SPECIFICATIONMop holderThis invention concerns a mop holder, that is to say a device including a socket for fitment to a handle or stale and adapted for a mop head (which will usually comprise a fabric foundation from which extends a multitude of strands or tails) to be secured thereto.
An object of the invention is to provide a construction of mop holder as aforesaid in which the securement of the mop head is so achieved that it can be released and replaced in a very simple and convenient manner so that detachment of the mop head, (without the holder) from the handle or stale, e.g. for enabling itto be washed or sterilized, is facilitated.
With this object in view, the present invention provides a mop holder comprising a body member having a socket for fitment to a handle or stale, and a retainer clip in the form of a resilient strip member attached by one end to the body and having, at intervals therealong from the other end, a plurality of ratchet teeth, whereby said clip, by being pushed by said other end through a respective hole in the body, will be adjustably retained to the body.
Conveniently the retainer clip is attached to the body by said one end being bent to hook-like configuration and engaged into a respective hole in the body.
In the mop holder of the invention, the body is preferably of dished configuration.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure Z is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of the mop holder of the invention; andFigure 2 is a similar view of the same mop holder, but taken from the side opposite to that shown inFigure 1.
As shown in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the mop holder of the invention comprises a body member, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, which is in the form of a dished plate 11 in which are provided two slots 12 and 13, these being disposed in approximately diametricallyopposed locations.
Secured to the plate 11,so as to project su bstan tiallyaxiallytherefrom, is a sheet metal socket 14 formed with an axially-extending slot 15 and two fixing holes 17, 18. This socket 14 enables the mop holder to be secured onto an end of a rod-form handle or stale (not shown), the slot 15 permitting the diameter of the socket 14 to be expanded slightly, if necessary, so as to fit tightly onto the handleorstaleandthefixing holes 17,18 permitting nails or screws (not shown) to be used to unite the socket fixedly to the handle or stale.
Complementary to the holder 10 is a retainer clip which is indicated generally in the drawing by the reference numeral 19. This retainer clip 19 is made of resilient material, such as strip steel and is attached by one end to the body 10 by one end thereof being bent over to form a hook 20 which is engaged into the slot 13. The clip 19 is formed at intervals therealong from its other end with a plurality of ratchet teeth 21, these each having been formed by appropriately piercing the strip to form a succession of tongues and bending each tongue so that it diverges slightly relative to the general plane of the strip threadadjacent. This can, of course, be effected in a single pressing operation using a suitable press tool.
The mode of operation and use of the mop holder will readily be understood from the foregoing description. The mop holder will, of course, normally, be fitted to a handle or stale as already described. In order to secure a mop head in place, the clip 19, simply engaged with the plate 11 by the hook 20 as already described, is swung back about the fulcrum provided by the hook's engagement with the plate 11, so as to be clear of the underside of the plate 11.
The mop head (not shown), which will normally comprise a fabric foundation from which extend a multitude of strands or tails, is simply positioned on the holder by the fabric foundation thereof being arranged across the underside of the plate 11 and then pivoting the clip 19 so that its toothed end enters into the slot 12 as shown in the drawing.
Pushing of the clip into the slot 12 is continued until the clip holds the mop head tightly in place, the teeth 21 snapping in turn over the edge of the slot 12 so that the clip end is automatically retained in place.
When it is desired to remove the mop head le.g.
for washing, sterilizing or replacement) it is simply necessary to press the toothed end of the clip 19 inwardly of the mop holder, thereby to disengage the teeth 21 from the edge of the slot 12, and thereupon to press the toothed end of the clip 19 back out of the slot 12. Upon disengagement of the toothed end from the slot 12, the mop head can be separated from the holder. The same mop head (e.g.
after washing or sterilizing) or a replacement mop head can then be fitted in the same way as discussed above.
The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example and variations may be made thereto. Thus, although the clip 19 in the illustrated example is approximatelyJ-shaped, other configurations of clip, such as curved-U shape, or square-U or square-J shape may be employed.
Moreover the configuration of the body of the holder may vary from the general dished-plate arrangement 11 as illustrated.
The mop holder of the invention may be suitably coated or otherwise protected against corrosion, for example by zinc plating, chromium plating, resin coating or plastics dipping.
CLAIMS (Filed on 14Jan 1982)1. A mop holder comprising a body member having forfitmentto a handle or stale, anda retainer clip in the form of a strip member attached by one end to the body and having, at intervals therealong from the other end, a plurality of ratchet teeth, whereby said clip, upon being pushed by said other end through a respective hole in the body, will be adjustably retained to the body.
2. A mop holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.