Roller mop

• US 6,785,927 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Inventors: Lesley, Paul M., Specht, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/027,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 151/161, 151/162, 151/191, 151/192, 151/18, 151/17, 152/60, 152/62
• US Class Current: 15/119.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning implement, preferably in the form of a roller mop, that includes a mop head, a shaft, and a wringer. The cleaning implement further includes a connecting link connected to the mop head and to the shaft or wringer. The mop head has a connecting side and a cleaning side thereby defining a mop axis, which axis is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The connecting link is positioned with respect to the mop head to permit the mop head to travel along a path substantially coextensive with the mop axis over at least a portion of the range of travel of the mop head.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising;

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, said operator end and said cleaning end defining a longitudinal axis;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member, said mop head having a connecting side and a cleaning side, said connecting side and said cleaning side defining a mop axis, said mop axis being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shaft when said mop is in a cleaning position;

a wringing mechanism comprising a wringer having an operator gripping portion and a wringing portion, said wringer being movable relative to said shaft, said wringer being disposed at said cleaning end of said shaft, said mop head being movable relative to said wringer over a range of travel at least between said cleaning position and plural wringing positions, said wringing mechanism in said wringing positions compressing at least a portion of said liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom, the operator gripping portion having a gripping portion axis, said gripping portion axis is parallel to said longitudinal axis, the wringer having a distal portion, the distal portion having a distal portion axis, the distal portion axis being disposed at an angle with respect to the gripping portion axis; and

a connecting link, said connecting link being connected to said mop head and to one of said shaft and said wringer thereby permitting relative movement of said wringer and said mop head upon relative movement of said shaft and said wringer, said connecting link being positioned with respect to said mop head to permit said mop head to travel along a path substantially coextensive with said mop axis over at least a portion of said range of travel.

2. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, said connecting link comprising a rigid portion sliding and pivoting about a pivoting surface on said wringer upon relative movement of said wringer and said shaft during at least a portion of the range of travel of said mop head.

3. A cleaning implement according to claim 2, said wringer including a slot receiving a portion of said connecting link thereby inhibiting relative transverse movement of said mop bead and said wringer.

4. A cleaning implement according to claim 2, said connecting link pivoting on said wringing surface over only a portion of said range of travel of said mop head.

5. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, said connecting link comprising a resilient member.

6. A cleaning implement according to claim 5, said member comprising a resilient strip having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and being relatively more resistant to flexing along said transverse axis then along said longitudinal axis.

7. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, said mop comprising a composite liquid absorbent product composed of a first material and a second material, said second material being abrasive relative to said first material.

8. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, said wringer comprising at least two spaced apart rollers.

9. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, said connecting link being connected to said shaft via a connector.

10. A cleaning implement according to claim 9, said connector engaging a portion of said wringer to inhibit relative axial movement of said wringer and said shaft beyond a predetermined axial position.

11. A cleaning implement according to claim 10, said connector comprising at least one resilient arm, said connector in use being integral to said shaft thereby providing a barbed connection between said wringer and said shaft.