Collapsible cleaning implement

United States Patent [w]

Allemann et al.

US005926896A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,926,896 Jul. 27,1999

[54] COLLAPSIBLE CLEANING IMPLEMENT

[75] Inventors: Max Allemann, Utzenstorf; Beat Allemann, Wiler b. U., both of Switzerland

[73] Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC, Winchester, Va.

3808310 9/1989 Germany 15/229.1

3923859 2/1990 Germany .

6910563 4/1995 Germany .

6901692 6/1995 Germany .

5-7543 1/1993 Japan 15/147.1

2206037 12/1988 United Kingdom .

94/09692 5/1994 WIPO 15/228

[21] Appl. No.: 08/977,905 [22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1997

[51] Int. CI.6 A47L 13/258

[52] U.S. CI 15/147.2; 15/147.1; 15/228;

15/229.6; 15/229.8; 15/231

[58] Field of Search 15/147.1, 147.2,

15/150, 228, 229.1-229.9, 231-233; 451/354,

523, 524

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,256,989 2/1918 Duncan 15/228

1,344^936 6/1920 Beaudet 15/228

2,840,840 7/1958 Yamen 15/147.1

2,975,451 3/1961 McPherson 15/147.2

3,005,220 10/1961 McPherson 15/147.2

3,300,804 1/1967 Benjamin 15/147.2

3,324,495 6/1967 Van Schwartz 15/147.2

3,405,418 10/1968 Carter et al 15/147.1

3,458,886 8/1969 Goettel .

4,663,798 5/1987 Sacks et al 15/261

4,704,763 11/1987 Sacks et al 15/262

4,783,873 11/1988 Young 15/147.2

4,799,283 1/1989 Haydon 15/229.1

4,843,674 7/1989 Jones 15/147.1

4,881,290 11/1989 Bohacek 15/228

4,893,369 1/1990 Johnson 15/119.2

4,991,250 2/1991 Young 15/228

5,218,734 6/1993 Sacks 15/147.2

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 461684 12/1991 European Pat. Off. .

Primary Examiner—Mark Spisich

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Richard B. O'Planick; Timothy A. Nathan

[57] ABSTRACT

A cleaning implement (1) wherein the plate-like carrier (2) for a mophead (6) has a centrally located plate-like support (7) which overlaps the upper surfaces of inner portions of two plate-like sections (9, 9a) having outer portions (5) with devices for releasably clamping flaps (33) at the ends of a mophead. Alternatively, the plate-like sections (9, 9a) may be used to secure a mophead (6) having pockets (100,110a). The sections of the carrier (2) are held in a first position (in which their lower surfaces are substantially coplanar and the median portion of the mophead is stretched along the lower surfaces of the sections) by a single locking bolt (14) which is reciprocable in a guide (13) at the upper side of the support (7). The guide (13) defines a pivot axis for the lower end of a handle (4), and the sections (9, 9a) are pivotable about two neighboring axes which are normal to the pivot axis for the handle (4). The locking bolt (14) is selectively releasable into one of two configurations. In a second, collapsed, position, the sections (9, 9a) are substantially confronting. In a third, semi-collapsed, position, the sections (9, 9a) are retained at an angle between the first position and the second position. The locking bolt (14) is automatically locked in the first position when the sections (9, 9a) of the carrier (2) are pivoted back to a coplanar position from either the second position or the third position.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets