Mop-drying device

Abstract

A mop-drying device a bucket having a separation plate mounted therein, thereby separating an interior of the bucket into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The strands of the mop are received in the upper chamber during clamping and twisting. The separation plate has a drain hole for draining water removed from the strands of the mop. A disc is rotatably mounted in the upper chamber and includes a central hole. A plurality of claws each has a first end pivotally mounted to the disc and a second end. The second ends of the claws are movable toward a center of the disc, thereby clamping the strands of the mop before twisting the strands of the mop. After the strands of the mop are clamped by the claws, the disc is further rotated to thereby twist the strands of the mop.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mop-drying device comprising: 
 a bucket adapted to receive a plurality of strands of a mop;    means mounted to the bucket for twisting the strands of the mop; and    means mounted to the bucket for clamping the strands of the mop before twisting the strands.    
     
     
         2 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bucket comprises a separation plate mounted therein, thereby separating an interior of the bucket into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the strands of the mop being received in the upper chamber during clamping and twisting, the separation plate having a drain hole.  
     
     
         3 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a disc is rotatably mounted in the upper chamber and includes a central hole, a plurality of claws each having a first end pivotally mounted to the disc and a second end, the second ends of the claws being movable toward a center of the disc, thereby clamping the strands of the mop before twisting the strands of the mop.  
     
     
         4 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising means for driving the disc.  
     
     
         5 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the disc is further rotated after the strands of the mop are clamped by the claws to twist the strands of the mop.  
     
     
         6 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein an inner periphery defining the upper chamber comprises an annular groove defined therein, further comprising an end cap that has an annular hook engaged in the annular groove, the disc being rotatably held between an annular end face of the end cap and an annular ledge that defines a lower annular portion of the annular groove.  
     
     
         7 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the end cap comprises an annular top face having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, a vertical outer skirt extending downward from the outer periphery of the annular top face and having a distal end, the annular end face and the annular hook of the end cap being formed on the distal end of the vertical outer skirt.  
     
     
         8 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the end cap comprises a conic inner skirt extending and tapering downward from the inner periphery of the annular top face, thereby defining a conic central through-hole through which the strands of the mop extend.  
     
     
         9 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the driving means comprises a crown gear rotatably mounted in the lower chamber of the bucket, a bevel gear shaft being rotatably supported by the separation plate and including a first end with a bevel gear that meshes with the crown gear, the bevel gear shaft further including a second end that is connected to the disc to rotate therewith, further comprising an operative rod having a first end attached to the crown gear to move therewith and a second end extended beyond the bucket for manual operation.  
     
     
         10 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the crown bear includes an extension, further comprising a return spring having a first end attached to the extension and a second end attached to the bucket.  
     
     
         11 . A mop-drying device comprising: 
 a bucket comprising a separation plate mounted therein, thereby separating an interior of the bucket into an upper chamber adapted to receive a plurality of strands of a mop and a lower chamber, the separation plate having a drain hole, an inner periphery defining the upper chamber including an annular ledge;    a first disc comprising a plurality of slots;    a second disc rotatably supported by the annular ledge of the bucket, the second disc comprising a central hole defined therein and a plurality of claws pivotally mounted thereto, each said claw having a first end pivotally mounted to the second disc and a second end, each said claw further including a peg that is slidably guided in an associated said slot of the first disc;    the first disc being rotatably mounted in the upper chamber and between the separation plate and the second disc; and    means for driving the first disc;    wherein when the first disc is driven by the driving means, the second disc is driven to proceed with a first stage operation and a second stage operation, wherein in the first stage operation the second disc does not turn and the second ends of the claws on the second disc are moved toward a center of the second disc to thereby clamp the strands of the mop, and wherein in the second stage operation the second disc turns and thus twists the strands of the mop.    
     
     
         12 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein an inner periphery defining the upper chamber comprises an annular groove defined therein, the annular ledge defining a lower annular portion of the annular groove, further comprising an end cap that has an annular hook engaged in the annular groove, the second disc being rotatably held between an annular end face of the end cap and the annular ledge.  
     
     
         13 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the end cap comprises an annular top face having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, a vertical outer skirt extending downward from the outer periphery of the annular top face and having a distal end, the annular end face and the annular hook of the end cap being formed on the distal end of the vertical outer skirt.  
     
     
         14 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the end cap comprises a conic inner skirt extending and tapering downward from the inner periphery of the annular top face, thereby defining a conic central through-hole through which the strands of the mop extend.  
       wherein  
     
     
         15 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the annular end face of the end cap comprises a protrusion and the second disc comprises a resilient bulge on an upper side thereof, the resilient bulge of the second disc pressing against the protrusion of the end cap during the first stage operation, the resilient bulge of the second disc being then passed over the protrusion of the end cap to proceed with the second stage operation.  
     
     
         16 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the driving means comprises a crown gear rotatably mounted in the lower chamber of the bucket, a bevel gear shaft being rotatably supported by the separation plate and including a first end with a bevel gear that meshes with the crown gear, the bevel gear shaft further including a second end that is connected to the disc to rotate therewith, further comprising an operative rod having a first end attached to the crown gear to move therewith and a second end extending beyond the bucket for manual operation.  
     
     
         17 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the crown bear includes an extension, further comprising a return spring having a first end attached to the extension and a second end attached to the bucket.  
     
     
         18 . The mop-drying device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising means for holding a handle of the mop during clamping and twisting of the strands of the mop.