Patent Publication Number: US-8966700-B1

Title: Simplified apparatus to remove a disposable sponge from a hand operated squeeze sponge mop without having to touch the sponge

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of hand operated sponge squeeze mops which removably retain a sponge. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, various types of hand operated regular sponge mops or squeeze sponge mops are known in the prior art. 
     The hand operated regular sponge mop or squeeze sponge mop includes a generally rectangular-shaped main body having an upper or top surface which includes a handle receiving section which receives an elongated handle which is grasped by a user when operating the sponge mop and to which a sponge is retained on an underside of the main body. A rotatable squeeze section is hingeably attached to the main body and is pressed against the sponge to wring the sponged dry after it has been dipped in water with cleaning solution and used to clean or scrub a surface such as a dirty floor. 
     As described above, the main body also has a flat lower or bottom surface with a disposable cleaning sponge retained by a pair of spaced apart plastic bases molded into a top surface of the sponge, each plastic base retaining a threaded shaft which threaded shafts respectively extend through respective aligned openings in the main body and then each respective shaft is retained by respective mating fasteners such as a nut with a mating threaded interior opening by which the sponge is retained onto the main body. 
     One common problem with all prior art hand operated regular sponge mops and squeeze sponge mops is that when the sponge is very dirty after cleaning operations, the user must use at least one of his/her hands to grasp the dirty sponge after the retaining nuts are removed from their respective threaded shafts and remove the sponge from the regular sponge mop or squeeze sponge mop. Therefore, the user is exposed to the filth and dirt on the disposable sponge. There is a significant need for an improved apparatus which eliminates the requirement for a user to grasp the dirty sponge by hand when removing it from the regular sponge mop or squeezes sponge mop and replacing it. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a hand operated squeeze sponge mop with a unique disposable sponge assembly where the sponge has a pair of spaced apart posts molded onto an upper surface of a plate which also has a lower surface molded onto an upper surface of the sponge. Each post has a multiplicity of vertically ascending transverse notches on opposite sides of each post. The main body of the hand operated squeeze sponge mop has a pair of spaced apart retention members each respectively having an aligned opening to receive a respective post and a pair of teeth to be received in a respective transverse notch of a post, each tooth formed as part of a tooth section having a transverse tooth and an upper squeeze handle. Each tooth section further includes an exterior flared section which functions as a spring. The spring force of the flared sections of a respective member forces a respective tooth into engagement with a transverse notch on a post. A squeeze force applied by squeezing two oppositely disposed squeeze handle sections together overcomes the spring force and disengages a respective tooth from a respective notch in a pos., thereby releasing the sponge. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism on a hand operated sponge mop including a standard sponge mop and a squeeze sponge mop which retains a sponge in a manner which enables the sponge after it has been used and becomes dirty to be released and fall into a trash receptacle without a user&#39;s hand touching the dirty cleaning sponge. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for a hand operated sponge mop which includes a retaining mechanism which includes flexible members to provide a closing spring force for teeth to engage a ratchet opening on a post of a sponge without requiring one or more actual springs. The retaining and release mechanism is more efficient and easier to use over prior art mop retaining mechanisms, including those created by the present inventors. A simple squeezing force enables the retention and release mechanism to release the posts by which the sponge is retained by a single squeezing force on each retention mechanism to release the teeth from the posts to quickly and efficiently release the sponge to enable the dirty sponge to be separated from the retaining members which retain the cleaning sponge onto the main body of the sponge mop so that the connection is released, enabling the sponge to be released without requiring a human hand to touch a dirty sponge. 
