Abstract
A washing bucket has a container with an interior defined by wall and a bottom, the fluid inlet affixed to the wall of the container, and a fluid outlet opening through the wall of the container. The fluid outlet is positioned at a level higher than a level of the fluid inlet. The fluid inlet communicates with the interior of the container. The fluid inlet is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the container. In particular, the fluid inlet is a tubular member having a plurality of openings. This plurality of openings opens to the interior of the container.
Claims
1. A washing bucket comprising: a container having an interior defined by a wall in a bottom; a fluid inlet affixed to the wall of said container, said fluid inlet communicating with the interior of said container, said fluid inlet positioned adjacent to the bottom of said container, said fluid inlet having a tubular member with a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings opening to the interior of said container; and a fluid outlet opening through the wall of said container, said fluid outlet positioned at a level higher than a level of said fluid inlet.
2. The washing bucket of claim 1, said fluid inlet having a connector positioned exterior of the wall of said container, the connector adapted to connect with a water hose.
3. The washing bucket of claim 2, the connector being a quick-connect fitting.
4. The washing bucket of claim 2, further comprising: a water hose connected to the connector of said fluid inlet, said water hose extending exteriorly of said container.
5. The washing bucket of claim 1, the tubular member of said fluid inlet extending across and above at least a portion of the bottom of said container.
6. The washing bucket of claim 5, the plurality of openings being in spaced relation along a length of the tubular member.
7. The washing bucket of claim 6, the plurality of openings extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.
8. The washing bucket of claim 7, the plurality of openings comprising: a first set of spaced-apart openings on one side of the tubular member; and a second set of spaced-apart openings on an opposite side of the tubular member.
9. The washing bucket of claim 8, said first set of spaced-apart openings and said second set of spaced-apart openings being axially aligned respectively on opposite sides of the tubular member.
10. The washing bucket of claim 8, said first set of spaced-apart openings and said second set of spaced-apart openings respectively facing opposite sides of the wall of said container.
11. The washing bucket claim 2, one end of said tubular member being affixed to the connector of said fluid inlet.
12. The washing bucket of claim 2, an opposite end of the tubular member bearing against the wall of said container at a location opposite to the connector.
13. The washing bucket of claim 1, said fluid outlet having a diameter greater than a diameter of said fluid inlet.
14. The washing bucket of claim 13, said fluid outlet comprising a pipe affixed to the wall of said container, one end of the pipe opening to the interior of said container, an opposite end of the pipe positioned exterior of said container.
15. The washing bucket of claim 14, the pipe having an elbow swivel mounted to said container so as to be movable between a first position in which the opposite end of the pipe extends upwardly and a second position in which the opposite end of the pipe extends downwardly.
16. The washing bucket of claim 14, further comprising: a cap removably affixed to the opposite end of the pipe so as to close the opposite end of the pipe.
17. The washing bucket of claim 1, further comprising: a wringer affixed to an upper edge of said container, said wringer positioned above the bottom of said container, said wringer adapted to remove water and debris from strings of a mop placed into the interior of said container.
18. A mop bucket comprising: a container having an interior defined by wall and a bottom; a fluid inlet affixed to the wall of said container, said fluid inlet communicating with the interior of said container, said fluid inlet positioned adjacent to the bottom of said container, said fluid inlet having a connector positioned exterior of the wall of said container, said connector adapted to connect to a water hose, said fluid inlet having a tubular member extending in the interior of said container, the tubular member having a plurality of openings opening to the interior of said container; and a fluid outlet opening through the wall of said container, said fluid outlet positioned at a level higher than a level of said fluid inlet.
19. The mop bucket of claim 18, said fluid outlet having a diameter greater than a diameter of said fluid inlet.
20. The mop bucket of claim 18, the tubular member of said fluid inlet extending across and above at least a portion of the bottom of said container, said plurality of openings being in spaced relationship along the length of the tubular member, the plurality of openings extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, the plurality of tubular members comprising: a first set of spaced-apart openings on one side of the tubular member; and a second set of spaced-apart openings on an opposite side of the tubular member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a prior art view mop bucket.
