GB2484293A

GB2484293A - A mop and bucket arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2484293A
Application number: GB201016703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mathew Kenneth John; Louise Margaret May John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-05
Filing date: 2010-10-05
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Also published as: GB201110525D0; GB2484367A; GB2484367B; GB201016703D0; GB201108309D0

Abstract

A mop handle is arranged to lift a mop bucket and stabilise itself in a mop bucket. A mop handle 1 includes lifting means bracket 2 for attaching itself to a mop bucket 1b and for stabilising itself. The mop handle 1 and bracket 2 can be used for carrying, lifting, moving, and emptying of a mop bucket 1b when used in conjunction with a mop bucket attachment 1a affixed to a mop bucket 1b. The bracket 2 can be fixed to a conventional mop handle 1 by means of sliding onto the mop handle and then being screwed, bolted, clamped, or welded to the mop handle 1. A spring (3, fig 1) may be present for pushing the bracket 2 upwards into contact with the mop bucket attachment 1a.

Description

A Mop handlelo lift a mop bucket nd sitabilise itself in a_m_op bucket The enclosed proposed invention relates to mop handles and mop buckets.

More importantly it relates to an improved mop handle that can pick up a mop bucket and stabilise itself in a central location of a mop bucket.

This is an improvement to a conventional mop handle as follows.

When using a conventional mop and bucket many of the designs available today have the mop handle located in a circular locating section on the bucket or strainer for aiding the stabilising of the mop handle,while it does basically serve its purpose there are minor glitches visible.

One is that when attempting to attach the mop to the bucket the mop tends to repel or push away the mop bucket which in turn necessitates the user to either bend down and hold the bucket firm with one hand or shuffle both feet around the bucket to support it, either way its very inconvenient and not very user friendly.

Another disadvantage to many of the mop and bucket designs available today is that its virtually impossible to lift the bucket without any spillage as the location area on the bucket for the mop handle is often to the side which tends to tip the bucket up.

Again the first thing the user has to do when mopping the floor is bend down to grab the bucket handle to pick it up, secondly they have to bend once again to put it down causing a strain on the back,not very helpful if the user has any disability or back problems.

Another major problem with mops has always been that they tend to lean out of the mop bucket haphazardly creating a health and safety issue to people as they could collide with it or even trip or fall over it.

It is also necessary to support a conventional mop handle when ascending any stairs by either supporting the bucket in one hand and mop in other or trying to put both mop and handle somehow together in one hand again this can be a problem.

If bucket is held in one hand and the mop is supported in the other (whilst mop is still in bucket) this would mean that the bucket is now in front of the user and therefore preventing the user from seeing the steps they are ascending which could contribute to an accident leading to possibility of injury.

To overcome these problems the improved proposed invention will enable the user to carry out all the above tasks in a very fast precise way with ease.

When using the new improved mop handle it will enable the user to pick up carry move or put down the bucket without the need to bend down or strain to grasp the handle.

As the mop handle will always be in a convenient rigid vertical position and locked onto the bucket it can be lifted and put back down quite effortless and easy without bending over.

The proposed mop handle invention will enable the user to attach the mop to the bucket using only one hand in a fast very precise way with no support * whatsoever from the other hand or use of the feet and with no spillage.

The proposed invention will also attach itself and connect to the bucket even when empty and without the need to support it by the other hand,feet or any other means.

The proposed invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the following drawings in which:-Figure 1, Shows the mop handle 1. with lifting bracket 2.fixed to it Also showing is the spring 3.fitted to underside of mop head carriage 4.

Figure 2, shows mop handle 1. in a mop bucket lb, with the mop bucket attachment la fixed and the mop handle 1 and mop bucket attachment la engaged.

Figure 3, Shows an alternative mop handle attachment 1.

Figure 4. Shows another alternative type of attachment 1.

Detailed description.

Detailed des&iption.

In Figure 1. it shows a mop handle 1,with a steel lifting bracket which has been spot welded onto it.

This bracket is what enables the mop to lift and attach itself to the horizontal bucket cross member in mop bucket enabling the mop to be stabilised and held firm to the bucket.

Furthermore the mop handle lifting bracket can be constructed as a separate attachment made out of steel plastic rubber or a combination of them and could be fixed to a mop handle by either a clamp, bolt, welded or bolted through the mop handle itself.

This separate attachment can be fitted to the mop handle by removing the mop head and sliding the attachment up onto the mop handle.

A rubber washer or screw can be used to prevent the turning of the mop handle attachment 1 around the mop handle.

The spring 2 can be seen in the drawing this can be screwed onto the underside of the mop head carriage to be held firm.

The spring fitted to the underside of the carriage of mop head is what enables the mop to push the mop back up against the cross member bucket attachment.

The spring can be either of a metal form or of a plastic or rubber material this would allow more flexibility and a broader choice for the materials used to give the spring action necessary.

The mop is compressed down into the bucket and when released springs up and engages with the bucket attachment horizontal bar.

Figure 2 shows mop handle 1. in a mop bucket ib, with the mop bucket attachment la fixed and the mop handle 1 and horizontal mop bucket attachment la engaged.

The horizontal mop bucket attachment can be manufactured from steel or a form of plastic and fixed through the walls of the mop bucket central and near to the existing handle secured by a nut to a threaded end on one side.

Another alternative version of the mop bucket attachment can be fitted over the top lip of mop bucket and down under the exterior lip of the mop bucket and fixed on each side of mop bucket to enable lifting of the bucket.

There are a number of important key contributing factors to be taken into account that give the invention its workability and uniqueness and enables the device to perform in the way it does, they are as follows:-The addition of a spring and a lifting bracket to the mop handle completely changes and converts the mop into a spring motion lifting mop handle which is great to use and highly efficient.

This very important upward stroke caused by the spring and the height achieved by the mop handle with the spring will vary and be wholly dependent on the length of the spring used in the production of the mop handle itself.

Now the proposed invention is not just a mop but a new improved spring action lifting mop that holds itself vertical, central in the bucket and lifts it up as well in a very fast precise way.

This action then quite simply locks the mop in a safe vertical central position which will allow the user to lift up the whole mop bucket with one hand without having to bend or strain for the handle and allow the user to carry the whole unit in a comfortable and safe manner when walking with it or ascending stairs.

Claims

SClaims A Nlopt hjnd[e to lift rpopJjcJset &QcLfla*iUe itself inffi mopucIct 1. A mop handle fitted with a lifting bracket attachment for the stabilising of a mop and lifting of a mop bucket also which enables the user to pick up carry place or move the mop bucket around without a need to bend over to grab the handle of the bucket.
2. A Mop and bucket lifting attachment according to claim 1. in which the lifting means is provided by an attachment fitted to a conventional mop handle which will aid the lifting of the mop bucket and most importantly also stabilise the mop handle in a central located vertical position
3. A Mop handle according to claim 1,that when used in conjunction with a horizontal placed lifting section/attachment fixed to a mop bucket (whether or not the horizontal structure is a separate attachment or part of the original bucket or strainer) will allow both mop handle bracket and mop bucket attachment to engage and assist the lifting of the bucket by means of the mop handle with bracket or attachment.
4. A mop handle according to claim 1.with lifting bracket and additional fitting of a spring to the underside of the mop head carriage that when fitted or fixed to a conventional mop handle and will create a spring action engagement of the mop handle and bucket.
5. Furthermore a mop handle according to claim 1. that with or without a spring fitted to the base of the mop underside of carriage of the mop head base the mop handle as in claim 1. will still perform lift of mop bucket and stabilising of mop whether or not a spring is used or fitted. 4(