US3188671A - Convertible dust and floor mop - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1965 R. D. KANE CONVERTIBLE DUST AND FLOOR MOP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Filed Feb. 26, 1962 42 Ill INVENTbR. 1205527 D. Knuc- M, sh,

r-M I ATToeNev s.

June 15, 1965 R. D. KANE 3,188,671

CONVERTIBLE DUST AND FLOOR MOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1962 F15 -11 i l I i INVENTOR. 1205221 .0. Km:-

BYM I M] fi m m ATTORNEYS June 15, 1965 R. D. KANE 3,188,671

CONVERTIBLE DUST AND FLOOR MOP Filbd Feb. 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR. Roeez'r D. K n/va- BY M l I United States Patent 3,188,671 CONVERTIBLE DUST AND FLOQR MOP Robert D. Kane, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignor to Braham Laboratories, Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,854) 12 Claims. (Cl. -147) This invention relates to dust or floor mops and more particularly to an improved brace for dust or floor mops having a swivel connection between the mop head and handle, whereby said mops are readily converted from swivel to rigid head and vice versa.

Dust or floor mops having a swivel head are well known in the art. In one well known form, such mops comprise a narrow, elongated head and a handle joined together with a swivel connection of such construction that the operator, by merely twisting the handle about its axis, causes the mop head to rotate about a vertical axis to extend either transversely to, parallel with or any intermediate direction, relative to the direction of travel of the mop. Such mops are generally provided with heads conveniently having a length up to 36 inches and more but a width of only about three to five inches. It is contemplated that such mops be used with the head extending transversely of the direction of travel, when large or long, relatively narrow, open areas such as the center of rooms, halls and the like are being cleaned, and with the head extending parallel or at an acute angle to the direction of travel when areas under chairs, desks, tables and other furniture or obstacles are being cleaned. It has been found, however, that the ease with which the head swivels, or is swiveled, is such that the operator has difficulty maintaining the head transverse to the direction of travel when pushing the same in a single direction for a relatively extended distance or period of time-as when cleaning a hall or other unobstructed area. On the other hand, it is desirable and necessary that the head be easily, rapidly and repeatedly swiveled when cleaning a relatively small and/or obstructed area or under furniture and the like.

It has been proposed to provide such mops with removable braces, which the operator can attach and remove, to change the head from a swivel to a non-swivel type in order to provide a mop suitable for each of the cleaning conditions noted above. Such braces have not proved effective, however, because of the difficulty experienced and time consumed in attaching and removing them.

I Thus the gain in efiicient use of the mop while cleaning has been lost to the time and difficulty experienced in frequently attaching and detaching the braces as the mop is repeatedly, during normal use, converted from a swivel to a non-swivel mop and vice versa.

The general object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a new and improved brace structure for detachably interconnecting the head and handle on swivel head dust or floor mops.

A further object of this invention is to provide a quick detachable, self-storing brace for detachably interconnecting the head and handle on swivel head dust and floor mops.

Still further objects of this invention include the provision of an improved, convertible brace for detachably interconnecting the head and handle of swivel head dust or floor mops which is easily and quickly attached and detached by unskilled operators; which is carried out of the way on the mop handle when detached from the head; which is attached and detached from the mop head without the need of tightening or loosening thumb screws and the like, yet is held in functional engagement with and against accidental disengagement from the mop head;

3,188,671 Patented June 15, 1965 "Ice which includes spring means for maintaining the brace members in functional engagement with the mop head when the brace attached to the mop head for maintaining the brace members in a raised position against the mop handle when the brace is detached from the mop head; which is adjustable on the mop handle for use with mop heads of diiferent lengths; which is economically manufactured, which is easily installed on the mop and provides for ready exchange or replacement of mop heads and handles; and, which maintains the mop head in a rigid position, extending transversely of the direction of travel when attached thereto and permits full swiveling of the mop, without interfering therewith, when detached from the mop head.

Still further objects of this invention include the provision of an improved brace for detachably interconnecting the head and handle on swivel head dust and floor rnops obtaining one or more of the above advantages as well as the provision of such a brace in combination with the mop with which it is used.

