Abstract:
A floor mop including a mop head; a bow shaped handle having a distal end positioned remote from the mop head, a proximal end pivotably attached to the mop head, a concave side and a convex side opposite the concave side, the bow shaped handle being pivotably displaceable relative the mop head between a convex side up operating position and a concave side up operating position; and a fluid dispenser mounted on the bow shaped handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Floor mops have been used to clean floor surfaces such as hardwood floors, tile floors, granite floors and the like for hundreds of years. A mop includes a mop head which is moved across a floor to be cleaned and an elongate mop handle which is attached to the mop head. Mop heads come in various configurations depending upon the particular utility of the mop. For example, some mop heads include a rigid plate member to which other, softer, cleaning devices are attached. For example, a cleaning cloth might be attached to such a rigid plate as by hook and fastener type strips, tie-on cords, clamps or other attachment means. 
         [0002]    In some mops the mop handle is mounted on the mop head through a universal pivot assembly or knuckle that allows pivotal displacement of the handle relative to the mop head about two different pivot axes. Most mop handles are straight, but curved mop handles, mop handles with pistol grips, etc., are also known in the art. Recently, straight handled floor mops have been provided with fluid dispensing systems mounted on the mop handle. A user actuates a fluid dispensing system through a handle mounted trigger to dispense floor cleaning fluid or the like as the mop is moved across the floor. Some mops use an aerosol type fluid dispenser while others employ a mechanical pump assembly to dispense cleaning fluid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a floor mop. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevation view of the floor mop of  FIG. 1  in a first cleaning position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevation view of the floor mop of  FIG. 1  in a second cleaning position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a first portion of the mop handle of the floor mop of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a detailed cross-sectional elevation view of the mop handle first portion with a cam member and cam follower in a first operating position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a detailed cross-sectional elevation view of the mop handle first portion with the cam member and cam follower in a second operating position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is an exploded detailed perspective view of the floor mop of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the floor mop of  FIG. 1  being used to clean a floor surface under a chair. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the first portion of the mop handle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is a detailed cross-sectional elevation view of the mop handle first portion embodiment of  FIG. 9  with a cam member and cam follower in a first operating position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  is a detailed cross-sectional elevation view of the mop handle first portion embodiment of  FIG. 9  with a cam member and cam follower in a second operating position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a floor mop  10  having a conventional mop head  12  with a trailing edge  14  and a leading edge  16 . A cleaning pad  18  may be attached to the mop head  12  as by hook and loop type fasteners strips (not shown) mounted on the bottom of the mop head or by adhesives strips, tie-on cords or other cleaning pad attachment means. 
         [0015]    A bow shaped handle  20  is pivotally attached to the mop head  12 . Bow shaped handle  20  has a distal end  22  positioned remotely from the mop head and a proximal end  24  positioned near the mop head  12 . Bow shaped handle  20  may have a circular cross section and has a concave side  26 ,  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which is normally the trailing side of the mop, and has a convex side  28 , which is normally the leading side of mop handle  20 . 
         [0016]    Bow shaped handle  20  includes a first, relatively longer, handle portion  42 , which may be a tubular member with a cylindrical cavity  43  and which may be constructed from relatively high strength material such as aluminum, carbon fiber, high strength plastic or the like. First handle portion  42  has a first end  44  and second end  46  as best shown in  FIG. 4 . The radius of curvature of handle portion  42  may be between 200 cm and 300 cm. In one embodiment handle portion  42  has a cord length of about 97 cm and radius of curvature of about 239 cm. A cut out  48  is provided near the first end  44  of first handle portion  42 , e.g. 12 cm from the terminal end. As illustrated best in  FIG. 4 , a grip member  52  is mounted at the first end  44  of the first handle portion  42 . The grip member  52  may have a sleeve portion  54  which receives the tubular first handle portion  42  in close sliding relationship. The grip member  52  has an elongate portion  56  with an arcuate cross section that is adapted to fit closely against the concave side  26  of the first handle portion  42 . A cut out  58  is provided in elongate portion  56 . Cutout  58  is generally the same size as cut out  48  in the first handle portion  42 . Cam mounting flanges  60 ,  62  are mounted on an end of the elongate portion  56  near the sleeve portion  54 . The cam mounting flanges  60 ,  62  may be connected by a skirt portion  64 . Handle gripping surfaces  66  are formed at the upper end of elongate portion  56 . An end ring  68  is provided at a terminal end of the grip member  52 . Screws  70 ,  72  are adapted to be received in counter sunk holes  74 ,  76  extending through elongate portion  56  to attach the grip member  52  to the first handle portion  42 . First handle portion  42  comprises bores  78 ,  80  therein, into which the ends of screws  70 ,  72  are threaded. 
