WO2022074354A1

WO2022074354A1 - Apparatus and method for cleaning a flat head mop

Info

Publication number: WO2022074354A1
Application number: PCT/GB2020/053163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee Staves; Zeke Abry
Original assignee: Scot Young Research Limited
Priority date: 2020-10-09
Filing date: 2020-12-10
Publication date: 2022-04-14
Also published as: GB202016071D0; GB2599713A

Abstract

Flat mops are typically used to clean floors with a hard surface, and are sometimes provided with a bucket to allow for the flat mop to be cleaned. However, some problems exist with currently known apparatus for cleaning a flat mop. For example, the user may need to submerge and wring the flat mop head several times to clean it to an adequate level. Furthermore, it may not be possible to remove ingrained dirt from the absorbent material, resulting in soiled absorbent material which requires replacement. The present invention provides apparatus (100) for cleaning a flat mop (110), wherein the apparatus (100) includes a guide (140) configured to, in use, direct the mop head (112) of a flat mop (110) into the bucket (100) such that, with the mop head (112) fully inserted into the bucket (100), a cleaning surface of the mop head (112) is positioned adjacent to a scrubber (150) for cleaning of the mop head (112).

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A FLAT HEAD MOP

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and a method for cleaning a flat head mop, and in particular to apparatus for cleaning a flat head mop capable of cleaning a flat mop more effectively.

Background of the Invention

Flat mops are typically used to clean floors with a hard surface, such as concrete or tile, and are typically used when a large floor area requires cleaning because they allow the user to clean an area relatively quickly. A flat mop typically includes a flat mop head and an elongate handle attached thereto. A surface of the flat mop head is typically covered with an absorbent material, such as a microfiber cloth, and this surface is used to clean the floor. The absorbent material becomes soiled in use, and therefore requires regular replacement or cleaning.

To avoid the need to regularly replace the absorbent material, it is known to provide a bucket with the flat mop to allow for the flat mop head to be cleaned within the bucket. The user may fill the bucket with a cleaning fluid and intermittently submerge the flat mop head in the cleaning fluid to clean it. Accordingly, a user may wipe the floor with the flat mop, clean the flat mop in the bucket, and continue to wipe the floor with a clean mop.

Typically, either the flat mop or the bucket will include means for removing excess cleaning fluid from the absorbent material of the flat mop head. The flat mop may have an articulated frame that is moveable to squeeze the absorbent material between two or more sections of the frame. Alternatively, the bucket may include a wringer. The wringer may comprise a slotted or perforated basket, into which the flat mop head may be pushed to wring the cleaning fluid from the absorbent material. A lever or arm may be provided which may be used to push the mop head into the basket with a greater force, thereby removing more of the cleaning fluid from the absorbent material. However, some problems exist with currently known apparatus for cleaning a flat mop. For example, the user may need to submerge and wring the flat mop head several times to clean it to an adequate level. Furthermore, it may not be possible to remove ingrained dirt from the absorbent material, resulting in soiled absorbent material which cannot be cleaned and therefore requires replacement.

Objects and aspects of the present invention seek to alleviate at least these problems with prior known flat mop cleaning buckets.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for cleaning a flat mop, the apparatus comprising: a bucket for holding a cleaning fluid therein, the bucket including an open end for receiving a mop head of a flat head mop therethrough for cleaning within the bucket; a scrubber depending from an interior surface of the bucket; a wringer engageable with a cleaning surface of the flat head mop, wherein the wringer is operable to remove a fluid from the cleaning surface; and a guide configured to, in use, direct the mop head of a flat head mop into the bucket such that the mop head passes from the open end of the bucket, past or through the wringer, and to the scrubber, wherein the guide is further configured such that, in use, with the mop head fully inserted into the bucket, a cleaning surface of the mop head is positioned adjacent to the scrubber for cleaning of the cleaning surface.

A key advantage of the present invention is that a user may clean the flat mop head more effectively by scrubbing it on the scrubber. Furthermore, the user may simply and easily engage the mop head with the scrubber via the guide.

Preferably, the mop head passes through the open end of the bucket through the wringer Such an arrangement may be preferable to reduce the overall size of the apparatus.

The bucket may have wheels and/or other means for allowing the bucket to be moved without needing to be lifted. In this way, the user may simply push the bucket around the floor, rather than lifting and carrying it. The bucket may include a spout at its open end, such that the cleaning fluid may be poured from the bucket in a controlled manner. Alternatively, or additionally, the bucket may comprise a drain to allow the cleaning fluid to be drained from the bucket therethrough. The bucket may comprise a lid configured to cover the open end of the bucket. The lid may comprise an aperture configured to allow the mop head to pass therethrough and into the bucket.

