Patent Publication Number: US-6698056-B1

Title: Butterfly sponge mop with angle-adjustable handle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sponge mops, and more particularly to “butterfly” type sponge mops. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional butterfly sponge mops include an elongate handle, a mop head comprising a sponge mounted on a pair of pivotable horizontal coplanar wings, and a squeeze mechanism for pivoting the wings into a vertical parallel position to compress the sponge and extract liquid therefrom. Typically, the mop head is mounted transverse to one end of the handle at a fixed angle to the axis of the handle. This is disadvantageous in that the head can only conform with a surface for efficacious mopping if the handle is maintained at a fixed angle to the surface. Furthermore, because the head is held at a fixed angle, it takes up a large amount of space when packaged or hung off supermarket shelves. 
     A possible solution to these problems is to allow the head to freely pivot at one end of the handle about an axis transverse to the axis of the handle. While this solution allows the head to freely pivot into conformity with a surface if the angle between the handle and the surface is varied, frictional forces parallel to the axis of the handle typically cause the head to freely pivot out of conformity with the surface during mopping. Additionally they may flop about during movement making the step of packaging into a box or hanging on a supermarket rack a more difficult exercise. 
     Conventional butterfly mops are therefore inefficacious in situations where ergonomics require variation of the angle between the handle and the surface during mopping. Such situations include the mopping of vertical surfaces, the mopping of elevated surfaces, and the mopping of surfaces under projections or with low overhangs. 
     In addition to the above disadvantageous functionality, conventional butterfly sponge mops are characterised by complicated squeeze mechanisms for extracting liquid from the sponge and complicated and inefficient arrangements for mounting the sponge on the head. 
     A requirement accordingly exists for a butterfly sponge mop wherein the head can be positively adjusted to a desired angle during mopping, and wherein both the squeeze mechanism and the sponge mounting arrangement are simple in construction and efficient in operation. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a butterfly sponge mop including: 
     a mop handle; 
     a mop head comprising a pair of pivotable wings including means for holding the wings in a common plane; 
     means for mounting a sponge on the wings; 
     a squeeze mechanism for pivoting the wings to compress the sponge therebetween; and 
     a swivel assembly for rotatably connecting one end of the handle to the head such that the rotational configuration of the handle with respect to the head sets the relative angle made between the handle and the common plane. 
     Suitably the wings are of a generally planar configuration. They may be resiliently biased towards a coplaner position for mopping. 
     Advantageously, the swivel assembly includes a swivel connector and a swivel housing. The swivel connector advantageously has a front end and a rear end. The rear end includes a handle mounting socket and the front end includes a swivel pin. The handle mounting socket is angularly offset from the swivel pin. Conveniently, one end of the handle is retained against rotation in the handle mounting socket. Advantageously, the swivel housing includes a swivel socket portion and an disposed elongate body portion. The swivel socket portion may be angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The swivel socket portion advantageously has an unrestricted rear opening and a restricted front opening. The swivel connector is suitably received in the unrestricted rear opening such that swivel pin of the swivel connector extends through the restricted front opening of the swivel socket portion. Conveniently, the swivel pin is locked against the restricted front opening such that the swivel connector is freely rotatable but axially secured to the swivel socket portion of the swivel housing. Advantageously, the body portion of the swivel housing has a generally lower surface for mounting the pivotable wings such that the pivot axis of the wings is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. 
     As described above, the swivel connector and the swivel housing rotatably connect one end of the handle to the head such that the head can be conformed to a surface by relative rotation of the head and the handle if the angle between the handle and the surface is varied during mopping. 
     Advantageously, the squeeze mechanism includes an actuator sleeve and a compression clevis. The actuator sleeve is advantageously coaxially slidably mounted on the handle. The compression clevis is generally U-shaped and advantageously comprises a cross member having two fingers disposed normal thereto and extending from each of its ends. Conveniently, each finger of the compression clevis has a cam-like lower abutment surface. The free ends of the fingers of the compression clevis are advantageously pivotably connected to the body portion of the swivel housing about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body portion such that the cam-like lower abutment surfaces of the fingers are proximate to the upper surfaces of the wings. Advantageously, the actuator sleeve is operatively connected to the compression clevis by a control member having a first end and a second opposite end, the second end being angularly offset from the first end. The first end of the control member is advantageously pivotably connected to the actuator sleeve about a pivot axis transverse to the axis of the handle, and the second opposite end of the control member is advantageously pivotably connected to the cross member of the compression clevis about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the fingers. Conveniently, the angular offset between the first and second opposite ends of the control rod accommodates angular displacement of the compression clevis relative to the actuator sleeve when the handle is rotated relative to the head to conform the head to a surface during mopping. 
