CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/962,076, filed Jul. 26, 2007, which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND A wide variety of cleaning implements are known in the art, and the prior art has provided numerous sweepers, brooms, mops, and the like. In recent years, one trend in the cleaning implement industry has been towards “self-wringing” cleaning implements or mops, the term “self-wringing” signifying that water or cleaning fluids may be wrung from the cleaning implement without the aid of a separate wringer bucket or other wringing device. One such type of “self wringing” cleaning element is the sleeve-type mop. A principal drawback with many known sleeve-type mops is that it is difficult to expel liquid from the mop during the wringing operation. Another drawback is that such mops can be difficult to operate.
BRIEF SUMMARY The cleaning implement may include a shaft, a mop that comprises a plurality of liquid absorbent members, such as strings or strips, disposed at one end of the shaft, and a wringing sleeve. The wringing sleeve may be movable axially with respect to the shaft and may be rotatable relative thereto.
According to one aspect of an embodiment, the wringing sleeve forms a part of a wringer that generally comprises the wringing sleeve and a wringer handle that is connected to the sleeve. The wringing sleeve may be movable over a range of travel between a mopping position and a range of wringing positions, in which the wringing sleeve may cover and compress at least a portion of the mop to thereby expel liquid from the mop. The wringer may be rotatable relative to the shaft through at least a portion of the axial range of travel.
According to another aspect of an embodiment, the cleaning implement may include a fixed grip. The fixed grip may be immovably disposed on the shaft above the wringer. The fixed grip may define the uppermost point of axial travel along the shaft of the wringer. The operator may simultaneously grip the cleaning implement at both the fixed grip and at the wringer handle in order to move the wringer axially or rotatably relative to the fixed grip and the shaft.
According to another aspect of an embodiment, the wringing sleeve may include a resilient engagement member. The resilient engagement member may include a shaft and a fin. The fin may be disposed on the shaft and is directed towards the interior of the wringing sleeve. The fin may move in and out of the interior of the wringing sleeve according to the deflection of the shaft. When the sleeve is lowered over the mop, the fin may engage the mop by projecting into the wringing sleeve. By engaging the mop strips or strings, the engagement member helps ensure that, as the sleeve is rotated relative to the shaft, the twisting of the mop is increased due to reduced slippage between the mop and the sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cleaning implement.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a side exploded view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is side elevational view of the wringing sleeve of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a partial rear view of the resilient engagement member of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a partial side elevational view of the resilient engagement member of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is the same view as FIG. 6, except the wringing sleeve has been rotated 90 degrees.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along line 12-12 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line 13-13 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the fixed grip of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 16-16 of FIG. 2 wherein the wringer is in the mopping position.
FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 16-16 of FIG. 2, wherein the wringing sleeve is in a wringing position.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view along line 18-18 of FIG. 17, wherein the wringer has been lowered over the mop.
FIG. 19 is a partial cross sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 2, wherein several mop strips are engaged by the resilient engagement member.
FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1, wherein the wringer has been raised to the mopping position.
FIG. 21 is the same view as FIG. 20, except the wringer has been lowered to an intermediate position.
FIG. 22 is the same view as FIG. 20, except the wringer has been lowered to a wringing position.
FIG. 23 is the same view as FIG. 20, except the wringer has been rotated, thereby twisting the mop.
FIG. 24 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 24-24 of FIG. 23, wherein the operator has twisted the wringer while the wringer was in the wringing position.
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the mop assembly of the cleaning implement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of the mop assembly of FIG. 25.
FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the mop assembly of FIG. 25.
FIG. 28 is a bottom plan view of the mop assembly of FIG. 25.
FIG. 29 is a side exploded view of the mop assembly of FIG. 25 wherein the mop strips are also shown.
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cleaning implement.
FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 30.
FIG. 32 is a top plan view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 30.
FIG. 33 is a bottom plan view of the cleaning implement of FIG. 30.
FIG. 34 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 34-34 of FIG. 31 wherein the wringer is in the mopping position.
FIG. 35 is a partial cross-sectional view along line 34-34 of FIG. 31, wherein the wringing sleeve is in a wringing position.
FIG. 36 is a rear view of the resilient engagement member of FIG. 30.
FIG. 37 is a side elevational view of the resilient engagement member of FIG. 30.