         [0017]    As best illustrated by  FIG. 4 , a cam member  82  has a central body portion  84  with a cylindrical hole  86  extending through it. A first end  88  of the cam member  82  has a cam surface  90  thereon that includes a heel portion  92  and a toe portion  94 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The cam member  82  includes an elongate trigger portion  96  at its second end. The trigger portion  96  may extend about 8 cm from the center of hole  86 . A pin  98  may be received through holes  100 ,  102  in flanges  60 ,  62  and hole  86  in the cam member  82  to pivotally mount the cam member  82  on the grip member  52 . 
         [0018]    As best illustrated by  FIG. 4 , an elongate cam follower  106  may include a cam engagement portion, for example, a plastic member  108  having an axial length of about 2.5 cm. Member  108  may have a beveled surface portion  110  and a tooth surface portion  112  provided on a face thereof. A plug portion  114  is provided at one end of the cam engagement portion  108  and is adapted to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity  116  of a flexible, relatively incompressible tubular member  118  which may be made of, for example, PVC plastic or similar relatively stiff, high strength material. Member  118  may have an outer diameter of about 1.5 cm, an inner diameter of about 1.3 cm and a length of about 77.5 cm. The elongate cam follower  106  is inserted into first tubular handle member  42  such that the cam engagement member  108  thereof is positioned near the opening  48  in the first handle portion  42  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0019]    The handle attachment member  52  is mounted such that opening  58  therein is aligned with opening  48  in the first handle member  42 . Cam member  82  is pivotally mounted on flanges  60 ,  62  such that the first end  88  thereof is positioned at least partially within the cylindrical cavity  43  of the first handle portion  42  with the cam surface  90  of the cam member  82  positioned in engagement with the beveled surface portion  110  of the elongate cam follower  106 . Operation of the cam member  82  and the elongate cam follower  106  will be described in further detail below. 
         [0020]    A second relatively shorter handle portion  142  may be a tubular member which may be constructed from aluminum, high strength plastic, carbon fiber, or other relatively strong and light weight material,  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The second handle portion  142  has a first end  144 ,  FIG. 7 , which may be adapted to mate with the second end  46  of the first handle portion  42 ,  FIG. 4 . The second handle portion  142  has a second end  146  which is adapted to be pivotally connected to the mop head  12  is described below. In one embodiment the second handle portion  142  has a length of about 20 cm. 
