Abstract:
A spray mop utilizing a latch and an auxiliary latch that prevents a hinge bar of a mop head from separating and keeping either a cloth mop or a string mop in place. The spray mop utilizes a spray mop that is activated by the use of a lever near the handle of the spray mop. In another embodiment, the hinge bar just uses a latch without an auxiliary latch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Spray mops have been around in the past of which many implement a pad or cloth. In order to keep the cloth in place, the head of the mop is equipped with a retaining system that utilizes a latch or lock. The user then places the cloth in place and a portion of the retaining system hinges thus locking the cloth between the head and the retaining system. In other words, the cloth becomes sandwiched between the retaining system and the head of the mop. The latch or lock prevents the retaining system from separating away from the head. Those that use the pad, the pad is either glued or connected via hook and loops to the head without the use of a retaining system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is a mop that utilizes a retaining system that hinges and becomes retained with one latch or a combination of a latch and an auxiliary latch. In the embodiment using one latch, the user applies pressure on the retaining system which comprises a hinged bar so that the latch rides over a hook while the user applies pressure. In the second embodiment, the retaining system integrates the auxiliary latch as part of the hinged bar which provides a primary connection that hooks to the mop head. Once hooked to the mop head, the hinged bar will be securely locked with the latch that hooks to the hinged bar. 
         [0003]    The invention provides a style of using old technology with improvements. The head of the mop is designed to obtain a cloth or a string mop and the mop contains a spray system such that a user can pull a lever to activate the spray. The spray can either be set manually or electronically. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a spray mop. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the spray mop. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a right side view of the spray mop. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of the head used in the spray mop. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of the head shown in  FIG. 4  in a locked position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of the head show in  FIG. 4  in an open position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the head shown in  FIG. 4  in a semi-locked position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of another embodiment of the head used in the mop and in an open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  shows a front view of the head shown in  FIG. 8  in a transitive position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  shows an isometric view of the latch used in the mop head. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  shows a front view of the latch shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  shows a top view of the latch shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view  13 - 13  of the latch shown in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of the latch shown fully engaged with a hook of the head. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIGS. 1-3  show a spray mop  10  including an improvement in holding a cloth mop or a string mop, not shown. The mop  10  includes a curved handle  18  that pivotally holds a lever  18  to activate a spray system  24  containing a nozzle  24   a . The mop  10  further includes a pole  20  and a padded handle  14  along the pole  20  to give additional leverage in mopping those nasty stains. The mop  10  is equipped with a hook  16  so that the mop can be hung on a wall or a storage cabinet. The mop includes a removable water reservoir  22  so that one can refill the spray system  24  at will. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the mop  10  includes a first embodiment of a head system  28  that pivotally connects to a fork  26  attached to the spray system  24 . The fork  26  connects to one end of the pole  20 . The fork  26  contains a cylindrical rod that engages a cylindrical cavity  28   e  in a post  28   c  by snap fitting. The cylindrical cavity  28   e  is guided by tapered surfaces  28   m , which guide the cylindrical rod into the cylindrical cavity  28   e  until snap fitted and form a mouth. The head  28  is comprised of a base  28   a  and two opposite webs  28   d  that are next to the post  28  and project perpendicular to the base  28   a . The webs  28   d  provide rigidity to the base  28   a  and provides supportive surfaces to a retaining system  28   b  and a latch  28   f . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the latch  28   f  is pivotally connected via a fastener  28   h  at one of the webs  28   d  near one end. The retaining system  28   b  comprises a hinged bar  28   j  that is pivotally connected via a fastener  28   g  at the other web  28   d  opposite to where the latch  28   f  is mounted. In the head  28 , the base  28   a  extends beyond the webs  28   d  so that base  28   a  provides an extended engagement portion  28   a   1  adjacent to the latch  28   f  as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0020]    As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the hinged bar  28   j  includes an auxiliary hook portion  28   i  forming an auxiliary hook cavity  28   n  that serves to engage the extended engagement portion  28   a   1  of the base  28   a . Prior to engagement, as seen in  FIG. 6 , the first hook portion  28   i  is away from the base  28   a  and the auxiliary hook portion  28   i  is made flexible so that a latch hook portion  28   p  rides and expands the auxiliary hook portion  28   i  by mere leverage. As soon as the auxiliary hook cavity  28   n  engages the extended engagement portion  28   a   1 , the latch  28   f  is pivoted to lock with a latch cavity  28   q  formed by the latch hook portion  28   p  as seen in  FIG. 14 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , both the hatch hook portion  28   p  and the auxiliary hook portion  28   i  combined form an S-shape in orientation or a backwards S-shape in an opposite orientation where one of the hoops of the S-shape is shorter than the other hoop. 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIGS. 10-14 , the latch  28   f  comprises an elongated body that contains a through hole  28   f   1  for the fastener  28   h . The elongated body is split, at one end, by a notch  28   f   2  forming two spaced lugs  28   f   3 ,  28   f   4  where the through hole  28   f   1  passes through. The same notch  28   f   2  serves to receive one of the webs  28   d  of the head  28  thus allowing the latch  28   f  to pivot. The latch  28   f  further includes a receiving cavity  28   f   6  and an inner lob  28   f   5 , which serves to engage the latch cavity  28   q . The receiving cavity  28   f   6  serves to receive the latch hook portion  28   p.    
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and similar in concept to the latch  28   f , the retaining system  28   b  contains a notch  28   q  at one end which forms two lobs  28   x ,  28   y  which bridge the bar  28   j . The fastener  28   g  passes through the lobs  28   x ,  28   y  and through one of the webs  28   d  thus making the bar  28   j  hinged at one end of the head  28 . 
         [0023]    In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , it shows a second embodiment of a modified head  38 . In this head  38 , the difference between this head  38  and the other head  28  is that the base  38   a  does not extend beyond the webs  28   d . This eliminates the auxiliary hook cavity  28   n  of the retaining system  28   b  from engaging with an extended engagement portion  28   a   1  of the base  28   a  as shown in the head  28 . See  FIG. 7 . While the elimination of the extended engagement portion  28   a   1  in base  38   a  reduces a locking action, the latch  28   f  will provide sufficient locking of the hinged bar  28   j  as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0024]    The invention has been described above to be improvements of the mop or mop head. The bases  28   a ,  38   a  and the bar  28   j  can respectively contain elongated grippers  28 L,  28   k  to grasp the cloth mop or the string mop but are not necessary. While the spray system  24  is not the improvement, the spray system  24  is envisioned manually operated or electronically operated. In the manual operated mode, a cable will be attached to the lever  18  which will then mechanically activate the spray system. In the electronically operated mode, the lever  18  will push a button thus electronically activating the spray system. While the materials that make the spray mop have not been detailed, it is envisioned that the spray mop can be made from plastic or a combination of plastics and metals. Of course, obvious material modifications can be made to reduce the weight and cost. Further, while the mop  10  contains a spray system  24 , it is envisioned that the spray system  24  can be eliminated to reduce price cost in manufacturing.