U.S. patent application number 11/330971 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-28 for mop wringer and handle stabilizer.
Invention is credited to Raymond E. Ducharme.
Application Number | 20060213021 11/330971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37033712 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060213021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ducharme; Raymond E. |
September 28, 2006 |
Mop wringer and handle stabilizer
Abstract
A mop wringer and handle stabilizer for a mop bucket fitted with
a mop wringer and a bucket handle, which stabilizer includes a
bracket mounted on or shaped in the mop wringer and having a lip
for receiving and tensioning the bucket handle and stabilizing the
mop wringer on the mop bucket. A handle bend is optionally provided
in the bucket handle for receiving the mop handle of a mop located
in the mop bucket and stabilizing the mop in the mop bucket and a
wringer handle adaptor is attached to the mop wringer compression
handle and is configured and located to optionally receive and
stabilize the mop handle when the mop is located in the mop
wringer.
Inventors: |
Ducharme; Raymond E.;
(Shreveport, LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John M. Harrison
2139 E. Bert Kouns
Shreveport
LA
71105
US
|
Family ID: |
37033712 |
Appl. No.: |
11/330971 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60663672 |
Mar 22, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/260 ;
15/264 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/60 20130101;
A47L 13/58 20130101; A47L 13/59 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/260 ;
015/264 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20060101
A47L013/58 |
Claims
1. A stabilizer for stabilizing a mop wringer on a mop bucket
having a bucket handle and a bucket reservoir for receiving a mop
having a mop handle, said stabilizer comprising an engaging member
provided on the mop wringer for receiving the bucket handle and
exerting tension on the bucket handle.
2. The stabilizer of claim 1 comprising a handle bend provided in
the bucket handle for receiving the mop handle and stabilizing the
mop in the bucket reservoir of the mop bucket.
3. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein said engaging member comprises
a lip provided on the mop wringer for receiving the bucket
handle.
4. The stabilizer of claim 3 comprising a handle bend provided in
the bucket handle for receiving the mop handle and stabilizing the
mop in the bucket reservoir of the mop bucket.
5. The stabilizer of claim 1 comprising a handle adaptor provided
on the mop wringer for maneuvering the mop bucket and the mop
wringer in concert and receiving and resting the mop handle when
the mop is located in the mop wringer.
6. The stabilizer of claim 5 comprising a handle bend provided in
the bucket handle for selectively receiving the mop handle and
stabilizing the mop in the bucket reservoir of the mop bucket.
7. The stabilizer of claim 5 wherein said engaging member comprises
a lip provided on the mop wringer for receiving the bucket
handle.
8. The stabilizer of claim 5 comprising a handle bend provided in
the bucket handle for selectively receiving the mop handle and
stabilizing the mop in the bucket reservoir of the mop bucket and
wherein said engaging member comprises a bracket carried by the mop
wringer and a lip projecting from said bracket for receiving the
bucket handle.
9. A device for stabilizing a mop having a mop handle in a mop
bucket provided with a mop wringer and having a bucket handle, said
device comprising a bracket provided on the mop wringer and a lip
provided on said bracket for receiving and tensioning the bucket
handle on the lip.
10. The device of claim 9 comprising a handle bend provided in the
bucket handle for receiving the mop handle and stabilizing the mop
in the mop bucket.
11. The device of claim 9 comprising a handle adaptor provided on
the mop wringer for maneuvering the mop bucket and the mop wringer
in concert and receiving and resting the mop handle when the mop is
located in the mop wringer.
12. The stabilizer of claim 9 comprising: (a) a handle bend
provided in the bucket handle for selectively receiving the mop
handle and stabilizing the mop in the mop bucket; and (b) a handle
adaptor provided on the mop wringer for maneuvering the mop bucket
and the mop wringer in concert and selectively receiving and
resting the mop handle when the mop is located in the mop
wringer.