     As described above, the squeeze mechanism is operable to simultaneously pivot the wings from the horizontal coplanar mopping position to a squeezing position where they are parallel for compressing the sponge and extracting liquid therefrom. Specifically, movement of the actuator sleeve towards the head causes the control member to concomitantly move towards the cross member of the compression clevis, which in turn causes the fingers of the compression clevis to pivot such that the cam-like lower abutment surfaces of the fingers abut the upper surfaces of the wings in a camming motion to simultaneously pivot the wings into a vertical parallel position. 
     Advantageously, the wings are configured such that the head defines a trapezoidal plan shape to facilitate mopping in corners and/or confined spaces. Further or in the alternative, the upper surfaces of the wings may be bevelled for this purpose. 
     Advantageously, the sponge is generally identical in plan shape to the head and has an upper surface and a lower surface. The sponge is advantageously removably mounted on the lower surfaces of the wings by mounting plates secured to the upper surface of the sponge that are slidably lockable in complementary key structures formed on the lower surfaces of each wing. Conveniently, a key structure is formed on the lower surface of each wing generally parallel to the pivot axis of the wings, and two mounting plates are secured to the upper surface of the sponge in aligned spaced apart relationship transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sponge. Preferably, each key structure includes a recess formed in the front edge of the respective wing and each mounting plate includes a complementary locking tab arranged adjacent the corresponding front edge of the sponge. 
     As described above, the sponge is removably mounted on the lower surface of the wings by simultaneously sliding the respective mounting plates on the sponge into the respective key structures on the lower surfaces of the wings until the locking tabs on the mounting plates are lockably received in the complementary recesses in the wings. 
     Advantageously, an auxiliary cleaning tool, such as a scouring pad or a squeegee, is selectively removably mounted on the front of the body portion of the swivel housing. The auxiliary cleaning tool is advantageously removably mounted by a mounting plate provided on the auxiliary cleaning tool that is slidably lockable in a complementary key structure formed in the front of the body portion. Conveniently, the key structure is formed in the front of the body portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The mounting plate is advantageously arranged on the auxiliary cleaning tool such that the operative face of the auxiliary cleaning tool is parallel to the head when the mounting plate is slidably locked in the complementary key structure. As with the head, the operative face of the auxiliary cleaning tool, such as the blade of a squeegee, may be conformed to a surface by relative rotation of the handle and the head during cleaning. 
     An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a butterfly sponge mop according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the butterfly sponge mop of FIG. 1 illustrating the operation of both the swivel assembly and the squeeze mechanism; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the butterfly sponge mop of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectioned view in the direction of arrows  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectioned view in the direction of arrows  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectioned view in the direction of arrows  6 — 6  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectioned view in the direction of arrows  7 — 7  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view of the head of a butterfly sponge mop in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows  9 — 9  in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows  10 — 10  in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the direction of the arrows  11 — 11  in FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded view of part of the butterfly sponge mop shown in FIGS. 8 to  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The illustrated embodiment of the butterfly sponge mop  1  of the present invention generally includes a mop handle  2 , a mop head  4 , a sponge  6 , a swivel assembly  8 , and a squeeze mechanism  10 . The construction and arrangement of these general components is discussed in detail below. 
     The handle  2  is a generally elongate hollow or solid cylinder and may be constructed of any of the range of commercially available materials conventionally used in mops and brushware. Such materials include plastic materials such as polypropylene or polyethylene, or materials such as wooden dowel or aluminium tube. 