The cleaning fluid may comprise water, bleach, an antibacterial solution, and/or any other known cleaning fluid.

The open end of the bucket may be an end of the bucket including an aperture, through with an interior volume of the bucket is accessible.

The scrubber may be substantially planar. In this way, the substantially planar flat mop head may be scrubbed entirely, without needing to reposition it relative to the scrubber. Alternatively, the scrubber may be curved. The scrubber may include a combination of planar and curved portions. The scrubber may include a scrubbing surface comprising grooves, ridges, perforations, slots, dimples, depressions, an astroturf or artificial grass surface and/or bumps, against which the flat mop head may be scrubbed to clean the cleaning surface of the flat mop head. In this way, the user may clean the cleaning surface effectively by scrubbing it against the scrubber.

The scrubber depending from an interior surface of the bucket may mean the scrubber extends from the interior surface. The scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket. Alternatively, the scrubber may be permanently attached to the bucket. The scrubber may comprise a first portion, such as a frame, which may be permanently attached to the bucket, and may include a second portion, such as a portion including the scrubbing surface, which may be releasably attached to the first portion.

The guide may comprise a rail and/or a slot into which the mop head is positionable. The mop head may be conveyed along the rail and/or slot. The guide may be a relatively narrow passageway, wherein the movement of the mop head within the passageway is restricted to linear translational motion along the passageway. The guide may be configured such that the mop head is prevented from rotating within the guide. The guide may be forked, such that the guide splits into two separate channels. One channel may lead to the scrubber, whilst the other channel may lead to the wringer. The user may therefore selectively move the mop head to the scrubber or the wringer.

The wringer being engageable with the cleaning surface of the flat mop head may mean that the wringer is brought into contact with the cleaning surface. Alternatively, or additionally, the cleaning surface may be brought into contact with the wringer.

The wringer may be operable to remove only a portion of the total amount of cleaning fluid absorbed by the absorbent material. Accordingly, the absorbent material may still be wetted after being wrung by the wringer.

The guide may comprise an open end. The guide may be configured to accept the mop head via its open end in only a single orientation. In this way, inserting the mop head into the guide may orient the mop head such that, after passing through the guide, the cleaning surface of the mop head is positioned adjacent to the scrubber.

The guide may comprise a shoulder. The shoulder may be convex. The shoulder may be arranged adjacent to the open end of the guide. The shoulder may be configured to engage with the mop head and position the mop head in the orientation required for entry into the guide. In this way, the user may orient the mop head into the orientation required for entry into the guide by simply passing the mop head over the shoulder. Furthermore, the user need not touch the soiled mop head to reorient it.

The open end of the guide may be positioned adjacent to the open end of the bucket. The guide may be positioned within the bucket. The guide may be wholly contained within the bucket. Alternatively, the guide may be partially contained within the bucket, such that it extends out of the open end of the bucket.

The interior surface of the bucket may be a surface opposite the open end of the bucket. Accordingly, with the open end of the bucket as the top end of the bucket, in use, the interior surface of the bucket may be a lower surface of the bucket. In this way, the scrubber may depend from the lower surface of the bucket. The scrubber may extend from the interior surface of the bucket towards the open end of the bucket. The user may therefore scrub the flat mop head against the scrubber by moving the mop in an up and down motion. This is preferable to a side to side motion, or any other motion, because the user may not move the bucket whilst cleaning the flat mop head.

The scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket such that the scrubber is replaceable. The apparatus may further comprise a replacement scrubber. In this way, the scrubber may be replaced when worn, or replaced with a scrubber having different characteristics. A scrubbing surface of the scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket such that the scrubbing surface is replaceable. The apparatus may further comprise a replacement scrubbing surface. In this way, the scrubbing surface may be replaced when worn, or replaced with a scrubbing surface having different characteristics, without needing to replace the entire scrubber.

The wringer may include an entrance and an exit. The exit of the wringer may be positioned further from the scrubber when compared to the entrance of the wringer. The entrance of the wringer may be positioned further from the open end of the bucket when compared to the exit of the scrubber. The wringer may be configured to, in use, remove at least a portion of a cleaning fluid from the mop head as the mop head passes from the entrance to the exit of the wringer. In this way, excess cleaning fluid may be removed from the mop head by passing it through the wringer.

The guide may be configured to, in use, direct the mop head from the scrubber to the wringer. In this way, the user may simply move the mop head from the scrubber to the wringer by moving it along the guide. This may remove the need for the user to position the mop head in the wringer.