These and other objects and advantages of a brace and brace and mop embodying this invention will appear from the following description of preferred and modified forms thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a brace and mop embodying a preferred form of this invention showing the brace attached to the mop head;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the brace detached and the mop head extending transversely of the direction of travel;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the mop head extending at an acute angle to the direction of travel;

FIGURE 4 is a section viewed along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section, with the handle upright, view along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a section viewed along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a broken top view showing a modified form of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a section viewed along the lines 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a section viewed along the lines 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a broken top view of another modified form of this invention, showing the brace member in the attached position in full lines and in the detached position in broken lines; and,

FIGURE 11 is a broken side view of the brace shown in FIGURE 10.

A mop and brace embodying a preferred form of this invention are indicated generally at 1 in FIGURE 1.

The mop includes a handle 4 and a head 5 having a considerably greater length than width. A mop cover (not shown) of material suitable for cleaning is fitted over the edges and removably mounted on the mop head 5 when the same is in use. The mop cover is adapted to engage and sweep, dust or otherwise clean the floor, or other surface being cleaned, as the mop is pushed thereover.

Handle 4 has a swivel connection with mop head 5 and is also conveniently detachably connected with mop head 5 so that heads of different lengths, sizes or types may be selectively interchanged on the handle at the discretion of the user.

To this end, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, the back 7 of mop head Sis provided with parallel, opposed upright ears 8, which are spaced apart substantially symmetrical with the axis of the map handle and may be formed as part of a bracket 8'. Each ear 8 has an aperture 9 and a a the apertures 9 have their centers on a common axis. Further handle-2 is provided with a tongue which s pivotally supported thereon on an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the handle.. The lowerend of tongue '10 is bent and shaped orotherwise provided with a 'handle. Barrel 1 1 is provided with a fixedpin 19 extending from one end, and a sliding bolt 20, disposed within the barrel and biased to'extend from the opposite end by a spring (not shown). A bolt operating handle 22 is mounted on and extends laterally from bolt through a suitable I slot 23 in barrel 11. Handle 4 is connected to headS by inserting pin; 19 in one of the apertures 9, exerting a'pressure on bolt operating handle 22 to retract bolt 20 against the force of the spring, positioning bolt20 inaxial alignment with the other aperture 9 and releasing handle 22,

whereupon the spring forces bolt 22.outwardl y and the end thereof enters the otherap'erture 9 to hold the head 5 on the handle 4. .Handle 4 is raised and lowered'relae tive to the head by pivoting the same about the axis of pin 19 and bolt 20. Head 5 is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface upon which the head rests. to change the mop head'from a position extending transversely of the direction of travel to one extending parallel therewith or to any intermediate position and/ or back again, selectively as desired, by operator simply twisting the handle 2 about its own longitudinal axis. The above is old in the art and per se forms no part of the instant, invention. I

It is desirable, under certain conditions and exigencies angle 36 issuch that the handle 4 is maintained at a desired and convenient angle with the head 5 considering the length of the handle andthe height, arm length, etc. of the user or average potential user to the end that the remote end of the handle (not shown) is at convenient height for use when the struts 31 are attached to the mop head; a In order to provide for-ready and easy attachment and detachment of the struts to and from the mop head, studs 37 .are mounted, by welding or other suitable means, on the mop head back 7 and extend upwardly therefrom. Studs 37 have a shank 38 and'an enlarged head 40, which is preferably formed integrally with the shank 38 so as to obviate the need for, tightening and/ or loosening thumb screws, wing nutsor the like in order to attach and release the struts to'and from the mop head. Further, to this end, the portion v33 of each strut 3-1 isprovided near its free end 41 and on its edge 42, nearest the handle 4, as with a notch 43. a a 9 l Notch 43,is of 'sufiiciently'large diameter to encircle, partially, the shank 38 of stud 37, but has a's'maller diameter than stud head 49 so that the strut cannot be lifted'ver'tically off of the stud 37. Thus, in orderfto attach each strut 31 to the mop head 5,- end 42 must be moved outwardly ofthe respective stud 37, rested upon or adjacent the back 7 "of mop head 5 and then moved inwardly to slide notch 43 around shank 38 and beneath stud head 40., The struts are biased and urged into engagement'with the respective studs (towards each other) and prevented from accidentally disengaging from the studs by suitable spring means such as'tension spring 45 which has one end pivotally secured to each strut 31, as at 46 and 47, respectively, and urges'the struts together or toward each other. Spring 45 is preferably secured to of use to lock the mop head 5 in a position transverse of the direction oftravel Thismakes cleaning of large uh- I obstructed areas, hallways and the like easierby preventing accidental twisting of the handlecausingrotationof the mop head, because of swivel connection betweenthe head and handle, and ensuring that the path co'veredby each pass of the mop head has a width substantially equal" to the full length of themop head. However, under normal conditions, periods of use when such rigidity, is desired frequently, quickly and shortly are followed by and follow periods of use when it is desired that the mop head the fully and easily pivoted by merely twisting the handl 4; a

