, upon introduction of the mopping device, the squeezing pressure is increased successively toward the bottom end of the plate wings, thereby achieving an improved wringing result.

In addition, means may be provided which effect a 90° rotation of the squeeze housing in response to each back and forth sliding between the squeezing position and the mopping position. In the squeezing position, the squeeze housing is oriented by its greatest linear elongation, namely the wider side faces, whose width corresponds at least to the width of a plate wing, in the mopping direction. This may have a detrimental effect when mopping underneath cabinets or the like, when the handle of the mop is to be guided at a very flat angle relative to the surface of the floor to be cleaned. Perpendicularly thereto, the linear elongation may be kept substantially smaller since the distance between the pressure rollers must not be greater than the thickness of the two folded-together mop-head plate wings. This distance corresponds to the width of the narrower side faces. A 90° rotation of the squeeze housing in response to the sliding from the squeezing position to the mopping position brings the squeeze housing to the mopping position with its greatest linear elongation disposed perpendicularly to the mopping direction, while only the narrower side face still extends in the mopping direction. One skilled in the art knows generally how to effect such a rotation, for example, through the use of a threaded groove in the handle and a corresponding guide element that engages therein on the inner wall of the sliding sleeve.

To further reduce the expenditure of force when squeezing out the mopping device, the mop-head plate top sides may be provided with a material having reduced sliding friction, for example, a PTFE or POM coating.

In addition, ramp regions may be provided on the backs of the mop-head plate wings to produce a pressure profile analogously to the above described configuration of the elongated holes in which the pressure rollers are supported. Such ramp regions also effect a pressure increase on the mop-head plate wings when the mopping device is introduced into the squeezing gap.

An especially simple manipulation is ensured for the cleaning process using a mop in accordance with the present invention when the mopping device is mounted in an articulated manner on the handle end. In this case, a cardan joint is preferably used. The lateral swiveling movements that are advantageous for the mopping process are thereby made readily possible. In one especially preferred specific embodiment, a center piece is provided between the mopping device and the handle as the articulated connection on which the mop-head plate wings are also mounted so as to be pivotable toward each other.

In addition, squeeze housing may be configured at its bottom end to serve as a base surface for the mop.

With regard to the cleaning pads used, there are no limitations whatsoever. Any cleaning pads may be used that are suited and/or typically used for mops having mop-head plates having hinged mop-head plate wings. All options for fastening such cleaning pads to the mop-head plate are sufficiently known in the art and will not be described in greater detail here.

On the bottom side of the mop-head plate, a layer of a soft material, such as foam, in particular closed-cell foam, soft rubber or the like, may be provided as an underlayer for the cleaning pad, this layer advantageously being permanently fastened to the mop-head plate. In this specific embodiment, the cleaning pad may be designed to be substantially simpler and thus manufactured less expensively. When the cleaning pad is replaced, this layer, which is typically not fast-wearing, is retained and is not also discarded, as is the case for cleaning pad laminates known from the related art, in which such a layer is normally integrated. A cost advantage is also hereby derived. This approach is equally advantageous from an environmental standpoint.

The mop according to the present invention, along with its various parts, is preferably made of materials, such as plastic materials, for example, that are insensitive to the respective liquids used for cleaning a floor. Certain parts of the mop, which must be mechanically very stable, may, however, also be fabricated of metal.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained in the following with reference to the figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a preferred embodiment of a mop according to the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordance with the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle of the mop from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the sliding sleeve of FIG. 2 in a lateral view (rotated by 90° from the representation in FIG. 2);

FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of another preferred embodiment of a mop according to the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordance with the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle of the mop from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the sliding sleeve including the mopping device and the partially illustrated handle from FIG. 5 in a lateral view (rotated by 90° from the representation in FIG. 5);

FIG. 7 shows a perspective representation of a preferred embodiment of a mop according to the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordance with the present invention, including the mopping device and a partially illustrated handle of the mop from FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows the sliding sleeve including the mopping device and a partially illustrated handle from FIG. 8 in a lateral view (rotated by 90° from the sliding sleeve in FIG. 8);

FIG. 10 a-d show, in a perspective representation based on the example of a mop in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alignment of the mop-head plate upon introduction thereof into the squeeze housing;

FIG. 11 a-d show, in a perspective representation based on the example of the mop from FIG. 10, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 90° rotation of the squeeze housing in response to the sliding of the sliding sleeve between the mopping position and the squeezing position in accordance with another preferred specific embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, like components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Moreover, with regard to the reference numerals used in the respective figures, reference is also made to the explanations used for the remaining figures; in some instances, the reference numerals only being mentioned in connection with only one figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Discernible in FIG. 1 is a mop 1 according to the present invention having a handle 2 and a mopping device 3 that is mounted at the bottom end of handle 2 and has a mop-head plate 4 and a cleaning pad 4.1 affixed to the bottom side of the plate, as well as a sliding sleeve 5, which is slidingly mounted on handle 2 in the longitudinal direction thereof and has a squeezing device, which, in accordance with the present invention, is designed as a squeeze housing 6 having side faces and an opening 7 facing mopping device 3. The squeeze housing is movable from a mopping position to a squeezing position in response to a sliding of sliding sleeve 5.

