MOP ASSEMBLY

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a mop assembly that collects falling liquids from a mop head while the mop head is oriented towards a ceiling. The assembly includes a collection bucket, the collection bucket having one or more sides and a base forming a cavity with an opening, the base having an aperture, a mop handle having a first end, the mop handle passing through the aperture, the opening of the collection bucket oriented towards the first end, and a mop head in communication with the first end, the mop head extending beyond the cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to mops, and more particularly to ceiling mops.

2. Description of Related Art

Mops are generally known for their use in cleaning floors. Typical mops have an elongated rod handle with a mop head attached to one end of the handle. The mop head is made of a liquid absorbent material, such as a sponge or a fibrous cloth, that allows the user to soak up spilled liquids on a floor and dispose of the soaked up liquid in a wash bucket using a strainer that squeezes the liquid out of the mop head. For general purpose cleaning, the user may fill the wash bucket with soapy water, dip the mop head in the soapy water, and mop the floor to remove particulate dirt and debris with the mop head by pushing against the mop handle.

While this traditional method of mopping is useful for floors, cleaning ceilings using this method presents a wet experience for the user as liquids from the mop may rain down upon the user as the mop head is raised overhead. This also presents a problem when falling liquids are undesirable on items other than the user. For example, in food production facilities, such as poultry, meat, and beverage manufacturing factories, condensation may accumulate and fall from the factory ceiling and subsequently contaminate food products located below. To prevent contamination, the condensation must be removed before the condensation begins to drip; however, while traditional mopping methods may be used to remove the condensation, the collected condensation may still drip from the mop head onto food products and/or onto the user. It is therefore desired to develop a mop that collects falling liquids from a mop head while the mop head is oriented towards a ceiling.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a mop assembly that collects falling liquids from a mop head while the mop head is oriented towards a ceiling. In one embodiment of the present invention, an assembly is provided comprising: a collection bucket having one or more sides and a base, the one or more sides and the base forming a cavity with an opening, the base having an aperture; a mop handle having a first end and a second end, the mop handle passing through the aperture, the opening of the collection bucket oriented towards the first end; and a mop head in communication with the first end, the mop head extending beyond the cavity.

Ultimately the invention may take many embodiments. In these ways, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

The more important features have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and to ensure that the present contribution to the art is appreciated. Additional features will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of the present application will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the various purposes of the present design. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions in so far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The assembly and method in accordance with the present invention overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems produced by mops while mopping ceilings. In particular, the system of the present invention is a mop having a collection bucket that collects falling liquids from a mop head while the mop head is oriented towards a ceiling. Furthermore, the system can optionally include a drainage port located on the collection bucket that allows the user to drain liquids accumulated in the collection bucket without orienting the mop head towards the ground, thereby saving the user time and effort from having to repeatedly orient the mop head between the ceiling and the floor in order to drain the collection bucket.

The system of the present application is illustrated in the associated drawings. As used herein, “system” and “assembly” are used interchangeably. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Additional features and functions are illustrated and discussed below.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements in form and function throughout the several views.FIGS. 1-3illustrate various views of a mop assembly.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a front view of mop assembly100is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

InFIG. 1, mop assembly100includes, but is not limited to, collection bucket101, mop handle112, and mop head117. In general collection bucket101is a bucket for collecting liquids that may fall from mop head117. Collection bucket101has one or more sides (i.e., sides103a-d) and a base (i.e., base105), wherein the one or more sides and the base form a cavity (i.e., cavity107) with an opening (i.e., opening111). Furthermore, collection bucket101has aperture109located on base105for receiving a mop handle that passes through base105.

In general, mop handle113and mop head113are components typically found on mops known in the art, wherein mop handle113is generally used by a user for gripping mop assembly101, and mop head113is an mop head composed of a liquid absorbent material such as a sponge or a fibrous cloth. Mop handle113has first end115aand second end115bwherein mop head117is in communication with first end115a. In this figure, mop handle113passes through aperture109wherein opening111of collection bucket101is oriented towards first end115a. In general, mop head117extends beyond cavity107of collection bucket101. In other words, collection bucket101does not cover mop head117during mopping use. In general, opening111of collection bucket101is larger than a width and a length of the mop head. In this figure, opening111is shown to be larger than length123aof mop head117; furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2, opening111is larger than width123b.

Optionally, mop handle113may include a telescoping handle generally known in the art for extending a length of the mop handle. In this figure, telescoping member127sheaths over a portion of mop handle113.

Optionally, mop handle113may comprise of two members conjoined by a hinge that permits angle rotation of the mop head with the collection bucket. In this figure, mop handle113is comprised of proximate handle129corresponding with second end115b, distal handle131corresponding with first end115a, and hinge133in communication with proximate handle129and distal handle131. Hinge133permits selective angle configurations between proximate handle129and distal handle131about hinge axis135, wherein hinge133permits an angular range of 90 degrees. Furthermore, proximate handle129may be a telescoping handle.

In general, collection bucket101has a drainage port for draining accumulated liquids collected in collection bucket101. InFIG. 1, drainage port119is located on side103bof collection bucket101. However, optionally, drainage port119may be located on base105. In general, drainage port119is selectively closable with a plug.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a side view of mop assembly100is illustrated in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a perspective view viewing mop head117of the mop assembly. As shown this figure, mop handle113passes through aperture109of collection bucket101. Furthermore, plug121is shown to selectively close drainage port119. Plug121may be a snap plug or a threaded plug.

As a method of using mop assembly100, a user obtains mop assembly100and holds mop assembly100by mop handle113with mop head117oriented towards a ceiling. The user then wipes the ceiling with mop head117, thereby collecting condensation that accumulated on the ceiling. Any excess condensation that mop head117is unable to absorb is collected in cavity107of collection bucket101by falling from mop head117into cavity107. As such, collection bucket101prevents excess condensation from falling onto the user or onto a floor beneath the ceiling. The user then drains the excess condensation from collection bucket101at a desired location, such as a drain or a wash bucket. In one approach, the user drains excess condensation from collection bucket101by inverting mop assembly101such that mop head117is oriented towards a ground, thereby permitting the excess condensation to drain from opening111of collection bucket101by virtue of gravity. Optionally, the user may choose not to invert mop assembly101to drain collection bucket101, but instead by removing plug121from drainage port119located on collection bucket101, thereby permitting the excess condensation to drain from drainage port119by virtue of gravity.