The instant invention provides brace means bywhich the mop is quickly and easily converted from a rigid to the struts near or adjacent theipivotal connection between the respective Struts and the handle 4 and functions not only to urge the struts to maintain engagement with the studs, when the brace is in the position and use condition shown in FIGURE 1, but also to hold the struts up out of the way and against the handle 4, "as shown in FIGURE -2, after the struts have been disengaged from the respective studs and swung upwardly about their pivots.

Further, in order, as noted above, to provide for replacing or interchanging handle 4 and/ or using mop heads 5 in whichstuds 37' are spaced different distances apart,

struts 31' are preferably connected to handle 4 by means of clamp 50, see FIGURES 1 and4'. Clamp 50 con venientlycornprises two similar halves v51, which engage 7 around the handle and are releasably held in a predetera swivel mop. The means of this invention iseasily and readily manipulated by unskilled operators and remains fixedly attached to the mop, during repeated cycles of ordinary use, although in its preferred form it is adjustable on the mophandle so that it may be used with mop heads of different length and'i's selectively removable from the mop handle so that'the mop handle may be replaced or interchanged if desired or necessary. I

Preferably, a brace embodyinga preferred form of this invention includes two' struts or brace members 31 which are pivotally mounted on the oppositesides of handle 4. Struts 31 are adapted to engage the mop head 5 laterally outwardly-on both "sides of the ears 8, to maintain the handle and mop'head in fixed relative position, see FIG- mined position by means of screws 53 and wing nuts 54, or other suitable means. The'struts are, in turn, pivotally connected to clamp 50 as by being positioned between the clampghalves 51 so that screws 53 alsopass'therethrough, n by other suitable means.

'In use, withthe mop in the condition shown in FIG- 'URE 1,the'0perator need only press,outwardly on the respective struts 31 against the force of spring 45 to release the struts so that the .mop head 5 and ,handle- 4 have swivel relationship and then swing the struts upwardly abouttheir respective pivots so that the spring 45 will 'hold them out of the way, but readily accessible, in a self-storing position against the handle, 'as shown in FIGURE 2. When it is desired to' make. the mop rigid again, the. operator need-only swing the struts down, catch the notches 43 about the respective stud shanks 3.8"and ,under the'stud heads in the manner described above,

the mop handle and to be maintained insaid raised, out

of the way position, without further effort by the operator, so that the head and handle are swivelly connected.

To this end, struts 31, as viewed in FIGURES l and 6 extend downwardly and outwardly from handle '4 and have an end portion 33," which is fiat and parallel with the back 7 of mop head 5, and an upright portion 34,

which is angularly related with portion 33 as at 36. The

and the spring biasesjthe struts inwardly tofmaintain themin position. Thus the mop is converted from rigid to swivel and back without requiring tightening or loosening of nuts orthe operation of, any additional clamping or holding means. 7

The clamp is shifted along or removed from the handle'4, as required in order that the notches 43 may engage the differently spaced studs of a different head or the handlebe replaced by looseningthe wing nuts 54 and sliding the clamp 50 to the new position and retightenmg.

It is to be noted that some of the objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained, for example, by using screws and wing nuts (which may or may not be tightened and loosened as desired) instead of the preferred integral studs and/or by omitting the clamp 59 and pivoting the struts 31 directly to the handle.

