Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
Mop-head plate with pivotable wings and foot pedal
The present disclosure relates to a mop-head plate comprising a main body, to
which a first mop-head-plate wing and a second mop-head-plate wing are
attached in a pivotable manner, wherein the mop-head-plate wings can be fixed
in a reversible manner in a working position by means of a fixing device,
wherein the fixing device comprises a foot pedal, wherein the fixing device
releases as a result of the foot pedal being actuated, and therefore the mop-
head-plate wings can be pivoted from the working position into a wringing-out
position, wherein the foot pedal may be arranged in a pivotable manner on the
first mop-head-plate wing and wherein the foot pedal fixes the second mop-
head-plate wing in the working position.
Such mop-head plates are known, for example, from DE 10 2012 007 525 Al.
The mop-head plate forms part of a mop, wherein, in addition to the mop-head
plate, the mop has a handle, which is connected to the mop-head plate via a
joint. The mop-head plate is assigned a mop cover, which is fastened in a
releasable manner on the mop-head plate such that it can be brought into
contact with the floor which is to be cleaned. The mop-head plate here pushes
the mop cover flat onto the floor which is to be cleaned.
In order for it to be possible to remove the mop cover, it is known for the
mop-
head plate to be designed in a pivotable manner, wherein the mop-head plate
has two mop-head-plate wings, which in a working position are aligned
essentially in a horizontal plane. For the purpose of removing the mop cover,
or
for wringing out the mop cover, the mop-head-plate wings can be transferred
into a wringing-out position. This takes place as a result of the mop-head-
plate
wings being pivoted toward one another.
In order that the mop-head-plate wings automatically remain in the working
position, it is also known to provide a fixing device, which fix the mop-head-
plate wings in relation to one another in the working position. The fixing
device
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
2
comprises a foot pedal, which is designed such that the fixing of the mop-head-
plate wings releases as a result of the foot pedal being actuated, and
therefore
the mop-head-plate wings can then be pivoted.
One problem is that the actuating direction of the foot pedal for the purpose
of
releasing the fixing corresponds to the pivoting direction of the mop-head-
plate
wings from the working position into the wringing-out position. This means
that
it is possible for the mop-head-plate wings to remain in the working position
during actuation of the foot pedal and to be fixed in the working position
again
following release of the foot pedal. In order to prevent this, it is known
from the
prior art for the two mop-head-plate wings to be prestressed by means of a
resilient element such that the mop-head-plate wings pivot automatically into
the wringing-out position. The disadvantage here, however, is that an
additional
component is necessary and that the transfer of the mop-head-plate wings from
the wringing-out position into the working position can be more difficult.
An aspect according to the present disclosure is to provide a mop-head plate
which is cost-effective to produce and is easy to operate.
This aspect may be achieved according to the present disclosure.
For example, according to an embodiment, the foot pedal may have resilient
means which are designed such that the second mop-head-plate wing pivots
relative to the first mop-head-plate wing when the foot pedal is actuated.
Actuation of the foot pedal thus gives rise, on the one hand, to the fixing of
the
two mop-head-plate wings being released and, on the other hand, at the same
time to the two mop-head-plate wings being pivoted, and therefore the two
mop-head-plate wings do not immediately latch together again when the foot
pedal is released.
The two mop-head-plate wings are fixed, for example by means of a snap-fit
connection. For this purpose, the foot pedal, which may be arranged in a
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
3
pivotable manner on the first mop-head-plate wing, has a portion which locks
to
a further portion of the second mop-head-plate wing. For this purpose, it is
possible for the foot pedal, on the edge assigned to the second mop-head-plate
wing, to have retaining elements which, in the working position, engage over,
and thus fix, the second mop-head-plate wing. As an alternative, it is
possible to
provide one or more protrusions which, in the working position, project into
depressions which are formed from the second mop-head-plate wing. When the
foot pedal is actuated, the foot pedal moves away from the second mop-head-
plate wing, and therefore the retaining elements move away from the second
mop-head-plate wing and the second mop-head-plate wing can be pivoted
relative to the foot pedal and thus to the first mop-head plate.
