Wringable mop

Abstract

A mop includes a liquid absorbent member having two ends fastened respectively to a movable rigid member and a fixed rigid member, a rod body, a tubular actuator unit sleeved on the rod body, a tubular driven unit sleeved rotatably on the actuator unit, and an operation member sleeved on the driven unit. The fixed rigid member is anchored to the rod body. The movable rigid member is sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body. A planetary gear mechanism is disposed between the driven unit and the movable rigid member for transferring rotation of the driven unit to the movable rigid member. To wring out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member, the operation member is moved on the driven unit so as to rotate the driven unit on the actuator unit, thereby rotating the movable rigid member relative to the fixed rigid member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 095205157, filed on Mar. 28, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mop, and more particularly to a wringable mop.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional wringable mop includes a handle 11, a rod body 12, a sliding sleeve 13, an upright tube 14, a coupling member 15, and a liquid-absorbent member 16 including a plurality of strands of cloth. The handle 11 is connected fixedly to an upper end of the rod body 12. The coupling member 15 includes an upper clamping element 151 connected fixedly to a lower end of the rod body 12, and a lower clamping element 152 connected threadably to the upper clamping element 151. The liquid-absorbent member 16 has an upper end fastened to a movable rigid member 161, and a lower end fastened to a fixed rigid member 162. The fixed rigid member 162 is clamped between the upper and lower clamping members 151, 152. A coupling sleeve 17 is sleeved fixedly on a lower end of the upright tube 14, and is connected fixedly to the movable rigid member 161.

The upright tube 14 has a plurality of projections 141 arranged helically on an annular outer surface thereof and engaging a helical groove 131 in the sliding sleeve 13. As such, axial movement of the sliding sleeve 13 relative to the upright tube 14 can be converted into rotation and axial movement of the upright tube 14 relative to the rod body 12.

To wring out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 16, the handle 11 is held with one hand, and the sliding sleeve 13 is moved downwardly on the upright tube 14 with the other hand so as to rotate and move the movable rigid member 161 relative to the fixed rigid member 162, thereby twisting the liquid absorbent member 16. A large torque is required to twist the liquid absorbent member 16. As a result, the user must exert a large force on the sliding sleeve 13 to wring out the liquid absorbent member 16.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide a mop that can be wrung out without the need for the user to overly exert him or himself.

According to this invention, a mop includes a liquid absorbent member having two ends fastened respectively to a movable rigid member and a fixed rigid member, a rod body, a tubular actuator unit sleeved on the rod body, a tubular driven unit sleeved on the actuator unit, and an operation member sleeved on the driven unit. The fixed rigid member is anchored to the rod body. The movable rigid member is sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body. A planetary gear mechanism is disposed between the driven unit and the movable rigid member. To wring out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member, the operation member is moved on the driven unit so as to rotate the driven unit on the actuator unit, thereby rotating the movable rigid member relative to the fixed rigid member. Due to the presence of the planetary gear mechanism, the operation member can be easily moved on the driven unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional mop;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the conventional mop;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, wherein a cleaning unit is removed for best illustration;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, partly perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a rotation direction-limiting unit;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when an operation member is disposed in a release position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when a driven unit is moved to an upper limit position and when the positioning unit is moved to a limiting position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how an operation member is moved on a driven unit for twisting a liquid absorbent member;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line X-X in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, partly perspective view the second preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention, illustrating a modified rotation direction-limiting unit; and

FIG. 12 is a partly sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention includes a rod body 2, a cleaning unit 3, a tubular actuator unit 4, a tubular driven unit 5, a planetary gear mechanism 6, a positioning unit 8, and an operation member 9.

The rod body 2 has a lower end 21, an upper end 22 connected fixedly to a handle 70, and an annular groove 24 formed in an upper end portion thereof. The cross section of the rod body 2 is non-circular.

The cleaning unit 3 includes a fixed rigid member 32 anchored to a lower end of the rod body 2 by a clamping unit 72, a movable rigid member 31 sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body 2 and disposed above the fixed rigid member 32, and a liquid absorbent member 33 having two ends fastened respectively to the fixed rigid member 32 and the movable rigid member 31. The liquid absorbent member 33 includes a plurality of strands of cloth. The clamping unit 72 includes a pair of upper and lower clamping disks 721, 722, which are connected fixedly to the lower end 21 of the rod body 2 and which clamp the fixed rigid member 32 therebetween.

The actuator unit 4 is sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body 2, and includes an upright tube 41 and a hollow cylinder 42. The upright tube 41 is sleeved on the rod body 2, and has an annular outer surface with an annular toothed portion 43 disposed at an upper end thereof. The hollow cylinder 42 includes a bottom wall 421 formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube 41 at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall 422 extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall 421. An upper end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 is disposed around the hollow cylinder 42.

