Sponge Mop Patents (Class 15/119.2)
  • Patent number: 7555804
    Abstract: A cleaning head for a sweeping and wringing apparatus is mounted on a lower end of a connecting rod thereof and comprises a cleaning element, having a sweeping part and a held part, a base plate, holding the held part of said cleaning element and having two fixing elements, which each have a fixing hole and a guiding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7555805
    Abstract: A holding assembly for a sweeping and wringing apparatus comprises a fastening assembly, fastened to a lower end of a holding rod of the sweeping and wringing apparatus, having a chamber which is enclosed by a left wall and a right wall into which insertion holes are bored, an insertion assembly, inserted between the insertion holes and having two cross-shaped insertion heads separated by a spring, and a release assembly, shaped like the letter U and having two end sections with chamfered end faces which wedge-like respectively enter spaces between the left and right walls and the insertion heads when the release assembly is pressed on, with a spring exerting a counterforce, so that a cleaning head of the sweeping and wringing apparatus is easily replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7555803
    Abstract: A squeeze mop head construction includes a squeeze housing with a separate and separable sponge assembly that includes catch members positioned in a manner which ensures retention of the sponge assembly by the squeeze housing, and which further ensures that lateral side-to-side movement of the sponge assembly is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The Libman Company
    Inventor: Robert Libman
  • Publication number: 20090139041
    Abstract: Squeeze mop, including a bearing body that is formed by a double joint and two squeeze plates that are arranged on either side of the double joint in the longitudinal direction of the bearing body and that are joined thereto, and a handle, the bearing body having on the side that faces axially away from the handle a mopping pad that is largely the size of the bearing body and the squeeze plates being pressable against one another by means of a wringing device, the wringing device being fork-shaped and embodied open on the side facing axially away from the handle and including two pressure arms that are arranged largely parallel to one another and that for folding the squeeze plates can be caused to engage with the squeeze plates about the double joint, the wringing device being joined to the handle and the handle being pivotably joined to the double joint, at least about the longitudinal axis of the bearing body, the wringing device having an actuating rod that is axially movable toward the handle and that is
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventor: Norbert Weis
  • Patent number: 7469441
    Abstract: A floor mop has two mop supporting wings, which carry an absorbent mop layer and are hinge-connected to a common supporting centerpiece. A mop handle is hinge-mounted to the supporting centerpiece via a Cardan joint. A squeezing slider, which is displaceable along the mop handle and is guided non-rotatably, has two rigid squeezing arms whose ends can each be brought into engagement with a guide surface on the upper side of the respectively assigned mop supporting wings via rollers. Each mop supporting wing forms a rectangular trapezium or triangle. The edges running at right angles to the hinge edge of each mop supporting wing form a common straight continuous front edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Gernot Hirse
  • Publication number: 20080256731
    Abstract: A mop system incorporating a replaceable foam-based mop head. The mop head is adapted to wrap at least partially around a curved support mandrel and to be held in place by releasable engagement between the mandrel and connection elements disposed in localized relation along edge portions of the mop head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: David P. Nobile, Jackson S. Burnett
  • Patent number: 7418758
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a baseboard of a wall generally comprises an extendable handle to which a friction decreasing device such as a wheel, an adsorbent/desorbent pad and a pad compression device are assembled in a manner such that the lower end of said apparatus can be immersed in a bucket of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Jorge Avila
  • Publication number: 20080178405
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a mop includes a mop head and a shaft attached to the mop head. A handle is attached to the shaft by a pivot. An actuator member is coupled to the handle between a grip end and the pivot. Translation of the handle causes the actuator member to translate. In an embodiment, the pivot is offset from the shaft and arranged so that the shaft is located between the position where the handle is attached to the actuator member and the position where the handle is attached to the pivot. A stop may be provided to limit the translation of the handle. The actuator member is coupled a mop fiber base that supports mop fibers. The surface of the mop fibers may have a plurality of raised portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: THE LIBMAN COMPANY
    Inventors: Enzo Berti, Marco Bizzotto, Roberto Pellacini
  • Mop
    Publication number: 20080168612
