Abstract:
The invention consists of a device to retrofit existing mop/bucket/wringer combinations so that the mop remains stable and upright in the bucket when not in use. The device has a clip portion that is dimensioned and configured to attach to the lip of the wringer and a second portion designed to retain the mop handle, the second portion having springy or spring-loaded retainers. In use, the device attaches to the lip of the wringer and then the mop is put into the bucket (not the wringer) and the handle of the mop is inserted into the spring loaded retainers. The device may sit on the bucket lip instead of the wringer by different dimensions and configuration, or may be built into the bucket or wringer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The application claims the benefit and priority of corresponding U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/515,018, filed Oct. 27th, 2003, in the name of the same inventor, John Phillip Billman, and under the same title, MOP HANDLE HOLDER, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to attachments for cleaning equipment and specifically to mop handle holders.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH  
       [0003]     This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Cleaning and janitorial services have been kept busily employed for many decades in the United States. Throughout the rise of this industry changes have taken place in the types of equipment used to complete a floor cleaning task but the bucket and mop has been not only the traditional method for cleaning but remains the best method now available. They have been used consistently to wash and clean the floors in food processing plants, hospitals, pools, showers, freight dock areas, etc. Initially the process included repeatedly dipping a mop into a bucket of cleaning liquid and wringing the liquid contents out by hand. Often a mop rested in a bucket whose clean liquid contents continually worsened, as dirty water rinsed off into a bucket, or a mop slid sideways downwards or was placed on a floor creating a bucket plus mop sized potential hazard to maneuver around.  
         [0005]     As an example, it may be necessary to mop an area in which floor mats or furniture must be moved. Mopping a given section requires moving the furniture or mat, then mopping the area, then, in order to make space for the next item of furniture or mat, the first item must be repositioned. During each operation of moving something or otherwise working with something other than the mop, the mop must be put down in the bucket. The long handle is then customarily leaned against a wall or item of furniture or whatever else is nearby. The handle then almost invariably begins to slide down the wall or piece of furniture in an arc dictated by the geometry of the mop handle&#39;s length and the distance of the bucket from the wall. The handle may even end up on the floor. At this point, a hazard has been magnified: the mop handle is now at full length and ankle height in a location unpredictable even to the party that originally leaned it against the wall. The handle may also scuff furniture or walls on the way down, or may hit another object on a shelf or table and knock it over.  
         [0006]     It would be advantageous to avoid this scuffing and danger of breakage, not to mention the danger posed by the mop handles unpredictably stretched out near ankle level.  
         [0007]     Commercial and residential cleaning buckets may be cylindrical in shape with a flat bottom and flared sides although, most commercial buckets using a wringer are rectangular shaped having a flat bottom and vertical sides that may flare out towards the top.  
         [0008]     An improvement for a basic bucket and mop has been a mop wringer. It has helped to free workers from having to immerse their hands in chemically treated water while continually hand-wringing dirty cleaning liquids from a mop. Prior art offers bucket inserts that may keep clean, soapy water from dirty water. U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,203 issued to Williams et al. on Oct. 1, 2002, BUCKET INSERT AND WASH BUCKET, offers a device that separates clean water from dirty washing liquid by providing a bucket insert for dirty cleaning liquid in which a wringer sits while both the invention and wringer are placed in a bucket holding clean, soapy water.  
         [0009]     Mop wringers have also been used where a mop is temporarily immobilized while it is being wrung, per U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,877, issued to Morad et al. on Sep. 12, 2000, MOP HOLDING APPARATUS FOR HOLDING A FREE END OF A MOP FROM TURNING WHEN THE MOP IS BEING WRUNG. The device is a bucket and wringer combination where one may use the pressure of their foot to activate a wringer and temporarily immobilize the mop while it is being wrung.  
         [0010]     Safety in the work place is paramount in many industries. In the cleaning business a wet mop, inside or outside the confines of a bucket may present several potential hazards previously discussed. A mop that is unsecured from within a bucket may slide down the wall and fall out of a bucket even if the handle has been propped against a wall. The mop and the water it is holding may become a physical obstacle to a worker whereby he/she may fall due to the water or the mop itself. A falling mop handle may scuff a wall and impact or dislodge objects nearby. The mop handle on the floor or projecting at an odd oblique angle may be a physical hazard to workers, passersby, customers and others.  
