Cam actuated roller mop with scrubber attachment

Abstract

A roller sponge mop which is used for routine floor surface or similar surface cleaning and moisture absorbing mopping is combined with an integral mop attachment with an outer abrasive surface, designed and formed to be positioned within a wall surface of the lower frame of the mop, to be used for cleaning more difficult and ingrained soiled surfaces. The attachment is removable and interchangeable for use on similarly configured roller mops. The sponge mop roller squeeze feature is actuated by a cammed lever which is rotatably connected to the mop's handle and is positioned adjacent to a sleeve slidable mounted on the handle. At its lower end, the sleeve comprises the frame which carries the mop attachment and connects to the mop's rollers. The bias action of a spring at the lower end of the handle maintains the sponge element of the mop in the cleaning position. As the lever is moved against the sleeve and toward the rollers, the handle is caused to move away from the rollers, drawing the sponge element between the rollers, squeezing dirt and water out of the sponge member. Releasing the lever causes the spring to return the handle and the sponge member to the cleaning position. Tabs on the sleeve and camming lever interact to lock the sleeve and handle to hold and maintain the sponge element between the rollers independent of the use of manually exertion. In this manner, the abrasive surface can be used without interference from the extended sponge element. A handle attachment piece is secured at one end to the handle and at the other end comprises bottom walls. The bottom walls are self-aligning with corresponding ridged openings on the channel member which holds the sponge element. This alignment system allows for simply and easy replacement of the sponge element of the mop.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally elongated handle;  
       (b) sleeve means for slidable movement along said handle, said sleeve means comprising a frame at one end;  
       (c) a deformable cleaning member connected to and extending perpendicularly to said handle;  
       (d) at least two spaced apart roller means connected to said frame and being rotatable independently of one another about respective transverse axes which are parallel with one another;  
       (e) hand actuated camming means connected to said handle and rotatable through an arc about a transverse axis with respect thereto for forcibly moving said sleeve means longitudinally along said handle upon the rotation of said camming means through at least a portion of said arc, whereby movement of said sleeve means longitudinally relative to said handle moves said cleaning member between said roller means, deforming said cleaning member therebetween.  
     
     
       2. The mop in claim  1  in which the roller means are hand detachably connected to said frame. 
     
     
       3. The mop in claim  1  in which the camming means acts against spring bias means positioned in close proximity to the handle. 
     
     
       4. The mop in claim  1  in which the frame comprises a substantially planar wall surface in which a mop attachment with abrasive surface means is positioned. 
     
     
       5. The mop in claim  4  in which the mop attachment is removably connected to the wall surface. 
     
     
       6. The mop in claim  4  in which the mop attachment comprises insert means which is manually insertable into and removable from the frame by slidable movement within an opening in the wall surface. 
     
     
       7. The mop in claim  1  in which said camming means is rotatably connected to the handle and comprises a lever which is manually operable to move the sleeve means. 
     
     
       8. The mop in claim  1  in which said camming means comprises a pair of rounded surface means mounted for eccentric rotation about an axis transverse to said handle. 
     
     
       9. The mop in claim  8  in which said round surface means are positioned so as to contact and slidably move the sleeve means. 
     
     
       10. The mop in claim  8  in which the camming means acts against spring bias means positioned in close proximity to the handle. 
     
     
       11. The mop in claim  1  in which said camming means comprises cam stop means for securing the cleaning member in locked position. 
     
     
       12. The mop in claim  1  wherein the frame includes reinforcing means. 
     
     
       13. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally elongated handle;  
       (b) a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;  
       (c) spaced apart roller means;  
       (d) manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving said cleaning member between said roller means and deforming said cleaning member therebetween, said manually operated means comprising a frame with a substantially planar wall surface and an opening; and  
       (e) 
       ( e )  means to connect the roller means in a fixed position to the frame, whereby when the cleaning member is moved between the roller means, the roller means at all times remains fixed in the same spatial relation to the frame;   
       ( f ) a mop attachment positioned in the wall surface said mop attachment  comprising abrasive surface means and insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from the opening in the wall surface of the frame, whereby when the insert means is in the opening, the mop attachment at all times remains fixed in the same spatial position in relation to the roller means.  
     
