Patent Publication Number: US-6654980-B2

Title: Sliding collar mop head retainer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to my application for Quick Release Mop Head Jaws, Ser. No. 09/932,016 filed Aug. 16, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is in the general field of mops used in janitorial services; 
     The invention is more particularly in the field of jaws type retaining and clamping devices for yarn type mops; 
     The invention is even most particularly in the field of improved, quick release jaws mop head clamping devices. 
     II. Description of the Prior Art 
     There has been much prior art in the fields of jaws-type retaining and clamping devices for attaching yarn type mop heads to mop handles. I am aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,286 which is a quick release connector between a mop and mop handle, among others. 
     There are types of jaws mop heads in which the jaws are actuated by a threaded collar which surrounds a stem which holds the jaws. On screwing the threaded collar down against wedge-like portions of the jaws arms, the jaws are made to come into a firm gripping hold on a mop such that it does not readily become dislodged during vigorous mopping. One difficulty with such jaws mop heads is that screwing the collar down to maximum holding pressure requires either a large wrench, such as a pipe wrench, or extraordinary hand and arm strength. The result is that it is possible for the mop to be not securely fastened by the jaws. Another problem is that a janitor using a mop may have wet and slippery hands making it quite difficult and time consuming to replace mops. 
     I have studied this problem completely and have examined all examples of mops of this nature, literature, and patents. I found no answer to this problem. Therefore I have now conceived and developed an extremely effective, and easy to use sliding and self locking collar to replace the threaded collar in this type mop head. 
     Extensive as the prior art in this general field has been, I am unaware of any prior art as to the quick release sliding collar arrangement for jaws type mop heads I have invented. My invention is a sliding collar retainer arrangement which is easily operable by anyone and which requires no tools, special skills, or the like. I do not know of any prior art which teaches or suggests my present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I have been interested in mops and mopping for some time. One of the things I have worked on is the jaws type mop head where the two jaws pivot outwardly from one another to open and pivot inwardly toward one another to grip the mop. The latching, or closing in position on a mop has been of prime concern. One preferred and widely used mop head of this type has a threaded shank depending toward the mop handle from the jaws within a threaded collar which is screwed onto the shank exerting pressure against wedge like elements on the jaws in order to bring the jaws into secure gripping upon the mop. This requires a great deal of strength, coupled with the inherent problem that one mopping may have wet and slippery hands or gloves making the task even greater. In fact, it is possible to have less than effective gripping of the mop by the jaws because of this. 
     I have now solved the deficiencies of the prior devices by utilizing a sliding collar device which is easily manipulated by a single individual. The collar uses reliable spring loaded pawl and detent or ratchet mechanisms in order to insure against unintentional failure to properly and securely fasten the jaws upon the mop while at the same time allowing for sufficient ease of fixing the jaws in either locked or unlocked condition as desired. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a superior jaws type mop head; 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a jaws type mop head which has a slidable closure; 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a closure for a jaws type mop head which will securely hold mops; 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a jaws type mop head which is easily manipulated by anyone with wet and soapy hands. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the description of a preferred embodiment, which follows, in conjunction with a review of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a mop head utilizing a threaded collar and shank for opening and closing mop holding jaws with the mop head open; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a device suitable to practice the method of this invention with the mop head jaws open; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevation of an alternate embodiment of a device suitable to practice the method of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of the device of FIG. 3 with the jaws open; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic front elevation of the device of FIG. 3 with the jaws closed on a mop; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of another embodiment of a device suitable to practice the method of this invention utilizing a unique sliding collar; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevation of the device of FIG. 6 with the sliding collar in position to commence closing the jaws; and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation of the device of FIG. 6 with the sliding collar in position after closing the jaws and with a mop being held by the jaws. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An inventory of items in the drawings with reference numerals is: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Numeral 
                 Item 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 11 
                 tube for insertion of mop handle 
               
