Flexible attachment apparatus for dust mops and similar cleaning devices

Abstract

A flexible attachment apparatus for use with dust mops or the like and including a clamping mechanism which is integrally connected or mechanically attached to a flexible unitary molded body with the capability of automatically rebounding back the cleaning head after striking obstacles during use. The unitary molded body has a connecting section for attaching to the clamping mechanism and a retaining section for attaching to a handle of the dust mop.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dust mop, comprising: 
 a. a transverse dust mop head having a cleaning surface and a frame attached to the cleaning surface, the frame having a support bar;    b. a longitudinal unitary molded body having a flexible connecting section and a retaining handle section integrally molded with the flexible connecting section;    c. a clamping mechanism having a clamping section and an attachment section integrally formed with said flexible connecting section of said unitary molded body, the clamping section having upper movable clamp means and lower stationary clamp means;    d. a push lever formed with said upper clamp means such that when the push lever is forced inwardly, said upper clamp means moves away from said lower clamp means for allowing said support bar of said frame of said dust mop head to be inserted thereto and secured within a cavity when the push lever is released;    e. said retaining handle section of said unitary molded body having an axial bore with an open end;    f. an elongated handle having one end press-fitted from said open end and secured within said axial bore of said retaining handle section of said unitary body; and    g. said flexible connecting section having a generally rectangular shaped cross section which is thinner than said retaining handle section for allowing lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism;    h. whereby said flexible connecting section of said unitary molded body allows said handle to maneuver said dust mop head to be pushed back and forth while at the same time allows said handle to move laterally relative to said dust mop head and when said dust mop head comes in contact with an object, said flexible connecting section allows lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism which in turn allows flexing of said dust mop head.    
     
     
         2 . The dust mop in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said unitary molded body is made out of elastomer material.  
     
     
         3 . The dust mop in accordance with    claim 1   , wherein said flexible connecting section can flex over approximately 90° relative to said clamping mechanism and said retaining handle section.  
     
     
         4 . A flexible attachment apparatus to be used in conjunction with a cleaning device having a handle and a laterally disposed cleaning head with a cleaning surface and a mounting surface having a support bar, the attachment apparatus comprising: 
 a. a flexible unitary body having a connecting section and a retaining section integrally formed with the connecting section;    b. a clamping mechanism having a clamping section and an attachment section integrally formed with said connecting section of said unitary body, the clamping section having upper clamp means and lower clamp means;    c. means for forcing either one of said upper and lower clamp means away from the other one of said upper and lower clamp means for allowing said support bar of said mounting frame of said cleaning head to be inserted through a retaining means and secured between said upper and lower clamp means;    d. said retaining section of said unitary body having a bore for receiving and press-fitting one end of said handle thereto; and    e. said connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than said clamping mechanism and said retaining section for allowing lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism;    f. whereby said attachment apparatus allows said handle to maneuver said cleaning head to be pushed back and forth while at the same time allows said handle to move laterally relative to said cleaning head and when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, said connecting section allows lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism in turn allows lateral flexing of said cleaning head.    
     
     
         5 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said flexible unitary body is made out of elastomer material.  
     
     
         6 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said connecting section is generally a rectangular shaped cross section.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said retaining means includes a cavity.  
     
     
         8 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 4   , wherein said means for forcing either one of said upper and lower clamp means away from the other one of said upper and lower clamp means includes a push lever formed with said upper clamp means such that when the push lever is forced inwardly, said upper clamp means moves away from said lower clamp means.  
     