The foot pedal and the second mop-head-plate wing may be designed such
that fixing of the two mop-head plates takes place automatically when the two
mop-head plate wings are transferred from the wringing-out position into the
working position. In the case of this configuration, a portion of the second
mop-
head-plate wing latches in automatically beneath the foot pedal, the foot
pedal
being pivoted automatically here.
The foot pedal may be attached in a jointed manner to the first mop-head
plate,
wherein the foot pedal has a first free end, which projects from the first mop-
head plate and forms the actuating portion of the foot pedal, and a second
end,
which projects in the direction of the second mop-head plate and forms the
locking portion of the foot pedal.
The mop-head plate can have an upper side and an underside, which forms the
mopping surface, wherein the undersides of the first mop-head-plate wing and
second mop-head-plate wing move toward one another as the mop-head-plate
wings pivot from the working position into the wringing-out position. In the
working position, the undersides of the first mop-head-plate wing and second
mop-head-plate wing are aligned essentially in a horizontal plane. The foot
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
4
pedal may be arranged on the upper side of the first mop-head-plate wing. The
foot pedal here may be designed in the form of a tilting lever.
The foot pedal can be assigned at least one protrusion which is assigned to
the
locking portion, wherein, in the working position, the protrusion is assigned
to
the underside of the second mop-head-plate wing. It is possible for two
protrusions to be provided here. When the foot pedal is actuated, the
protrusions push onto the underside of the second mop-head-plate wing. As a
result, the second mop-head-plate wing is pivoted through a small angle
relative to the first mop-head-plate wing. This is sufficient to ensure that
it is no
longer possible for the two mop-head-plate wings to latch together
automatically following release of the foot pedal. To this extent, actuation
of the
foot pedal gives rise at the same time to the foot pedal being released from
the
second mop-head-plate wing and to the second mop-head-plate wing being
raised. If the mop-head plate is then moved away from the floor which is to be
cleaned, the two mop-head-plate wings pivot toward one another and the mop
cover can be either wrung out or removed from the mop-head plate.
The protrusions can be designed in the form of resilient elements. According
to
a further advantageous configuration, the protrusions are designed in the form
of resilient tongues. In the case of this configuration, the protrusions are
designed in the form of lugs with a thin wall thickness. The protrusions, like
the
two mop-head-plate wings, may consist of plastic which can be injection
molded. In the case of this configuration, the protrusions can deform when the
foot pedal is actuated, this being associated with easier operability.
The foot pedal can have a retaining portion which is assigned to the locking
portion, wherein, in the working position, the retaining portion is assigned
to the
upper side of the second mop-head-plate wing. The second mop-head-plate
wing here may be designed such that, as seen in plan view, it engages in a U-
shaped manner around the main body and, in the process, partially overlaps
the first mop-head-plate wing. This configuration results in the formation, on
the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
5
second mop-head-plate wing, of two projecting elements which project in the
direction of the joint as the mop-head-plate wings pivot from the working
position into the wringing-out position. The projecting elements are assigned
the retaining portion of the foot pedal, which, in the working position,
engage
over the elements and thus arrest the mop-head-plate wings. In this position,
the two mop-head-plate wings cannot pivot automatically. If the foot pedal is
actuated, the elements move away from the retaining portion, and therefore the
second mop-head-plate wing is freed, and can pivot, relative to the foot
pedal,
or to the first mop-head-plate wing.
The retaining elements and the retaining portion here may be selected such
that, as the mop-head-plate wings pivot from the wringing-out position into
the
working position, the retaining portion snap-fits automatically onto the
elements,
and latches automatically in this position, by someone simply pushing on the
handle. This can take place, for example, in that the retaining portion ends
up in
abutment against the elements of the second mop-head-plate wing, wherein
the elements pivot the foot pedal with the retaining portion. As soon as the
retaining portion engages over the elements, the foot pedal pivots back and
the
mop-head-plate wings are arrested in the working position.
