Abstract: A convertible broom which has two sections each retaining a multiplicity of bristles on their respective lower surfaces. The two sections have means to retain them together and when in this condition, the joined sections can be used as a conventional straight broom or angle broom with the sections pushed or swept by an elongated handle retained in the first section. The two sections can also be separated and the second section which has a short handle retained thereon or grasping means incorporated therein can then be used as a handheld whisk broom.

Abstract: A novel, new and improved attachment collar for a deck mop, by which mop yarn can be quickly and efficiently attached together and by which the collar can be quickly and efficiently attached to a handle.

Abstract: A mop having a container housing cleaning liquid attached to the mop handle and a new and improved actuation mechanism which employs the use of atmosphere and pneumatics to cause power transmission from the grip area of the mop handle to the fluid actuation area. A mechanism for transmitting discharge power generated by a pump action motion of the handle, similar to loading a shotgun, through the interior of the handle to an actuation diaphragm which causes a valve closing mechanism to open by a vacuum generated from the pump action mechanism, to permit the fluid to be discharged from its container through a nozzle located at the lower portion of the diaphragm while at the same time causing an equal amount of air to fill the fluid container to thereby assure a smooth and even spray of liquid through the nozzle.

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.

Abstract: A spring-loaded wing paper towel track adapter for accommodating shorter width paper towels within a conventional recessed paper towel dispenser and waste receptacle, including a corresponding curved bottom wall which matches the curved bottom wall of the recessed paper towel dispenser, and two opposing sidewalls integrally molded with the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom. The curved bottom wall has a transverse dispenser opening for dispensing the plurality of shorter width multifold paper towels.

Abstract: An universal adapter for adapting a sponge mop head assembly to a wide variety of conventional mop handles and includes a hollow body which slidably receives the sponge mop head assembly. The adapter has four different attachment mechanisms located on top of the hollow body for removably attaching four different types of mop handles. The first attachment mechanism of the adapter has two opposing bendable walls, wherein each bendable wall has an aperture for securely receiving a tongue and groove type mechanism of one of the plurality of mop handles. The second attachment mechanism of the adapter further has a central hook catch section for securely receiving a hook type mechanism of one of the plurality of mop handles. The third attachment mechanism of the adapter has a plurality of opposing engagement means for slidably receiving a slidable type mechanism of one of the plurality of mop handles.

Abstract: A manual currency operated vending machine includes a mechanism for preventing customers from depositing a currency into the vending machine when the machine is out of product. The vending machine comprises two parallel vertical magazines for containing flat packages and tubular packages. A currency operated dispensing mechanism includes a currency operating knob connected to a blocking mechanism through a rotatable shaft. The blocking mechanism is positioned at the bottom of each magazine for supporting the articles and preventing them sliding out, and also for allowing the lowest article out of the magazine and into a trough at the vending opening slot. When the currency operating knob is turned, it allows a currency to be deposited into the vending machine. The knob turns the rotatably shaft which in turn moves the blocking mechanism into an unobstructed position allowing the lowest article out of the magazine and into the trough at the vending opening slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having a debris barrier to be used by a standing user, including a hand-held dustpan, an upwardly extending handle and a debris barrier. The dustpan has a pan-shaped base member having a rear wall, two sidewalls and an open front scoop over which debris is swept. The scoop is open at the top, and a handle which has two ends affixedly attached to the base member and extends out from the rear wall to form a U-shaped handle. The upwardly extending handle is attached to the U-shaped handle by a clamping member which snaps onto the U-shaped handle with the upwardly extending handle threaded into a threaded bore provided on the clamping member. The debris barrier has three walls which are respectively positioned parallel to the three walls of the pan-shaped base member of the dustpan.

Abstract: A self-wringing mop for removing liquid from the strands of a mop head which includes a handle member, a tubular wringing member disposed over a lowermost portion the handle member, a ratchet mechanism for longitudinal and rotational movement of the tubular wringing member, and the mop head attached to one end of the handle member just below the tubular wringing member. The tubular wringing member has a plurality of protruding ribs which are integrally formed with the interior surface. The longitudinal and rotational movement of the tubular wringing member allows the plurality of protruding ribs to engage the strands of the mop head to remove an amount of liquid from the mop head.

Abstract: A mop holding apparatus requires the use of only one foot to operate the apparatus, and which is designed that a holding mechanism can be applied to hold loose ends of a mop head of a mop from turning when the mop is being wrung. The holding apparatus includes a bucket, a holding mechanism, and an operating mechanism. The holding mechanism is mounted on the top of the bucket. It includes a bottom plate, a first extending arm formed with the bottom plate and extending upwardly therefrom, and a second movable extending arm connected with the first extending arm at converging ends. The bottom plate has perforations therethrough for allowing fluid to drain to the bottom of the bucket from the mop head when the mop is wrung.

Abstract: A dustpan apparatus having a debris receiving member, a quick release adaptor member and a handle member. The debris receiving member has an enclosed wide body with a front lip and a pivotable bracket which is movably connected at opposite sides of the enclosed wide body. A threaded shaft is centrally located on the pivotable bracket, where the quick release adaptor member is adapted to be threadedly connected to the threaded shaft of the pivotable bracket. The adaptor member has a connection member for receiving and detachably attaching the handle member thereto.