     
         9 . A dust mop, comprising: 
 a. a transverse dust mop head having a cleaning surface and a frame attached to the cleaning surface, the frame having a support bar;    b. a longitudinal unitary molded body having a flexible connecting section and a retaining handle section integrally formed with the flexible connecting section;    c. a clamping mechanism having a clamping section and an attachment section attached to said flexible connecting section of said unitary molded body, the clamping section having upper movable clamp means and lower stationary clamp means;    d. a push lever formed with said upper clamp means such that when the push lever is forced inwardly, said upper clamp means moves away from said lower clamp means for allowing said support bar of said frame of said dust mop head to be inserted thereto and secured within a cavity when the push lever is released;    e. said retaining handle section of said unitary molded body having an axial bore with an open end;    f. an elongated handle having one end press-fitted from said open end and secured within said axial bore of said retaining handle section of said unitary body; and    g. said flexible connecting section having a generally rectangular shaped cross section which is thinner than said retaining handle section for allowing lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism;    h. whereby said flexible connecting section of said unitary molded body allows said handle to maneuver said dust mop head to be pushed back and forth while at the same time allows said handle to move laterally relative to said dust mop head and when said dust mop head comes in contact with an object, said flexible connecting section allows lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism which in turn allows flexing of said dust mop head.    
     
     
         10 . The dust mop in accordance with    claim 9   , wherein said unitary molded body is made out of elastomer material.  
     
     
         11 . The dust mop in accordance with    claim 9   , wherein said flexible connecting section can flex over approximately 90° relative to said clamping mechanism and said retaining handle section.  
     
     
         12 . A flexible attachment apparatus to be used in conjunction with a cleaning device having a handle and a laterally disposed cleaning head with a cleaning surface and a mounting surface having a support bar, the attachment apparatus comprising: 
 a. a flexible unitary body having a connecting section and a retaining section integrally formed with the connecting section;    b. a clamping mechanism having a clamping section and an attachment section attached to said connecting section of said unitary body, the clamping section having upper clamp means and lower clamp means;    c. means for forcing either one of said upper and lower clamp means away from the other one of said upper and lower clamp means for allowing said support bar of said mounting frame of said cleaning head to be inserted through a retaining means and secured between said upper and lower clamp means;    d. said retaining section of said unitary body having a bore for receiving and press-fitting one end of said handle thereto; and    e. said connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than said clamping mechanism and said retaining section for allowing lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism;    f. whereby said attachment apparatus allows said handle to maneuver said cleaning head to be pushed back and forth while at the same time allows said handle to move laterally relative to said cleaning head and when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, said connecting section allows lateral flexing of said clamping mechanism in turn allows lateral flexing of said cleaning head.    
     
     
         13 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 12   , wherein said flexible unitary body is made out of elastomer material.  
     
     
         14 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 12   , wherein said connecting section is generally a rectangular shaped cross section.  
     
     
         15 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 12   , wherein said retaining means includes a cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 12   , wherein said means for forcing either one of said upper and lower clamp means away from the other one of said upper and lower clamp means includes a push lever formed with said upper clamp means such that when the push lever is forced inwardly, said upper clamp means moves away from said lower clamp means.  
     
     
         17 . A flexible attachment apparatus to be used in conjunction with a cleaning device having a handle and a laterally disposed cleaning head with a frame, the attachment apparatus comprising: 
 a. a body member having a flexible connecting section and a retaining section for receiving and securing one end of said handle of said cleaning device thereto;    b. a clamping member attached to said flexible connecting section and having means for receiving and securing said frame of said cleaning head thereto; and    c. said flexible connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than the thickness of said retaining section for allowing lateral flexing of said clamping member which in turn allows flexing said cleaning head;    d. whereby said attachment apparatus allows said handle to maneuver said cleaning head of said cleaning device to be pushed back and forth while at the same time allows said handle to move laterally relative to said cleaning head and when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, said flexible connecting section allows lateral flexing of said clamping member which in turn allows flexing of said cleaning head.    
     
     
         18 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said body member is made out of elastomer material.  
     
     
         19 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said receiving and securing means of said clamping member includes upper movable clamp means and lower stationary clamp means.  
     
     
         20 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 19   , wherein said upper clamp means further comprises a push lever such that when the push lever is forced inwardly, said upper clamp means moves away from said lower clamp means for allowing said frame of said cleaning head to be inserted thereto and secured within a cavity when the push lever is released.  
     
     
         21 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said flexible connecting section is a generally rectangular shaped cross section.  
     
     
         22 . The attachment member in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said retaining means includes a cavity.  
     
     
         23 . The attachment apparatus in accordance with    claim 17   , wherein said means for receiving and securing one end of said handle thereto includes an axial bore.