Patent ID: 12245732

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various illustrative arrangements, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various arrangements in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other arrangements may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, while the terms “front.” “rear.” “top.” and “side.” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of the claims. It is noted that the accompanying drawings may not be drawn to scale. It is noted that various connections between elements are discussed in the following description. It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect, and that the specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.

The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below.

“Generally planar” means that a surface is level and aligned with another surface, such that the two surfaces form a substantially flat single surface, within a tolerance of +/−0.05 inches.

In general, this disclosure relates to a grip handle assembly for a mop. In some examples, the grip handle assembly may be connected to a mop system comprising a spin mop and a bucket assembly where the spin mop engages the bucket assembly to assist in dewatering the mop. In short, when the mop head engages a wringer basket of a bucket assembly, the spinning of the mop head may cause the wringer basket to spin with it, which causes excess water to be forced from the yarns of the mop head. Therefore, dewatering the mop head and preparing it for use. The mop head may be configured to pivot along two different axes to allow a movement of the handle assembly to drive the rotation of the wringer basket even when the handle assembly is arranged at different angles relative to the mop head. In other examples, the grip handle assembly may be connected to a different type of mop such as a sponge mop or other mop know to one skilled in the art to dewater the sponge.

FIGS.1and2illustrate the grip handle assembly100. InFIG.1, the lever170is shown in an unlocked or released position, and inFIG.2the lever170is shown in a locked or engaged position. The exemplary grip handle assembly100may be used with a spin mop system10as shown inFIG.3that includes a spin mop20and a bucket assembly30, where the spin mop20engages a wringer basket35of the bucket assembly30to dewater a mop head25of the spin mop20. The spin mop system10may be similar to the spin mop system described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 17/235,679 filed on Apr. 20, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The spin mop20may include a handle assembly40that defines a longitudinal axis50of the spin mop20. The spin mop20may also include a drive mechanism that comprises a spiral member45that is slidably engaged with the handle assembly40and also pivotally engaged with the mop head25. The bucket assembly30may include a bucket55to hold a cleaning solution, and a wringer basket35that is rotatably engaged with an axle member of the bucket55.

After the mop head25has been submerged in the cleaning solution contained in the bucket55, the spin mop20may be received in and engage the wringer basket35to assist in dewatering the mop head25to ensure the mop head25has the desired moisture content for the intended cleaning task. The mop head25may be placed into the wringer basket35. Once the mop head25is received in the wringer basket35, the lever170may be moved (i.e. rotated or lifted) to a released position to release a brake bushing80that allows the handle tube42of the handle assembly40to slidably move along the spiral member45. As the spiral member45rotates, the spiral member45causes the mop head25to rotate (i.e., spin). The spinning of the mop head25then causes the wringer basket35to spin in the same direction as the rotation of the mop head25creating a centrifugal force to cause any excess cleaning solution, or liquid, to be forced from the yarns of the mop head25.

The handle assembly40may include a handle tube42and a grip handle assembly100near the lower end of the handle tube42. The grip handle assembly100may include a lever170that is pivotally attached to the grip handle110. The lever170may engage a brake bushing80within the grip handle110that engages the spiral member45, where the lever170has a locked positioned that prevents the handle assembly40from moving relative to the spiral member45and an unlocked position that releases the brake bushing80which allows the brake bushing80along with the handle assembly40to slide downward on the spiral member45. The lever170may engage the brake bushing80by compressing flexible fingers on the brake bushing80to prevent the handle tube42from moving relative to the spiral member45when in the locked position. As these components move along the spiraled surface of the spiral member45, the spiral member45rotates causing the mop head25to spin.

The grip handle assembly100for the mop20may comprise a grip handle110that connects to a handle tube42of the mop20and a lever170that is pivotally engaged with the grip handle110. The grip handle110may include a grip handle body112with a first end114and a second end116opposite the first end114, wherein the grip handle body112has a passage118extending from the first end114to the second end116. The grip handle110may further comprise a lever mount120nearer the first end114than the second end116, where the lever mount120comprises a first side mount122extending from the grip handle body112and a second side mount124extending from the grip handle body112opposite the first side mount122. An opening126may be located in the grip handle body112between the first side mount122and the second side mount124. A lever stop128may be positioned near the first end114(i.e., closer to the first end114than the second end116) of the grip handle body112. In some examples, the lever stop128may be positioned at the first end114of the grip handle body112. The lever stop128may include a central protrusion130extending from the grip handle body112and a first stop surface132and a second stop surface134. The first stop surface132may be adjacent to the central protrusion130and located on a first side of the central protrusion130, and the second stop surface134may be adjacent to the central protrusion130and located on a second side of the central protrusion130opposite the first side of the central protrusion130. In some examples, the central protrusion130and first and second stop surfaces132,134may be located near and/or at a front end136of the opening126.