Abstract: A broom apparatus for improving the way conventional corn brooms can be assembled and thereafter shipped. The broom apparatus includes a broomcorn attachment adaptor and a quick release adaptor adapted to be threadedly connected to the attachment adaptor. The attachment adaptor comprises an attachment portion and a threaded shaft portion protruding outwardly from the attachment portion for threadedly engaging with the quick release adaptor, wherein the quick release adaptor is provided with a handle connection means for receiving and detachably attaching a broom handle thereto. Broomcorns are wound on the attachment portion of the attachment adaptor to form a broom head.

Abstract: A mop apparatus for unwinding the tangled strands of a mop head such that the strands of the mop head are disentangled. The apparatus includes an inner member, an outer member slidably installed over the inner member, and a mop head which is made from a plurality of strands attached between lower ends of the inner and outer members. The outer member has a spiral ridge which is located on the lowermost portion of the outer member and a gripping portion which is located at the uppermost portion of the outer member. A ring sleeve member fits around the lowermost portion of the outer member and around the spiral ridge. A plurality of mating grooves are located inside the interior wall of the ring sleeve member to mate with the spiral ridge on the lowermost portion of the outer member. Alternatively, the outer member may have a spiral groove and the ring sleeve may have a corresponding spiral ridge.

Abstract: An adaptor for quickly connecting and releasing a T-shaped bar which holds a mop head and a mop handle to form a complete mop for use. The T-shaped bar has a horizontal base portion and a vertical threaded portion. The horizontal base portion is adapted to the mop head, while the vertical threaded portion is adapted to the adaptor. A mop handle or stick is then adapted to the rear of the adaptor. The adaptor has a spring biased pawl which is pivotally mounted thereon, such that when the tip of the pawl is engaged with the vertical threaded portion of the T-shaped bar by the spring, it locks the movement of the adaptor. However, by simply rotating the adaptor, the adaptor will be further threaded on the vertical threaded portion of the T-shaped bar to precisely adjust the tightness of the adaptor to the T-shaped bar. When the pawl is pressed against the spring, an individual can quickly release the adaptor from the vertical portion of the T-shaped bar, which in turn releases the mop head.

Abstract: A mop holder which incorporates a quick release locking nut for clamping a mop and attaching a mop stick. The mop holder comprises a hollow frame and a quick release locking nut which is installed on the frame. The frame has a central portion with a closed cavity for accommodating a conventional mop stick. A swingable mop clamping member is hingeably connected to one end of the base of the frame. The mop clamping member serves to clamp the mop fill to the base of the frame. A slidable attachment rod with outer screw threads is hingeably connected to the other end of the mop clamping member. The slidable attachment rod is inserted through an opening provided on the frame, where the rod is threadably engaged with a pawl on the quick release locking nut. The quick release locking nut can be rotated to tighten the mop clamping member to the frame, and thereby secures the mop fill thereto.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus for forming a handle to a broom handle or the like. The attachment apparatus includes a handle member, an intermediate closure member which is installed in the handle member, and a locking member which is installed within the intermediate closure member and the handle member. The locking member has one end with external screw threads and the other end which forms a loop opening. A spring biased pawl is pivotally mounted on the handle member, such that when the tip of the pawl is engaged with the external screw threads of the locking member by the spring, it locks the movement of the handle member. However, by simply pressing the pawl against the spring, an individual can free the movement of the locking member, which in turn frees the movement of the handle member. A broom handle or the like is inserted within the loop opening established by the locking member.

Abstract: A quick squeezing self-wringing mop which utilizes an outer tubular member for wringing the mop dry. It comprises an outer tubular member, an inner shaft located within the outer tubular member and which is movable longitudinally relative to the inner shaft and rotatable relative thereto, a locking body, a mop, a spring-and-ratchet mechanism, and a handle member. The spring-and-ratchet mechanism comprises a pawl which is pivotally mounted to the outer tubular member. The pawl is biased by a spring such that its tip is engaged with one of the multiplicity of longitudinal ribs on the inner shaft to prevent the outer tubular member from rotating back to its initial position. When the outer tubular member is rotated in its clockwise circular path, which squeezes the mop, the outer tubular member can stop at any position relative the inner shaft and have the outer tubular member released, without causing the mop to unwind.

Abstract: The present invention is a unique semi-automatic mop wringer. The mop wringer comprises a hollow housing vertically movably supported on a supporting structure by a suspension mechanism. The housing is engaged with the supporting structure through a rack-and-gear mechanism, so that a downward motion of the housing can be transmitted into the rotation of crank members which in turn drive a wringer roller to squeeze the mop against a wringer plate mounted inside the housing. A user can use the present invention mop wringer to wring a mop by placing the mop inside the housing, holding the mop holder and applying a downward force. The downward motion of the housing causes the wringer roller to move in a circular path to squeeze the mop against the wringer plate. When the user withdraws the downward force, the housing moves back upwardly to allow the user to repeat the process.