US 12,133,618 B2
Mop buckets and associated methods
Adam Luedke, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and Russell Arthur Banks, Huntersville, NC (US)
Assigned to Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/370,115.
Application 17/370,115 is a continuation of application No. 15/619,040, filed on Jun. 9, 2017, granted, now 11,134,823.
Prior Publication US 2021/0330170 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. A47L 13/59 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 13/59 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mop bucket system, comprising:
a mop bucket comprising a liquid-retaining portion, a first rim defining an opening of the mop bucket, and a second rim, wherein the liquid-retaining portion is defined by a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion facing the first sidewall portion, a third sidewall portion, and a fourth sidewall portion facing the third sidewall portion, and wherein the liquid-retaining portion permits retained liquid to move in a liquid-movement direction extending from the first sidewall portion toward the second sidewall portion within a higher-momentum region, and wherein the second rim extends partially along a middle portion of the first sidewall portion, the third sidewall portion, and the fourth sidewall portion of the mop bucket;
an energy-dissipation device extending into the higher-momentum region, the energy-dissipation device comprising:
a first baffle projecting perpendicularly outward from the third sidewall portion;
a second baffle projecting perpendicularly outward from the fourth sidewall portion; and
a third baffle projecting perpendicularly outward from the first sidewall portion, wherein the third baffle is laterally centered between the third sidewall portion and the fourth sidewall portion;
a wringer removably coupled to the rim of the mop bucket, the wringer comprising:
a first wringing plate;
a second wringing plate, which is moveable toward the first wringing plate to wring liquid from a mop;
a wringer arm configured to be actuated to cause movement of the second wringing plate toward the first wringing plate, such that the wringer is actuated between a mop-receiving position and a mop-wringing position;
a linkage coupling the wringer arm to the second wringing plate; and
a spiral torsion spring engaging the linkage or the wringer arm, such that the wringer is urged into the mop-receiving position, absent an actuating force being applied,
wherein the spiral torsion spring comprises radially wound spring material configured to expand and contract in a radial direction.