Abstract:
A mop bucket assembly is disclosed which allows for moving a bucket from one position to another while reducing spillage from the bucket by using an integrated lid to keep liquid from splashing out of the bucket. The disclosed mop bucket assembly also discloses a mop bucket assembly having a caution or warning sign formed integral with the mop bucket assembly that can be deployed when mopping is in progress.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/143,323, filed Jan. 8, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Mop buckets have the problem that when they are moved from place to place, the water or liquid inside the mop bucket splashes around inside the bucket and often over the sides of the bucket, which has the tendency to dirty the area the was just mopped or to create a slipping hazard. Also, when someone using the bucket is mopping, they often need to put out a “caution” sign to warn others that the area is slippery. Typically, this sign is separate from the bucket and needs to be carried separately. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a mop bucket that reduces side-spillage while the bucket is being moved and which also allows enough space for the mop to be inserted into the bucket unencumbered. Also, there is another need for a mop bucket that integrates a warning or caution sign into the bucket. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a mop bucket assembly includes a bucket portion and a handle portion where the handle portion includes a moveable lid that helps contain water or liquid within the bucket when the bucket is in transit and when the bucket is stopped in a location for mopping, the lid can be flipped to allow the mop full access to the bucket. The flipped lid may also include a “caution” or other warning sign, so that when the bucket is in a stopped position, the flipped lid acts as a warning sign. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawing wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a mop bucket of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8A  is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a handle in an up position; 
         FIG. 8B  is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a warning sign in a deployed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a mop bucket of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a right side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a left side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16A  is a front perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a handle in an up position; 
         FIG. 16B  is a front perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a warning sign is deployed position; 
         FIGS. 17A and 17B  are a front perspective views of a third embodiment of a mop bucket and associated dolly; 
         FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a wringer in place; 
         FIG. 19  is a right side elevational view of an alternate embodiment with a flexible drain tube in a storage position; 
         FIG. 20  is the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 19  with the drain tube in a draining position; and 
         FIG. 21  is a right side elevational view of another alternate embodiment with a stiff drain tube in a storage position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a small version of the mop bucket assembly  30  of the present invention is depicted. The mop bucket assembly  30  includes a bucket portion  32 , a number of wheels  34  and a handle assembly  36 . The bucket portion  32  includes a liquid retaining recess  40  and a wringer support  42 . In this embodiment, the wringer support  42  includes two support protrusions  44  which support a wringer when it is put in place within the bucket assembly  30 . The handle assembly  36  in this embodiment includes a wire handle portion  46  which connects with the bucket portion  32  through holes  48  formed in the bucket portion  32 . The handle assembly  36  also includes a lid assembly  50 . The lid assembly  50  includes a grip portion  52  and a lid portion  54 . The lid portion  54  can have signage on its top  56  and bottom surfaces  58  ( FIG. 8A ).  FIG. 1  depicts the mop bucket assembly  30  in a traveling position with the lid portion  54  covering the front of the liquid retaining recess  40 . In this configuration, liquid in the retaining recess  40  is retained within the bucket portion  32  and restrained from spilling over the sides of the bucket portion  32  when the mop bucket assembly  30  is moved. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8A , the mop bucket assembly  30  is depicted with the handle assembly  36  in an “up” or carrying position. In this position, a user can carry the bucket assembly  30  by first placing his hand in a recess  60  formed in the grip portion  52  and around a grip  62  and then lifting. Referring now to  FIG. 8B , the mop bucket assembly  30  is depicted with the bucket assembly  30  in a use position. In this position, the lid portion  54  is flipped around the wire handle portion  46  and over the front of the bucket portion  32 . The signage on the bottom surface  58  of the lid portion  54  is now visible, and in this embodiment, the signage on the bottom surface  58  acts as a “caution” sign. It should be understood though that any signage could be placed on either side of the lid portion  54 . This signage could even include advertising, instead of warnings, by way of example. In  FIG. 8B , a support ridge  64 , for supporting the lid portion  54  in the traveling position, can be seen. It should be understood that the lid portion  54  can be supported in any number of ways, and it is not limited to being supported by a support ridge  64  as depicted. In the use position depicted in  FIG. 8B , a user of the mop bucket assembly  30  has full access to the liquid retaining recess  40  with his mop. As such, the present invention allows full access to the bucket portion  32  for mopping in a use position (i.e. with the lid portion  54  flipped forward) and prevents spills when the mop bucket assembly  30  is in a traveling position (i.e. with the lid portion  54  covering the front of the liquid retaining recess  40 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-16B , an alternate, large embodiment of the mop bucket assembly  30  of the present invention is depicted. The large embodiment of the mop bucket assembly  30  operates in the same manner as described above for the small embodiment. The large embodiment of the mop bucket assembly  30  has a larger liquid retaining recess  40  compared to the smaller embodiment of the mop bucket assembly  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17A and 17B , an alternate embodiment of a mop bucket assembly  30  of the present invention is depicted. In this embodiment, the bucket assembly  30  does not have wheels  34 , and a dolly  70  is used to move the bucket assembly  30  from point to point. The bucket assembly  30  fits into a recess  72  formed in the dolly  70 . The dolly  70  can be formed with an upward extending support rack which can be used as a means for pushing the dolly or for holding a basket with cleaning supplies and products.  FIG. 18  depicts a mop bucket assembly  30  of the present invention with a mop wringer  74  in place within the bucket portion  32  over the wringer support  42  towards the rear of the bucket portion  32 . In this embodiment, the wringer  74  is positioned over the support protrusions  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 19-21 , alternative embodiments of the present invention with drain tubes  76  are depicted. In  FIG. 19 , a flexible drain tube  76  is depicted in a storage position. When a user wants to drain the bucket portion  32  of the mop bucket assembly  30 , the user, in this embodiment, unclips the top of the flexible drain tube  76  from the bucket portion  32  and point it towards the drain or other spot where the user wants to drain the retained liquid to allow the bucket portion  32  to drain.  FIG. 21  depicts an alternate embodiment of the mop bucket assembly  30  of the present invention with a stiff drain tube  78 . 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.