[0035] FIG. 2 is side elevational view showing the washing bucket in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view showing the washing bucket accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the washing bucket in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the tubular member of the fluid inlet of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the elbow swivel is affixed to the fluid outlet of the washing bucket of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the fluid outlet of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a cap that can be used on the threaded portion of the fluid outlet of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a cap that can be used on the fluid inlet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0043] Referring to FIG. 2, there shown the washing bucket 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The washing bucket 10 includes a container 12 having an interior defined by a wall 14 and a bottom 16. A fluid inlet 18 is affixed to the wall 14 of the container 12. The fluid inlet 18 communicates with the interior of the container 12. As can be seen, the fluid inlet 18 is positioned adjacent to the bottom 16 of the container. A fluid outlet 20 opens through the wall 14 of the container 12. The fluid outlet 20 is located at a level higher than a level of the fluid inlet 18.
[0044] The fluid inlet 18 has a connector 22 positioned exterior of the wall 14 of the container 12. This connector 22 is adapted to be connected to a water hose 24. The water hose 24 can be threadedly connected to the connector 22 of the fluid inlet 18. The water hose 24 extends exteriorly of the container 12. The water hose 24 can be connected to any supply of water, such as a water faucet.
[0045] In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the fluid inlet 22 has a diameter less than the diameter of the fluid outlet 20. The fluid outlet 20 comprises a pipe 26 that is affixed to the wall 14 of the container 12. One end of the pipe 26 opens to the interior of the container 12. The opposite end 28 of the pipe 26 is positioned exterior of the container 12.
[0046] In FIG. 2, the pipe 26 is an elbow swivel mounted to the exterior of the container 12 so as to be movable between a first position (not shown) in which the opposite end 28 of the pipe 26 extends upwardly and a second position (shown in FIG. 2) in which the opposite end 28 of the pipe 26 extends downwardly. A conduit 30 is affixed to the opposite end 28 of the pipe 26. It can be seen that the conduit 30 extends away from the container 12.
[0047] With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be understood that the water hose 24 supplies pressurized water to the fluid inlet 18 and into the interior of the container 12. The top 32 of the container is open so as to allow a mop to be introduced therein. Ultimately, as the water hose 24 delivers water through the inlet 18 in a direction adjacent to the bottom 16 of the container 12, the interior volume of the container 12 will continue to fill with water. Ultimately, the level of the water will reach the level of the outlet 20. Once water reaches the level of the outlet 20, it will be discharged from the interior of the container 12 through the pipe 26 and through the conduit 30 to a remote location. In particular, the end 34 of the conduit 30 can be extended to a drain, a sink, an exterior location, or any other place where dirty water can be discharged.
[0048] In normal use, a mop will be introduced through the opening 32 at the top of the container 12 and inserted into the water within the container 12. The strings of the mop will absorb water. Since the water hose 24 can be connected to a faucet, hot water from the faucet can be delivered through the hose 24 continuously into the interior of the container 12. 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 opening 32 of the container 12 and back into the water within the container. The hot water within the container 12 will serve to separate grease and other debris from the strings of the mop. Often, the mop strings are pressed against the bottom 16 of the container 12 so as to squeeze the contaminants therefrom. Since the nozzle of the fluid inlet 18 is directed generally adjacent to the bottom 16 of the container 12, this will provide a jet of water so as to further assist in removing contaminants from the mop strings.
[0049] Ultimately, the grease and debris that has been discharged from the mop into the water in the container 12 will continue to rise within the water in the container as water continues to be introduced into the container 12 from the water hose 24 through the fluid inlet 18. Ultimately, since water is continuously discharged through the fluid outlet and the pipe 26, the debris will ultimately rise with the water until the contaminants reach the fluid outlet 20. These contaminants and debris can then be discharged through the pipe 26 and outwardly through the conduit 30 into a remote drain.
