U.S. patent application number 11/204550 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for mopping system and method of use.
Invention is credited to Robert Palmer.
Application Number | 20070039117 11/204550 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37719476 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070039117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palmer; Robert |
February 22, 2007 |
MOPPING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A mopping system and methods of its use are disclosed. A mop
assembly includes a mop head that is adapted to be spun around a
generally vertical rotational axis thereof when the mop head is
fixed within a mop head spinning means of a bucket assembly. When
the mop head is spun at a relatively high rate of rotational speed,
water retained in the mop is forcefully dispelled from the mop by
centrifugal force. The water leaves the mop and is retained within
a spin chamber of the bucket assembly. A drain plunger is included
to allow the collected water to be drained from the bucket
assembly. An ozone generator may be included for introducing ozone
gas into the collected fouled water in the spin chamber. A clean
water tank with a pump and spraying means, mounted within the spin
chamber just below the mop head when the mop head is engaged with
the mop head spinning means, is preferably included to allow
introduction of clean water to the moping surface of the mop head.
The mop assembly may include a lever means for selectively
detaching the mop head from the handle. A control circuit controls
the spraying of clean water onto the mop head, the ozone generator,
and the activation and speed of the mop head spinning means, such
that various wash-dry cycles are available.
Inventors: |
Palmer; Robert; (Artesia,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUICKPATENTS, INC.
31877 DEL OBISPO
SUITE 202
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
CA
92675
US
|
Family ID: |
37719476 |
Appl. No.: |
11/204550 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/260 ;
34/58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C02F 1/78 20130101; A47L
13/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/260 ;
034/058 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20060101
A47L013/58 |
Claims
1.-4. (canceled)
5. A mopping system comprising: a mop assembly comprising a mop
head and an elongated handle, the mop head including a
floor-engageable lower surface and a handle attachment means for
attaching the mop head to a lower end of the handle; and a bucket
assembly comprising a spin chamber and a mop head spinning means,
the mop head spinning means comprising a mop head engagement means
rotationally supported at least partially within the spin chamber,
a rotational driving means, comprising a motor electrically
connected to a power source, connected to the mop head engagement
means such that the rotational driving means rotationally drives
the mop head engagement means, the rotational driving means being
physically isolated away from moisture contained in the spin
chamber, the mop head spinning means engageable with the mop head
to rotationally support the mop head within the spin chamber away
from an inner wall of the spin chamber, the mop head engagement
means being a non-circular shaft rotationally coupled to a rotating
shaft of the motor at a lower end of the non-circular shaft, the
lower surface of the mop head further includes a centrally located
shaft aperture for slidably receiving the non-circular shaft of the
mop head engagement means therein and rotationally locking the mop
head thereto; whereby with the mop head engaged to the mop head
spinning means, the mop head spinning means may be caused to spin
the mop head about a rotational axis thereof to effect centrifugal
drying of the mop head.
6. A mopping system comprising: a mop assembly comprising a mop
head and an elongated handle, the mop head including a
floor-engageable lower surface and a handle attachment means for
attaching the mop head to a lower end of the handle, the elongated
handle further including a biased lever means at an upper end
thereof mechanically coupled to a mop head attachment means fixed
to the lower end of the handle, the mop head attachment means of
the handle and the handle attachment means of the mop head
cooperating to retain the mop head pivotably on the lower end of
the handle when the lever means is in a normal position, and the
mop head attachment means of the handle and the handle attachment
means of the mop head cooperating to mechanically disconnect the
mop head from the lower end of the handle when the lever means is
in an actuated position; and a bucket assembly comprising a spin
chamber and a mop head spinning means, the mop bead spinning means
engageable with the mop head to rotationally support the mop head
within the spin chamber away from an inner wall of the spin
chamber; whereby with the mop head engaged to the mop head spinning
means, the mop head spinning means may be caused to spin the mop
head about a rotational axis thereof to effect centrifugal drying
of the mop head.
7. The mopping system of claim 5 wherein the spin chamber is
generally toroid-shaped and has an inverted frustoconical inner
wall for rotationally supporting the shaft coaxially on an outer
surface thereof with at least one set of bearings mounted
thereon.