FIG. 38 is a partially exploded view of the wringing sleeve of FIG. 30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a cleaning implement 100. The cleaning implement 100 may include a shaft 102 having an operator end 104 and a mopping end 106. A hanger cap 108 may be disposed at the operator end of the shaft 102. A mop assembly 110 may include a mop 112 disposed at the mopping end 106. The mop 112 may be made of any suitable liquid absorbent material such as fabric strips, strings, or the like. The mop may be composed of composite fabric strips 114.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning implement 100 may include a wringing assembly or wringer 120. The wringer 120 may include a wringer handle 122 and a wringing sleeve 124. The handle 122 may be disposed relatively proximal to the operator end 104 of the shaft 102. The wringer 120 is axially movable with respect to the shaft 102 over a range of travel between a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a range of wringing positions, in which the wringing sleeve 124 may cover and compress at least a portion of the mop 112 to thereby expel liquid from the mop 112. The wringer 120 may be rotatable relative to the shaft 102 through at least a portion of the axial range of travel of the wringer 120.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cleaning implement 100 may include a fixed grip 126. The fixed grip 126 may be immovably disposed on the shaft 102 above the wringer 120. The fixed grip 126 may define the uppermost point 128 of axial travel along the shaft 102 of the wringer 120. The operator may simultaneously grip the cleaning implement 100 at both the fixed grip 126 and at the wringer handle 122 in order to move the wringer 120 axially or rotatably relative to the fixed grip 126 and the shaft 102.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the wringer 120 is shown in more detail. Referring to FIG. 6, the wringer 120 may be generally tubular with an upper opening 130, relatively proximate the operator end, and a lower opening 132, relatively proximate the mopping end. The upper opening 130 may be defined by a male piece 134 including a lip 136 while the lower opening 130 may be defined by a rim 138. The wringer handle 122 and the wringing sleeve 124 may be part of the same continuous piece, wherein the wringer handle 122 is located above the wringing sleeve 124. The wringer 120 may generally taper from the wider lower opening 132 to the narrower upper opening 130 and the tapering may be more drastic at the transition between the sleeve 124 and the handle 122. The handle 122 may include a plurality of helical canals 140 that traverse the handle 122 longitudinally. The helical canals 140 create a non-uniform surface 148 on the handle 122, which may aid an operator in better gripping the handle 122.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the wringing sleeve 124 may include two resilient engagement members 150, 152. In other embodiments, the wringer sleeve may include one, three, four or more engagement members. The engagement members 150, 152 may be arranged opposite one another. In other embodiments, the engagement members may be at other locations. Because the first resilient engagement member 150 may be identical to the second resilient engagement member 152, only the first resilient engagement member 150 will be described in detail. The resilient engagement member 150 may include a shaft 154 and a fin 156. The fin 156 may be disposed on the shaft 154 and is directed towards the interior 160 of the wringing sleeve 124. Referring to FIG. 10, the resilient member 150 may be a continuous part of the wringing sleeve 124 and the shaft 154 may be joined to the sleeve 124 at a first distal end 162. The remainder of the shaft 154 is independent of the sleeve 124, as the shaft 154 and sleeve 124 are separated by slit 164. Slit 164 may begin at the first end 162 of the shaft 154, travel along a first side 168 of the shaft 154, curve around the second distal end 170 of the shaft 154, and return to the first end 162 along a second side 172 of the shaft 154. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the shaft 150 may be generally flat with an outside surface 174 and an inside surface 176. The fin 156 may project from the inside surface 176 proximate the second end 170 of the shaft 154. The fin 156 may be a thin projection that is trapezoidal in shape, wherein the fin 156 projects substantially perpendicular from the inside surface 176 of the shaft 154. In other embodiments, the fin may have other shapes, such as, a half circle. Referring to FIG. 7, the second resilient engagement member 152 also may comprise a shaft 186 and a fin 188.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the fixed grip 126 of the cleaning implement 100 may be generally tubular with an upper opening 210 and a lower opening 212. The lower opening 212 may be defined by a flared female piece 214. Referring to FIG. 15, the female piece 214 may include an inner rim 216. The fixed grip 126 may include a plurality of helical canals 218 that traverse the grip 126 longitudinally, as seen in FIG. 14. The helical canals 218 create a non-uniform surface 220 on the grip 126, which aids an operator in better gripping the fixed grip 126.
Referring to FIG. 16, the shaft 154 of the resilient engagement member 150 may be substantially aligned with the wringing sleeve 124 when the engagement member 150 is in an undeflected state. The engagement member 150 may be in an undeflected state when the member 150 is not lowered over the mop 112. In an undeflected state, the fin 156 is substantially disposed within the cavity 182 defined by the interior 160 of the wringing sleeve 124. In an undeflected state, the outside surface 174 of the engagement member 150 may align with the outside surface 180 of the sleeve, thereby forming a generally uniform tubular shape for the sleeve 124. In the undeflected state, the engagement member 150 may be in the normal state, such that the engagement member 150 may return to the undeflected position when not subject to engagement forces.