         [0011]     Two other patents offer a bucket and mop stabilizer combination as an alternative to a janitor or cleaning service. U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,567 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,410, issued to Joy Mangano on Sep. 29, 1998 and on Aug. 24, 1999, MOP BUCKET HAVING INTEGRAL MOP STABILIZING STRUCTURE and MOP BUCKET HAVING A MOP STABILIIZING STRUCTURE respectively teach the use of a device that may contain both cleaning liquids and a structure to stabilize a mop within a bucket and cleaning liquid. Another bucket and mop stabilizer combination resides in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,526 issued to Warren B. Garrison on Feb. 26, 1991, SCRUBBING PAIL HANDLE where two curved members are attached to a bucket handle maintaining a place for a mop while sitting in a liquid filled bucket.  
         [0012]     Prior art includes improvement of the bucket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,451 issued to Samuel J. Popeil on Sep. 4, 1973, MOP BUCKET, provides a steep sided, rectangular mop bucket with a hook shaped member placed in the handle of a bucket. U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,175 issued to Silvia Reyero Tejerina on May 23, 2000, FLOORING MOPPING SYSTEM, teach a bucket with a basket insert also containing small clip for holding a mop in a bucket.  
         [0013]     Additional prior art for holding a mop in a bucket include U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,113 issued to Arvid T. Olsson on Feb. 2, 1988, MOP HANDLE STABILIZER, where a hook is screwed to the mop handle and engages a slotted receptacle that has been bolted to a bucket.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,621 issued to Joseph M. Wilen on Nov. 2, 1999, MOP WRINGER WITH MOP HANDLE SUPPORT, offers a mop wringer that has a recessed area whereby the mop handle may rest although it is entirely unsecured from the wringer.  
         [0015]     Although these devices have helped to ease the effort to wash floors and advance the technology used for cleaning and janitorial workers they still do not provide adequate stabilization of a mop and/or mop handle temporarily left in a bucket.  
         [0016]     It would be advantageous to have a device, which utilizes existing wringers by means of snapping into a wringer and providing spring loaded retainers that accommodate mop handles of varying diameters while maintaining them in a stable, upright and firm position.  
         [0017]     It would further be advantageous to provide a device allowing easy and inexpensive retrofit to wringers already in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     General Summary  
         [0019]     The invention consists of a device to retrofit existing mop/bucket/wringer combinations so that the mop remains stable and upright in the bucket when not in use. The device has a clip portion that is dimensioned and configured to attach to the lip of the wringer and a second portion designed to retain the mop handle, the second portion having spring loaded retainers. The device may sit on the bucket lip instead of the wringer by different dimensions and configuration, or may be built into the bucket or wringer.  
         [0020]     In use, the device attaches to the lip of the wringer and then the mop is put into the bucket (not the wringer) and the handle of the mop is inserted into the spring loaded retainers.  
         [0021]     Moving the bucket or setting the mop aside is made easier by this means, and there is less chance of the mop falling and creating a puddle of water and a hazard to walk around, re-dirtying the floor or causing other problems. A falling mop handle is less likely to scuff a wall and impact or dislodge objects nearby. The mop handle is less likely to lie on the floor or project at an odd oblique angle and less likely to be a physical hazard to workers, passersby, customers and others.  
         [0022]     Summary in Reference to Claims  
         [0023]     It is a first aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder for use on a mop bucket wringer lip comprising: a mop holder body; a clip projecting from the body, the clip dimensioned and configured to attach over the top of such mop bucket wringer; a slot opening in the mop holder body, the slot opening having two inner sides facing each other across the slot opening; a spring retainer in the slot opening to hold such mop handle.  
         [0024]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein the mop holder body comprises a high density plastic material.  
         [0025]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle wherein the spring retainer comprises a metal clip dimensioned to physically engage such mop handle.  