8. The mopping system of claim 7 wherein the bucket assembly
includes a hollow generally toroid-shaped clean water tank having
an inverted frustoconical aperture formed therein, the clean water
tank gravitationally held onto the frustoconical inner wall of the
spin chamber, the aperture therein large enough to cause the clean
water tank to be supported below the lower surface of the mop head
when the mop head is engaged with the mop head engagement
means.
9. The mopping system of claim 8 wherein the clean water tank
includes a pump and spraying means for pumping clean water from the
clean water tank and spraying it onto the lower surface of the mop
head when the mop head is engaged with the mop head engagement
means.
10. A mopping system comprising: a mop assembly comprising a mop
head and an elongated handle, the mop head including a
floor-engageable lower surface and a handle attachment means for
attaching the mop head to a lower end of the handle; and a bucket
assembly comprising a spin chamber and a mop head spinning means,
the mop head spinning means engageable with the mop head to
rotationally support the mop head within the spin chamber away from
an inner wall of the spin chamber, the bucket assembly further
including a drain plunger protruding at one end of the bucket
assembly and extending down through the bucket assembly to a rubber
seal for sealing a drain aperture in a lower-most section of the
spin chamber, the drain plunger being biased upward such that the
rubber seal engages and seals the drain aperture in a normal
position, the drain plunger causing the rubber seal to disengage
the drain aperture of the spin chamber when forced into an actuated
position; whereby with the mop head engaged to the mop head
spinning means, the mop head spinning means may be caused to spin
the mop head about a rotational axis thereof to effect centrifugal
drying of the mop head.
11.-14. (canceled)
15. The mopping system of claim 5 wherein the bucket assembly
further includes a control circuit electrically connected to the
motor for controlling the speed of the motor.
16. The mopping system of claim 9 wherein the bucket assembly
further includes a control circuit electrically connected to the
motor and the water pump for controlling activation and
deactivation of the motor, speed of the motor, and activation and
deactivation of the pump and spraying means.
17. The mopping system of claim 16 wherein the control circuit
includes a button for activating a washing and drying cycle,
wherein the motor is activated to spin the mop head at a relatively
low speed while the pump and spraying means sprays a clean water
solution onto the lower side of the mop head to clean the mop head,
and then to spin the mop head at a relatively high speed to effect
drying of the mop head.
18. The mopping system of claim 17 wherein the control circuit
button is mounted proximate to the shaft, whereby it is activated
by engaging the mop head to the mop bead engagement means.
19. The mopping system of claim 17 wherein the bucket assembly
includes a top cover slidably engaged with a top surface thereof
for covering the mop head when the mop head is engaged with the mop
head engagement means, and where the control circuit button is
mounted proximate to the shaft and is electrically connected in
series with a second button mounted proximate to the cover, whereby
the control circuit is activated by engaging the mop head to the
mop head engagement means and closing the top cover.
20. The mopping system of claim 8 wherein the clean water tank has
a water inlet port in fluid communication therewith and exiting at
the top side of the bucket assembly, whereby the clean water tank
may be filled with a clean water solution by pouring said solution
into the water inlet port, with the clean water tank remaining
inside the bucket assembly.
21. The mopping system of claim 10 further including a drain water
container open on one side and adapted to fit under the drain
aperture between the bucket assembly and the floor surface, whereby
with the drain aperture set in the actuated position, liquid from
within the spin chamber is completely drained into the drain water
container.
22. (canceled)
23. A mop drying method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
mop head having a longitudinal axis, and a mop head spinning means;
(b) engaging the mop head spinning means to the mop head proximate
the longitudinal axis thereof; and (c) activating the spinning
means to spin the mop head about a rotational axis thereof until
the mop head is substantially dry.
24. The mop drying method of claim 23 further including the steps
of: (d) spraying clean water onto the mop head; and (e) activating
the spinning means a second time to spin the mop head about the
rotational axis until the mop head is substantially dry.
25. A mop drying method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
mop head having a longitudinal axis, and a mop head spinning means;
(b) engaging the mop head spinning means to the mop head proximate
the longitudinal axis thereof; (c) activating the spinning means to
spin the mop head about a rotational axis thereof at a first speed;
(d) spraying a clean water solution onto the mop head for a first
period of time; and (e) activating the spinning means to spin the
mop head about a rotational axis thereof at a second speed for a
second period of time.
26. A mop drying method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
mop and a mop head spinning means, the mop including a mop head
detachable from a mop handle; (b) detaching the mop head from the
handle; (c) engaging the mop head to the mop head spinning means;
(d) activating the spinning means to spin the mop head about a
rotational axis thereof until the mop head is substantially
dry.
27. The mopping system of claim 5 wherein the bucket assembly
includes an ozone generator fluidly connected to a lower-most
portion of the spin chamber such that when the ozone generator is
activated, ozone gas is caused to bubble up through any liquid
contained in the spin chamber.
28. The mopping system of claim 27 wherein the bucket assembly
further includes a control circuit electrically connected to the
ozone generator for controlling the activation of the mop head
spinning means and the activation of the ozone generator.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to mops, and more particularly to a
mop that has a mop head adapted for spin drying within a motorized
bucket assembly.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Conventional mops used in retail and commercial locations
such as restaurants, shopping malls, and the like are typically of
the type having an elongated handle and a string cloth mop head. A
wheeled bucket is usually included that contains either one
compartment for a clean water solution, or two compartments for
holding the clean water solution and fouled water. A wringer may be
included to wring-out the mop into the fouled water
compartment.
[0003] In use, the mop is wrung-out and submerged into the clean
water solution so as to absorb a quantity thereof. Such clean water
may also include a cleaning agent such as bleach, or the like. The
mop is then applied to the floor where it deposits a layer of the
clean water solution and, simultaneously, picks-up dirt, grease and
other water-fouling material. The mop, now contaminated, is then
wrung-out, and the mop is once again submerged into the clean water
solution. However, at this point not all of the contaminants have
been removed from the mop in the wringing process, and a
significant amount of water fouling material is deposited into the
clean water compartment. As a result, it is not long before there
is little distinction between the two compartments, both containing
fouled water.
[0004] In prior art mop buckets with only a single bucket
compartment, the problem is compounded by the fact that dirt that
is removed from the mop and wrung-out into the water compartment
can be immediately picked-up again by the mop and re-applied to the
floor surface that is being mopped. Mopping with such prior art
buckets quickly becomes an exercise in futility, as applying
contaminated water to a contaminated floor does little to clean the
floor. Further, often the employees who are charged with mopping
the floor are indifferent as to whether or not the process actually
cleans the floor, the result being poor sanitary conditions
throughout the establishment.
[0005] Moreover, to make conditions worse, in practice many mop
buckets are not emptied for days, the same fouled water sitting
stagnant, a perfect media for bacteria and other biologically
active organisms to thrive and multiply. Instead of cleaning the
floors in a retail establishment, mopping with such a universal
mopping bucket can often do more to contaminate the floors with
dangerous biological agents than not mopping at all.
[0006] Several improved wringing devices have been invented that
attempt to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks with the prior
art. Such devices strive to more thoroughly clean the mop during
the wringing process. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,464,809 and
4,344,201, issued on Aug. 14, 1984 and Aug. 17, 1982, both to
Trisolini, disclose a mop with a rotating head that cooperates with
a rotating mop wringer that is spun by a motorized bucket. The mop
wringer takes the form of a perforated basket, and strands of the
mop are thrown against the side walls thereof, whereby water and
dirt are extracted from the mop. However, the perforated basket of
such a device applies not only centrifugal force to the strands of
the mop, but also centripetal force, which serves to keep particles
of dirt and debris in the mop head. The force of the strands
against the perforations of the basket can actually block water and
dirt flow out of the mop strands. Thus, while such a device is
better at removing dirt and water from the mop, it is by no means
optimal at such. A further drawback to the Trisolini devices is
that they are somewhat tall in their profile, and are therefore
more difficult to store and maneuver. Further, such prior art mop
assemblies are heavy due to the hollow cleaning fluid chamber
therein, and as such a person mopping with such a device can
quickly become exhausted.
[0007] Another prior art device, also to Trisolini, is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,141 issued on Dec. 31, 1985. This device
incorporates a motor and a wringing basket into the mop assembly,
for providing a self-wringing mop. The main drawback with such a
device is, again, the mop of such a device is heavy and quickly
becomes exhausting to use. The motor of such a device, as well as
the batteries to power it, are extra weight that the user is forced
to propel around the floor while mopping.