     The mop head  4  comprises a pair of hinged planar wings  12 ,  14  arranged in an aligned horizontal coplanar position for mopping. The wings  12 ,  14  are pivotable about pivot axis A-A and are biased in the horizontal coplanar mopping position by a spring (not shown) arranged transverse to pivot axis A-A that resiliently interconnects the upper surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wings  12 ,  14  are configured such that the head  4  defines a trapezoidal plan shape to facilitate mopping in corners and/or confined spaces. As also illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper surfaces of the wings may be bevelled for this purpose. The hinged wings  12 ,  14  are advantageously integrally moulded of a conventional plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     The sponge  6  comprises conventional commercially available sponge material and is generally identical in plan shape to the head  4 . As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sponge  6  is removably mounted on the lower surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14  by mounting plates  16 ,  18  secured to the upper surface of the sponge  6  in aligned spaced apart relationship transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sponge  6 . The mounting plates  16 ,  18  are advantageously moulded of a conventional plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene and are secured to the upper surface of the sponge  6  by adhesive. The mounting plates  16 ,  18  are slidably received in complementary key structures  20 ,  22  formed on the lower surfaces of each wing  12 ,  14  generally parallel to pivot axis A-A of the wings  12 ,  14 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, the key structures  20 ,  22  include locking recesses  24 ,  26  formed in the front edges of the wings  12 ,  14  and the mounting plates  16 ,  18  include complementary locking tabs  28 ,  30  arranged adjacent the corresponding front edge of the sponge  6 . It will be appreciated from the above description that the sponge  6  is removably mounted on the lower surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14  by simultaneously sliding the respective mounting plates  16 ,  18  into the respective key structures  20 ,  22  until the locking tabs  28 ,  30  are lockably received in the complementary locking recesses  24 ,  26 . 
     The head  4  is rotatably connected to one end of the handle  2  at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle  2  by a swivel assembly  8 . The angle may be varied with rotation of the handle relative to the head. It may be adjusted so that the relative angle between the handle and plane of the extended wings is reduced to reduce the overall bulk of the mop to facilitate packaging. The angle may be reduced to 25 degrees or even less. The swivel assembly  8  generally comprises a swivel connector  32  and a swivel housing  34 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the swivel connector  32  is generally cylindrical and has a rear end including a generally cylindrical handle mounting socket  36  and a front end including a swivel pin  38  that is angularly offset from the handle mounting socket  36 . One end of the handle  2  is retained against rotation in the handle mounting socket  36  by conventional releasable fastening means (not shown), such as a screw or rivet. 
     The swivel housing  34  includes a horizontally disposed elongate body portion  40  and a generally cylindrical swivel socket portion  42  angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the body portion  40 . The swivel socket portion  42  has an unrestricted rear opening  44  and a restricted front opening  46 . The swivel connector  32  is received in the unrestricted rear opening  44  such that swivel pin  38  of the swivel connector  32  extends through the restricted front opening  46  of the swivel socket portion  42 . The swivel pin  38  is locked against the restricted front opening  46  by a generally C-shaped locking collar  48  that positively permanently snap-fits over the shaft, and behind the head, of the swivel pin  38 . As thus arranged, the swivel connector  32  is freely rotatable but axially secured to the swivel socket portion  42  of the swivel housing  34 . The body portion  40  of the swivel housing  34  has a generally planar lower surface and the pivotable wings  12 ,  14  are mounted thereto such that the pivot axis A-A of the wings is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion  40 . 
     The swivel connector  32 , the swivel housing  34 , and the locking collar  48  are advantageously moulded of a conventional plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Further, the hinged wings  12 ,  14 , the swivel connector  32 , the swivel housing  34 , and the locking collar  48  are advantageously designed and configured to positively permanently snap-fit together. 
     It will be appreciated from the above description that the swivel assembly  8  rotatably connects one end of the handle  2  to the head  4  at an angle such that relative rotation of the handle  2  and the head  4  about the swivel assembly  8  varies the relative angle of the handle  2  and the head  4  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . It will be further appreciated that the swivel assembly  8  facilitates efficacious mopping by allowing the head  4  to be positively conformed to a surface in situations where ergonomics require variation of the angle between the handle  2  and the surface during mopping. Such situations include the mopping of walls and windows, the mopping of ceilings, the mopping of stairs, and the mopping of floors under cupboards and under furniture with short legs. 
     The squeeze mechanism  10  generally comprises an actuator sleeve  50 , a control member  52 , and a compression clevis  54 . The actuator sleeve  50  is coaxially slidably mounted on the handle  2  for telescopic movement therewith and the generally U-shaped compression clevis  54  comprises a cross member  56  having two fingers  58 ,  60  disposed normal thereto and extending from each of its ends. Advantageously, each finger  58 ,  60  has a cam-like lower abutment surface  62 . The free ends of the fingers  58 ,  60  of the compression clevis  54  are pivotably connected to the body portion  40  of the swivel housing  34  about a pivot axis B-B transverse to the pivot axis A-A of the wings  12 ,  14  such that the cam-like lower abutment surfaces  62  of the fingers  58 ,  60  are proximate to the upper surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14 . 