    Abstract: A mop includes a pipe, a case, a locating base, and a cleaning member. The case is inserted onto the pipe. The case contains a chamber and a handle extending from the top of the case. The locating base is connected to a lower end of the pipe with a fastener. Both sides of the locating base are pivotally connected with wings to secure the cleaning member. The mop allows easy wringing water from the cleaning member when in use and efficient storage of the cleaning member when not used while permitting easy replacement of the cleaning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: An-Sheng Lee, Huang-Ning Lee
  • Patent number: 7398576
    Abstract: A mop has a shaft, a housing at a distal end of the shaft, a sponge movably coupled to the housing, and a pair of rollers. The pair of rollers are movably mounted to the housing spaced apart from each other and straddle at least a portion of the sponge. The mop also comprises an actuator configure to move the sponge between the rollers from a retracted position to a deployed position. At least one scrubbing element is disposed on at least one of the rollers, the scrubbing element configured to automatically move into a deployed position as the sponge is moved into the retracted position, the scrubbing element also configured to automatically move into a retracted position as the sponge is moved into the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: James G. Horian
  • Publication number: 20080155772
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning body comprising at least two part cleaning bodies (1, 2), each with a cleaning surface (3, 4), whereby the part cleaning bodies (1, 2) are made from differing materials, lie adjacent to each other and are connected to each other. The first part cleaning body (1) has greater flexibility than the second (2) with each in the dry state. A squeeze mop comprises said cleaning bodies and a support body (17), connected to the cleaning body, whereby the support body (17) has two wings (18, 19), connected to each other such as to fold together by means of a hinged joint (20). The joint (20) is exclusively arranged in the region of the surface (13) of the first part cleaning body (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventor: Phu-Dennis Tran
  • Publication number: 20080052852
    Abstract: A holding assembly for a sweeping and wringing apparatus comprises a fastening assembly, fastened to a lower end of a holding rod of the sweeping and wringing apparatus, having a chamber which is enclosed by a left wall and a right wall into which insertion holes are bored, an insertion assembly, inserted between the insertion holes and having two cross-shaped insertion heads separated by a spring, and a release assembly, shaped like the letter U and having two end sections with chamfered end faces which wedge-like respectively enter spaces between the left and right walls and the insertion heads when the release assembly is pressed on, with a spring exerting a counterforce, so that a cleaning head of the sweeping and wringing apparatus is easily replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Publication number: 20080052851
    Abstract: A cleaning head for a sweeping and wringing apparatus is mounted on a lower end of a connecting rod thereof and comprises a cleaning element, having a sweeping part and a held part, a base plate, holding the held part of said cleaning element and having two fixing elements, which each have a fixing hole and a guiding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Publication number: 20070289077
    Abstract: A device composed of a long tubular stick with a head connected with a socket by circle swing assembly. The tubular stick head front face is inclined to the tubular stick's axis about 45°. A spring slid over the socket axle's ends press tightly the socket against the tubular stick head's front face. A locking slid over one of the axle spring's end enters into the cut formed on the tool's slider and holds the tool in working position. A movable rod inside the tubular stick provided with pressing and quiding rolls, which is connected with a pilot sleeve with a pin and slid over and moves along the tubular stick together with the movable rod and with the said pin which moves along slideways formed in the wall of the tubular stick. The said rod's rolls press against the surface of the socket causing rotation of the socket with a sponge mop until reaching parallel to the tubular stick's axis position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Wladyslaw Kaczorowski
  • Patent number: 7269875
    Abstract: Fluid is removed from the cleaning element of such as a sponge mop or string mop by inflating a bladder or like expansible member which is positioned in an enclosure adjacent the cleaning element, causing the expansible member to expand into contact with the cleaning element, thereby compressing the cleaning element for squeezing fluid therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: David Brian Grimes
  • Patent number: 7263739
    Abstract: The cleaning implement includes a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent material and a wringing mechanism. The mop head and the wringing mechanism are movable relative to one another between at least a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions. The wringing mechanism includes a roller which compresses at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent material to thereby expel liquid therefrom. The plastic roller has a plurality of spaced ribs defining cavities therebetween. The ribs are complementally shaped and dimensioned to allow rolling contact relative to the liquid absorbent material as travel takes place between the cleaning position and a wringing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Christopher T. Boyer, Miroslav Vuckovic
