Patent Abstract:
A mop includes a molded mop casing having two mophead supporting faces connected together to show a double beveled configuration, a detached part pivotally connected to the molded mop casing between the mophead supporting faces, a mop shaft connected to the detached part and biasable with the mop shaft relative to the molded mop casing, a handle coupled to the mop shaft and movable forwards/backwards along the mop shaft, and an extending device mounted in the handle and the molded mop casing and movable by the handle between an extended position and a received position for locking/unlocking a consumptive material for enabling a user to mount/dismount the consumptive material conveniently without direct hand contact.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly, to a mop that facilitates replacement of the consumptive material. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Cleaning work is a troublesome job with high contamination potential. Many cleaning products are commercially available, and specifically designed for cleaning floor, window, barbecue grill, or other purposes. Newly designed cleaning products facilitate the cleaning work. However, when using water basket with a mop to perform a cleaning work, a user cannot avoid direct contact of the hands with the mophead. When twisting the mophead to dry the mophead, the hands may be contaminated with dirts. Further, these cleaning products are commonly limited to a specific field for a specific application. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a mop, which facilitates replacement of the consumptive material. It is another object of the present invention to provide a mop, which avoids direct contact of the hand with the consumptive material when replacing the consumptive material. 
         [0006]    To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the mop comprises a molded mop casing, which has two mophead supporting faces connected together to show a double beveled configuration, a detached part pivotally connected to the molded mop casing between the mophead supporting faces, a mop mop shaft, which has a front end connected to the detached part for enabling the mop shaft to be biased with the detached part relative to the molded mop casing, a handle coupled to the mop shaft and movable forwards/backwards along the mop shaft, and an extending device mounted in the handle and the molded mop casing and movable by the handle between an extended position and a received position for locking/unlocking a consumptive material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mop in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention (the consumptive material excluded). 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the retaining strips in the received position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2 , showing the retaining strips in the extended position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a consumptive material for use with the mop according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the consumptive material fastened to the molded mop casing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mop in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention before installation of the consumptive material. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a mop in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention (the consumptive material excluded). 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a consumptive material for use with the mop according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a mop in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention (the consumptive material excluded). 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the mop in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention (the consumptive material excluded). 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  corresponds to  FIG. 11 , showing the two mophead supporting faces of the molded mop casing in the received position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1˜3 , a mop  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising: a molded mop casing  11 , a detached part  14 , a mop shaft  17 , a handle  21 , and an extending device  24 . 
         [0019]    The molded mop casing  11  is a double-beveled hollow member showing a V-shaped cross section, having two mophead supporting faces  12  that have the respective bottom edge formed integral with each other. 
         [0020]    The detached part  14  is pivotally coupled to the molded mop casing  11 . 
         [0021]    The shaft  17  is a tubular member connected with its front end to the detached part  14 . By means of the detached part  14 , the mop shaft  17  is biasable relative to the molded mop casing  11 . The mop shaft  17  has a threaded female cavity  18  in its rear end for the connection of an external operating handle (not shown) to extend the length for convenient operation. 
         [0022]    The handle  21  is a sleeve member sleeved onto the mop shaft  17  and axially movable along the length of the mop shaft  17 . 
         [0023]    The extending device  24  is connected between the handle  21  and the molded mop casing  11 , and movable by the handle  21  to expand or retract the molded mop casing  11 . According to this first embodiment, the extending device  24  comprises two retaining strips  25  and a plurality of activating cables/wires  26 . The two retaining strips  25  are respectively coupled to the top sides of the two mophead supporting faces  12  and movable outwards/inwards by an external force. The activating cables/wires  26  are inserted through the mop shaft  17  into the inside of the molded mop casing  11 , and respectively connected between the handle  21  and the two retaining strips  25 . Thus, moving the handle  21  forwards/backwards along the mop shaft  17  causes the two retaining strips  25  to be moved outwards/inwards in two reversed directions. 
         [0024]    During application, the mop  10  is used with a consumptive material, i.e., mophead  31 . The mophead  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , comprises a flexible sheet-like body  32 , two anchoring means, for example, mop edges  33  respectively provided at two opposite sides of the flexible sheet-like body  32 , and a dry type mophead element  36  and a wet type mophead element  37  provided at the outer wall of the flexible sheet-like body  32 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the flexible sheet-like body  32  is closely attached to the two mophead supporting faces  12  of the molded mop casing  11 , and then the mop edges  33  are hooked edges respectively hooked on the two retaining strips  25  to secure the flexible sheet-like body  32  to the molded mop casing  11  firmly. Further, the dry type mophead element  36  can be, for example, a mop formed of a bundle of rags and, the wet type mophead element  37  can be a sponge filled with a detergent. 
