MOP HEAD RETAINER

DISPOSITIF DE RETENUE POUR TETE DE BALAI A FRANGES

English Abstract

A mop head retainer for a mop head, having a shank for connection to a mop
handle, an elongated body secured at its middle to the shank, and a jaw cooperable and
pivotal with respect to the body to releasably grip and retain the mop head between the
jaw and the body and release it therefrom, wherein the elongated body is provided with
opposite, spaced first and second terminal extensions downwardly extending from the
ends of the body, one end of the jaw being pivotably secured to the lower free end of the
first extension, the other free end of the jaw and the inside surface of the lower end of the
second extension being provided with co-operating engagement means releasable upon
spacing apart of the lower end of the second extension and the free end of the jaw in a
direction generally normal to the direction of rotation of the latter at its closed position,
so that when in engaged position the jaw and the body are secured in spaced parallel
orientation; the second terminal extension also extending upwardly from the
corresponding end of the body and being pivotably associated between its ends with the
body for outward movement of the lower free end of the second terminal extension away
from the jaw; the retaining means being further provided with an elongated semi-rigid
release member, one end of the member is attached to the shank at a point spaced from
the body, the other end of the member is attached to the upper end of the second terminal
extension, whereby downward pressure on a part of the release member between its ends
causes deflection of the release member to pivot the second terminal extension and
consequently move the lower end of the terminal extension away from the jaw to release
the engagement means when in a closed position and permit the jaw to open, and removal
of the downward pressure causes the release member and the second terminal extension
to return to original positions to permit re-engagement of the engagement means when the
jaw is to be closed; a protective member secured to the shank and extending towards the
upper end of the second terminal extension, the release member being positioned between
the protective member and the body, whereby the release member is shielded against
unintentional disengagement of the engagement means by unintentional deflection of the

unintentional deflection of the release member during use of the mop; the improvement
comprising the protective member is provided with a pressure member having an
abutable portion downwardly extending towards and adjacent the release member and
operably abutable with the release member to effect the downward pressure on the part of
the release member to effect the release of said engagement means. The pressure member
allows for easier and cleaner manipulation of the retainer when replacement of the mop
head is carried out.

French Abstract

Dispositif de retenue pour tête de vadrouille comportant fût de raccordement au manche de la vadrouille, un corps de forme allongée dont la partie centrale est fixée au fût, et un mors monté en pivotement par rapport au corps servant à saisir et à retenir ou libérer la tête de la vadrouille; le corps de forme allongée comporte un premier et un deuxième prolongements vers le bas à chacune des extrémités du corps; une des extrémités du mors est montée en pivotement sur l'extrémité inférieure du premier prolongement, l'autre extrémité du mors venant en engagement mécanique avec l'extrémité inférieure du deuxième prolongement. Lorsqu'en engagement mécanique réalisé par pivotement du mors sur l'extrémité inférieure du deuxième prolongement, le mors et le corps sont fixés parallèlement l'un à l'autre, avec un certain écartement entre les deux. Le dispositif de retenue comporte également un élément de déverrouillage semi-rigide de forme allongée dont une extrémité est rattachée au fût de raccordement à une certaine distance du corps, l'autre extrémité de l'élément étant reliée à l'extrémité supérieure du deuxième prolongement; une pression exercée vers le bas sur l'élément de déverrouillage produit une déflexion de l'élément de déverrouillage, ce qui cause le pivotement de l'extrémité du deuxième prolongement et l'ouverture du mors de serrage; un élément de protection fixé au fût de raccordement et en prolongement vers le bas en direction de l'extrémité supérieure du deuxième prolongement assure une certaine protection contre la déflexion involontaire de l'élément de déverrouillage et le désengagement consécutif du mors de retenue de la tête de la vadrouille pendant son utilisation. L'amélioration réside dans l'ajout du dispositif de protection contre le dégagement involontaire de l'élément de verrouillage, avec élément de blocage intercalé. L'élément de déverrouillage assure une manipulation plus de facile et plus propre du dispositif de retenue de la tête de vadrouille.