  • Patent number: 7257853
    Abstract: Disclosed is a butterfly mop having an elongate shaft with a mop element disposed at one end of the shaft and a wringer connected to the shaft and the mop element. In preferred embodiments, the wringer includes a channel body having first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween. The mop element includes a foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member, a mounting element having first and second support portions connected by a flexible member, and a scrubber mounted to the mounting element. The mop element and channel body are movable relative to one another, whereby the mop element may be drawn into the channel causing the mop element to fold along a central transverse axis and to become compressed between the channel body leg portions. The wringer includes a handle and an actuator link connecting the handle to one of the mop element and channel body for effecting relative hinged movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Chris Boyer, Miroslav Vuckovic
  • Patent number: 7225497
    Abstract: A mop device includes a handle member, a pulling grip, a connecting rod, a press assembly, a flat base and a guide arm. The handle member is fixedly attached to a joint head and the joint head has a fork free end with a traverse threaded hole. The pulling grip is pivotally joined to the handle member. The connecting rod is disposed in the handle member and able to move reciprocally while the pulling grip being pulled downward and upward. The press assembly includes two parallel semicircular press plates, two press posts for locating the press plates, and a stop block disposed between the press plates for locating the press plates and performing circular movement along the circular groove. The flat base is composed of two flat plates with each of the flat plates having a lateral side adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Te-Chin Ho
  • Patent number: 7197785
    Abstract: A connecting assembly for a sweeping and wringing apparatus is used in conjunction with a sweeping and wringing apparatus having a cleaning head, a main rod and a U-shaped wringing rod and comprises a connecting rod, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with the U-shaped wringing rod and a lower end reaching down inside the main rod, and a connecting part, having an upper end with a joint that is hingedly connected with the lower end of the connecting rod, an extended middle part and a fixing part that is fastened to the cleaning head, so that assembling and replacing of the cleaning head are facilitated and damaging of furniture during sweeping is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7185387
    Abstract: A cleaning head for a sweeping and wringing apparatus, connected with a connecting part thereof, comprises a cleaning element, having a sweeping part and a held part, a base plate on an upper side of the cleaning part, on a top side carrying two fastening elements which each have a hole, and a fastening device for mounting the fastening elements on a lower end of a connecting part, with the fastening device further comprising two end pieces, each having a cross-shaped cross-section and an outer projection with a circular cross-section, leaning against one of the fixing elements, passing through the hole thereof, and an inner projection, and a spring, placed between the two end pieces and having ends that are put over the inner projections of the two end pieces, so that the cleaning head is easily installed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7178189
    Abstract: A mop is provided having a clamping assembly formed of a hinge having flanges for clamping a sponge movable into a mop head cavity in a wringing position, then to a neutral position and by depressing a release member and rotating a lever the sponge may be released from the clamping assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Marco Perry, Yvonne Song Lin
  • Patent number: 7086114
    Abstract: A wet floor wiping device includes a mop made of absorbent material and a mop frame exhibiting a center carrier piece (4) attached to a handle (3). Mounted pivotably at each hinge edge (5) at the center carrier piece (4) are two mop carrier wings (6), the inner surfaces of which, carrying the mop, can be pressed one against another by means of a squeeze feature. At least one of the two side edges (8, 9) extending from the hinge edge (5) is angled in relationship to the opposite side edge (9). Each mop carrier wing (6) forms a trapezoid including a right angle, the longer base line of which is the hinge edge (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Gernot M. Hirse
  • Patent number: 7044674
    Abstract: Multi purpose hand held cleaning device comprising a gun shaped handle portion, a first tubular portion perpendicularly attached at one end to the handle portion, a U shaped frame attached at the opposite end, the legs of the U frame terminating in transverse roller bearings, a second hollow tube placed concentrically inside the first hollow tube, one end of the second hollow tube terminating in a sponge member, the first hollow tube having a slot so that a trigger member attached to the second hollow tube can slidably fit within the slot, the second hollow tube enclosing a compression spring. A preferred embodiment includes the handle being hollow so as to be capable of retaining a cleaning fluid and an internal fluid pump activated by an external trigger member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventors: Marcia A. Dixon, Kenneth A. Tarlow
