US3795939A

US3795939A - Utility container assembly for use with sponge applicator

Info

Publication number: US3795939A
Application number: US00266242A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Seufert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-26
Filing date: 1972-06-26
Publication date: 1974-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-12

Abstract

A utility container and wringer assembly includes a caster or wheel mounted frame supporting a plurality of individual containers for liquids, to be applied to a floor or other surface, together with a wringer assembly over one of the containers for squeezing liquid from a sponge mop type applicator. A foot actuated linkage mechanism is utilized for operating the sponge mop wringer. One or more of the liquid containers includes a floating plate or panel for preventing spilling of the liquid and for facilitating use with a sponge mop applicator. The sponge mop wringer operates in association with a container for receiving waste-laden liquid from the mop. An auxiliary rack is associated with the container and wringer assembly for holding cleaning tools, rags, bottles, and the like.

Description

t n e are s in. a t S Seufert &

Primary Examiner-Le0n G. Machlin Attorney, Agent, or FirmBurton, Crandell UTILITY CONTAINER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH SPONGE APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: George E. Seufert, 140 S. Depew Polumbus St., Lakewood, Colo. 80226 June 26, 1972 Appl. No.: 266,242

[57] ABSTRACT A utility container and wringer assembly includes a caster or wheel mounted frame supporting a [22] Filed:

plurality of individual containers for liquids, to be applied to a floor or other surface, together with a wri nger assembly over one of the containers for squeezing liquid from a sponge mop type applicator. A foot actuated linkage mechanism is utilized for operating the sponge mop wringer. One or more of the liquid containers in- Rmiw /0 3 7 2 ,5 Hn l 70 56 m 22 9 ,I, Q H3 1 t 1 m 6 2 "5 n1 mm .a "8 ms L .1 C .m 5min UIF 1]] 2 8 555 [[l cludes a floating plate or panel for preventing spilling of the liquid and for facilitating use with a sp [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS onge mop 15/261 applicator. The sponge mop wringer operates in asso- 5 2 ciation with a container for receiving waste-laden l' l5/257.05

1,268,055 5/1918 Reps holdt.............................

3,504,392 4/1970 Baek.............

2,939,162 6/1960 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS uid from the mop. An auxiliary rack is associated with the container and wringer assembly for holding cleaning tools, rags, bottles, and the like.

Switzerland...

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAR I 2 I974 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTED R 1 2 74 WU 0F 3 FIG. 8

FIGS? BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to utility containers including sponge mop wringing mechanisms, and particularly to apparatus including a plurality of utility containers for holding various liquid agents, such as scrubbing and rinsing solutions, waxing compositions, paints and the like, together with an improved mechanism for wringing a sponge mop type applicator.

One form of utility container apparatus which includes a plurality of liquid-containing compartments together with means associated with one of the compartments for wringing a sponge mop type applicator is described and claimed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,614,802 issued Oct. 26, 197i, to George E. Seufert and Janet H. Seufert for Utility Container. This patent discloses a utility container which includes a plurality of compartments for containing liquid agents such as wash and rinse solutions. One or more of the compartments is provided with a foraminate platform which may be raised or lowered with respect to liquid contained in the related compartment for use in squeezing or pressing a sponge like applicator or tool.

7 Sponge mop type applicators and tools are also known in the art. The apparatus described herein is adapted particularly but not necessarily exclusively for use with a sponge mop type applicator as shown in my copending application Ser. No. 266,152 filed June 26, 1972, entitled Multi-Rurpose Cleaning Implement. A sponge mop applicator of the type described and claimed therein includes a base having an upstanding handle thereon with a sponge mop unit secured to the base. The base is a generally rectangular elongated member with the sponge work-head secured thereto and positioned for application to a floor or other surface. To remove waste-laden liquid or other liquids from the sponge, the sponge must be tightly squeezed. While some sponge mop applicators include a squeezer directly mounted on the applicator, it is more convenient, as pointed out in U. S. Pat. No. 3,614,802, to have squeezing or wringing means associated with the liquid container.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal Object of the present invention is to provide an improved utility container apparatus which includes a plurality of containers associated in combination with an improved wringing apparatus for squeezing liquid from a sponge mop type applicator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wringer or squeezing mechanism for squeezing liquid from a sponge mop type applicator.

Still another object is to provide an improved utility container apparatus embodying the improved wringing mechanism associated to enable the operator to squeeze the mop utilizing foot pressure only.