A cross-section of the entrance of the wringer may narrow from a free end thereof towards the exit. In this way, the user need only position the mop head within the relatively large entrance of the wringer to engage it with the wringer. The crosssection of the entrance of the wringer may be significantly larger at the free end of its entrance, when compared to an end of the entrance opposite the free end. The wringer may include a roller. The roller may be positioned between the entrance and the exit of the wringer. The roller may be configured to engage with the cleaning surface of the flat head mop. In this way, excess cleaning fluid may be removed from the mop head by the roller. Use of a roller may mean that less force is required from the user to move the mop head through the wringer, when compared to a wringer comprising stationary components instead of a roller.

The wringer may include another roller positioned adjacent to the roller. The roller may be considered to be a first roller, and the other roller may be considered to be a second roller. The other roller may be positioned such that an axis of rotation of the other roller is parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller. The mop head may pass, in use, between the roller and the other roller. In this way, the user may simply wring the mop head by passing it between the rollers. The wringer may include more than two rollers.

The other roller may be non-continuous. The other roller may include an aperture such that a handle of the flat mop is able to pass therethrough. The other roller may therefore comprise two separate roller portions. A first of the two roller portions may have an axis of rotation which is coaxial with an axis of rotation of a second of the two roller portions. In this way, when scrubbing the mop head, the user may angle the handle of the mop at a first orientation relative to the wringer, such that the mop does not engage with the wringer, and angle the mop at a second orientation relative to the wringer, such that the handle or the mop has passed through the other roller and the mop is able to engage with the roller.

The exit of the wringer may be positioned further from the scrubber when compared to the entrance of the wringer. In this way, the user may pass the mop head through the wringer by removing it from the bucket.

The wringer may further comprise an actuable arm. The arm may be configured such that actuating the arm moves the roller. In this way, the user may increase or decrease the pressure exerted by the roller on the mop head by actuating the arm. Actuating the arm may move the roller in a translational manner away from the exit and towards the entrance. In this way, to wring the mop head, the user may hold the mop head in a fixed position, and move the roller over the mop head. Moving the roller from the exit towards the entrance may mean moving the roller away from the open end of the bucket, such that cleaning fluid removed from the mop head is pushed by the roller into the bucket.

Actuating the arm may move the roller along a curved path away from the exit and towards the entrance. The wringer may include a curved surface. Actuating the arm may, in use, wring the cleaning surface of the mop head between the roller and the curved surface. In this way, the cleaning surface of the mop head may be wrung by actuating the arm.

Alternatively, or additionally, the arm may be configured such that actuating the arm moves the other roller towards the roller. In this way, actuating the arm, with the mop head between the rollers, may squeeze the mop head to wring it.

Alternatively, or additionally, the arm may be configured such that actuating the arm presses an end of the arm against the mop head. In this way, actuating the arm may push the mop head against a part of the wringer.

The wringer may comprise a latch plate. The latch plate may be configured to engage with the mop head and urge the mop head out of the bucket when the arm is returned from a lowermost position to an uppermost position, after wringing of the mop head. The latch plate may be pivotably attached to the arm. The wringer may further comprise a stop configured to prevent or prohibit rotation of the latch plate in a first direction about a pivot point beyond the stop. The latch plate may be free to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, about the pivot point from a position in which it is in contact with the stop. Accordingly, moving the arm from its uppermost position to its lowermost position may cause the latch plate to engage with the mop head and be rotated away from the stop in the second direction.

Once the arm has been moved to its lowermost position, the latch plate may have cleared the mop head such that the latch plate is free to rotate in the first direction into the position in which the latch plate is in contact with the stop. Moving the arm from its lowermost position to its uppermost position may then cause the latch plate to engage with the mop head. As the stop prevents or prohibits rotation of the latch plate beyond the stop in the second direction, the latch plate may push the mop head out of the bucket as the arm is moved to its uppermost position. The latch plate may be biased to rotate in the first direction. The latch plate may be sprung biased, resiliently biased, and/or biased by gravity, in use.

The latch plate may alternatively, or additionally, be provided with a hinge configured to prevent rotation of the latch plate in the first direction beyond the stop.

The bucket may be configured to hold a cleaning fluid therein to a depth such that the scrubber is entirely submerged in the cleaning fluid. In this way, the scrubber may be entirely submergible in cleaning fluid, thereby allowing the user to scrub the mop head whilst it is submerged in the cleaning fluid. This has been found to result in a cleaner mop head, when compared to conventional apparatus as described above.

The apparatus may further comprise a protrusion engageable with the flat mop. The protrusion may suspend the mop head adjacent to the wringer. Alternatively, or additionally, the protrusion may support the mop head during operation of the wringer. In this way, the user may not need to support the mop head whilst operating the wringer. This is particularly relevant when the wringer comprises a moveable roller.

The wringer may be positioned adjacent to the bucket such that, in use, a fluid removed from the flat mop head by the wringer drains into the bucket. In this way, the removed fluid may drain back into the bucket to be reused, and may not spill out of the bucket.

The flat mop head may be foldable. Removing the flat mop head from the scrubber and passing it to the wringer may cause the flat mop head to fold. The guide may comprise a protrusion configured to engage with the mop head and cause the flat mop head to at least partially fold from a cleaning position, in which the flat mop head is substantially flat or planar. Folding the mop head may cause the cleaning surface, such as a microfiber cloth or any other known cleaning material, to fold or double over. The cleaning surface may become spaced from a frame of the flat mop head. When the mop head is folded, the cleaning surface may extend away from the frame of the flat mop head. In this way, the cleaning surface may be wrung by the wringer to remove excess fluid. Actuating the actuable arm may fold the mop head frame before causing the roller to wring the cleaning surface.

The bucket may comprise a spout adjacent to the open end thereof. The spout may be configured such that a cleaning fluid contained within the bucket may be poured from the bucket via the spout. The spout may be positioned adjacent to the entrance to the guide. The spout may include a drip tray configured such that, in use, a flat mop head may be rested on the drip tray before being urged into the guide. The drip tray may be in fluid communication with the bucket such that fluid may pass from the drip tray to the bucket. A filter may be provided to filter the fluid from the drip tray before it passes to the bucket. The filter may be removable and replaceable.

The bucket may comprise one or more handles. The handles may be positioned on a side of the bucket opposite to the spout. The handles may be configured such that, in use, the bucket may be inclined and a fluid poured from the bucket via the spout. A handle or more than one handle may be pivotable to aid pouring of cleaning fluid from the bucket.

The wringer may be releasably attachable to the bucket. The wringer may be held adjacent to the bucket with one or more fixings, such as a screw, a clamp, a clip, a bolt or any other known fixing. In this way, the wringer may be removed from the bucket for servicing or replacement. Furthermore, the wringer may be removed from the bucket such that a fluid may be poured from the bucket more easily.

The apparatus may further comprise a wheeled base. In this way, the bucket may be, in use, wheeled to an area requiring cleaning with the flat head mop. The bucket may be releasably attachable to the wheeled base. As such, the bucket may be removed from the wheeled base for servicing or replacement of either component, and a fluid may be more easily poured from the bucket when the bucket is removed from the wheeled base. The wheeled base may comprise any number of wheels. For example, the wheeled base may comprise three or four wheels. The wheels may be provided on casters or any other known multi-directional wheel system.

The wheeled base may comprise a braking system. The braking system may be operable to selectively inhibit rotation of one or more wheels of the wheeled base. The braking system may be operable to selectively inhibit rotation of one, two, three, or any number of the wheels. The braking system may be operation to selectively inhibit rotation of each of the wheels. In this way, the apparatus may be kept stationary in a desired position, even if the ground is sloping.

The curved surface of the wringer may be perforated, slotted or otherwise arranged such that a fluid wrung from the cleaning surface may pass through the curved surface. A filter may be provided adjacent the curved surface and arranged such that fluid passing through the curved surface is filtered by the filter. The filter may be removable and replaceable.

The guide may be arranged such that the flat mop head passes from an entrance of the guide to the wringer. The wringer may be positioned in an open position such that the flat mop head may pass freely through the wringer. The actuable arm may be positioned in the upper position and the roller may be spaced form the curved surface. The flat mop head may then pass to the scrubber, where a reciprocal linear scrubbing movement by a user on the flat mop handle may cause the flat mop head to be cleaned against the scrubber. The flat mop may then be withdrawn from the scrubber back to the wringer. Withdrawing the mop head form the scrubber to the wringer may cause the mop head to fold and the cleaning surface to double over. The actuable arm may be actuated to wring excess fluid from the cleaning surface. Actuating the actuable arm may cause the roller to wring the cleaning surface of the flat mop head against the curved surface by pressing it against the curved surface. The flat mop may then be withdrawn from the apparatus entirely and used to clean a surface.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the bucket is angled with respect to the vertical. Where the bucket is angled in this manner, it may increase the ease with which the user may operate apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a flat mop, the method comprising the steps: providing the apparatus of any preceding claim; providing a cleaning fluid within the bucket; inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket such that it passes via the guide, past or through the wringer, to the scrubber; scrubbing the mop head on the scrubber; withdrawing the mop head away from the scrubber; positioning the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer.