  • Patent number: 6983509
    Abstract: A sweeping and wringing apparatus, comprising: a handle; a moving bar, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with the handle at a middle position thereof and a lower end that is placed inside the handle at a lower position thereof; a transmission rod, glidingly mounted within the handle and having an upper end that is hingedly connected with the lower end of the moving bar; a frame, having a vertical part with an upper end that is attached to the handle at a lower end thereof and a horizontal part with two far ends that define left and right sides; a pair of hinge plates, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with one of the far ends of said horizontal part of the frame and having a bent part with a bolt; a pulling element, attached to the lower end of the transmission rod; a pair of holding plates, having vertical ribs with inner ends that are hingedly connected with the pulling element and extending symmetrically to the left and right, respectively; and a cleaning head, fastened to the pai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Giant Lead Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6976282
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rod having a frame connected to an end thereof and a connection member is connected to two assist plates which movably extend through the frame and pivotably connected to a pull handle on the rod. Two boards are pivotably connected to two sides of the connection member and each board has a positioning member to which a cleaning member is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Jai Yi Sie
  • Patent number: 6915542
    Abstract: A sweeping and wringing apparatus comprises a cleaning head, a squeezing head, a main rod, a wringing rod, two connecting rods, two transverse bars, and two squeezers. The two transverse bars are symmetrically fastened to front and rear parts of the squeezing head at a fixed mutual distance. A plurality of squeezing sections is put excentrically over the transverse bars, forming two lines. When the cleaning head is pulled up to be wrung, passing through between the two lines of squeezers, the squeezers turn, with a gap in between gradually becoming narrower as the cleaning head moves upward, resulting in effective wringing of the cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6868576
    Abstract: A connection system for a roller mop has an operating rod to control the positioning of a deformable cleaning member between spaced apart rollers. At the end of the operating rod is a lateral extension with a raised medial section. The extension is inserted into dual receptacles on the supporting plate of the cleaning member, with the raised section positioned between the receptacles. The dimensions of the receptacles are such that they are wider than they are high. They are so sized to slidably receive the extension and its raised section, when the cleaning member is inserted onto the extension, such that the raised section fits the width of the receptacles. However, when the cleaning member is rotated 90°, thus positioning the cleaning member for cleaning operations, the raised section of the extension is also rotated, and now is located between the receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Quickie Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Petner
  • Patent number: 6865768
    Abstract: A sponge mop assembly includes a handle and a head mounted on a bottom end of the handle. The head has a mount clamping a sponge, two front and two rear coupling arms bilaterally extending downward from front and rear sides of the mount such that a space is defined between the mount and the front coupling arms, and two parallel front and two parallel rear squeezing members mounted side by side between the two front and rear coupling arms. A pull rod assembly is mounted on the handle and connected with the sponge for moving the sponge to be squeezed by the squeezing members so as to remove water from the sponge. A brushing member is mounted on a front side of the mount and located in the space. Therefore, the sponge mop assembly is provided with both functions of mopping and brushing the floor as well as being user-friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Hwa-Tien Chen
  • Patent number: 6854149
    Abstract: Disclosed is a butterfly mop having an elongate shaft with a channel body disposed at one end of the shaft, the channel body having first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween, the mop further having a mop element including a foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member. The mop element and channel body are hingedly movable along a hinge line relative to one another, whereby the mop element may be drawn into the channel causing the mop element to fold along a transverse axis and to become compressed between the channel body leg portions. A manual actuation mechanism includes a handle and a tension rod connecting the handle to one of the mop element and channel body for effecting relative hinged movement thereof. The mop element preferably includes plural pairs of apertures for allowing mounting of the mop element to variously sized mop element supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Paul B. Specht, Edgar Wagner
  • Patent number: 6854150