Mop-head plate 4 has two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 that are at least partially introducible from below into squeeze housing 6 through opening 7 in response to the sliding of squeeze housing 6 into the squeezing position. Upon entry into opening 7, mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2, as is explained in even greater detail in the following, in particular with reference to FIG. 10, are aligned, folded toward one another and pressed against each other to squeeze out the cleaning pad located therebetween.

In correspondence with the cross-sectional area of folded-together mop-head plate wings, the squeeze housing has two mutually opposing narrow side faces 6.1, 6.1 and, respectively, wide side faces 6.2, 6.2, each. In the illustrated specific embodiment, the wider side faces 6.2, 6.2 are designed as closed, wide web sections. Projecting obliquely outwardly from each bottom end thereof is a fork-shaped holder 6.3 for supporting a squeeze roller 8 in each case.

Narrower side faces 6.1, 6.1 have an open design, so that all parts of mop 1 are easily accessible for cleaning, for example. In addition, not only is a material savings achieved due to the partially open structure, but the visual impression is also enhanced.

The use of squeeze rollers 8 is not absolutely necessary; the bottom edges of side walls 6.2 could themselves likewise serve as pressing surfaces for the mop-head plate wings. However, the force that must be expended to move sliding sleeve 6 is substantially reduced by the reduced friction resulting from the use of squeeze rollers 8.

In addition, the expenditure of force is also reduced in that pressure rollers 8 exert pressure on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 over the entire width thereof in a linear contact area, and not only in a virtually punctual contact area, as in the case of the known pressure arms.

In the illustrated, preferred specific embodiment, mopping device has a center piece 4.3, on which mop-head wing plates 4.2, 4.2 are pivotably mounted. The bottom end of handle 2 is connected via a cardan joint 9 to this center piece 4.3.

The mutually opposing fork-shaped holders 6.3 for squeeze rollers 8 are joined to one another and fixedly, mutually spaced apart by transverse webs 6.4. In accordance with one preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, squeeze rollers 8 and transverse webs 6.4 bound a squeezing gap, through which mopping device 3 is at least partially passed to squeeze out washing pad 4.1 by the action of folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2. Since the mutual distance of pressure rollers 8 is fixed by transverse webs 6.4, no widening of the squeezing gap can occur nor, therefore, can there be any decrease in the pressure exerted by the squeeze rollers on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2.

It is also discernible in the figures that outwardly rising ramp regions 4.4 are configured on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 to produce a pressure profile during the squeezing process. It is thus ensured that the contact pressure increases continuously toward the bottom end of folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2.

In accordance with one preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, a mop according to the present invention has an integrated cleaning agent reservoir, including a spray device and associated actuation means. A spray nozzle 10 is discernible in the figures in the area of open side faces 6.1.

In an enlarged detail view of mop 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, FIGS. 2 and 3 show sliding sleeve 5 having squeeze housing 6 in the squeezing position, where folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 have been introduced into squeeze housing 6.

FIG. 4 through 6 and 7 through 9 illustrate two other preferred specific embodiments of the present invention analogously to the representation of the mop in FIG. 1 through 3.

Mop 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 through 6 has the distinguishing feature that squeeze housing 6 has the shape of an open bell that is flattened at the bottom. Except for two mutually opposing, narrow gap-shaped cutouts in narrow side faces 6.1, 6.1, the housing wall is substantially closed. The squeezing gap is delimited by the bottom edges of the wall. This specific embodiment has the advantage, inter alia, that, in the wringing position, the squeeze housing may be utilized as a stand for the mop.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 through 9, the wider side faces 6.2 have a completely open design, while the narrower side faces 6.1 have narrow, gap-shaped cutouts.

FIG. 10 a)-d) show another preferred specific embodiment of a mop 1 according to the present invention. It is discernible that squeeze housing 6 has a shorter design than the squeeze housings in the specific embodiments described above. While in the case of mops 1 described above, the length of squeeze housing 6 is selected to also encompass spray nozzle 10 configured above mop-head plate 4 on handle 2, the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 a)-d) provides for another sleeve section 5.1 between squeeze housing 6 and sliding sleeve 5 that features an elongate slot 5.2 in the area of spray nozzle 10. The height of squeeze housing 6 corresponds only approximately to the length of a mop-head plate wing 4.2, so that folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 are only just barely fully introducible.

