Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BUTTERFLY MOPS WITH AUTOMATED SCRUBBER
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to butterfly mops and more particularly to
butterfly mops with scrubber members.
Background
[0002] Conventional butterfly mops include an elongated handle, a mop
head comprising a cleaning member (e.g., a sponge) mounted on a pair of co-
planar
base plates, and a squeeze mechanism for pivoting the base plates to compress
a
portion of the cleaning member and extract liquid therefrom.
[0003] Butterfly mops are typically employed to clean dirt and dust
from floors. Although the cleaning members of butterfly mops effectively serve
this
purpose, users often encounter difficulty removing ground-in dirt and tough
stains with
conventional butterfly mops.
[0004] There is a need, therefore, for a mop that not only removes dirt
and dust but may also be used when a deep-seated or ingrained soiled area is
encountered.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The present invention concems an iniproved butterfly mop
comprising a cleaning member and one or more scrubbers driven by a scrubber
motor.
[0006] In one embodiment, the butterfly mop of the present invention
includes a handle, a compressible cleaning member, opposing plates connected
to the
compressible cleaning member and secured about a common pivot axis to converge
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pivotally toward one another, at least one rotatable scrubber member, a motor
to rotate
the scrubber member, a battery retainer positioned within the handle and
connected to
the motor and a cleaning member actuator positioned on the handle to compress
a
portion of the cleaning member by converging the opposing plates toward one
another.
The cleaning member may be a sponge or sponge-like material and the rotatable
scru.bber member may comprise a plurality of bristles. The motor may be
positioned
within a motor housing that is transverse to a plane in which the at least one
scrubber
member is positioned. .Alternatively, the motor may be positioned parallel to
a plane
in which the at least one scrubber is positioned. The batteries may be
rechargeable and
accessed through an aperture in a sidewall of the handle. A cover, comprising
a curved
surfacc, may bc positioned over the cleaning member. To activate the scrubber,
a
scrubber member actuator may be positioned closer to the upper end of the
handle than
the cleaning member actuator.
[0007] In another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises a handle, a
supportframe disposed comprising a cleaning member, the support frame
including a
forward section and a reanvaxd section, a scrubber support member disposed on
or
near the forward section of the support frame and comprising at least one
movable
scrubber, a motor for activating the at least one movable scrubber, a cleaning
member
actuator disposed on the handle to compress a portion of the cleaning member
and a
scrubber member actuator to activate the motor. The movable scrubber may
comprise
a plurality of successive scrubbers, with each successive scrubber configured
to rotate
in opposite directions. The mop may further comprise a cover positioned over a
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portion of the lower end of the handle, the cleaning member and the at least
one
movable scrubber. Further, a guard may be positioned about the at least one
scrabber
member. The motor may be positioned transverse to the handle and connected to
a
drive shaft.
[0008] In still another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises, a
handle, a compressible cleaning member comprising a forward portion and a rear
portion, opposing plates connected to the compressible cleaning member and
secured
about a common pivot axis to converge pivotally toward one another, at least
one
rotatable scrubber member positioned in front of the forward portion of the
compressible cleaning member and a motor associated with the at least one
rotatable
scrubber member, the motor for automatically rotating the rotatable scrubber
member.
In this embodiment, the compressible cleaning member may be positioned between
the
scrubber member and the handle.
[0009] In yet another embodiment, the butterfly mop comprises a
handle, a support frame positioned at the lower end of the handle and
comprising a
cleaning member, at least one movable scrubber member positioned on the mop
support frame, a cleaning member actaator that compresses at least a portion
of the
cleaning member, a scrubber actuator to activate the at least one movable
scrubber -
member, wherein the scrubber actuator is positioned closer to the upper end of
the
handle than the cleaning member actuator. This embodiment may optionally
include a
battery housing positioned within the handle.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010] Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are
illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the
figures are
not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an
understanding of
the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be
omitted. It should
be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the
particular
embodiments illustrated herein.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the butterfly
mop of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components for compressing
the cleaning member, isolated from the motor and scrubber of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partially broken away exploded bottom perspective
view of the base plate associated with the cleaning member of the butterfly
mop of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the housing
and scrubber assembly of the butterfly mop of the present invention;
[001S] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the scrubber
assembly of the present invention;
.[0016] Fig. 6 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the motor and
power assemblies of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the
motor and scrubber assembly of the present invention, with the cover in
phantom.
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Detailed Descripti
on
10018] The present invention is directed to butterfly mops comprising a
cleaning member and one or more scrubbers driven by a scrubber motor. In one
aspect, the cleaning member may be employed in a conventional manner to clean
dirt
and dust from floors. In another aspect, the one or more scrubbers may be
employed
to remove ground-in dirt and tough to remove stains.
[0019] Referrin.g now to Fig. 1, one embodiment of the butterfly mop
of the present invention is shown. Butterfly mop 10 comprises handle 12
including
upper end 14 and lower end 16, mop head 18, cleaning member 20 and at least
one
scrubber member 22 driven by scrubber motor 24_ Additionally, butterfly mop 10
comprises housing 30 including cover 32 and guard 34.
