WO2015114300A1

WO2015114300A1 - Mop bucket

Info

Publication number: WO2015114300A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles RUDGE; James Gray; Brian Turner
Original assignee: Bluwstuff Limited
Priority date: 2014-01-31
Filing date: 2015-01-30
Publication date: 2015-08-06
Also published as: GB2522667A; GB2522667B; GB201401709D0

Abstract

A mop bucket (1) comprising: a mop wringing means (2) for wringing a mop (17); at least one fastening means (4) within said mop wringing means (2) for releasably securing a handle of a cleaning tool (17, 18, 19) in an upright condition, with a head of said cleaning tool (17, 18, 19) substantially contained within the mop bucket (1); and, a dustpan support means (7) within said mop wringing means (2) for releasably securing a dustpan (19). A kit of cleaning tools (16) incorporating the aforementioned mop bucket (1), the kit (16) comprising at least one cleaning tool (17, 18, 19) configured to releasably secure within the at least one fastening means (4), and comprising a dustpan and brush (19) configured to releasably secure to the dustpan support means (7).

Description

MOP BUCKET

This invention pertains generally to the field of mop buckets or like receptacles, for use when mopping floors.

Mop buckets typically comprise a liquid receptacle or bucket with a handle and mop wringing means into which a mop head is twisted and squeezed to remove excess liquid from the mop head. The mop bucket usually incorporates means to support a mop when not being used, and this support typically comprises a simple clip arrangement into which the handle of the mop can be inserted. The mop handle is often much longer than the height of the mop bucket, which can cause the mop to be supported by the clip arrangement at an angle. Or where no clip arrangement is present, and the mop is simply rested within the bucket, the mop can cause the bucket to tip.

Existing mop buckets and mops can therefore be cumbersome to transport, tricky to lift, awkward to fill and empty, and bulky to store, with the mop handle presenting a hazard at all times. The means of stabilising the mop handle within the bucket is typically weak, and often a user must carry the bucket by its handle with one hand whilst stabilising the handle of the mop with the other. In this situation the user would not have any free hands for carrying other cleaning tools and items that they may need to have to hand during a cleaning session. Mops are often kept with the mop head within the mop bucket when not in use, and this bulky mop and mop bucket arrangement can often be found in a cleaning cupboard within a domestic environment. The length of the mop handle prevents the mop and mop bucket arrangement from being stored underneath a worktop or in a smaller kitchen cupboard. For those domestic environments that suffer from a distinct lack of space, storage of a mop and mop bucket arrangement can prove tricky. They cannot typically be kept with other cleaning products and tools, such as a dustpan and brush, even though these other cleaning products and tools are often required during a typical cleaning session.

Domestic cleaners and similar persons are required to transport mops and mop buckets from residence to residence. The length of the handle of the mop, and the fact that the mop head is often kept within the mop bucket, makes lifting and transporting the bucket difficult, particularly when the mop has recently been used and the mop head is still wet. There are a number of additional cleaning tools and products that a cleaner needs to carry, but lugging the mop and mop bucket is likely to take two hands, leaving no hands free to carry these items.

For any user of existing mops and mop buckets, the mop handle is often hard to control, particularly when filling and emptying the bucket, when there is a need to put the mop down during the mopping process, and when carrying the mop and mop bucket from one location to another. The mop handle often presents a hazard to the user that can lead to injury of the user or passerby, or damage to other items within an environment. The prior art shows a number of products which attempt to address these needs in various ways. GB 2 484 367 (John et al) discloses a mop and mop bucket arrangement that incorporates a structure for stabilizing a mop handle and for assisting with lifting and transporting the mop bucket. The mop handle comprises an attachment member that is secured to a bucket attachment member within the bucket. Whilst addressing the issue of mop handle stability when held within the mop bucket, the handle of the mop still presents a hazard when stored and when in use. A user is also likely to need two hands to transport the mop and mop bucket, without leaving any hands free for carrying other cleaning items.

Whilst the prior art appears to address the issue of providing additional stability for the mop handle when the mop head is contained within the mop bucket, there is still an issue with the handle of the mop presenting a hazard, and the difficulties that would be experienced when lifting and carrying this mop and mop bucket arrangement. Other cleaning products and tools could be carried within the mop bucket, but once the mop has been used the mop and mop bucket will remain wet, and therefore it is unlikely that this will be the case.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a mop bucket with improved means to stabilise cleaning tool handles when the head of the cleaning tools are located within the mop bucket, and to provide a mop bucket and accompanying kit of cleaning tools that can be easily and conveniently stored, lifted and carried, thereby ensuring a number of cleaning tools are readily available when required. The present invention aims to provide a compact mop bucket and cleaning tools solution for space-saving purposes, that does not present an obvious hazard to a user when in use, and is compact when stored. The presnt invention also aims to provide a kit of cleaning tools that is suitably compact to be marketed within high street stores.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mop bucket comprising:

- a mop wringing means for wringing a mop;

- at least one fastening means within said mop wringing means for releasably securing a handle of a cleaning tool in an upright condition, with a head of said cleaning tool substantially contained within the mop bucket; and,

- a dustpan support means within said mop wringing means for

releasably securing a dustpan.

The mop bucket may comprise at least one resting means about the rim of the mop bucket for supporting the cleaning tool handle in a resting position, the resting means configured such that, in use, the cleaning tool is supported against the outside of the mop bucket in a substantially upright condition. Preferably, the at least one fastening means comprises a clip configured to engage with a cleaning tool handle.

Preferably, the at least one fastening means comprises a C-shaped cutout within the wringing means configured to clip onto the cleaning tool handle and releasably secure the cleaning tool handle in an upright position.

The at least one fastening means may comprise a slot adjacent to the C-shaped cutout into which a corresponding projection on the cleaning tool handle is configured to engage.

The at least one fastening means may comprise a collar for the cleaning tool handle, the diameter of the collar being greater than the diameter of the C-shaped cutout, such that, in use, the collar rests on the C-shaped cutout, said collar also comprising the projection configured to engage with the slot.

The dustpan support means may comprise a hook, configured to engage within a recess in the dustpan.

Alternatively, the dustpan support means may comprise a longitudinal slot, configured to engage with a longitudinal projection within the dustpan.

The mop bucket may comprise a carrying handle. Preferably, the carrying handle incorporates at least one cutout for supporting the cleaning tool handle. The underside of the mop bucket may incorporate a gripping means for stability when tipping the mop bucket.

The mop wringing means may incorporate at least one drainage channel.

The mop wringing means may incorporate at least one drainage hole.

The mop bucket may be moulded from polyethylene.

Preferably, the mop bucket is made from a wood/plastic composite material.

The mop wringing means may be releasably secured to the the mop bucket by snap fastening means.

A kit of cleaning tools incorporating the aforementioned mop bucket, the kit comprising at least one cleaning tool configured to releasably secure within the at least one fastening means, and comprising a dustpan and brush configured to releasably secure to the dustpan support means.

Preferably, the kit comprises a mop configured to releasably secure within a first fastening means, a broom configured to releasably secure within a second fastening means, and a dustpan and brush configured to releasably secure to the dustpan support means.

Preferably, the mop and the broom comprise telescopic handles.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a mop bucket in isometric view with a carrying handle in a raised position;

Figure 2 shows mop bucket of Figure 1, with the carrying handle in a lowered position;

Figure 3 shows the mop bucket of Figures 1 and 2 with mop wringing means undipped from the mop bucket; Figure 4 shows the mop bucket of Figure 3 with mop wringing means clipped onto the mop bucket;

Figure 5 shows the mop bucket of Figure 1 in plan view, showing one embodiment of resting means for resting a cleaning tool against the exterior of the bucket in an upright condition;

Figure 6 shows one embodiment of a dustpan provided with a recess to engage with a dustpan support means within the mop wringing means;

Figure 7 shows one embodiment of a kit of cleaning products in a stored condition, the kit of cleaning products comprising the mop bucket, and also comprising a mop, a broom and a dustpan and brush, releasably secured to the mop bucket; and,

Figure 8 shows one embodiment of a fastening means within the mop wringing means for a cleaning tool handle.

In the figures like references denote like or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 shows a mop bucket 1 comprising a mop wringing means 2 and carrying handle 3. The mop wringing means 2 comprises a moulded plastics portion or similar arrangement, configured to wring out a mop by being of a suitable shape, and provided with a plurality of drainage holes, to allow a mop to be twisted and pressed to remove all liquid from the mop head. The drainage holes allow liquid to pass from the mop wringing means 2 and into the mop bucket 1. The mop wringing means 2 also comprises at least one fastening means 4 that is configured to releasably secure the handle of a mop, broom, brush or other similar cleaning item that has a handle. The mop wringing means 2 may be moulded from a polymer material, and this may comprise a recycled polymer material, whilst the handles of the cleaning tools are likely to be of a more rigid material, such as aluminium or a more rigid polymer material. The fastening means 4 in one embodiment comprises a C-shaped clip 5 that may be formed as part of the mop wringing means 2 by being moulded as part of the manufacturing process. Alternatively the C-shaped clip 5 may comprise a separate component affixed to the mop wringing means 2. The C- shaped clip 5 allows the handle of a mop or broom to be clipped and held in a substantially upright condition, with the head of the mop or broom contained within the mop bucket 1. The fastening means 4 may be U-shaped or rectangular shaped, or any further shape that corresponds with the handle of a broom or mop. The broom or mop can be clipped into the fastening means 4 by overcoming the resistance of the material of the mop wringing means 2. The broom or mop can also be removed from the fastening means 4 by overcoming the resistance of the material of the mop wringing means 2. The mop wringing means may comprise a moulded polymer material with sufficient give to allow a rigid cleaning tool handle to push-fit into the fastening means 4. The fastening means 4 may comprise another suitable form of fastening means 4 that is sufficient to support and hold a mop or broom when in a storage position or when not being used, not shown in the figures. Alternative fastening means 4 may comprise but are not limited to a spring loaded clip, a latch, a peg and hole or a magnet