The first mop-head-plate wing and the second mop-head-plate wing can each
have a toothing formation, and these engage one inside the other. This ensures
that the mop-head-plate wings pivot uniformly.
The first mop-head-plate wing, the second mop-head-plate wing and the foot
pedal can be locked in a form-fitting manner in the working position.
A number of example configurations of the mop-head plate according to the
present disclosure will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference
to the figures, in which, schematically in each case:
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
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figure 1 shows the front view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
figure 2 shows the plan view of the mop-head plate in the working position;
figure 3 shows the bottom view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
figure 4 shows the side view of the mop-head plate in the working position;
figure 5 shows a further side view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
figure 6 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the mop-head plate in
the working position;
figure 7 shows a side view of the mop-head plate in the wringing-out
position;
figure 8 shows the mop-head plate in the wringing-out position, partially
in
section;
figure 9 shows the mop-head plate in the working position, partially in
section; and
figure 10 shows the front view of the mop-head plate, partially in section,
with the foot pedal actuated.
The figures show an example embodiment(s) of a mop-head plate 1 having a
main body 2, to which a first mop-head-plate wing 3 and a second mop-head-
plate wing 4 are attached in a pivotable manner. The main body 2 is assigned a
joint 15, in this case a universal joint, which can be connected to a handle.
The
mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 can be fixed in a reversible manner in a working
position 6 by means of a fixing device 5. In the working position 6, the two
mop-
head-plate wings 3, 4 are aligned essentially in a single plane. The fixing
device
comprises a foot pedal 7, wherein the fixing device 5 releases as a result of
the foot pedal 7 being actuated, and therefore the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4
can be pivoted from the working position 6 into a wringing-out position 8.
The mop-head plate 1 and the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 have an upper side
11 and an underside 12, which forms the mopping surface. The undersides 12
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
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of the first mop-head-plate wing 3 and second mop-head-plate wing 4 move
toward one another as the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot from the working
position 6 into the wringing-out position 8. In the wringing-out position 8,
the two
undersides 12 of the two mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are located opposite one
another.
The foot pedal 7 is arranged in a pivotable manner on the first mop-head-plate
wing 3 and is designed such that the foot pedal 7 fixes the second mop-head-
plate wing 4 in the working position 6. The foot pedal 7 is also designed such
that the second mop-head-plate wing 4 pivots relative to the first mop-head-
plate wing 3 when the foot pedal 7 is actuated.
The foot pedal 7 is attached in a jointed manner to the first mop-head-plate
wing 3, wherein the foot pedal 7 has a first free end 9, which projects from
the
first mop-head plate 1 and forms the actuating portion of the foot pedal 7.
The
foot pedal 7 also has a second free end 10, which projects in the direction of
the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and forms the locking portion of the foot
pedal 7.
At the second free end 10, the foot pedal 7 has two end-side retaining
elements
26 which are assigned to the locking portion. In the working position 6, the
two
retaining elements 26 engage over the second mop-head-plate wing 4. At the
same time, protrusions 13, which are designed in the form of resilient
tongues,
butt under elastic prestressing against the underside 12 of the second mop-
head-plate wing 4. The protrusions 13 are likewise formed from the foot pedal
7. In the working position 6, the two retaining elements 26 and the
protrusions
13 butt against the second mop-head-plate wing 4, above and beneath the
same, and clamp it between them. The mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are thus
fixed in the working position 6.
The second mop-head-plate wing 4 has projecting elements 25, which are
designed such that the second mop-head-plate wing 4 engages in a U-shaped
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
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manner, together with the elements 25, around the main body 2. As the mop-
head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot, the elements 25 pivot in the direction of the
joint
15. In the working position 6, the retaining elements 26 rest on the elements
25
on the upper side 11 and thus arrest the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 in the
working position 6.
