JP7549873B2 - Mop holder - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mop holder that holds a mop, for example, for removing dust or wiping off dirt.

For example, a mop holder suitable for use in cleaning indoor floors is described in Patent Document 1. The mop holder described in Patent Document 1 includes a handle and a head for attaching a mop, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the document. The head includes a first elastically deformable belt-like member having a predetermined length and width, and a second elastically deformable belt-like member fixed to the center of the first belt-like member in the longitudinal direction. The second belt-like member has a gate-like shape with a lower end connected to the upper surface of the first belt-like member and extending upward, a pair of standing parts spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the first belt-like member, and a connecting part connecting the upper parts of these standing parts, and a closed loop is formed between the first belt-like member and the second belt-like member. The first belt-like member is curved so as to be convex upward in its natural state, and the lower end of the handle and the connecting part of the head are connected so as to be rotatable around a predetermined central axis.

With a mop holder configured in this way, the mop can be easily attached to the head, for example, by inserting both ends of the first band member into the bag-shaped portion on the top surface of the mop while bending them downward. When cleaning, the worker holds the handle and scrubs the floor or other object to be cleaned with the mop to wipe off dirt from the object. Because the handle is rotatable relative to the head, when cleaning the floor, the handle can be tilted relative to the floor to match the worker's posture, etc.

In the conventional mop holder described above, the first band member located at the bottom end of the head directly holds the mop. However, because the first band member is generally flat, the cleaning target is limited to flat surfaces such as floor surfaces.

JP 2010-22482 A

The present invention was conceived under these circumstances, and its main objective is to provide a mop holder that is easy to use by improving the structure of the head for attaching a mop.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

The mop holder provided by the present invention comprises a rod-shaped handle and a head for attaching a mop, the head including a connecting part connected to the tip of the handle and rotatable around a horizontally extending first axis, a pair of arms connected to the connecting part and spaced apart from each other in a predetermined horizontal direction perpendicular to the first axis and each having an arm tip located below the first axis in the vertical direction, and a pair of movable parts whose base ends are connected to the arm tips of the pair of arms so as to be rotatable around second and third axes parallel to the first axis, the pair of movable parts being rotatable in a direction along the first axis. The arm has a pair of band plate sections extending in a vertical plane defined by the horizontal direction and the up-down direction, with the width direction being the horizontal direction, and a pair of connecting sections respectively connecting the longitudinal middle of each of the pair of band plate sections to the base end of each of the movable sections, the ends of the pair of band plate sections are connected to be rotatable around a fourth axis parallel to the first axis, at least one of the pair of arm sections and the pair of movable sections is elastically deformable, and the pair of band plate sections can take a position extending linearly when the fourth axis is located between the second axis and the third axis and is located below the second axis and the third axis when viewed in the up-down direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the pair of band plate portions can be changed between a first position in which they extend linearly and a second position in which the fourth axis is positioned upward and they are bent relative to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of connecting portions is curved so as to be convex outward.

In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the length from the fourth axis to the first position where the connecting portion is connected to the length from the first position to the tip of the band plate portion is in the range of 1/5 to 1/2.

In a preferred embodiment, the pair of arms are linearly inclined so that they move away from each other in the horizontal direction as they extend downward.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a locking mechanism that prevents the handle and head from rotating relative to each other at a predetermined angle.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a mop holder according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional end view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional end view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 for explaining a head. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 for explaining a head. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 for explaining a head. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 for explaining a head. FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing an example of a state in which the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing an example of a state in which the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing an example of a state in which the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing an example of a state in which the mop holder shown in FIG. 1 is used.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 7 show an example of a mop holder according to the present invention. The mop holder A1 of this embodiment includes a handle 1 and a head 2 connected to the lower end of the handle 1. In the following description, the vertical direction Z and horizontal direction Y are defined based on the configuration of the mop holder A1 shown in Figure 1 as a general rule. In addition, the vertical and horizontal directions in the claims are also defined based on the mop holder A1 shown in Figure 1 as a standard.