               
                 12 
                 threads on exterior of tube 
               
               
                 13 
                 collar with internal threads 
               
               
                 14 
                 first of two jaws 
               
               
                 15 
                 teeth on jaws 
               
               
                 16 
                 second of two jaws 
               
               
                 17 
                 ball and socket 
               
               
                 18 
                 inclined area on jaws shaft 
               
               
                 19 
                 ball and socket 
               
               
                 20 
                 leading edge on threaded collar 
               
               
                 21 
                 shaft to connect mop handle and jaws 
               
               
                 22 
                 flange 
               
               
                 23 
                 ball and socket 
               
               
                 24 
                 first of two jaws 
               
               
                 25 
                 inclined area on jaws shaft 
               
               
                 26 
                 second of two jaws 
               
               
                 27 
                 ball and socket 
               
               
                 28 
                 sliding sleeve 
               
               
                 29 
                 cut out for locking arm 
               
               
                 29a 
                 incline area on jaw 
               
               
                 30 
                 locking arm 
               
               
                 31 
                 locking arm anchor 
               
               
                 32 
                 locking arm stop 
               
               
                 33 
                 flange 
               
               
                 34 
                 socket for mop handle 
               
               
                 35 
                 bearing fixed to socket 
               
               
                 36 
                 bolt head 
               
               
                 37 
                 cam 
               
               
                 38 
                 cam actuating arm 
               
               
                 39 
                 sliding collar 
               
               
                 40 
                 jaw 
               
               
                 41 
                 jaw mounting and clamping arm 
               
               
                 42 
                 jaw 
               
               
                 43 
                 jaw mounting and clamping arm 
               
               
                 44 
                 flange 
               
               
                 45 
                 teeth on jaws 
               
               
                 46 
                 mop 
               
               
                 47 
                 leading edge of sliding collar 
               
               
                 50 
                 mop handle connector 
               
               
                 51 
                 sliding collar 
               
               
                 52 
                 jaw 
               
               
                 53 
                 jaw 
               
               
                 54 
                 jaw mounting and clamping arm 
               
               
                 55 
                 jaw mounting and clamping arm 
               
               
                 56 
                 ball and socket mounting 
               
               
                 57 
                 ball and socket mounting 
               
               
                 58 
                 hole in collar 
               
               
                 59 
                 spring loaded ball 
               
               
                 60 
                 lip on collar 
               
               
                 61 
                 mop 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     FIG. 1 shows a jaws type mop head comprised of a tube  11  which is suitable to receive a mop handle and which extends to a stem end containing ball and socket arrangements  17  and  19  which are the combinations of sockets with balls or the equivalent on the inclined areas  18  on jaw  16  and a similar area not clearly visible on jaw  14 . The jaws have teeth  15  to grip a mop when closed. Threads  12  surround a portion of the tube  11  as shown. Sleeve  13  has internal threads engaged with the external threads on the tub  11 . In operation, the sleeve  13  is rotated on the threads until the sleeve end  20  until it bears on the inclined area  18  on jaw  16  and the similar inclined area which is not visible on jaw  14 . As the sleeve rotates further toward the jaws it forces the jaws together as will be understood by those skilled in the art. By reversing the rotation of the sleeve  13  the jaws will be allowed to open to release any mop they may be holding. It is very difficult to handle this as it requires great strength or a special wrench. Additionally, the hands tend to slip since they may be wet and soapy. 
     FIGS.  2 / 2 A show a device according to my new invention. Shaft  21  has a removable flange  22  near one end. This end will be suitable to connect to a mop handle. Intermediate the flange  22  and the jaws  24  and  26 , the shaft  21  will have a recess  29  as shown. A stop element  32  on control bar  30  is located within the recess  29  and will be moveably mounted to the shaft  21  within the recess at  31 . This may be mounted on a swivel or otherwise moveable as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The jaws  24  and  26  having inclined shaft areas  25  and  29   a  are connected to the shaft  21  by customary ball and socket arrangements  23  and  27  as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The sliding collar  28  with flange  33  is shown in FIG. 2A separated from the shaft  21 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the flange  22  will be temporarily removed in order to place sliding collar  28  with its flange  33  on shaft  21 . Flange  2  will be mounted by set screws or the like, not shown, but understood by those skilled in the art. When the sliding collar is in place on shaft  21 , and it is desired to close the jaws on a mop, the user can push the collar with the heel of the user&#39;s hand against the flange  33 . This requires less strength than that required to turn the threaded sleeve as in the past. When the sleeve is in position holding the jaws closed, the locking arm  30  is moved out of the recess  29  and the sliding collar will move away from the jaws allowing them to open. 
     FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the sliding collar invention. The three figures are best viewed together. A shaft  34  or the like will be adapted to fit to a mop handle above the broken off line showing in the figures as will be understood by those skilled in the art. What is illustrated is a jaws mechanism actuated by a sliding collar. A collar  39  is slidably mounted on the shaft  34 . Preferably the collar will have a flange  44  about its upper end. The collar has a leading edge  47  which actuates the jaws by pressure against the inclined jaw mounting and clamping arms  41  and  43 . As the leading edge of the collar slides forward against the inclined arms it forces them together. As the collar retracts the jaws are able to separate. I have provide a cam action actuator for the sliding collar in the embodiment of FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5 . A disk  37  is mounted on shaft  36  which is journaled in a bearing or the like  35  which is fastened to shaft  34  in customary fashion as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Handle  38  is welded or otherwise affixed to disk  37  as shown. When the disc is turned 180 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 5 the teeth  45  on the jaws will completely and securely hold a yarn type mop as shown in FIG. 5 where the jaws are in fully closed condition. 
     FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8  should be viewed together. This final embodiment is deemed most preferable. It is simple and easy to use. The jaws  52  and  53  on inclined arms  54  and  55  are mounted to mop handle adapter  50  by ball and socket type means  56  and  57  as will be known to those skilled in the art. A collar  51  is slidably mounted on adapter  50 . The collar may, or may not, have a slightly flared leading edge  60 . If the leading edge is flared outwardly from the main body of the collar it may make for easier sliding against the jaws arms  54  and  55 . A spring loaded ball or pawl illustrated by the dotted circles  59  on FIGS. 6 and 7 and by the solid black circle on FIG. 8 will hold the collar in position with the jaws fully closed on a mop  61 . It is merely necessary to push the ball with a finger to obtain instantaneous opening of the jaws. When the ball is pushed in the collar immediately slides back up the handle adapter  50 . 
     There are great advantages in this method for closing and opening jaws by merely sliding a collar up and down as opposed to turning a threaded collar which cumbersome. 
     As is known to those skilled in the art, the jaws are generally spring loaded so that they will spring apart, thus saving time and effort. 
     While the embodiments of this invention shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it is to be understood that such embodiments are shown for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation.