Mop and wringer combination

A mop and wringer combination in one embodiment includes a mop comprising a pivotal handle and a mop swab adapted to rotate with respect to the handle; and a wringer comprising a ratchet type mechanism so that a user may press a spring-biased foot step to wring strands of a mop swab disposed in a mop receptacle in a pail via gear connection, release the foot step to return to its initial condition, and repeatedly perform the above two steps until the mop swab is dried.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to floor cleaning equipment and more particularly to a mop and wringer combination with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

Mops are well known devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,728 discloses a self-wringing ratchet mop which allows a user to grip and rotate a grip sleeve repeatedly until a mop swab is dried.

There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for mop wringer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,720 discloses a mop wringer. But a combination of mop and wringer has not been disclosed so far as the inventor is aware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a mop and wringer combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a mop and wringer combination in accordance with the invention is shown.

Referring toFIGS. 2 to 9in conjunction withFIG. 1, the mop comprises an elongate handle1having a lower end11; and a hinge connector2formed of plastic and comprising an upper sleeve21adapted to secured to the lower end11, a lower hinge22, a lower, curved member23integrally formed on the hinge22, the curved member23having a half-spherical protrusion231on its lowest point, and a curved groove24formed in the curved member23and being substantially parallel to the curved outer surface of the curved member23. Hence, a portion of the curved member23between the groove24and the protrusion231is flexible.

The mop further comprises a yoke3including a disc member33, two opposite yoke arms (not numbered) on the disc member33with a channel31defined therebetween, the channel31having a circular recess311on the bottom, a separate ring34having a circular flange (not numbered) on the top edge, and a pin32inserted through upper holes (not numbered) of the yoke arms and a hole (not numbered) of the hinge22to pivotably secure the yoke3and the hinge connector2together. Further, the protrusion231is matingly engaged with the recess311.

The mop further comprises a circular rotatable disk member4including a central through hole41, a downward first circular flange42on the bottom edge, a downward second circular flange43adjacent the first circular flange42to define an annular trough (not numbered) therebetween, and a downward third circular flange44formed between the second circular flange43and the through hole41. That is, the flanges42,43, and44are concentric. A circular area defined by the third circular flange44is adapted to loosely receive the disc member33therein after inserting the yoke3through the through hole41. The bottom of the disc member33is flush with that of the third circular flange44. Thereafter, the ring34is adapted to cling onto the third circular flange44to enclose both the third circular flange44and the disc member33and retain the disc member33in the area defined by the third circular flange44.

The mop further comprises a ring-shaped mop swab5comprising an annular inner flange56, an upper groove (not numbered) with concentric walls (not numbered), a plurality of ribs55for dividing the groove into a plurality of arcuate sections (not numbered) each including two elongate holes52on the bottom, a plurality of sets of four triangular members53, each set of four triangular members53being disposed around the hole52, and strands54having one ends fastened in the triangular members53after inserting through the holes52. The mop swab5is secured to the rotatable disk member4by snapping into the trough defined between the second circular flange43and the first circular flange42.

The rotatable disk member4is adapted to rotate about the yoke3(i.e., both the rotatable disk member4and the mop swab5being rotatable about the yoke3with the handle1, the hinge connector2, and the yoke3being motionless during the rotation). An operator may pivot the hinge connector2a predetermined angle about the yoke3by pushing the handle1with the protrusion231being removed from the recess311until the hinge connector2is stopped by the yoke3. It is understood that the protrusion231is capable of flexibly disengaging from the recess311because the hinge connector2is of molded plastic and the provision of the groove24.

Referring toFIGS. 10 to 13in conjunction withFIG. 1, the wringer in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The wringer comprises a pail6comprising a handle63hingedly provided on the top edge, an internal space61, and a recess62on the peripheral wall.

The wringer further comprises a rotatable mop receptacle8disposed in the space61. The mop receptacle8comprises a shell81having a flared open top, a tapered bottom, and a plurality of longitudinal holes80, and a shaft82extending downward a predetermined length from the bottom center of the shell81.

The wringer further comprises an actuation mechanism7comprising a substantially rectangular support71including a bossed hole714on the bottom and two substantially triangular upright mounts710on two sides respectively, each mount710having an upper hole712and one of the mounts710additionally having an intermediate hole713right below the hole712.

The actuation mechanism7further comprises a pivot member73including an arcuate foot step731disposed in the recess62and extending out of the recess62a predetermined distance, an arcuate toothed member732provided opposing the foot step731, a pivot shaft730provided above the toothed member732, and a hole733provided opposing the pivot shaft730; and a spring (e.g., torsion spring)75put on the pivot shaft730. The spring75has one end urged against one mount710and the other end urged against the foot step731. Further, two pins711are provided in which one pin711is inserted through one upper hole712into the hole733, and the other pin711is inserted through the other upper hole712into the pivot shaft730. As a result, the pivot member73and the support71are pivotably secured together.

The actuation mechanism7further comprises a gear assembly74including a small gearwheel740in mesh with the toothed member732, a large first bevel gear741being coaxial and integral with the gearwheel740, and a threaded fastener (e.g., bolt)742driven through both the gearwheel740and the first bevel gear741into the intermediate hole713to secure to a nut (not numbered); a small second bevel gear72meshed with the first bevel gear741, the second bevel gear72having a longitudinal hole (not numbered) with pawls (not numbered) provided on the inner surface thereof; and a hollow, cylindrical ratchet member70provided in the longitudinal hole of the second bevel gear72and being in ratchet engagement therewith.

The shaft82is inserted through an upper gap between the pivot shaft730and the hole733and the ratchet member70to rotatably anchor in the bossed hole714in which the shaft82is secured to the ratchet member70(i.e., they can co-rotate).

In a wringing operation, an operator may first dispose the wet strands54in the shell81. Next, the operator may set one foot on the foot step731to press same by pivoting. Hence, the toothed member732rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel740, the first bevel gear741, the second bevel gear72, the ratchet member70, and the shaft82rotate with elastic force being stored in the spring75. Hence, both the shell81and the strands54rotate counterclockwise in high speed. As a result, water in the strands54leaves the shell81via the holes80due to strong centrifugal force.

The spring75immediately releases its stored elastic energy after leaving the foot out of the foot step731. Hence, the toothed member732rotates clockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel740, the first bevel gear741, and the second bevel gear72rotate in an opposite direction. But the ratchet member70does not rotate because it is not driven by the second bevel gear72due to the ratchet disengagement therewith. That is, the shaft82remains motionless. This can prevent both the shell81and the strands54from rotating clockwise. Finally, the foot step731returns to its initial condition. The operator may repeat the above steps until the strands54are sufficiently wrung.

Referring toFIGS. 14 to 17in conjunction withFIG. 1, a wringer in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. The wringer comprises a pail6comprising a handle63hingedly provided on the top edge, an internal space61, and a recess62on the peripheral wall.

The wringer further comprises a rotatable mop receptacle8disposed in the space61. The mop receptacle8comprises a shell81having a flared open top, a tapered bottom, and a plurality of longitudinal holes80, and a shaft82extending downward a predetermined length from the bottom center of the shell81.

The wringer further comprises an actuation mechanism9comprising a substantially rectangular support91including a bossed hole913on the bottom and two substantially triangular upright mounts910on two sides respectively, each mount910having an upper hole912.

The actuation mechanism9further comprises a pivot member94including an arcuate foot step941disposed in the recess62and extending out of the recess62a predetermined distance, an arcuate toothed member942provided opposing the foot step941, a pivot shaft940provided above the toothed member942, and a hole943provided opposing the pivot shaft940; and a spring (e.g., torsion spring)92put on the pivot shaft940. The spring92has one end urged against one mount910and the other end urged against the foot step941. Further, two pins911are provided in which one pin911is inserted through one upper hole912into the hole943, and the other pin911is inserted through the other upper hole912into the pivot shaft940. As a result, the pivot member94and the support91are pivotably secured together.

The actuation mechanism9further comprises a hollow gearwheel93in mesh with the toothed member942; a ratchet member96including a downward peg960secured to a counter bore (not numbered) on the top of the gearwheel93, and two opposite upper members961; an inverted cup shaped member95including pawls950on an inner circumferential surface. The pawls950are in ratchet engagement with the upper members961.

The shaft82is inserted through an upper gap between the pivot shaft940and the hole943, the inverted cup shaped member95, the ratchet member96, and the gearwheel93to rotatably anchor in the bossed hole913in which the shaft82is secured to the inverted cup shaped member95.

In a wringing operation, an operator may first dispose the wet strands54in the shell81. Next, the operator may set one foot on the foot step941to press same by pivoting. Hence, the toothed member942rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel93, the ratchet member96, the inverted cup shaped member95, and the shaft82rotate with elastic force being stored in the spring92. Hence, both the shell81and the strands54rotate counterclockwise in high speed. As a result, water in the strands54leaves the shell81via the holes80due to strong centrifugal force.

The spring92immediately releases its stored elastic energy after leaving the foot out of the foot step941. Hence, the toothed member942rotates clockwise. And in turn, both the gearwheel93and the ratchet member96rotate in an opposite direction. But the inverted cup shaped member95does not rotate because it is not driven by the ratchet member96due to the ratchet disengagement therewith. That is, the shaft82remains motionless. This can prevent both the shell81and the strands54from rotating clockwise. Finally, the foot step941returns to its initial condition. The operator may repeat the above steps until the strands54are sufficiently wrung.