[0020] Handle 12 includes grip 13, which may include a plurality of
flutes 15, cleaning member actuator 26 and scrubber actuator 28. Since
cleaning
member actuator 26 slides up and down handle 12, cleaning member actuator 26
is
typically positioned below scrubber actuator 28 to avoid damage to scrubber
actuator
28 when cleaning member actuator 26 is used.
[00211 Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the mechanism for
compressing cleaning member 20 to extract liquid therefrom. In this
embodiment,
cleaning member actuator 26 is slidably secured about handle 12 and attached
to lever
ann 35. Squeeze member 36 is attached to the opposite end of lever arm 35.
Squeeze
member 36 comprises dual squeeze arms 40 and 42, cornprising ends 44 and 46.
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[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, butterfly mop 10 further comprises dual
cleaning member support plates 54 and 56, which are positioned below dual
squeeze
arms 40 and 42 and mop support frame 52. Cleaning member support plates 54 and
56
are connected to mop support frame 52 by spring member 58 and pivot bolts 65
and
are connected to cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 through screws 64 and
66.
Cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 may be affixed to cleaning member 32
with an
adhesive or through other means known to those of skill in the art. Screws 64
and 66
are embedded in cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 and comprise two
threaded
portions adapted to project through two openings 68 and 70 in cleaning member
support plates 54 and 56. With screws 64 and 66 in place, cleaning member 32
is
tbereby secured to cleaning member support plates 54 and 56.
[0023] Referring now to Fig. 4, an exploded view of one embodiment
of the housing 72 and scrubber assembly 104 of the butterfly mop of the
present
invention is shown. Housing 72 comprises cover 32, mop support frame 52 and
guard
34. Scrubber assembly 104 comprises scrubbers 73, scrubber support frame 74,
scrubber bracket 76.
[0024] Cover 32 comprises top surface 77, which includes a pair of
through holes 78 and gradually curves into substantially planar front surface
79 and
bottom edge 80. Cover is adapted to cover or surround at least a portion of or
all of
scrubbers 73 and cleaning member 20. Cover 32 further comprises raised central
portion 81, including a pair of rearwardly projecting sidewalls 82 and handle
support
83. Handle support 83 may be crescent-shaped and adapted to surround a portion
of
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handle 12. Handle support 83 may be transverse to the longitudinal plane of
cover 32.
Cover 32 is secured over mop support frame 52.
[0025] Mop support frame 52 comprises top portion 94 and bottom
portion 96. Top portion includes central channe198, side projections 100, each
including apertures 101, and rounded front portion 102, which is substantially
similar
in shape to front surface 79 of cover 32. Bottom portion 96 includes a
plurality
countersinks (not shown) adapted to mate with scrubber support frame 74 and
scrabber
bracket 76. Bottom surface further includes a plurality of elongated
projections 103.
[0026] Guard 34 comprises front surface 138, opposing side surfaces
140 and 142 and internal ledges 144 and 146. Groove 145 runs along front
surface 138
and opposing side surfaces 140 and 142. Groove 145 is adapted to mate with
bottom
edge 80 of cover 32. Internal ledges 144 and 146 include apertures (not shown)
that
mate with the mop support frame apertures 101 in side projections 100 of mop
support
frame 52.
[0027] An exploded view of scrubber assembly 104 is shown in Fig. 5.
Scrubber assembly 104 comprises scrubbers 73, scrubber support firame 74,
scrubber
support bracket 76 and gears 106.
[0028] Scrubbers 73 comprise annular support 108, central apertures
110 and a plurality of bristles 112. Central apertures 110 may be square in
shape.
[0029] Scrubber support frame 74 comprises a plurality of scrabber
apertures 118, mop/scrubber support frame apertures 121 and a plurality of
gear covers
122 with grooves 123 therebetween. Scrubber apertures 118 mate with central
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apertures 110 disposed in scrubbers 73. With scrubber support frame 74 in
position,
grooves 123 of front gear covers 122 mate with elongated projections 103
disposed on
mop support frame 52.
[0030] Gears 106 may be removably secured to scrubbers 73. Gears
106 comprise annular top projections 126, first teeth 130 and bottom
projection 132,
which is substantially square in shape. First teeth 130 on adjacent gears 106
are
adapted to interlock. At least one of gears 106 comprises drive shaft
attachment 125
comprising second teeth 131. Scrubber screws 134 secure scrubbers 73 to gears
106.
[0031] Scrubber bracket 76 is also secured to mop support frame 52 and
comprises a plurality of mop support framelbracket apertures 136 and a
plurality of
gear apertures 138. Mop support framelbracket apertures 136 mate with
mop/scrubber
support fraine apertures 121 and countersinks of mop support frame 52. Gear
apertures 138 mate with annular top projections 126 of gears.