    Abstract: A floor mop has two carrier plates (5) that are connected with a common carrier center piece (3) in jointed manner and carry an absorbent mop covering (6). A mop handle (1) is affixed on the carrier center piece (3) by way of a cardan joint (2), in jointed manner. A wringer slide (9) that can be moved along the mop handle (1) and is guided not to rotate has two rigid wringer arms (11), the ends (11a) of which can each be brought into engagement with a guide surface (17) on the back of the carrier plate (5) assigned to them, in each instance, by way of rollers (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Gernot M. Hirse
  • Patent number: 6810549
    Abstract: A drainage mop has a handle unit and a drainage unit. A rotary unit is disposed between the handle unit and the drainage unit so that the handle unit can be bent with respect to the drainage unit. In bending state, the rotary unit drives a driven unit so that the water absorbing unit of the drainage unit is squeeze radially to drain water out. Thus, in draining or cleaning, the operations of the water absorbing unit can be executed easily and conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Tien Pi
  • Publication number: 20040194243
    Abstract: A connection system for a roller mop has an operating rod to control the positioning of a deformable cleaning member between spaced apart rollers. At the end of the operating rod is a lateral extension with a raised medial section. The extension is inserted into dual receptacles on the supporting plate of the cleaning member, with the raised section positioned between the receptacles. The dimensions of the receptacles are such that they are wider than they are high. They are so sized to slidably receive the extension and its raised section, when the cleaning member is inserted onto the extension, such that the raised section fits the width of the receptacles. However, when the cleaning member is rotated 90°, thus positioning the cleaning member for cleaning operations, the raised section of the extension is also rotated, and now is located between the receptacles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Robert E. Petner
  • Patent number: 6785928
    Abstract: Disclosed is a butterfly mop having an elongate shaft with a channel body disposed at one end of the shaft, the channel body having first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween, the mop further having a mop element including a foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member. The mop element and channel body are hingedly movable along a hinge line relative to one another, whereby the mop element may be drawn into the channel causing the mop element to fold along a transverse axis and to become compressed between the channel body leg portions. A manual actuation mechanism includes a handle and a tension rod connecting the handle to one of the mop element and channel body for effecting relative hinged movement thereof. The mop element preferably includes plural pairs of apertures for allowing mounting of the mop element to variously sized mop element supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Paul B. Specht, Edgar Wagner
  • Publication number: 20040158947
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rod having a frame connected to an end thereof and a connection member is connected to two assist plates which movably extend through the frame and pivotably connected to a pull handle on the rod. Two boards are pivotably connected to two sides of the connection member and each board has a positioning member to which a cleaning member is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Jai Yi Sie
  • Publication number: 20040148722
    Abstract: A sweeping and wringing apparatus, comprising: a handle; a moving bar, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with said handle at a middle position thereof and a lower end that is placed inside said handle at a lower position thereof; a transmission rod, glidingly mounted within said handle and having an upper end that is hingedly connected with said lower end of said moving bar; a frame, having a vertical part with an upper end that is attached to said handle at a lower end thereof and a horizontal part with two far ends that define left and right sides; a pair of hinge plates, having an upper end that is hingedly connected with one of said far ends of said horizontal part of said frame and having a bent part with a bolt; a pulling element, attached to said lower end of said transmission rod; a pair of holding plates, having vertical ribs with inner ends that are hingedly connected with said pulling element and extending symmetrically to the left and right, respectively; and a cleaning head, fastened
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6725494
    Abstract: A butterfly type sponge mop includes a self-contained wringing mechanism comprising only two molded parts, an actuating lever and an enclosed yoke. A pair of hinged wings can be integrally molded onto one end of the actuating lever, and the lever can rotate back and forth within the enclosed yoke. Guides within the yoke can swing the wings closed when the lever is moved forward, squeezing a detachable sponge. The mechanical advantage of the actuating lever can increase as it is moved forward. Moving the lever back to its original position can cause the wings to swing back open, aided by the compression of the sponge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Milla Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Cann
  • Publication number: 20040074032