I 'A modified form of brace embodying this invention is shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9. In this instance one side 51' of clamp 50 is provided with a series of notches or seats 61, 62 and each strut 31' has a complementary projection or pin 64 which can have mating engagement therewith. The seats 61 are disposed so that, when the projection 64 is seated therein, the respective strut will I extend downwardly as in FIGURE 1 and the seats 62 are disposed so that, when the projection 64 is seated therein, the respective struts will extend upwardly as in FIGURE 2.

Each projection 64 is biased toward clamp member 51 and more particularly to seat in the seats 61, 62, respectively, by means of a spring 45', which acts between the other clamp'member 51" and the adjacent strut 31'. Strut 31' is moved by exerting a pressure against spring I 45 to release the projection 64 from the particular seat 61, 62 in which it is then engaged and then swinging the strut to the desired new position and until the projection seats again. In this form of the invention the connection between the strut and the mop head is the same as with the preferred form of the invention and the struts are swung into engagement with the studs in substantially the same Way except that the springs 45' bias the strut projection to seat instead of biasing the struts toward each other. Alternatively, the notch 43 may be the same as in the form of the invention described below.

Another form of brace embodying this invention .is shown in FIGURES 10 and 1 1. In this instance a torsion spring 45" is disposed between the clamp members 51 and about the screw 53. One end, 66 of the spring 45'" is anchored to the clamp 50 and the other end 67 of the spring 45" engages the adjacent strut 31' and spring 45 is arranged to bias the strut toward and hold it in the raised position as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 10. Also, inthis form the notch 43 in the portion 33 of the strut is in the opposite edge 41 thereof. When it is desired to attach the brace to make the mop rigid, the operator merely swings the strut downwardly, against the force of spring 45", past the stud 37 and then with the notch 43 opening toward the stud and aligned with the shank 38 the strut is moved outwardly so that the notch engages around the stud shank and beneath the stud head 40. The strut is then maintained in operative engage ment with the stud and in the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 10, by the action of spring 45 as it seeks to urge the strut upwardly and .into the dotted line position. To change the mop back to a swivel action type, the operator forces the street inwardly against the force of spring 45" to disengage notch 43' from the stud and then, making sure the notch is not aligned with the stud, releases the strut whereupon spring 45 returns the strut up out of the way to the raised position, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 3 shows that with any form of the invention the mop head may swivel without interference from the brace when the struts are disengaged therefrom and held in their upward position. Modifications, changes and improvements to the preferred and modified forms of the invention herein particularly disclosed and described may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the principles and precepts thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the patent issued hereon should not be limited to the specific forms of the inevntion herein particularly illustrated, disclosed and described but only consistent with the advance by which the invention has promoted the art.

I claim:

1. A floor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a handle, a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, and brace means for detachably holding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising a pair of upwardly extending studs secured to said mop head with one stud to each side of and spaced from said swivel connection, each said stud comprising a cylindrical shank portion and an integral head portion of greater diameter than said shank portion, a clamp mounted on said handle, said clamp comprising similar halves, a pair of fastening means extending through said clamp halves with one said fastening means to each side of said handle in the direction of the corresponding stud, a pair of bent and shaped struts, each said strut having an upper portion with an aperture therein and a lower portion adapted to extend parallel with said mop head, said upper portion of each said strut being disposed between said clamp halves, a said fastening means extending through said aperture in each said strut and pivotally connecting the said strut to said clamp, a laterally opening notch in said lower portion of each said strut, said notch having a width greater than the diameter of said stud shank and less than the diameter of said stud head, said notch opening toward the adjacent said stud when said strut is disposed outwardly thereof relative to said connection between said handle and mop head, a tension spring extending between said struts adjacent said upper portions thereof and biasing said struts toward each other, said struts having a first position with said spring biasing said struts into engagement with said studs with said stud shanks being disposed in said notches, respectively, and a second position with said struts extending susbtantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head and said spring biasing each said strut toward said handle.

