Cleaning equipment

Abstract: Cleaning equipment comprises a container 1 for cleaning liquid, a dirt receiving element 3 for receiving dirt settling under gravity from the contained liquid with the dirt collecting in, or passing through so as to be trapped below, the element. and a rigid or substantially rigid perforated support structure 4 above and below the dirt receiving element. The support structure is supportable in the container in space relationship to the base of the container and protects the dirt receiving element. The combination of the support structure and dirt receiving element blocks turbulence and prevents dirt from being stirred up at the foot of the container.

Description: The invention relates to cleaning equipment in which cleaning liquid is taken from a container, for example a bucket, and returned thereto after it has been used for dirt removal. It is of particular, but by no means exclusive, application to a cleaning bucket for use with a cleaning element or device, such as a floor mop, cleaning cloth or chamois leather which is repeatedly wrung out into the bucket. A problem with such cleaning equipment is that dirt deposited out from the liquid collects at the bottom of the container and that disturbance of the liquid, as when rinsing out a mop for example, washes the collected dirt back into the main body of the liquid. In addition, a cleaning element such as a mop can pick up the collected dirt directly. Because of this the container is often emptied and cleaned out before the cleaning additives in the liquid are actually exhausted. GB-A-2239388 discloses cleaning equipment comprising a container with a lower region in which in use there is positioned an element of mat or pad-like form adapted to receive dirt settling under gravity from cleaning liquid in the container. A grid, grill or other apertured member, through which the dirt settling out from the cleaning liquid can pass into the mat or pad, is positioned above the lower region. According to the present invention there is provided cleaning equipment comprising a container for cleaning liquid and a dirt trap adapted to be supported in the container and submerged in cleaning liquid contained in the container, the dirt trap comprising a dirt receiving element for receiving dirt settling under gravity from the contained liquid with the dirt collecting in, or passing through so as to be trapped below, the element characterised in that the dirt trap is supportable in the container in spaced relationship to the base of the container and further comprises a rigid or substantially rigid perforated structure above and below the dirt receiving element. Preferably, the form and structure of the dirt receiving element are such that disturbance of the liquid in the container cannot wash the collected dirt back out from or through the element to any significant extent. The dirt receiving element is, preferably, a three-dimensional fibrous mesh structure and may comprise a mat or pad of superposed mesh layers or may be a non-woven unitary mesh comprising a "jumble" of interlocking or bonded fibres. Preferably, the dirt receiving element is a reusable unit which can be replaced in the container after removal therefrom and washing out of the collected dirt. Preferably, the support structure is of unitary construction having upper and lower parts and a slot therebetween for removably receiving the dirt receiving element. Preferably, the support structure is of grid-like form. Preferably, the container is a cleaning bucket for use with a hand-held cleaning element or device, such as a mop. The support structure protects the dirt receiving element. The combination of the support structure and dirt receiving element blocks turbulence and prevents dirt from being stirred up at the foot of the container. Also, powders used for cleaning can be placed in self dissolving packets beneath the support structure and the support structure and dirt receiving element will prevent any residue of the packets from coming into contact with a mophead or other cleaning element. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which illustrates, in vertical cross-section, a cleaning bucket provided with a dirt-receiving element and a grid-like structure according to the invention. Referring to the drawing, the bucket 1 contains a cleaning liquid 2 for use in a cleaning operation, for example a floor mopping operation. A dirt trap is provided by a dirt-receiving mat element 3 supported by a grid-like structure 4. The element 3 is a three dimensional fibrous mesh structure and may comprise a mat or pad of superposed mesh layers or may be a non-woven unitary mesh comprising a "jumble" of interlocking or bonded fibres. The form of the element 3 is such that disturbances in the liquid 2 cannot wash back out into the body of liquid 2, to any material extent, dirt particles deposited from the liquid 2 and which settle into the inter-fibre spaces of the element 3 or which pass therethrough so as to be trapped below the element 3. The dirt passing through the element 3 could be collected in a dish or container (not shown) which could be removed for cleaning purposes and emptied. The grid-like structure 4 is of rigid or substantially rigid material, typically a plastics material, and is, preferably, of unitary construction having upper and lower parts 4 a and 4 b , respectively, and a slot 4 c therebetween for receiving the dirt receiving element 3. The grid-like structure 4 is supported in the bucket 1 in spaced relationship to the base of the bucket. This may be by way of an interference fit with the walls of the bucket or it may be supported on an annular ledge within the bucket. Holes 5 in the upper and lower parts of the grid-like structure 4 may, as shown, be tapered in a downwardly direction and, in this case, the holes may be of truncated pyramidical shape. The dirt receiving element 3 is a re-usable unit which can be replaced in the grid-like structure 4 after removal therefrom and washing out of the collected dirt. The dirt receiving element can be produced in several "grades" to allow either fine or both fine and coarse dirt to pass therethrough. The grid-like structure 4 protects the dirt receiving element 3 and in combination with the dirt receiving element 3 acts as a "turbulence blocker" and ensures that dirt trapped below the dirt receiving element 3 is left undisturbed by turbulence above the grid-like structure. Also, powders used for cleaning can be placed in self dissolving packets beneath the grid-like structure 4 and the grid-like structure and dirt receiving element will prevent any residue of the packets from coming into contact with a mophead or other cleaning element. This prevents any substance being transferred from the mop to the floor where it would have caused an unsightly or unsafe film or residue to result. The powdered chemical can be any powdered cleaner or disinfectant. Powdered chemicals are more environmentally friendly than liquid chemicals as the film packet containing the chemical dissolves. Also, an exact measure can be provided thereby preventing excessive use of the chemical. The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the grid-like structure 4 could be in two separate parts and the holes in the grid-like structure could be of other appropriate shape. Also, the dirt receiving element 3 could be of open-cell foam material.

Claims: Cleaning equipment comprising a container (1) for cleaning liquid and a dirt trap adapted to be supported in the container and submerged in cleaning liquid contained in the container, the dirt trap comprising a dirt receiving element (3) for receiving dirt settling under gravity from the contained liquid (2) with the dirt collecting in, or passing through so as to be trapped below, the element characterised in that the dirt trap is supportable in the container in spaced relationship to the base of the container and further comprises a rigid or substantially rigid perforated structure (4) above and below the dirt receiving element. Cleaning equipment as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the form and structure of the dirt receiving element (3) are such that disturbance of the liquid in the container cannot wash the collected dirt back out from or through the element (3) to any significant extent. Cleaning equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the dirt receiving element (3) is a three-dimensional fibrous mesh structure. Cleaning equipment as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the dirt receiving element (3) comprises a mat or pad of superposed mesh layers. Cleaning equipment as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the dirt receiving element (3) is a non-woven unitary mesh comprising a "jumble" of interlocking or bonded fibres. Cleaning equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dirt receiving element (3) is a reusable unit which can be replaced in the container (1) after removal therefrom and washing out of the collective dirt. Cleaning equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (4) is of unitary construction having upper and lower parts (4 a and 4 b ) and a slot (4 c ) therebetween for removably receiving the dirt receiving element. Cleaning equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (4) is of grid-like form. Cleaning equipment as claimed in Claim 8, wherein holes (5) in the grid-like support structure are tapered in a downwardly direction. Cleaning equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (1) is a cleaning bucket for use with a hand-held cleaning element or device.

Inventors: YOUNG SCOT, YOUNG, SCOT
Applicants: SCOT YOUNG RES LTD, SCOT YOUNG RESEARCH LIMITED
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47L13
IPC codes: A47L13, B01D39, B01D17