         [0026]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein the spring retainer comprises two clasp arms each projecting from one of the inner sides of the slot opening.  
         [0027]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein each of the two clasp arms further comprises a mop handle indent dimensioned and configured to physically engage the side of such mop handle, the two clasp arms being dimensioned and configured to physically engage two sides of such mop handle.  
         [0028]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein the hooked clip comprises a wringer lip channel having a first side comprising a hook and having a second side comprising a clip.  
         [0029]     It is yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein at least one of the sides of the wringer lip channel is dimensioned and configured to physically engage such mop bucket wringer lip.  
         [0030]     It is yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein the clip further comprises a barb.  
         [0031]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder wherein the clip further comprises a stop dimensioned and configured to engage underneath such mop bucket wringer lip.  
         [0032]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder for use on the lips of mop wringers having a pattern of holes therein, the mop handle holder further comprising: at least securing member one member selected from the group consisting of: a barb, a stop, a clip, a hook and combinations thereof, the securing member dimensioned and configured to physically engage at least one such hole in such mop wringer.  
         [0033]     It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder for use on a mop bucket lip comprising: a mop holder body; a clip projecting from the body, the clip dimensioned and configured to attach over the top of such mop bucket; a slot opening in the mop holder body, the slot opening having two inner sides facing each other across the slot opening; a spring retainer in the slot opening to hold such mop handle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]      FIG. 1   a  is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 1   b  is a back view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 2   b  is a top view of the first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention engaged to a wringer and holding a mop handle.  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is an elevated left oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is an elevated right oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a bottom side oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is a bottom right oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a bucket having a built in embodiment of the device.  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a wringer having a built in embodiment of the device. 
     
    
     INDEX TO REFERENCES NUMBERS  
       [0045]      10  Barb  
         [0046]      11  Mop handle  
         [0047]      12  Spring loaded retainers  
         [0048]      13  Mop handle holder body  
         [0049]      20  Clip configuration  
         [0050]      21  Under-clip  
         [0051]      22  Wringer lip indentation/first indentation  
         [0052]      23  Wringer top mating surface  
         [0053]      24  Second indentation  
         [0054]      30  Mop handle holder body  
         [0055]      32  Clip  
         [0056]      34  Wringer lip channel  
         [0057]      36  Mop handle slot  
         [0058]      38 ,  38 ′ Retainer/Clasp arm  
         [0059]      40 ,  40 ′ Mop handle indent  
         [0060]      42  Channel first side  
         [0061]      44  Channel second side  
         [0062]      46  Barb  
         [0063]      48  Stop  
         [0064]      50  Hook portion of clip  
         [0065]      202  Wringer Lip  
         [0066]      204  Mop holder  
         [0067]      206  Retainer  
         [0068]      208  Mop handle slot  
         [0069]      210  Retainer  
         [0070]      302  Bucket body  
         [0071]      304  Bucket lip  
         [0072]      306  Retainer/clasp arm  
         [0073]      308  Retainer/clasp arm  
         [0074]      310  Mop handle slot  
         [0075]      312  Spring clip having indentation  
         [0076]      314  Spring clip having indentation  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0077]     In the presently preferred embodiment and best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, the device may be used with current wringer attachments for commercial or residential cleaning buckets and is dimensioned and configured to attach to such wringers. That is, the device may be easily and cheaply retrofitted to wringers already in use, without expensive redesign of wringers and buckets, due to being a unitary body of carefully selected proportions and location. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mop handle holder with a mop holder body. A mop handle holder body  13  may attach to any sized or shaped wringer due to being dimensioned and configured for that particular model of wringer. The present invention provides a mop handle holder with a hooked clip that is dimensioned and configured to attach over the top of a mop bucket wringer.  FIG. 1   a  shows the side view of the device, while reference number  20  illustrates a clip configuration which is dimensioned and configured to hang on the lip of a wringer. The clip configuration  20  includes a barb  10 , indentations and other features whereby the top front edge of the wringer enters the mop handle holder body  13  and fully engages.  
