Self-wringing mop and wringer assembly, cleaning element assembly and cleaning element for use with same

• US 5,933,904 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micronova Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micronova Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: De Guzman, Joselito
• Primary Examiner(s): Forensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hook, James F.
• Application Number:
  US08/804,809
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 15/119.1, 15/119.2, 15/98, 15/147.2, 15/244.1, 15/244.2, 15/244.3, 15/244.4
• US Class Current: 15/119.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers

Abstract

A self-wringing mop includes a powered actuator device operably connected to a cleaning element assembly for moving the cleaning element assembly from a use position to a wringing position. A cleaning element, which may be used with a self-wringing mop, includes a main body defining a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one aperture associated with the main body and passing completely through the main body from the top surface to the bottom surface. A bracket, which may be used with the cleaning element, includes a holding member and at least one bracket attachment member extending through the at least one aperture and adapted to be secured to a mop'"'"'s cleaning element assembly attachment member. A wringer head assembly, which may be used with the self-wringing mop, includes a mounting rod, a roller mounted on the mid-portion of the mounting rod, and an end cap mounted on each of the ends of the mounting rod. A torsion control device may also be included on the wringer head assembly, as may a base adapted to be inserted into a hollow mop handle.

Claims

1. A cleaning element for use with a mop, comprising:

a liquid absorbent main body defining a length, an overall width, a thickness, a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of side surfaces and wherein the main body has a shape that is other than cube shaped;

a first channel associated with the top surface of the main body, the first channel defining a length, a width and a depth, the depth of the first channel being substantially less than one half of the overall thickness of the main body;

a second channel associated with the bottom surface of the main body, the second channel defining a length, a width and a depth, the depth of the second channel being substantially less than one half of the overall thickness of the main body;

at least one aperture associated with the main body and channels and passing completely through the main body from the top surface to the bottom surface, the at least one aperture defining a width substantially equal to the width of the channels.

2. A cleaning element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces includes a generally curved portion.

3. A cleaning element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a generally curved portion.

4. A cleaning element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a pair of generally planar surfaces defining an angle therebetween.

5. A cleaning element as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member covering at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces.

6. A cleaning element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cover member covers the top surface, the bottom surface and the side surfaces.

7. A wringer head assembly for use with a self-wringing mop, comprising:

first and second longitudinally spaced support members spaced apart by a predetermined distance;

a mounting rod associated with the first and second support members and defining a length substantially greater than the predetermined distance, a first end portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the first support member, a second portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the second support member, and a mid-portion of the rod extending between the first and second support members;

a roller mounted on the mid-portion of the mounting rod associated with the first and second support members, the roller defining a roller diameter; and

an end cap mounted on each of the first and second portions of the mounting rod associated with the first and second support members, each end cap including a closed end portion.

8. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the end caps define a diameter substantially equal to the roller diameter.

9. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

third and fourth longitudinally spaced support members spaced apart by a predetermined distance;

a mounting rod associated with the third and fourth support members and defining a length substantially greater than the predetermined distance, a first end portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the third support member, a second portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the fourth support member, and a mid-portion of the rod extending between the third and fourth support members;

a roller mounted on the mid-portion of the mounting rod associated with the third and fourth support members, the roller defining the roller diameter; and

an end cap mounted on each of the third and fourth portions of the mounting rod associated with the third and fourth support members, the end caps defining a diameter substantially equal to the roller diameter, each end cap including a closed end portion.

10. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and third support members are connected to one another.

11. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a base having an attachment member adapted to be inserted into a hollow mop handle.

12. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the end caps are rotatable about the respective mounting rods.

13. A wringer head assembly for use with a self-wringing mop, comprising:

a pair of first roller support members and a pair of second roller support members;

a first rotatable roller between the first roller support members and a second rotatable roller between the second roller support members;

a first torsion control rod operably connected to the first roller support members.

14. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a second torsion control rod operably connected to the second roller support members.

15. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first roller support members each define an upper portion and a lower portion, the first roller is associated with the upper portion of the first roller support members and the first torsion control rod comprises a rod fixedly secured to the lower portion of the first roller support members.

16. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein one of the first roller support members and one of the second roller support members are attached to one another.

17. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a base having an attachment member adapted to be inserted into a hollow mop handle.

18. A wringer head assembly for use with a self-wringing mop, comprising:

a base plate defining first and second longitudinal end portions;

a handle attachment member associated with the base plate;

a first generally U-shaped roller support member associated with the first longitudinal end of the base plate and having first and second legs with approximately equal lengths;

a second generally U-shaped roller support member associated with the second longitudinal end of the base plate and having first and second legs with approximately equal lengths;

a first rotatable roller extending between the first and second generally U-shaped roller support members; and

a second rotatable roller extending between the first and second generally U-shaped roller support members.

19. A wringer head assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the base plate, the first generally U-shaped roller support member, and the second generally U-shaped roller support member define an integrally formed unitary structure.

20. The assembly of claim 18 further comprising torsion limiting rods extending between the roller support members.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the roller support members are relatively flat.

22. A self-wringing mop, comprising:

a handle;

a wringer assembly associated with one end of the handle;

a cleaning element assembly including a cleaning element, the cleaning element assembly being movable between a use position and a wringing position where the wringer assembly compresses the cleaning element; and

powered actuator means, operably connected to the cleaning element assembly, for moving the cleaning element assembly from the use position to the wringing position.

23. A self-wringing mop as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:

a manually operated lever operably connected to the cleaning element assembly for facilitating manual movement of the cleaning element assembly from the use position to the wringing position.

24. A self-wringing mop as claimed in claim 23, wherein the actuator means comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement.

25. A self-wringing mop as claimed in claim 22, wherein the actuator means comprises a motor and screw arrangement.

26. A self-wringing mop as claimed in claim 22, wherein the actuator means comprises a rod operably connected to the cleaning element assembly and the self-wringing mop further comprises a manually operated lever associated with the rod.

27. A self-wringing mop, comprising:

a handle;

a cleaning element assembly attachment member associated with the handle;

a wringer head assembly associated with the handle and including a pair of wringer members, each wringer member including

first and second longitudinally spaced support members spaced apart by a predetermined distance,

a mounting rod associated with the first and second support members and defining a length substantially greater than the predetermined distance, a first end portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the first support member, a second end portion of the mounting rod extending longitudinally beyond the second support member, and a mid-portion of the rod extending between the first and second support members,

a torsion control device operably connected to the support members,

a roller mounted on the mid-portion of the mounting rod, the roller defining a roller diameter, and

an end cap mounted on each of the first and second portions of the mounting rod and defining a diameter substantially equal to the roller diameter;

a cleaning element assembly, movable between a use position and a wringing position within the wringer head assembly, including

a cleaning element having a main body composed of an absorbent material and defining a cleaning surface with a first channel, a surface opposite the cleaning surface with a second channel, and at least one aperture associated with the main body and the first and second channels and passing completely through the main body from the cleaning surface to the surface opposite the cleaning surface, and

a bracket including a holding member and an attachment device adapted to be secured to the cleaning element assembly attachment member in such a manner that the holding member is associated with the cleaning surface of the cleaning element and at least one of the attachment device and the cleaning element assembly attachment member extends through that at least one aperture, the holding member;

actuator means, operably connected to the cleaning element assembly, for moving the cleaning element assembly from the use position to the wringing position; and

a manually operated lever operably connected to the cleaning element assembly for facilitating manual movement of the cleaning element assembly from the use position to the wringing position.