     The actuator sleeve  50  is operatively connected to the compression clevis  54  by the control member  52 . The control member  52  advantageously comprises a metal rod and has a first end  64  and a second opposite end  66  angularly offset from the first end  64 . The first end  64  of the control member  52  is pivotably connected to the actuator sleeve  50  about a pivot axis C-C transverse to the axis of the handle, aid the second end  66  of the control member  52  is pivotably connected to the cross member  56  of the compression clevis  54  about a pivot axis D-D parallel to the pivot axis B-B of the fingers  58 ,  60 . As illustrated in FIG.  3 . the cross member  56  of the compression clevis  54  is provided with an angled recess  68  to accommodate the angular offset of the second end  66  of the control member  52 . In use, the angularly offset second end  66  of the control member  52  slides in the angled recess  68  to accommodate angular displacement of the compression clevis  54  relative to the actuator sleeve  50  when the handle  2  is rotated relative to the head  4  to positively conform the head  4  to a surface during mopping. 
     It will he appreciated from the above description that the squeeze mechanism  10  is operable to simultaneously pivot the wings  12 ,  14  from the horizontal coplanar mopping position to a vertical parallel position (illustrated in outline in FIGS. 2 and 5) for compressing the sponge and extracting liquid therefrom. As illustrated in FIG. 2, movement of the actuator sleeve  50  towards the head  4  causes the control member  52  to concomitantly move towards the cross member  56  of the compression clevis  54 , which in turn causes the fingers  58 ,  60  of the compression clevis  54  to pivot about pivot axis B-B such that the cam-like lower abutment surfaces  62  of the fingers  58 ,  60  abut the upper surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14  in a camming motion to simultaneously pivot the wings  12 ,  14  in the direction of the arrows illustrated in FIG. 5 into a vertical parallel position. It will be appreciated that the when the above operation is reversed, the wings  12 ,  14  will be returned to the horizontal coplanar mopping position by the spring (not shown) arranged transverse to pivot axis A-A that resiliently interconnects the upper surfaces of the wings  12 ,  14 . 
     The illustrated embodiment of the present invention also includes means for selectively mounting an auxiliary cleaning tool  70 , such as a scourer or a squeegee, on the front of the body portion  40  of the swivel housing  34 . As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7, the auxiliary cleaning tool  70  is mounted by a mounting plate  72  provided on the auxiliary cleaning tool  70  that is slidably lockable in a complementary key structure  74  formed in the front of the body portion  40 . The key structure  74  is formed in the front of the body portion  40  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion  40 . The mounting plate  72  is arranged on the auxiliary cleaning tool  70  such that the operative face of the auxiliary cleaning tool  70  is parallel to the head  4  when the mounting plate  72  is slidably locked in the key structure  74 . The key structure  74  is advantageously moulded of a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene and may be designed and configured to positively permanently snap-fit to the body portion  40  of the swivel housing  34 . It will he appreciated that the operative face of the auxiliary cleaning tool  70 , such as the pad of a scourer or the blade of a squeegee, may be conformed to a surface by relative rotation of the handle  2  aid the head  4  during cleaning. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 to  12 , there is shown a butterfly sponge mop having a head  600  provided with a pair of wings  601  attached to a mounting member  602  by an integral hinge  603  joining the mounting member to each wing. The construction of the head is such that it may he moulded in a single piece via conventional injection moulding techniques. It may be moulded of a conventional plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     Each of the integral wings is provided with reinforcing ribs  604  on the underneath thereof and an upper abutment surface  605  for purposes to become apparent. 
     Each wing has a forward opening  606  which acts as a locking recess and three locking tabs provided on the underneath of the wings for cooperating with a mounting plate for holding a sponge. 
     The mounting member includes a socket  610  integrally formed with the mounting member and head. It includes an integral strut  611  extending between the socket and the body of the mounting member. 
     The socket is provided with a handle opening  612  for receiving a swivel connector  300 . The opposite end of the socket is provided with a swivel opening  614  which communicates with the connector housing  616 . 
     A number of locking recesses  618  are provided on either side of the connector housing  616  for locking in the clip  400  in the housing when the pivot mop is assembled. 