A further object of the invention is to provide a utility container and sponge mop wringer apparatus of the above character which includes a plurality of separate liquid containers suitable for use with a multi-purpose sponge mop type applicator tool.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the foregoing type which can be readily moved at the operators convenience and which includes means to prevent splashing of liquid contained in the separate liquid containers.

Yet another and more specific object is to provide a utility container embodying the present invention with a panel or plate member in one or more of the liquid containers in order to prevent splashing of the liquid therein and at the same time facilitate use of the container with a sponge-type cleaning implement.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the modifications thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In furtherance of the foregoing objects, the present invention contemplates a utility container assembly which is particularly but not necessarily exclusively adapted for use with a sponge mop type applicator, and includes a caster or wheel mounted base frame supporting a plurality of containers for various types of liq- ,uids, such as wash and rinse liquids, to be applied to a floor or other surface. The tanks or containers are individually mounted on the base, and the assembly includes, in association with at least one of the containers, a wringer mechanism for squeezing the sponge mop applicator. The wringer mechanism includes a presser plate which is lowered against a stationary foraminate plate, grid or grill mounted over one of the containers and underlying the movable wringer or presser plate. A foot actuated linkage mechanism is utilized to actuate the movable plate of the wringer mechanism. This actuating structure includes a foot operated lever pivotally mounted on the base frame and operatively connected, through an appropriate linkage mechanism, to the wringer plate.

For preventing splashing of liquids from the containers, as well as to facilitate and enhance the use thereof with a sponge mop type applicator, a panel or grill is utilized in one or more of the liquid containing chambers or containers. The grill may be made, for example, of a low density foraminate or sponge-like material or of any other suitable substance having a specific gravity less than that of the liquid in which it is used, so that the panel floats in the liquid.

The utility container and wringer mechanism assembly is highly versatile and adapted for a wide variety of uses including washing, scrubbing and rinsing floors, washing windows, waxing floor surfaces, and the like, as well as for applying coatings, such as paints and other treating agents to floors, walls and ceilings. The assembly is simple yet rugged, and has been found especially adaptable for industrial and institutional use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative utility container and wringer mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken substantially in the plane of line 4-4l on FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of utility container and wringer mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an accessory rack adapted for use with the utility container shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the accessory rack shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a portion of the utility container and wringer mechanism shown in FIG. 1 with an accessory rack of the character shown in FIG. 7 mounted thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a utility container apparatus assembly indicated generally at which includes a movable frame or base 21 supporting a wringer mechanism 22 and carrying a plurality of containers or

tanks

23, 24, 25. Each such container, of which three are illustratively shown in the drawings, is a generally rectangular tank preferably formed of tough but lightweight plastic material which is impervious to the particular liquid to be carried. Depending upon the intended use, of course, the containers may be of any selected or desirable material. Each tank is adapted to hold a quantity of liquid of whatever type the job requires, such as cleaning solution, germicide, floor wax, stripper, secondary rinse or the like. The containers are adapted to be removed from the base frame to further facilitate the efficient and economic use of the apparatus.

One of the tanks 23 as shown in FIG. 1, is positioned on the base 21 to receive, for example, waste-laden liquid from the mop wringer mechanism 22. As can be seen, the mop wringer mechanism is constructed in such a way that the associated tank or container 23 may be readily removed from the apparatus for cleaning or discharging the contained liquid.

The

containers

23, 24, 25 as shown in FIG. 1 are supported on the movable base 21. For this purpose the base is a generally rectangular frame member 28 which may be conveniently formed of metal angles or channels including appropriate cross braces 29. The frame supports the

respective containers

23, 24, 25. To facilitate movement of the apparatus during use, the frame 28 is mounted on casters or wheels 30. While in the embodiment shown provision is made for supporting three containers on the base frame, the frame may be designed to accommodate more or fewer containers depending upon the intended use.

For squeezing or wringing a sponge mop applicator, and for purposes of collecting the waste-laden liquid from such mop, the base frame 28 supports the wringer mechanism or assembly 22 at one end thereof in vertical juxtaposition to a container 23. The wringer mechanism 22 overlies the collecting container 23 and is actuated by a foot pedal 31 and associated lever arm 32 supported on the frame 28 and extending outwardly from the wringer assembly, preferably at the opposite side of the mechanism.