The driven unit 5 includes an upright tube 51 sleeved rotatably and movably on the upright tube 41 of the actuator unit 4 such that the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4 is disposed outwardly of the driven unit 5. An annular outer surface of the upright tube 51 is formed with two parallel helical grooves 53, an annular toothed portion 54 disposed at an upper end thereof and under the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4, and an annular groove 541 disposed immediately under the toothed portion 54 and extending along a circumferential direction of the driven unit 5. The driven unit 5 is movable relative to the rod body 2 to an upper limit position shown in FIG. 8 so as to move the movable rigid member 31 away from the fixed rigid member 32, thereby stretching the liquid absorbent member 33.

The planetary gear mechanism 6 interconnects the driven unit 5 and the movable rigid member 31, and includes a first sun gear 52, a ring gear 423, a first carrier 612, a plurality of first planet gears 613, a second sun gear 615, a second carrier 611, and a plurality of second planet gears 613′. The first sun gear 52 is formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube 51. The ring gear 423 is formed integrally with an inner surface of the surrounding wall 422 of the actuator unit 4. The first carrier 612 is sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The first planet gears 613 are connected pivotally to the first carrier 612, and are disposed between and mesh with the first sun gear 52 and the ring gear 423, as shown in FIG. 5. The second sun gear 615 is fixed on a top surface of the first carrier 612. The second carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5, and is disposed above the first carrier 612. The second planet gears 613′ are connected pivotally to the second carrier 611, and are disposed between and mesh with the second sun gear 615 and the ring gear 423.

The second carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The first carrier 612 is disposed within the hollow cylinder 42. A retaining member 71 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. An outward flange 510 on the outer surface of the upright tube 51 engages an annular groove 710 in an inner surface of the retaining member 71 such that the retaining member 71 is rotatable relative to the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. As such, the driven unit 5 is co-movable with the actuator unit 4. The retaining member 71 is connected fixedly to the second carrier 611 so as to clamp the movable rigid member 31 between the retaining member 71 and the second carrier 611. When the actuator unit 4 and the ring gear 423 cannot rotate relative to the rod body 2 and when the driven unit 5 and the first sun gear 52 are rotated relative to the rod body 2, all of the first carrier 612, the first planet gears 613, the second sun gear 615, the second carrier 611, and the second planet gears 613′ rotate relative to the rod body 2. As a consequence, rotation of the driven unit 5 can be transferred to the movable rigid member 31 such that the rotation speed of the movable rigid member 31 is smaller than that of the driven unit 5.

With further reference to FIG. 6, the positioning unit 8 is sleeved movably on the rod body 2, and is movable between a release position shown in FIG. 7 and a limiting position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The positioning unit 8 includes a tubular housing 81 formed with a non-circular hole 811 engaging fittingly the rod body 2 so as to allow for axial movement of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2, while preventing rotation of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2. The tubular housing 81 has an annular inner surface formed with an annular first toothed portion 82. When the driven unit 5 is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit 8 is disposed at the limiting position, the toothed portion 82 of the positioning unit 8 engages the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4 so as to prevent rotation of the actuator unit 4 relative to the rod body 2.

With additional reference to FIG. 10, the positioning unit 8 further includes a pivot pin 830, a pawl 831 formed with an integral positioning element 832, a torsional spring 833, and a spring-biased ball 84 disposed on the inner surface of the housing 81. The pivot pin 830 is disposed in the positioning unit 8, and extends parallel to the rod body 2. The pawl 831 is disposed pivotally on the inner surface of the positioning unit 8 by the pivot pin 830. When the positioning unit 8 is disposed in the release position, the spring-biased ball 84 engages the annular groove 24 in the rod body 2 so as to allow for bidirectional rotation of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2, while preventing axial movement of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2. When the driven unit 5 is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit 8 is disposed at the limiting position, the positioning element 832 engages the annular groove 541 in the driven unit 5 so as to maintain the relative position between the positioning unit 8 and the driven unit 5. As such, the pawl 831 is biased by the torsional spring 833 to engage the toothed portion 54 of the driven unit 5 so as to limit the driven unit 5 to rotate relative to the rod body 2 only in a predetermined direction. The toothed portion 54 of the drive unit 5, the pivot pin 830, the pawl 832, and the torsional spring 833 constitute cooperatively a rotation direction-limiting unit. The housing 81 has a lower end portion formed with a window 834. The pawl 831 extends through the window 834 (see FIG. 3), and has an outer end disposed outwardly of the housing 81. When the positioning element 832 engages the annular groove 541 in the driven unit 5, the outer end of the pawl 831 can be operated to remove the positioning element 832 from the annular groove 541. This allows the positioning unit 8 to be moved from the limiting position to the release position.

The operation member 9 is sleeved rotatably and movably on the driven unit 5 such that axial movement of the operation member 9 on the driven unit 5 is converted into rotation of the driven unit 5 and, thus, the movable rigid member 31 relative to the rod body 2. In this embodiment, the operation member 9 has an inner surface formed with two projections 91 received respectively and slidably within the helical grooves 53 in the driven unit 5. As such, when the operation member 9 moves axially on the driven unit 5, the driven unit 5 rotates on the rod body 2. Hence, the movable rigid member 31 rotates relative to the fixed rigid member 32 so as to twist the liquid absorbent member 33, thereby wringing out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 33.

With additional reference to FIG. 7, when the positioning unit 8 is disposed in the release position, due to gravity actuating on the actuator unit 4, the driven unit 5, the planetary gear mechanism 6, and the operation member 9, the hollow cylinder 42 and the operation member 9 abut respectively against the upper clamping disk 721 and the retaining member 71. In this state, since the movable and fixed rigid members 31, 32 are in close proximity to each other, the liquid absorbent member 33 is collapsed and scrunched up. Therefore, the handle 70 can be declined so as to allow a lower end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 to contact a floor (not shown). Subsequently, the lower end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 can be moved on the floor for cleaning the floor.

With additional reference to FIG. 8, when it is desired to twist the liquid absorbent member 33, an assembly of the driven unit 5, the planetary gear mechanism 6, and the operation member 9 is lifted so as to move the driven unit 5 relative to the rod body 2 to the upper limit position. This allows the actuator unit 4 to move downwardly within the driven unit 5. Hence, the fixed rigid member 32 moves away from the movable rigid member 31 until the liquid absorbent member 33 is stretched and in a state of tension. Subsequently, the positioning unit 8 is moved downwardly on the rod body 2 from the release position to the limiting position. In the limiting position, rotation of the actuator unit 4 and the ring gear 423 relative to the rod body 2 is prevented, and the driven unit 5 is limited to rotate relative to the rod body 2 in the predetermined direction.

With additional reference to FIG. 9, after the driven unit 5 and the positioning unit 8 are moved respectively to the upper limit position and the limiting position, an upward force is applied to the operation member 9. At this time, since the fixed rigid member 32 is anchored to the lower end of the rod body 2, the movable rigid member 31 and the driven unit 5 cannot move upwardly relative to the rod body 2. This results in unidirectional rotation of the driven unit 5 relative to the rod body 2 and, thus, unidirectional rotation of the movable rigid member 31 relative to the fixed rigid member 32. As a result, the liquid absorbent member 33 is twisted. During twisting of the liquid absorbent member 33, due to the presence of the planetary gear mechanism 6, an upward force significantly smaller than that required to be applied to the abovementioned prior art is enough to move the operation member 9 on the driven unit 5. When the operation member 9 is released, it rotates and moves downwardly along the helical grooves 53 in the driven unit 5. Therefore, the twisting operation can be repeated.

After the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 33 is wrung out to a desired level, the pawl 831 can be operated so as to allow the positioning unit 8 to move from the limiting position to the release position.

FIG. 11 shows a rotation direction-limiting unit of the second preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention, which includes a second toothed portion 83 and a row of ratchet teeth 54. The second toothed portion 83 is formed on the inner surface of the housing 81, and is disposed under the first toothed portion 82. The ratchet teeth 54 are formed on the outer surface of the driven unit 5, and engage the second toothed portion 83.

FIG. 12 shows the third preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention, which includes a modified rod body 2, a modified planetary gear mechanism 6, and a modified positioning unit 8. The modified rod body 2 has a circular cross section, and an axial guide slot 231 formed in the rod body 2. The housing 81 of the positioning unit 8 is formed with a circular hole 811 engaging the rod body 2, and an integral positioning pin 85 received slidably within the guide slot 231 in the rod body 2 so as to guide the positioning unit 8 to move along an axial direction of the rod body 2. The modified planetary gear mechanism 6 includes a ring gear 423, a single sun gear 52, a single carrier 611, and a plurality of planetary gears 613. The sun gear 52 is formed integrally with the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The ring gear 423 is formed integrally with the inner surface of the surrounding wall 422 of the actuator unit 4. The carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5, and is connected fixedly to the movable rigid member 31 (see FIG. 3). The planet gears 613 are connected pivotally to the carrier 611, and are disposed between and mesh with the sun gear 52 and the ring gear 423.

With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mop comprising:

a rod body;

a cleaning unit including a fixed rigid member anchored to said rod body, a movable rigid member sleeved rotatably and movably on said rod body and disposed above said fixed rigid member, and a liquid absorbent member having two ends fastened respectively to said fixed rigid member and said movable rigid member;

a tubular actuator unit sleeved rotatably and movably on said rod body;

a tubular driven unit sleeved rotatably on and co-movable with said actuator unit, said driven unit being movable relative to said rod body to an upper limit position so as to move said movable rigid member away from said lower rigid member, thereby stretching said liquid absorbent member;

a planetary gear mechanism interconnecting said driven unit and said movable rigid member so as to transfer rotation of said driven unit to said movable rigid member;

a positioning unit sleeved movably on said rod body and movable on said rod body between a release position whereat bidirectional rotation of said driven unit relative to said rod body is allowed, and a limiting position whereat said positioning unit engages said driven unit so as to limit said driven unit to rotate relative to said rod body in a predetermined direction when said driven unit is disposed in said upper limit position;

an operation member sleeved movably on said driven unit such that axial movement of said operation member on said driven unit in a direction is converted into rotation of said driven unit relative to said rod body and, thus, rotation of said movable rigid member relative to said fixed rigid member so as to twist said liquid absorbent member to thereby wring out liquid in said liquid absorbent member.

2. The mop as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on said rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with said upright tube, said liquid absorbent member being disposed around said hollow cylinder, said hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of said upright tube of said actuator unit at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of said bottom wall;

said driven unit includes an upright tube sleeved on said upright tube of said actuator unit; and

said planetary gear mechanism includes a first sun gear formed integrally with a lower end of said upright tube of said driven unit, a ring gear formed integrally with an inner surface of said surrounding wall of said actuator unit, a first carrier sleeved rotatably on said lower end of said upright tube of said driven unit, a plurality of first planet gears connected pivotally to said first carrier and disposed between and meshing with said first sun gear and said ring gear, a second sun gear fixed on a top surface of said first carrier, a second carrier sleeved rotatably on said upright tube of said driven unit and disposed above said first carrier, said movable rigid member being connected fixedly to said second carrier, and a plurality of second planet gears connected pivotally to said second carrier and disposed between and meshing with said second sun gear and said ring gear.

3. The mop as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on said rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with said upright tube of said actuator unit, said hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of said upright tube of said actuator unit at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of said bottom wall;

said driven unit includes an upright tube sleeved on said upright tube of said actuator unit; and

said planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear formed integrally with a lower end of said upright tube of said driven unit, a ring gear formed integrally with an inner surface of said surrounding wall of said actuator unit, a carrier sleeved rotatably on said lower end of said upright tube of said driven unit, said movable rigid member being connected fixedly to said carrier, and a plurality of planet gears connected pivotally to said carrier and disposed between and meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear.

4. The mop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upright tube of said driven unit has an annular outer surface formed with two parallel helical grooves, said operation member having an inner surface formed with two projections received respectively and slidably within said helical grooves in said upright tube of said driven unit so that axial movement of said operation member relative to said rod body can be converted into rotation of said driven unit relative to said rod body.

5. The mop as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said rod body has a non-circular cross section;

said actuator unit has an annular outer surface formed with an annular toothed portion; and

said positioning unit has a non-circular hole engaging fittingly said rod body so as to allow for axial movement of said positioning unit relative to said rod body, while preventing rotation of said positioning unit relative to said rod body, and an annular inner surface formed with an annular first toothed portion engaging said toothed portion of said actuator unit so as to prevent rotation of said actuator unit relative to said rod body when said driven unit is disposed in said upper limit position and when said positioning unit is disposed in said limiting position.

6. The mop as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a rotation direction-limiting unit for limiting unidirectional rotation of said driven unit relative to said rod body when said driven unit is disposed in said upper limit position and when said positioning unit is disposed in said limiting position.

7. The mop as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotation direction-limiting unit includes:

an annular toothed portion formed in an outer surface of said drive unit, said toothed portion of said actuator unit disposed outwardly of said driven unit and above said toothed portion of said driven unit;

a pivot pin disposed in said positioning unit and extending parallel to said rod body;

a pawl disposed pivotally on said inner surface of said positioning unit by said pivot pin and engaging said toothed portion of said driven unit; and

a torsional spring for biasing said pawl to engage said toothed portion of said driven unit so as to limit unidirectional rotation of said driven unit relative to said rod body.

8. The mop as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on said rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with said upright tube, said hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of said upright tube at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of said bottom wall;

said outer surface of said driven unit is further formed with an annular groove extending along a circumferential direction of said driven unit; and

said pawl on said positioning unit is formed with an integral positioning element received slidably within said annular groove in said driven unit so as to maintain a relative position between said positioning unit and said driven unit when said driven unit is disposed in said upper limit position and when said positioning unit is disposed in said limiting position.

9. The mop as claimed in claim 6, wherein said rotation direction-limiting unit includes:

an annular second toothed portion formed on said inner surface of said positioning unit; and

a row of ratchet teeth formed on said outer surface of said driven unit and engaging said second toothed portion on said positioning unit.

10. The mop as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod body has an annular outer surface formed with an annular groove, said positioning unit including a spring-biased ball disposed on an inner surface thereof and engaging said annular groove in said rod body when said positioning unit is disposed in said release position.