Twist-lock handle assembly

• US 20030233718A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Short, Michael E., Neumann, Peter M., Heathcock, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/144.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/16 comprising bayonet joints

Abstract

A twist-lock handle assembly includes sections that are interconnected by first telescoping them together, followed by relative rotational movement to interlock two pair of axially spaced apart tabs and recesses. The assembly can have a grip section, at least one pole section, and one accessory attachment section for connecting to a mop head. The components are rigidly and essentially permanently connected by sliding them together and twisting, but can be compactly shipped.

Claims

1. A handle assembly, comprising:

at least two elongated sections, one elongated section having a female end defining an internal cavity and the other elongated section having a male end sized to fit within the cavity;

one of the female and male ends having a groove extending axially from a terminal edge to adjacent a first recess;

the other of the female and male ends having a first radial projection sized to fit within the groove;

one of the female and male ends having a second recess; and

another of the female and male ends besides that having the second recess having a second radial projection;

wherein when the male end has been telescoped into the female end by relative axial movement there between, the female end male ends can be locked together by causing a relative rotation there between such that the first radial projection extends into the first recess and the second radial projection extends into the second recess; and

wherein the first and second recesses are axially spaced from each other when the male and female ends have been locked together.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second radial projections are on the male end, the first and second recesses are along the cavity of the female end, and the groove is along the cavity of the female end and circumferentially spaced from both of the recesses.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second radial projections are essentially circumferentially aligned.

4. The handle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second radial projections is ramped to ease engagement with respect to a recess.

5. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the female end includes an intermediate region extending into the cavity between the groove and the second recess radially inward more than the groove.

6. The handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the intermediate region ramps radially outward towards the groove.

7. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the first recess is a through opening and the second recess is not a through opening.

8. The handle assembly of claim 2, wherein the first recess is a D-shaped through opening and the first radial projection is D-shaped.

9. The handle assembly of claim 8, wherein the first radial projection is ramped in a circumferential direction extending from the groove to the first recess.

10. The handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning accessory linked to one of the elongated sections.

11. A handle assembly, comprising:

an elongated grip section having an outer surface suitable to act as a handle and a lower connector end;

at least one elongated pole section having an upper connector end and a lower connector end; and

an elongated accessory attachment section having an upper connector and a lower yoke structure having multiple arms for receiving an accessory;

at least one upper connector and one lower connector end being configured such that they can be snap locked together by telescoping them together followed by relative rotational movement there between to cause a pair of axially spaced tabs to engage a pair of axially spaced recesses.