Referring to FIG. 16, the cleaning implement 100 is depicted in its fully retracted mopping position. When the cleaning implement 100 is in the mopping position, the wringer 120 may be in its uppermost position on the shaft 102. The female piece 214 of the fixed grip 126 may receive the male piece 134 of the wringer 120 and retain it therein via an interference fit between the lip 136 of the male piece 134 and the inner rim 216 of the female piece 214. The interference fit between the fixed grip 126 and the wringer 120 may thereby ensure that as the operator is mopping, the wringer 120 will not unintentionally descend from the mopping position. In order for an operator to release the wringer 120 from the fixed grip 126, the operator may pull the wringer 120 away from the fixed grip 126 with a predetermined force sufficient to overcome the interference fit between the female piece 214 and the male piece 134.
Referring to FIG. 17, the cleaning implement 100 is shown in a wringing position in which the wringer 120 is lowered over the mop 112. The wringing sleeve 124 may be of sufficient length such that the mop 112 is entirely drawn into the wringing sleeve 124 for compression therewithin when the sleeve 124 has advanced to the lowest mopping position.
Referring to FIG. 17, the resilient engagement member 150 may be deflected as the wringing sleeve 124 is lowered over the mop 112. When the fin 156 engages the mop 112, the mop 112 may exert a force against the fin 156, thereby forcing the fin 156 at least partially out of the cavity 182 of the sleeve 124. As the fin 156 is pushed outward, the shaft 154 may deflect away from the sleeve 120. Accordingly, the outside surface 174 of the engagement member 150 may no longer be aligned with the outside surface 180 of the sleeve 124. However, a portion of the fin 156 may remain in the cavity 182 of the sleeve 124 while the engagement member 150 is deflected. The fin 156 may begin to insert into the mop 112, thereby compressing certain mop strips 114. As the wringing sleeve 124 continues to descend over the mop 112, the fin 156 will continue to press into the mop strips, until the sleeve 124 reaches a wringing position.
An operator may mop a surface to be mopped with the cleaning implement 100 in the mopping position, as shown in FIG. 20. As the operator mops, the absorbent material of the mop 112 may absorb liquid from the mopping surface. At some point, the mop 112 will absorb sufficient liquid that the mop's ability to absorb more liquid may be diminished. At this point, the operator may wish to wring liquid from the mop 112, in order to revive the mop's capacity to absorb more liquid.
Referring to FIG. 21, the first step in the wringing operation may be to disengage the wringer 120 from the fixed grip 126 by pulling the wringer 120 down from the fixed grip 126, thereby overcoming the interference fit between the wringer 120 and the grip 126. During the wringing operation, the operator may grip the cleaning implement 100 with one hand at the fixed grip 126 while using the other hand to grip the wringer 120 at the wringer handle 122. In this way, the operator will be able to manipulate the wringer 120 relative to the remainder of the cleaning implement 100.
The operator may continue to slide the wringer 120 down until it descends over the mop 112, as shown in FIG. 22. As the mop 112 is drawn into the wringer 120, the mop 112 may be compressed due to the inside volume of the wringing sleeve 124 being smaller than the volume occupied by the mop 112 while in the mopping position, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The force of the fins 156, 188 being applied against the mop 112 by the engagement members 150, 152 may also further compress the mop 112. The compression of the mop 112 may cause some of the absorbed liquid to be expelled from the mop 112.
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the mop 112 may be pinched between the two fins 156, 188 of the resilient engagement members 150, 152 as the wringer 120 is lowered over the mop 112. As the fins 156, 188 press into the mop 112, some strips 114 may be located to either side of the fins 156, 188. Other strips may be pinned under the edges 190, 192 of the fins 156, 188. As the sleeve 124 descends over the mop 112, the mop strips 114 remain fixed to the shaft at the mop assembly 110.