     A clevis socket  620  is provided on either side of the connector housing and is constructed so that the clevis pins  908  and  910  may protrude therethrough into the housing. The clevis socket attaches to the integral cover  624  of the mounting member by the integral ribs  622 . 
     The forward edge of the cover  624  is provided with a key structure  626  for securing a tool mounting plate  550 . The tool mounting plate has integral slide elements  552 ,  554  and  556  which cooperate with the key structure  626  to secure the mounting plate to the front of the pivot mop assembly. 
     A swivel connector  300  also moulded from a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene is constructed so that it may snugly fit into the socket  610  in such a way that it can rotate relative thereto. The swivel connector is provided with integral pin  302  having a head  304  which protrudes through the swivel opening  614  when the swivel connector is pushed fully into the socket  610 . A circumferential flange  306  on the swivel connector abut the socket opening  612  when the swivel connector is inserted into the socket. 
     A clevis  900  moulded from plastic in one piece includes the fingers  902  and  904  each provided with a reinforcing rib  906 . Integral pins  908  and  910  are formed on the internal forward sides of the fingers, the pins being sized so that they may snugly fit into the clevis socket  620 . The length of the pins is such that their ends protrude into the connector housing  616  and the pins are each provided with an annular recess  914 .  916  by which they may be secured when the clip  400  is snap fitted into the connector housing. 
     The opposite end of the clevis is provided with a moulded connection configuration  912  which is constructed so that the cover clip  250  may snap fit thereonto. It also includes a socket  918  to receive and hold the clevis connection portion of the control member  800  when the cover clip is applied. 
     The control member is provided with a bend  804  at the clevis connection end and a hooked portion  802  whereby it may be connected to the sleeve actuator  700 . 
     The actuator sleeve includes a tubular portion  706  whereby it may be slid over a handle  200  and a hand gripping portion  704 . A connection opening  702  is provided to secure the control member to the actuator sleeve via the hooked portion. 
     The sponge  450  is joined lo the underneath of the vent wings via two sponge mounting plates  350 . Again, these are formed of moulded plastic and are themselves joined to the sponge most suitably by gluing or welding. 
     The sponge mounting plates include a number of slidable mounting tabs  352 ,  354  and  356  which are constructed to interact with the corresponding locking tabs  607  formed on the underneath of the wings, the construction being such that the mounting plates  350  may be slid into place under the wings. Thus the front locking tab  358  can snap fit into the forward opening and lock thereinto. A cover  360  is formed immediately in front of each locking tab  358 , the cover being designed to close forward opening  606  when the sponge mounting plate is secured in place. 
     Assembly of the pivot mop  100  is readily accomplished by inserting one end of the handle  200  into the swivel connector  300  and securing it therein by gluing, nailing, screwing etc.. The actuator sleeve is slid onto the handle and connected to the control member  800  via the hook portion  802  and the opposite end  804  of the control member  800  is connected to the clevis  900 . The clevis is formed of a resilient material whereby the fingers may be pulled apart from each other to allow the clevis pins  908  and  910  to be inserted into the clevis socket. The cover clip  250  may then be snapped fitted onto the clevis to hold the control member in place. The clip  400  is pushed up onto the connector housing  616  and the c shaped pin locking portion  402  catches behind the head  304  of the pin  302  to rotably secure the swivel socket within the socket  610 . At the same time, the clevis locking portions  404  and  406  slide into the annular recesses  914  and  916  on the pins  908  and  910  to rotatably secure the pins within the connector as well. 
     The snap fit elements  410  on the clip snap fit into the locking recesses  618  provided on either side of the housing to lock the clip within the housing. 
     Finally, the sponge which has been secured to sponge mounting plates  350  is secured underneath the wings by sliding the mounting plates into positions such that the slidable mounting tabs  352 ,  354  and  356  cooperate with the locking tabs  607  and the front locking tab  358  snap fits behind the upper forward edge of the opening  606 . As the fully constructed pivot mop assembly functions in substantially the same way as the assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  7 , the actual functioning of the mop will not be described any further. 
     In view of the above description, it will be appreciated that the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a butterfly sponge mop wherein the head can be positively conformed to a surface for efficacious mopping if the relative angle of the handle and the head is varied during mopping, and wherein both the squeeze mechanism and the sponge mounting arrangement are simple in construction and efficient in operation. 
     The above embodiments has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention disclosed.