    Abstract: A sponge mop assembly includes a handle and a head mounted on a bottom end of the handle. The head has a mount clamping a sponge, two front and two rear coupling arms bilaterally extending downward from front and rear sides of the mount such that a space is defined between the mount and the front coupling arms, and two parallel front and two parallel rear squeezing members mounted side by side between the two front and rear coupling arms. A pull rod assembly is mounted on the handle and connected with the sponge for moving the sponge to be squeezed by the squeezing members so as to remove water from the sponge. A brushing member is mounted on a front side of the mount and located in the space. Therefore, the sponge mop assembly is provided with both functions of mopping and brushing the floor as well as being user-friendly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Hwa-Tien Chen
  • Publication number: 20040060140
    Abstract: A floor mop has two mop supporting wings (5) which carry an absorbent mop layer (6) and are hinge-connected to a common supporting centerpiece (3). A mop handle (1) is hinge-mounted to the supporting centerpiece (3) via a Cardan joint (2). A squeezing slider (9) which is displaceable along the mop handle (1) and is guided non-rotatably has two rigid squeezing arms (11) whose ends (11a) can each be brought into engagement with a guide surface (17) on the back side of the respectively assigned mop supporting wings (5) via rollers (12). Each mop supporting wing (5) forms a rectangular trapezium or triangle. The edges running at right angles to the hinge edge of each mop supporting wing (5) form a common straight continuous front edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Gernot Hirse
  • Patent number: 6698056
    Abstract: A butterfly sponge mop (1) which has a mop handle (2) which can be set at a desired angle with respect to the wings (12,14) of the mop. The handle is attached to a swivel housing (34) which is provided between the wings, by a swivel connector (32) provided with a swivel pin (38). The axis of the swivel pin is at an angle to the axis of the handle so that rotation of the handle and swivel connector sets the angle of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: E. D. Oates Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: John Ernest Oretti, Jan-Anders Schjottelvig
  • Publication number: 20040016072
    Abstract: A mop has an angled handle and a working end with a pair of opposed rollers. An actuator on the mop can be moved between a replacement position, a wringing position, and an intermediate use position. When in the replacement position, a mop head can be removably attached to the working end of the handle by sliding the mop head sideways so an arm on a connector passes between a shoulder and a bridge on the mop head. The connector has a loop at its upper end, and is connected to a slotted mounting stem on an actuator. The mop head is also provided with a threaded aperture and slots, allowing it to be used in other mops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Libman, Enzo Berti, Roberto Pellacini, Maraco Bizzotto
  • Patent number: 6675426
    Abstract: A damp mop for plane surfaces having two mop plates 1, 2 that are coupled to a handle 13 and that have a mop pad 35 provided thereon. The two mop plates 1,2 are joined by a double joint 3, and can be pressed against one another by pressure arms 19, 20 disposed on a slide sleeve. The handle 13 is secured pivotably to the double joint 3 via a cardan joint 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Heinz Josef Ohm, Klaus-Jürgen Fischer
  • Patent number: 6643885
    Abstract: A method of molding a plastic brace into a sponge mop head and an apparatus for retaining a sponge mop head within a plastic brace. The method and apparatus includes a sponge assembly for use with wringer-type mops which include a sponge mop head firmly held by a plastic brace thereto. The brace is provided with a plurality of stitching members for retaining the sponge mop head within the plastic brace. The brace has an attachment member for operative attachment in a simple manner to the wringer-type sponge mop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Worldwide Integrated Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred I. Morad, James G. Horian
  • Publication number: 20030131432
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved structure of a spiral draining roller, characterized in that a plurality of interlaced diagonal partition blocks, and having a design of spiral stairway draining grooves. By the simultaneous rolling of both the front and rear rollers while squeezing the water absorbing foam, drainage is provided for the dirty water to flow outwards towards either side of the grooves. In doing so, it further increases the effect of draining the dirty water by the left and right wings simultaneously and completely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Ming-Ti Hsieh, Mo-Hsaing Lin
  • Publication number: 20030133739
    Abstract: A washing device has a housing; a sponge-like working element associated with the housing; means for squeezing the sponge-like working element after a washing step, the means including a hollow provided in the housing, and a displacing element which displaces the sponge-like working element between a working position in which the sponge-like working element is located outside the hollow of the housing for washing a surface and the like, and a squeezing and/or storage position in which the sponge-like working element is forcedly pulled into the hollow so as to be squeezed and therefore to expel liquid from the sponge-like working element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Sam Zhadanov, Eli Zhadanov
  • Patent number: 6588045
