Retaining means for mop head

In a pivoting jaw retaining means for a yarn-type wet mop head, having a shank for connection to a mop handle, an elongated body secured at its middle to the shank, and a jaw cooperating with and pivoting with respect to the body to releasably grip and retain the mop head yarn between the jaw and the body and release it therefrom, the improvement wherein:

• the elongated body is provided with opposite, spaced first and second terminal extensions downwardly extending from the ends of the body, one end of the jaw being pivotally secured to the lower free end of the first extension, the other free end of the jaw and the inside surface of the lower end of the second extension being provided with co-operating engagement means releasable upon spacing apart of the lower end of the second extension and the free end of the jaw in a direction generally normal to the direction of rotation of the latter at its closed position, so that, when in engaged position the jaw and the body are in spaced parallel orientation;
• the second terminal extension also extending upwardly from the corresponding end of the body and being pivotally associated between its ends with the body for outward movement of the lower free end of the second terminal extension away from the jaw, the second terminal extension being associated with the body at a point nearer the upper end of the terminal extension than the lower end thereof, the body narrowing in depth about where it is secured to the second terminal extension to permit the required pivoting of that extension;
• the retaining means being further provided with a semi-rigid release bar, one end of which bar is attached to the shank at a point spaced from the body, the other end of which bar is attached to the upper end of the second terminal extension,
• whereby downward pressure on a part of the release bar between its ends causes deflection of the release bar to pivot the second terminal extension and consequently move the lower end of that terminal extension away from the jaw to release the engagement means when in closed position and permit the jaw to open, and removal of that downward pressure causes the release bar and the second terminal extension to return to original positions to permit re-engagement of the engagement means when the jaw is to be closed.