Abstract:
A twist mop comprises a pole, fibers connected to the pole, and a movable collar connected to both the fibers and the pole, so that the collar is movable in an axial and radial direction about the pole, where radial movement of the collar pulls taut the fibers. The mop comprises an upper spline is connected to the pole, a pawl connected to the collar, to allow the collar to move in a radial direction clockwise or counterclockwise about the upper spline. The collar has a radial step to engage the pawl. The pawl is shaped to flex toward the radial step both when the collar axially traverses the pole and when the collar twists in a first direction, around the upper spline. The pawl being shaped to bias towards the upper spline while the collar turns in a second directions, opposite the first direction, around the upper spline.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/630,117 filed Jul. 30, 2003, hereby incorporated by reference, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/234,587 filed Sep. 4, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,949, hereby incorporated by reference, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/142,489 filed May 9, 2002, now abandoned, hereby incorporated by reference.  
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to the field of cleaning supplies, and more specifically to a mop and system for wringing the fibers of the mop.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In the filed of cleaning it is well known that cleaning floor is often difficult to accomplish while conserving water and detergents, while also insuring that the subject floor adequately cleaned. Typically, floors are mopped using various types of conventional mop heads, the mop head being immersed in a volume of water and soap. Several gallons of water and a proportional amount of detergent are used to clean the floor. After the mop is immersed into the water and detergent, a portion of the liquid is squeezed from the mop head and the mop is then wiped across the floor to be cleaned. This leaves the floor wet for a period of time. After the mop head becomes soiled, or after the cleaning fluids have been used up, the mop head needs to be rinsed in the volume of water and detergent, and the process is repeated.  
         [0004]     Wringer mops are well known in the art for augmenting the experience of rinsing the mop head. In some types of wringer mops, two operating rods on the exterior of the mop handle are used to pull the mop head through sets of wringer rollers to expel fluid from the sponge of the mop head. In other types of wringer mops, a single operating rod extends through the hollow handle of the mop to connect to the mop head. These types of mops generally include a ring insert placed within the handle to limit lateral movement of the rod within the handle. These mops have the problem in that they have a complicated design and, accordingly, are more fragile to use.  
         [0005]     One example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,728 to Facca, discloses a self-wringing ratchet mop. The &#39;728 patent discloses a wall defining at least one pawl. Another example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,869 to Libman, discloses a wringer mop. The &#39;869 patent discloses a pawl on a ring that is resiliently fixed the handle, and a series of elongated ribs (spline) on a movable collar.  
         [0006]     A problem with the arrangements of the above patents is that the pawl projections are incapable of flexing with the movement of the collar over the handle. Over time, the pawl projections suffer extensive shearing and are rendered useless.  
         [0007]     Another example of a prior art mop, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,163, to Morad, discloses a Quick Squeezing Wringable Mop. The &#39;163 patent discloses a complex spring biased pawl, and an annular tie for connecting mop fibers to the collar. The complexity of the spring biased pawl and the intricate mounting of the pawl to the collar adversely affects manufacturing cost and time. The annual ties are brittle and have poor restraining qualities, causing the loss of necessary mop fibers.  
         [0008]     Other examples of prior art mops include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,514,051 and 1,520,500 to Jumonville, each disclosing a Mop. The patents teach a pole that holds one end of mop fibers and a handle that holds the other end of the mop fibers. The patents teach turning the handle about the pole to twist and wring the mop fibers.  
         [0009]     The patents disclose a ratchet on the pole and a cylindrical button on the handle. The button is located within a slot. The slot has enough room to allow the button to move towards and away from the ratchet. When the button engages a peak in the ratchet contour, the button is pushed outwardly, away from the ratchet. Otherwise, the button is supposed to bias towards the ratchet so that the button and handle are allowed to advance in a singular direction. Accordingly, the mop fibers advance in a single direction to assist in the wringing process.  
         [0010]     The 500&#39; patent discloses a nail for controlling the maximum motion of the button in the handle. The 051&#39; patent discloses manufacturing the button so that the inward portion has a larger diameter than the outer portion, thereby controlling the maximum motion of the button.  
         [0011]     Both Jumonville inventions suffer from a fatal defect. Both inventions are disclosed as being made of metal. Accordingly, the metal button of both patents would move freely within the slot of the metal handle, unless biased by some means. However, neither patent discloses this bias means.  