The handle 1 has a main body 11 and a connecting member 12. The main body 11 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, wood, or a lightweight metal, and is a solid or hollow rod extending in the vertical direction Z. The connecting member 12 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and has a tubular section 121 with an open upper end, and a pair of connecting pieces 122 formed in a bifurcated shape at the lower end of the tubular section 121. The lower end of the main body 11 fits into the tubular section 121, and the connecting member 12 and the main body 11 are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 5, each connecting piece 122 has a through hole 122a formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The through hole 122a is circular and centered on the first axis O1 that extends horizontally. The outer periphery of each connecting piece 122 is substantially cylindrical and centered on the first axis O1. A pin 123 and a pin 124 are inserted into each through hole 122a of a pair of connecting pieces 122.

In this embodiment, the connecting member 12 (cylindrical portion 121) is provided with a lock lever 13. The lock lever 13 can be moved up and down between an upper position and a lower position by an operator. The lock lever 13 has a lock pin 131 that extends downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 121.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the head 2 includes a connecting portion 21, a pair of arm portions 22, and a pair of movable portions 23. The connecting portion 21 is plate-shaped and is sandwiched between the pair of connecting pieces 122 in the thickness direction. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the connecting portion 21 is formed with a through hole 21a, multiple convex portions 21b, and multiple concave portions 21c. The through hole 21a penetrates the connecting portion 21 in the thickness direction, and the pins 123 and 124 are inserted into the through holes 122a of the pair of connecting pieces 122 and the through hole 21a of the connecting portion 21. These pins 123 and 124 are connected to each other by a screw means. With this configuration, the handle 1 (connecting pieces 122) and the head 2 (connecting portion 21) are rotatable around the first axis O1 that extends horizontally.

The multiple convex portions 21b and the multiple concave portions 21c are formed in the range of approximately the upper half of the outer periphery of the connecting portion 21. These convex portions 21b and concave portions 21c are arranged alternately at a fixed angle in the circumferential direction of the connecting portion 21. The convex portions 21b are parts that protrude radially outward of the connecting portion 21, and the concave portions 21c are parts that are concave radially inward of the connecting portion 21 between adjacent convex portions 21b. When the lock lever 13 is in the lower position, the lock pin 131 can fit into the concave portion 21c. Figures 4 and 5 show the state in which the lock lever 13 is in the lower position. Here, the lock pin 131 fits into the concave portion 21c, thereby preventing the relative rotation between the handle 1 and the head 2. And, as described above, the concave portions 21c are arranged at a fixed angle in the circumferential direction of the connecting portion 21. As a result, the relative rotation between the handle 1 and the head 2 is prevented at a fixed angle. The multiple protrusions 21b and multiple recesses 21c on the connecting portion 21, and the lock lever 13 on the connecting member 12 constitute the lock mechanism referred to in the present invention.

The pair of arm portions 22 are connected to the connecting portion 21 and extend from the connecting portion 21 in the horizontal direction Y perpendicular to the first axis O1 while being spaced apart from each other. In this embodiment, the pair of arm portions 22 are inclined so that they move away from each other in the horizontal direction Y as they move downward. The arm tip 221 of each arm portion 22 that is the furthest from the connecting portion 21 is located below the first axis O1. In this embodiment, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5, each arm portion 22 has a U-shaped cross section that opens downward, and multiple ribs 222 are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, as can be seen from Figures 2 to 7, the arm tip 221 of each arm portion 22 is configured to have a pair of ring-shaped portions that are spaced apart in the width direction of the arm portion 22 (direction X along the first axis O1).

The pair of movable parts 23 each have a movable part base end 231. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each movable part base end 231 is a columnar shaft portion, and the columnar shaft portion is rotatably supported by the arm tips 221 (a pair of ring-shaped portions) of the pair of arm parts 22. As a result, the movable part base end 231 of one movable part 23 (the right side in Figs. 2 to 4) is rotatably connected to the arm tip 221 of one arm part 22 (the right side in Figs. 2 to 4) about the second axis O2 parallel to the first axis O1. The movable part base end 231 of the other movable part 23 (the left side in Figs. 2 to 4) is rotatably connected to the arm tip 221 of the other arm part 22 (the left side in Figs. 2 to 4) about the third axis O3 parallel to the first axis O1.

The pair of movable parts 23 have a pair of band plate parts 24 and a pair of connecting parts 25. Each band plate part 24 extends in a vertical plane formed by the horizontal direction Y and the up-down direction Z, with the direction X along the first axis O1 being the width direction. Each band plate part 24 is a flat plate with a substantially uniform thickness. Each connecting part 25 is connected to the upper surface of the band plate part 24, and connects the longitudinal middle of the band plate part 24 to the base end 231 of the movable part.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the ends 241 of the pair of band plate portions 24 are connected to each other. More specifically, the end 241 (left end in the figure) of one band plate portion 24 (right side in the figure) is columnar extending in the direction X along the first axis O1. The end 241 (right end in the figure) of the other band plate portion 24 (left side in the figure) is partially cylindrical extending in the direction X along the first axis O1, and the one end 241 (columnar) and the other end 241 (partial cylindrical) are fitted and connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other. As a result, the pair of ends 241 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable around the fourth axis O4 parallel to the first axis O1. Furthermore, when viewed in the vertical direction Z, the pair of band plate portions 24 are in a position in which they extend linearly when the fourth axis O4 is located between the second axis O2 and the third axis O3 and is located below the second axis O2 and the third axis O3.

As shown in FIG. 2, in each band plate portion 24, the length L1 from the fourth axis O4 to the position (first position P1) where it connects to the connecting portion 25 is significantly longer than the length L2 from the first position P1 to the tip 242 of the band plate portion 24 (the end opposite the end portion 241 in the longitudinal direction of the band plate portion 24). The length L2 from the first position P1 to the tip 242 of the band plate portion 24 may be long enough to be caught by the bag-shaped portion 51 of the mop 5 described below. The ratio of the length L2 to the length L1 is, for example, in the range of 1/5 to 1/2.

In this embodiment, the pair of connecting parts 25 are each curved so as to be convex outward. Also, in this embodiment, each connecting part 25 has a rib 251 that protrudes inward from the curved shape.

In the head 2 configured as described above, the connecting portion 21 and the pair of arm portions 22 are integrally formed from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. In addition, each movable portion 23 (strip portion 24 and connecting portion 25) is integrally formed from a synthetic resin such as polyacetal. The head 2 configured as described above is elastically deformable in appropriate locations. Specifically, at least one of the pair of arm portions 22 and the pair of movable portions 23 of the head 2 is elastically deformable. In this embodiment, the pair of strip portions 24 are flat plates that are elongated in a predetermined direction and are relatively easy to bend elastically.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

In the mop holder A1 of this embodiment, the pair of movable parts 23 of the head 2 are connected to the arm tips 221 of the pair of arm parts 22 so as to be rotatable about the second axis O2 and the third axis O3 parallel to the first axis O1. The pair of movable parts 23 have a pair of band plate parts 24 and a pair of connecting parts 25. Each band plate part 24 extends in a vertical plane with the direction X along the first axis O1 as the width direction. Each connecting part 25 connects the longitudinal middle of the band plate part 24 to the movable part base end 231. The ends 241 of the pair of band plate parts 24 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the fourth axis O4 parallel to the first axis O1. In addition, the pair of band plate portions 24 assume a linear extension posture when the fourth axis O4 is located between the second axis O2 and the third axis O3 when viewed in the vertical direction Z, and is located below the second axis O2 and the third axis O3. Furthermore, the head 2 is elastically deformable in appropriate positions.

According to the mop holder A1 of this embodiment, the ends 241 of the pair of band plate portions 24 are pushed upward from the position in which the pair of band plate portions 24 shown in FIG. 8 extends linearly (see FIG. 8). Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the pair of movable parts 23 rotate around the second axis O2 and the third axis O3, while the ends 241 of the pair of band plate portions 24 move upward while rotating relatively around the fourth axis O4. In the state shown by the solid lines in FIG. 9, the pair of band plate portions 24 are bent and elastically bent obliquely upward due to the geometric positional relationship of the second axis O2, the third axis O3, and the fourth axis O4. In addition, the pair of arm portions 22 elastically bend outward in the horizontal direction Y.

The ends 241 of the pair of band plate portions 24 are pushed further upward from the state shown in Fig. 9. Then, as shown in Fig. 10, the pair of movable portions 23 rotate further about the second axis O2 and the third axis O3, and the ends 241 of the pair of band plate portions 24 move further upward while rotating relatively about the fourth axis O4. The rotational movement of the pair of movable portions 23 from the state shown by the solid lines in Fig. 9 to the state shown by the solid lines in Fig. 10 is performed quickly accompanied by the elastic restoring forces of the pair of band plate portions 24 and the pair of arm portions 22. Then, in the state shown by the solid lines in Fig. 10, the elastic restoring forces of the pair of band plate portions 24 and the pair of arm portions 22 in the state shown in Fig. 9 are all released and stable. As can be seen from this, the pair of band plate portions 24 can be changed between a straight extending position (first position) as shown in FIG. 8 and a bent position (second position) as shown in FIG. 10 in which the fourth axis O4 is positioned above.

The mop is attached to the head 2 of the mop holder A1 with the pair of band plate parts 24 in the second position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the pair of band plate parts 24 are bent with the fourth axis O4 located upward. To attach the mop 5 to the head 2, first, insert the ends of the pair of band plate parts 24 into the bag-shaped parts 51 provided at both ends of the upper surface of the mop 5. Next, the ends 241 of the pair of band plate parts 24 are pulled down to return the pair of band plate parts 24 to a linearly extending position (first position). When returning the pair of band plate parts 24 from the second position to the first position, the rotational movement of the pair of movable parts 23 is performed quickly with the elastic restoring force of the pair of band plate parts 24 and the pair of arm parts 22, as in the case of changing the position of the pair of band plate parts 24 from the first position to the second position described above. In this way, the mop 5 can be easily attached to the head 2.

In each band plate portion 24, the ratio of the length L2 from the first position P1 to the tip 242 of the band plate portion 24 to the length L1 from the fourth axis O4 to the first position P1 that connects to the connecting portion 25 is 1/5 to 1/2. By making the ratio of the length L2 from the first position P1 that connects to the connecting portion 25 to the tip 242 in the band plate portion 24 small in this way, it is possible to easily insert each tip of the pair of band plate portions 24 into the bag-shaped portion 51 when attaching the mop to the head 2.

As described above, the pair of strips 24 can be in a linearly extending position (first position). With this configuration, it is possible to wipe off dust and dirt adhering to the cleaning target C1 having a planar shape, as shown in FIG. 12.

As described above, the pair of band plate portions 24 can be changed between a first position (see FIG. 8) in which they extend linearly and a second position (see FIG. 10) in which they are bent relative to each other. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 13, by bending the pair of band plate portions 24 at approximately right angles, it is possible to wipe off dust and dirt adhering to a cleaning target C2 having a corner shape, such as a beam near a ceiling in a room.

The pair of strip portions 24 can be easily changed from the linearly extending position (first position) to the position shown in FIG. 13 by pressing the ends 241 of the pair of strip portions 24 against the corners of the cleaning target C2.