The step of removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer may further include actuating the arm.

The step of inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket may include passing the mop head over the shoulder to reorient the mop head.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a first bucket for cleaning a flat head mop;

Figure 1B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figure 1A with the mop head in the guide;

Figure 1C is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 1 A and 1 B with the mop head positioned adjacent to the scrubber;

Figure 1 D is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 1A to 1C with the mop head positioned adjacent to the wringer;

Figure 2A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a second bucket for cleaning a flat head mop;

Figure 2B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figure 2A with the roller in its lower position;

Figure 3A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a third bucket for cleaning a flat head mop; Figure 3B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figure 3A with the mop head in an inclined position;

Figure 3C is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 3A and 3B with the mop head positioned adjacent to the scrubber;

Figure 3D is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 3A to 3C with the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and

Figure 3E is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 3A to 3D with the mop head folded.

Figure 1A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a first bucket 100 for cleaning a flat head mop 110. The flat head mop 110 is a mop of the type comprising a substantially flat head 112 pivotably attached to an end of an elongate handle 114. The bucket 100 includes a watertight housing 120 which allows the bucket 100 to be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water. The housing 120 includes an opening 122 in its upper end to allow the mop head 112 to be inserted into the bucket 100 for cleaning.

Inside the housing 120, adjacent to its opening 122, is a convex curved shoulder 130. The shoulder 130 turns through approximately 90°. Accordingly, the mop head 112 may be placed on one side of the shoulder 130 (the position shown in Figure 1A, in which the mop head 112 is arranged horizontally), and pushed over the shoulder 130 (to the position shown in Figure 1 B, and discussed in greater detail below, in which the mop head 112 is arranged vertically) to rotate the mop head 122 through approximately 90°. Rotating the mop head 112 on the shoulder 130 arranges the mop head 112 in a position suitable for entry of the mop head 112 into a guide 140.

The guide 140 is a passage within the housing 120 which is arranged such that the mop head 112 may only enter the guide 140 if the mop head 112 is arranged substantially vertically. The guide 140 initially runs adjacent to the housing 120 at one side of the bucket 100. The mop head 112 fits tightly within the guide 140 such that rotation of the mop head 112 within the guide 140 is restricted. The mop head 112 is able to move in a translational manner within the guide 140. The guide 140 includes a step 142 which includes an angled upper surface 144. As the mop head 112 moves into the bucket 100 within the guide 140, it engages with the angled surface 144 and is moved inbound towards a scrubber 150.

The scrubber 150 extends from the bottom of the housing 120 towards the open end 122 of the housing 120. The scrubber 150 is positioned adjacent to the step 142 such that a gap 152 is present between the scrubber 150 and the step 142. The gap 152 is sized such that the mop head 112 fits within it, between the scrubber 150 and the step 142. Moving the mop head 112 along the guide 140 to a lowermost position locates the mop head 112 within the gap 152 with a cleaning surface of the mop head 112 in contact with the scrubber 150. Accordingly, the user may then move the mop head 112 up and down, via the handle 114 which protrudes from the bucket 100, to clean the cleaning surface of the mop head 112 against the scrubber 150. The housing 120 may be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water, to a level such that the scrubber 150 is submerged in the cleaning fluid. Accordingly, the mop head 112 may also be submerged, and the scrubbing of the cleaning surface of the mop head 112 against the scrubber 150 may be done with the cleaning surface submerged.

A wringer 160 is positioned within the housing 120 above the scrubber 150. The wringer 160 includes two rollers 162, 164. The rollers 162, 164 are positioned adjacent one another, with their respective axes of rotation being parallel, such that there is a gap 166 between them. A first 162 of the rollers 162, 164 is continuous along its length. A second 164 of the rollers 162, 164 is non-continuous and is formed of two coaxial but spaced roller portions. Accordingly, the handle 114 of the mop 110 is able to pass through the second roller 164, between the two roller portions. Moving the handle 114 in such a way positions it between the two rollers 162, 164. The user may then withdraw the mop head 112 from the bucket 110, by pulling the handle 114, such that the mop head 112 passes between the two rollers 162, 164. Passing the mop head 112 between the two rollers 162, 164 squeezes the mop head 112, thereby removing excess cleaning fluid from the mop head 112.