One illustrative form of sponge mop wringing mechanism embodying the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. This embodiment constitutes an improvement over prior art wringers and comprises a wringer plate 34 movably mounted on the base frame in a position above one of the liquid collecting containers 23, and operatively connected to the lever arm and associated foot pedal 31.

The wringer plate 34 is spaced above and in superposed relationship with the associated container, and coacts with a grill or foraminate platform 35 secured to or removably mounted in or on the underlying container 23. A sponge mop, when placed on the platform 35, is squeezed by the movable wringer plate 34 as the user steps on a foot pedal 31. For positioning and suporting the grill or foraminate platform 35 on the container 23, the grill is provided with a plurality of hook members aligned along its opposite edges and directed downwardly for engagement over the upper side edges of the associated container. These hook members 36 support the grill or platform over the container with sufficient rigidity to prevent accidental displacement, and yet enable the grill or platform to be removed when the container liquid is to be discharged. Alternatively, the platform may be supported by legs or depending members which rest on the bottom of the container, or the platform may be supported on projections or inserts secured to or formed on the container walls or removably secured to the framework of the base frame.

For squeezing a sponge mop against the grid or foraminate platform 35, the movable wringer plate 34 is slidingly supported on the base 21 by means of a pair of spaced upstanding support posts 38, 39 aligned on each side of the base 21 adjacent corners of the container 23. These posts in turn support adjacent their upper ends a cross arm 40 which in turn carries a guide bracket 41 for receiving a downwardly depending leg 42 on each end of the movable wringer plate 34. The foot actuated lever 32 is pivotally mounted on still a further support post 44 spaced forwardly from the pairs of

posts

38, 39 and upstanding on each side of the frame 21. The cross arm 40 extends between all three

posts

38, 39 and 44 for rigidity.

For biasing the movable wringer plate 34 to an upwardly spaced position away from the container and grid, a pair of toggle links 45 are pivotally secured at one end to the adjoining depending leg 42 on the wringer plate and at their other ends are pivotally and slidably engaged with the adjacent support posts 38, 39 respectively. For this latter purpose, the ends of the toggle links 45 define elongated slots 46 through which pins 48 extend and support the links on

support posts

38, 39. To bias the wringer plate 34 upwardly, one or more coil springs 49 are secured between the toggle links and the cross arm 40.

The movable wringer plate 34 is moved downwardly against the upwardly biasing action of the springs 49 by a cable 50 or other linkage mechanism connected between each inner end of the foot pedal lever arms 32 and the lower end of each of the depending legs 42 on the wringer plate. As shown in FIG. 1, a cable 50 is connected to the end of the lever arm 32 and passes around a pair of

pulleys

51, 52 mounted on the base frame 28 to a point at which it is secured to the depending end of the wringer plate leg 42. It can be observed that, as the user steps on the foot pedal 31, the lever arm 32 is pivoted about its pivot point on the post 44. The cables 50 acting on the wringer plate legs 42, pull the wringer plate 34 downwardly to compress a sponge mop which is placed between the wringer plate 34 and the grill 35. When the foot pedal is released, the springs 49 contract and lift the links 45 to raise the wringer plate upwardly away from the container 23. Waste-laden liquid which,

for example, has been squeezed from the sponge mop, is collected in the associated container 23. The mop is then ready for further use and, for example, may be immersed in one or more of the liquids contained in the adjacent containers.

To prevent splashing and spilling of liquid in the

containers

24, 25 as well as to provide a platform or member against which a sponge mop can be pressed in order to increase its absorbing ability, a floating panel 54 is provided in each liquid containing

tank

24, 25. Such a panel not only reduces the splashing movement of liquid contained in each container or tank, but also provides a gentle buffer action to partially compress a sponge mop work head. The panel 54 is made of a material having a specific gravity such that the panel floats at or near the surface of the liquid in the tank or container.

