US 6,854,912 B2 · Mop assembly and cart

Abstract

A mop assembly including a mop head and handle, and a supply of liquid connected to a valve assembly on the handle adjacent the mop head. The valve assembly includes a length of resiliently flexible tubing that has a portion extending transversely through the handle and first and second members on opposite sides of the length of tubing that are relatively movable between a closed position at which the first and second members pinch together opposite sides of the length of tubing to stop the flow of liquid through it, and an open position at which the first and second members are spaced apart to afford flow of liquid through it. Should the tubing become plugged, it can easily be replaced by disconnecting one end from a liquid supply length of tubing, withdrawing the tubing from between the first and second members, and then installing a new length of tubing. A storage cart for use with the mop assembly includes an elongate upwardly projecting main portion having walls providing a side surface, and an elongate tray portion that provides a receptacle adapted to receive the mop head. The tray portion is mounted on a bottom end of the main portion for relative movement between a closed position at which the side surface covers an open side of the receptacle to thereby afford retention of the mop head in the receptacle; and an open position with the tray portion disposed at about a right angle with respect to the main portion so that the mop head can be inserted into or removed from the receptacle and so that the bottom wall can be supported along a horizontal surface such as a floor surface with side walls of the receptacle projecting upwardly.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A mop assembly for applying liquid to a surface, said assembly comprising:

a mop head;
an elongate handle having a first end pivotally attached to said mop head, an opposite second end, and a portion adjacent said second end adapted to be manually engaged to move the mop head along the surface;
a container for a supply of the liquid adapted to be supported above the mop head;
a valve assemble mounted on said handle adjacent said first end, having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and having first and second members relatively movable between a closed position to stop the flow of liquid through said valve between said inlet and outlet openings, and an open position allowing the flow of liquid between said inlet and outlet openings, and
a flexible hose extending and being connected between said container and said inlet opening of said valve assembly for conveying liquid from said container to said valve assembly;
said valve assembly comprising a length of resiliently flexible tubing having an inlet end providing said inlet opening, an outlet end providing said outlet opening, and a portion of said length of tubing between said inlet and outlet ends extending between said first and second members of said valve assembly, said first and second members being positioned to press together opposite sides of said length of tubing in said closed position to stop flow of liquid through said length of tubing, and being spaced apart in said open position to afford separation of the opposite sides of said length of tubing and flow of liquid through the length of tubing.

3 more elements

In combination:

a mop assembly for applying liquid to a surface, said mop assembly comprising a mop head, and an elongate handle having a first end pivotally attached to said mop head, an opposite second end, and a portion adjacent said second end adapted to be manually engaged to move the mop head along the surface;
and
a storage cart for said mop assembly, said storage cad including
an elongate main portion having longitudinally spaced top and bottom ends, and walls defining a second surface extending between said top and bottom ends;
an elongate tray portion having longitudinally spaced first and second ends, a bottom wall extending between said first and second ends and side walls projecting from said bottom wall and having distal ends, said side and bottom walls providing a receptacle for said mop head, the first end of said tray portion being mounted on the bottom end of said main portion for relative movement of said portions between a closed position with the distal edges of said side walls along said second surface of said main portion to afford retention of said mop head in the receptacle by said second surface of said main portion, and an open position with said main and tray portions disposed at about a right angle with respect to each other so that the mop head can be inserted into or removed from the receptacle in the tray portion, and so that with the top end of said main portion projecting vertically upwardly from a horizontal surface said bottom wall can be disposed along that horizontal surface with the side walls of the receptacle projecting vertically upwardly;
latch members on said main and tray portions for releasably retaining said main and tray portions in said closed position;
and
coaxial wheels mounted for rotation on said first portion at said bottom end for affording rolling movement of said storage cart along a surface.

5 more elements

A storage cart for a mop assembly used to apply liquid to a surface, which mop assembly comprises a mop head, and an elongate handle having a first end pivotally attached to the mop head, an opposite second end, and a portion adjacent said second end adapted to be manually engaged to move the mop head along the surface, said storage cart including:

an elongate main portion having longitudinally spaced top and bottom ends, and walls defining a continuous second surface extending between said top and bottom ends;
an elongate tray portion having longitudinally spaced first and second ends, a bottom wail extending between said first and second ends and side walls projecting from said bottom wall and having distal ends, said side walls defining with said bottom wall a receptacle for said mop head, the first end of said tray portion being mounted on the bottom end of said main portion for relative movement of said portions between a closed position with the distal edges of said side walls along said second surface of said main portion to afford retention of said mop head in the receptacle by said second surface of said main portion, and an open position with said main and tray portions disposed at about a right angle with respect to each other so that the mop head can be inserted into or removed from the receptacle in the tray portion and with the top end of said main portion projecting vertically upwardly from a horizontal surface said bottom wall can be disposed along that horizontal surface with the side walls of the receptacle projecting vertically upwardly;
latch numbers on said main and tray portions for releasably retaining said main and tray portions in said closed position;
and
coaxial was mounted for rotation on said first portion at said bottom end for affording rolling movement of said storage cart along a surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mop assembly and cart

Life of this patent

Mop assembly and cart

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26