     
       14. The mop in claim  13  in which the mop attachment is removably connected to the wall surface. 
     
     
       15. The mop in claim  13 , in which the mop attachment comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from an opening means in the wall surface of the frame. 
     
     
       16. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally elongated handle;  
       (b) a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;  
       (c) spaced apart roller means;  
       (d) sleeve means positioned for slidable movement along said handle, said sleeve means comprising a frame at one end with a substantially planar wall surface; and  
       (e) a mop attachment positioned in the wall surface, said mop attachment comprising abrasive surface means.  
     
     
       17. The mop in claim  16  in which the mop attachment is removably connected to the wall surface. 
     
     
       18. The mop in claim  16  in which the mop attachment comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from an opening means in the wall surface of the frame. 
     
     
       19. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally elongated handle;  
       (b) a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;  
       (c) spaced apart roller means;  
       (d) manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving said cleaning member between said roller means and deforming said cleaning member therebetween; and  
       (e) a mop attachment with abrasive surface means, said mop attachment being removably mounted independently of the roller means and directly to the manually operated means. ; 
       ( f )  means to connect the roller means in a fixed position on the mop, whereby when the cleaning member is moved between the roller means, the roller means at all times remains fixed in the same spatial in relation to the mop attachment means.   
     
     
       20. The mop in claim  19  wherein the mop attachment comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from an opening means in the manually operated means. 
     
     
       21. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally extending handle;  
       (b) spaced apart roller means;  
       (c) a cleaning member comprising a deformable cleaning element and a channel means secured to the element;  
       (d) cleaning member attachment means located adjacent to the roller means and connected at one end to the handle, said cleaning member attachment means being positioned on the channel means;  
       (e) cleaning member alignment means for aligning the cleaning member attachment means with the channel means; and  
       (f) means to connect the cleaning member attachment means to the channel means.  
     
     
       22. The mop in claim  21  in which the cleaning member alignment means comprises channel member opening means to receive the cleaning member attachment means. 
     
     
       23. The mop in claim  22  wherein the cleaning member attachment means comprises wall means which are received by the channel member opening means. 
     
     
       24. The mop in claim  21  in which the cleaning member alignment means comprises wall means on the cleaning member attachment means for placement on the channel member. 
     
     
       25. A mop comprising: 
       (a) a longitudinally elongated handle;  
       (b) a deformable cleaning member connected to and extending perpendicularly to said handle;  
       (c) at least two spaced apart roller means;  
       (d) sleeve means positioned for slidable movement along said handle, said sleeve means comprising a frame connected to the roller means; and  
       (e) manually operated means located on and connected to the handle for moving said sleeve means longitudinally along said handle, whereby movement of said sleeve means longitudinally relative to said handle moves said cleaning member between said roller means, deforming said cleaning member therebetween.  
     
     
       26. The mop in claim  25  wherein the manually operated means acts against spring bias means positioned in close proximity to the handle. 
     
     
       27. The mop in claim  25  wherein the frame comprises a substantially planar wall surface in which a mop attachment with abrasive surface means is positioned. 
     
     
       28. The mop in claim  27  wherein the mop attachment comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from the frame by slidable movement within an opening means in the rear wall. 
     