An arm 170 is also provided. The arm 170 is pivotably attached at its midpoint to the housing 120 adjacent to the opening 122 such that one end 172 of the arm 170 extends upwards above the housing 120. The other end 174 of the arm 170 extends downwards into the housing 120. The user may push the upper end 172 of the arm 170 downwards and cause the lower end 174 of the arm 170 to move inbound, between the two roller portions of the second roller 164, and push the mop head 112 against the first roller 162, when the mop head 112 is positioned between the two rollers 162, 164. Accordingly, a greater pressure may be applied by the first roller 162 to the cleaning surface of the mop head 112 to remove a greater amount of cleaning fluid.

The operation of the bucket 100 will now be described with reference to Figures 1A to 1 D.

Figure 1A shows the mop head 112 positioned on a first side of the shoulder 130. This may be the position in which the user places the mop head 112 when they wish to clean the mop head 112. The first side of the shoulder 130 has a large landing area for the mop head 112 such that the user may easily position the mop head 112 thereon. In this position, the mop head 112 is shown to rest on the bucket 100 horizontally. The mop handle 114 is also shown to be horizontal, but it may be reoriented without reorienting the mop head 112 due to the pivotable attachment therebetween.

Figure 1 B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figure 1A with the mop head 112 in the guide 140. The user may move the mop 110 from the position shown in Figure 1A to the position shown in Figure 1B by pushing the mop head 112 over the shoulder 130. This reorients the mop head 112 such that it is vertical. The orientation of the mop head 112 as shown in Figure 1 B is the orientation required for entry into the guide 140. Figure 1B shows the mop head 112 within the guide 140.

Figure 1C is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figures 1A and 1B with the mop head 112 positioned adjacent to the scrubber 150. By pushing the mop 110 down into the bucket 100, the user may arrange the mop 110 in the position shown in Figure 1C. By pushing the mop 110 down into the bucket 100, the user causes the mop head 112 to engage with the angled surface 144 of the step 142. Said engagement causes the mop head 112 to move inbound and align with the gap 152 between the scrubber 150 and the step 142. Pushing the mop 110 down further positions the mop head 112 within the gap 152, as shown in Figure 1C. The user may then move the mop 110 up and down, causing the mop head 112 to be scrubbed, and therefore cleaned, by the scrubber 150. Once the mop head 112 has been scrubbed to a satisfactory level, the user may withdraw the mop 110 from the bucket 100.

Figure 1 D is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figures 1A to 1C with the mop head 112 positioned adjacent to the wringer 160. By positioning the handle 114 of the mop 110 between the two roller portions of the second roller 164 when withdrawing the mop 110 from the bucket 100, the user will cause the mop head 112 to pass through the wringer 160. With the mop head 112 positioned between the two rollers 162, 164 of the wringer 160, the user may actuate the arm 170 by pushing down on the upper end 172 of the arm 170. Said actuation causes the lower end 174 of the arm 170 to press against the mop head 112, which presses the mop head 112 against the first roller 162. Therefore, the arm 170 may be used to remove more cleaning fluid from the mop head 112. The cleaning fluid removed from the mop head 112 drains back into the bucket 100. The user may then fully withdraw the mop 110 from the bucket 100 and use it to clean a floor. Once soiled, the mop head 112 may be cleaning again in the manner described above, without needing to be replaced.

Figure 2A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a second bucket 200 for cleaning a flat head mop. The second bucket 200 is similar to the first bucket 100 shown in Figures 1A to 1D, except it includes a different wringer arrangement. The second bucket 200 includes a single roller 262 with is moveable along a slot 268. The mop head 212 may be attached to the bucket 200 via a hook on the mop head 212. The hook is engageable with a shoulder on the bucket 200 to suspend the mop head 212 adjacent to the slot 268 during operation of the wringer. An arm (not shown) is actuable to move the roller 262 in a translational manner along the slot 268, such that it presses into and runs along the mop head 212 to remove cleaning fluid from the mop head.

Figure 2B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 200 shown in Figure 2A with the roller 262 in its lower position. It can be seen in Figure 2A that the slot includes a portion at its top end with curves and extends away from the mop head 212. This allows the user to move the roller 262 out of the way of the mop head 212 when inserting the mop head 212 into the bucket 200 for cleaning.

Figure 3A is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a third bucket 300 for cleaning a flat head mop 310. The bucket 300 includes a watertight housing 320 which allows the bucket 300 to be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water or an antibacterial solution. The housing 320 includes an opening 322 in its upper end to allow a mop head 312 to be inserted into the bucket 300 for cleaning.