         [0078]     The invention goes onto the lip from front to back, that is, at a low angle of attack beginning with the front of the invention and thus progressing to the back portions as the snap connection is finally completed.  
         [0079]     The device may snap on the upper, center lip of wringers, such as a “Rubbermaid 6127” (trademark owner not associated with present applicant) wringer or any other common type of wringer. In particular, it is important to note that coordination of the size and shape of the device, especially the clip portion, with common types of wringers is one advantage of the present invention. Thus the invention is dimensioned and configured so as to physically engage such standardized types of wringers. The clip portions, clips, hooks, barbs and channels with cooperate with the wringer may be designed to fit with a less specific fit over more than one wringer. In the presently preferred embodiments, the device is dimensioned and configured for a tighter fit to a smaller number of wringers or even a single type of wringer. This tighter fit is preferable in order to provide a more secure hold of the mop handle by the invention.  
         [0080]     A solid plastic or other man-made synthetic material may be used in the production of the invention, for example, high density plastic such as HDP. An alternative embodiment of materials for the invention may include metal and/or wood or composite material. The dimensions and configurations of mop handle holder  13  may be altered in alternative embodiments to snap on the upper left or upper right side of a wringer at the convenience and discretion of the user.  FIG. 1   b  shows the back view of the device.  
         [0081]     The present invention provides a mop handle holder with a slot opening in the mop holder body and a spring loaded retainer in the slot opening to hold a mop handle. The front view of the mop handle holder  13  in  FIG. 2   a  indicates a slot where the spring retainers  12  reside. The general placement and relationship of the body  FIG. 1  of the device, the spring retainers  12  and the slot is shown. A combination of the slot and spring or spring retainers  12  may provide sufficient spring action to restrain the mop handle while maintaining it in a stable, upright and firm position: the increased height of the device (located at the top of the wringer) provides a greater moment arm to hold the mop safely upright.  
         [0082]     Resilient metal clips may provide an alternative or preferred embodiment. Such a clip may comprise nothing more than a strip of thin and resilient metal bent into a generally U-shaped section. One favored type is the metal clip which bends into a U-shape, then the upper arms of the U bend back down on the inside of the U almost to the inside base of the clip. The resulting shape is a unitary body of metal which has two projections, one at each side, running up to the ends of the U and then back down inside the U to the bottom. The inside projections may be bent slightly at an intermediate point so as to form a space therebetween which is wider in the middle section than at the top and thus tends to better hold any mop handle placed therein.  
         [0083]     Adjusted tension, introduced to the spring loaded retainers  12  during manufacturing, may provide increased pressure to hold and elevate some mops away from cleaning liquids in the bucket while in use.  FIG. 2   b  shows a top view of the invention and gives greater detail to the shape and placement of the spring loaded retainers  12 .  
         [0084]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention. The mop handle holder  13  can be seen snapped onto the top of a wringer and holding a mop handle. The mop handle holder  13  is attached, via the clip configuration  20  of the invention, on the upper center of the wringer. A mop handle  11  has been engaged by the spring loaded retainers  12  and is held securely.  
         [0085]     The two arms which enclose the sides of the spring loaded clip/retainer  12  serves two important functions in preventing snagging of mop strands on the metal clip, and further prevent damage to the clip/retainer when a mop is lowered into the bucket or removed from the bucket. Thus the two arms are clip shields. Other dimensions and configurations of clip shielding may be provided in other embodiments.  
         [0086]     A significant advantage and benefit, mentioned earlier, may be derived from the placement of the invention at the top edge of the wringer. The wringer is situated on top of a bucket and extends several inches above the top edge of the bucket. With the addition of the mop handle holder upon the wringer the mop handle may be secured at higher position thereby increasing greater stability and the ability for the mop to stand upright than achieved by prior art.  
         [0087]      FIG. 4  is an elevated left oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  is an elevated right oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, mop handle holder body  30  has clip/clip configuration  32  defines wringer lip channel  34  on one side (referred to herein as the back, but this term is relative) of holder body  30 . On the other side (front) of mop handle slot  36  is defined by two projections from the holder body  30 . Two inner sides of the projections face each other across the slot  36  and define the slot  36  between them. A hook part  50  of the clip  32  fits over the lip to which the device is being attached.  