2. In a fioor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a handle and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, and the improvement of brace means for detachably holding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising a pair of upwardly extending studs secured to said mop head with one stud to each side of and spaced from said swivel connection, each said stud comprising a shank portion and an integral head portion of greater diameter than said shank portion, clamp means mounted on said handle, a pair of bent and shaped struts, each said strut having an upper portion pivotally mounted on said clamp means with one said strut to each side of said handle in the direction of the corresponding strut and a lower portion adapted to extend parallel with said mop head, a laterally opening notch in said lower portion of each said strut, said notch having a width greater than the diameter of said stud shank and less than the diameter of said stud head, said notch opening toward the adjacent said stud when said strut is disposed outwardly thereof relative to said connection between said handle and mop head, a tension spring extending between said struts adjacent said upper portions thereof and biasing said struts toward each other, said struts having a first position in engagement with said studs with said stud shanks disposed in said notches, respectively, and a second position with said struts extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head.

3. In a floor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, the improvement of brace means for detachably holding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising a pair of stud means extending from said mop head with one stud means to each side of and spaced from said swivel connection, each said stud means comprising a shank portion and a head portion of greater diameter than said shank portion, clamp means mounted on said handle, a pair of bent and shaped struts, each said strut having an upper portion .3 pivotally mounted on said clamp means and a lower portion adapted to extend parallel'with said mop head, a laterally opening notch in said lower portionof each said strut, saidnotch having a width greater thanthe diameter of said stud means shank and less than the diameter of said stud means head, said notch opening toward the adjacent said stud meanswhen said strut is disposed out- )7 wardly thereof relative to said connection between said handle and mop head, spring means extending between said struts adjacent said upper'portions thereof and bias ing said struts toward each other, said struts havinga first positionin engagementwith said stud means and said shanks disposed in said notches, respectively, and a second position with said struts'extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head and said spring means biasing each said strut toward said handle.

4. In a floor or dust mop comprising a mop head,:a' handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said han-.

dle and mop head,'the improvement of brace means for detachably holding said mop'head and handle in fixed greater than the diameter of said shank portion and less than the diameter of said hea'd portion, said notch opening toward a said stud means when said strut is disposed outwardly thereof relative 'to said connection between said handle and mop head, tension spring'rneans extendportions into engagement, said adjacent clamp portion having a plurality of similar parts of said male and female portions for eachsaid strut, and each said strut being in said first position when one said part is engaged by the complementary portion on said strut and insaid second position when another said part is so engaged;

6; The mop according to" claim ',in which each said struthas 'an aperture in said upper portion, one said strut is to either side of said handle, said fastening means includes members extending through each said strut aperture, and said spring means comprises compression spring means disposed about each said fastening means member between a said strut and said other clamp half; r

7. The mop according toclaim 5 in which said male andfemale portions comprise a projection on each said strut and two complementary seats-for said projections per strut on'the said'adjacent clamp half;

8. Ina floor'or dust mop comprising 'a mop head, a handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, the improvement ofbrace means for detachably'holding said mopthead and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising stud ing between said struts adjacent said upper portions thereof and biasing said struts towardeach other, said struts having a first position withsaid spring means bias- 7 ing said struts into engagement with said stud means and said shank portions disposed iri said notches, respectively, and a secorid position with said struts extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head andsaid spring means biasing each said strut toward said handle.- a

5; In a floor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a

handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, 'the' improvement of brace means for detachably holding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising a pair of stud means carried by said "mop head andextending therefrom in spaced relationship 'with said swivel connection, each said stud means comprising a shank por-- tion and an enlarged head portion, a pair of shaped struts, each said strut having an upper portion and a lower/portion, a laterally: openingfnotch in said lower portion of each said strut, said'notch having a width greater than the diameter of said shank portion and less than the diameter of said head portion, means pivotally mounting said upper portion of each 'said strut on said handle, said struts having 'a first position with said struts in engage ment with said studs-and said shank" portions in said notches, respectively,'and a second position with said struts extending substantially parallel with said handle 'in a direction away from said'mop head, and means releasably holding said strut means in a predetermined one or'the other of said first and second positions, said means for mounting said struts on said handle comprising a clamp having two halves and fastening'means for holding said halves together and pivotally supporting said struts, respectively, and' said releasable holding means comprising complementary male and female portionsvon the upper portion'of each strut and the adjacent said clamp half and spring means acting between the" other said clamphalf and each said strut and biasing saidmale and female means carried by said mop head and extending therefrom in spaced relationship with'saidswivelconnection, said stud 'means'comprising atshank portion and an enlarged head portion, strut means having an upper portion and a lower portion adapted to extend parallel with said mop head, means pivotally mounting said upper portion of strut means on said handle, a laterally opening notch in said lower portion of said strut means, said notch having a widthgreater, than the diameter of'said shank portion and less than the diameter of said head portion of said stud means, said strut means having a first position in engagementwith said' stud means with the shank portion thereat in said notch and a second position with said strut means extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop lhead, and means releasably holding said strut means in a predetermined one,or the other of said first and second positions.