[0032] Referring now to Fig. 6, one embodiment of the motor assembly
150 and power assembly 250 of the present invention is shown. Motor assembly
150
comprises motor housing 154, gear box 155, motor 156, drive shaft 158 and
associated
components. Power assembly 250 comprises batteries 252, battery retainer 254
and
first and second connectors 256 and 258.
[0033] Motor housing 154 may be secured to lower end 16 of handle 12
by. conventional means, including screws and/or adhesive. Motor housing 154
may,
however, be secured to altemate locations on mop 10, with cover 28 modified to
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accommodate the additional structure. For example, motor housing 154 may be
secured to a top portion of mop support frame 52, as in Fig. 7.
[0034] Motor 156 is disposed within motor housing 154 and comprises
rotating pin 159. When motor 156 is activated, successive scrubbers 22 counter-
rotate.
That is, successive scrubbers rotate in opposite directions; otherwise,
butterfly mop 10
would pull toward one side. To optimize weight distribution and the center of
gravity
of butterfly mop 10, motor 156 may be positioned on a lower portion of mop 10.
Additionally, motor 156 may be positioned either transverse or parallel to a
plane in
which scrubber members 22 are positioned.
[0035] Motor 156 may be powered by ac or dc current. When motor
156 is powered by batteries 252, battery retainer 254, comprising top and
bottom
interlocking members 260 and 262, is positioned within handle 12. Battery
retainer 12
may be snap-fit or interference fit into handle 12 or secured therein by other
methods
known to those of skill in the art. Wire 264 can be used to connect motor 156
with
power assembly 250 through first and second connectors 256 and 258.
Additionally,
power assembly 250 may be connected to scrubber actuator 28.
[0036] Power assembly 250 may advantageously employ rechargeable
batteries 252. Under this construction, a charging aperture 263 may be
positioned in
handle 12 so a user can recharge batteries 252 therethrough. Alternatively,
power
assembly 250 may be removed from handle 12 and recharged externally thereto.
[0037] Drive shaft 158 comprises first end 160, body 162 and second
end 164. First end 160 comprises widened portion 166 that tapers into body
162.
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Widened portion 166 includes opening 168 and washer 170 within opening 168.
Second end 164 comprises disc 172. Disc 172 comprises third teeth 174 that
interlock
with second teeth 131 of drive shaft atta.chment 125 disposed on one of gears
106.
[0038] The above-described butterfly mop 10 may be constructed
through a series of steps.
100391 First, the various components are obtained. Grip 13, motor
housing 154, mop support frame 52, drive shaft 158, scrubber support frame 74
and
cleaning member base plates 57 and 59 may be injection molded to oonform to
the
structures shown in Figs. 1-5. Handle 12, cleaning member actuator 26, lever
arm 35,
dual squeeze arms 40 and 42, cleaning member support plates 54 and 56, spring
member 58 and screws are conventional components known to those of skill in
the art.
Motor 156, wiring and scrubber actuator 28 may be purchased from a hardware or
electronics store.
[0040] Second, the various components are assembled. In no particular
order, mop support frame 52 is provided. Scrubber bracket 76 is secured to mop
support frame 52 by aligning the apertures 101 in mop support frame 52 with
the
apertures 136 of scrubber bracket 76 and inserting a screw or other fastener.
Squeeze
members 40 and 42 and lever arrn 35 are provided_ As is customary, ends 44 and
46 of
squeeze members 40 and 42 are inserted through openings in mop support frame
52
and cleaning member support plates 54 and 56 are secured to mop support frame
52.
Drive shaft 158 is positioned within central channe198 of mop support frame
52.
Motor 156 is positioned within motor housing 154, which is affixed to lower
end 16 of
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handle 12. Rotating pin 159 of motor 156 is positioned within central opening
168 of
drive shaft 158. After scrabbers 22 and gears 106 are secured to scrubber
support
frame 74, apertures 118 and grooves 123 in scrubber support frame 74 are
aligned with
corresponding countersinks and elongated projections 103 in mop support frame
52 for
attachment. Cleaning member 20 is positioned on cleaning member support plates
54
and 56, with dual screws 64 and 66 of cleaning member 20 projecting out of
openings
68 and 70. Guard 34 is secured to mop support frame 52. Cover 32 is positioned
over
mop support frame 52 and edge 80 of cover 32 is secured to groove 145 of guard
34.
[0041] In operation, butterfly mop 10 can be used in either of a
mopping or scrubbing mode_ After mop 10 is assembled, a user can clean flat
smooth
surfaces through a mopping action with cleaning member 20. After cleaning
member
accumulates 20 dirty water, downward pressure on cleaning member actuator 26
pivots
cleaning member support plates 54 and 56 and base plates 57 and 59,
compressing a
portion of cleaning member 20 to remove excess water. Mop 10 can also be used
for
more concentrated scrubbing action, (e.g., when a deep-seated or ingrained
soiled area
is encountered), by tilting handle 12 downwardly to contact scrubber members
22 with
the surface to be cleaned, turning on motor 156 with scrubber member actuator
28 and
moving scrubber members 22 over the targeted area.
[00421 Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is
described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is in no way
limited
by the preceding illustrative description.
