Abstract:
A novel, new and improved attachment collar for a deck mop, by which mop yarn can be quickly and efficiently attached together and by which the collar can be quickly and efficiently attached to a handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of mops and more particularly, to the field of deck mops. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of manufacturing and assembly of deck mops. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In general, deck mops are well known in the prior art. One major component of a deck mop is the mop yarn which is attached to a mechanism through which the mop yarn is attached to a handle. 
   In general, the mop yarn is sewn together and thereafter is fastened to a handle by means of having a wire wrapped around the upper portion of the yarn so that it is fastened to the handle which is in simple terms a cylindrical stick made of wood or plastic. Alternatively, the mop yarn is sewn together and then retained by a plastic cup by which the yarn is attached to the handle. 
   The various apparatus for retaining the mop yarn together and attaching the mop yarn to the handle as known in the prior art involves a time consuming, labor intensive, inefficient manufacturing and assembly process. There is a significant need for a new and improved apparatus for assembling yarn for a deck mop and connecting the yarn to the handle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a novel, new and improved attachment collar for a deck mop, by which mop yarn can be quickly and efficiently attached together and by which the collar can be quickly and efficiently attached to a handle. 
   It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a collar is molded out of two separate half hemisphere sections connected by a strap, then mop yarn can be laid across the strap section and the half hemispheres brought together and sealed so that the upper middle portion of the yarn is entrapped within the fully formed hemisphere. Thereafter, the hemisphere serves as a collar to retain the mop yarn in fully operational condition. 
   It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a half sleeve is molded into the top portion of each half hemisphere, with threads molded into the semi-cylindrical interior of each half sleeve, then when the half hemispheres are brought together to retain the mop yarn, the half sleeves are also brought together to form an integrated fully formed sleeve with a cylindrical interior and internal threads through which a handle is attached to the collar. 
   It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that if mating fastener means are formed into the half sleeves, then upon being brought together, the half sleeves serve to retain the collar together. 
   It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that after the half sleeves are brought together and retain the half hemispheres into a fully formed hemisphere, the half hemispheres can also be permanently affixed together to the full hemisphere by means such as sonic welding. 
   It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that if fastener pins are molded into the interior of the collar such as within the half hemispheres and/or along the connecting strap, then upon formation of the fully formed hemisphere, the fastener pins further serve to securely retain the mop yarn within the fully formed collar and further interlock to retain the fully formed collar in a more secured formed position. 
   It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a nipple is molded into the interior cylindrical wall of the sleeve and molded into the location of the interior cylindrical wall above the internal threads, then when the threaded end of the handle is screwed into the threads of the sleeve, and if a ratchet section with ratchet teeth are molded into the end of the handle at the location immediately above the threads, then the ratchet teeth will interlock with the molded nipple in the cylindrical wall of the sleeve so that the handle remains in the cylindrical wall of the sleeve of the collar and will not unscrew during use of the mop. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a new and improved collar wherein mop yarn which is located on a spool can be quickly unwound from the spool and cut to the appropriate length and laid within the collar and by which the collar can be quickly assembled together to retain the mop yarn therein in a quick and efficient manner. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to create a new and improved collar which has molded into it a sleeve with a cylindrical interior and having internal threads and a nipple member which can accommodate a threaded end of a mop handle and retain the handle in a manner so that it will not become unscrewed when the mop is in use. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to create means by which the halves of the collar which entrap the mop yarn can be quickly attached together and fastened together in a quick assembly process. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide further means within the collar by which the mop yarn of the mop can be secured and by which the collar can be further interlocked by the means which serve to secure the mop yarn. 
   Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the fully assembled deck mop of the present invention, with the mop yarn retained by the new and improved collar of the present invention, which collar in turn is attached to the mop handle; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a strand of mop yarn inserted into one embodiment of the collar of the present invention with the collar in the open condition before assembly, with the lower portion of the handle shown before insertion into the collar; 
       FIG. 3  is an open perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention collar, illustrating a first closure means; 
       FIG. 4  is an open perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention collar with the addition of mop yarn fastener pins in the collar half hemispheres; 
       FIG. 5  is an open perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention collar with the addition of mop yarn fastener pins on the attachment strap which connects the collar half hemispheres; 
       FIG. 6  is an open perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention collar; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an assembled collar without retaining mop yarn and before insertion of the mop handle; and 
       FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional top plan view of the collar as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , with a portion of the handle inserted into the collar. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , the present invention comprises a one-piece collar  10 , preferably molded from a single piece of plastic. The collar is formed of a first half hemisphere  20  and a second half hemisphere  30  which are connected together by an attachment strap  40  which connects the lower portion of the half hemispheres and extends from the open bottom of the fully formed hemisphere when the two half hemispheres  20  and  30  are brought together. Molded into the top of first half hemisphere  20  is a first half sleeve  22  having a semi-cylindrical interior wall  23  having internal threads  24 . Molded into the top of second half hemisphere  30  is a second half sleeve  32  having a semi-cylindrical interior wall  29  having internal threads  34 . 