         [0012]     According to the disclosure of each Jumonville patent, the button in which each handle would freely move outwardly from contacting the ratchet. This motion renders the handle incapable of being restrained from unintentionally unwinding the mop fibers. This motion would result from both of the contours of the ratchet, and the effect of gravity due to the normal use of the mop. Accordingly, both Jumonville patents are not described so that one skilled in the art can make and use the invention, and the patents are fatally invalid.  
         [0013]     In comparison with the Jumonville patents, the present invention discloses a spline around the pole of the mop, rather than the ratchet of Jumonville. The present invention discloses a shaped pawl within the handle, rather than the cylindrical button. In the present invention, the pawl snugly connects the pole of the handle, rather than fitting within a slot and being able to move towards and away from the spline.  
         [0014]     The pawl flexes as it moves over the maximum spline contours, rather than moving away from the spline. As the pawl flexes, it absorbs energy. As the pawl rotationally advances over the spline, it advances towards lower contours. At the lower contours, the pawl flexes inwardly, towards the lower contours, and releases the stored energy, rather than requiring a means to bias the pawl against the spline. Accordingly, the pawl and handle are allowed to advance in a singular direction. As a result, the mop fibers advance in a single direction to assist in the wringing process.  
         [0015]     According to the above analysis, Jumonville is not an enabling reference over the present invention. Furthermore, Jumonville teaches away from the present invention by requiring an extra means for biasing the button against the ratchet. In contrast, the pawl and spline in the present invention are capable of mutual engagement independent of any further biasing means.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     A twist mop is disclosed that comprises a pole, fibers connected to the end of the pole, and a movable collar connected to both the fibers and the pole, so that the collar is movable in an axial and radial direction about the pole, where radial movement of the collar pulls taut the fibers. The mop comprises an upper spline is connected to the pole, a pawl connected to the collar, to interact with the upper spline and to allow the collar to move in a radial direction clockwise or counterclockwise. The collar has a radial step to engage the pawl. The pawl is shaped to flex toward the radial step both when the collar axially traverses the pole and when the collar twists in a first direction, around the upper spline. The pawl being shaped to bias towards the upper spline while the collar turns in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, around the upper spline. Accordingly, a reliable and easy to use, and structurally straightforward wringer mop is disclosed.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     In order that the manner in which the above recited objectives are realized, a particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1   a  is a front perspective view of a mop according to the invention with a movable collar in a lower position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 1   b  is a front perspective view of an upper spline on the mop;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the mop with the movable collar in an upper position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is front perspective view of the mop, with the mop fibers removed to expose the lower section of the mop;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the mop fibers, with the collar is in the upper position, exposing the lower spline;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5   a  is a front perspective view of the movable collar with the pawl;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5   b  is a front perspective view of the movable collar without the pawl;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the movable collar;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the movable collar;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the mop, where the movable collar is twisted for wringing the mop fibers;  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is a top sectional view of the upper spline (or lower spline) interacting with pawl; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the pawl.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     Referring to figures  1   a ,  1   b ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  9  and  10 , a twist mop  1  is disclosed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The principle components of twist mop  1  include pole  2  and components connected to the pole, such as handles  3   a ,  3   b , a hook  4 , and fibers  5 . Mop  1  has a collar  9  that is connected to fibers  5  and able to rotate and slide along at length of pole  2 . The combined rotation and sliding motion of collar  9  pulls fibers  5  taut.  
         [0031]     According to the invention, a spline  10  is fixed to pole  2 , while a pawl  12  is connected to collar  9 . These components form a system for controlling the motion of collar  9  about pole  1 . The system is capable of assisting collar  9  in pulling fibers  5  taut.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 1   a , mop  1  is disclosed having pole  2 , the preferred length of which is slightly shorter than a person of average height for preventing back strain and is about four feet long. The outside diameter of pole  2  dimensioned to be comfortable is handling by a person having an average grip and is about thirteen-sixteenths of an inch. Tubular or solid metal, plastic, wood, or composite materials are used in manufacturing pole  2 .  
         [0033]     Mop  1  has top handle  3   a  and middle handle  3   b , each connected by a bolt or, alternatively, glue. Plastic, rubber, or any elastic that provides a comfortable grip is used in manufacturing handles  3   a ,  3   b . The dimensions of handles  3   a ,  3   b  are customary for providing a comfortable grip, where the length of handle  3   a  is four and a half inches, the length of handle  3   b  is six inches, and the diameter of each is approximately one-and-one-eighth inches. Handle  3   b  is axially positioned on pole  2  to prevent back strain from a person of average height and is located at about twelve inches from the top of pole  2 .  