13. A stabilizing member for stabilizing a mop wringer assembly
having a wringer handle and a wringer reservoir on a mop bucket
having a pivoting bucket handle and a bucket reservoir configured
to receive a mop having a mop handle, said stabilizing member
comprising a bracket provided on the mop wringer assembly and a lip
extending from said bracket over the bucket reservoir of the mop
bucket for selectively receiving and tensioning the bucket handle
on the lip; a handle bend provided in the bucket handle for
selectively receiving the mop handle and stabilizing the mop in the
bucket reservoir; and a handle adaptor provided on the wringer
handle of the mop wringer assembly for maneuvering the mop bucket
and the mop wringer assembly in concert and selectively receiving
and resting the mop handle when the mop is located in the wringer
reservoir of the mop bucket.
14. The stabilizing member of claim 13 wherein said handle adaptor
comprises an adaptor base carried by the wringer handle, an adaptor
offset extending from said adaptor base and an adaptor grip
projecting from said adaptor offset for said selectively receiving
and resting the mop handle.
15. A method for stabilizing a mop wringer on a mop bucket having a
bucket handle and a bucket reservoir for receiving a mop having a
mop handle, comprising the steps of providing an engaging member on
the mop wringer for receiving and tensioning the bucket handle.
16. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of
providing a bend in the bucket handle of the mop bucket for
receiving the mop handle when the mop is located in the bucket
reservoir of the mop bucket.
17. The method according to claim 15 comprising the step of
providing a handle adaptor on the mop wringer for maneuvering the
mop bucket and the mop wringer in concert and receiving and resting
the mop handle when the mop is located in the mop wringer.
18. The method according to claim 15 comprising the steps of: (a)
providing a bend in the bucket handle of the mop bucket for
selectively receiving the mop handle when the mop is located in the
bucket reservoir of the mop bucket; and (b) providing a handle
adaptor on the mop wringer for maneuvering the mop bucket and the
mop wringer in concert and selectively receiving and resting the
mop handle when the mop is located in the mop wringer.
19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the engaging member is
shaped in the mop wringer.
20. The method according to claim 15 wherein the engaging member
comprises a bracket attached to the mop wringer and a lip extending
from the bracket for said receiving and tensioning the bucket
handle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by
reference prior filed copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 60/663,672, Filed Mar. 22, 2005.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A mop wringer and handle stabilizer which includes, in a
preferred embodiment, a bracket mounted on or shaped in the front
wall or rim of a mop wringer assembly which is removably seated on
a mop bucket. The bracket includes a forwardly-projecting lip for
removably receiving and tensioning the handle of the mop bucket,
thus removably stabilizing the mop wringer assembly on the mop
bucket. In another preferred embodiment a handle loop or bend is
provided in the bucket handle for removably receiving the mop
handle of a mop while the mop is positioned in the mop bucket to
stabilize the mop and mop handle in place during relocation of the
mop bucket and mop wringer assembly. In still another preferred
embodiment of the invention the bracket is constructed of metal or
plastic and is characterized by a bracket base having a pair of
base bends, one of which bends defines a base leg attached to the
wringer assembly rim and the other defining a pair of
downwardly-extending base flanges which are secured to the wringer
assembly wall beneath the rim. The outwardly-projecting base lip is
typically located above the base flanges and extends over the mop
bucket reservoir, in the path of a normally curved and
pivotally-mounted bucket handle. Tension is applied to the bucket
handle when the bucket handle is rotated or pivoted upwardly over
the base lip, to stabilize the mop wringer assembly on the mop
bucket. In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the
conventional wringer mop compression handle is fitted with a
wringer handle adaptor which is shaped and located to optionally
receive the handle of a mop located in the mop wringer reservoir
and stabilize the mop and mop handle in place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The invention will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the mop wringer and handle stabilizer of this invention in
functional configuration on a conventional mop bucket and wringer
assembly;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional mop bucket
and wringer assembly which receives the mop wringer and handle
stabilizer illustrated in FIG. 1; and
[0006] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mop wringer and handle
stabilizer illustrated in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0007] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings the mop
wringer and handle stabilizer of this invention is generally
illustrated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 1. The mop wringer and
handle stabilizer 1 is typically used in connection with a
conventional mop bucket 12 and a companion mop wringer assembly 16,
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0008] In a first preferred embodiment a bracket 2 is mounted on
the frontal portion of the wringer rim 18 of the conventional mop
wringer assembly 16, which is removably fitted in conventional
fashion to the bucket rim 12a of a mop bucket 12. In a typical
application the mop wringer assembly 16 is designed to seat on the
rear portion of the bucket rim 12a of the mop bucket 12 and receive
a mop 21, fitted with a mop handle 22, for wringing the water out
of the strands 21a of the mop 21 by operation of a conventional mop
compression handle 19, provided in the mop wringer assembly 16.
