AU600603B2

AU600603B2 - Sponge mop replacement pad

Info

Publication number: AU600603B2
Application number: AU23585/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Albert King
Original assignee: MARRICK Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ED Oates Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-10-09
Filing date: 1988-10-07
Publication date: 1990-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-07
Also published as: AU2358588A

Description

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f I COMMONWEALTIH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-62 SPATENT, T.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATIOr ns (ORIGINAL) 7 OCT FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priorify:' a f Relatqd Art: This document contains the ain i1iments made unii:r Section 49 and is correct for printing.

Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actu&l Ir 6ntor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED DY APPLICANT MARRICK PTY. LTD.

54 Charles Street, Unley, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia JAMES ALBERT KING Care of R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "SPONGE MOP REPLACEMENT PAD" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to rf-7 us.

-1r This invention relates to a replacement pad which is useful for replacing a worn pad of a sponge mop.

Sponge mops of the so-called "squeeze" type are commonly formed to have hinged frame members, which hinge with respect to one another to effect the squeezing of the mop. Alternatively, some employ a single frame member, or the sponge can be carried on a mounting rail.

The frame member(s) or mounting rail is secured to backing members on the sponge, which is a slab of cellulose-based, P.V.A. or similar foam material. Some •t t IT other frame members rely on the sponge holding the frame members in place, and are hinged by the sponge, and/or the backing plate. Some of the frame members hinge about a longitudinal axis, and others about a transverse axis. Consequently, a large range of replacement pads is being marketed, each of which is only suitable as a replacement pad for its own frame. Since replacement pads need to be frequently discarded, this is very inconvenient from an inventory point of view; ,I also for customers, who are frequently confused as to which replacement pad fits their mop.

SThe main object of this invention is to provide a sponge mop replacement pad which is capable of fitting more than one type of base frame, and can also be mounted on a mounting rail. The replacement pad can fold about two different sets of hinge lines, one set of hinge lines being lateral and the other being longitudinal.

2 In one embodiment of this invention, a sponge mop replacement pad comprises a foam slab provided with a pair of spaced-apart backing members one adjacent each end of the foam slab ana extending inwardly therefrom, said backing members being spaced apart so as to form a central region on the foam slab which permits the pad to be hinged about a transverse axis; each backing member being formed from a polymeric material, having two reduced thickness portions extending longitudinally and spaced apart from one another to provide two hinge lines, and being provided with securing means arranged to co-operate with further securing means on the base frame of a sponge mop for securing the replacement pad to the a: sponge mop base frame, the securing means on the pair of backing members being arranged in a plurality of groups or 1 1, patterns, whereby the replacement pad can be secured to any sponge mop base frame having said further securing means arranged in a group or pattern which matches one of said plurality of groups or patterns.

Preferably, said securing means comprises a plurality of groups or patterns of securing apertures or holes which can be threaded to receive a threaded fastener.

With this invention, it is possible for one sponge mop a replacement pad to fit a number of sponge mops of varying 4 4 configurations, including those wherein the mop base frame members fold about an X axis or axes to squeeze the mop and those wherein the frame members fold about a Y axis or axes.

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While the invention need not necessarily include the abovementioned details, an embodiment is described Ihereunder in further detail with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein; V 5. Fig. 1 is a perspective veiw of a replacement pad according to this invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the backing plates i

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secured to the foam pad, Fig. 3 is a end view of the mop pad folded about a !i i 10. transverse axis, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the mop pad folded about Va longitudinal axis.

l In this embodiment a sponge mop replacement pad !i comprises a rectangular slab 11 of foam material which is formed in accordance with known art.

One of the major surfaces of the slab 11 is provided with two spaced, aligned backing plates J2, each backing plate 12 extending almost to the end, or to a point adjacent to the end of the slab 11, but there being sufficient space between them that the slab 11 can be i folded about a transverse axis without deflection of the backing plates 12. In this embodiment, the plates

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12 are secured to the slab surface by means of an adhesive, but other securing means can be employed, e.g., mechanical fastening means or by moulding.

Each backing plate 12 is formed from polypropylene or other material which is polymeric and which is capable 4 -7 of flexure, but nevertheless provides sufficient rigidity for supporting the slab 11. Each backing plate 12 is also provided with two longitudinally extending hinge lines 13 which are formed by reduced thickness portions.

In this embodiment, the grooves which form the hinge lines 13 are located on the outer "exposed" surface of each respective backing plate 12, although it may be desirable to have them located on the inner surfaces of the plates so as to avoid the possibility of the X0O. sponge operating in the reverse direction ("inside out") which can otherwise happen and destroy the replacement pad.

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44 A plurallty of fixing holes 16, 16' are provided in each of the backing plates 12, and are so arranged as to constitute a plurality of patterns whereby the backing plates 12 can be secured to a support frame member(s) of any one of a plurality of available sponge mops.

For example, the set of fixing holes 16 is suitable for attaching the replacement pad to one type of sponge mop (requiring four threaded fasteners) whereas set of holes 16' is suitable for a different type of sponge mop (requiring two threaded fasteners).

Various fixing means may be employed, e.g. screws can be fitted into moulded or tapped threads in the fixing holes 16, 16' or threaded studs (integrally moulded with the backing plate or separate therefrom) and threaded nuts can be used. Still further bolts which are located in recessed portions in the pad and pass through the plates and the base frame of the mop head can be used.

A consideration of the above embodiment will indicate that the invention is extremely simple but nevertheless provides a very useful universal sponge mop replacement pad.

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Claims

1. A sponge mop replacement pad which comprises a foam slab provided with a pair of longitudinally aligned backing members adjacent respective ends of the foam slab, said backing members being spaced apart so as to form a central region on the foam slab which permits the pad to be hinged about a transverse axis; each backing member being formed from a polymeric material, having two reduced thickness portions extending longitudinally and spaced apart from one another to provide two centrally disposed hinge lines, and being provided with securing means arranged to co-operate with further securing means on the base frame of a sponge mop for securing the replacement pad to the sponge mop base frame, the securing means on the pair of backing members being arranged in a plurality of groups or patterns, whereby the replacement pad can be secured to a spong, mop base frame having said further securing means arranged in a group or pattern which matches one of said plurality of groups or patterns.

2. A replacement pad according to claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of groups or patterns of securing apertures or holes.

3. A replacement pad according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each backing member is provided with three apertures which form different groups or patterns of said apertures.

4. A replacement pad according to claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of groups or patterns of studs integrally moulded with said backing plates. 7 7 1 t it r I i i i A replacement pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backing members are formed from polypropylene material.

6. A sponge mop replacement pad substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A sponge mop comprising a replacement pad according to any one of the preceding claims. Dated this 7th day of October, 1988- MARRICK PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys, R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES. qzo 8 1