Abstract:
Disclosed is a butterfly mop having an elongate shaft with a channel body disposed at one end of the shaft, the channel body having first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween, the mop further having a mop element including a foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member. The mop element and channel body are hingedly movable along a hinge line relative to one another, whereby the mop element may be drawn into the channel causing the mop element to fold along a transverse axis and to become compressed between the channel body leg portions. A manual actuation mechanism includes a handle and a tension rod connecting the handle to one of the mop element and channel body for effecting relative hinged movement thereof. The mop element preferably includes plural pairs of apertures for allowing mounting of the mop element to variously sized mop element supports.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/057,088, filed Aug. 27, 1997, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed toward mops, and more specifically, is in the field of butterfly mops.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A butterfly mop is characterized in that it comprises an elongate, foldable, compressible, liquid-absorbent member, such as a sponge, which is disposed at one end of a mop shaft, and which is used to absorb liquid, typically water, from a surface. When it is desired to expel liquid from the absorbent member, portions of the absorbent member are folded over one another along a transverse axis of the absorbent member and are compressed, using a folding mechanism such as a roller or track. Butterfly mops are so named because the folding and unfolding of the absorbent member along its transverse axis is said to resemble the motion of the wings of a butterfly.  
           [0004]    One typical butterfly mop is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,201. As shown therein, the butterfly mop includes an elongate liquid absorbent member, a plate connected to a surface of each “wing” of the liquid absorbent member, and an activating rod pivotally connected to a portion of each of the plates adjacent the other plate. The plates are drawn along the dual arms of a yoke-like track to thereby fold the liquid absorbent member over onto itself and to compress the liquid absorbent member within a compression space disposed between and defined by the dual arms of the track. Numerous other butterfly mops are known in the prior art.  
           [0005]    A common problem with conventional butterfly mops is the difficulty inherent in manually applying sufficient force to the actuating mechanism to fold the liquid absorbent member over onto itself and to compress the liquid absorbent member sufficiently to satisfactorily expel liquid therefrom. Indeed, in typical butterfly mops, substantial physical effort may be required to compress the absorbent member. Another drawback lies in the difficulty of removing a spent liquid absorbent member and of attaching a new liquid absorbent member. Known absorbent members typically are sized to be received by and supported on only one type of mop. A liquid absorbent member from one mop often will not fit on a second mop, and thus retailers must stock many different sizes of mop elements.  
           [0006]    It is a general object of the present invention to provide a mop that overcomes these drawbacks of earlier mops.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing a mop including a channel body comprising spaced-apart first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween. The channel body uniquely cooperates with an elongate mop element comprising a foldable, compressible liquid absorbent member. In accordance with the invention, the channel body and mop element are disposed in a relatively hinged relationship with respect to one another along a hinge line lying along a longitudinal axis of the mop element. The mop element and the channel body are relatively movable over a range of travel between an open mop element position and a closed position wherein the mop element is folded about a central transverse portion and is rotated to a position within the channel. A tension rod connects a manually operable handle to the central portion of the mop element remote from the channel hinge portion for effecting relative hinged movement of the mop element and the channel body. When tension is applied to the rod, the liquid absorbent member is drawn into the channel and is compressed therewithin to thereby expel water therefrom, the mop element folding about its transverse central portion upon compression. The relatively hinged relationship of the mop element and the channel body and the butterfly action of the absorbent member provides a leveraged relationship that effectively multiplies the force applied by an operator to fold and compress the mop element. This leveraged relationship reduces the manual force necessary to draw the absorbent member into the channel to thereby expel liquid therefrom. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the actuating handle is pivotally mounted to the shaft about a pivot axis, and comprises an elongate member terminating in an operator gripping portion, whereby a pivotal motion of the gripping portion relative to the shaft creates tension in the rod.  