Accordingly, the mop receptacle 17 of the mop wringer assembly 16
is sized to receive the mop 21 and facilitate compression of the
strands 21a by manipulation of the mop compression handle 19 in
conventional fashion. The mop bucket 12 is typically fitted with a
reservoir 13 for containing water and a detergent (not illustrated)
and receiving the mop 21 and wetting the strands 21a, pursuant to
the mopping of a floor. The mop bucket 12 is typically fitted with
conventional rollers 14 for easy transportation and relocation of
the mop bucket 12, mop wringer assembly 16 and mop 21 into any
desired location for mopping of the floor.
[0009] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the bracket
2 is typically shaped to define a bracket base 3 which fits over
the top frontal portion of the wringer rim 18 of the mop wringer
assembly 16 and includes a pair of bracket base bends 4, from one
of which typically extends a base leg 5 rearwardly and downwardly
into the mop wringer assembly 16. The base leg 5 is typically
provided with spaced-apart leg openings (not illustrated) for
receiving corresponding leg mount bolts 5b and securing the base
leg 5 to the wringer rim 18 or the rear wall of the mop wringer
assembly 16, by means of a corresponding pair of nuts (not
illustrated). A base lip 6 projects forwardly from the bracket base
3, beneath the opposite one of the bracket base bends 4 of the
bracket 2 and typically extends over the reservoir 13 of the mop
bucket 12. A pair of spaced-apart base flanges 7, having flange
openings 7a that receive flange mount bolts 7b, fitted with
corresponding nuts (not illustrated), typically extend downwardly
from the front one of the base bends 4 in the bracket base 3. The
flange mount bolts 7b secure the base flanges 7 to the front wall
of the mop wringer assembly 16, immediately below the front portion
of the wringer rim 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The base lip 6
extends outwardly of the bracket base 3 over the reservoir 13 of
the mop bucket 12 and is designed to receive in a friction-fit, the
fixed or upwardly-pivoting top portion of the bail or bucket handle
9. The bucket handle 9 is typically pivotally attached by means of
the mount bend ends 9a and mount openings 11a, to the corresponding
handle mounts 11 of the mop bucket 12 in conventional fashion, as
further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The base lip
6 is sized and positioned on the wringer rim 18 to exert tension on
the bucket handle 9 and removably retain the mop wringer assembly
16 on the mop bucket 12 when the bucket handle 9 is pivoted into
position over the base lip 6, as further illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0010] In another preferred embodiment of the invention a handle
bend 10 is provided in the bucket handle 9, between the top central
portion thereof and one of the mount bends 9a of the bucket handle
9. Accordingly, the tension in the base lip 6 of the bracket 2
results in a downward force on the mop wringer assembly 16 to
secure the mop wringer assembly 16 on the mop bucket 12.
