Patent ID: 6065175
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
A mopping system comprising, in combination:a bucket with a generally rectangular configuration having a rectangular bottom face and a peripheral side wall integrally coupled to a periphery of the bottom face and extending upwardly therefrom, the peripheral side wall defined by a pair of large side faces and a pair of small end faces for defining an interior space and an open top with an upper peripheral edge having a semicircular cross-section along a length thereof, the bucket further including an inverted U-shaped handle pivotally coupled to the side faces of the peripheral side wall at a central extent thereof;a mop head including a central mount having a hemispherical configuration with a dome-shaped top face and a planar bottom face, a threaded sleeve integrally coupled to an apex of the central mount and extending upwardly therefrom for engaging an end of a handle, a pair of radially extending drain holes formed between the top and bottom faces of the central mount on diametrically opposed points adjacent the threaded sleeve, at least one scraper mounted along an intersection of the top face and bottom face, the scraper including a tapering extent, a generally rectangular periphery including a sharpened outboard edge, and a plurality of cotton strands coupled to the bottom face of the central mount; anda drain including a top face having a generally rectangular configuration with a width equal to that of the bucket and a length equal to half that of the bucket, the top face of the drain further including a central opening with a surrounding upwardly extending annular protrusion and a peripheral edge having an inverted U-shaped cross-section along three sides thereof for defining an annular well with the annular protrusion, wherein the peripheral edge is adapted to engage a half of the upper peripheral lip of the bucket with a single free edge, the drain further including a plurality of radially extending linear slots formed along the annular protrusion and well for draining fluid therein into the bucket, the drain further including a pair of resilient tabs each having a U-shaped cross-section with a reduced diameter, a planar grip integrally coupled to a top apex of the tab and extending outwardly therefrom, and an inboard edge integrally coupled within an associated cut out formed in the peripheral edge of the drain to form a living hinge whereby the tabs are adapted to snappily engage the upper peripheral lip of the bucket, the drain further including a mop handle clip having a semicircular cut out formed in the top face of the drain at an end of the free edge of the peripheral edge of the drain and a horizontally oriented C-shaped member coupled to the top face within the cut out for releasably engaging the handle of the mop head, the drain further equipped with a central portion including a cylindrical upper extent coupled to a periphery of the opening of the top face of the drain and depending therefrom and a hemispherical lower extent, wherein both extents of the central portion include a plurality of rectangular cut outs formed therein for allowing a user to remove fluid from the mop head.