GB2321392A

GB2321392A - Sieve for mop buckets

Info

Publication number: GB2321392A
Application number: GB9700479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scot Young
Original assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Current assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Priority date: 1997-01-11
Filing date: 1997-01-11
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-11
Also published as: GB9700479D0; GB2321392B

Abstract

A sieve for wringing out a mop in a bucket comprises a supporting portion 10 for supporting the sieve on the upper rim of a bucket and a dished sieve portion 13 depending from the supporting portion, preferably portion 13 is of frusto-conical shape. The sieve portion has a plurality of ribs 16 on its inner peripheral surface. The ribs 16 are spaced out about an axis vertical in use and present steeply angled surfaces 16a to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion and twisted in one direction. The sieve portion preferably also has a plurality of peripheral ribs 15 which also present steeply angled surfaces to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion. The shape of the ribs provides an improved wringing action for removing excess water from the mophead.

Description

SIEVES FOR MOP BUCKETS This invention relates to a sieve for wringing out a mop in a bucket.

It is known to provide sieves for wringing out a mop in a bucket by pressing the mophead in the sieve and twisting it in one direction.

The present invention seeks to provide a sieve which has a greater wringing effect than those known hitherto.

According to the present invention there is provided a sieve for wringing out a mop in a bucket, the sieve comprising a supporting portion for supporting the sieve on the upper rim of a bucket and a dished sieve portion depending from the supporting portion, the sieve portion having a plurality of ribs on its inner peripheral surface, the ribs being spaced apart about an in use vertical axis and presenting steeply angled surfaces to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion and twisted in one direction.

The steeply angled surfaces of the ribs hold the strands of the mophead back whilst the mop is twisted. This action causes a greater wringing effect to the mophead.

Preferably, the ribs are of triangular cross-section and, in this case, preferably, two sides of the ribs extend inwardly into the sieve portion and are of unequal width so as to present a more steeply angled surface to a mophead twisted in a right handed manner than in a left handed manner.

The sieve portion preferably also has a plurality of peripherally extending ribs which may present a steeply angled surface to a mophead being pushed into the sieve portion. The first mentioned ribs, however, project inwardly of the peripherally extending ribs to present said steeply angled surfaces to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion and twisted in one direction.

Preferably, the sieve portion is of frusto-conical or substantial frusto-conical shape.

Preferably, the support portion has a lip and a downturned flange which fits over part of the upper rim of a bucket.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a sieve according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a section taken along the line A-A of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the sieve shown therein is a plastics moulding and comprises a generally rectangular, tray-like, support portion 10 having a lip 11 and a downturned flange 12 at the outer edge of the lip for fitting over the upper rim of a bucket along three of the four sides of the support portion 10.

Depending from the tray-like support portion 10 is a frusto-conical sieve portion 13 having a chamfered lead-in portion 14. The sieve portion 13 comprises a plurality of annular ribs 15, a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 16 spaced apart about an in use vertical axis of the sieve portion 13 and a base 17 having apertures 18 therein.

The longitudinal ribs 16 are of triangular cross section and have two walls 16a and 16b which project inwardly into the interior of the sieve portion 13. These walls are of unequal width so that the wall 16a presents a steeply angled surface to a mophead twisted in a right handed manner within the sieve portion 13. Ideally, the wall 16a extends radially or substantially radially inwards into the sieve portion 13, although it could be at a steep acute angle to the outer wall 16e or even at an obtuse angle to the outer wall 16c. In any event, the wall 16a should, preferably, make an angle of less than 450 and, more preferably, an angle of less than 300 to a radial plane passing through the inner edge of the rib.

Mopheads are normally twisted in a right handed manner in a sieve in order to squeeze out the water from the mophead, even by left handed persons, as otherwise there is a tendency for the right handed screw threaded connection between the mop handle and mophead to loosen.

The steeply angled walls 16a of the ribs 16 hold the strands of the mophead back whilst the mop is twisted and this action causes a greater wringing effect to the mophead. If it is desired to produce a sieve which can be used to wring out a mop twisted in a right handed or left handed manner, both walls 16a and 16b can be steeply angled, and in this case, these two walls are preferably of greater width than the width of the outer wall 16~.

The annular ribs 15 are also of triangular shape and the upper wall 15a presents a steeply angled surface to a mophead being inserted into the sieve. Indeed, the upper wall 15a of each annular rib 15 preferably lies in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

In order to present this steeply angled surface to a mophead the upper wall 15a is of smaller width than the lower wall 15b and wall 15c is on the outside and extends peripherally around the sieve.

The lip 11 has two wedge-shaped ears 19 and 20 projecting outwardly from opposite sides, respectively, of the lip 11. As best shown in figure 2, the ears 19 and 20 have an inclined upper surface 21 and a horizontal lower surface 22. The ears 19 and 20 are dimensioned so that a U-shaped handle (not shown) pivotably connected to the bucket can rest on the inclined upper surfaces 21 of the ears, but can be moved passed the ears and then engaged with the lower surface 22 of the ears to lever the sieve off the upper rim of the bucket.

Claims

1. A sieve for ringing out a mop in a bucket, the sieve comprising a supporting portion for supporting the sieve on the upper rim of a bucket and a dished sieve portion depending from the supporting portion, the sieve portion having a plurality of ribs on its inner peripheral surface, the ribs being spaced apart about an in use vertical axis and presenting steeply angled surfaces to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion and twisted in one direction.

2. A sieve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ribs are of triangular crosssection.

3. A sieve as claimed in claim 2, wherein two sides of the ribs extend inwardly into the sieve portion and are of unequal width so as to present a more steeply angled surface to a mophead twisted in a right handed manner than in a left handed manner.

4. A sieve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sieve portion also has a plurality of peripherally extending ribs.

5. A sieve as claimed in claim 4, wherein the peripherally extending ribs present a steeply angled surface to a mophead being pushed into the sieve portion.

6. A sieve as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the first mentioned ribs project inwardly of the peripherally extending ribs to present said steeply angled surfaces to a mophead inserted in the sieve portion and twisted in one direction.

7. A sieve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sieve portion is of frusto-conical or substantially frusto-conical shape.

8. A sieve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support portion has a lip and a down turned flange which fits over part of the upper rim of a bucket.

9. A sieve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.