Furthermore, the mop handle 22 of the mop 21 can be inserted or
rested in the handle bend 10 of the bucket handle 9 to stabilize
the mop 21 and the mop handle 22 in place while the mop 21 is
located in the reservoir 13 of the mop bucket 12 and the mop bucket
12 and mop wringer assembly are relocated in concert by operation
of the rollers 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0011] In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention a
wringer handle adaptor 20 is mounted on the extending end of the
conventional mop compression handle 19 provided in the mop wringer
assembly 16. The wringer handle adaptor 20 includes a typically
tubular adaptor base 20a, which typically fits over the top end of
the mop compression handle 19 and is secured in place by one or
more fasteners, such as the adaptor bolt 20d. The adaptor bolt 20d
typically extends through the aligned bolt opening 20e and
compression handle opening 19a and is secured in place by the nut
36, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. An adaptor offset 20b
typically extends from the adaptor base 20a rearwardly to an
adaptor grip 20c, which projects substantially parallel to the rear
portion of the wringer rim 18. This arrangement facilitates
optionally resting the mop handle 22 against the adaptor grip 20c
when the mop 21 is in the mop receptacle 17 of the mop wringer
assembly 16, as an alternative to placement of the mop handle 22 in
the handle bend 10 of the bucket handle 9 when the mop is in the
reservoir 13, as further illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0012] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
bracket 2 may be installed on the mop wringer assembly 16 using the
leg mount bolts 5b and flange mount bolts 7b as described above, or
in any similar manner, and used to stabilize the mop wringer
assembly 16 on the mop bucket 12 without the implementation of a
handle bend 10 in the bucket handle 9. However, in a most preferred
embodiment of the invention a handle bend 10 is provided in the
bucket handle 9 to further stabilize and seat the mop handle 22 of
the mop 21 in position such that the mop bucket 12, with the mop
wringer assembly 16 in place, can be quickly and easily maneuvered
and transported by means of the rollers 14 across open spaces and
through doorways and narrow openings without risking unpredictable,
erratic and even dangerous displacement of the mop handle 22 and
the mop 21. Alternatively, the mop handle 22 can be rested against
the adaptor grip 20c of the wringer handle insert 20, more
typically under circumstances where the mop bucket 12 remains in
one place.
[0013] It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the bracket 2 can be shaped in substantially any desired
configuration to fit on the frontal wall or portion of the wringer
rim 18 or an alternative structure of a mop wringer assembly 16 of
any design and configuration, according to the knowledge of those
skilled in the art. Alternatively, the bracket 2 or base lip 6 can
be molded in one piece with the mop wringer assembly 16, as a part
of the frontal wall or wringer rim 18 or the alternative structure.
Furthermore, the bracket 2 can be configured of metal, plastic or
other material such as fiberglass, in non-exclusive particular,
which is sufficiently rigid and stiff to receive the top portion of
the bucket handle 9 in engaged configuration, tension the bucket
handle 9 and removably stabilize the mop wringer assembly 16 on the
mop bucket 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0014] Referring again to FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be further
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the leg mount bolts 5b
and flange mount bolts 7b which typically secure the base leg 5 and
the base flanges 7, respectively, to the mop wringer assembly 16,
may be characterized by screws, brads, rivets or other fasteners
known to those skilled in the art and used for the purpose of
securing the bracket 2 to the wringer rim 18 or alternative
structure of the mop wringer assembly 16. Under circumstances where
the leg mount bolts 5b and flange mount bolts 7b are used in this
capacity, they each typically extend through corresponding base leg
openings (not illustrated) and the flange openings 7a, in the base
leg 5 and the base flanges 7, respectively, of the bracket 2 and
through corresponding aligned openings (not illustrated) provided
in the wall of the mop wringer assembly 16, where they are secured
in place by corresponding nuts, not illustrated.
[0015] As further illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings it will
also be understood that the handle bend 10 can be configured in the
bucket handle 9 in a sufficient size and shape to accommodate any
sized mop handle 22, carrying a mop 21 on one end thereof, in a
slip-fit or a friction-fit, as desired, regardless of the design of
the mop 21.
[0016] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described above, it will be recognized and understood that various
modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims
are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *