Patent ID: 8966700
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus used in conjunction with a hand operated sponge mop, comprising: a. a sponge assembly including a pair of spaced apart posts molded onto an upper surface of a plate, the plate also having a lower surface affixed onto an upper surface of a sponge of the sponge mop, each post having a multiplicity of ascending transverse notches on opposite sidewalls of each post, the ascending transverse notches extending vertically away from the upper surface of the plate; b. a main body having a top surface with a pair of spaced apart housings, the housings including a first housing aligned with a first end of the main plate, the first housing having a central opening extending through a top surface to the bottom surface of the first housing and a second housing adjacent a second spaced apart second end of the main body, the second housing having a central opening extending from its upper surface to its lower surface, each respective first housing and second housing having a body including a retention member to retain a respective first housing and second housing to the top surface of the main body, each housing having a housing opening, the main body having a pair of openings extending from the top surface of the main body to a bottom surface of the main body, each respective opening respectively positioned so that a respective opening at the top surface of the main body is aligned within a respective first housing and a second housing with a respective opening in the first housing aligned with a respective opening in the main body and a respective opening in the second housing aligned with a respective opening in the main body; c. a respective post inserted through a respective opening in the main body so that a respective post extends into and within a respective housing and the sponge is adjacent the bottom surface of the main body; and d. the main body having a pair of spaced apart operating mechanisms retained within a respective housing, each respective operating mechanism including spaced apart post retention members on opposite sides of a post, each retention member including a respective tooth respectively adjacent to opposite vertical sides of a post extending into a respective housing, a respective tooth respectively received in a respective transverse notch of a post, each tooth formed as part of a tooth section having a transverse first tooth and a spaced apart transverses second tooth, an upper squeeze handle which extends into the respective housing opening, each tooth section further including a respective exterior flared section with a pair of oppositely disposed flared sections retained within a respective housing body and respectively pressed against opposite transverse walls of a housing body to enable each respective pair of flared sections to function as a spring with a spring force of a respective pair of flared sections forcing a respective tooth into engagement with a transverse notch on a post to thereby retain the sponge against the bottom surface of the main body, and a squeeze force applied by squeezing two oppositely disposed squeeze handle sections together overcomes the spring force and disengages a respective tooth from a respective notch in a post, thereby releasing the sponge.