US3362775A - Tootsie mops - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1968 A. MUECKE 3,362,775l

TOOTS IE MOPS Filed Jan. 4, 1967 v /A/ VEA/rae /7/1//1/ VEC/5 United States Patent O 3,362,775 TQOTSIE MOPS Ann Muecke, 1550 W. Becher St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53215 Filed Jan. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 618,240 1 Claim. (Cl. 401-6) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention comprises a foot operated mop having a shoe-like member for receiving a persons foot, the shoe-like member having a sole with .a chamber therein containing soap water which can be squeezed outwardly through openings on the underside of the sole for washing a floor.

This invention relates generally to oor mops and the like. More specifically it relates to mops adaptable for being secured to a persons feet.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel mop construction which can be worn upon the feet of a person, and wherein a mopping operation may be accomplished by simply sliding the feet across the oor, thereby permitting the execution of a chore with relatively less effort than would be possible by using a conventional mop that must be manipulated in the hands of a person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mop construction which comprises a pair of mops, each of which is worn upon one of the feet, and whereby a mopping operation may be performed without the necessity of bending over which in itself is a tiring attitude.

Yet another obje-ct of the present invention is to provide a novel mop construction wherein the weight of a person will provide the force of rubbing the same against a oor surface to loosen the dirt therefrom.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mop construction which may incorporate an auxiliary vessel for being worn upon a persons body and which includes self-contained means for delivering a quantity of soap water to the sole portion of the mop where it may be squeezed out upon the floor to provide a means for delivering fresh quantities of soap water thereto during the mopping operation.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a mop construction which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the present invention shown in position, ready for operative use;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l, and

FIGURE 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a modified form of the present invention shown incorporating a reservoir for delivering continuous fresh soap water to an area being mopped.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a tootsie mop according to the present invention wherein there is a mop member 11 adaptable for being worn on a left foot of a wearer and a mop member 12 adaptable to be worn upon a right foot of a wearer 13.

In the present construction, the mop may comprise a manufactured or natural fabric 14 which is relatively smooth on its inner side 15 and which includes a plurality of ropes, hairs or wool matting 16 upon its opposite side ice which serves as bristle means for rubbing against the surface of a floor 17. The fabric 14 may encircle all sides of a foot 18, and an elastic fabric 19 may gather the edges of the fabric 14 and form a panel beneath which the orepart 20 of a foot may rest.

In operative use a person merely inserts her feet into the mop members 11 and 12 after which a quantity of floor cleaning liquid is applied to a floor surface, the person then sliding her feet across the surface of the lioor to exert her weight against the same and thus dislodge any dirt from the floor surface. Thus a relatively easy way is provided for mopping a floor surface which will be particularly desirable to women who are not capable of exerting heavy physicalvwork, such as women who are pregnant or who otherwise arev not in good physical health for doing heavy chores.

In a modified construction shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, a tootsie mop 30 is shown to include a shoe-like member 31 into which a foot 32 may Vbe readily inserted and which includes a sole portion 33 upon the underside having a hollow chamber 33 therewith for receiving a quantity of soap water 34 as shown. A plurality of small perforations or openings 35 are provided upon the underside of the sole 32 to allow the water 34 to be squeezed outwardly of the chamber 33 by means of the weight of the foot 32 thereagainst. In the present construction the sole 32 may be made from a plastic material or rubber, -as preferred and may include a plurality of downwardly extending integral bristles 36 which can be used to scrub against a iioor surface. A tube 37 is provided communicating with the chamber 33, the tube 37 being connected to one end of a hose 38 which is connected at its opposite end to a tank 39 containing fresh soap water. The tank 39 may be provided with a clip 40 so that the same may be conveniently worn upon a persons belt, thereby permitting carrying the same while a person is moving across a floor being mopped. An inlet 41 provided with a cap 42 permits refilling of the tank 39 when the same has been emptied.

In operative use the construction shown in FIGURE 3 is used in a manner similar to the construction shown in FIGURES l and 2, however, here there is a continuous flow of fresh soap water assured to perform an improved floor mopping operation.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

1. In a floor mop, the combination of a shoe-like member for receiving a foot therein, said member having a toe portion, a heel portion, an intermediate portion and a sole portion on the under side thereof, said sole portion having a hollow chamber formed between an upper and lower layer of flexible, plastic or rubber materials, a plurality of downwardly extending bristles formed upon the under side of said layer, all said `bristles being integrally formed with said lower layer of the same material as said lower layer, said bristles being of even length, said bristles extending from the toe portion to around the said heel portion whereby the bristles around said heel portion will engage a floor when said foot is pivoted upwardly around said heel portion while walking, a plurality of small perforations extending through the said lower layer for allowing'soap water contained within said chamber to be squeezed outwardly through said perforations and upon a floor being washed, a tube connected at one end to said chamber and at its opposite end to one end of a hose which at its opposite end is connected to a tank, said tank containing soap water and having a clip secured thereto said tank having a refill cap.

3 i for being removably secured over a belt of a person, and 2,663,890 12/ 1953 Sullins 15-227 XR 2,784,436 3/1957 Peterson 15--227 2,795,806 6/1957 Suttles 15-227 XR Reflellces Cited 2,831,206 4/ 1958 Curtis 15-227 XR UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,000,040 9/1961 Carlson 15-227 XR 1/ 1901 Kneckerbocker 15-509 FOREIGN PATENTS 4f" 1915 McGrath 15-227 803,589 6/1955 GreatBritain. 6/1915 Reddick 15-227 17,871 10/1898 switzerland. 1/ 1929 Halliburton 15-509 9/ 1930 Carlson 15--509 10 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

*rllel R. I. SMTH, Assistant Examiner.

Images