[0008] Several improvements have been devised for sterilizing germs
that may be present in the mop bucket or on the mop itself. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,269 to Marston on Jan. 23, 1979,
teaches a mop bucket that includes an ultraviolet light sterilizing
system. Japanese Patent Application JP11206666A2 to Akihiro on Aug.
3, 1999 teaches a bucket including an ozone generator for bubbling
ozone up through the liquid contained in the mop bucket. Both such
prior art inventions may accomplish their goals, but neither patent
is directed towards a device for cleaning both the fouled water
contained in the bucket and the mop head simultaneously. Further,
such prior art devices do not include intelligent controlling means
for shutting-off the sterilizing device if the bucket is empty or
is not being used. Thus, one can easily inadvertently leave such a
device activated, both wasting energy and possibly over-exposing
the mop and surrounding areas to UV light and ozone.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for an improved mopping system
that allows for convenient, quick and thorough cleaning and drying
of a mop head. Such a needed device would allow clean water or a
cleaning solution to be applied to the mop head easily, and would
not allow cross-contamination between the clean water solution and
the fouled-water container. Moreover, such a needed device would
provide for easy sterilization of the mop head and the fouled water
to prevent biological growth therein, and would facilitate emptying
of the fouled water. The needed device would be self-contained and
easily portable from location to location as needed. Further, such
a needed device would greatly improve the sanitary conditions of
mopped floors, substantially eliminating re-contamination thereof
by a fouled mop head. The present invention accomplishes these
objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present device is a mopping system comprising a mop
assembly and a bucket assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the
mop assembly includes a mop head that is detachably fixed to a
lower end of an elongated handle. The mop head is adapted to be
spun around a generally vertical rotational axis thereof when the
mop head is fixed within a mop head spinning means of the bucket
assembly. As such, when the mop head is spun at a relatively high
rate of rotational speed, water retained in the mop is forcefully
dispelled from the mop by centrifugal force. The fouled water
leaves the mop and is retained within the spin chamber, where it
collects at the bottom thereof. A drain plunger is preferably
included to allow the collected fouled water to be drained from the
spin chamber into either a floor drain or a drain water container
included with the invention. An ozone generator may be included for
introducing ozone gas into the collected fouled water in the spin
chamber, thus sterilizing any biologically active organisms
contained therein.
[0011] A clean water tank with a pump and spraying means is
preferably included to allow introduction of clean water to the
moping surface of the mop head. Such a clean water tank is
preferably mounted within the spin chamber just below the mop head
when the mop head is engaged with the mop head spinning means. The
clean water tank is sealed so that fouled water dispensed from the
mop head during rotation does not contaminate the clean water or
other cleaning fluid contained in the clean water tank.
[0012] The mop assembly may include a lever means for selectively
detaching the mop head from the handle. As such, the user does not
have to bend down to engage the mop head with the mop head spinning
means of the bucket assembly. Alternately, the mop head may be
rotationally fixed to the elongated handle such that it can only
spin around its rotational axis when engaged with the mop head
spinning means.