     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 top plan view of the present invention main body of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop illustrating the retainer for a hand retaining assembly which retains a collar into which an elongated handle is retained, and a pair of housings for retaining the operational mechanisms of the present invention including a top perspective view of each trigger mechanism respectively retained on the top of a housing, also illustrating the hingeably attached squeeze member; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial top perspective view of the present invention main body of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop illustrating the retainer for a hand retaining assembly which retains a collar into which an elongated handle is retained, and a pair of housings for retaining the operational mechanisms of the present invention including a top perspective view of each trigger mechanism respectively retained on the top of a housing, without the hingeably attached squeeze member; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the bottom surface of the main body of the sponge mop, illustrating the respective openings in a respective retention mechanism housing to receive a respective post with transverse notches from the top surface of a molded plate which has its bottom surface molded to the top surface of a sponge; 
         FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view taken from a right side of a sponge with a plastic plate molded onto the top surface of the sponge, the plastic plate having a pair of spaced apart posts molded onto the top surface of the plastic plate, each post having a multiplicity of transverse notches or tooth receiving members; 
         FIG. 4B  is a top perspective view taken from a left side of a sponge with a plastic plate molded onto the top surface of the sponge, the plastic plate having a pair of spaced apart posts molded onto the top surface of the plastic plate, each post having a multiplicity of transverse notches or tooth receiving members; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view including a top perspective view of the present invention main body of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop illustrating the retainer for a hand retaining assembly which retains a collar into which an elongated handle is retained, a scrub brush is retained, and a pair of housings for retaining the operational mechanisms of the present invention including a top perspective view of each of a pair of posts with notches to respectively receive an oppositely disposed tooth from respective tooth retaining members including a horizontal tooth section and a vertical squeeze member section, a pair of tooth sections facing each other with a gap between them into which a post from the top of the sponge is inserted and retained on either side by a respective tooth inserted into a notch, the figure also illustrated a top perspective view of a sponge with a molded horizontal plate on its top surface, the molded horizontal plate having a pair of spaced apart posts with transverse notches on each post; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the assembled present invention taken from the exploded view of  FIG. 5 , including a main body of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop illustrating a mop retained under the bottom surface of the main body by the present sponge retention assemblies; 
         FIG. 7A  is a top perspective view of a first section of a first retention mechanism including a body having a pair of flared oppositely extending members at one end and forming an end wall of a first end opening within the body, the first end opening surrounded by a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls and an end wall, a horizontal tooth formed in the body facing a central opening which is surrounded by a tooth retaining wall at one end and a pair of sidewalls and an end wall of the body, and a squeeze handle portion extending perpendicular to the body and adjacent an opposite end of the body and a flared member extending from the opposite end wall of the body; 
         FIG. 7B  is a top perspective view of a second section of a first retention mechanism including a body having a first end wall and a flared member extending from the end wall, a squeeze handle portion extending perpendicular to the body and spaced apart from the first end wall, a central opening within the body and surrounded by an end wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and another end wall having a second tooth extending into the opening, the oppositely extending wall retaining the tooth extending to a second end opening surrounded by the sidewalls, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of oppositely extending flair members also forming an end wall of the second end opening; 
         FIG. 7C  is a top perspective view of the assembled first retention mechanism with the first section on top of the second section so that second squeeze handle portion of the first section extends sitting on top of the first end opening of the second section and the first squeeze handle portion of the second section extends through the first end opening of the first section, the middle openings are aligned so that the tooth from the first section and the tooth from the second section face into the aligned middle openings and towards each other with a gap between each tooth, the tooth from the first section is at a location elevated higher than the location of the tooth of the second section, the pair of flared oppositely extending members of the first section resting on and above the flared member of the second section and the flared member of the first section resting on and above the pair of flared oppositely extending members of the second section; 