           [0008]    In accordance with particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the mop includes a mop element support having a first wing, and a second wing, and a link portion supported on the body and including a liquid absorbent mop element mounted on the wings. In this embodiment, the first leg portion of the channel body includes a first roller rotatably journalled thereto and engaging the first wing, and the second leg portion includes a second roller rotatably journalled thereto and engaging the second wing. The rollers and wings serve to guide the liquid absorbent mop element into the channel.  
           [0009]    In accordance with a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the mop element includes a compressible liquid absorbent outer layer and a flexible, relatively tough inner layer adapted to overlie the mop element support. The wings of the support are provided with apertures which align respectively with apertures in the inner layer of the mop element. Fasteners are used to maintain the inner layer against the support. Most preferably, the fasteners comprise a rivet portion having an apertured head and a longitudinally slotted outer sleeve, and an inner pin portion having a headed end and an operative end opposite thereof. By introducing the headed end of the pin portion into the slot of the rivet portion, the pin engages and enlarges the outer sleeve to removably retain the inner layer and wing together. By so attaching the mop element to the mop element support, the mop element may be quickly and easily removed when spent, and may be readily replaced with a fresh mop element. The mop element may be provided with plural apertures sized to fit a variety of mop element supports. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut-away, of the mop of the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the operator handle of the mop shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the mop element end of the mop shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the mop element in an upwardly facing position.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view, partially cut-away, of the mop element end of the mop shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the mop element in a downwardly facing position.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the mop element end shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  showing the mop element as it is being drawn into the channel body.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the mop element end shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , showing the mop element fully withdrawn into the channel body.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side representational view of the mop of FIGS.  1 - 6 , showing the mop element fully withdrawn into the channel body as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the mop element assembly of the mop of the invention, illustrating the mop element and a portion of the mop element support.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fastener useful in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, showing the mop element secured to the mop element support with two of the fasteners shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the mop of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0021]    While the foregoing drawings are described with reference to the “upwardly” and “downwardly” facing positions, it should be understood that these designations refer to the floor engaging position and are for convenient reference only. In practice, the mop of the invention has no spatial orientation.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the butterfly mop  20  generally includes a mop shaft  21  having a mopping end  22  and a gripping end  24 . Disposed at the mopping end  22  is a mop element assembly  25  including a mop element  26  and a mop element support  27 . The mop element  26  includes an absorbent member of spongy material as shown in FIG. 1 and a flexible, relatively tough inner layer (not shown in FIG. 1) which is secured to the support  27  by fasteners  76 ,  77 . At the gripping end  24  of the mop shaft  21  is disposed a hanger clip  29  for supporting the mop for storage.  
         [0023]    With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mop element  26  comprises a flexible, compressible absorbent member which absorbs liquid and from which liquid may be expelled upon compression thereof. The mop element has a longitudinal axis  31  and a central transverse axis  32  generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  31 . The central axis  32  divides the mop element generally into two regions, a first region  34  and a second region  35 . The mop element is disposed on the mop element support  27 , which support comprises a first wing  37  and a second wing  38  generally coinciding with respective regions  34 ,  35  of the mop element  26 . As shown more particularly in FIG. 4, the support  27  includes a link  40  connected to the wings  37 ,  38  such that the wings are hingedly secured to first and second link arms  42 ,  43 , respectively. The support further includes biasing means for urging the wings and the respective mop element regions toward longitudinally aligned positions. Preferably, the biasing means comprises a dual coiled spring  45  having first and second legs  47 ,  48  (shown in phantom in FIG. 4) engaging the respective wings  37 ,  38 . Alternatively, the biasing means may comprise two single coil springs (not shown) or another suitable spring mechanism.  