[0013] The present invention is an improved mopping system that
allows for convenient, quick and thorough cleaning and drying of a
mop head. The present device allows clean water or a cleaning
solution to be applied to a mop head easily, and prevents
contamination between a clean water solution and a fouled-water
container. Moreover, the present invention provides for easy
sterilization of the mop head and the fouled water to prevent
biological growth therein, and allows for easy, hands-free emptying
of the fouled water. The invention is self-contained, easily
portable from location to location as needed, and greatly improve
the sanitary conditions of floors mopped therewith, substantially
eliminating re-contamination thereof by a fouled mop head. Other
features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a cut-away left-side elevational view of the
invention, illustrating a mop assembly of the present invention in
a position to engage a mop head thereof with a bucket assembly of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cut-away left-side elevational view of the
invention, illustrating the mop head as engaged with a mop head
engagement means of the bucket assembly;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cut-away left-side elevational view of the
invention, illustrating a spinning mop head rotated by a mop head
spinning means of the invention, and further illustrating dirty
water being flung away from the mop head while clean water is
sprayed to an underside of the mop head;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cut-away left-side elevational view of the
invention, illustrating a drain plunger being actuated to drain a
spin chamber of the invention of dirty water;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the invention, showing a mop
head as engaged with a non-circular shaft of the mop head spinning
means;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the mop head of the
invention, illustrating a lower surface thereof and a plurality of
water absorbing strands;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken
generally along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating a handle
attachment means of the mop head and a mop head attachment means of
an elongated mop handle;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken
generally along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6, illustrating in more detail
the handle attachment means of the mop head and the mop head
attachment means of the elongated mop handle; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken
generally along lines 8-8 of FIG. 6, illustrating the mop head
being detached from the elongated handle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a mopping system 10 of the present
invention. In its simplest form, the mopping system 10 comprises a
mop assembly 20 and a bucket assembly 90. The mop assembly includes
a mop head 30 preferably pivotally attached to an elongated handle
40. The mop head 30 includes a floor-engageable lower surface 50
(FIG. 8) and an opposing upper surface 60. The mop head 30 includes
a handle attachment means 70, preferably on the upper surface 60,
for attaching the mop head 30 to a lower end 80 of the handle 40
(FIGS. 7-9). The handle attachment means 70 could also be provided
on a peripheral edge of the mop head 30 (not shown).
[0024] The mop head 30 is preferably detachable from the elongated
handle 40 so that the mop head 30 may be easily spun in the bucket
assembly 90 without the need to also spin the handle 40. However,
such an arrangement is not necessarily required in an embodiment of
the invention that allows for spinning the entire mop assembly 20
by aligning the longitudinal axis of the handle with the rotational
axis 140 of the mop head.
[0025] Such an embodiment notwithstanding, the preferred embodiment
of the invention includes a biased lever means 220 at an upper end
230 of the handle 40 mechanically coupled to a mop head attachment
means 240 fixed to the lower end 80 of the handle 40. The mope head
attachment means 240 of the handle 40 and the handle attachment
means 70 of the mop head 30 cooperate to retain the mop head 30 in
a pivotable fashion on the lower end 80 of the handle 40 when the
lever means is in a normal position 250 (FIG. 8). When the lever
means 220 is placed in an actuated position 260 (FIG. 9), the mop
head attachment means 240 of the handle 40 and the handle
attachment means 70 of the mop head 30 cooperate to mechanically
disconnect the mop head 30 from the lower end 80 of the handle 40.
The lever means 220 is preferably a lever as illustrated in FIGS. 8
and 9, however, a biased spring button or knob may also be used, as
could a variety of different mechanical couplings. Linkages between
the upper end 230 and lower end 80 of an elongated handle 40 are
known in the prior art, and the preferred embodiment herein
described is just one such known method. The important feature of
this embodiment is that the mop head 30 may be easily detached from
the handle 40, preferably without the operating having to bend
down.
[0026] The mop head 30 preferably includes a plurality of water
absorbing strands 520 attached to the lower side 50 thereof. Such
strands 520 may be made from cotton, felt, or other water absorbing
material. Such strands 520, however, are made from a material that
will release water when subjected to a strong centrifugal force.
The mop head 30 is preferably rectangular in plan view (FIG. 6),
but could also be either circular or square or any other suitable
shape, provided that the mop head 30 has a center of gravity
proximate its longitudinal axis 140 so as to remain balanced when
spinning, as described below.
[0027] The bucket assembly 90 preferably includes a spin chamber
100 complete contained therewithin, and a mop head spinning means
110. The mop head spinning means 110 is engageable with the mop
head 30 to rotationally support the mop head 30 within the spin
chamber 110, away from an inner wall 115 thereof (FIG. 3). As such,
when spun around the rotational axis 140, the distance to the edge
of the mop head 30 and the centrifugally extended strands 520 must
be less than the distance between the shaft 180 and the inner wall
115 of the spin chamber 110. As such, water in a strand 520 is not
constrained by the inner wall 115 and is free to exit the strand
520.
