Patent Publication Number: US-5896613-A

Title: Floor mop with scrub strip

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a butterfly mop and, more particularly, to a butterfly mop including a clip-on scrub strip. 
     Butterfly mops are well known and generally include a mop handle supporting a mop head including two flapper or presser plates. The presser plates support a mop pad, such as a sponge, and are mounted for pivotal movement downwardly and toward each other in order to wring fluids from the mop pad. In a typical construction, a yoke actuator is supported adjacent a rearward portion of the presser plates and includes portions for engaging and causing the downward movement of the plates. Such prior art butterfly mop structures are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,675 issued to Jones and U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,750 issued to Vosbikian et al. 
     In addition, the patent to Vosbikian shows that a scrub strip may be attached to a sponge support member for a mop in order to provide an abrasive material for facilitating cleaning of the floor. Further, it is also known to provide mop pads for mops with scrub strips mounted directly to the edge of the pads wherein the edge of the pad carrying the scrub strip may be directed to the floor surface for a scrubbing operation. Thus, prior art butterfly mops generally required that an appropriate scrub strip be carried by the mop pad and/or that the mop be rotated or otherwise reoriented to use the scrub strip. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a scrub strip for use with butterfly mops which avoids the necessity of manipulating the handle, such as by rotating it, to orient the scrub strip toward the floor surface. There is a further need for a butterfly mop incorporating a scrub strip wherein the scrub strip may be positioned out of the way when the scrub strip is not in use, and which conveniently positions the scrub strip adjacent to a floor surface for a scrubbing operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a mop is provided including an elongated mop handle, a slide grip handle slidably received on the mop handle, an actuation yoke pivotable about a pivot axis, and a connecting link extending between the slide grip handle and the actuation yoke such that movement of the slide grip handle along the mop handle causes the actuation yoke to pivot about the pivot axis. In addition, two presser plates are mounted to respective pivot points adjacent an end of the mop handle wherein the presser plates support a mop pad such as a sponge. 
     A pair of squeeze arms defined by the actuation yoke engage and pivot the presser plates toward each other to a mop pad squeezing position when the slide grip handle is moved along the mop handle. A scrub strip is located adjacent the ends of the squeeze arms and are supported for movement with the actuation yoke between a non-use position and an operable position wherein movement of the scrub strip from the non-use position to the operable position coincides with the pivoting of the presser plates toward each other. 
     The scrub strip is configured to clip onto the actuation yoke and includes a base portion, a strip of floor scrubbing material attached to a first side of the base portion and a cover portion attached to a second side of the base portion. A passage is defined between the base portion and the cover portion for receiving the actuation yoke to thereby support the scrub strip on the mop. 
     The yoke and scrub strip are configured such that the scrub strip is positioned above the presser plates in its non-use position, and is located below the presser plates and mop pad in its operable position to engage with a floor surface. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mop including a scrub strip movable between a non-use and an operable position. 
     It is a further object to provide such a mop wherein the mop includes a pair of presser plates actuated by a yoke member. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a scrub strip attachable to the yoke of a butterfly mop. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a butterfly mop incorporating a scrub strip in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing the scrub strip in a non-use position; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the scrub strip in an operable position; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view showing the scrub strip in a non-use position; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view showing the scrub strip in an operable position; and 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the scrub strip. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a butterfly mop 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The mop 10 includes an elongated handle 12, a mop head 14 supported at a lower end of the handle 12 and an actuation member 16 for actuating the mop 10 in a wringing operation, as will be described more fully below. 
     The mop head 14 is of a generally triangular configuration and includes first and second presser plates 18, 20 mounted to a mounting plate 22. The first and second presser plates 18, 20 are mounted for pivotal movement relative to the mounting plate 22 at respective pivot points defined by pins 24, 26 located adjacent to the lower end of the mop handle 12 (FIG. 5). The presser plates 18, 20 support a mop pad 28, such as a sponge mop. 
     Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuation member 16 comprises an actuation yoke 30, a slide grip handle 32 and a connecting link 34 extending between the actuation yoke 30 and slide grip handle 32. The slide grip handle 32 is mounted for sliding movement along the mop handle 12 and is adapted to cause the actuation yoke 30 to pivot about a pivot axis between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The actuation yoke 30 includes a pair of squeeze arms 36, 38 for engaging upper surfaces of the presser plates 18, 20 when the slide grip 32 is moved downwardly along the mop handle 12. 
     A scrub strip 40 is attached to the actuation yoke 30 adjacent to rearward portions of the squeeze arms 36, 38. In particular, scrub strip mounting extensions 42, 44 (FIG. 6) extend from the ends of the squeeze arms 36, 38 at an angle directed toward the mop handle 12. A transverse portion 46 of the actuation yoke extends between the extensions 42, 44 for connecting to the connecting link 34, and the scrub strip 40 is positioned below the transverse portion 46 facing in a rearward direction. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the scrub strip 40 comprises a base portion 48 having a first side 50 and a second side 51. In addition, the scrub strip 40 includes a strip of floor scrubbing material 52, such as an abrasive fiber material, and a cover portion 54 which is adapted to be attached to the base portion 48. 
     A passage is defined between the base portion and the cover portion by a pair of arcuate aperture areas 56, 58 located on opposing lateral sides 60, 62 of the scrub strip 40. The aperture areas 56, 58 are adapted to receive respective extensions 42, 44 of the actuation yoke 30. The cover portion 54 includes a pair of resilient catch members 64, 66 for engaging with and locking into respective slots 68, 70 in the second side 51 of the base portion 48. In addition, the cover portion 54 includes a pair of alignment tabs 72, 74 for engaging with slots 76, 78 of the base portion 48. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the scrub strip 40 is movable between a non-use position (FIGS. 2 and 4) wherein the scrub strip 40 is located at a level above the mop head 14, and an operable position wherein the scrub strip 40 is located below lateral edges 80, 82 of the presser plates 18, 20 (FIGS. 3 and 5). 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the upper surfaces of the presser plates 18, 20 include respective first squeeze arm engaging portions 84, 86 and second squeeze arm engaging portions 88, 90 wherein the first and second squeeze arm engaging portions 84, 86, 88, 90 are located adjacent to back edges 92, 94 of the presser plates 18, 20. The first squeeze arm engaging portions 84, 86 define ramps extending upwardly in a direction from respective pivot points 24, 26 outwardly toward respective lateral edges 80, 82. The second squeeze arm engaging portions 88, 90 define downwardly extending ramps extending from junctions 96, 98 with outer ends of the first squeeze arm engaging portions 84, 86 toward respective lateral edges 80, 82. In addition, stop portions 100, 102 extend upwardly from the second squeeze arm engaging portions 88, 90 in spaced relation to the back edges 92, 94. 
     The stop portions 100, 102 limit movement of the respective squeeze arms 36, 38 along the second squeeze arm engaging portions 88, 90, and the junctions 96, 98 between the first squeeze arm engaging portions 84, 86 and second squeeze arm engaging portions 88, 90 form over-center surfaces for maintaining the presser plates 18, 20 in the mop pad squeezing position when the slide grip handle 32 is released whereby the scrub strip 40 is maintained in its operable position facing the floor surface below the presser plates 18, 20. Thus, the scrub strip 40 may be conveniently used and held in position when the presser plates 18, 20 are moved together to wring the mop pad 28. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a scrub strip for a butterfly mop which may be conveniently used without requiring reorientation of the mop handle 12 in order to position the scrub strip 40 in a use position. Further, the present invention also provides a mechanism whereby the scrub strip is conveniently held in its operable or use position to facilitate use of the scrub strip during wringing of the mop. In addition, a convenient snap-on structure is provided for the scrub strip whereby the scrub strip is easily positioned on the actuation yoke for the mop, and may be detached and replaced with a new scrub strip if necessary. 
     While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.