Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-05-22
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Combined
C015S120100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233775
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a floor mopping device comprising a columnar shaft with a front end, a barrel surrounding the shaft and able to be shifted and rotated relative to its axis, a disengageable clutch which connects the shaft to the barrel and restricts the relative rotation of the two parts to a given sense of rotation and in which at least one abutment extending parallel to the shaft on the one part is in engagement with a resiliently deflectable counter-abutment on the other part, and a number of flexible, absorbent strips connect together the end of the shaft and the barrel.
STATE OF THE ART
Such a floor mopping device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,162, wherein the abutments preventing the relative rotations of the barrel on the shaft are associated with the shaft. They are formed of a plurality of ribs distributed uniformly over the circumference which run parallel to the axis of the shaft. Forming them on the shaft involves great tooling cost. It is indeed possible to limit the number of ribs to two, making them easier to fabricate. Normally, however, it is only after a more or less great reverse rotation of the barrel that they come into engagement with the counter-abutment formed by a pawl, which prevents the strips from being wrung after they have previously been wetted with water.
In the known device the pawl is disposed in the barrel. For reasons of space it is of very small dimensions and accordingly very delicate from the mechanical point of view.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is addressed to the problem of further developing a floor mopping device of the kind described in the beginning such that greater sturdiness combined with simplified manufacture will result, along with the possibility of wringing the strips better after they have become wet.
This problem is solved according to the invention by a floor mopping device of the kind described above in which the clutch cooperates with disengageable means affixed to the shaft, which latch upon the barrel at an annular surface facing the end, the abutment being provided on the barrel and having a base extending transversely across the shaft. The abutment thus normally forms an axially parallel projection which is disposed on an imaginary annular surface surrounding the shaft. To manufacture a molding bearing the abutment by the injection molding process it is therefore possible to use molds having only two halves if the base of the abutment is arranged in the plane of separation. The abutment projecting parallel to the opening direction when such a mold is used can be made as large almost as desired by using a corresponding method of manufacture and can be subdivided into almost any desired number of partial abutments following one another in the circumferential direction and/or in the radial direction, which makes it possible during the intended use of the counter-abutment to reduce the reaction forces applied to it to such an extent that, almost regardless of the magnitude of those forces, the clutch can be used without wear. This is a great advantage with regard to the useful life of the floor mopping device.
The flexible, absorbent strips can consist of any material known for the purpose, such as fiber strands, or a textile and/or foam material. They are generally distributed substantially uniformly circumferentially and are extended in loops by shifting the barrel toward the end of the shaft, wetted with water, and used to perform cleaning procedures. After the dirt has been picked up the strips are rinsed in water and put into a more or less stretched position by a relative displacement of the barrel on the shaft. When this position is reached the barrel comes into engagement with the disengageable means affixed on the shaft, which catch it at an annular surface facing the end and prevent the barrel from being easily moved back toward the end. It is thus made possible for the user to produce a tension in the strips by a relative rotation of the barrel on the shaft and thus to wring out the strips in this manner. The application of axially directed holding forces is not necessary. For the practical use of the floor mopping device this is a great advantage.
It has proven to be useful when the [disengageable] means is a component of a bell fastened on the shaft with its mouth facing the end and at the same time radially covering the outside of the clutch system. This prevents injury and improves appearance.
The disengageable means can be made to be normally engaged by the use of a leaf spring or coil spring, for example, which cooperates with the means. The means are best made easy to disengage with an actuating key.
The annular surface can define a projection of the barrel pointing radially outward toward the end of the shaft. In general, the projection is of annular configuration and disposed at the end of the barrel. The amount of material needed for the manufacture of the barrel can thus be appreciably reduced without the need to accept disadvantages as regards sturdiness or the user's grip on the barrel.
The abutment can be defined by an abutment surface which forms a component of an imaginary plane erected on the axis of the shaft in the direction of action, i.e., in the direction in which it is in contact with the counter-abutment during the intended use of the device. The forces exercised on the abutment by the counter-abutment upon a relative rotation of the barrel are, in such a configuration, applied vertically, which prevents any sticking together of the two surfaces and assures that the surfaces can be easily separated from one another after a wringing process.
The abutment is usefully defined in the direction opposite the direction of action by a helical or inclined surface surrounding the axis. The lower the angle of inclination enclosing the helical or inclined surface is, the more easily can the barrel be rotated relative to the shaft. At the same time it must be remembered that a decreasing angle of inclination necessarily results in a reduction of the size of the abutment surface. For this reason the use of angles of inclination between 5 and 35° is preferred.
In order to permit the strips to be wrung out in especially small steps to save effort it has proven to be advantageous if the abutment comprises a plurality of partial abutments uniformly distributed circumferentially. These can successively engage one or more counter-abutments.
It has proven to be useful if at least one counter-abutment on the shaft is associated with the abutment on the barrel and is of a shape and size corresponding to its form. It is also possible to make the abutment and the counter-abutment or the partial abutments and the counter-partial abutments mate with one another.
The counter-abutment can be a component of a ring surrounding the shaft. It is good for it to be axially displaceable along the shaft and able to be pressed against the barrel, for example by a spring which is formed by a resilient foam material ring surrounding the shaft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 248044 (1881-10-01), Kidney
patent: 1550369 (1925-08-01), Knol
patent: 1567519 (1925-12-01), Leclerc et al.
patent: 1724308 (1929-08-01), Phipps
patent: 5509163 (1996-04-01), Morad
patent: 5850658 (1998-12-01), Specht
patent: 104093 (1917-02-01), None
patent: 97-24973 (1997-07-01), None
Freudenberg Carl
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Spisich Mark
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