'9. In a floor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, the improvement 'of brace me'ansfor detachablyholding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising a pair of stud means carried by said mop head and extending therefrom in spaced relationship ;with said swivel connection, each said stud means comprising a shank portion and an enlarged head portion, a pair of shapedstruts, each said strut having an upper portion and a lower portion adapted to extend parallel with said mop head pivotally mounting said upper portion of each'said strut on said handle, a laterally opening notch in'said lower portion of each said strut, said notch in; each strut openingtowards "the adjacent stud means when'said strut is disposed in- 'substantiallyparallel with said handle in a'direction away fixedly mounted relative to: said handle.

from said mop head, and means releasably holding said struts in predetermined one or the other. of said first and fsecond positions,said last named means comprising spring means urging said struts,frespectively, 'into"-'s'ai'd"second position.

10. The mop according to claim 9 in which said spring means comprises a torsion spring for eachsaid strut having one end anchored to said' strut and. the other end 11. In a floor or dust mop comprising a r'noplhead, a handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, the improvement of brace means for detachably holding said. mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising strut means having an upper portion and a lower portion, means pivotally mounting said upper portion of said strut means on said handle, means detachably interconnecting said lower portion of said strut means and said mop head, said strut means having a first position with said strut means interconnected with said mop head and a second position with said strut means extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head, and spring means releasably holding said strut means in said second position.

12. In a floor or dust mop comprising a mop head, a handle, and a swivel connection interconnecting said handle and mop head, the improvement of brace means for detachably holding said mop head and handle in fixed relative relationship, said brace means comprising strut means having an upper portion and a lower portion, means pivotally mounting said upper portion of said strut means on said handle, said lower portion of said strut means detachably engaging said mop head, said strut means having a first position with said strut means engaging said mop head and a second position with said strut means extending substantially parallel with said handle in a direction away from said mop head, and spring actuated means releasably holding said strut means in a 5 predetermined one or the other of said first and second positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 1,585,570 5/26 Swanson 15235.8 2,903,730 9/59 Murphy 15229.2 3,082,460 3/63 Haivala 15-144 X FOREIGN PATENTS 15 556,185 4/57 Begium.

74,263 11/60 France.

(1st addition to 1,171,669) 135,601 5/52 Sweden.

20 CHARLES A. WILLMUT H, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

11. IN A FLOOR OR DUST MOP CONSISTING A MOP HEAD, A HANDLE, AND A SWIVEL CONNECTION INTERCONNECTING SAID HANDLE AND MOP HEAD, THE IMPROVEMENT OF BRACE MEANS FOR DETACHABLY HOLDING SAID MOP HEAD AND HANDLE IN FIXED RELATIVE RELATIONSHIP, SAID BRACE MEANS COMPRISING STRUT MEANS HAVING AN UPPER PORTION AND A LOWER PORTION, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID UPPER PORTION OF SAID STRUT MEANS ON SAID HANDLE, MEANS DETACHABLY INTERCONNECTING SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID STRUT MEANS AND SAID MOP HEAD, SAID STRUT MEANS HAVING A FIRST POSITION WITH SAID STRUT MEANS INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID MOP HEAD AND A SECOND POSITION WITH SAID STRUT MEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID HANDLE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID MOP HEAD, AND SPRING MEANS RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID STRUT MEANS IN SAID SECOND POSITION.

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