         [0034]     The handle  3   a  is ergonomically shaped for a user. The handle  3   a  wraps around the top of pole  2  and acts as a protector. That is, the handle  3   a  prevents the pole  2  from unintentionally scratching, poking or injuring a person or surface. The handle  3   a  is also attached to a fastening mechanism  4  suitable for suspending mop  1  from a hook on a wall. The fastening mechanism  4  maybe a loop or a hook, for example. The fastening mechanism  4  is fixedly connected to handle  3   a.    
         [0035]     Handle  3   a  has hook  4  so that mop  1  can be easily stored on a wall or door hook. The outside diameter of hook  4  is about one-and-one-half inches, and the thickness is approximately one-quarter of an inch.  
         [0036]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , mop  1  has fibers  5  that are made of cotton or any absorbent material. The diameter of fibers  5  is customarily about three-sixteenths of an inch. Fibers are woven to mop  1  as a single strand and passed through end cap  6  (discussed below) and collar  9  (discussed below). The single fiber strand is illustrated as being woven into one hundred or more fiber segments  5   a ,  5   b , etc, each extending a length that allows for mopping as well as wringing, such as about sixteen inches.  
         [0037]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , mop  1  has end cap  6  that is semi-circular and mounted to pole  2  with screw thread, bolts or glue. The shape and dimensions of cap  6  allow the secure retention of fiber segment  5   a ,  5   b  etc, and the cap has an outside diameter of about two and seven-sixteenths inches with a thickness of three-thirty-seconds of an inch. A retainer strip  7  is connected to cap  6  for restraining each fiber segment  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , etc.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIGS. 1   b  and  4 - 10 , mop  1  has a system for wringing and controlling mop fibers  5 , including movable collar  9 , upper spline  10 , lower spline  11 , and pawl  12 .  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 1   b  and  4 , upper spline  10  is formed upon upper stationary collar  10   b  and lower spline  11  is formed upon lower stationary collar  11   b . Upper spline  10  consists of axially long projection  10   c ,  10   d ,  10   e , and lower spline  11  consists of axially short projections  11   c ,  11   d ,  11   e . Each spline  10 ,  11  is connected to pole  1  with a bolt or glue. Plastic is used to manufacture collars  10   b ,  11   b  and spline  10 ,  11 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the cross-sectional shape of spline  10 ,  11  is essentially constant along the axial length of pole  2 , being a right triangle with an inclined side. The inclined side faces the direction that movable collar  9  turns when wringing mop fibers  5 . In the illustration of  FIG. 9 , collar  9  turns in a counterclockwise direction for wringing fibers  5 . Accordingly, the inclined side of spline projections  10  faces the counterclockwise direction. The height of individual spline projections  10 ,  11  is designed for interacting with movable collar  9 . As illustrated, each has a height that is about one-eighth of an inch and the outside diameter of splines  10 ,  11  is about one inch.  
         [0041]     Referring to figures  1   a ,  4  and  8 , the placement of collars  10   b ,  11   b  created a separation that allows for free rotation of collar  9  for the unwinding of fibers  5 . The top of collar  10   b  is about twenty one and three-quarter inches from the bottom of pole  2 , while the top of collar  11   b  is about seven and one-quarter inches from the bottom of pole  2 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  and  2 , and  5   a - 5   b , movable collar  9  has external contours and a diameter that provides comfortable grip in a person&#39;s hand. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the internal diameter of collar  9  is larger than the outer diameter of spline  10 ,  11 . The collar has a bottom section  13  with notches  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c , etc, contours  13   d  and spline  13 e. The combination of notches, contours and spline  13   a - 13   e  enables the gripping of fiber segments  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , etc. Notch  13   a - 13   c  are dimensioned to grip fiber segments  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , and for example, have width that is one-eighth of an inch and a length that is approximately nine-sixteenths of an inch.  