         [0021]    A fluid dispense assembly  152 , as best shown in  FIG. 7 , includes a fluid reservoir member  154  which is attached to the second handle portion  142  as by integral sleeve portion  156 . A mechanical pump assembly  158  is mounted in the first end  144  of the second relatively shorter handle portion  142 . The pump is in fluid communication with a reservoir (not shown) inside the reservoir member  154 . The mechanical pump  158  includes a reciprocal pump member  160  which is biased in the upward position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A retained spike  162  may be mounted at the top of the pump member  160  and is adapted to connect the pump member  160  to end  116  of elongate cam follower  106 ,  FIG. 4 . The fluid dispenser assembly  152  also includes a fluid supply tank  164  which holds cleaning fluid or the like. Fluid supply tank  164  may comprise a tank head portion  166  which is adapted to be received in a mouth portion  168  of the fluid reservoir member  154  thus enabling fluid from the fluid tank  164  to flow into the fluid reservoir  154 . A spray nozzle  170 ,  FIG. 1 , is mounted at a forward surface of the fluid reservoir member  154  and may be angled at about 45° to the floor when the second relatively shorter handle portion  142  is in a vertical upright position. A valve member (not shown) positioned in the mouth  168  enables fluid from tank  164  to flow into a reservoir (not shown) within the reservoir member  154 . The spray nozzle  170  may be positioned about 13 cm above the floor when the second handle portion  142  is in a vertical position. In operation of the fluid dispenser assembly  152 , depressing the reciprocal pump member  160  causes fluid from the internal reservoir to be sprayed out the nozzle  170 . The tip of nozzle  170  may be located about 5 cm forward of the longitudinal axis of the second handle portion  142 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the reservoir member  154  is positioned substantially entirely on the convex side  28  of the mop handle  20 . Straight handled mops having a fluid dispenser assembly such as  152  are known in the art, such as, for example, floor mops available from Bona USA of 2550 South Parker Road, Aurora, Colo. 80014. Accordingly, the structure of the fluid dispenser assembly  152  will not be further described herein. In an alternative embodiment of the fluid dispenser assembly  152 , the mechanical pump assembly is replaced by an aerosol spray assembly. 
         [0022]    Second end  146  of the second relatively shorter handle portion  142  is pivotally mounted on a yoke member  172  as by a pin extending through sleeve portion  156  and end  146 . Yoke member  172  is in turn pivotally mounted on a laterally extending shaft (not shown) which is mounted on a top portion  174  of mop head  12 . Such universal joint mounting of a mop handle to a mop head is known in the art. 
         [0023]    The operation of the cam member  82  and elongate cam follower  106  will now be described.  FIG. 5  illustrates a position of the cam member  82  at which the cam member  82  has rotated as far as possible in the clockwise direction  180 . The rotation of the cam member  82  in the clockwise direction  180  is limited by the engagement of the toe portion  94  of the cam member  82  with the interior side wall  178  of the first handle portion  42 . At this relatively rotated position, the trigger portion  96  of the cam member  82  is rotated outwardly from the first handle member  42 , for example, it may be rotated outwardly about 30°-45°. Rotation of the cam member  82  in the counter clockwise direction shown at  181  in  FIG. 5 , causes the elongate cam follower  106  to be displaced in direction  182 , i.e., downwardly toward the pump member  160 . In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , the elongate cam follower has moved in direction  182  and has depressed the pump member  160  so as to cause fluid to be dispensed from nozzle  170  by the mechanical pump assembly  158 . The reciprocal pump member  160  is biased upwardly and thus when pressure is removed from trigger portion  96 , the cam follower  106  will be moved by the pump member  160  in direction  186  and the cam member  82  will in turn be rotated in direction  180  until the cam follower  106  and the cam member  82  have returned to the position illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Thus, it will be seen that the cam member  82  and the cam follower  106  comprise portions of an actuator assembly that actuates the fluid dispenser assembly  152  to dispense fluid, such as in a spray mist  190 , shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , onto the floor  200 . 