         [0024]    The mop further includes a channel body  50 , as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 3, and  4 . With reference to FIG. 4, the channel body  50  includes a first leg  51  and a second leg  52  connected by a bight portion  54 , and a channel  55  generally defined by a space between the first leg  51  and the second leg  52 . First and second rollers  58 ,  59  are rotatably journalled respectively on the first and second legs  51 ,  52  and positioned continuously to engage respectively the first and second wings  37 ,  38 . The channel body  50  may be secured to the shaft by any suitable means, such as by fastener  56  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0025]    In accordance with the invention, the mop element  26  is disposed in a relatively hinged relationship with respect to the channel body  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the link  40  of the mop element support  27  is connected to the channel body  50  at a trunnion  61 , as illustrated in FIG. 4. The hinged mounting of the link  40  in the trunnion  61  defines a hinge line  62  across the width of the link  40 , which hinge line is generally perpendicular to the transverse central axis  32  of the mop element  26 . The hinged relationship between the mop element  26  and the channel body  50  and the wedging action as the wings  37 ,  38  are drawn between the rollers  58 ,  59  provides effective multiplication of the force applied to the mop element  26  as it is drawn into the channel body  50 , thus easing the wringing operation. Tabs disposed in the wing may be provided to inhibit translation of the mop element along its longitudinal axis.  
         [0026]    An actuation mechanism  66  is provided for wringing the mop, as shown in FIG. 1. The actuation mechanism  66  preferably comprises a tension rod  68  having an operator end connected to a handle  69 . As shown in FIG. 2, the handle  69  is generally elongate and includes an operator gripping portion  71 , a pivotal connection  73  to the tension rod  68  and a pivot  79  for connection to mop shaft (not shown in FIG. 2). The tension rod is operatively connected to the mop element assembly  25 , and preferably is connected to the mop element  26  via the mop element support  27 . By applying tension to the tension rod  68 , the operator causes the mop element  26  to move hingedly with respect to the channel body  50  and to be drawn into and compressed within the channel  55 .  
         [0027]    Operation of the mop is progressively illustrated in the plan views of FIGS.  4 - 6  and in the side view of FIG. 7. The mop element is shown in a mopping position in FIG. 4. When it is desired to expel liquid from the mop element, tension is applied to the tension rod  68  (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) whereupon the mop element  26  begins to fold along the central transverse axis  32  and to be drawn into the channel body  50 . FIG. 5 illustrates the mop element when partially drawn into the channel body, and FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the mop element when fully withdrawn into the channel body. During operation, the wings  37 ,  38  travel in a complex path including a generally arcuate path, as illustrated by arrow  74  in FIG. 7. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mop element is secured to the mop element support with screw-type fasteners  76 ,  77  which pass through apertures in the wings  37  and  38  and which are secured in threaded apertures in the inner layer of the mop element  26 .  
         [0028]    The operator handle  69  is pivotally mounted to the shaft  21  at the pivotal mounting  79  as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tension rod  68  has an eyelet  70  which extends around a shaped intermediate portion  30  of link  40  between arms  42  and  43 . The rod  68  is also secured to the handle  69  at a pivotal connection  73  disposed between the handle operator gripping portion and the pivotal mounting of the handle on the shaft as a second order lever.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the mop  20 ′ of the invention utilizing a handle  69 ′ having a central pivot point  79 ′. The tension rod  68 ′ is disposed on the opposite end of the shaft  21 ′ and is secured to the handle  69 ′ at pivot  73 ′. In this embodiment, the tension rod extends through an aperture  80 ′ in the connecting portion  54 ′ of the channel body  50 ′. The pivotal mounting  79 ′ of the handle  69 ′ to the shaft  21 ′ is disposed between the operator gripping portion of the handle  69 ′ and the pivotal connection  73 ′ of the handle  69 ′ to the tension rod  68 ′ as a first order lever.  
         [0030]    A preferred embodiment of the mop element of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the mop element  100  is a laminar structure, and comprises a compressible liquid absorbent member  101  having a support surface  102 , which preferably is a generally planar surface. Overlying at least a portion of the support surface is a flexible, relatively tough inner layer  104 , which preferably is made of plastic, such as polypropylene. The inner layer  104  is adapted to overlie a mop element support  106  (partially shown in FIG. 8). The inner layer  106  may be continuous, but is preferably discontinuous across the central transverse axis  107  of the mop element  100 , and preferably includes spacing ribs  109  on at least a portion thereof.  