     
       29. The mop in claim  25  wherein the frame includes reinforcing means. 
     
     
       30. A mop comprising: 
       ( a )  a longitudinally elongated handle;    
       ( b )  a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle, said cleaning member comprising dual exterior surfaces which in part define the shape of the cleaning member;    
       ( c )  dual spaced apart roller means, each of the roller means comprising a transverse axis;    
       ( d )  manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving both said dual roller means in tandem over the cleaning means and deforming said cleaning member therebetween, whereby one of said dual roller means is configured to move only over one of the dual exterior surfaces and the other of said dual roller means is configured to move only over the other of the dual exterior surfaces;    
       ( e )  frame means which supports and maintains the dual roller means on the handle in spaced relation to the handle, both of the dual roller means being fixedly connected in position on the frame means, whereby when the dual roller means are moved and the cleaning member is deformed therebetween, the distance between the axis of each dual roller means at all times remains unchanged;    
       ( f )  a separate mop attachment piece comprising a planar support panel on which an abrasive surface means is located; and    
       ( g )  slot means for accepting and securing the attachment piece on the frame means and for at all times maintaining the abrasive surface means in a fixed position in relation to the frame means.   
     
     
       31. The mop in claim  30  in which the mop attachment piece is removably connected to the frame means. 
     
     
       32. The mop in claim  30  in which the mop attachment piece comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from the slot means. 
     
     
       33. A mop comprising: 
       ( a )  a longitudinally elongated handle;    
       ( b )  a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;    
       ( c )  dual spaced apart roller means, each of the roller means comprising a transverse axis;    
       ( d )  manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving both said dual roller means over said cleaning member and deforming said cleaning member therebetween;    
       ( e )  frame means which supports and maintains the dual roller means on the handle in spaced relation to the handle, both of the dual roller means being fixedly connected in position on the frame means, whereby when the dual roller means are moved and the cleaning member is deformed therebetween, the distance between the axis of each dual roller means at all times remains unchanged, said frame means having top and bottom wall surfaces;    
       ( f )  a slot located in spaced relation to the bottom wall surface; and    
       ( g )  a separate mop attachment piece comprising an abrasive surface means, said mop attachment piece being configured to be inserted into the slot.   
     
     
       34. The mop in claim  33  in which the mop attachment piece is removably connected to the frame means. 
     
     
       35. The mop in claim  33  in which the mop attachment piece comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from the slot. 
     
     
       36. A mop comprising: 
       ( a )  a longitudinally elongated handle;    
       ( b )  a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;    
       ( c )  dual spaced apart roller means;    
       ( d )  manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving said dual roller means and deforming said cleaning member therebetween;    
       ( e )  frame means supporting the dual roller means on the handle in spaced relation to the handle, said frame means having an upper section with two forwardly extending members and a lower section with two forwardly extending members, one of said dual roller means fixedly mounted within the two forwardly extending members of the upper section and the other of said dual roller means fixedly mounted within the two forwardly extending side members of the lower section; and    
       ( f )  a mop attachment comprising an abrasive surface means, said mop attachment being mounted and supported independently of and in fixed space relation to the roller means, said mop attachment being mounted on and being solely supported by the frame means.   
     
     
       37. The mop in claim  36  in which the mop attachment comprises a planar support panel on which the abrasive surface means is located. 
     
     
       38. The mop in claim  36  in which the mop attachment is removably connected to the frame means. 
     
     
       39. The mop in claim  36  in which the mop attachment comprises insert means which is manually insertable into and removable from a slot in the frame means. 
     
     
       40. A mop comprising: 
       ( a )  a longitudinally elongated handle;    
       ( b )  a deformable cleaning member connected to said handle;    
       ( c )  spaced apart roller means;    
       ( d )  manually operated means positioned on the handle for moving said roller means over said cleaning member and deforming said cleaning member therebetween;    
       ( e )  frame means which supports and maintains the roller means on the handle in spaced relation to the handle, the roller means being fixedly connected in position on the frame means, whereby when the roller means is moved and the cleaning member is deformed therebetween, the roller means remains, at all times, fixedly connected to the frame means, said frame means having top and bottom wall surfaces;    
       ( f )  a slot located in spaced relation to the bottom wall surface; and    
       ( g )  a separate mop attachment piece comprising an abrasive surface means, said mop attachment piece being configured to be inserted into the slot.   
     
     
       41. The mop in claim  40  in which the mop attachment piece is removably connected to the frame means. 
     
     
       42. The mop in claim  40  in which the mop attachment piece comprises insert means which are manually insertable into and removable from the slot.