         [0088]     Retainers/clasp arms  38 ,  38 ′ project in turn from the ends of the holder body projections, but in other embodiments may be arranged in different ways. Clasp arms  38 ,  38 ′ in turn define mop handle indents  40 ,  40 ′. These indents may be dimensioned and configured to accept a mop handle therebetween, forcing the clasp arms  38 ,  38 ′ slightly apart as they do so. By this means, a secure physical engagement of a mop handle by the device of the invention may be obtained.  
         [0089]      FIG. 6  is a bottom side oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  is a bottom right oblique perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. In these views, the clip configuration attaching the device to a wringer or bucket may be more easily seen.  
         [0090]     Channel first side  42  and channel second side  44  comprise clip  32  and define between them the channel  34  used to physically engage to the wringer lip or bucket lip.  
         [0091]     Barb  46  on first side  42  engages the inside of the wringer or outside of the bucket, while stop  48  engages the outside of the wringer or the inside of the bucket, depending upon whether the device is used upon a wringer or upon a bucket.  
         [0092]     In embodiments, barb  46  and stop  48  may merely touch the wringer/bucket and thus provide the physical engagement. However, in other embodiments, barb  46  and stop  48  may slip over a lip or other projection at or near the top edge of the wringer or bucket and thus more securely engage therewith.  
         [0093]     In an embodiment, barb  46  or stop  48  may be in fact dimensioned and configured to engage with another feature of some common wringers. Certain common models of wringer have a pattern of square apertures passing through the body of wringer. These square holes may be used to better secure the device, simply by making the width of the barb  46  or stop  48  substantially equal to or less than the width of the hole in the wringer. The height of the barb  46  or stop  48  may also be less than or equal to the width of the hole in the wringer.  
         [0094]     Putting the device onto a wringer is as follows. First, stops  48  are placed in contact with the outer side of the wringer, then the top of the device is pushed and hook barbs  46  snap into place. The stops and barbs  48 ,  46  snap into holes or other features present on the wringer. For example, one common type of wringer already mentioned, the Rubbermaid 6127™ has numerous small square holes designed to allow wrung water to escape from the wringer.  
         [0095]     To reiterate, the stop  48  and barbs  46  may be dimensioned and configured to physically engage such small square holes by partially entering them. Thus the width, height and depth of the stop and barbs may be substantially equal to the width, height and depth of the square holes. In alternative embodiments, one or more of these dimensions may be smaller than the holes.  
         [0096]     In the case of holes or other depressions in wringers or buckets being others sizes or shapes, the barb  46  or stop  48  may be dimensioned and configured so as to engage with the hole/depression by being a complementary shape and size to the hole/depression.  
         [0097]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a bucket having a built in embodiment of the device. Wringer Lip  202  has built in thereto mop holder  204 , comprising of two projections: retainer  206  and retainer  210 , which in turn define a space therebetween: mop handle slot  208 .  
         [0098]     In this alternative embodiment, in addition to being built into the wringer itself the invention has arms which are resilient and elastic enough to themselves safely clasp the mop handle between them when it is inserted. The retainer indentations seen defining mop handle slot  208  may be sized to commonly available mop handle sizes. In other alternative embodiments, these may have separate clips built therein as well.  
         [0099]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of a wringer having a built in embodiment of the device. Bucket body  302  has bucket lip  304  which has built into it the invention. First retainer/clasp arm  306  and second retainer/clasp arm  308  form mop handle slot  310  between them. Spring clip  312  (having the mop handle gripping indentation) and spring clip  314  having another such indentation are, as discussed previously, resilient material which allows the mop handle to push between. Thus, the spring clips  312 ,  314 , have a first position in which no mop handle is present and they are under no imposed force, and have a second position in which a mop handle is placed between and they are forced slightly apart, placing them into positions in which they urge themselves against the mop handle.  
         [0100]     The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the claims attached hereto.