Patent Abstract:
An insert has an upper and lower portions used in conjunction with a variety of sizes of a wash buckets and a wringer to eliminate the contamination of clean wash solution with dirty solution during the moping process. The insert allows for a separation of liquids while limiting the volume that is lost in the wash bucket with the use of an insert. A wringer attaches to the insert and when used to wring out a mop the insert collects all the dirty solution that is extracted from the mop. The insert allows for the maximum clean wash solution volume and dirty solution volume while also increasing the height of the wringer when used in conjunction with the insert and wash bucket.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/443,076 filed Nov. 18, 1999, now abandoned which is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/958,903 filed Oct. 28, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,397 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/865,520 filed May 29, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,441. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     NONE 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bucket insert. More particularly, it relates to a bucket insert which has a lower portion with a smaller volume and an upper portion with a larger volume. The present invention also relates to a bucket insert which receives a wringer for floor cleaning and keeps clean wash liquid separate from dirty liquid. 
     In a floor cleaning process, a mop and a mop bucket are usually involved. A wringer is typically mounted to a mop bucket to wring the liquid from a wetted mop. During a cleaning process, the mop is dipped into a washing liquid contained in a bucket and is moved around the floor to remove dirt from the floor. In order for it to clean, the mop needs to be wrung repeatedly with the wringer and wetted by dipping it into the washing liquid. The dirty liquid squeezed from the mop in other systems was returned to the clean washing liquid. Thus, the washing liquid in the bucket is contaminated quickly. 
     Devices have been developed to overcome this disadvantage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,865 discloses a device for collecting dirty washing liquid and for containing clean liquid for wetting a floor-cloth for washing floors. The device includes a main container which supports a wringer and defines a compartment for collecting the liquid produced by wringing the floor cloth, and a secondary container or insert which is mounted to the top portion within the main container and contains clean washing liquid for wetting the floor cloth. Thus, the clean washing liquid is separated from the dirty liquid contained in the main container. 
     Although this device provides the advantage of separating the dirty fluid from the washing fluid, it suffers several drawbacks. First, because of the way the device is configured, the insert can only be fitted into certain buckets specially designed to receive the insert. Secondly, because the insert is mounted to the top portion of the bucket and is used to contain the clean washing liquid, the whole system is not very stable when first starting the cleaning as the washing liquid contained by the insert tends to raise and off-center the center of mass. Another problem is that there is no room for keeping the mop because the insert is not deep enough and it is not desirable to keep the mop in the dirty liquid of the main container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,307 discloses a bucket having separate reservoirs for segregating clean washing liquid form dirty washing liquid. The bucket contains a discharge transfer compartment with holes on its bottom wall for wringing a mop and draining the dirty liquid into a discharge storage reservoir which is located beneath the discharge transfer compartment and occupies the whole lower portion of the bucket. The floors of the discharge transfer compartment and the clean liquid reservoir are shaped with adequate slope or curvature so that particulate material discharged from a mop is caused to move to the lowest point for removal. However, this bucket does not use a removable insert. Instead, a discharge transfer compartment and a discharge storage reservoir are used. Because they are mounted nonremovably and contain holes and curvatures, it is not convenient to clean the bucket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,562,841 discloses a bucket provided with a squeeze plate for squeezing a mop of the sponge-type material. The bucket has an inner bucket for containing clean washing liquid and a separate container for receiving a filter and the dirty liquid drained through the filter. The separate container or insert has a fixed size and shape determined by the dimensions of the filter and the squeeze plate (wringer), therefore, can not be used for other types of buckets and mops. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,983,441 and 6,006,397 disclose a pliable mop bucket insert that is pushed against the side walls of the bucket. The insert is removably attached to the bucket and used to collect the dirty liquid while the bucket contains the clean liquid. The entire insert is placed in the bucket thereby reducing the volume of liquid that can be used in the bucket and requiring the user to refill the bucket more frequently. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a bucket insert and wringer, which separates dirty wash liquid from clean wash liquid and overcomes the disadvantages exist in the wash buckets and inserts as discussed above. Furthermore, there is a need for a bucket insert that reduces the time and effort needed to complete a job. 