The lever170may be pivotally connected to the grip handle110at the lever mount120. As shown inFIG.10, the lever170may comprise a pair of tabs172extending from a lever base174that connect to the lever mount120. Each tab172may be aligned on a lever axis. The lever170may further comprise a grip portion176, a first forward stop member178, a second forward stop member180, and a rear stop member182. The forward stop members178,180and the rear stop member182. The rear stop member182may extend into the opening126of the grip handle body112.

As discussed above, the lever170may be moved to a released or unlocked position as shown inFIGS.1and4-6, or an engaged or locked position as shown inFIGS.2and7-9. When the lever170is in the released position, at least one of the first and second forward stop members178,180of the lever170engages or contacts the first and second stop surfaces132,134of the lever stop128as shown inFIG.6. The first and second stop surfaces132,134may be generally planar such that the majority of the surface area of each of the first and second stop surfaces engages132,134each engaging surface of the first and second forward stop members178,180of the lever170. The engaging surface of the forward stop members178,180may also be generally planar. In addition, in some examples, when the lever170is in the released position, the rear stop member182may engage or contact the grip handle body112near a rear end138of the opening126as shown inFIGS.5and6. The grip handle110may also comprise an internal shelf142that is configured to engage and support a brake bushing80. When the lever170is in the released position, the brake bushing80has the compression force applied by the rear stop member182removed to allow the handle assembly40and spiral member45to move relative to each other.

FIGS.7-9illustrate the grip handle assembly100in the locked position. When the lever170is in the locked position, the rear stop member182extends into the opening126and engages the flexible fingers of the brake bushing80which creates a clamping force onto the handle tube42to prevent any movement between the handle assembly40and the spiral member45as shown inFIG.13.FIGS.8and9illustrate the first and second forward stop members178,180being free of contact with the first and second stop surfaces132,134of the lever stop128. As best shown in the cross-sectional view ofFIG.9, an angle160between the first stop surface132and the surface of the first end114of the grip handle body112may be approximately 45 degrees, or within a range of 25 and 65 degrees. By utilizing the forward stop members178,180on the lever170to contact the stop surfaces132,134respectively of the grip handle body112and the rear stop member182to contact an interior surface of the grip handle body112near or at a rear end138of the opening126, the lever170may withstand a maximum downward force applied by a user of approximately 50 pounds, or within a range of 45 and 50 pounds, or within a range of 40 and 50 pounds. The downward force may be tested using a force gauge that is capable of recording a pulling or pushing force. To test the maximum force capable by the lever170, the lever170is moved to an unlocked position to an angle of approximately 45° to the grip handle body112. The force gauge's peg attachment is placed against the grip portion176of the lever170that is facing the grip handle body112. A force is then applied to lever170towards the mop head25while holding onto the gauge and the handle tube42until wither either the lever170or the grip handle110break in a way that allows the lever170to approach an angle nearly 180° from the locked position of the lever170. The maximum force used to break the lever170or the grip handle110is recorded.

FIGS.12and13illustrate front views of the grip handle assembly100with the brake bushing80received within the grip handle110.FIG.13illustrates the lever170in the locked position with fingers of the brake bushing80in a compressed state.FIG.12illustrates the lever170in an unlocked position with the fingers of the brake bushing80in an uncompressed state.

The various components of the grip handle assembly100such as the grip handle110and the lever170may be formed from a polymeric material, such as a nylon or polycarbonate, using a molding, forming, cutting, or other process known to one skilled in the art. Optionally or alternatively, any or all of these components may be formed from a metallic material.

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative examples thereof. Numerous other examples, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. For example, one or more of the steps depicted in the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and one or more depicted steps may be optional in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.