The mop bucket 1 also comprises a dustpan support means 7 configured to releasably secure a dustpan within or alongside the mop bucket 1. The dustpan support means 7 in one embodiment is moulded as part of the mop wringing means 2 and provides a longitudinal slot or groove onto which a corresponding recess within the dustpan can be mounted. The dustpan support means 7 may alternatively comprise a hook onto which a dustpan can be mounted. The dustpan support means 7 in one embodiment is configured such that it supports the dustpan with the dustpan handle in an upright condition, making the handle easy for a user to take hold of. Any remaining dust or detritus in the dustpan is therefore dropped into the mop bucket 1. The dustpan support means 7 may comprise other suitable means of releasably securing the dustpan in such a position within the bucket, such as, but not limited to, a spring-loaded clip, a latch, a peg and hole, or a magnet.

The mop bucket 1 comprises a rim 6 that may incorporate a pouring spout 8 for convenience when emptying liquid from the mop bucket 1. The underside of the mop bucket 1 may also incorporate gripping means or a gripping region for helping a user to grip the mop bucket 1 when emptying liquid, not shown.

The carrying handle 3 of the mop bucket 1 may incorporate a plurality of handle stabilising cutouts 9 that correspond with the fastening means 4. The handle stabilising cutouts 9 provide an additional means of securing the handle of the cleaning tool in an upright condition. The handle stabilising cutouts 9 may comprise a cutout that is slightly larger in size than the handle of the cleaning tool, so as to allow the handle of the cleaning tool to be clipped into it, or the handle stabilising cutout 9 may be of a suitable size to allow the handle of the cleaning tool to rest within the cutout 9.

The mop wringing means 2 may be formed as part of the mop bucket 1 or may be secured to the rim 6 of the mop bucket 1 through at least one snap-fitting 10.

Figure 2 shows the mop bucket 1 of figure 1 with the carrying handle 3 in a stowed position. The handle stabilising cutouts 9 are shown as U- shaped, but may also comprise another suitable shape that corresponds to the cross-section of a cleaning tool handle.

As shown in figure 3, the mop wringing means 2 may incorporate a drainage channel 11. The mop wringing means 2 may also or alternatively comprise one or more drainage holes 12. The drainage channel 11 and/or drainage holes assist with the passage of liquid that is wrung from the mop head when pressed within the the mop wringing means 2 and into the mop bucket 1. Figure 3 shows the mop wringing means 2 releasably secured to the rim 6 of the mop bucket 1. Figure 4 shows the mop wringing means 2 when disengaged from the mop bucket 1. The mop wringing means 2 may alternatively be moulded as part of the mop bucket 1 , not shown, such that the mop wringing means 2 and mop bucket 1 comprise one piece.

Figure 5 shows one embodiment of resting means 13 for the handle of the cleaning tool when the user needs to take a break from using a particular tool, and needs somewhere to rest the tool until it is required. The resting means 13 comprises means to releasably secure the handle of a cleaning tool such as a mop or broom adjacent to the mop bucket 1 in a substantially upright condition. This stabilises the cleaning tool when not being held by a user, thus preventing it from sliding off a work surface or wall, or becoming a hazard. The resting means 13 allows the cleaning tool to be rested outside the mop bucket 1 and not therefore within any liquid in the mop bucket 1. Where the cleaning tool is say a broom or brush, the user would be unlikely to want to rest the broom or brush head within any liquid in the mop bucket 1.

The dustpan support means 7 may comprise a longitudinal slot 14 formed within the mop wringing means 2. As shown in figure 6, a dustpan and brush set 19 incorporates a corresponding longitudinal projection 15 on the underside of the dustpan to engage with the longitudinal slot 14 thus releasably securing the dustpan to the mop bucket 1.