         [0024]    The floor mop  10  has a first operating position, shown in  FIG. 2 , which is the normal operating position of the mop. In this operating position, the convex side  28  of the bow shaped mop handle  20  is positioned above the concave side  26  and spray  190  from nozzle  170  is sprayed on the floor  200  at a position adjacent to the leading edge  16  of the mop head  12 . In a second operating position of the mop  10 , the concave side  26  is positioned above the convex side  28  and spray  190  from the nozzle is, again, deposited on the floor adjacent to the leading edge  16  of the mop head  12 . In the second operating position, the spray nozzle  170  is closer to the floor than in the first operating position. This second operating position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8  can be used advantageously for cleaning a floor surface  200  below furniture  191  such as a chair, table or the like having legs  192 ,  194 , etc. and a relatively low horizontal structure  196  such as the cross brace of a chair or table. In this configuration as shown in  FIG. 8 , the curvature of the mop handle  20  allows the mop head  12  to be positioned underneath the piece of furniture with the handle grip assembly  52  positioned at a relatively higher location that it would occupy if the mop were operated in the convex side up orientation as shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 8 . This position shown in  FIG. 8  is also higher than that which would be provided by a mop having a straight mop handle. It will also be seen that by operating the mop  10  in the position shown in  FIG. 8  that the fluid dispenser assembly  152  is positioned on the side of the mop  10  away from the horizontal structure  196  on the furniture  191  thus avoiding interference from the furniture. In one embodiment, the maximum forward extension of the fluid dispensing assembly is at a point  151  which may be about 8 cm from the central longitudinal axis of second handle portion  142  and about 25 cm from the floor  200  when the handle portion  142  is vertically upright. 
         [0025]    One embodiment of the bow shaped handle first handle portion  42  is shown in  FIGS. 4-6  discussed above. A second embodiment of the first handle portion is shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . In this second embodiment the handle first portion is designated  242 . The first handle portion  242  may be a tubular member having a cylindrical cavity  243 , a first end  244  and a second end  246 . A cut out  248  is provided near first end  244 . A grip member  252  is mounted at the first end  244  of the first handle portion  242 . The grip member  252  may have a sleeve portion  254  and an elongate portion  256  with an arcuate cross section adapted to fit closely against first handle portion  242 . A cut out  258  is provided in the elongate portion  256 , which is generally the same size as cut out  248 . Cam mounting flanges  260 ,  262  are provided on the elongate portion  256  near sleeve portion  254 . An end ring  268  may be provided at a terminal end of the grip member  252 . The grip member  252  may be attached to the first handle portion  242  as by screws  270 ,  272 . 
         [0026]    A cam member  282  has a central body portion  284  with a hole extending through it. A first end of the cam member  282  has a cam surface  290 . The cam member  282  includes an elongate trigger portion  296  at its second end. A pin  298  is received in holes in the mounting flanges  260 ,  262  and the hole in the central body portion  284  to pivotally connect the cam member  282  to the grip member  252 . An arcuate, elongate cam follower  306  has a first end  308  at which a cam engaging member  310  is located and a second end  312  at which a reciprocal pump member engaging member  314  is located. A relatively rigid, arcuate shaft  316 , which may be constructed from metal such as aluminum, copper, steel or the like, may connect member  310  to member  314 . The shaft  316  conforms to the arcuate shape of first handle portion  242  and may have one or more spacers  318  mounted thereon adapted to be closely slidingly received within cavity  243 . A surface  311  of cam engaging member  310  engages surface  290  of the cam member  282 ,  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0027]    Application of force to trigger portion  296  of cam member  282  causes rotation of the cam member  282  in direction  180 ,  FIG. 10 , causing the arcuate elongate cam follower  306  to displace the reciprocal pump member  160  downwardly in direction  182 , thereby causing a fluid discharge as previously described. The upward bias force exerted by reciprocal pump member  160 , when pressure is released from trigger portion  296 , causes cam follower  306  to move in direction  186 , thereby rotating cam member  282  in direction  180 . The rotation of cam member  282  may be limited by edge portions of cut out  248 . Prior art floor mops with straight handles, having fluid dispensers mounted thereon but having non-arcuate, elongate cam followers, have similar structure and operate in a manner similar to that described in this paragraph. 
         [0028]    Although certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those having skill in the art after reading this disclosure that the invention may be variously otherwise embodied. The appended claims are to be construed to cover all such alternative embodiments and equivalents, except insofar as limited by the prior art.