     The objects of the invention therefore are: 
     a. Providing an improved insert for a wash bucket. 
     b. Providing an insert of the forgoing kind which has a larger capacity than those previously employed. 
     c. Providing an insert of the forgoing kind which displaces a minimum amount of space when placed in a bucket. 
     d. Provide an insert of the forgoing kind which affords ease of mopping. 
     e. Providing an insert of the forgoing kind which can fit into buckets of various sizes and accommodate wringers of various shapes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior devices are over come by the invention which in one aspect provides a bucket insert having a container body with a lower and an upper portion, the upper portion having a larger volume than the lower portion. The lower portion of the bucket insert is adapted to be inserted into a bucket and the upper portion is arranged to extend laterally over the lower portion and to receive a wringer device. This arrangement allows for the insert to retain a larger volume while still not greatly reducing the volume of the wash bucket. The bucket insert includes a hook member that is operatively connected to the container body for connection to the bucket. 
     In another aspect, the hook member is connected to the upper portion and extends over the lower portion of the insert. 
     In one embodiment, the lower and upper portions have a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and with respect to the lower portion has a bottom wall. 
     In another embodiment, the walls of the upper and lower portion are connected by shoulder sections. 
     In still another aspect, the invention provides a mopping apparatus for collecting dirty wash liquid. The apparatus includes a bucket for containing clean washing liquid. The lower portion of the previously described insert is placed in the bucket with the upper portion extending above the bucket. A wringer is supported on the upper portion of the insert. 
     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows. In the detailed description below preferred embodiments of the invention are described in reference to the full scope of the invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insert of this invention engaged with a bucket and a wringer; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the insert with the bucket and wringer; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the insert; 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the insert; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the insert; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the insert; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the insert; 
     FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the insert; and 
     FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of the insert. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of an alternative embodiment; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert generally  11  is shown in conjunction with a mop bucket  26  and a wringer  31 . Bucket  26  has the usual side walls  28 , a front wall  27  and a back wall  29  defining a space  30  for containing washing liquid and receiving the lower portion  13  of the insert  11 . Wringer  31  has a basket  35  for receiving and wringing dirty water from a mop through small openings  36 . The wringer  31  is connected to insert  11  by a support hook  32  with back wall  17  and reinforcement section  24  placed in the gap  34  formed between the lower portion  33  of the wringer  31  and the support hook  32 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 3-6, the insert  11  has an upper portion  12  and a lower portion  13 . The upper portion  12  has a front wall  15 , a back wall  17  and side walls  16 . The lower portion  13  also has a front wall  18 , a back wall  20 , side walls  19 , and a bottom  21 . The walls of the insert  11  define a space or opening  22 . On the back wall  17  of the upper portion  12  of the insert  11  there are one or more hooks  14 , the preferred means of attaching the insert  11  to the bucket  26 . The back wall  20  of the lower portion  13  is angled toward the front wall  18  in the insert as shown at  37 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper portion  12  of the insert  11  is larger in volume and dimension than the lower portion  13 , the two portions being joined by the shoulder section  23 . Compare the relative size as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 in conjunction with FIG.  6 . 
     As indicated in FIG. 2, insert  11  is installed into bucket  26  in such a way that the back wall  20  of lower portion  13  of the insert  11  is placed against back wall  29  with the side walls  19  close or in touch with the side walls  28  of the bucket  26 . Hook  14  is used to keep the insert  11  in a predetermined position, this is accomplished by setting the gap  25  between the hook member  14  and the back wall  20  at a certain level as shown in FIG.  5 . As shown in FIG. 4, insert  11  has the hook  14  connected to the back wall  17  of upper portion  12  engaging with the upper edge of the bucket  26  and supporting the insert  11  above the bucket  26 . Once insert  11  is placed in a predetermined position inside bucket  26 , wringer  31  can be installed in insert  11 . 
     The upper portion  12  of insert  11  is placed substantially above the bucket  26  so that the insert  11  does not occupy excessive space inside the bucket  26 . The lower portion  13  of insert  11  has a dimension smaller than the upper opening  22  of the bucket  26 , so that the lower portion  13  can be placed into the bucket  26 , as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The lower portion  13  and the upper portion  12  have different dimensions. The upper portion  12  is larger in volume than the lower portion  13  of the insert  11  with the ratio being approximately 2:1. Preferably the upper portion has a volume of 482.75 fluid ounces and the lower portion has the volume of 231 fluid ounces. The use of the upper portion  12  and a lower portion  13  in the insert  11  allows the volume of the insert  11  to be increased while still allowing the volume of the wash bucket  26  to remain at a level to be practical for use. The upper portion  12  preferably has a height of 8.2 inches, a length of 12 inches and a depth of 9 inches. The lower portion  13  preferably has a height of 7 inches, a length of 9 inches and a depth of 7 inches. In order to save space in the bucket  26 , the lower portion  13  should be as small as possible, as long as the insert  11  can be held steadily in position. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  6  and  7 , a shoulder section  23  is formed between the side walls  19  and the front wall  18  of the lower portion  13  and the side walls  16  and the front wall  15  of the upper portion  12 . Referring to FIG. 1, the shoulder section is positioned above an upper edge of the bucket  26  which prevents the upper portion  12  from coming into contact with the washing solution in the bucket  26  thereby, not reducing the volume of wash liquid the bucket  26  contains. 