Claims

I claim:
1. A mop head retainer for a mop head, having a shank for connection to a mop
handle, an elongated body secured at its middle to the shank, and a jaw cooperable
and pivotal with respect to said body to releasably grip and retain said mop head
between said jaw and said body and release it therefrom, wherein said elongated
body is provided with opposite, spaced first and second terminal extensions
downwardly extending from said ends of the body, one end of said jaw being
pivotably secured to the lower free end of said first extension, the other free end
of the jaw and the inside surface of the lower end of the second extension beingprovided with co-operating engagement means releasable upon spacing apart of
said lower end of said second extension and the free end of said jaw in a direction
generally normal to the direction of rotation of the latter at its closed position, so
that when in engaged position said jaw and said body are secured in spaced
parallel orientation; said second terminal extension also extending upwardly from
the corresponding end of said body and being pivotably associated between its
ends with said body for outward movement of said lower free end of said second
terminal extension away from said jaw; the retaining means being further
provided with an elongated semi-rigid release member, one end of said member is
attached to said shank at a point spaced from said body, the other end of said
member is attached to the upper end of said second terminal extension, whereby
downward pressure on a part of said release member between its ends causes
deflection of said release member to pivot said second terminal extension and
consequently move the lower end of said terminal extension away from said jaw
to release said engagement means when in a closed position and permit said jaw
to open, and removal of said downward pressure causes said release member and
said second terminal extension to return to original positions to permit
re-engagement of said engagement means when said jaw is to be closed; a protective
member secured to said shank and extending towards the upper end of said second
terminal extension, said release member being positioned between said protective

member and said body, whereby said release member is shielded against
unintentional disengagement of said engagement means by unintentional
deflection of said release member during use of said mop; the improvement
comprising said protective member is provided with a pressure member having an
abutable portion downwardly extending towards and adjacent said release member
and operably abutable with said release member to effect said downward pressure
on said part of said release member to effect said release of said engagement
means.
2. A mop head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pressure member is pivotally
mounted to a part of said protective member and having a first portion upwardly
extending above said protective member and a second portion downwardly
extending below said protective member; said second portion being of such lengthas to enable said pressure member to adopt a first position or a second positionwhen said member is operably rotated about said protective member such that
when said pressure member is in said first position said second portion effects the
application of pressure to said release member to effect release of said
engagement means and whereas when said pressure member is in said second
position said second portion does not effect the application of pressure to saidrelease member to effect release of said engagement means.
3. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second portion of saidpressure member has a lower edge which abuts said release member when said
pressure member is in said first position to effect release of said engagement
means of said jaw.
4. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pressure member is
rotatable in the same plane as the plane of rotation of said jaw.
5. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first portion of said
pressure member is of greater length than said second portion of said pressure
member.

6. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pressure member has a
portion defining an aperture through which said part of said protective member is
pivotally mounted.
7. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second portion has a
terminal portion having opposite spaced first and second lugs which, with said
lower edge, define a recess; which recess receives a part of said release memberwhen said pressure member is in said first position.
8. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said protective member is
rigid.
9. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protective member is
semi-rigid and has one end pivotally associated with said shank as to allow for
downward movement of the other end of said protective member, whereby
downward pressure on said protective member causes said downward movement
and effect said abutement of said abutable portion with said release member to
effect said release of said engagement means.
10. A mop head retainer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said protective member is
integrally formed with said shank and integrally formed with said abutable
portion.

Description

2191547
CBB689
MOP HEAD RETAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mop head retainer for use with a mop handle and mop
10 head; and particularly to said retainer having pivoting jaw retaining means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mops of the general type having a mop head retainer for a yarn-type wet mop head15 connected to a mop handle and having a shank, a body holding the shank and a pivotal
jaw to retain and releasable grip the mop head are well-known. United States Patent No.
4,287,632, published September 8, 1981, relates to such a mop having a pivoting jaw
retainer, a shank, an elongated body secured at its middle to the shank and a jaw operable
with respect to the body to releasably grip and retain the mop head between the jaw and
20 the body. Such a retainer is further provided with a semi-rigid release bar having one end
attached to the shank at a point spaced from the body and the other end attached to the
upper end of co-operating engagement means wherein downward pressure on a part of the
release bar between its ends causes deflection of the release bar to release the engagement
means when in position and permit the jaw to disengage and open. Removal of that25 downward pressure causes the release bar to return to its original position to permit re-
engagement of the engagement means when the jaw is to be closed.
The pivoting retaining means described in U.S.P. 4,287,632 is of commercial
value in being preferably made of non-corrosive plastic components and permits ready
insertion and removal of the mop head with minim~l user contact. The pivoting jaw
30 retaining means has a favourable jaw release mechanism which is intended to make
unintentional disengagement difficult.
However, experience has shown that while the aforesaid release mechanism
described in USP 4,287,632 makes it difficult to unintentionally operate for dis-

2 1 9 1 547
engagement, some cleaning operators have diff1culty to effect dis-engagement of the jaw
release mechanism when dis-engagement is intended when manually operated. It hasbeen found in practice that manual gripping of the mop head retainer and manually
pressing the release bar to effect deflection of the release bar to cause jaw opening is
5 difficult if operated by a less-than-strong cleaning operator, particularly if the resiliently
flexible release bar is cold or insufficiently flexible. In those situations where the jaw
mechanism does not permit simple release, manipulation to effect release by the user
often causes unfavourable contact of the mop head with the user.
Accordingly, there is a need for a mop head retainer having pivoting jaw retaining
10 means which overcomes the aforesaid problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mop head retainer for use with
15 a yarn-type wet head mop having pivoting jaw retaining means which retainer provides
reliable, simple manual release and closing of the jaw mechanism by the user.
Accordingly, the invention provides a mop head retainer for a mop head, having ashank for connection to a mop handle, an elongated body secured at its middle to the
shank, and a jaw cooperable and pivotal with respect to said body to releasably grip and
20 retain said mop head between said jaw and said body and release it therefrom, wherein
said elongated body is provided with opposite, spaced first and second terminal
extensions dowllw~idly extending from said ends of the body, one end of said jaw being
pivotably secured to the lower free end of said first extension, the other free end of the
jaw and the inside surface of the lower end of the second extension being provided with
25 co-operating engagement means releasable upon spacing apart of said lower end of said
second extension and the free end of said jaw in a direction generally normal to the
direction of rotation of the latter at its closed position, so that when in engaged position
said jaw and said body are secured in spaced parallel orientation; said second terminal
extension also extending upwardly from the corresponding end of said body and being

2191547
pivotably associated between its ends with said body for outward movement of said lower
free end of said second terminal extension away from said jaw; the retaining means being
further provided with an elongated semi-rigid release member, one end of said member is
attached to said shank at a point spaced from said body, the other end of said member is
5 attached to the upper end of said second terminal extension, whereby downward pressure
on a part of said release member between its ends causes deflection of said release
member to pivot said second terminal extension and consequently move the lower end of
said terminal extension away from said jaw to release said engagement means when in a
closed position and permit said jaw to open, and removal of said downward pressure
10 causes said release member and said second terminal extension to return to original
positions to permit re-engagement of said engagement means when said jaw is to be
closed; a protective member secured to said shank and extending towards the upper end
of said second terminal extension, said release member being positioned between said
protective member and said body, whereby said release member is shielded against15 unintentional disengagement of said engagement means by unintentional deflection of
said release member during use of said mop; the improvement comprising said protective
member being provided with a pressure member having an abutable portion downwardly
extending towards and adjacent said release member and operably abutable with said
release member to effect said downward pressure on said part of said release member to
20 effect said release of said engagement means.
In preferred embodiments, the pressure member may be integrally formed with or
pivotally mounted to the protective member at a suitable part thereof.
The protective member is preferably integrally formed with the shank. When the
pressure member is pivotally mounted to the protective member, it is highly desirable that
25 the protective member be a rigid member to facilitate pivoting of the pressure member
thereabout. Alternatively, when the pressure member is integrally formed with the
protective member, the latter must be of a semi-rigid nature to allow for downward
movement by pivotal action with respect to the shank. In a more preferred embodiment,

2191547
.
the protective member has a neck of relatively smaller cross-sectional area formed with
the shank to enhance flexibility of the protective member in this region.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS
In order that the present invention may be better understood, a preferred
embodiment will now be described by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a pivoting jaw retainer as described in aforesaid
USP4,287,632 according to the prior art;
Fig. 2 represents a enlarged perspective view of the jaw engagement means of the retaining means of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 represent perspective views of several alternative mop retainers according
to the present invention; and wherein the same numerals denote like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
OF THE INVENTION
With reference to Fig. 1, this shows generally as 10 a mop head retainer having an
elongated body 12 and a shank 14 which receives a mop handle 16. Body 12 at one end
18 is pivotally mounted to one end of a jaw 20, whereby jaw 20 pivots with respect to
body 12 to enable a mop head 22 to be retained between body 12 and jaw 20 as
hereinafter further described. Body 12 has extending opposite spaced terminal extensions
24 and 26. Jaw 20 at its free end 28 has an angled extension 30. Extension 26 at its
lower end 32 has a lip 34. Angled extension 30 and lip 34 cooperate to constitute
releasable engagement means such that when extension 30 and lip 34 are in engagement
jaw 20 retains mop head 22 adjacent body 12.