Figure 7 shows one embodiment of a kit of cleaning tools 16 that are releasably secured to the mop bucket 1. The kit in this embodiment comprises a mop 17, a broom 18 and a dustpan and brush 19. A handle of the mop 17 is configured to engage with a first fastening means 4 within the mop wringing means 2. A handle of the broom 18 is configured to engage with a second fastening means 4 within the mop wringing means 2. The mop handle and broom handle are releasably secured to the mop bucket 1 in a substantially upright condition, with the carrying handle 3 providing further support for both handles. The mop 17 and broom 18 are shown as comprising telescopic handles so as to reduce the handle height when stored. The mop 17, broom 18 and dustpan and brush 19 are conveniently stored in one place and substantially within the volume of the mop bucket 1. The kit of cleaning products 16 can be easily lifted and transported by the carrying handle 3. The kit 16 provides a compact set of cleaning products for storage purposes, that can fit under worktops and inside smaller kitchen cupboards alongside other cleaning items. The kit 16 also maximises shelf space in-store.

The kit 16 allows the mop 17, broom 18 and dustpan and brush 19 to be on hand and readily available to the user who is facilitating the cleaning. The handles of the mop 17, broom 18 and dustpan and brush 19 are presented sticking out of the mop bucket 1 , ready for a user to grasp each item as and when required. The resting means 13 provides one means of supporting either the mop 17 or the broom 18 when not required. The kit 16 provides a suitable arrangement of cleaning products for domestic cleaners or those that need to transport cleaning products from residence to residence. It also provides a convenient arrangement of cleaning tools for use within a newly acquired property. The kit 16 shown in figure 7 is just one possible combination of cleaning tools that could be held by the mop bucket 1. The kit 16 may also comprise any combination of cleaning tools to include mops, brushes, brooms, dustpans and other cleaning tools and utensils.

Figure 8 shows one embodiment of fastening means 4 where the handle of the cleaning tool is provided with a collar 20 that sits on top of the C- shaped clip 5. The diameter of the collar 20 is such that it cannot pass through the C-shaped clip 5. The collar incorporates a projection 21 that is configured to engage with a slot 22 within the mop wringing means 2 to provide sufficient stability to the handle of the cleaning tool when located within the fastening means 4. The fastening means 4 may alternatively comprise a spring-loaded clip or similar catch that is suitable for releasably securing the handle of the cleaning tool in an upright condition.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mop bucket comprising:

- a mop wringing means for wringing a mop;

- a dustpan support means within said mop wringing means for

releasably securing a dustpan in a substantially upright condition.

2. A mop bucket according to claim 1 , comprising at least one resting means about the rim of the mop bucket for supporting the cleaning tool handle in a resting position, the resting means configured such that, in use, the cleaning tool is supported against the outside of the mop bucket in a substantially upright condition.

A mop bucket according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one fastening means comprises a clip configured to engage with a cleaning tool handle.

A mop bucket according to claim 3, wherein the at least one fastening means comprises a C-shaped cutout within the wringing means configured to clip onto the cleaning tool handle and releasably secure the cleaning tool handle in an upright position.

A mop bucket according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fastening means comprises a slot adjacent to the C-shaped cutout into which a corresponding projection on the cleaning tool handle is configured to engage.

6. A mop bucket according to claim 5, wherein the at least one fastening means comprises a collar for the cleaning tool handle, the diameter of the collar being greater than the diameter of the C-shaped cutout, such that, in use, the collar rests on the C-shaped cutout, said collar also comprising the projection configured to engage with the slot.

A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dustpan support means comprises a hook, configured to engage within a recess in the dustpan.

A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dustpan support means comprises a longitudinal slot, configured to engage with a longitudinal projection within the dustpan.

9. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop bucket comprises a carrying handle.

10. A mop bucket according claim 9, wherein the carrying handle incorporates at least one cutout for supporting the cleaning tool handle.

11. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the underside of the mop bucket incorporates a gripping means for stability when tipping the mop bucket.

12. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop wringing means incorporates at least one drainage channel.

13. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop wringing means incorporates at least one drainage hole.

14. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop bucket is moulded from polyethylene.

15. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop bucket is made from a wood/plastic composite material.

16. A mop bucket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mop wringing means is releasably secured to the rim of the mop bucket by snap fastening means.

17. A mop bucket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A kit of cleaning tools incorporating the mop bucket of any one of the preceding claims, the kit comprising at least one cleaning tool configured to releasably secure within the at least one fastening means, and comprising a dustpan and brush configured to releasably secure to the dustpan support means.

19. A kit of cleaning tools according to claim 18, the kit comprising a mop configured to releasably secure within a first fastening means, a broom configured to releasably secure within a second fastening means, and a dustpan and brush configured to releasably secure to the dustpan support means.

20. A kit of cleaning tools according to claim 19, wherein the mop and the broom comprise telescopic handles.

21. A kit of cleaning tools substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.