Patent ID: 12245734

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG.2, there shown the washing bucket10in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The washing bucket10includes a container12having an interior defined by a wall14and a bottom16. A fluid inlet18is affixed to the wall14of the container12. The fluid inlet18communicates with the interior of the container12. As can be seen, the fluid inlet18is positioned adjacent to the bottom16of the container. A fluid outlet20opens through the wall14of the container12. The fluid outlet20is located at a level higher than a level of the fluid inlet18.

The fluid inlet18has a connector22positioned exterior of the wall14of the container12. This connector22is adapted to be connected to a water hose24. The water hose24can be threadedly connected to the connector22of the fluid inlet18. The water hose24extends exteriorly of the container12. The water hose24can be connected to any supply of water, such as a water faucet.

InFIG.2, it can be seen that the fluid inlet22has a diameter less than the diameter of the fluid outlet20. The fluid outlet20comprises a pipe26that is affixed to the wall14of the container12. One end of the pipe26opens to the interior of the container12. The opposite end28of the pipe26is positioned exterior of the container12.

InFIG.2, the pipe26is an elbow swivel mounted to the exterior of the container12so as to be movable between a first position (not shown) in which the opposite end28of the pipe26extends upwardly and a second position (shown inFIG.2) in which the opposite end28of the pipe26extends downwardly. A conduit30is affixed to the opposite end28of the pipe26. It can be seen that the conduit30extends away from the container12.

With reference toFIG.2, it is to be understood that the water hose24supplies pressurized water to the fluid inlet18and into the interior of the container12. The top 32 of the container is open so as to allow a mop to be introduced therein. Ultimately, as the water hose24delivers water through the inlet18in a direction adjacent to the bottom16of the container12, the interior volume of the container12will continue to fill with water. Ultimately, the level of the water will reach the level of the outlet20. Once water reaches the level of the outlet20, it will be discharged from the interior of the container12through the pipe26and through the conduit30to a remote location. In particular, the end34of the conduit30can be extended to a drain, a sink, an exterior location, or any other place where dirty water can be discharged.

In normal use, a mop will be introduced through the opening32at the top of the container12and inserted into the water within the container12. The strings of the mop will absorb water. Since the water hose24can be connected to a faucet, hot water from the faucet can be delivered through the hose24continuously into the interior of the container12. As such, the mop strings will have hot water thereon. The mop can then be used so as to mop a floor. After a certain amount of time, the mop strings will be reintroduced through the opening32of the container12and back into the water within the container. The hot water within the container12will serve to separate grease and other debris from the strings of the mop. Often, the mop strings are pressed against the bottom16of the container12so as to squeeze the contaminants therefrom. Since the nozzle of the fluid inlet18is directed generally adjacent to the bottom16of the container12, this will provide a jet of water so as to further assist in removing contaminants from the mop strings.

Ultimately, the grease and debris that has been discharged from the mop into the water in the container12will continue to rise within the water in the container as water continues to be introduced into the container12from the water hose24through the fluid inlet18. Ultimately, since water is continuously discharged through the fluid outlet and the pipe26, the debris will ultimately rise with the water until the contaminants reach the fluid outlet20. These contaminants and debris can then be discharged through the pipe26and outwardly through the conduit30into a remote drain.

Under all circumstances, the water that remains within the container12will continue to be clean and hot. This will continue throughout the various cycles of wringing the mop within the container12. If a wringer4(such as shown inFIG.1) is used to squeeze the mop strings, then the debris will be deposited adjacent to the top level of water within the container12so that it more quickly will flow out of the fluid outlet20. After the mop is been squeezed in the wringer4, the debris is released therefrom and quickly discharged through the fluid outlet. The mop is then reinserted in the clean water within the interior of the container12.

So as to maintain a clean floor, it is important to avoid the situations where the amount of water delivered through the fluid inlet18exceeds the capacity of the fluid outlet20to discharge the water. As such, the fluid outlet20has a diameter greater than the diameter of the fluid inlet18. Furthermore, a water reducer can be inserted into the fluid inlet18so as to restrict the rate of water flow into the interior of the container12. As such, no matter how wide open the faucet is, the rate of water flow into the interior of the container12will be limited by the present invention.

FIG.3shows the container12having an interior40. The fluid outlet20opens through the wall14of the container12. The fluid outlet20includes the pipe26. InFIG.3, the pipe26is an elbow swivel. The conduit30is attached by various means to the end28of pipe26.

FIG.4is a cross-sectional view showing the container12. In particular, it can be seen that the fluid outlet20is located at a level higher than that of the fluid inlet18. The fluid inlet18is affixed to the connector22located exterior of the wall14.

The fluid inlet18is secured to the connector22. Connector22is located exterior of the wall22. The connector22can have male threads that are secured to the female threads of the water hose. Alternatively, the connector22can be in the nature of a quick-connect fitting wherein the end of the water hose can simply be snapped into place onto the connector.

Importantly, inFIG.4, it can be seen that the fluid inlet18has a tubular member23that extends across the bottom16of the container12. The tubular member23has a plurality of openings25. The plurality of openings25open to the interior40of the container12. Similarly, since the tubular member23will inherently have a longitudinal passageway therein, each of the plurality of openings25will open to this longitudinal passageway. As such, when water is introduced through the connector22into the inlet18, water will be emitted outwardly from the plurality of openings25into the interior of the container12.