The bucket 300 includes a drip tray 324 adjacent to the opening 322. A user may place the mop head 312 on the drip tray 324 before pushing it into the bucket 300 for cleaning. The drip tray may be perforated, include a drain or be otherwise fluid permeable such that fluid may drain away from the drip tray 324. The bucket 300 may also include a filter arranged such that fluid draining from the drip tray 324 is filtered before flowing into the bucket 300.

Inside the housing 320, adjacent to its opening 322, is a convex curved shoulder 330. The shoulder 330 turns through approximately 90°. Accordingly, the mop head 312 may be placed on one side of the shoulder 330 (the position shown in Figure 3A, in which the mop head 312 is arranged horizontally), and pushed over the shoulder 330 (to the position shown in Figure 3B, and discussed in greater detail below, in which the mop head 312 is inclined with respect to horizontal) to rotate the mop head 322. Rotating the mop head 312 on the shoulder 330 arranges the mop head 312 in a position suitable for entry of the mop head 312 into a guide 340.

The guide 340 is a passage within the housing 320 which is arranged such that the mop head 312 may only enter the guide 340 if the mop head 312 is arranged substantially vertically. The guide 340 runs adjacent to the housing 320 at one side of the bucket 300. The mop head 312 fits tightly within the guide 340 such that rotation of the mop head 312 within the guide 340 is restricted. The mop head 312 is able to move in a translational manner within the guide 340.

The bucket 300 includes a scrubber 350 positioned inside the housing 320 such that it extends substantially vertically from the bottom of the housing 320 towards the open end 322 of the housing 320. The scrubber 350 is positioned adjacent to the housing 320 such that a gap 352 is present between the scrubber 350 and the housing 320. The gap 352 is sized such that the mop head 312 fits within it, between the scrubber 350 and the housing 320. Moving the mop head 312 along the guide 340 to a lowermost position locates the mop head 312 within the gap 352 with a cleaning surface of the mop head 312 in contact with the scrubber 350. Accordingly, the user may then move the mop head 312 up and down, via the handle of the mop which protrudes from the bucket 300, to clean the cleaning surface of the mop head 312 against the scrubber 350. The housing 320 may be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water, to a level such that the scrubber 350 is submerged in the cleaning fluid. Accordingly, the mop head 312 may also be submerged, and the scrubbing of the cleaning surface of the mop head 312 against the scrubber 350 may be done with the cleaning surface submerged.

An arm 370 is also provided. The arm 370 is pivotably attached at one end to the housing 320 adjacent to the opening 322 such that one end 372 of the arm 370 extends upwards above the housing 320. A roller 374 is attached to the arm 370 and is positioned generally within the housing 320.

The bucket 300 includes a protrusion 342 in the guide 340 configured such that, as the mop head 312 is withdrawn from the scrubber 350 past the protrusion 342, the mop head 312 is folded such that a cleaning surface 316 is at least partially spaced from the remainder of the mop head 312 for wringing. The guide 340 also includes a concave curved surface 344. The user may orient and position the mop head 312 such that the cleaning surface 316 is adjacent the concave curved surface 344 and push the upper end 372 of the arm 370 downwards and cause the roller 374 to push against and run along the cleaning surface 316 against the concave curved surface 344. Any excess cleaning fluid in or on the cleaning surface 316 may therefore be wrung out and may run back into the bucket 300.

The bucket 300 includes a wheeled base 380. The base 380 includes four wheels 382 (only two are shown) to allow the bucket 300 to be more easily moved around the area to be cleaned. The base 380 also includes a brake 384 that a user may apply with, for example, their foot to inhibit rotation of one or more wheels 382 to keep the bucket 300 stationary in a desired location. The operation of the bucket 300 will now be described with reference to Figures 3A to 3E.

Figure 3A shows the mop head 312 positioned on a first side of the shoulder 330, on the drip tray 324. This may be the position in which the user places the mop head 312 when they wish to clean the mop head 312. The drip tray 324 has a large landing area for the mop head 312 such that the user may easily position the mop head 312 thereon. In this position, the mop head 312 is shown to rest on the bucket 300 substantially horizontally.

Figure 3B is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 300 shown in Figure 3A with the mop head 312 rotated to an inclined position relative to horizontal. The user may move the mop head 312 from the position shown in Figure 3A to the position shown in Figure 3B by pushing the mop head 312 over the shoulder 330. This reorients the mop head 312 such that it is inclined relative to horizontal. The orientation of the mop head 312 as shown in Figure 3B is the orientation required for entry into the guide 340. Figure 3B shows the mop head 312 within the entrance to the guide 340.