         FIG. 7D  is a top perspective view of a first section of a second retention mechanism  8  including a body having a first end wall and a flared member extending from the end wall, a squeeze handle portion extending perpendicular to the body and spaced apart from the first end wall, a central opening within the body and surrounded by an end wall, a pair of parallel sidewalls and another end wall having a first tooth extending into the opening, the oppositely extending wall extending to a second end opening surrounded by the extending wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of oppositely extending flair members also forming an end wall of the second end opening; 
         FIG. 7E  is a top perspective view of a second section of a second retention mechanism  800  including a body having a pair of flared oppositely extending members at one end and forming an end wall of a first end opening within the body, the first end opening surrounded by a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls and an end wall, a horizontal tooth formed in the body facing a central opening which is surrounded by a tooth retaining wall at one end and a pair of sidewalls and an end wall of the body, and a squeeze handle portion extending perpendicular to the body and adjacent an opposite end of the body and a flared member extending from the opposite end wall of the body; 
         FIG. 7F  is a top perspective view of the assembled second retention mechanism with the first section on top of the second section so that first squeeze handle portion of the first section extends sitting on top of the first end opening of the second section and the first squeeze handle portion of the second section extends through the second end opening of the first section, the middle openings are aligned so that the tooth from the first section and the tooth from the second section face into the aligned middle openings and towards each other with a gap between the teeth, the tooth from the first section at a location elevated higher than the location of the tooth of the second section, the pair of flared oppositely extending members of the first section resting on and above the flared member of the second section and the flared member of the first section resting on and above the pair of flared oppositely extending members of the second section; 
         FIG. 8A-1  is a an exploded top perspective view of the first retention mechanism housing and the first retention member before it is inserted into the first retention mechanism housing; 
         FIG. 8A-2  is a bottom perspective view of the first retention mechanism housing; 
         FIG. 8B-1  is an exploded top perspective view of the second retention mechanism housing and the second retention member before it is inserted into the second retention mechanism housing; 
         FIG. 8B-2  is a bottom perspective view of the second retention mechanism housing; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     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  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is respectively illustrated a top plan view of the present invention and a partial top perspective view of the present invention incorporated into a portion of the main body  100  of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop  110  illustrating a pair of housings  10  and  10 A which respectively retain the operating mechanism of the present invention. The main body  100  has a top surface  112  with a first lengthwise side  114 , a parallel spaced apart second lengthwise side  116 , a first transverse side  118  and a second transverse side  120 . The top surface  112  of the main body  100  has a first well  130  which has a length “L1” and a width “W1” which is large enough to permit two fingers of a person&#39;s hand to be inserted into the first well  130  to reach housing  10 . Similarly, the top surface  112  has a second well  132  which has a length “L2” and a width W2” which is large enough to permit two fingers of a person&#39;s hand to be inserted into the second well  130 A to reach housing  10 A. Well  130  has a top surface  18  and well  130 A has a top surface  18 A. Also illustrated is a scrubbing brush  140  held by a brush retainer  142  affixed to the first lengthwise side  118  and partially onto top surface  112  of the main body  100 . Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a handle retaining member  150  affixed to the main body  100 , the handle retaining member including a collar  152  into which an elongated handle (not shown) is retained. Also illustrated is a squeeze member  154  having a handle  156 . 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view (rotated 180 degrees from the view in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the bottom surface  108  of the main body  100  of the sponge mop  110 , illustrating the respective openings  12  and  12 A in main body  100  at the center location of a respective retention mechanism housing to receive a respective post with transverse notches from respective posts on the top surface of a molded plate which has its bottom surface molded to the top surface of a sponge. 
       FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view taken from the right side of a sponge  200  having a body  210  with at least a top surface  220 . A plate  230  which can be made of moldable material such as plastic which is molded on its bottom surface  240  to the top surface  220  of sponge  200 . The plate has integrally molded to its top surface  250  a pair of spaced apart posts, first post  260  and second post  260 A, each post having a multiplicity of transverse notches or tooth receiving members along the height “H3” and “H3A” of a respective post  260  and  260 A.  FIG. 9  provides an additional more clear view of the notches on the posts. First post  260  has a multiplicity of outwardly extending notches  260 N 1 ,  260 N 2 ,  260 N 3  and  260 N 4  on its exterior vertical surface  260 VE. Second post  260 A also has a multiplicity of inwardly extending notches  260 AN 5 ,  260 AN 6 ,  260 AN 7  and  260 AN 8  on its interior vertical surface  260 AVI.  FIG. 4B  is a top perspective view taken from the left side to correspond to the view of  FIG. 4A , to illustrate notches on the opposite side of each respective post. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 9 , first post  260  also has a multiplicity of inwardly extending notches  260 N 5 ,  260 N 6 ,  260 N 7  and  260 N 8  on its interior vertical surface  260 V 1 . Similarly, second post  260 A has a multiplicity of outwardly extending notches  260 AN 1 ,  260 AN 2 ,  260 AN 3  and  260 AN 4  on its exterior vertical surface  260 AVE. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view including a top perspective view of the present invention main body  100  of a hand operated squeeze sponge mop  110  illustrating the pair of retaining members for a retaining assembly which retains a respective retaining post  260  and  260 A in a retaining mechanism having a pair of housings for retaining the operational mechanisms of the present invention including a top perspective view of each of a pair of tooth retaining members including a horizontal tooth section and a vertical squeeze member section, a pair of tooth sections facing each other with a gap between them into which a post from the top of the sponge is inserted and retained on either side by a respective tooth inserted into a respective notch on. 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the assembled present invention with the part numbers already described in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a top perspective view of a first section of a first retention mechanism  300  including a body  310  having a pair of oppositely disposed extending flared members  320  and  322  at one end and forming an end wall of a first end opening  330  within the body, the first end opening surrounded by a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls  332  and  334  and an end wall  336  which extends to a horizontal tooth  350  formed in the body facing a central opening  360  which is surrounded by a tooth retaining wall  361  at one end and a pair of sidewalls  362  and  364  and an end wall  366  of the body, and a second squeeze handle portion  370  extending perpendicular to the body  310  and adjacent an opposite end of the body  310  and a flared member  380  extending from the opposite end wall  376  of the body  310 . 
       FIG. 7B  is a top perspective view of a second section  400  of a first retention mechanism including a body  410  having a first end wall  420  and a flared member  430  extending from the end wall  420 , a first squeeze handle portion  440  extending perpendicular to the body  410  and spaced apart from the first end wall  420 , a central opening  450  within the body  410  and surrounded by an end wall  460 , a pair of parallel sidewalls  462  and  464  and another end wall  468  having a second tooth  470  extending into the opening  450 , the oppositely extending wall  468  retaining the tooth  470  extending to the opening, the oppositely extending wall  468  retaining the tooth  470  extending to a second end opening  472  surrounded by the extending wall  468 , a pair of sidewalls  474 ,  476 , and a pair of oppositely extending flair members  480  and  482  also forming an end wall of the second end opening  472 . 
       FIG. 7C  is a top perspective view of the assembled first retention mechanism  500  with the first section  300  on top of the second section  400  so that second squeeze handle portion  370  of the first section  300  extends sitting on top of the first end opening  472  of the second section  400  and the first squeeze handle portion  440  of the second section  400  extends through the first end opening  330  of the first section  300 , the middle openings  360  and  450  are aligned so that the tooth  350  from the first section  300  and the tooth  470  from the second section  400  face into the aligned middle openings  360  and  450  and towards each other with a gap  490  between tooth  350  and tooth  470 , the tooth  350  from the first section  300  is at a location elevated higher than the location of the tooth  470  of the second section  400 , the pair of flared oppositely extending members  320  and  322  of the first section  300  resting on and above the flared member  430  of the second section  400  and the flared member  380  of the first section  300  resting on and above the pair of flared oppositely extending members  480  and  482  of the second section  400 . 