   When the halves of the collar are brought together to form a full hemisphere, a full sleeve is also formed from the two halves  22  and  32  and full internal cylinder having full internal threads are formed from the two semi-cylindrical walls  23  and  29  and two half thread sections  24  and  34 . Fastener means are used to retain the half sections of the sleeve together. By way of example, male teeth  26  can be molded into one-half of the interior wall  25  of first half sleeve  22  and female receiving members  28  can be molded into the opposite interior wall  27  of first half sleeve  22 . Similarly, male teeth  36  can be molded into one-half of the interior wall  35  of second half sleeve  22  and female receiving members  38  can be molded into the opposite interior wall  37  of second half sleeve  32 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the male teeth and female receiving members are aligned so that they interlock and hold the collar together when the two halves are brought together. The two half-hemispheres  20  and  30  can be sonic welded at the location of their joining interior sidewalls  21  and  31 . 
   Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , adhesive  80  can be applied to the interior walls  35  and  37  and also to interior walls  25  and  27  if desired to seal the two half sleeves  22  and  23  together. Adhesive can also be applied to the interior sidewalls  21  and  31  of the half hemispheres if desired. 
   In one alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a first set of fastener pins  52  can be molded into interior face  50  of first half hemisphere  20  and a second set of fastener pins  62  can be molded into interior face  60  of second half hemisphere  30 . Fastener pins  52  and  62  extend away from their respective interior faces  50  and  60  and are offset from each other so that the fastener pins  52  and  62  extend toward the center of the fully formed hemisphere when the two half hemispheres  20  and  30  are brought together. 
   In another alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a third series of fastener pins  72  can be molded into the interior face  70  of attachment strap section  40  and extend along the entire length of attachment strap  40  including the portions that extend into the half hemispheres. The pins  72  are aligned so that they extend toward the center of the fully formed hemisphere when the two half hemispheres are brought together. 
   The strands of mop yarn are wound on a large spool and therefore, during the assembly process, the mop yarn  90  is unwound from a spool and cut to the desired length. The open collar  10  is positioned to be aligned with the spool of mop yarn so that the appropriately cut length of mop yarn is laid over the interior face  70  of attachment strap  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The length of mop yarn  90  is positioned to be centered on the attachment strap  40  so that an equal length of mop yarn extends on either side of the attachment strap  40 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   After the mop yarn  90  is laid across the attachment strap  40 , the two half hemispheres  20  and  30  and the two half cylindrical sleeves  22  and  32  are brought together and attached together in the manner previously described so that the center portion  92  of the mop yarn  90  is trapped within the fully formed hemisphere  16  created by the two half hemispheres  20  and  30 . The center  92  of the strand of mop yarn  90  then lies over the attachment strap  40  and the mop yarn  90  evenly hangs down from the hemisphere  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   If fastener pins  52  and  62  are used, the fastener pins  52  and  62  are embedded into the strands of mop yarn  90  to trap the mop yarn within the fully formed hemisphere  16  and to further secure the mop yarn  90  into the hemisphere  16 . If fastener pins  72  are used, the fastener pins  72  are embedded into the strands of mop yarn  90  to trap the mop yarn within the fully formed hemisphere  16  and to further secure the mop yarn  90  into the hemisphere  16 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , after the two halves are brought together to form the fully formed collar  10 , first half sleeve  22  and second half sleeve  32  form a full sleeve  82  and internal half threads  24  and  34  form a full set of interior threads  84 . 
   An additional innovation is the molding of a nipple  86  into the upper interior wall  88  of the fully formed sleeve  82  above the location of the fully formed threads  84 . The mop handle  120  has a lower portion  110  having exterior threads  100  which are designed to be accommodated by and threaded into the fully formed threads  84  of fully formed sleeve  82 . Immediately above threads  100  is a ratchet section  130  having ratchet teeth  140 , which ratchet section and teeth surround the mop handle  120 . After the mop handle threads  100  are fully threaded into the sleeve teeth  84 , the handle  120  is further rotated until the nipple  86  interlocks with the ratchet teeth  140  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Once interlocked, the mop handle  120  cannot be unthreaded from the collar  10 . This is a significant improvement because it has frequently been encountered in use with prior art mops that as the handle is rotated during mopping, the handle unthreads from the section of the mop into which it has been threaded. With the interlock nipple and ratchet teeth, the handle will not unlock from the collar regardless of how vigorous the mopping action is. 
   The entire collar assembly including all of the components mentioned above as part of the collar can be molded in one single operation and can be molded out of plastic, or any conventional synthetic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene etc. Although not preferred, it is also possible to make the collar out of metal. 
   Defined in detail, the present invention is a collar to retain mop yarn and attach to a mop handle having exterior threads adjacent one end comprising: (a) a first section comprising a first half hemisphere having a first lower wall, a first interior face, a first interior side, a top having a first half sleeve with a semi-cylindrical interior wall having internal threads, the first half sleeve having a first interior wall containing male teeth and a second interior wall containing female receiving members; (b) a second section comprising a second half hemisphere having a second lower wall, a second interior face, a second interior side, a top having a second half sleeve with a semi-cylindrical interior wall having internal threads, the second half sleeve having a first interior wall containing female receiving members and a second interior wall containing male teeth; (c) a flexible strap member interconnecting the first section and the second section and extending from the interior face of the first half hemisphere to the interior face of the second half hemisphere; and (d) the first section and the second section being movable toward each other by rotation of the two sections together as the flexible strap is bent in a direction away from the interior faces of the half hemisphere such that when the first and second interior sides of the half hemisphere touch a full hemisphere is formed from the first half hemisphere and the second half hemisphere and a full sleeve is formed from the first half sleeve and the second half sleeve, which full sleeve forms a cylindrical interior wall having mating threaded sections from each half sleeve to form full threads on the interior cylindrical wall, the male teeth on the first interior wall of the first half sleeve aligned with the female receiving members on the first interior wall of the second half sleeve and the male teeth on the second interior wall of the second half sleeve aligned with the female receiving members on the second interior wall of the first half sleeve; (e) whereby mop yarn is laid over the flexible strap between the first and second half hemispheres, and when the first and second sections are brought together, the central portion of the mop yarn at the location of the flexible strap is trapped within the fully formed hemisphere while the male teeth and female receiving members serve to retain the first and second sections together to form a full collar, the mop yarn hangs down below the formal hemisphere, and the fully formed threads on the interior cylindrical wall of the sleeve receive the threads of the mop handle. 
   Defined broadly, the present invention is a collar to retain mop yarn and attach to a mop handle having exterior threads adjacent one end comprising: (a) a first section comprising a first half hemisphere having a first lower wall, a first interior face, a first interior side, a top having a first half sleeve with a semi-cylindrical interior wall having internal threads, the first half sleeve having internal threads, the first half sleeve having interior walls having fastener means; (b) a second section comprising a second half hemisphere having a second lower wall, a second interior face, a second interior side, a top having a second half sleeve with a semi-cylindrical interior wall having internal threads, the second half sleeve having fastener means; (c) a flexible strap member interconnecting the first section and the second section at a location adjacent the first lower wall of the first half hemisphere and the second lower wall of the second half hemisphere; and (d) the first section and the second section being movable toward each other by rotation of the two sections together as the flexible strap is bent in a direction away from the interior faces of the half hemisphere such that when the first and second interior sides of the half hemisphere touch a full hemisphere is formed from the first half hemisphere and the second half hemisphere and a full sleeve is formed from the first half sleeve and the second half sleeve, which full sleeve forms a cylindrical interior wall having mating threaded sections from each half sleeve to form full threads on the interior cylindrical wall and the fastener means on the first half sleeve and the second half sleeve retain the first and second sections together; (e) whereby mop yarn is laid over the flexible strap between the first and second half hemispheres, and when the first and second sections are brought together, the central portion of the mop yarn at the location of the flexible strap is trapped within the fully formed hemisphere while the fastener means retain the first and second half sections together to form the collar, the mop yarn hangs down below the formed hemisphere, and the fully formed threads on the interior cylindrical wall of the sleeve receive the threads of the mop handle. 
   Defined more broadly, the present invention is a collar to retain mop yarn and attach to a mop handling having exterior threads adjacent one end, comprising: (a) a first section comprising a first half hemisphere including a top having a first half sleeve with an interior wall having threads; (b) a second section comprising a mating second half hemisphere including a top having a mating second half sleeve with an interior wall having threads; (c) a flexible strap member interconnecting the first section and the second section at the location of the first and second half hemispheres; (d) means to retain the first section and the second section together; and (e) the first section and the second section being movable toward each other by rotation of the two sections together as the flexible strap is bent in a direction away from the half hemispheres such that a full hemisphere and a full sleeve is formed from the two sections when they are retained together, and full interior threads are formed in the full sleeve; (f) whereby mop yarn is laid over the flexible strap between the first and second half hemispheres, and when the first and second sections are brought together, the central portion of the mop yarn at the location of the flexible strap is trapped within the fully formed hemisphere, the mop yarn hangs down below the formal hemisphere, and the fully formed threads in the sleeve receive the threads of the mop handle. 
   Defined alternatively, the present invention is an apparatus to prevent a mop handle from disengaging from a collar retaining mop yarn comprising: (a) a mop handle having exterior threads adjacent one end and a ratchet section having exterior ratchet teeth surrounding the mop handle at a location adjacent the exterior threads farthest from the end of the mop handle; and (b) the collar having means to retain the mop yarn and having a sleeve comprising an internal wall having threads to receive the exterior threads of the mop handle, a nipple formed in the internal wall of the sleeve at a location above the uppermost internal thread; (c) whereby when the exterior threads of the mop handle are threaded into the threads on the sleeve, the nipple interlocks with the ratchet teeth to thereby prevent the mop handle from being removed from the collar. 
   Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which the present invention might be embodied or operated. 
   The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of the patent to be granted. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.