DESCRIPTION OF MODIFICATION An alternative linkage mechanism for actuating the downwardly moving wringer plate 34 is shown in FIGS. and 6. On the drawing of this modification (FIGS. 5 and 6) reference characters have been utilized where applicable which are similar to those used above but with distinguishing suffix a." In this modification, the foot pedal 31a and lever arm 32a is connected to the wringer plate indicated at 34a by a direct linkage mechanism rather than utilizing a cable structure. To this end, the lever arm 32a is pivoted adjacent the rearmost support post 39a by a pivot pin 60. Intermediate its ends, the lever arm 32a is pivotally connected by a generally vertical link 61 to a second generally horizontal lever 62 which is in turn pivotally engaged at one end with the vertical support post 44a and at its other end is pivoted to the depending leg 412a on the wringer plate 34:1. The wringer plate 34a is biased upwardly by a spring 49a acting between the secondary lever 62 and the cross arm 40a. In other respects, the operation of this modification is substantially identical to the container and wringer mechanism described above. While certain illustrative forms of linkage mechanisms for actuating the movable wringer plate as a function of downward movement of the foot pedal will have been shown, other linkages may be utilized as may be deemed appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF ACCESSORY RACK As adjunct equipment for use with the container assembly as shown and described above there is desirably provided a basket and rack assembly which may be utilized for carrying auxiliary tools, cleaning solutions,

rags, and like implements. As can be seen from FIGS.

1 through 4, the utility container apparatus includes a handle for use by the equipment operator in moving the container assembly to the desired work location. The handle 65 as shown comprises a generally inverted U- shaped pipe or rod, the ends of which are received in sockets 66 secured to the frame members 28 at the end opposite from the foot pedal 31 and generally adjacent supported by the upstanding inverted U'shaped handle 65, 65a. To this end, the auxiliary rack comprises a pair of rack or

basket members

71, 72 secured to the outer surfaces of the depending legs 74 of two or more inverted U-shaped straps or brackets 75. At their lower ends the corresponding legs 74 of the straps or brackets 75 are secured to spaced parallel guide rods 76. The brackets 75 slip over the upper horizontal portion of the handle 65 with the guide rods 76 straddling the opposed legs of the handle 65. The brackets 75 hang from the handle 65 and in this manner support the baskets, racks, etc. on the container assembly.

In the illustrative form shown, two types of auxiliary racks are utilized. The rack 71 comprises a large, shallow tray formed of wire sides and ends and with a solid bottom shelf of wood, metal or other suitable material. The tray or rack 71 is secured to the dpending legs 74 of the supporting bracket 75.

Similarly, another type of rack 72 is secured to the opposite legs of the bracket 75. The rack 72 is formed with a plurality of shelves 80 supported on wire side and end frame members 81. The rack may be used to carry auxiliary implements for cleaning tools, rags or other equipment, while the relatively shallow tray or rack 71 may be utilized to carry bottles of cleaning solution, larger implements and other equipment. The rack is suspended on the handle 65 above the utility container and mop wringer assembly. This way it is readily convenient to the user of the apparatus and yet does not interfere with the operation of the wringer.

The racks may be of any desirable configuration, and may include a variety of hangers, compartments, shelves and the like depending upon the particular instruments, liquids, cleaning implements, containers, rags and so forth which the user desires to employ. The rack can thus be highly versatile and susceptible to a number of designs and modifications. The principle feature, however, is that the rack is balanced with a portion on each side of the U-shaped supporting straps 74 while the lower rods 76 slidably engage the legs of the assembly handle 65 to prevent the rack from swinging or from being dislodged from the apparatus.

As pointed out above, the assembly finds particular but not necessarily exclusive use with sponge mop type applicators. Liquid containers and wringer assemblies such as the type disclosed are needed for such applications in order to fully utilize the capabilities of the sponge mop type cleaning implements. This is particularly important for commercial and industrial applications where the user does not have ready and close access to a sink or utility area.

While certain illustrative embodiments and modifications have been shown in the drawings and described above in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, equivalents and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A utility container assembly for use with a sponge mop applicator comprising, in combination, a wheeled base, a plurality of containers supported on said base, a stationary member horizontally mounted in vertical juxtaposition with an associated container, a vertically movable compression member extending generally parallel to said stationary member for movement towards and away from said stationary member whereby said stationary member and said compression member form a wringer means in associative reation with said container, a foot actuated lever means including a pair of lever arms pivotally mounted at one end upon said wheeled base and having their other ends joined by a foot engageable member, an arm depending from each end of said vertically movable compression member, means on said base for guiding each said depending arm for movement in a substantially vertical direction, biasing means operatively engaged with said depending arms for biasing said compression member upwardly away from said stationary member, and means operatively interconnecting said pivoted lever arms with respective ones of said depending arms for pulling said depending arms and thereby the compression member downwardly against the bias of said biasing means upon the actuation of said foot actuated lever means.

2. A utility container assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting said pivoted lever arms with said depending arms comprises a cable, and pulley means mounted on said base for guiding said cable.