     With respect to the squeeze operating mechanism, the squeeze operating mechanism fits into a collar  10  as shown beginning in  FIG. 8A-1 . In the preferred embodiment, the two teeth  350  and  470  from the squeeze operating mechanism  500  are offset at different heights since the first section  300  is above the second section  400 . For the squeeze operating mechanism illustrated in  FIGS. 7A through 7C , the tooth  350  on the outside is higher than the tooth  450  on the inside. For the mechanism shown in  FIGS. 7D-7F , the tooth on the outside is higher than the tooth on the inside. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tooth extending into the notch of the post on the inside will be lower than the tooth extending into the notch on the outside. Therefore, the squeeze mechanism illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7C  is inserted into the housing  10  and the squeeze mechanism shown in  FIGS. 7D-7F  is inserted into the housing  10 A. The collar  10 A 1  has an exterior rim  13  with an interior circumferential rim  14  with interior transverse walls  14 AT 1  and  14 AT 2  and a central opening  16  into which the squeeze mechanism  500  is inserted. Because the outer tooth  350  is higher than the inner tooth, this mechanism goes into the right assembly collar  10 . The way the mechanism is inserted is that the assembly is inserted onto the top surface  18  of well  130  and the post  260  from sponge  200  is inserted through opening  6  in recessed surface  8  of the bottom surface  108 , the post  260  extends above surface  18  of well  130  and to the area of gap  490 . The outer tooth  771  is inserted into an exterior notch on post  260  and then the collar  10  is screwed down through fastening mechanism  9  such as a screw which extends through opening  17  of an extension  19  of collar  10  which is screwed into the top surface  18  of the interior well  130 . As this is achieved, the second tooth  470  is inserted into the interior notch in post  260 . 
       FIG. 7D  is a top perspective view of a first section  600  of a second retention mechanism including a body  610  having a first end wall  676  and a flared member  680  extending from the end wall  676 , a first squeeze handle portion  670  extending perpendicular to the body  610  and spaced apart from the first end wall  676 , a central opening  660  within the body  610  and surrounded by an end wall  668 , a pair of parallel sidewalls  662  and  664  and another end wall  652  having a first tooth  650  extending into the opening  660 , the oppositely extending wall  634  extending to a second end opening  630  surrounded by the extending wall  634  a pair of sidewalls  632  and  634 , and a pair of oppositely extending flair members  620  and  622  also forming an end wall of the second end opening  630 . 
       FIG. 7E  is a top perspective view of a second section  700  of a second retention mechanism  800  including a body  710  having a pair of flared oppositely extending members  780  and  782  at one end and forming an end wall of a first end opening  772  within the body  710 , the first end opening  772  surrounded by a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls  774  and  776  and an end wall  778  of the body  710 , a horizontal tooth  770  formed in the body wall  768  facing a central opening  770  which is surrounded by a tooth retaining wall  768  at one end and a pair of sidewalls  762  and  764  and an end wall  738  of the body  710 , and a squeeze handle portion  740  extending perpendicular to the body  710  and adjacent an opposite end  736  of the body and a flared member  730  extending from the opposite end wall  736  of the body  710 . 
       FIG. 7F  is a top perspective view of the assembled second retention mechanism with the first section  600  on top of the second section  700  so that first squeeze handle portion  740  of the second section  700  extends through second end opening of the first section  600  and the first second squeeze handle portion  670  of the first section sits on first opening  772  of second section  700 , the middle openings  660  and  750  are aligned so that the tooth  650  from the first section  600  and the tooth  770  from the second section  700  face into the aligned middle openings  660  and  750  and towards each other with a gap  890  between the tooth  650  and the tooth  770 , the tooth  650  from the first section  600  at a location elevated higher than the location of the tooth  770  of the second section  700 , the pair of flared oppositely extending members  620  and  622  of the first section  600  resting on and above the flared member  730  of the second section  700  and the flared member  680  of the first section  600  resting on and above the pair of flared oppositely extending members  780  and  782  of the second section  700 . 
