Method and apparatus for storing a mop

Abstract

A mop storage container includes lower and upper housings. The lower housing includes an upper side and an opening in fluid communication with the upper housing. The upper housing includes first and second members that extend upwardly from and are flexibly attached to the lower housing. The first and second members receive a mop when apart and contain the mop when brought together. A method of storing a mop includes the steps of providing lower and upper housings and flexibly attaching at least one of the first and second members to the lower housing. The method also includes separating the first and second members, inserting the mop in the upper housing, bringing the first and second members together, and collecting fluid that has dripped from the mop into the lower housing.

1 . A mop storage container for storing a mop having a head and a handle, which comprises: 
 a lower housing, the lower housing including an upper side and at least one first opening, the at least one first opening being disposed on the upper side;    an upper housing, the upper housing including first and second members extending upwardly from the lower housing, the at least one first opening on the upper side of the lower housing being in fluid communication with the upper housing, at least one of the first member and the second member being flexibly or pivotably attached to the lower housing, the first member and the second member being adapted to receive a head of the mop in the upper housing when the first member and the second member are spread apart, the first member and the second member being adapted to substantially contain the head of the mop in the upper housing when the first member and the second member are brought together; and    a strainer comprising a plurality of openings, the strainer being disposed across the at least one first opening in the lower housing.    
   
   
       2 . A mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing includes at least one second opening defined by a first recessed edge of the first member and a second recessed edge of the second member when the first and second members are brought together, the at least one second opening being adapted to enable the handle of the mop to project therethrough when the head of the mop is substantially contained in the upper housing.  
   
   
       3 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the lower housing includes at least one third opening, the at least one third opening being adapted for draining fluid collected in the lower housing.  
   
   
       4 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 3 , wherein the lower housing is pitched towards the at least one third opening in the lower housing.  
   
   
       5 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 3 , further comprising a plug member, the at least one third opening in the lower housing being selectively closed by the plug member.  
   
   
       6 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       7 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 6 , wherein the strainer is pitched towards the plurality of openings in the strainer.  
   
   
       8 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the strainer is removably disposed across the at least one first opening in the lower housing.  
   
   
       9 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 2 , further comprising a first gasket, wherein the first gasket contacts the first recessed edge and the second recessed edge.  
   
   
       10 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising a member gasket, the member gasket being disposed between the first member and the second member.  
   
   
       11 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising a housing gasket, the housing gasket being disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing.  
   
   
       12 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the mop storage container is wedge-shaped when the first member and the second member are brought together.  
   
   
       13 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising a handle, the handle being attached to the mop storage container.  
   
   
       14 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising at least one latching member, the at least one latching member being attached to the first member and the second member, the at least one latching member substantially retaining the first member and the second member in proximity with each other.  
   
   
       15 . The mop storage container, as defined by  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first member and the second member are hinged to the lower housing.  
   
   
       16 . A method of storing a mop after its use, which comprises the steps of: 
 providing a lower housing, the lower housing including an upper side and at least one first opening, the at least one first opening being disposed on the upper side;    providing an upper housing, the upper housing including first and second members extending upwardly from the lower housing, the at least one first opening on the upper side of the lower housing being in fluid communication with the upper housing;    disposing a strainer across the at least one first opening in the lower housing, wherein the strainer includes a plurality of openings;    attaching at least one of the first member and the second member flexibly or pivotably to the lower housing;    separating the first member and the second member;    providing a mop having a head and a handle;    inserting the head of the mop between the first member and the second member in the upper housing;    bringing the first member and the second member substantially together around the head of the mop in the upper housing; and    collecting fluid in the lower housing that has dripped from the head of the mop through the at least one first opening.    
   
   
       17 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing at least one second opening in the upper housing, wherein the at least one second opening is defined by a first recessed edge of the first member and a second recessed edge of the second member when the first and second members are brought together and wherein, the at least one second opening being adapted to enable the handle of the mop to project therethrough when the head of the mop is substantially contained in the upper housing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 17 , further comprising the step of providing at least one third opening in the lower housing, the at least one third opening being adapted for draining fluid collected in the lower housing.  
   
   
       19 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 18 , further comprising the step of pitching the lower housing towards the at least one third opening in the lower housing.  
   
   
       20 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 18 , further comprising the step of closing the at least one third opening in the lower housing selectively by a plug member.  
   
   
       21 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       22 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of pitching the strainer towards the plurality of openings in the strainer.  
   
   
       23 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of disposing the strainer removably across the at least one first opening in the lower housing.  
   
   
       24 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 17 , further comprising the step of contacting a first gasket with the first recessed edge and the second recessed edge.  
   
   
       25 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of disposing a member gasket between the first member and the second member.  
   
   
       26 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of disposing a housing gasket between the upper housing and the lower housing.  
   
   
       27 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of attaching a handle to the mop storage container.  
   
   
       28 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of attaching at least one latching member to the first member and the second member, the at least one latching member substantially retaining the first member and the second member in proximity with each other.  
   
   
       29 . The method of storing a mop between uses, as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising the step of hinging at least one of the first member and the second member to the lower housing.  
   
   
       30 . A mop storage container for storing a mop having a head and a handle, which comprises: 
 a lower housing, the lower housing including an upper side and at least one first opening, the at least one first opening being disposed on the upper side;    an upper housing, the upper housing including first and second members extending upwardly from the lower housing, the at least one first opening on the upper side of the lower housing being in fluid communication with the upper housing, at least one of the first member and the second member being hinged to the lower housing, the first member and the second member being adapted to receive the head of the mop in the upper housing when the first member and the second member are spread apart, the first member and the second member being adapted to substantially contain the head of the mop in the upper housing when the first member and the second member are brought together, the upper housing including at least one second opening defined by a first recessed edge of the first member and a second recessed edge of the second member when the first and second members are brought together, the at least one second opening being adapted to enable the handle of the mop to project therethrough when the head of the mop is substantially contained in the upper housing, the lower housing including at least one third opening, the at least one third opening being adapted for draining fluid collected in the lower housing;    a strainer, the strainer being disposed across the at least one first opening in the lower housing, the strainer including at least one fourth opening;    a first gasket, the first gasket in contact with the first recessed edge and the second recessed edge;    a second gasket, the second gasket being disposed between the first member and the second member; and    a third gasket, the third gasket being disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing.