Collapsible mop head

Claim 2

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising two wings pivotally and longitudinally shiftably interconnected one to the other for movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, a keeper fixedly mounted on one of said wings and a latch fixedly mounted on the other of said wings, said latch and said keeper being shiftable longitudinally with said wings between a locking position holding said wings in the operative position thereof and a release position permitting pivotal movement of said wings with respect to each other to said folded position, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings.

Claim 3

The collapsible mop head set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said wings is substantially rectangular in shape and is tapered at the end thereof.

Claim 4

The collapsible mop head set forth in claim 1, wherein a stop means is mounted on said wings cooperating with said keeper and said latch for limiting pivotal movement of said wings in the extended operative position thereof.

Claim 5

The collapsible mop head set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises two spaced apart springs.

Claim 6

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising two wings pivotally and longitudinally shiftably interconnected for movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, a keeper having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on one of said wings and a latch having a chamfered camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on the other of said wings, said latch having said camming surface thereon and said keeper having said camming surface thereon being longitudinally shiftable with said wings between a locking position holding said wings in the operative position thereof and a release position peRmitting pivotal movement of said wings with respect to each other to said folded position, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings, whereby placement of said wings on a support surface followed by pushing said wings against said support surface results in said camming surfaces on said latch and on said keeper cooperating to provide easy movement of said wings from the folded position thereof to the extended operative position thereof.

Claim 7

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising two wings pivotally and longitudinally shiftably interconnected for movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, a keeper having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on one of said wings and a latch having a chamfered camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on the other of said wings, said latch having said camming surface thereon and said keeper having said camming surface thereon being longitudinally shiftable with said wings between a locking position holding said wings in the operative position thereof and a release position peRmitting pivotal movement of said wings with respect to each other to said folded position, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings, whereby placement of said wings on a support surface followed by pushing said wings against said support surface results in said camming surfaces on said latch and on said keeper cooperating to provide easy movement of said wings from the folded position thereof to the extended operative position thereof.

Claim 8

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 5, wherein said keeper is a rod, the peripheral surface thereof acting as said camming surface.

Claim 9

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 5, wherein said latch is a rod having the ends thereof chamfered to provide camming surfaces on two sides of the end of said rod.

Claim 10

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising a first generally U-shaped wing having first spaced-apart legs and a first bight interconnecting said first legs, a keeper fixedly mounted on said first legs positioned intermediate said first bight and the ends of said first legs, a second generally U-shaped wing having second spaced-apart legs and a second bight interconnecting said second legs, a latch mounted on said second legs at the ends thereof, said wings being pivotally and longitudinally shiftably interconnected for movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position wherein said wings are free for pivotal movement with respect to one another permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, stop means mounted on said wings cooperating with said keeper and latch for limiting pivotal movement of said wings in the extended operative position thereof, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging saId wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings.

Claim 11

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising a first generally U-shaped wing having first spaced-apart legs and a first bight interconnecting said first legs, a keeper fixedly mounted on said first legs positioned intermediate said first bight and the ends of said first legs, a second generally U-shaped wing having second spaced-apart legs and a second bight interconnecting said second legs, a latch mounted on said second legs at the ends thereof, said wings being pivotally and longitudinally shiftably interconnected for movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position wherein said wings are free for pivotal movement with respect to one another permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, stop means mounted on said wings cooperating with said keeper and latch for limiting pivotal movement of said wings in the extended operative position thereof, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging saId wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings.

Claim 12

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 8, wherein said keeper is a rod extending transversely of said first legs.

Claim 13

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 8, wherein said latch is integral with said second legs and formed of the ends thereof.

Claim 14

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 8, wherein said stop means is a rod extending transversely of said second wing legs.

Claim 15

The collapsible mop head as set forth in claim 8, wherein said resilient means is a pair of spaced-apart springs.

Claim 16

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising two wings pivotally and shiftably interconnected for longitudinal movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, a keeper having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on one of said wings and a latch having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on the other of said wings, said latch having said camming surface thereon and said keeper having said camming surface thereon being shiftable with said wings between a locking position holding said wings in the operative position thereof and a release position permitting pivotal movement of said wings with respect to each other to said folded position, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings, whereby placement of said wings on a support surface followed by pushing said wings against said support surface results in said camming surfaces on said latch and on said keePer cooperating to provide easy movement of said wings from the folded position thereof to the extended operative position thereof.

Claim 17

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising two wings pivotally and shiftably interconnected for longitudinal movement between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, a keeper having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on one of said wings and a latch having a camming surface thereon fixedly mounted on the other of said wings, said latch having said camming surface thereon and said keeper having said camming surface thereon being shiftable with said wings between a locking position holding said wings in the operative position thereof and a release position permitting pivotal movement of said wings with respect to each other to said folded position, resilient means interconnecting said wings and continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings, whereby placement of said wings on a support surface followed by pushing said wings against said support surface results in said camming surfaces on said latch and on said keePer cooperating to provide easy movement of said wings from the folded position thereof to the extended operative position thereof.

Claim 18

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising a first generally U-shaped wing having first spaced-apart legs with each of the ends thereof formed into an elongated eyelet and a first bight interconnecting said first legs, a keeper fixedly mounted on said first legs positioned intermediate said first bight and the ends of said first legs, a second generally U-shaped wing having second spaced-apart legs and a second bight interconnecting said second legs, a latch mounted on said second legs at the ends thereof, means mounted on said second legs extending through each of said eyelets so as to interconnect said first and second wing for longitudinal and pivotal movement with respect to each other between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position wherein said wings are free for pivotal movement with respect to one another permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, stop means mounted on said wings cooperating with said keeper and latch for limiting pivotal movement of said wings in the extended operative position thereof, resilient means continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings.

Claim 19

A collapsible mop head for use with a mop swab having two mounting pockets therein, said mop head comprising a first generally U-shaped wing having first spaced-apart legs with each of the ends thereof formed into an elongated eyelet and a first bight interconnecting said first legs, a keeper fixedly mounted on said first legs positioned intermediate said first bight and the ends of said first legs, a second generally U-shaped wing having second spaced-apart legs and a second bight interconnecting said second legs, a latch mounted on said second legs at the ends thereof, means mounted on said second legs extending through each of said eyelets so as to interconnect said first and second wing for longitudinal and pivotal movement with respect to each other between an extended operative position wherein said wings can be disposed in the pockets of the associated mop swab and a folded position wherein said wings are free for pivotal movement with respect to one another permitting ready removal of said wings from the pockets of the associated mop swab, stop means mounted on said wings cooperating with said keeper and latch for limiting pivotal movement of said wings in the extended operative position thereof, resilient means continually urging said wings into position wherein said latch is in position to engage said keeper, and a handle mounting structure on at least one of said wings.