Mop wringer in combination with a mophead

Abstract

A mop wringer ( 10 ) in combination with a mophead ( 28 ), the wringer ( 10 ) comprising a base ( 12 ) and one or more sides ( 14 ) which, at least in use, define a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical channel ( 16 ), and one or more openings ( 21 ) in the base ( 12 ) and/or side(s) ( 14 ) by which fluid can drain from the wringer ( 10 ), and the mophead ( 28 ) comprising a body ( 30 ) and absorbent material ( 34 ) supported by the body ( 30 ), the mophead ( 28 ) being adapted, upon insertion into the wringer ( 10 ), to occlude the channel ( 16 ) so that fluid which is discharged from the absorbent material ( 34 ) is prevented or substantially prevented from rising above the absorbent material ( 34 ).

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A mop wringer in combination with a mophead, the wringer comprising a base and one or more sides which, at least in use, define a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical channel, and one or more openings in the base and/or side(s) by which fluid can drain from the wringer, and the mophead comprising a body and absorbent material supported by the body, the mophead being adapted, upon insertion into the wringer, to occlude the channel so that fluid which is discharged from the absorbent material is prevented or substantially prevented from rising above the absorbent material.  
     
     
         2 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transverse cross-section of the channel is rectangular or substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         3 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein, when inserted, an average clearance between the side or sides of the body of the mophead and the side or sides of the wringer is less than or equal to 12 millimeters.  
     
     
         4 . A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wringer comprises a plurality of elongate ribs which are formed on some or all of the inner surfaces of the channel and which extend in parallel or substantially in parallel with the depth of the channel.  
     
     
         5 . A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wringer further comprises a guide portion disposed at or adjacent to the opening to the channel.  
     
     
         6 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the guide portion comprises a guide element which is angularly displaceable relative to the channel, the guide element serving to assist insertion of the mophead into the channel and to extend the depth of the channel.  
     
     
         7 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the base of the wringer is formed on the guide element, at or adjacent to its lower end, the base extending at right angles from the inner surface of the guide element.  
     
     
         8 . A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the absorbent material is a bundle of strands, the bundle at least in part, tending to project outwardly beyond the sides of the body.  
     
     
         9 . A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wringer further comprises an elongate member pivotably mounted adjacent the opening to the channel, the elongate member comprising at least one yoke element which can be used to compress the absorbent material into the channel.  
     
     
         10 . A combination as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the mophead further comprises a bearing member on which the one yoke element can bear.  
     
     
         11 . A combination as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the one yoke element is positionable to bear directly against the body of the mophead.  
     
     
         12 . A combination as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the said at least one yoke element includes first and second yoke elements, the mophead further comprising a bearing member on which the first yoke element can bear and the second yoke element being positionable to bear directly against the body of the mophead.  
     
     
         13 . A combination as claimed in  claim 10  or  claim 12 , wherein the bearing member is a collar.  
     
     
         14 . A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wringer further comprises attachment means by which it can be attached to a container.  
     
     
         15 . A combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the wringer is integrally formed as part of a container.  
     
     
         16 . A combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the base slopes in towards the body of the container.  
     
     
         17 . A combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 1, FIGS.  2  to  4 , FIG. 5, FIGS.  6  to  9 , and/or FIGS. 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.