     An alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 10 depicts the insert  11  used with a smaller size bucket  26 A. This embodiment shows the shoulder section  23  and the upper portion  12  above and extending laterally over the upper edge of the bucket  26 A. With the upper portion  12  of the insert  11  is placed above the bucket  26 A, the shoulder section  23  may sit on the upper edge of the bucket  26 A. The wringer  31  is placed on the insert  11  so that the openings  36  are inside the insert  11  allowing dirty solution to be extracted from a mop into the insert  11 . FIG. 10 shows how the insert  11  is adaptable to fit different size buckets  26 A while still maintaining the wash liquid volume levels adequate for mopping. 
     The insert  11  of the present invention is preferably made of synthetic materials such as a rigid plastic. The insert  11  should have sufficient strength to hold its basic shape with dirty washing liquid and also it should remain stable inside the bucket  26 . Insert  11  is preferably rigid and sturdy enough to support a wringer  31  by itself. The insert  11  can also be made with certain reinforced portions for receiving and supporting wringer  31 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 the added reinforcement can be achieved by having a reinforcement section  24  on the back wall  17  of the upper portion  12  of the insert  11  where it is engaged with the wringer  31 . 
     The important features of the insert  11  are as follows: The lower portion  13  of the insert  11  takes up less volume in the bucket  26 , so the bucket  26  has more space for cleaning fluid and it is easier to place a mop in the clean water of the bucket  26 . The arrangement of the upper portion  12  of the insert  11  above the bucket  26 , allows the height of the wringer  31  to be increased. Thus, for a person of normal height, the back strain will be reduced when the person operates the wringer  31 . Another feature of the insert  11  is that it is possible for the insert  11  to fit a large variety of sizes of existing bucket-wringer systems because insert  11  has a smaller lower portion  13  and a larger upper portion  12 . The lower portion  13  has a smaller dimension and can fit in most size buckets  26  while the upper portion  12  is above the bucket  26 . The upper portion  12  of the insert  11  allows the lower portion  13  to be of any practical size dictated only by stability considerations. Still another feature of the insert  11  is that the insert  11  is stabilized by the weight of the wringer  31 , so that even if the bucket  26  is full of clean washing liquid the insert  11  will not float in the bucket  26 . 
     A cleaning operation according to the present invention usually comprises the following steps a) filling bucket  26  with washing liquid which usually is water with dissolved detergent; b) installing insert  11  into bucket  26  with the shoulder section  23  placed on or near the bucket sides  28 ; c) installing wringer  31  to insert  11  by slip-fitting gap  34  of wringer  31  to the upper portion  12  of insert  11  with the hook  32 ; d) dipping a mop into the clean washing liquid contained in the bucket  26 ; e) moving the dipped mop over a surface to be cleaned; f) inserting the dirty mop into the wringer  31  and wringing it allowing dirty liquid to drain through openings  36  of the wringer basket  35  into the insert  11  where it accumulates in the lower portion  13  first; g) then repeat steps d) to f) until the surface is clean. 
     Based on the above description of the present invention, it is clear that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Obviously, different numbers and types of hook members  14  can be used to position insert  11  above the bucket  26  in conjunction with the lower portion  13  which can be of varying dimensions providing the stability of the insert  11  is not compromised. The reinforcement section  24  can be eliminated by using a more sturdy material to construct the insert  11  or by rolling the top edges of the insert  11 . This would allow the wringer  31  to have the stability it needs. The variation in the ratio and volumes of the upper portion  12  and the lower portion  13  can be adjusted so that the insert  11  maintains its stability when engaged with the wash bucket  26  but the lower portion  13  takes up even less room in the wash bucket  26 . Further, while the particular heights have been indicated for the insert  11  and more importantly, the height for the upper portion  12 , an increase in the height would allow an increase in the height of the total system which in turn would make the location of the wringer  31  even higher allowing a tall individual to use the system with more easy. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0