         [0043]     Referring to figures  1   b ,  4  and  8 , the length of spline  10  on collar  10   b  accommodates the downward travel of collar  9  and pawl  12 , discussed below, while the length of spline  11  on collars  11   b  controls the maximum downward travel for movable collar  9 . The length of upper collar  10   b  is about six and three-quarter inches and the length of lower collar  11   b  is about one-and-a-half inches. Also, collars  10   b ,  11   b  are molded without spline  10 ,  11  to prevent accidental slippage of movable collar  9  from spline  10 ,  11 . As illustrated, approximately the bottom five and a half inches of collar  10   b  are molded with spline  10  and approximately the top one and three-sixteenths inches of collar  11   b  are molded with spline  11 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , movable collar  9  has a cylindrical step  9   b . Step  9   b  stabilizes the rotational and axial motion of collar  9 . The dimensions of step  9   b  are such that step  9   b  interacts with collar  10 , where the radial thickness of step  9   b  is about one-eighth of an inch, and the axial thickness is one-eighth of an inch. Step  9   b  is near pawl  12 , and the distance between step  9   b  and top of collar  9  is about three and one-half inches. Alternatively, two steps are used, at or near opposite sides of pawl  12 .  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , and according to the invention, movable collar  9  has slot  9   d . The dimension of slot  9 d allows the insertion and retention of pawl  12 , such that the width of slot  9   d  is about one-eighth of an inch, and the length is approximately one-half of an inch. Slot  9   d  is located at step  9   b  at, for example, three and one-half inches from the top of collar  9 .  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 5   a ,  9  and  10 , pawl  12  connects with movable collar  9 . Pawl  12  consists of at least three short projections,  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , base  12   d  and neck  12 e. Projection  12   a  is sized to prevent pawl  12  from passing through slot  9   d  outwardly from the center of collar  9 . The length of neck  12   e  is essentially the same as the thickness of collar  9  in the area of slot  9   d , preventing axial movement of pawl  12 . The size of base  12   d  prevents pawl  12  from passing through slot  9   d , inwardly towards the center of movable collar  9 . The connection between base  12   d  and projection  12   c  places a majority of base  12   d  away from projections  12   a - 12   c , having benefits as described below.  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cross-sectional shape of projections  12   a - 12   c , in a direction parallel to the major axis of collar  9 , is essentially a right triangle, having an inclined side. The height of projections  12   a - 12   c  faces opposite to the direction that movable collar  9  turns when wringing mop fibers  5 . For illustration purposes, collar  9  turns in a counterclockwise direction for wringing fibers  5 . Accordingly, the inclined side of projections  12   a - 12   c  faces the clockwise direction. Accordingly, the interaction between projections  12   a - 12   c  and spline  10  prevents collar  9  from turning clockwise.  
         [0048]     According to the invention, the shape of pawl  12  causes projection  12   c  to project toward the center of collar  9 , past the inner edge of radial step b. This configuration allows projections  12   c  to continuously engage spline  10 ,  11 . The radius defined by the tips of projections  12   a - 12   c  is smaller than the radius created by the tips of spline  10 ,  11 . It is to be appreciated that the curve formed by the edge of projections  12   a - 12   c  can be other than radial, so long as the projection  12   c  normally projects past the inner edge of radial step  9   b.    
         [0049]     The pawl  12  is made of plastic for flexing behind radial step  9   b  when collar  9  slides over spline  10  prior to and after the wringing of fibers  5  and when collar  9  is rotated for wringing mop fibers  5 . This flexing prevent over-strained pawl  12  via shear and compressive friction, preventing premature wearing of spline  10 ,  11  and pawl  12 . The flexure of the plastic is stored as spring-energy in base  12   d . The release of the energy from base  12   d  biases pawl  12  towards spline  10 ,  12  to substantially and effectively prevent the unwringing of fibers  5 .  
         [0050]     In use, when wringing mop fibers  5 , movable collar  9  is positioned at a maximum distance from the bottom of pole  2 , so that pawl  12  engages upper spline  10  ( FIG. 2 ). Movable collar  9  is then rotated counterclockwise, and pawl  12  prevents collar  9  from rotating clockwise ( FIG. 9 ). Collar  9  is continually rotated until fibers  5  are taut and fully wrung ( FIG. 8 ).  
         [0051]     As collar  9  rotates about spline  10 , fibers  5  pull collar  9  downwardly ( FIG. 8 ). Once fibers  5  are wrung, collar  9  is moved between upper spline  10  and lower spline  11  and fibers  5  are unwound. Once fibers  5  are unwound, collar  9  is moved to engage lower spline  11  ( FIG. 9 ). During mopping, the interaction between pawl  12  and lower spline  11  prevents axial rotating of movable collar  9 .  
         [0052]     According to the description, a reliable, easy to use and structurally straightforward twist mop has been disclosed.  
         [0053]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims and their combination in whole or in part rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.