[0050] Under all circumstances, the water that remains within the container 12 will continue to be clean and hot. This will continue throughout the various cycles of wringing the mop within the container 12. If a wringer 4 (such as shown in FIG. 1) is used to squeeze the mop strings, then the debris will be deposited adjacent to the top level of water within the container 12 so that it more quickly will flow out of the fluid outlet 20. After the mop is been squeezed in the wringer 4, 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 container 12.
[0051] So as to maintain a clean floor, it is important to avoid the situations where the amount of water delivered through the fluid inlet 18 exceeds the capacity of the fluid outlet 20 to discharge the water. As such, the fluid outlet 20 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the fluid inlet 18. Furthermore, a water reducer can be inserted into the fluid inlet 18 so as to restrict the rate of water flow into the interior of the container 12. As such, no matter how wide open the faucet is, the rate of water flow into the interior of the container 12 will be limited by the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 3 shows the container 12 having an interior 40. The fluid outlet 20 opens through the wall 14 of the container 12. The fluid outlet 20 includes the pipe 26. In FIG. 3, the pipe 26 is an elbow swivel. The conduit 30 is attached by various means to the end 28 of pipe 26.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the container 12. In particular, it can be seen that the fluid outlet 20 is located at a level higher than that of the fluid inlet 18. The fluid inlet 18 is affixed to the connector 22 located exterior of the wall 14.
[0054] The fluid inlet 18 is secured to the connector 22. Connector 22 is located exterior of the wall 22. The connector 22 can have male threads that are secured to the female threads of the water hose. Alternatively, the connector 22 can 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.
[0055] Importantly, in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the fluid inlet 18 has a tubular member 23 that extends across the bottom 16 of the container 12. The tubular member 23 has a plurality of openings 25. The plurality of openings 25 open to the interior 40 of the container 12. Similarly, since the tubular member 23 will inherently have a longitudinal passageway therein, each of the plurality of openings 25 will open to this longitudinal passageway. As such, when water is introduced through the connector 22 into the inlet 18, water will be emitted outwardly from the plurality of openings 25 into the interior of the container 12.
[0056] The tubular member 23 can be positioned on the bottom 16 of the container 12 or can be spaced slightly above the bottom of the container 12. FIG. 4 shows the tubular member 23 extending entirely across the diameter of container 12. It will be appreciated that, in the present invention, the tubular member 23 (along with the plurality of openings 25) could extend partially across the diameter of the container 12. To the extent that the tubular member 23 extends entirely across the diameter of the container 12, the end 27 of the tubular member 23 can be affixed to the wall 14 of the container 12 or it can bear against the interior surface of the wall 14. As such, the tubular member 23 will be stably positioned in a desired location below the fluid outlet 20.
[0057] In normal use, water is introduced into the tubular member 23, it will be released outwardly through the plurality of openings 25. The plurality of openings 25 are spaced apart from each other along the length of the tubular member 23. Additionally, within the concept of the present invention, another set of spaced-apart openings will appear on the opposite side of the tubular member 23 (in the manner shown in FIG. 4). As such, one set of water jets will be directed to one side of the wall 14 of container 12 and another set of water jets will be directed to an opposite side of the wall 14 of container 12. The outward projection of these jets of water will create a spinning or circuitous path of water flow in the interior 14 of container 12. When mop strings are introduced into the interior 40, 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 member 23 extends entirely across the bottom 16 of the container 12, strong jets of water will be released throughout the interior 40 of the container 12 so as to be directed to all of the spread-apart strings of a mop therein. As such, a superior cleaning action can be achieved.
[0058] It should be noted that, within the concept of the present invention, the plurality of openings 25 can just be a single set of openings that are positioned at the top of the tubular member 23. 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.