3. A utility container assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting said pivoted lever arms with said depending arms comprises a secondary lever means pivotally mounted on said base and pivotally engaging said depending arms adjacent the lower ends thereof, and a pair of substantially vertical links interconnecting said foot actuated lever means with secondary lever arms.

4. In a utility container assembly for use with a sponge mop applicator, comprising, in combination, a wheeled base, a plurality of containers supported on said base, wringer means on said base in associative relationship with at least one of said containers, said wringer means comprising a stationary member horizontally mounted in vertical juxtaposition with said associated container, and a vertically movable compression member extending substantially parallel to said stationary member for movement towards and away from said stationary member, means for biasing said movable compression member away from said stationary member, foot actuated lever means on said base, linkage means operatively connecting said foot actuated lever means to said movable compression member for moving it towards said stationary member against the bias of said biasing means, an upstanding inverted U-shaped handle on said base adjacent to said wringer means, said handle having a horizontal bar portion and spaced depending legs, socket means on said base for receiving and retaining said handle legs, and an accessory rack removably supported on said handle.

5. A utility container assembly as defined in claim 4' wherein said auxiliary rack comprises a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped support straps adapted to be suspended over the bar portion of said handle, parallel spaced guide rods secured to the lower ends of said support straps for slidably engaging said handle legs, and rack means secured to and supported by said support straps.

6. A utility container assembly for use with a sponge mop applicator, said assembly comprising, in combination, a wheeled base having a plurality of liquid containers supported thereon, at least one of said containers including a sponge mop engaging platform, mop wringer means on said base associated with said one container, foot engageable pedal means on said base, linkage means operatively connecting said foot pedal means and said mop wringer means whereby actuation of said foot pedal operates said wringer means to squeeze a sponge mop placed between said wringer means and said platform, an upstanding inverted U- shaped handle mounted on said wheeled frame adjacent said wringer means, and a basket means detachably mounted on said handle, said basket means comprising a pair of inverted U-shaped straps detachably suspended from said handle, a pair of wire mesh baskets secured one to each side of said straps for positioning one on each side of said handle, and guide means at the lower end of said straps engageable with said handle for preventing said baskets from swinging relative thereto.

7. A utility container assembly for use with a sponge mop applicator comprising, in combination, a wheeled base, a plurality of containers supported on said base, a stationary foraminous member horizontally mounted in vertical juxtaposition with an associated container, a vertically movable compression member extending generally parallel to said stationary member for movement towards and away from said stationary member whereby said stationary member and said compression member form a wringer means in associative relationship with said container, a foot actuated lever means including a pair of lever arms pivotally mounted at one end upon said wheeled base and having their other ends joined by a foot engageable member, an arm depending from each end of said vertically movable compression member, means mounting each said depending arm on said base for effecting movement of said compression member in a substantially vertical direction, biasing means for biasing said compression member upwardly away from said stationary member, and means operatively interconnecting said pivoted lever arms with respective ones of said depending arms for actuating said depending arms to move the compression member downwardly against the bias of said biasing means upon the actuation of said foot actuated lever means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 9 939 Dated March 12 1974 Invehtor(s) orge E. Seufert It'is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6, Line 17, "dpending" should read "depending-- Column 7, Line 3 "reation" should read -re.lation-- Column 7, Line 30 after "with" insert --said-- Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM'DC 60376-P89 U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: i969 0-366-334,

Claims

5. A utility container assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said auxiliary rack comprises a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped support straps adapted to be suspended over the bar portion of said handle, parallel spaced guide rods secured to the lower ends of said support straps for slidably engaging said handle legs, and rack means secured to and supported by said support straps.

6. A utility container assembly for use with a sponge mop applicator, said assembly comprising, in combination, a wheeled base having a plurality of liquid containers supported thereon, at least one of said containers including a sponge mop engaging platform, mop wringer means on said base associated with said one container, foot engageable pedal means on said base, linkage means operatively connecting said foot pedal means and said mop wringer means whereby actuation of said foot pedal operates said wringer means to squeeze a sponge mop placed between said wringer means and said platform, an upstanding inverted U-shaped handle mounted on said wheeled frame adjacent said wringer means, and a basket means detachably mounted on said handle, said basket means comprising a pair of inverted U-shaped straps detachably suspended from said handle, a pair of wire mesh baskets secured one to each side of said straps for positioning one on each side of said handle, and guide means at the lower end of said straps engageable with said handle for preventing said baskets from swinging relative thereto.