Twist-lock handle assembly

• US 6,925,686 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Short, Michael E., Neumann, Peter M., Heathcock, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAH, CHUCK Y
• Application Number:
  US10/178,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 164/29, 164/27, 164/22, 164/05, 164/36, 811/771, 811/772, 814/89, 151/431, 151/441, 15/1, 151/444, 151/45, 151/591, 152/358, 152/363, 294/57, 294 191- 193, 403/107, 403/109.1, 403/109.4, 403/377
• US Class Current: 16/429
• 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:

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 radial projection; and

the other of the female and male ends having a second recess and an intermediate region that extends radially so as to inhibit rotational movement of the second radial projection toward the second recess;

wherein when the male end has been telescoped into the female end by relative axial movement there between, the female end and male end 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 passes the intermediate region and 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 2, wherein the first recess is a through opening and the second recess is not a through opening.

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

5. The handle assembly of claim 4, wherein the first radial projection is ramped in a circumferential direction extending from the groove to the first recess.

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

7. 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.

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

9. A handle assembly, comprising:

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;

the other of the female and male ends 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 and male end 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;

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

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; and

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.

10. The handle assembly of claim 9, wherein the intermediate region ramps radially outward towards the groove.

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 end and a lower yoke structure having multiple arms for receiving an accessory;

wherein at least one pair of said upper and lower connector ends is configured such that said pair of upper and lower connector ends can be snap locked together by telescoping them together followed by relative rotational movement there between to cause a pair of axially spaced tabs of one of said pair of upper and lower connector ends to engage a pair of axially spaced recesses of the other of said pair of upper and lower connector ends after at least one of said tabs engages an interfering intermediate region adjacent to an associated at least one of said recesses.