The handle 1 and head 2 are rotatable relative to each other, and are provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the handle 1 and head 2 from rotating relative to each other. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 14, by tilting the handle 1 relative to the head 2 and bending the pair of band plate portions 24 at a substantially right angle, it is possible to wipe off dust and dirt adhering to a cleaning target C3 near the top end of an opening and closing door, for example.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to clean a column-shaped or pipe-shaped cleaning target C4, for example, as shown in FIG. 15. Here, the pair of band plate parts 24 are bent further than the state in which they are bent at a substantially right angle as shown in FIG. 13 and the like, and are applied to the outer circumferential surface of the cleaning target C4. At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 9 and the like, it is possible to press the outer circumferential surface of the cleaning target C3 by the elastic restoring force of the pair of band plate parts 24 and the pair of arm parts 22. Then, by operating the mop holder A1 so that the mop 5 is rubbed along the circumferential direction of the cleaning target C4, it is possible to efficiently wipe off the dust and dirt adhering to the cleaning target C4.

As described above, the mop holder A1 of this embodiment is easy to use and can be used to properly clean the cleaning targets C2, C3, and C4 of various shapes in addition to the planar cleaning target C1 by appropriately bending the pair of ends 241. Furthermore, by using the mop holder A1, cleaning targets C1 to C4 of various shapes can be cleaned without changing the cleaning tool, which improves the efficiency of cleaning work.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The specific shapes and materials of each part of the mop holder according to the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments.

A1 Mop holder 1 Handle 11 Main body 12 Connecting member 121 Cylindrical part 122 Connecting piece 122a Through holes 123, 124 Pin 13 Lock lever (lock mechanism)
131 Lock pin 2 Head 21 Connection portion 21a Through hole 21b Convex portion (lock mechanism)
21c Recess (lock mechanism)
22 Arm portion 221 Arm tip 222 Rib 23 Movable portion 231 Movable portion base end 24 Band plate portion 241 End portion 242 Tip 25 Connecting portion 251 Rib 5 Mop 51 Bag-shaped portions C1, C2, C3, C4 Cleaning object L1 Length (length from the fourth axis to the first position where the connecting portion is connected)
L2 Length (length from the first position to the tip of the strip)
O1 First axis O2 Second axis O3 Third axis O4 Fourth axis P1 First position X direction (direction along the first axis)
Y Horizontal direction Z Vertical direction

Claims (4)

The mop cleaner has a rod-shaped handle and a head for attaching a mop.
the head includes: a connecting portion connected to a tip of the handle and rotatable about a first axis extending horizontally; a pair of arms connected to the connecting portion, spaced apart from each other in a predetermined horizontal direction perpendicular to the first axis and each having an arm tip located below the first axis in the up-down direction; and a pair of movable portions, the base ends of which are connected to the arm tips of the pair of arm portions so as to be rotatable about second and third axes parallel to the first axis,
the pair of movable parts each have a pair of band plate parts extending in a vertical plane defined by the horizontal direction and the up-down direction, with a direction along the first axis being a width direction, and a pair of connecting parts respectively connecting a longitudinal middle of each of the pair of band plate parts to a base end of each of the movable parts,
the ends of the pair of band plate portions are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about a fourth axis parallel to the first axis,
At least one of the pair of arm portions and the pair of movable portions is elastically deformable,
The pair of communication portions are each curved so as to be convex outward,
A mop holder in which the pair of band plate portions can take a posture in which they extend linearly when the fourth axis is located between the second axis and the third axis when viewed in the vertical direction and the fourth axis is located below the second axis and the third axis. The mop holder according to claim 1, wherein the pair of band plate portions can be changed between a first position in which they extend linearly and a second position in which the fourth axis is positioned upward and they are bent relative to each other. The mop holder according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pair of arms are linearly inclined so as to move away from each other in the horizontal direction as they extend downward. 4. The mop holder according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that prevents relative rotation between the handle and the head at each predetermined angle.

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