Referring to FIG. 23, the operator may rotate the wringer 120 relative the shaft 102 to expel even further liquid from the mop 112 after the wringing sleeve 124 is lowered over the mop 112. The operator may rotate the wringer 120 relative the shaft 102 and mop 112 in a clockwise direction. The operator may also rotate the wringer 120 in a counterclockwise direction. The mop 112 will rotate with the shaft 102 because it may be unrotatably attached to the shaft 102 via the mop assembly 110. Because the fins have divided and/or compressed some of the strips 114 of the mop 112, the mop 112 is also engaged with the wringer 120 via the resilient engagement members. The engagement members prevent the wringing sleeve 124 from simply rotating around the mop 112, because the engagement between the wringing sleeve 124 and the mop 112 reduces slippage between the wringing sleeve 124 and the mop 112, as shown in FIG. 24. Accordingly, as the wringer 120 is rotated relative the shaft 102 and mop assembly 110, the mop strips 114 will begin to be twisted. The wringer 120 thereby wrings water from mop 112. The operator may control how much water is expelled from the mop 112 by selecting how much the wringer 120 is rotated relative the shaft 102. For example, the operator may rotate the wringer by less than one turn. Alternatively, the operator may rotate the wringer one, two, three, four, five, or six full 360-degree revolutions, or to any point in between.
Referring to FIG. 23, the slit 164 defining the resilient engagement member 150 defines a gap that extends through the wringer 120. Because the slit 164 represents a break in the material forming the wringer 120, the wringer 120 may enjoy increased flexibility. The slit defining the second resilient engagement member may contribute to this same quality of flexibility. The increased flexibility of the wringer 120 may allow the wringer 120 to more easily eject the mop 112 after the wringing operation.
Referring to FIG. 25, the mop assembly 110 is depicted without the mop strips. The mop assembly 110 may include a shaft plug 252, a collar 254, a socket piece 256, and a bottom plug 258, as shown in FIG. 26. The shaft plug 252 may be configured to be inserted into the lower opening of the shaft 102 and may be retained therein by, for example, a friction fit. Referring to FIG. 29, the shaft plug 252 may have a plug piece 262 and bottom piece 264, wherein the bottom piece 264 may include post elements 266, 268, 270 for engaging the socket piece 256. The collar 254 may include a rim 276 that defines a hole 278 that passes through the collar 254. The hole 278 may be configured to slide over the upper piece 280 of the socket piece 256. The upper piece 280 of the socket piece 256 may also include channels 282, 284, 286 to receive the post elements 266, 268, 270 of the shaft plug 252, and may retain them therein via an interference fit. The socket piece 256 may further comprise a rounded mop cover 290. The socket piece 256 may also include a socket configured to receive a post 294 of the bottom plug 258. The bottom plug 258 may include a flange 296. Extending up from the flange 296, is the post 294, which may be configured to be inserted into the socket of the socket piece 256 and retained therein by an interference fit. The bottom plug 258 and the socket piece 256 may trap the mop strips 114 of the mop 112 therebetween. The inside surface 298 of the mop cover 290 may include spikes 300 to help hold the mop strips 114 between the mop cover 290 of the socket piece 256 and the flange 296 of the bottom plug 258.
Referring to FIG. 30, there is shown another embodiment of the cleaning implement. The cleaning implement 300 may be similar to cleaning implement 100 except for certain features of the wringer 302. Referring to FIG. 35, the wringer 302 may include two slots 304, 306 that pass therethrough. The wringer 302 may further include two resilient engagement members 310, 312, wherein the resilient engagement members 310, 312 may be attached to the outside surface 314 of the wringer 302. In other embodiments, the wringer sleeve may include one, three, four or more engagement members. The engagement members 310, 312 may be arranged opposite one another. In other embodiments, the engagement members may be at other locations. Because the first resilient engagement member 310 may be identical to the second resilient engagement member 312, only the first resilient engagement member 310 will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, the resilient engagement member 310 may include a shaft 320 and a fin 322. The shaft may include first and second holes 334, 336. Referring to FIG. 31, at a first distal end 324, the shaft 320 may be secured to the outside surface 314 of the wringer 302 by fastening means such as, for example, first and second screws 326, 328. In other embodiments, the shaft may be attached to the wringer by glue, molding, or other fasteners.
Referring to FIG. 36, the fin 322 may extend from the inside surface 329 of the shaft 320 proximate the second distal end 330 of the shaft 320. The first and second engagement members 310, 312 may be positioned on the wringer 302 such that their fins 322, 332 may be disposed within the first and second slots 304, 306, respectively, as shown in FIG. 34. Referring to FIG. 35, the fin 322 may move in and out of the slot 304 as the engagement member 310 is deflected away and towards the wringer 302. Through the slot 304, the resilient engagement member 310 may engage the mop 340 in a manner similar to the earlier described embodiment.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Exemplary embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the invention. Variations of those embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