     Similarly, referring to  FIGS. 8B-1  and  8 B- 2 , the same process occurs for the left squeezing mechanism into collars  10 A 2 . The assembly including collar  10 A 2  with an exterior rim  12 A and a interior circumferential rim  14 A with transverse sides  14 AT 1  and  14 AT 2 , and second retention mechanism  800  are placed onto the top surface  18 A and well  130 A. The post  260 A from sponge  200  is inserted through opening  6 A in recessed surface  8 A of bottom surface  108 , the post  260 A extends above surface  18 A of well  130 A and to area of gap  890 , and exterior tooth  650  is inserted into an external notch of post  260 A and then the housing  10 A is screwed down by fastening mechanism  9 A (a screw), interior lower tooth  650  is inserted into the exterior notch in post  260 A and then collar  10 A screwed down by screw  9  which extends through opening  17 A in extension  19 A, and then the lower tooth on the inside  770  is inserted into a lower notch in post  260 A. The mop mechanism as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is inserted as shown in  FIG. 6  so that post  260  is placed into gap  490  and post  260 A is placed into gap  890  so that it is inserted through the bottom of the channel of the receiving member as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and then the two squeeze members  440  and  370  are squeezed together to permit post  260  to be inserted between them and squeeze members  670  and  740  are squeezed together to permit post  260 A to be inserted between them. Therefore, the posts are grasped. As illustrated in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 , the retention mechanism is such that the tooth on the outside is higher than the tooth on the inside. 
       FIG. 8A-1  is a an exploded top perspective view of the first retention mechanism housing and the first retention member before it is inserted into the first retention mechanism housing. 
       FIG. 8A-2  is a bottom perspective view of the first retention mechanism housing. 
       FIG. 8B-1  is an exploded top perspective view of the second retention mechanism housing and the second retention member before it is inserted into the first retention mechanism housing. 
       FIG. 8B-2  is a bottom perspective view of the second retention mechanism housing. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6  to illustrate the operations of the present invention. The sponge  200  with plate  230  retained onto the top  220  of sponge  200  has a pair of spaced apart posts  260  and  260 A molded onto the top  250  of plate  230 . Each post has transverse notches as previously described. Post  260  is inserted into opening  6  and extends into the gap  490  and first retention member  500  within collar  10 . Post  260 A is inserted into opening  6 A and extends into the gap  890  of second retention member  800 . Tooth  350  is inserted into notch  260 N 1  while squeeze handle  440  extends above the assembly and tooth  650  is inserted into notch  260 N 6  while squeeze handle  370  extends above the assembly. Flared members  320 ,  322  and  430  are compressed against interior transverse wall  14 T 1  of housing  10  and flared members  380 ,  480  and  482  and compressed against interior transverse wall  14 T 2  of housing  10 . The flared members function as springs to return the respective teeth  350  and  650  into engagement with a notch in post  260 . 
     Similarly, post  260 A is inserted into opening  6 A and extends into the gap  890  and second retention member  800 . Tooth  650  is inserted into notch  260 AN 1  while squeeze handle  740  extends above the assembly and tooth  770  is inserted into notch AN 7 . Flared members  620 ,  622  and  730  are compressed against interior transverse wall  14 AT 1  of housing  10 A and flared members  680 ,  780  and  782  are compressed against interior transverse wall  14 AT 2  of housing  10 A. The flared members function as springs to return the respective teeth  650  and  770  into engagement with a notch in post  260 A. 
     In operation, when the sponge  200  is dirty, squeeze handles  370  and  440  are squeezed together so that the retention force of flared spring members  380 ,  480  and  482 , and on the other side  320 ,  322  and  430 , are overcome and tooth  350  and tooth  470  are pushed/rotated away from their respective notches in post  260 . Similarly squeeze handles  740  and  670  are squeezed together so that the retention force of flared spring members  620 ,  622  and  730 , and on the other side  680 ,  780  and  782  are overcome and tooth  650  and tooth  770  are pushed/rotated away from their respective notches in post  260 A. As a result, the sponge  200  is released and falls into a trash receptacle without a person&#39;s hand touching a dirty sponge. 
     For a new sponge  200 , the sponge is inserted as described above with the posts  260  and  260 A extending into the gaps  490  and  890 . While the squeeze hands are compressed together. After the posts re inserted, the squeeze handles are released and the flared members spring forces cause a respective tooth to engage a respective notch in a post as previously descried to retain the new sponge in the retention members. 
     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 disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.