Narrow side faces 6.1, 6.1 are designed as web sections, while wide side faces 6.2, 6.2 are open. Holders for supporting pressure rollers 8 are provided at the bottom ends of the web sections on both sides. Side faces 6.2, 6.2 are downwardly bounded by pressure rollers 8. Sequence of FIG. 10 a)-d) illustrates how a mop-head plate 4 striking at an angle against opening 7 formed as a pressing gap, is automatically aligned, together with its folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2, into the correct position at opening 7 without any guide devices and, in response to further actuation of sliding sleeve 5, plunges into the same.

In a schematic representation based on the mop of FIG. 10, FIG. 11 a)-d) (the reference numerals were omitted for the sake of better clarity) show the advantageous effect of a 90° rotation of the squeeze housing when the transition is made from the squeezing position to the mopping position. It is discernible that, in the mopping position, the squeeze housing is oriented with its wider side faces perpendicularly to the mopping direction, thereby substantially increasing the freedom of motion when actuating the handle. Thus, it is possible, for example, to guide the handle at an only flat angle over the floor in order to mop underneath furniture, such as cabinets or the like, for example.

A comparison test was performed in line with actual practice using a standard commercial mop having pressure arms which are anchored on one side (at the bottom end of the sliding sleeve) and a mop according to the present invention in accordance with the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, to test the effectiveness of the squeezing process for the mop according to the present invention. To this end, the amount of water expelled to a test floor area following the squeezing process was ascertained for both mops during mopping. This amount of water should be as small as possible in order to prevent the formation of spots or cleaning streaks or even to avoid damage to water-sensitive floors, such as parquet floors, for example, due to excessive water residues. Particularly in the case of the last mentioned floors, the excess water should not exceed 3-4 g/m².

The following procedure was used, in particular: A water-saturated cleaning pad was affixed to the mop-head plates of the two mops and squeezed out by actuating the sliding sleeve by a typical application of force (corresponds to a squeezing pressure of approximately 80 N, as was ascertained in a series of tests). The cleaning pads were subsequently weighed and fastened to the mop-head plates again. In a next step, a test floor area of 5 m² was mopped using mops provided with the cleaning pads, and the cleaning pads were weighed once more.

From the difference in the results, the weight of the amount of water expelled to the test floor area by the two cleaning pads during mopping was determined.

For a standard mop, an amount of water of approximately 7.6 g/m² was obtained in this case. At only 3.3 g/m², the amount of water expelled to the floor was substantially lower for the mop according to the present invention. Thus, the mop according to the present invention may also be readily used to clean sensitive floors, such as parquet, wood or marble floors.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A mop comprising:

a handle;

a sliding sleeve slidingly disposed longitudinally on the handle and including a sleeve housing having first side face, a second side face and an opening, the squeeze housing being movable from a mopping position to a squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve; and

a mopping device disposed at a bottom end of the handle and having a mop-head plate and a cleaning pad, the mop-head plate having two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings foldable toward one another and pressable against each other and at least partially introducible into the opening in response to the sliding of the sliding sleeve into the squeezing position.

15. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein a cross-sectional area of the squeeze housing corresponds to across-sectional area of the mop-head plate wings folded together in the squeezing position, and wherein the opening forms a pressing gap having pressing surfaces.

16. The mop as recited in claim 15, further comprising pressure rollers disposed in the pressing gap.

17. The mop as recited in claim 16, wherein the sliding sleeve includes elongated holes configured to support the pressure rollers.

18. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein the squeeze housing includes a pair of open side faces disposed opposite each other.

19. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein the squeeze housing includes a pair of cutouts disposed opposite each other.

20. The mop as recited in claim 14, further comprising a rotating device configured to effect a 90° rotation of the squeeze housing in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve between the squeezing position and the mopping position.

21. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein a material having a reduced friction is disposed on a top side of each of the mop-head plate wings.

22. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein a top side of each mop-head plate wing includes a ramp region configured to produce a pressure profile.

23. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein the mopping device is mounted in an articulated manner at a bottom end of the handle.

24. The mop as recited in claim 12, wherein a cardan joint joins the mopping device and the handle.

25. The mop as recited in claim 14, further comprising an integrated cleaning agent reservoir including a spray device having a spray nozzle and an actuation device.

26. The mop as recited in claim 14, further comprising a layer of a soft material permanently fastened to a bottom side of the mop-head plate.

27. The mop as recited in claim 26, wherein the soft material includes one of a foam and a soft rubber.

28. The mop as recited in claim 27, wherein the foam is a closed-cell foam.