         [0025]    Thus, a user can operate the handle  21  to expand or retract the two retaining strips  25 , thereby locking/unlocking the consumptive material  31 . Therefore, a user can replace the consumptive material  31  rapidly without touching the mophead elements  36  and  37 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a mop in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the extending device  49  according to this second embodiment comprises two latch blocks  491  and a plurality of activating cables/wires  492 . The two latch blocks  491  are respectively movably provided at the left and right sides of the molded mop casing  41  and movable inwards/outwards relative to the molded mop casing  41 . The activating cables/wires  492  are inserted through the mop shaft  47  into the inside of the molded mop casing  41  and respectively connected to the latch blocks  491 . Thus, a user can operate the handle  48  to move the latch blocks  491 . 
         [0027]    Further, the consumptive material, i.e., the mophead  51  according to this second embodiment comprises a hollow, double beveled body  52  that has two sidewalls  55 , two end walls  53  connected between the two sidewalls  55  and a latch hole  54  in each side wall  55 , a dry type mophead element  56  provided at one sidewall  55  of the body  52 , and a wet type mophead element  57  provided at the other sidewall  55  of the body  52 . 
         [0028]    According to this second embodiment, a user can move the handle  48  forwards/backwards along the mop shaft  47  to move the two latch blocks  491  into or away from the latch holes  54  of the mophead  51 , thereby locking the mophead  51  to the molded mop casing  41  or unlocking the mophead  51  from the molded mop casing  41 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a mop  60  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as follows: 
         [0030]    The molded mop casing  61  according to this third embodiment has the bottom edges of the two mophead supporting faces  62  hinged together by a hinge  63 . Thus, the two mophead supporting faces  62  can be turned inwards/outwards relative to each other. 
         [0031]    The extending device  69  comprises two rods/arms  691  and two movable links  692 . The rods/arms  691  each have one end respectively pivotally connected to two opposite sides of the handle  68 , and the other end respectively pivotally connected to the movable links  692 . The two mophead supporting faces  62  each have two sector flanges  621  bilaterally protruded from the back side. The detached part  64  has two pivot pins  641  respectively extended from two sides thereof. The two pivot pins  641  are respectively inserted through an arched sliding slot  622  on each of the two sector flanges  621  of one mophead supporting face  62  and respectively affixed to the two sector flanges  621  of the other mophead supporting face  62 . 
         [0032]    According to this third embodiment, a user can operate the handle  6  to move the rods/arms  691 , thereby swinging the mophead supporting faces  62  between an expanded position and a received position. 
         [0033]    Further, the consumptive material  71  according to this third embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , comprises a hollow, double-beveled body  72  for capping onto the molded mop casing  61 , and a dry type mophead element  77  and a wet type mophead element  78  respectively provided at the mophead supporting faces  75 . The body  72  has a retaining portion  76  provided at the top side of each of the two mophead supporting faces  75 . According to this embodiment, the retaining portion  76  is a hook flange protruded from the top side of each mophead supporting face  75 . 
         [0034]    When the two mophead supporting faces  75  are moved inwards to the received position, the consumptive material  71  can then be attached to the molded mop casing  61 . When extending out the two mophead supporting faces  75 , the mophead supporting faces  62  are respectively forced into engagement with the retaining portions  76 . This third embodiment achieves the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 9˜11  show a mop  80  in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid third embodiment with the exceptions as follows: 
         [0036]    The detached part  84  is a hinge. The bottom edges of the two mophead supporting faces  82  of the molded mop casing  81  are respectively fastened to the detached part  84 . Therefore, the two mophead supporting faces  82  can be turned relative to each other. Further, each mophead supporting face  82  has two sector flanges  821  bilaterally perpendicularly extended from the back side. Each sector flange  821  has an oblique sliding slot  822 . 
         [0037]    The extending device  89  comprises two pivot rods  891  respectively extended from two sides of the handle  88  and respectively inserted through the oblique sliding slots  822  on the sector flanges  821  of the mophead supporting faces  62 . 
         [0038]    Thus, a user can operate the handle  88  to move the pivot rods  891  in the oblique sliding slots  822 , forcing the two mophead supporting faces  82  to move relative to the detached part  84  between the extended position and the received position. 
         [0039]    The consumptive material  71  of the aforesaid third embodiment can be fastened to the molded mop casing  81  and used with this fourth embodiment, achieving the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment. 
         [0040]    In general, the invention provides a mop that has advantages and features as follows: 
         [0041]    1. Ease of replacement of consumptive material: By means of operating the handle, the consumptive material can be locked/unlocked, facilitating replacement. 
         [0042]    2. Hand contamination free: During replacement of the consumptive material, either mounting or dismounting the consumptive material, the user simply needs to operate the handle without touching the consumptive material, avoiding hand contamination. 
         [0043]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0