[0028] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
mop head spinning means 110 can take various forms. Preferably, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the mop head spinning means includes a
mop head engagement means 120 such as a shaft 180 having a
non-circular cross-section. The non-circular shaft 180 is
vertically and rotationally supported within the spin chamber 100
by a pair of bearings 280 each centrally supported by the spin
chamber 100. A rotational driving means 130, such as an electric
motor 150 with a rotating shaft 190, is connected to the mop head
spinning means 110 through a mechanical linkage 195 therebetween
(FIG. 1), such as a cog belt 195 with pulleys on the shafts 180,
190. In this manner the motor 150 may be isolated in a dry chamber
105 (FIG. 2) of the bucket assembly 90, away from any moisture or
standing liquid 315. Further, the rotational speed of the shaft 180
may be differed as desired from that of the motor 150 through use
of varying-sized pulleys.
[0029] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spin
chamber 100 is generally a toroid-shaped enclosure open at its top
end and having an inverted frustoconical inner wall 270 centrally
located therewithin. The bearings 280 are fixed to the lower outer
surface of the inner wall 270 and are co-aligned to allow the shaft
180 to be supported co-axially and substantially vertically
therewithin. A seal is included on the shaft 180 where the shaft
180 penetrates the inner wall 270 and protrudes into the spin
chamber 100.
[0030] It would be obvious to one skilled in the art to directly
couple a motor 150 to the shaft 180 such that the motor is within
the inner wall 270, directly under the mop head 30 when the mop
head 30 is engaged to the mop head engagement means 120. The inner
wall 270 would, in such an embodiment, constitute the dry chamber
105. Other arrangements could be used for the mop head spinning
means 110, as well, as known in the prior art. What is vital to the
design, however, is that water is prevented from entering the motor
150 or any other electronic components, as discussed further
below.
[0031] Located just below the mop head 30 when the mop head 30 is
engaged to the shaft 180 is a generally toroid-shaped clean water
tank 290 having an inverted frustoconical aperture 300 formed
therein (FIGS. 1-5). The clean water tank 290 rests on the inner
wall 270 of the spin chamber 100, its longitudinal axis coinciding
with that of the shaft 180. The clean water tank 290 includes a
pump and spraying means 310 for pumping clean water 320 from the
clean water tank 290 and spraying the clean water 320 onto the
lower surface 50 of the mop head 30. The pump and spraying means
310 is preferably an electric pump fixed proximate to the lower
inside surface of the clean water tank 290 that pumps clean water
320 up to an inverted spray nozzle fixed to the top outside surface
of the tank 290 (FIG. 3). The clean water 320 may obviously be a
cleaning liquid as opposed to clean water, per se, but the clean
water 320 is isolated from any fouled water 315 leaving the mop
head 30 due to the clean water tank 290 being generally sealed. A
water inlet port 500 may be included, the water inlet port 500
being in fluid communication with, such as with a hollow pipe, the
clean water tank 290 (FIGS. 1-5). The water inlet port 500
preferably exits the bucket assembly 90 at a top side 440 thereof.
As such, clean water 320 or other cleaning fluids may be introduced
into the water inlet port 500 in order to refill the clean water
tank 290 without having to remove the clean water tank 290 from the
spin chamber 100.
[0032] A drain plunger 330 protrudes from one end 340 of the bucket
assembly 90 and extends down through the bucket assembly 90 to a
rubber seal 350. The rubber seal 350 seals a drain aperture 360 in
the lower-most section 370 of the spin chamber 100. The drain
plunger 330 is biased upward such that the rubber seal 350 engages
and seals the drain aperture 360 in a normal position 380 thereof
(FIGS. 1-3). When the drain plunger 330 is placed in an actuated
position 390, against a biasing element such as a spring 395, the
drain plunger 330 causes the rubber seal 350 to disengage the drain
aperture 360 of the spin chamber 100, resulting in the draining of
any fouled liquid 320 from the bucket assembly 90 (FIG. 4).
[0033] Preferably a drain water container 510 is also included,
open on its top side and adapted to fit under the drain aperture
360 between the bucket assembly 90 and a floor surface 420. The
bottom inside surface of the spin chamber 100 is slightly tilted
towards the drain aperture 360 so that fouled water 320 within may
be completely drained by gravity when the drain plunger 330 is
actuated. A plurality of wheels 400 on the bottom surface 410 of
the bucket assembly 90 maintain the bucket assembly 90 above the
floor surface 420. Preferably at least two of the plurality of
wheels 400 are lockable, such that when the motor 150 is actuated
the bucket assembly 90 does not oscillate or otherwise move along
the floor surface 420. The bucket assembly 90 may be conveniently
moved about the floor surface 420 by the operator pushing or
pulling the elongated handle 40 when same is engaged with the mop
head 30 and the mop head 30 is mounted on the shaft 180.