- 21 91 547
Shank 14 at a portion 36 spaced from body 12 has an integrally formed resiliently
flexible semi-rigid elongated release member 38 integrally formed with a upper portion
40 of extension 26.
Extension 26 is integrally formed with a portion 42 of body 12 wherein portion 42
5 is of such thickness, strength and flexibility as to allow under manual operative pressure
rotary movement of extension 26 to cause outward movement of lip 34 away from
extension 30 of jaw 20 to effect dis-engagement of jaw 20 from body 12.
Shank 14 at a portion 44 spaced above release member 38 has an integrally
formed rigid protective member 46 outwardly extending above release member 38 and
10termin~tin~ adjacent portion 40. Protective member 46 shields release member 38
against unintentional deflection and unwanted dis-engagement of jaw 20 from body 12.
Ancillary features of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are described in
aforesaid USP 4,287,632, which description is incorporated herein by reference.
With reference now to Fig. 3, this shows generally as 100, the retainer of Fig. 1
15modified to have an alternative release mechanism according to the invention, wherein
protective member 46 is provided with a pivotally mounted elongated pressure bar 48
through pivot pin 50. Pressure member 48 has an upper portion 52 extending upwardly
above protective member 46, a lower portion 54 of shorter length than portion 52,
extending downwardly below protective member 46 and a substantially rectangular
20aperture 56 which embraces a portion of protective member 46. Lower portion 54 at its
lower edge 58 has a pair of opposite spaced lugs 60 (only one shown), which, with edge
58 define a recess 62. Recess 62 receives a portion 64 of release member 38 when edge
58 intim~tely and forcibly abuts portion 64 when pressure member 48 is pivoted around
protective member 46 to a substantially vertical plane as shown in phantom.
25Thus, in operation, with jaw 20 in its closed position, retaining mop head 22,lower portion 54 of pressure member 48 is in an "offset from the vertical" position and
does not exert any pressure on portion 64 of release member 38 through abutment with
edge 58. Thus, release member 38 and terminal extension 40 are in their relaxed
positions. Manual handling of portion 52 to effect rotation of pressure member 48 around

21 91 547
pivot S0 causes edge 58 to abut and exert pressure on portion 64, which distends and,
thus, causes lower free end 32 of terminal extension 26 to rotate outwardly away and dis-
engage from jaw 20. Manual return of pressure member 48 to its offset position wherein
edge 58 no longer exerts downward pressure on release member 38, causes member 38
and terminal extension 40 to return to their relaxed positions and retain jaw 20 in its
engaged position.
It can be seen that release member 38 can be more easily deformed by use of
pressure member 48 when the latter is rotated by hand than by pressure applied directly
by the figures of a hand on release member 38 according to the aforesaid prior art
retainer. Rotation of pressure member 48 around fulcrum S0 is facilitated by upper
portion 52 being of greater length than lower portion 54, as will be understood from basic
leverage principles.
Lugs 60 guide lower portion 54 along the upper surface of release member 38 and
prevent slippage, in whole or in part, of edge 58 off the upper surface of release member
38.
Fig. 4 shows generally as 300, a retainer having an elongated protective member
70 integrally formed at neck 72 to shank 14 at a region 74 thereof. Neck 72 is of such
dimensions and flexibility as to allow pivotal downward movement of member 70 about
shank 14 at region 74 when manual pressure is applied to member 70 on its upper surface
at region 76, approximately two-thirds of the length of member 70 away from region 74.
Integrally formed with member 70 at its lower surface opposite region 76 is a
substantially block shaped pressure member 78 extending downwardly towards and
adjacent region 80 of release member 38. Pressure member 78 is of such length
extending from protective member 70 that when member 70 is not under aforesaid
manual pressure and, accordingly, in its relaxed position, pressure member 78 is spaced
from region 80, but that when sufficient aforesaid manual pressure is applied the lower
surface pressure member 78 abuts region 80 to effect distension of release member 38 to
effect disengagement of jaw 20. Removal of downward pressure on member 70 causes

2191547
both release members 38 and protective member 70 to return to their relaxed position and
allow 80 engagement member to be engaged.
Fig. S shows generally as 400, a retainer similar to that of Fig. 4 but modifiedwherein elongated protective member 90 does not extend to terminate adjacent portion 40
5 of release member 38, but termin~tes adjacent pressure member 92.
Operation of the embodiment of Fig. 5 is similar to that for Fig. 4.
It has been found that manual manipulation of the retainers provided with a
pressure member according to the invention by a less-than-strong cleaning operator
desirous of removing a mop head retained thereon is easier than those retainers of the
10 prior art.
The retainers, according to the present invention, may be made of any suitable
material, preferably a polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred
15 embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to
those particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are
functional or mechanical equivalence of the specific embodiments and features that have
been described and illustrated.

Representative Drawing