Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to floor cleaning equipment and more particularly to a mop and wringer combination with improved characteristics. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Mops are well known devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,728 discloses a self-wringing ratchet mop which allows a user to grip and rotate a grip sleeve repeatedly until a mop swab is dried. 
     There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for mop wringer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,720 discloses a mop wringer. But a combination of mop and wringer has not been disclosed so far as the inventor is aware. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a mop and wringer combination. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mop and wringer combination according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of some components of the mop; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mop swab; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of  FIG. 4  with the mop strands being removed; 
         FIG. 6  is a broken-away perspective view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of a lower portion of the mop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  where the handle is disposed in an inclined position after pivoting; 
         FIG. 9  is another longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the mop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the wringer of  FIG. 1  but shown in an enlarged view, the wringer being constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled actuation mechanism of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the actuation mechanism of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a wringer constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled actuation mechanism of  FIG. 15 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the actuation mechanism of  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mop and wringer combination in accordance with the invention is shown. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 9  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the mop comprises an elongate handle  1  having a lower end  11 ; and a hinge connector  2  formed of plastic and comprising an upper sleeve  21  adapted to secured to the lower end  11 , a lower hinge  22 , a lower, curved member  23  integrally formed on the hinge  22 , the curved member  23  having a half-spherical protrusion  231  on its lowest point, and a curved groove  24  formed in the curved member  23  and being substantially parallel to the curved outer surface of the curved member  23 . Hence, a portion of the curved member  23  between the groove  24  and the protrusion  231  is flexible. 
     The mop further comprises a yoke  3  including a disc member  33 , two opposite yoke arms (not numbered) on the disc member  33  with a channel  31  defined therebetween, the channel  31  having a circular recess  311  on the bottom, a separate ring  34  having a circular flange (not numbered) on the top edge, and a pin  32  inserted through upper holes (not numbered) of the yoke arms and a hole (not numbered) of the hinge  22  to pivotably secure the yoke  3  and the hinge connector  2  together. Further, the protrusion  231  is matingly engaged with the recess  311 . 
     The mop further comprises a circular rotatable disk member  4  including a central through hole  41 , a downward first circular flange  42  on the bottom edge, a downward second circular flange  43  adjacent the first circular flange  42  to define an annular trough (not numbered) therebetween, and a downward third circular flange  44  formed between the second circular flange  43  and the through hole  41 . That is, the flanges  42 ,  43 , and  44  are concentric. A circular area defined by the third circular flange  44  is adapted to loosely receive the disc member  33  therein after inserting the yoke  3  through the through hole  41 . The bottom of the disc member  33  is flush with that of the third circular flange  44 . Thereafter, the ring  34  is adapted to cling onto the third circular flange  44  to enclose both the third circular flange  44  and the disc member  33  and retain the disc member  33  in the area defined by the third circular flange  44 . 
     The mop further comprises a ring-shaped mop swab  5  comprising an annular inner flange  56 , an upper groove (not numbered) with concentric walls (not numbered), a plurality of ribs  55  for dividing the groove into a plurality of arcuate sections (not numbered) each including two elongate holes  52  on the bottom, a plurality of sets of four triangular members  53 , each set of four triangular members  53  being disposed around the hole  52 , and strands  54  having one ends fastened in the triangular members  53  after inserting through the holes  52 . The mop swab  5  is secured to the rotatable disk member  4  by snapping into the trough defined between the second circular flange  43  and the first circular flange  42 . 
     The rotatable disk member  4  is adapted to rotate about the yoke  3  (i.e., both the rotatable disk member  4  and the mop swab  5  being rotatable about the yoke  3  with the handle  1 , the hinge connector  2 , and the yoke  3  being motionless during the rotation). An operator may pivot the hinge connector  2  a predetermined angle about the yoke  3  by pushing the handle  1  with the protrusion  231  being removed from the recess  311  until the hinge connector  2  is stopped by the yoke  3 . It is understood that the protrusion  231  is capable of flexibly disengaging from the recess  311  because the hinge connector  2  is of molded plastic and the provision of the groove  24 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 to 13  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the wringer in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The wringer comprises a pail  6  comprising a handle  63  hingedly provided on the top edge, an internal space  61 , and a recess  62  on the peripheral wall. 
     The wringer further comprises a rotatable mop receptacle  8  disposed in the space  61 . The mop receptacle  8  comprises a shell  81  having a flared open top, a tapered bottom, and a plurality of longitudinal holes  80 , and a shaft  82  extending downward a predetermined length from the bottom center of the shell  81 . 
     The wringer further comprises an actuation mechanism  7  comprising a substantially rectangular support  71  including a bossed hole  714  on the bottom and two substantially triangular upright mounts  710  on two sides respectively, each mount  710  having an upper hole  712  and one of the mounts  710  additionally having an intermediate hole  713  right below the hole  712 . 
     The actuation mechanism  7  further comprises a pivot member  73  including an arcuate foot step  731  disposed in the recess  62  and extending out of the recess  62  a predetermined distance, an arcuate toothed member  732  provided opposing the foot step  731 , a pivot shaft  730  provided above the toothed member  732 , and a hole  733  provided opposing the pivot shaft  730 ; and a spring (e.g., torsion spring)  75  put on the pivot shaft  730 . The spring  75  has one end urged against one mount  710  and the other end urged against the foot step  731 . Further, two pins  711  are provided in which one pin  711  is inserted through one upper hole  712  into the hole  733 , and the other pin  711  is inserted through the other upper hole  712  into the pivot shaft  730 . As a result, the pivot member  73  and the support  71  are pivotably secured together. 