[0034] The electric motor 150 is electrically connected to a power
source 170, such as a DC battery. An AC/DC adapter 178 (FIG. 2) may
be used to recharge the battery, ensuring for safety that only low
voltage is proximate to the bucket assembly 90. However, an AC
power cord 175 for plugging into a power outlet (not shown) could
also be used (FIG. 1). In either case, the power source 170 is
preferably enclosed in the dry chamber 105.
[0035] The bucket assembly 90 preferably further includes a top
cover 430 slidably engaged with the top surface 440 thereof for
covering the mop head 30 when the mop head 30 is engaged with the
mop head engagement means 120. As such, fouled water 315 cannot
escape the bucket assembly 90 when the cover 430 is closed and the
motor 150 is activated. Alternately, the mop head 30 may be both
rotationally and pivotally attached to the elongated handle 40,
such that the mop head 30 may spin with respect to the handle 40
while still attached thereto (not shown). In such an embodiment,
the mop head 30 remains attached to the elongated handle 40 yet may
spin freely in a rotational plane when the mop head 30 is engaged
to the rotating shaft 180. The cover 430 in such an embodiment is
either not included, or is provided with a handle slot (not shown)
for covering most of the spin chamber 100 while allowing just the
handle 40 to protrude therefrom.
[0036] Moreover, in such an embodiment the lever means 220 is not
for disengaging the mop head 30 from the handle 40, but rather
rotationally unlocking the mop head 30 from spinning with respect
to the handle 40. With such an arrangement the lever means 220 is
actuated only when the mop head 30 is engaged to the shaft 180 and
the operator desires the mop head spinning means 110 to be
activated. Indeed, such actuation of the lever means 220 may cause
the button 490 to become actuated (not shown), thereby starting the
washing and drying cycle of the control circuit 480. In using such
an embodiment, a user places the mop head 30 onto the shaft 180 by
lifting the mop head 30 with the handle 40. Once engaged with the
shaft 180 the lever means 220 is actuated, and the mop head 30
becomes rotationally unlocked from the handle 40 and the mop head
spinning means 110 is activated. Alternately, the act of engaging
the mop head 30 onto the shaft 180 may rotationally free the mop
head 30 from the handle 40 and actuate the head spinning means 110,
thereby eliminating the need for the lever means 220 completely. A
mechanical engineer or others skilled in the art would be able to
effect such alternate arrangements of the mop assembly 20 to enable
the mop head 30 to rotate only when desired by the operator.
[0037] The bucket assembly 90 preferably further includes an ozone
generator 450 fluidly connected to the lower-most portion 370 of
the spin chamber 100 through a tube 455. As such, when the ozone
generator 450 is activated, ozone gas 460 is caused to bubble up
through any fouled liquid 315 contained within the spin chamber
100. Further, ozone gas 460, upon reaching the surface of the
fouled liquid 315, fills the open space of the spin chamber 100 and
helps to sterilize any bacteria and germs located therein, such as
on the mop head 30. Ozone gas 460 is preferred, but alternate
sterilizing fluids or gases could be introduced to the fouled
liquid 315 without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0038] The dry chamber 105 includes a control circuit 480 that
electrically connects the power source 170 to the motor 150, the
ozone generator 450, and the pump and spraying means 310 as needed.
Such a control circuit preferably includes a button 490 for
activating a washing and drying cycle of the mopping system 10,
wherein the motor 150 is activated to spin the mop head 30 at a
relatively low speed, such as between 40 and 60 RPM, while the pump
and spraying means 310 sprays the clean water solutions 320 onto
the lower side 50 of the mop head 30 to clean the mop head 30. The
ozone generator 450 is also activated. The control circuit then,
after a predetermined period of time such as 15 to 30 seconds,
deactivates the pump and spraying means 310 and increases the speed
of the motor 150 to preferably between 400 and 600 RPM, to force
effective centrifugal drying of the mop head 30 and the water
absorbing strands 520. As the strands 520 do not touch the inner
wall 115 of the spin chamber 100, any water 315 therein is quickly
expunged therefrom. After a second predetermined period of time,
such as 30 to 60 seconds, the motor 150 is deactivated, and then,
after a third predetermined period of time, such as five minutes,
the ozone generator 450 is deactivated so as not to overly expose
the surrounding areas to ozone gas.
[0039] The button 490 may be located through the top surface 440 of
the bucket assembly 90, under the top cover 430 when the top cover
430 is in an open position (FIGS. 1 and 2). As such, the button 490
may not be depressed unless the top cover 430 is closed (FIGS. 3
and 4), ensuring that the motor 150 does not spin when the cover
430 is open for safety.
[0040] Alternatively, a second button 495, in series with the
button 490, may be included to sense if a mop head 30 has been
engaged with the mop head engagement means 120. If not, the second
button 495 remains open, thereby preventing the motor 150 from
spinning unless both the mop head 30 is in place on the shaft 180
and the cover 430 is closed. The second button 495 may be mounted
proximate the shaft 180 to detect the weight of the mop head 30
thereon, or using some other commonly known button mounting
arrangement. Clearly, the second button 495 may be included without
button 490, such that merely engaging the mop head 30 on the shaft
180 starts the washing and drying cycle. In such an embodiment, a
delay of several seconds may be introduced to give the operator
time to withdraw the handle 40 completely from the mop head 30.
However, preferably, the button 490 is included to ensure that the
cover 430 is closed prior to starting the washing and drying
cycle.
[0041] In operation, a number of methods of use are preferred. The
simplest method is to minimally provide the mop head 30 and a
simplified bucket assembly 90, engage the mop head 30 to the mop
head spinning means 110 of the bucket assembly 90, and activate the
spinning means 110 to dry the mop head 30. The mop head spinning
means 110 in such a case is switchably connected to the power
source 170 in a conventional manner, such as directly through a
switch or button 490, or by plugging a power cord into a wall
outlet (not shown), and the motor 150 of the mop head spinning
means 110 rotates the shaft 180 to spin the mop head 30. When the
button 490 is released, or the power cord is pulled from the wall
outlet, the motor 150 is deactivated. Such a simplified embodiment,
however, requires the operator to judge when the mop head 30 is
dry, and such a judgment may or may not be accurate.
[0042] In such an embodiment, the mop head spinning means 110 may
be used over an existing sink (not shown), the sink acting as the
spin chamber 100. Such an embodiment requires that the motor 150 is
mounted in some fashion, such as in a dry chamber 105 enclosure
resting on a countertop proximate the sink with the shaft 180
provided on a cantilevered arm extending out over the sink (not
shown), or the like. Alternatively, the motor 150 may be mounted in
an inverted cone dry chamber 105 with the shaft 180 emanating from
the top thereof (not shown), the inside of the cone being sealed
from the water dripping down from the mop head 30. While such
embodiments are the simplest configurations for the present
invention, the safety risk of such embodiments are significantly
higher, and the ease of use is considerably less than that of the
preferred embodiments, as water spinning off of the mop head 30 is
not fully contained and can spray out of the sink in such
embodiments. Therefore, while these embodiments fall within the
scope of the present invention, these embodiments are not
preferred.
[0043] Additional steps of spraying clean water 320 onto the lower
surface 50 of the mop head 30 may be included in the method of use
of the present invention. Such spraying of clean water 320 may
occur either before or after the main drying cycle (wherein the mop
head 30 is spun at a relatively high rotational speed to effect
centrifugal drying) and such spraying may be termed a wash cycle.
Thus, various cycles, such as dry only, wash only, wash-dry,
dry-wash, wash-dry-wash, or dry-wash-dry cycles, may be easily
incorporated into the invention by altering the programming of the
control circuit 480. Moreover, a plurality of buttons 490 may be
included (not shown), each button 490 having a dedicated cycle
type, such that the operator may select the desired cycle type
based on the requirements of a particular floor cleaning
situation.
[0044] While a particular form of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the relative configurations of
the spin and dry chambers 100,105 may be altered, as may aspects of
the mop assembly 20 and how the mop head 30 is attached to the
handle 40. Such modifications do not affect the scope of the
invention and do not substantially alter the method of its use.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited,
except as by the appended claims.
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