# US 11,896,180 B2 · Floor cleaning system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,896,180 B2
- Document ID: US11896180B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/423,817
- Filed: 2019-05-28
- Published: 2019-12-05
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-29
- Assignees: Unger Marketing International, LLC
- Applicants: Unger Marketing International, LLC
- Inventors: Robert F. Smith; Joseph K. Patterson; William Harrington; Paul H. Adams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896180B2

## CPC

- A47L 13/256: for mops made of cloth
- A46B 5/0041: {Mechanical joint or hinge, made up of several components}
- A46B 5/0045: {Brushes articulated with more than one hinge}
- A46B 5/0058: {Mechanical joint or hinge made up of several components}
- A46B 5/0083: {Mechanical joint allowing adjustment in at least one plane}
- A47L 11/4083: {Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices}
- A47L 13/20: Mops
- A47L 13/254: Plate frames
- A47L 13/258: of adjustable or foldable type
- A47L 13/51: Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor
- A47L 13/58: Wringers for scouring pads, mops, or the like, combined with buckets
- A47L 13/59: with movable squeezing members
- A47L 13/60: with squeezing rollers
- B62B 3/10: characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
- B62B 3/106: {the objects being bags}
- B65F 1/141: {Supports, racks, stands, posts or the like for holding refuse receptacles (B65F1/0066 takes precedence)}
- F16C 11/045: {with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02)}
- B62B 2202/50: Cleaning or gardening articles
- B62B 2207/02: rigidly
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)
- B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M)
- B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36})
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop is provided. The system includes a bucket having a plurality of compartments. At least one compartment is provided for cleaning the flat headed mop to remove dirt and debris accumulated during use. A second compartment is provided for recharging the mop pad with water or a cleaning solution. At least one wringing device is operably coupled to one of the plurality of compartments. The at least one wringing device having an extractor element to remove at least a portion of water or cleaning solution from the mop pad.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bucket for a floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop having a pole with a mop head disposed on one end, the mop head having a mop pad, the mop head movable between an operating position and a folded position, a plane of the mop pad being substantially parallel to the pole in the folded position, the bucket comprising:
at least one compartment; and
a wringing assembly in fluid communication with the at least one compartment, the wringing assembly comprising at least one roller movable to a first position when the mop head is being inserted to a second position when the mop head is being withdrawn, a housing having a slot sized to receive the mop head, the at least one roller being movably coupled to the housing and is at least partially disposed within the slot, and a blade positioned to compress the mop pad as the mop head is inserted into the slot to extract fluid from the mop pad, the at least one roller being configured to move from the second position to the first position under the influence of gravity in response to the mop head being removed from the bucket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the blade is integral to the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The bucket of claim 2, wherein the blade and the at least one roller define a gap therebetween, the amount of fluid extracted by the mop pad being based at least in part on the gap.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The bucket of claim 3, wherein the gap is configured to provide an insertion force of the mop head and mop pad into the wringing assembly of less than 40 pounds.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the blade is positioned on an opposite side of the slot from the at least one roller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the slot further includes a first lead-in portion adjacent the at least one roller and a second lead-in portion adjacent the blade, the second lead-in portion being configured to at least partially compress the mop pad as the mop head is moved through the slot.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The bucket of claim 6, wherein the housing further includes a plurality of openings adjacent a surface of the blade to define a fluid flow path.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bucket of claim 7, wherein the plurality of openings are at least partially formed in the second lead-in portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the wringing assembly further includes a roller holder, the at least one roller being movably coupled to the roller holder.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The bucket of claim 9, wherein the wringing assembly further includes a housing, the roller holder being integral with the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the at least one roller extends a first distance into the slot when in the first position and a second distance into the slot when in the second position, the first distance being larger than the second distance.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein the at least one roller extends a first distance relative to the blade when in the first position and a second distance relative to the blade when in the second position, the first distance being smaller than the second distance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bucket of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one roller cooperates with the mop head to compress the mop pad a first amount when in the first position to extract fluid from the mop pad;
the at least one roller cooperates with the mop head to compress the mop pad a second amount when in the second position; and
the first amount is larger than the second amount.

### Claim 14

A bucket for a floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop having a pole with a mop head disposed on one end, the mop head having a mop pad, the mop head movable between an operating position and a folded position, a plane of the mop pad being substantially parallel to the pole in the folded position, the bucket comprising:
at least one compartment; and
a wringing assembly in fluid communication with the at least one compartment, the wringing assembly comprising at least one roller movable to a first position when the mop head is being inserted to a second position when the mop head is being withdrawn, a housing having a slot sized to receive the mop head, the at least one roller being movably coupled to the housing and is at least partially disposed within the slot, and a blade positioned to compress the mop pad as the mop head is inserted into the slot to extract fluid from the mop pad;
wherein the wringing assembly further includes a roller holder, the at least one roller being movably coupled to the roller holder; and
wherein the roller holder includes a pair of slots and the at least one roller includes a pair of axles disposed within the pair of slots, each slot having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion arranged to position the at least one roller in the first position, the second portion arranged to position the at least one roller in the second position.