(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mop, and more particularly, to one adapted with a foldable cleaning member for easy wringing and efficient storage.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Whereas a mop is a must in cleaning the floor, it however usually winds up a mess after use and the user wouldn't think of directly touching it in the course of washing it. Therefore, a piece of sponge or fabric adapted to the cleaning member of the mop is prevented from being easily wrung to dry.
One type of mops generally available in the market relates to an improved structure of the mop with a design of having its cleaning member folded inwardly to wring water from the cleaning member. This is done by pulling back an upper section of a pipe to drive a lower section of the pipe thus to move a braking pipe for a handle to move towards its lower end while a distribution element moves upward to drive a left braking plate and a right braking plate to fold in to each other following a base holder as a pivot. Accordingly, two cleaning components respectively disposed at lower ends of both braking plate also folds in.
Another mop is adapted with a mobile handle. The handle with its pivoting point as the axis is pulled up to elevate an upper end of a pull pipe for a lower end of the pull pipe to pull up a connection base; the connection base in turn compresses a cleaning element to wring water out of the cleaning element.
However, these two types of mop of the prior art are found with the following flaws:
1. Complicated assembling procedure and higher production cost because that too many members are involved;
2. The pull pipe has longer travel to make it not easy to operate and more strength is required;
3. Operating the linkage mechanism could easily hurt the hand of the user; and
4. Replacing the cleaning member is never an easy job.
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a mop to correct those flaws found with the prior art. To achieve the purpose, a mop of the present invention comprises a pipe, a case, a locating base, and a cleaning member. The pipe made in oval shape is disposed with a latch on an upper section of the pipe and a first locking hole at a lower end of the pipe. The case inserted onto the pipe contains a chamber, and two protruded portions opposite to each other respectively extend from both sides at the bottom of the case. A pair of sliding channels is provided on the inner wall of the case, and a handle extends from the top of the case. The locating base inserted into the lower end of the pipe is disposed with a second locking hole in relation to the first locking hole provided on the pipe and is inserted through with a fastener. Each of both sides of the locating base is pivoted with a wing, and a rib is disposed on the wing. The cleaning member is adapted to both wings of the locating base.
Multiple rolling members are disposed in the sliding channels of the inner wall of the case. The rolling members are balls, rollers, or rolling pillars. The rib on the wing is disposed with multiple rolling members with each related to a ball or a roller. The fastener is a screw. The cleaning member is a piece of sponge.
The present invention provides the following advantages:
1. Shorter wringing travel allows easy and handy to wring water out of the cleaning member.
2. Simplified members allow easy assembly and lower production cost.
3. The cleaning member can be fully stored to save spacing.
4. When not used, the mop firmly stands up with the cleaning member totally received in the case without compromising ambient appearance.
5. Fast and easy replacement of the cleaning member.
6. Longer reach of the cleaning member due to extending pipe when the case can be pushed to its extreme top to allow easy cleaning dead angles.
a is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention (with each rolling member related to a ball).
b is a perspective view showing a cutaway of a cleaning member of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention (with each rolling member related to a roller).
a is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention (with each rolling member related to a ball).
b is a perspective view of a cutaway of a case of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention (with each rolling member related to a roller).
c is a perspective view showing a cutaway of a case of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention (with each rolling member related to a rolling pillar).
Referring to
The pipe (1) in oval shape is provided with a latch (11) on an upper section of the pipe (1) and a first locking hole (12) on a lower end of the pipe (1).
The case (2) inserted onto the pipe (1) contains a chamber (21). Two protruded portions (22) opposite to each other respectively extend from both sides at the bottom of the case (2). A pair of sliding channels (23) is disposed on the inner wall of the case (2), and a handle (24) extends from the top of the case (2).
The locating base (3) inserted to the lower end of the pipe (1) is provided with a second locking hole (31) in relation to the first locking hole (12) on the pipe (1). A fastener (32) penetrates through the second locking hole (31). In this embodiment, the fastener (32) is a screw.
Each of both sides of the locating base (3) is pivoted with a wing (33) by means of a pivoting member (331), and a rib (34) is disposed on the wing (33).
The cleaning member (4) adhered to the wings (33) of the locating base (3) is one piece of sponge.
In use, as illustrated in
For continuous use of the mop, push down the pipe (1) for the ribs (34) of the wings (33) of the locating base (3) to slide down along the sliding channels (23) of the case (2) for the wings (33) of the locating base (3) to clear away from the case (2) and fully spread up. As illustrated in
A second preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in
The pipe (1A) in oval shape is provided with a latch (11A) on an upper section of the pipe (1A) and a first locking hole (12A) on a lower end of the pipe (1A).
The case (2A) inserted onto the pipe (1A) contains a chamber (21A). Two protruded portions (22A) opposite to each other respectively extend from both sides at the bottom of the case (2A). A pair of sliding channels (23A) is disposed on the inner wall of the case (2A), and a handle (24A) extends from the top of the case (2A).
The locating base (3A) inserted to the lower end of the pipe (1A) is provided with a second locking hole (31A) in relation to the first locking hole (12A) on the pipe (1). A fastener (32A) related to a screw penetrates through the second locking hole (31A). Each of both sides of the locating base (3A) is pivoted with a wing (33A) by means of a pivoting member (331A), and a rib (34A) is disposed on the wing (33A). Multiple rolling members (35A) are provided on the rib (34A). The rolling members (35A) may be balls or rollers (351A) as illustrated in
The cleaning member (4A) adhered to the wings (33A) of the locating base (3A) is one piece of sponge.
In use, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pipe (1B) in oval shape is provided with a latch (11B) on an upper section of the pipe (1B) and a first locking hole (12B) on a lower end of the pipe (1B).
The case (2B) inserted onto the pipe (1B) contains a chamber (21B). Two protruded portions (22B) opposite to each other respectively extend from both sides at the bottom of the case (2B). A pair of sliding channels (23B) is disposed on the inner wall of the case (2B). Multiple rolling members (24B) are disposed on the sliding channels (23B). The rolling members (24B) may be balls, rollers (241B) as illustrated in
The locating base (3B) inserted to the lower end of the pipe (1B) is provided with a second locking hole (31B) in relation to the first locking hole (12B) on the pipe (1B). A fastener (32B) related to a screw penetrates through the second locking hole (31B). Each of both sides of the locating base (3B) is pivoted with a wing (33B) by means of a pivoting member (331B), and a rib (34B) is disposed on the wing (33B).
The cleaning member (4B) adhered to the wings (33B) of the locating base (3B) is one piece of sponge.
In use, as shown in