         [0031]    Many known mop elements designed for use with butterfly mops include two upwardly and inwardly extending threaded posts positioned for alignment with respective holes in the mop element support. The mop element is secured to the support by inserting the posts into the aligned apertures and securing the post with a threaded cap. In accordance with the present invention, the mop element  100  instead has at least one aperture, and preferably includes at least a pair of apertures  110 ,  111 , which are positioned for alignment with respective holes  112 ,  113  in the mop element support. To secure the mop element to the support, a fastener, and preferably a pair of fasteners, are provided. Each fastener is separate from the mop element and includes a post portion for extending through the aligned apertures in the mop element and mop element support, the fastener engaging the mop element and mop element support to thereby releasably secure the mop element to the support.  
         [0032]    In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, the fasteners comprise removable rivets, such as those rivets sold under the trademark TUFLOK® by ITW Fastex®. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the removable rivet  120  comprises a rivet portion  121  and an inner plug portion  123 . The rivet portion has a headed end  124  and a longitudinally slotted outer sleeve  126  with an inward annular projection  125  adjacent the slotted portion thereof. The inner plug has a head  128  and an operative tapered pin  129  opposite the head  128 . The operative pin  129  of the plug  123  is inserted into the sleeve when the headed portions  124 ,  128  of the respective rivet portion  121  and pin portion  123  are longitudinally spaced, and when the pin portion  123  is longitudinally moved toward the headed end  124  of the rivet portion  121 . When the pin is partially extended through the sleeve  126 , the pin engages the inner annular projection  125  and enlarges the sleeve  126  to secure the rivet in place. FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the mop of the invention wherein the mop element  100  is secured to the mop element support  130  via two removable rivets  131 ,  132 . The invention is not limited to the foregoing types of fasteners, and indeed other fasteners can be used in conjunction with the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the aperture, in the mop element may include screw threads, and the fastener may include a shank portion having threads or other projections for engaging the screw threads in the mop element, thereby allowing the shank portion to be screwed and/or pushed into the aperture and thereby secured.  
         [0033]    In accordance with a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the mop element  100  has a central transverse axis  107  dividing the mop element into two regions  133 ,  134 , and includes inner layer portions  104  having plural apertures in each region  133 ,  134 . For example, the mop element  100  shown in FIG. 8 includes apertures  135 ,  136 , which define a second pair of apertures positioned for alignment with respective apertures in a second mop element support (not shown). Thus, the mop element may be secured to mop element supports of various sizes. For example, in FIG. 8, apertures  110 ,  111  are aligned with respective apertures  112 ,  113  in the mop element supports. However, it is contemplated that the pair of apertures  135 ,  136  could be used to secure the mop element  100  to a support having differently spaced apertures (not shown) which apertures align respectively with apertures  135 ,  136 . The mop element shown in FIG. 8 further includes a third pair of apertures  137 ,  138  for mounting to yet a third mop element support (not shown).  
         [0034]    The mop element of the invention is not limited to the configuration shown. For example, the apertures in the mop element may be positioned in any location necessary for alignment with respective apertures in any number of mop element supports. Similarly, while the fastener shown in FIG. 9 is the preferred embodiment of the fastener useful in conjunction with the invention, it is contemplated that other forms of fasteners could be employed. The mop element and one or more fasteners may be provided in the form of a kit, the kit being adapted for securing the mop element to several differently sized mop element supports.  
         [0035]    Thus, it is seen that the invention has overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art, and has achieved the foregoing general objects. The relatively hinged relationships between the respective wings and between the mop element and the channel body allow a user readily to apply sufficient force to the actuating mechanism to fold the liquid absorbing mop element over onto itself and to compress the mop sufficiently to satisfactorily expel liquid therefrom. Moreover, the mop element and kit of the invention are versatile, and allow a single mop element to be supported on variously sized mop element supports. Thus, a retailer need only carry one brand or type of mop element, rather than different replacements for a variety of mops.  
         [0036]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as incorporate those features which constitute the essential features of these improvements within the true spirit and scope of the invention.