The tubular member23can be positioned on the bottom16of the container12or can be spaced slightly above the bottom of the container12.FIG.4shows the tubular member23extending entirely across the diameter of container12. It will be appreciated that, in the present invention, the tubular member23(along with the plurality of openings25) could extend partially across the diameter of the container12. To the extent that the tubular member23extends entirely across the diameter of the container12, the end27of the tubular member23can be affixed to the wall14of the container12or it can bear against the interior surface of the wall14. As such, the tubular member23will be stably positioned in a desired location below the fluid outlet20.

In normal use, water is introduced into the tubular member23, it will be released outwardly through the plurality of openings25. The plurality of openings25are spaced apart from each other along the length of the tubular member23. Additionally, within the concept of the present invention, another set of spaced-apart openings will appear on the opposite side of the tubular member23(in the manner shown inFIG.4). As such, one set of water jets will be directed to one side of the wall14of container12and another set of water jets will be directed to an opposite side of the wall14of container12. The outward projection of these jets of water will create a spinning or circuitous path of water flow in the interior14of container12. When mop strings are introduced into the interior40, this spinning or circuitous flow of water will serve to further release debris and dirt from the strings of the mop. This will assure a strong circulation of water in a desired direction within the container. This turbulence will further act to clean the strings of the mop. Since the tubular member23extends entirely across the bottom16of the container12, strong jets of water will be released throughout the interior40of the container12so as to be directed to all of the spread-apart strings of a mop therein. As such, a superior cleaning action can be achieved.

It should be noted that, within the concept of the present invention, the plurality of openings25can just be a single set of openings that are positioned at the top of the tubular member23. As such, these jets of water will be released from the plurality of openings in a direction upwardly toward the mop strings that are supported thereabove.

InFIG.4, it can be seen that the fluid inlet18directs of pressurized flow of water adjacent to the bottom16. Ultimately, the fluid inlet18will continue to fill the interior40of the container12with water until a level of water within the container12reaches the level of the outlet20. The water will then be discharged through the outlet20. The outlet20is located at a distance above the upper edge46of the container12. In order to conserve water, the outlet20is located the distance below the upper edge26. As such, an optimal amount of water will continuously reside within the interior40of the container12. The location of the outlet20serves to prevent any possibility of water sloshing over the upper edge46during the movement of the container12or during the mopping operations that are carried out within the container12.

FIG.5shows a detailed view of the fluid inlet18. In particular, can be seen that the fluid inlet18has a tubular member23with a plurality of openings25.FIG.5further shows the longitudinal passageway29of the tubular member23. The end31of tubular member23will be affixed to the connector22. As such, water from a water hose will be directed into the longitudinal passageway29and outwardly through the openings25. The end33can be suitably plugged or closed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the end33will bear against the wall14of the container12so as to prevent water from being emitted outwardly of this end33. If the tubular member23has a length less than the diameter of the container12, then it is possible, within the concept of the present invention, that the end33can only be partially plugged in order to release a flow of water longitudinally outwardly from end33.

InFIG.5, it can be seen that openings25can include one set of spaced-apart openings on one side of the tubular member23. There is another set of openings35located on the opposite side of the tubular member23. This set of tubular openings35are generally axially aligned with the first set of openings25. As such, the tubular member23can be suitably formed by simply drilling holes through the diameter of the tubular member23. The openings35will have a configuration similar to that of the openings25.

FIG.6shows one configuration of a pipe26that can be used with the fluid outlet20of the present invention.FIG.6shows a swivel pipe60having one end62affixed to the fluid outlet20and an opposite end28that has threads64suitable for securing to a conduit. The elbow swivel60, as shown inFIG.6, can be movable about pivot joint66between a first position extending upwardly and a second position extending downwardly. When the elbow swivel60is in the downward position, it is suitable for delivering water flowing from the interior of the container12toward the conduit30. On the other hand, when the elbow swivel60is in the upper position (in which the end28is located above the swivel joint66) it will allow the washing bucket10to be used as a conventional bucket. In other words, when a cap is placed over the fluid inlet18so as to close the fluid inlet, a continuous supply of water is not being delivered into the interior of the container12. Since the elbow swivel60has its end above the level of water within the bucket, no water will pass outwardly of the end28. As such, this easily allows one to convert the continuous-flow washing bucket10of the present invention into a conventional mop bucket.

FIG.7shows an alternative embodiment of the fluid outlet20. As can be seen, the fluid outlet20has one end80that will be located in the interior40of the container12and an opposite end82that is located exteriorly of the container12. A flange or shoulder84extends radially outwardly of the body86of the fluid outlet20. Flange or shoulder84can be embedded within the polymeric material of the container12or can be used as a shoulder to be bonded to one of the interior and exterior walls of the container12. A threaded portion88will extend exteriorly of the wall of the container. A corresponding female threaded portion of a conduit can be joined to threaded portion88so as to extend outwardly therefrom. Alternatively, the elbow swivel60(such as shown inFIG.6) can be joined to this threaded portion88.

FIG.8shows a cap90that is adapted to be affixed over the threaded portion88of the fluid outlet20. Cap90has female threads92formed in an interior thereof. Cap90can be simply screwed onto the threaded portion88so as to close the outlet end89of the fluid outlet20.

FIG.9shows a cap100that can be used for attachment to the fluid inlet18. Once again, the cap100includes female threads102that can be joined to the male threads of the connector22of the fluid inlet18. Cap100can then be tightened onto the fluid inlet18so as to close the fluid inlet. When the cap100is placed over the fluid inlet18and the when the cap90is placed over the fluid outlet20, the washing bucket of the present invention can be used as a conventional wash bucket. Such a configuration can be used in those situations where water supplies or drains are not conveniently available.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.