WO2001001843A1

WO2001001843A1 - Mop wringer

Info

Publication number: WO2001001843A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/000806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ka Ho Tsun
Original assignee: Ka Ho Tsun
Priority date: 1999-07-05
Filing date: 2000-07-04
Publication date: 2001-01-11
Also published as: AUPQ139499A0

Abstract

A mop wringer which has two rollers which both move together or move apart relative to a support perimeter frame. The arrangement includes a step which is mechanically coupled to each of the rollers and a cord or wire extending between the two rollers such that, upon depression of the step, the cord or wire coupled between the rollers pulls the rollers together toward a squeezing position.

Description

MOP WRINGER

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a mop wringer.

The invention has particular application to a wringer which is used in conjunction with bucket and is either integrated with the bucket or is positioned on top of the bucket.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to have two rollers which are positioned so that in one case, they are sufficiently wide apart for a mop head to be passed through, and then to be brought together so as to enable a squeezing pressure to be applied to the mop head as it is withdrawn between the rollers.

To achieve this, one roller only is moved so that the other roller is located in a relatively fixed position with respect to a supporting frame at least as far as any opening or closing action is concerned.

In order to move the rollers from an open position to a squeezing position where they are somewhat closer together, there can be provided a step which is arranged so that when the step is pushed downwardly by an operator's foot, this will cause the one roller to move toward the other into a squeezing position relative to that other roller.

An object of this invention is to provide a more useful mop wringer.

In operating the wringer there is a step, positioned to provide a wringing or squeezing function, and this needs to have a reasonable extent of travel. In practice, this means that the step needs to conventionally be located relatively high as far as the top of a bucket is concerned whether because the mop wringer is located and supported on the bucket or whether it is integrated into the bucket.

Substitute sheet It has been discovered in accordance with this invention that there is significant advantage in providing that both rollers are caused to move relative to any support arrangement. Such an arrangement assists in allowing for a reduced height of step to effect such coming together of the rollers.

Such a result is especially useful where persons are likely to be of smaller stature which can be by reason of national characteristics or by reason of age and so on.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form of this invention; there is proposed a mop wringer including two rollers, an actuator , connection means interconnecting each of the rollers with the actuator arranged so that with the actuator , in a first open position, the rollers are positioned in an open position with one apart from the other and, in a second position, which is a squeezing position, both rollers as a result of both having been caused to move together toward, relative to a support arrangement, a squeezing position.

In preference, the actuator includes a step which is mechanically coupled to each of the rollers and such that when depressed, the step through its connection with each of the rollers is arranged to cause both rollers to move toward a more central position relative to any support and closer one to the other to effect a squeezing action.

In preference, each of the rollers is supported at each end of each roller within a slot within a perimeter frame, these slots being such that the respective ends of each of the rollers can move with sliding freedom along such defined tracks.

In preference, there is a lever-arm connected between a first of the rollers and the step.

In preference, a second of the rollers is connected to the step by means of a cord or wire such that, upon depression of the step, the cord or wire attached to the second of the rollers is adapted to pull the roller toward a squeezing position with the first said roller.

In preference, there are means to return the rollers to an open position after the

Substitute sheet step has been actuated and in preference these means include a resilient spring extending between a lever-arm connected to a first of the rollers and a supporting frame, and a cord or wire attached to the second of the rollers.

In a further form in preference there is provided a mop wringer with a perimeter frame with a step arranged to control the position of rollers, the perimeter frame having downwardly and inwardly extending hooks which are arranged to interlock with a top of a bucket, each of the rollers being supported at each end within a respective track so that each roller can move freely along the respective track and therefore assume an open position and be adapted to be brought together into a squeezing position, each of the rollers being rotatable about their elongate axis so that as a mop is pulled from between the rollers the rollers will offer a squeezing action so that liquid can be squeezed out and be caught into a bucket beneath this, the step being coupled so as to be able to move the position of both of the rollers and there being a lever-arm which has an upper-end pivotally connected to the step and a lower-end of which connected to a first of the rollers, the step being also pivotally connected to a side of the perimeter frame, an helical spring being coupled to the lever-arm at one end and being anchored at its other end, a second of the rollers having a cord attached one to each end of the roller by a connection plate, the cord extending from the second roller back and around a pulley on an axle and then being attached to the first roller by a connecting plate.

The invention will be better understood when described with reference to an embodiment which will now be described with the assistance of drawings wherein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment with the rollers in an open position.

Figure 2 is the same view as in Figure 1 with however the step being depressed so that the rollers have been caused to come together to a squeezing position.

Figure 3 and 5 are the same view as in Figure 1 , except that the device is now attached to a round bucket and a rectangular bucket respectively.

Substitute sheet Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same embodiment as is shown in Figures

1 and 2 with the position being shown as in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a front view of the same embodiment as is shown in Figure 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is a perimeter frame 1 with a step 2 arranged to control the position of rollers 3.

The perimeter frame 1 has downwardly and inwardly extending hooks 17 which are arranged to interlock with a top 5 of a rectangular bucket 16. Extension hooks 4 that point downward and inward interlock to hooks 17 and the arrangement are to interlock with a top 5A of a round bucket 6.

Each of the rollers 3 is supported at each end within a track so that they can move freely along this and therefore be subject to control by the actuator in a general sense, to assume an open position as shown in Figure 1 and will be brought together into a squeezing position as is shown in Figure 2.

Each of the rollers 3 are of themselves rotatable about their elongate axis so that as a mop is pulled from between the rollers where in the position in Figure 2, the rollers 3 will offer minimal resistance but will offer of course a squeezing action so that liquid can be squeezed out from the mop and be caught in a bucket beneath this squeezing position.

In order to keep the height of the step 2 to a minimum, the step 2 is coupled so as to be able to move the position of both of the rollers 3 and in accord with this there is a lever-arm 6 which has an upper-end 7 pivotally connected to the step

2 and a lower-end of which connected to a first of the rollers 8.

The step 2 is also pivotally connected at 9 to a side of the perimeter frame 1.

An helical spring 10 is coupled to the lever-arm 6 at one end and is anchored at 11 at its other end.

This therefore provides a restoring force after the rollers 3 have been pushed into the squeezing position shown in Figure 2.

Substitute sheet A second of the rollers 3 shown at 12 has cords 13 attached one to each end of the roller 12 by a connection plate 14.

Cord 13 extends from the second roller 12 back and round a pulley on axle 11 and then is attached to the first roller 8 by a connecting plate 18.

When step 2 is depressed, this results in the cord thereby pulling on the second roller 12 which therefore brings this at the same time as the first roller 8 is brought into a more central squeezing position as well.

The position of the second roller is also governed by a cord 19 attached to the same connection plates 14 and 18 of respective rollers 12 and 8. The cord 19 extends from the second roller 12 back and around a pulley at axle 20 and attached to the first roller 8.

When the step 2 returns to its open position by reason of return pressure from the spring 10, roller 18 also returns to its open position and the cord 19 thereby pulls the second roller 12 to the open position.

There are two cords for each of 13 and 19 so that both cords extend one to each end of the respective rollers so as to ensure that the pressure on the rollers will keep the roller 12 more or less parallel to the axis of the first mentioned roller 8.

The front of the frame 1 has a shape of curving upward to facilitate the out-flow of liquid from the bucket.

This then describes the invention as applied to this particular embodiment.

The result is an efficiently operating mop squeeze which has significant advantages because both rollers are caused to move relative to the supporting frame.

Substitute sheet

Claims

1. A mop wringer having two rollers, an actuator, and connection means interconnecting each of the rollers with the actuator arranged so that with the actuator, in a first open position, the rollers are positioned so as to define between them the open position where one is positioned apart from the other and, in a second position, which is a squeezing position, both rollers define between them a position where the rollers are closer together than in the said first position and where this is as a result of both rollers having been caused to move together toward, relative to a support arrangement, the squeezing position.

2. A mop wringer as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the actuator includes a step which is mechanically coupled to each of the rollers and such that when depressed, the step through its connection with each of the rollers is adapted to cause both rollers to move toward a more central relatively closer position to effect a squeezing action.

3. A mop wringer as in either one of the preceding claims further characterised in that each of the rollers is supported at each end of each roller within a slot within a perimeter frame, these slots being such that the respective ends of each of the rollers can move with sliding freedom along such defined tracks.

4. A mop wringer as in either one of preceding claim 2 or preceding claim 3 when read through preceding claim 2 further characterized in that there is a lever-arm connected directly between a first of the rollers and the step.

5. A mop wringer as in any one of preceding claims 2 or 4 or preceding claim 3 when read through preceding claim 2 further characterised in that a second of the rollers is connected to the step by means of a cord or wire such that, upon depression of the step, the cord or wire attached to the second of the rollers pulls the roller toward a squeezing position with the first said roller.

6. A mop wringer as in any one of preceding claims 2 ,4 or 5 or preceding claim 3 when read through preceding claim 2 further characterised in that there are means to return the rollers to an open position after the step has been

Substitute sheet actuated.

7. A mop wringer as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the means include a resilient spring extending between the lever-arm and the supporting frame.

8. A mop wringer as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that there are two cords or wires extending from the respective ends of a second of the rollers, around two pulleys on an axle and then respective ends of the first roller.

9. A mop wringer as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that its support arrangement is arranged to be located on and extend across an open top of a bucket.

10. A mop wringer as in any one of preceding claims 1 through 9 wherein the mop wringer is a part of and extends across the top of an otherwise open topped container.

11. A mop wringer having a perimeter frame with an actuator which is a step arranged to control the position of each of two rollers with respect to the perimeter frame, each end of each of the rollers being supported within a respective track with or within the perimeter frame so that each roller can move by having each of its ends being guided along each respective track and therefore adapted to both be movable with respect to the perimeter frame and thereby be movable between an open position and a squeezing position.

12. A mop wringer as in the immediately preceding claim further characterized in that the step is joined with each respective roller so that movement of the step will result in movement of each roller to a squeezing position or to an open position, a lever-arm with an upper-end pivotally connected to the step and a lower-end connected to a first of the rollers, the step being pivotally connected to the perimeter frame, an helical spring extending between the lever-arm and the perimeter frame, and a cord or wire attached to a first roller, extending from the second roller back and around a pulley on an axle and then being attached to the first roller.

13. A mop wringer as in the immediately preceding claim further

Substitute sheet characterized in that the perimeter frame is secured to a bucket.

14. A mop wringer with a perimeter frame and a step as an actuator arranged to control the position of rollers, the perimeter frame having downwardly and inwardly extending hooks which are arranged to interlock with a top of a bucket, each of the rollers being supported at each end within a respective track so that each roller can move freely along the respective track and therefore assume an open position and be adapted to be brought together into a squeezing position, each of the rollers being rotatable about their elongate axis so that as a mop is pulled from between the rollers, the rollers will offer a squeezing action so that liquid can be squeezed out and be caught into a bucket beneath this, the step being coupled so as to be able to move the position of both of the rollers and there being a lever-arm which has an upper- end pivotally connected to the step and a lower-end of which connected to a first of the rollers, the step being also pivotally connected to a side of the perimeter frame, an helical spring attached to the lever-arm at one end and being anchored at its other end to the perimeter frame, a second of the rollers having two cords or wires attached one to each end of the roller by a connection means, the cords or wires each extending from a respective end of the second roller back and around a pulley and being attached to the first roller.

Substitute sheet