AU654896B2 - Self retaining ferrule - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 233710

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 554896 (1 44t t I I It t r t i r t t t

ORIGINAL

4141 4, Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Eo Eocirv~sO lrnpo 4'.

Edgy Edmondson Pty. Ltd.

22 Garden Street Marrickville New South Nales 2204

AUSTRALIA

Peter Edmondson v4Af, 8 EC.

104 vj

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Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Nales, 2000, Australia Self Retaining Ferrule ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31] Application No(s) [33] Country PL1901O AU [32] Application Date 14 April 1992 The following statement is a full description of this 'nvention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815/3 1' h

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:4~t: 2 SELF RETAINING FERRULE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to mop ferrules and more particularly to a self retaining ferrule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A mop may be provided with a mop head on the lower end of a handle. A mop may also be provided with a ferrule. The ferrule comprises a handle from which depends a skirt. The skirt is adapted to encircle the head of the mop and can be used for squeezing and ringing the mop head. The ferrule is preferably free to slide over the mop handle. However, it is undesirable that the ferrule slide too freely.

Ideally, a ferrule should be retained in the position in which it is released without the need for external mechanical contrivances or latches. In this way, the ferrule can be raised and lowered by the mop user and will not fall down and cover the mop head or interfere with the use of the mop until it is intentionally deployed.

It is also desirable that the ferrule have the above referenced characteristics and yet be simple in construction, relatively easy to manufacture and be economical.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a self retaining ferrule.

There is disclosed herein a ferrule comprising a unitary handle and skirt, the skirt depending from one end of the handle, the other end of the handle comprising an inwardly directed rim, wherein at said one end of the handle there is provided an inwardly directed mop handle support, wherein the inwardly directed rim and mop handle support are adapted to frictionally engage a mop handle.

Preferably, the mop handle support comprises an annular groove.

Preferably, the ferrule further comprises a resilient spongy insert within the handle and adapted to engage a mop handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRANINGS A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mop, and Figure 2 is a quarter-sectional view of a portion of a ferrule.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION S As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a mop 10 comprises a handle 11, the

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C II 3 lower end of which supports a mop head 12. The absorbent portion of the mop 13 is attached to the head 12 and may be formed from strands, ropes, fibres, strands of expanded foams, etc. The mop may also comprise a ferrule 14. The ferrule is preferably blow moulded. The ferrule 14 generally includes a handle 15 and integral with a lower portion of the handle, a skirt 16. The skirt 16 may include a plurality of pleats, ridges or grooves 17. To wring the absorbent portion 13, the ferrule 14 must be advanced down the handle 11 so as to enclose or nearly enclose th- absorbent portion 13. However, when the mop is used, the ferrule 14 must be retracted away from the mop head. It would be considered a disadvantage for the mop user to have to maintain the ferrule away from the mop head manually and external mechanical latches or contrivances are considered both expensive and irritating. To solve this problem a ferrule according to the teachings of the present invention is provided with an inwardly directed rim 18 formed about the upper most portion of the handle 15. The lower portion of the handle includes a handle support 19. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 2, the handle supporting element 19 is in the form of a circumferential groove. Ideai, the inside diameter of both the inwardly directed rim 18 and the handle 20 support 19 would be approximately the same and both would be formed with a nominal inside diameter which was slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the handle 11. In this way, each would both have a sliding fit with respect to the handle, yet each would have a slight frictional interference with the handle.

Because the manufacturing tolerance is associated with both the blow moulded ferrule and the handle cannot be precisely controlled, an additional frictional engagement is provided. As shown in Figure 2, a resilient spongy material such as polymeric sponge or foam 20 is inserted between the ferrule 14 and the handle 11. Of course, the amount and shape of the resilient material 20 will depend largely on the type of material used as well as the configuration of the respective ferrule.

The elastic or resilient qualities of the material 20 ensure that frictional engagement between the ferrule 14 and the handle 11 is maintained even if one or both of the inwardly directed rim or handle support 19 failed to achieve their intended purpose.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular materials and details of construction, these should be understood to have been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

RLF/1717m

Claims (5)

1. A ferrule comprising a unitary handle and skirt, the skirt depending from one end of the handle, the other :d of the handle comprising an inwardly directed rim, wherein at said one end of the handle there is provided an inwardly directed mop handle support, wherein the inwardly directed rim and mop handle support are adapted to frictionally engage a mop handle.

2. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the mop handle support comprises an annular groove.

3. The ferrule of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a resilient spongy insert within the handle and adapted to engage a mop handle.

4. A ferrule substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. A mop comprising a handle, a mop head, and the ferrule of dny one of the preceding claims. DATED this TWENTIETH day of SEPTEMBER 1994 Edgar Edmondson Imports Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 4~ ,r t r r rrrr ~1 rr r r r ~d It c ~irr c rt r r I tt '01,ALIN RLF/LMM/1717m Ij j ii SELF RETAINING FERRULE ABSTRACT A mop (10) comprises a handle the lower end of which supports a mop head The absorbent portion of mop (13) is attached to the head (12) and may be formed from strands, ropes, fibres, strands of expanded foams, etc. The mop may also comprise a ferrule The ferrule (14) generally includes a handle (15) and a skirt the skirt (16) depending from one end of the handle, the other end of the handle comprising an inwardly directed rim (18) and wherein there is provided an inwardly directed mop handle support (19) between the handle and the skirt A resilient spongy material (20) may be inserted between the ferrule (14) and the mop handle Accordingly, the ferrule (14) is adapted not to slide along mop handle (11) unless a force is applied thereto by the mop user. Fig. 2 i" :9; p, at P #0 a ar ,eo P P P0 ao Paa a a Pa e C r i (I: 9 2 I aj; i RLF/1717m