If the foot pedal 7 is actuated, the retaining elements 26 move away from the
second mop-head-plate wing 4, or the element 25, and free the second mop-
head-plate wing 4 for pivoting purposes. At the same time, the two protrusions
13 push onto the underside 12 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and thus
pivot the second mop-head-plate wing 4 relative to the first mop-head-plate
wing 3 as a result of the foot pedal 7 being actuated.
The first mop-head-plate wing 3 and the second mop-head-plate wing 4 each
have a toothing formation 14, and these engage one inside the other. The two
mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 thus pivot simultaneously relative to the main body
2. In the wringing-out position 8, the two mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are
located
beneath the main body 2, or in a straight line in relation to the handle, the
joint
15 and the main body 2.
The first mop-head-plate wing 3, the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and the
foot pedal 7 are locked in a form-filling manner in the first working position
6.
The main body 2, the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 and the joint 15 are formed
from plastic which can be injection molded. The underside 12 of the mop-head-
plate wings 3, 4 is provided with a structure in the form of ribs 16. The ribs
16
provide for a locally high level of surface pressure of the mop cover against
the
floor which is to be cleaned. This improves the cleaning performance.
The mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are provided with a device 17 for fastening a
mop cover. In the case of the present configuration, said device comprises
apertures which are made in the peripheral regions of the narrow sides of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
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mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 and serve to accommodate snap fasteners of a mop
cover. This means that the mop cover is fixed to the mop-head plate 1 even in
the wringing-out position 8, and therefore the mop cover can be wrung out in a
wringer in a state in which it hangs down from the mop-head plate I.
Figure 1 shows the front view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6.
Figure 2 shows the plan view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6.
Figure 3 shows the bottom view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6. In addition to the ribs 16, the bottom view shows a covering 24 which
covers
the foot pedal 7 on the underside 12. The foot pedal 7 is thus protected
against
undesirable interference from the underside 12.
Figure 4 shows the side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6.
This side view illustrates the first mop-head-plate wing 3 with the foot pedal
7.
Figure 5 shows a further side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working
position 6. This side view illustrates the second mop-head-plate wing 4.
Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the mop-head plate 1 in the
working position 6.
Figure 7 shows the side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the wringing-out
position 8. The illustration shows the first mop-head-plate wing 3 with the
foot
pedal 7. Also evident are the elements 25 of the second mop-head-plate wing
4. In the wringing-out position, the elements 25 have been pivoted in the
direction of the joint 15.
Figure 8 shows the front view of the mop-head plate 1 in the wringing-out
position 8.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
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Figure 9 shows the mop-head plate 1 in the working position 6, the region
around the foot pedal 7 being shown in section. This illustration includes the
protrusions 13, which are designed in the form of resilient tongues and butt
under prestressing against the underside 12 of the second mop-head-plate
wing 4. Also evident is the retaining element 26 which is formed from the foot
pedal 7 and rests on the upper side 11 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4, or
on the elements 25, and together with the protrusions 13 arrests the two mop-
head-plate wings 3, 4. Spacers 19 are arranged on the elements 25 and come
into contact with the protrusions 13 when the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are
pivoted from the wringing-out position 8 into the working position 6. The
spacers 19 allow the elements 25 to come into early contact with the
protrusions 13 during the pivoting operation. In addition, the level of
prestressing of the protrusions 13, which are designed in the form of
resilient
tongues, increases, and therefore the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 move
automatically out of the working position 6 following actuation of the foot
pedal
7.
Figure 10 shows the mop-head plate according to figure 9, the foot pedal 7
having been actuated. The retaining elements 26 here move away from the
second mop-head-plate wing 4, and therefore the latter has been freed for
pivoting purposes. At the same time, the protrusions 13 push onto the
underside 12 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and thus move the second
mop-head-plate wing 4 and, via the toothing formation, also the first mop-head-
plate wing 3 out of the working position 6. If the foot pedal 7 is then
released, it
is no longer possible for the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 to lock automatically
and, when the mop-head plate 1 is raised, the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot
into the wringing-out position 8.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