     The actuation mechanism  7  further comprises a gear assembly  74  including a small gearwheel  740  in mesh with the toothed member  732 , a large first bevel gear  741  being coaxial and integral with the gearwheel  740 , and a threaded fastener (e.g., bolt)  742  driven through both the gearwheel  740  and the first bevel gear  741  into the intermediate hole  713  to secure to a nut (not numbered); a small second bevel gear  72  meshed with the first bevel gear  741 , the second bevel gear  72  having a longitudinal hole (not numbered) with pawls (not numbered) provided on the inner surface thereof; and a hollow, cylindrical ratchet member  70  provided in the longitudinal hole of the second bevel gear  72  and being in ratchet engagement therewith. 
     The shaft  82  is inserted through an upper gap between the pivot shaft  730  and the hole  733  and the ratchet member  70  to rotatably anchor in the bossed hole  714  in which the shaft  82  is secured to the ratchet member  70  (i.e., they can co-rotate). 
     In a wringing operation, an operator may first dispose the wet strands  54  in the shell  81 . Next, the operator may set one foot on the foot step  731  to press same by pivoting. Hence, the toothed member  732  rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel  740 , the first bevel gear  741 , the second bevel gear  72 , the ratchet member  70 , and the shaft  82  rotate with elastic force being stored in the spring  75 . Hence, both the shell  81  and the strands  54  rotate counterclockwise in high speed. As a result, water in the strands  54  leaves the shell  81  via the holes  80  due to strong centrifugal force. 
     The spring  75  immediately releases its stored elastic energy after leaving the foot out of the foot step  731 . Hence, the toothed member  732  rotates clockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel  740 , the first bevel gear  741 , and the second bevel gear  72  rotate in an opposite direction. But the ratchet member  70  does not rotate because it is not driven by the second bevel gear  72  due to the ratchet disengagement therewith. That is, the shaft  82  remains motionless. This can prevent both the shell  81  and the strands  54  from rotating clockwise. Finally, the foot step  731  returns to its initial condition. The operator may repeat the above steps until the strands  54  are sufficiently wrung. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 to 17  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , a wringer in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. The wringer comprises a pail  6  comprising a handle  63  hingedly provided on the top edge, an internal space  61 , and a recess  62  on the peripheral wall. 
     The wringer further comprises a rotatable mop receptacle  8  disposed in the space  61 . The mop receptacle  8  comprises a shell  81  having a flared open top, a tapered bottom, and a plurality of longitudinal holes  80 , and a shaft  82  extending downward a predetermined length from the bottom center of the shell  81 . 
     The wringer further comprises an actuation mechanism  9  comprising a substantially rectangular support  91  including a bossed hole  913  on the bottom and two substantially triangular upright mounts  910  on two sides respectively, each mount  910  having an upper hole  912 . 
     The actuation mechanism  9  further comprises a pivot member  94  including an arcuate foot step  941  disposed in the recess  62  and extending out of the recess  62  a predetermined distance, an arcuate toothed member  942  provided opposing the foot step  941 , a pivot shaft  940  provided above the toothed member  942 , and a hole  943  provided opposing the pivot shaft  940 ; and a spring (e.g., torsion spring)  92  put on the pivot shaft  940 . The spring  92  has one end urged against one mount  910  and the other end urged against the foot step  941 . Further, two pins  911  are provided in which one pin  911  is inserted through one upper hole  912  into the hole  943 , and the other pin  911  is inserted through the other upper hole  912  into the pivot shaft  940 . As a result, the pivot member  94  and the support  91  are pivotably secured together. 
     The actuation mechanism  9  further comprises a hollow gearwheel  93  in mesh with the toothed member  942 ; a ratchet member  96  including a downward peg  960  secured to a counter bore (not numbered) on the top of the gearwheel  93 , and two opposite upper members  961 ; an inverted cup shaped member  95  including pawls  950  on an inner circumferential surface. The pawls  950  are in ratchet engagement with the upper members  961 . 
     The shaft  82  is inserted through an upper gap between the pivot shaft  940  and the hole  943 , the inverted cup shaped member  95 , the ratchet member  96 , and the gearwheel  93  to rotatably anchor in the bossed hole  913  in which the shaft  82  is secured to the inverted cup shaped member  95 . 
     In a wringing operation, an operator may first dispose the wet strands  54  in the shell  81 . Next, the operator may set one foot on the foot step  941  to press same by pivoting. Hence, the toothed member  942  rotates counterclockwise. And in turn, the gearwheel  93 , the ratchet member  96 , the inverted cup shaped member  95 , and the shaft  82  rotate with elastic force being stored in the spring  92 . Hence, both the shell  81  and the strands  54  rotate counterclockwise in high speed. As a result, water in the strands  54  leaves the shell  81  via the holes  80  due to strong centrifugal force. 
     The spring  92  immediately releases its stored elastic energy after leaving the foot out of the foot step  941 . Hence, the toothed member  942  rotates clockwise. And in turn, both the gearwheel  93  and the ratchet member  96  rotate in an opposite direction. But the inverted cup shaped member  95  does not rotate because it is not driven by the ratchet member  96  due to the ratchet disengagement therewith. That is, the shaft  82  remains motionless. This can prevent both the shell  81  and the strands  54  from rotating clockwise. Finally, the foot step  941  returns to its initial condition. The operator may repeat the above steps until the strands  54  are sufficiently wrung. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

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