Figure 3C is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 300 shown in Figures 3A and 3B with the mop head 312 positioned adjacent to the scrubber 350. By pushing the mop down into the bucket 300, the user may arrange the mop in the position shown in Figure 3C. By pushing the mop down into the bucket 300, the user causes the mop head 312 to enter the guide 340 align with the gap between the scrubber 350 and the housing 320. Pushing the mop down further positions the mop head 312 within the gap, as shown in Figure 3C. The user may then move the mop up and down, causing the mop head 312 to be scrubbed, and therefore cleaned, by the scrubber 350. Once the mop head 312 has been scrubbed to a satisfactory level, the user may begin to withdraw the mop from the bucket 300.

Figure 3D is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3C with the mop head 312 partially withdrawn from the guide 340. As the mop head 312 is withdrawn past the protrusion 342, the mop head 312 engages with the protrusion 342 and is unlocked from the linear arrangement such that the mop head 312 is partially folded. Figure 3E is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3D with the mop head 312 folded. Once the mop head 312 is partially folded, as shown in Figure 3D, the user may push down on the arm 370 which causes the roller 374 to engage with the mop head 312 and fully fold it. This causes the cleaning surface 316 to double over and lie against the concave curved surface 344. The user may then continue to push down on the arm 370 and cause the roller 374 to run along the concave curved surface 344. As the cleaning surface 316 is positioned between the roller 374 and the concave curved surface 344, the cleaning surface 316 is wrung out and excess cleaning fluid is removed from the cleaning surface 316. The concave curved surface 344 may be perforated or otherwise cleaning fluid permeable. A filter may be provided below the concave curved surface 344 to filter cleaning fluid before it is returned to the bucket 300.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning a flat mop, the apparatus comprising: a bucket for holding a cleaning fluid therein, the bucket including an open end for receiving a mop head of a flat head mop therethrough for cleaning within the bucket; a scrubber depending from an interior surface of the bucket; a wringer engageable with a cleaning surface of the flat head mop, wherein the wringer is operable to remove a fluid from the cleaning surface; and a guide configured to, in use, direct the mop head of a flat head mop into the bucket such that the mop head passes from the open end of the bucket, past or through the wringer, and to the scrubber, wherein the guide is further configured such that, in use, with the mop head fully inserted into the bucket, the cleaning surface of the mop head is positioned adjacent to the scrubber for cleaning of the cleaning surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises an open end, and the guide is configured to accept the mop head via its open end in only a single orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the guide comprises a convex shoulder arranged adjacent to the open end of the guide, wherein the shoulder is configured to engage with the mop head and position the mop head in the orientation required for entry into the guide.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the open end of the guide is positioned adjacent to the open end of the bucket.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the interior surface of the bucket is a surface opposite the open end of the bucket.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the scrubber extends from the interior surface of the bucket towards the open end of the bucket.

7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the scrubber is releasably attached to the bucket such that the scrubber is replaceable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a replacement scrubber.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the wringer includes an entrance and an exit, wherein the exit of the wringer is positioned further from the scrubber when compared to the entrance of the wringer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a cross-section of the entrance narrows from a free end thereof towards the exit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the wringer includes a roller configured to engage with the cleaning surface of the flat head mop.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the wringer further comprises an actuable arm.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the arm is configured such that actuating the arm moves the roller.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein actuating the arm moves the roller in a translational manner away from the exit and towards the entrance.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein actuating the arm moves the roller along a curved path away from the exit and towards the entrance.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wringer includes a curved surface and actuating the arm wrings the cleaning surface of the mop head between the roller and the curved surface.

17. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the bucket is configured to hold a cleaning fluid therein to a depth such that the scrubber is entirely submerged in the cleaning fluid.

18. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the wringer is positioned adjacent to the bucket such that, in use, a fluid removed from the flat mop head by the wringer drains into the bucket.

19. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the bucket comprises a spout adjacent to the open end thereof.

20. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the wringer is releasably attachable to the bucket.

21. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a wheeled base, wherein the bucket is releasably attachable to the wheeled base.

22. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the wheeled base comprises a braking system operable to selectively inhibit rotation of one or more wheels of the wheeled base.

23. A method of cleaning a flat mop, the method comprising the steps: providing the apparatus of any preceding claim; providing a cleaning fluid within the bucket; inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket such that it passes via the guide, past or through the wringer, to the scrubber; scrubbing the mop head on the scrubber; withdrawing the mop head away from the scrubber; positioning the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer.

24. The method of claim 23, when providing the apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 22, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 12, wherein the step of removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer further includes actuating the arm.

25. The method of claim 23, when providing the apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 22, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 3, wherein the step of inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket includes passing the mop head over the shoulder to reorient the mop head.