Abstract:
This self wringing mop is designed to make mopping floors faster and easier. Primarily, it consists of an upper frame with a handle, and a wringer block and roller are secured in the frame for effecting a rotating wringing effect. A plurality of foam plastic mop strips are employed as mopping elements and are supported from a strip support frame in the mop assembly, and the foam plastic mop strips are especially designed for long life in the mop.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention relates generally to mops, and more particularly, to a self-wringing mop. 
     Numerous mops have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be employed on floors and the like. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purpose of the present invention as hereafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a self-wringing mop that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a self-wringing mop that will be of such design, as to employ at least two lengths of foam plastic mop strips in a frame for mopping purposes, and a roller containing device will be provided in the structure for the wringing thereof. 
     An additional object is to provide a self-wringing mop that will include a rotatable handle for the wringing of the foam plastic mop strips. 
     A further object is to provide a self-wringing mop that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a self-wringing mop that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention shown in a wringing position; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of one the mop elements strips, shown in dry condition; 
     FIG. 4B is a fragmentary perspective view with a cross sectional cut taken along line 4B--4B of FIG. 1, one the mop elements strips, shown in wet condition; 
     FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the base portion of the sponge holder and locking mechanism of the instant invention, shown removed therefrom; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the mechanism, shown partly broken away and one cap exploded therefrom; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the mop elements strips support and rotatable wringer handle combined, shown removed from the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the invention, with the mop elements strips removed, showing the mop elements strips supports and handle combination in position for removal from the assembly. 
     FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating the wring action of the mop; and 
     FIG. 10 is a partial exploded perspective view further illustrating details of construction of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which like reference characters denote like elements throughout the several views, a mop 100 is shown to include a main frame 12 composed of an upper channel 14 having a handle 16 fixedly secured to its top surface by a pair of two out of four fasteners 18. Hold-down plates 20 are provided and grooved to retain rods 22, and the other fasteners 18 are received in the openings 23 of channel 14 and plates 20 for fixedly securing rods 22, plates 20, and handle 16. A space 24 is provided between extending leg portions of rods 22 and freely receives end stub shafts 26 that are fixedly secured in wringer roller 28, and a loop 27 is formed on the ends of rods 22, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described. 
     A pair of cut-out openings 30 are provided in the edges of side portions of channel 14, and removably receive projecting pins 32 in one end portion of a pair of rubber compression strips 34 in frame 12. Similar pins 32 are provided in the opposite ends of strips 34, and are removably received in other cut-out openings 30 provided in ends of a pair of spaced channel brackets 36. A compression plate 38 is provided and includes a cut-out opening 40 in each end, and rods 22 are freely received in the openings 40 and serve as guides for the plate 38. 
     A pair of projections 42 are integrally attached to plate 38, for riding in the spaces 24 between rods 22. The pair of channel brackets 36 are fixedly secured to plate 38 by fasteners 44 received in openings 46, and the channel brackets 36 normally engage with the outer peripheral surface of roller 28, by pressure created by the compression strips 34 that are arcuately formed when in the assembly of the mop 10. 
     A wringer block 48 is provided and includes angularly sloped sides 50 and a longitudinal top opening 52 normally seats the outer peripheral surface of roller 28, until mop wringing is effected. The pair of longitudinal edges 54 defined by the opening 52 and the sides 50, serve as a seat for roller 28. The projecting bottom portion 56 of block 48 serves to separate end portions of a plurality of elongated foam plastic mop strips 58. 
     It shall be noted that the roller 28 and the wringer block 48 are preferably fabricated of plastic material. 
     Looking now at FIG. 4A and 4B particularly, each mop strip 58 is composed of a plurality of separate equal lengths of foam strips 60. A reinforcing cloth tape 62 is stitched on each side by stitches 64, so as to fixedly secure the strips 60 together. 
     As best understood from viewing FIG. 10, a strip support frame 66 is provided and is composed of a pair of strip support rods 68 having a wringer handle 70 formed at right angles and including an outer loop 72. A space 74 between rods 68 provides for receiving and retaining end portions of strips 58 that are employed for mopping, and one end of support rods 68 is curved inward to form openings 76 that receives a rod 22. The opposite end of strip support frame 66 also includes openings 76 that receives the other rod 22. 
     Recesses 78 are formed in the bottom end portions of the wringer block 48, and an end cap 80 is fixedly secured to one end of wringer block 48, in a manner (not shown). A second end cap 82 is provided and includes a pair of spaced pins 84 fixedly secured therein that are frictionally force fitted into openings 86 provided in one end of wringer block 48. This block 84 is removable for the purpose of removing strip support frame 66 to change worn strips 58. 
     The ends of the strip support frame are supported on top of the end caps 80 and 82, and end portions of the strips 58 depend downward on the inside of strip support frame 66. The projecting bottom portion 56 of wringer block 48, serves as a separator and spacer. 
     In use, mop 100 is employed in the conventional manner to mop floors. When it is desired to wring out the water from the strips 58, the handle 70 is grasped and rotated as shown, causing the wringer block 48 to also rotate and wind the strips 58 thereon. As the above occurs, the strips 58 are forced between the roller 28 and compression force from the rubber compression strips 34, causes the outer periphery of the roller 28 to force against the strips 58 to press the water therefrom, (as best illustrated in FIG. 9). 
     After wringing, reverse rotation is effected to bring the strips 58 back to normal position, and it is to be recognized that the handle 70 is then left in the normally full upright position. 
     When removing a worn plurality of strips 58 from mop 10, the second end cap 82 is forced off of the wringer block 48 and the strip support frame 66 is removed from the wringer block 48, after which, new strips 58 are placed thereon, and strip support frame 66 is replaced and the second end cap is again put into place by forcing the pins 84 into the openings 86 of the wringer block 48. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.