    Abstract: A sponge mop is fitted with a wringing device. The wringing device includes a sleeve that slidably surrounds the handle of the mop. A roller is attached to the sleeve and is spaced from the sleeve. A drive member is pivotally attached at one end to the mop head and at the other end to a small slide block that slides on a handle-mounted rail. The slide block bears against a portion of the sleeve housing with adequate pressure so that downward movement of the sleeve moves the slide block and thus the drive member, thus effecting the rotation of the mop head by, ultimately, 90 degrees such that the sponge is positioned with its cleaning face parallel to the axis of the handle. Further downward travel of the sleeve allows the roller on the device to expel water held by the sponge. A scrubber/scraper is attached to the mop head at the end which is remote from the handle when the mop head is generally aligned with the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Products of Tomorrow, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20030115700
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning implement, preferably in the form of a roller mop, that includes a mop head, a shaft, and a wringer. The cleaning implement further includes a connecting link connected to the mop head and to the shaft or wringer. The mop head has a connecting side and a cleaning side thereby defining a mop axis, which axis is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The connecting link is positioned with respect to the mop head to permit the mop head to travel along a path substantially coextensive with the mop axis over at least a portion of the range of travel of the mop head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Freudenberg Household Products
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Paul B. Specht
  • Publication number: 20030101527
    Abstract: Disclosed is a butterfly mop having an elongate shaft with a channel body disposed at one end of the shaft, the channel body having first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween, the mop further having a mop element including a foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member. The mop element and channel body are hingedly movable along a hinge line relative to one another, whereby the mop element may be drawn into the channel causing the mop element to fold along a transverse axis and to become compressed between the channel body leg portions. A manual actuation mechanism includes a handle and a tension rod connecting the handle to one of the mop element and channel body for effecting relative hinged movement thereof. The mop element preferably includes plural pairs of apertures for allowing mounting of the mop element to variously sized mop element supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Paul B. Specht, Edgar Wagner
  • Patent number: 6569281
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mop wherein a cylindrical member is fixed in a groove of a sponge. The cylindrical member has a smaller length than the sponge and a flat surface located midway between a first end and second ends thereof. The flat surface is located in a same horizontal plane as first and seconds lands defined by the groove in the sponge. A single screw is turned into the cylindrical member at the center of the flat surface and a handle is turned onto the screw until an end of the handle engages the flat surface. A roller with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical member has a first axial projection, which is located in a first opening in a strap, and a second axial projection which is in a second opening in the strap. The strap is flexed and the first and second axial projections on the cylindrical member are located in third and fourth openings in the strap such that the roller and cylindrical member are parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Arthur King Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6550094
    Abstract: A mop having a self-contained and electrically powered wringer. The mop consists of an elongated, hollow handle wherein is placed a power unit. Attached to the power unit is a rod connected to a mop head consisting of an assembly of a cleaning device holder and a cleaning device. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a housing for receiving the cleaning device holder. The housing in the preferred embodiment also includes movable rollers. The preferred embodiment is actuated by a switch causing electricity to flow to the power unit. The activated power unit causes a communicating spring acting against a spring stop to be fully retracted or projected. In the preferred embodiment, when the switch is released, the power unit causes the communicating spring to be fully projected. The process of retraction and projection of a cleaning device through the rollers results in the expulsion of water from the mop head. Also disclosed are alternative methods for the wringing mechanism of the mop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Arthur Hurtado
  • Patent number: 6543081
    Abstract: A flip-up-wringer sponge mop a wringer system in which the expelling of dirty water from the mop is effective in minimizing unwanted recycling of the water back into the sponge. The mop has a mop head comprising a generally planar mop sponge backed by a head plate. It has roller means to move against the sponge and squeeze out water. It has means to allow the handle to pivot with respect to the head so that the mop head can flip back over the handle or the handle can have its angle to the head reduced so as to permit the mop head to reach under low furniture and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Sheldon C. Cohen