Floor mop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11147428-B2
Application number	US-201916528083-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2019
Priority date	Jul 31, 2019
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

An actuable shaft assembly for a spray mop assembly includes first and second hollow elongated outer shaft segments in which first and second elongated actuating rod segments are telescopingly disposed, respectively. The first and second outer shaft segments include respective first and second shaft retaining elements extending into their hollow interiors. The first and second rod segments include respective first and second rod retaining elements extending radially outward from their outer peripheral surfaces. The rod retaining elements and shaft retaining elements are sized and disposed to limit telescoping movement of the associated rod segments outward from the shaft segment ends.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spray mop comprising:
a first subassembly including
a first elongated outer shaft segment defining a first elongated hollow interior and having a proximal first shaft segment end and a distal first shaft segment end,
a first shaft retaining element secured to and extending radially inward from the first elongated outer shaft segment into the first elongated hollow interior,
a first elongated actuating rod segment disposed for telescoping movement within the first elongated hollow interior, the first elongated actuating rod segment having a first outer peripheral surface, a proximal first rod segment end, and a distal first rod segment end,
a first rod retaining element extending radially outward from the first outer peripheral surface and coupled for movement with the first elongated actuating rod segment,
a handle secured to the proximal first shaft segment end,
a trigger movably coupled to the handle and disposed to selectively exert a force on the proximal first rod segment end to selectively telescope the first elongated actuating rod segment within the first elongated outer shaft segment,
wherein the first rod retaining element is disposed between the first shaft retaining element and the handle, the first rod retaining element and the first shaft retaining element being sized to limit telescoping movement of the first elongated actuating rod segment from the first elongated outer shaft segment;

a second subassembly including
a second elongated outer shaft segment defining a second elongated hollow interior and having a proximal second shaft segment end and a distal second shaft segment end,
a second shaft retaining element secured to and extending radially inward from the second elongated outer shaft segment into the second elongated hollow interior,
a mop plate coupled to the distal second shaft segment end,
a selectively actuable spray assembly coupled to the second elongated outer shaft segment,
a second elongated actuating rod segment disposed for telescoping movement within the second elongated hollow interior, the second elongated actuating rod segment having a second outer peripheral surface, a proximal second rod segment end, and a distal second rod segment end, the distal second rod segment end being disposed to selectively actuate the selectively actuable spray assembly,
a second rod retaining element extending radially outward from the second outer peripheral surface and coupled for movement with the second elongated actuating rod segment,
wherein the second rod retaining element is disposed between the second shaft retaining element and the distal second shaft segment end, the second rod retaining element and the second shaft retaining element being sized to limit telescoping movement of the second elongated actuating rod segment from the second elongated outer shaft segment;

wherein the distal first shaft segment end and the proximal second shaft segment end are adapted to be coupled together to align the distal first rod segment end with the proximal second rod segment end.

2. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the distal first shaft segment end and the proximal second shaft segment end include engaging structures that secure the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment together.

3. The spray mop of claim 2 including a tubular insert including a radially extending surface, the radially extending surface of the tubular insert being disposed within the distal first shaft segment end and forming the first shaft retaining element or the radially extending surface of the tubular insert being disposed within the proximal second shaft segment end and forming the second shaft engaging segment.

4. The spray mop of claim 3 wherein the engaging structures include the tubular insert.

5. The spray mop of claim 3 wherein the tubular insert extends outward from the distal first shaft segment end or the proximal second shaft segment end and is adapted to couple to the other of the distal first shaft segment end or the proximal second shaft segment end.

6. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the selectively actuable spray assembly includes a spray nozzle, and movement of the trigger causes a telescoping movement of the first and second elongated actuating rod segments within the first and second elongated outer shaft segments to actuate the selectively actuable spray assembly whereby a cleaning fluid is dispensed through the spray nozzle.

7. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the first shaft retaining element interferes with the first rod retaining element to limit telescoping movement of the first elongated actuating rod segment within the first elongated outer shaft segment in a distal direction, and the second shaft retaining element interferes with the second rod retaining element to limit telescoping movement of the second elongated actuating rod segment within the second elongated outer shaft segment in a proximal direction.

8. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first shaft retaining element, the first rod retaining element, the second rod retaining element, and second shaft retaining element is an annular structure.

9. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first shaft retaining element, the first rod retaining element, the second rod retaining element, and second shaft retaining element is formed of rubber.

10. The spray mop of claim 1 wherein the first shaft retaining element is adapted to be disposed in the first elongated hollow interior and coupled to the first elongated outer shaft segment following disposition of the first rod segment and first rod retaining element within the first elongated hollow interior, and the second shaft retaining element is adapted to be disposed in the second elongated hollow interior and coupled to the second elongated outer shaft segment following disposition of the second rod segment and second rod retaining element within the second elongated hollow interior.

11. The floor mop of claim 1 further including a cleaning pad disposed on the mop plate, and a cleat coupled to the second elongated outer shaft segment and spaced from the mop plate, the mop plate being pivotably coupled to the second elongated outer shaft segment wherein the mop plate is pivotable to a position wherein the mop plate is disposed substantially parallel to the second elongated outer shaft segment, the cleaning pad including a loop disposed to engage with the cleat to couple the mop plate to the second elongated outer shaft segment in the position substantially parallel to the second elongated outer shaft segment.

12. The floor mop of claim 1 further including a measuring cup removably attached to the second elongated outer shaft segment.

13. An actuable shaft assembly for a spray mop assembly including an actuable spray assembly, a handle, and trigger, the actuable shaft assembly comprising:
a first elongated outer shaft segment defining a first elongated hollow interior and having a proximal first shaft segment end and a distal first shaft segment end, the proximal first shaft segment end being adapted to be secured to the handle,
a first shaft retaining element secured to and extending radially inward from the first elongated outer shaft segment into the first elongated hollow interior,
a first elongated actuating rod segment disposed for telescoping movement within the first elongated hollow interior, the first elongated actuating rod segment having a first outer peripheral surface, a proximal first rod segment end, and a distal first rod segment end,
a first rod retaining element extending radially outward from the first outer peripheral surface and

Assignees

• Freudenberg Carl Kg

Inventors

• Metzel Doug
• Wehrli Eric

Classifications

• B65D83/184

  at the end of extension rods · CPC title

• B25G1/04

  telescopic; extensible; sectional · CPC title

• A47L13/254

  Plate frames · CPC title

• A47L13/256

  for mops made of cloth · CPC title

• A47L13/22 Primary

  with liquid-feeding devices · CPC title