[0059] In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the fluid inlet 18 directs of pressurized flow of water adjacent to the bottom 16. Ultimately, the fluid inlet 18 will continue to fill the interior 40 of the container 12 with water until a level of water within the container 12 reaches the level of the outlet 20. The water will then be discharged through the outlet 20. The outlet 20 is located at a distance above the upper edge 46 of the container 12. In order to conserve water, the outlet 20 is located the distance below the upper edge 26. As such, an optimal amount of water will continuously reside within the interior 40 of the container 12. The location of the outlet 20 serves to prevent any possibility of water sloshing over the upper edge 46 during the movement of the container 12 or during the mopping operations that are carried out within the container 12.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the fluid inlet 18. In particular, can be seen that the fluid inlet 18 has a tubular member 23 with a plurality of openings 25. FIG. 5 further shows the longitudinal passageway 29 of the tubular member 23. The end 31 of tubular member 23 will be affixed to the connector 22. As such, water from a water hose will be directed into the longitudinal passageway 29 and outwardly through the openings 25. The end 33 can be suitably plugged or closed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the end 33 will bear against the wall 14 of the container 12 so as to prevent water from being emitted outwardly of this end 33. If the tubular member 23 has a length less than the diameter of the container 12, then it is possible, within the concept of the present invention, that the end 33 can only be partially plugged in order to release a flow of water longitudinally outwardly from end 33.
[0061] In FIG. 5, it can be seen that openings 25 can include one set of spaced-apart openings on one side of the tubular member 23. There is another set of openings 35 located on the opposite side of the tubular member 23. This set of tubular openings 35 are generally axially aligned with the first set of openings 25. As such, the tubular member 23 can be suitably formed by simply drilling holes through the diameter of the tubular member 23. The openings 35 will have a configuration similar to that of the openings 25.
[0062] FIG. 6 shows one configuration of a pipe 26 that can be used with the fluid outlet 20 of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a swivel pipe 60 having one end 62 affixed to the fluid outlet 20 and an opposite end 28 that has threads 64 suitable for securing to a conduit. The elbow swivel 60, as shown in FIG. 6, can be movable about pivot joint 66 between a first position extending upwardly and a second position extending downwardly. When the elbow swivel 60 is in the downward position, it is suitable for delivering water flowing from the interior of the container 12 toward the conduit 30. On the other hand, when the elbow swivel 60 is in the upper position (in which the end 28 is located above the swivel joint 66) it will allow the washing bucket 10 to be used as a conventional bucket. In other words, when a cap is placed over the fluid inlet 18 so as to close the fluid inlet, a continuous supply of water is not being delivered into the interior of the container 12. Since the elbow swivel 60 has its end above the level of water within the bucket, no water will pass outwardly of the end 28. As such, this easily allows one to convert the continuous-flow washing bucket 10 of the present invention into a conventional mop bucket.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the fluid outlet 20. As can be seen, the fluid outlet 20 has one end 80 that will be located in the interior 40 of the container 12 and an opposite end 82 that is located exteriorly of the container 12. A flange or shoulder 84 extends radially outwardly of the body 86 of the fluid outlet 20. Flange or shoulder 84 can be embedded within the polymeric material of the container 12 or can be used as a shoulder to be bonded to one of the interior and exterior walls of the container 12. A threaded portion 88 will extend exteriorly of the wall of the container. A corresponding female threaded portion of a conduit can be joined to threaded portion 88 so as to extend outwardly therefrom. Alternatively, the elbow swivel 60 (such as shown in FIG. 6) can be joined to this threaded portion 88.
[0064] FIG. 8 shows a cap 90 that is adapted to be affixed over the threaded portion 88 of the fluid outlet 20. Cap 90 has female threads 92 formed in an interior thereof. Cap 90 can be simply screwed onto the threaded portion 88 so as to close the outlet end 89 of the fluid outlet 20.
[0065] FIG. 9 shows a cap 100 that can be used for attachment to the fluid inlet 18. Once again, the cap 100 includes female threads 102 that can be joined to the male threads of the connector 22 of the fluid inlet 18. Cap 100 can then be tightened onto the fluid inlet 18 so as to close the fluid inlet. When the cap 100 is placed over the fluid inlet 18 and the when the cap 90 is placed over the fluid outlet 20, 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.
[0066] 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.
