Filtered wringer

Abstract

A wringer for use with wet mops is disclosed. The wringer includes a body having a plurality of side surfaces and at least one perforated section. A filter is disposed adjacent to the perforated section, so that fluid exiting the container through the perforated section will pass through the filter. The filter may be secured to the wringer by slots formed in the wringer body, or with pins, clips or any other similar attaching means. The filter removes dirt and other contaminants from cleansing fluid used with the mop, lengthening the useful lifetime of the cleansing fluid before replacement is needed. The wringer may also have an attachment member to allow the wringer to be used with a bucket or may be formed integrally with a bucket.

1 . A wringer for use with wet mops comprising: 
 a wringer body having 
 an open top and a plurality of side surfaces, the plurality of side surfaces forming an internal volume;  
 a first wringing surface movable between a first position and a second position; and  
 a second wringing surface having at least one perforation; and  
   a filter disposed on the second wringing surface;    wherein the internal volume of the wringer body is decreased as the first wringing surface is moved from the first position to the second position, and the filter is configured and adapted to prevent dirt particles from flowing through the at least one perforation during wringing.    
     
     
         2 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the filter further comprises a plurality of randomly aligned fibers.  
     
     
         3 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are attached to a porous backing mat.  
     
     
         4 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the wringer further comprises an actuating mechanism attached to the wringer body and operatively connected to the first wringing surface.  
     
     
         5 . The wringer of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a handle and a spring, the handle and the spring being operatively connected to the movable part.  
     
     
         6 . The wringer of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is rotatable about an axis, and the rotation of the handle actuates the movable part between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         7 . The wringer of  claim 5 , wherein the spring biases the movable part towards the first position.  
     
     
         8 . The wringer of  claim 1 , further comprising a container for holding fluid integrally formed with the wringer body.  
     
     
         9 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the wringer further comprises an attachment member connected to the wringer body, the attachment member being configured to allow the wringer to be attached to a container.  
     
     
         10 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is attached to the second wringing surface using a plurality of pins that mate with corresponding apertures formed on the wringer body.  
     
     
         11 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is attached to the second wringing surface using a plurality of clips.  
     
     
         12 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein a channel formed on the second wringing surface holds the filter in place.  
     
     
         13 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the wringer is a downpress wringer.  
     
     
         14 . The wringer of  claim 1 , wherein the wringer is a sidepress wringer.  
     
     
         15 . A wringer for use with wet mops, comprising: 
 a container having 
 a plurality of side surfaces, with one of the side surfaces having a plurality of perforations; and  
 a movable section disposed opposite the perforated sidewall and adjoining the other side surfaces, the movable section being connected to the side surfaces by a pivotable connection about a first pivot axis;  
   a filter attached to the perforated sidewall so that the filter is disposed between the perforated side wall and the movable section; and    an actuator having a rod pivotable about a second pivot axis that is parallel to the first pivot axis and a handle connected to the rod that is movable between a first position and a second position;    wherein: 
 the sidewalls and the movable section define an interior volume; and  
 the actuator is operatively connected to the movable part so that the movement of the handle from the first position to the second position causes the movable section to pivot about the first pivot axis towards and away from the perforated section.  
   
     
     
         16 . The wringer of  claim 15 , the wringer further comprises an attachment member adjacent to the compartment, the attachment member being configured for attaching the wringer to a bucket.  
     
     
         17 . The wringer of  claim 15 , further comprising a container for holding fluid integrally formed in the wringer body.  
     
     
         18 . The wringer of  claim 15 , the actuator further comprising a plurality of projections attached to the rod and transverse to the second pivot axis.  
     
     
         19 . The wringer of  claim 15 , the movable section further comprising a plurality of projections pivotably connected to the projections of the rod.  
     
     
         20 . The wringer of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is formed of a plurality of randomly aligned fibers.  
     
     
         21 . The wringer of  claim 20 , wherein the fibers are attached to a porous backing sheet.  
     
     
         22 . The wringer of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is formed of a plurality of substantially aligned fibers.  
     
     
         23 . The wringer of  claim 22 , wherein the fibers are attached to a porous backing sheet.  
     
     
         24 . The wringer of  claim 15 , the perforated section further comprising a plurality of projections wherein the projections are configured to attach the filter to the movable section.  
     
     
         25 . The wringer of  claim 24 , wherein the projections are configured to form a slot into which the filter is removably held.  
     
     
         26 . The wringer of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is formed of synthetic fibers.  
     
     
         27 . The wringer of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is formed of natural fibers.  
     
     
         28 . A wringer for use with wet mops comprising: 
 a wringer body having 
 an open top and a plurality of side surfaces, the plurality of side surfaces forming an internal volume; and  
 a first wringing surface movable between a first position and a second position and having at least one perforation; and  
   a filter disposed on the first wringing surface    wherein the internal volume of the wringer body is decreased as the first wringing surface is moved from the first position to the second position, and the filter is configured and adapted to prevent dirt particles from flowing through the at least one perforation during wringing.    
     
     
         29 . The wringer of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a first gear rotatably connected to the wringer;    a second gear fixedly connected to the first wringing surface and operatively connected to the first gear; and    a handle fixedly attached to the first gear.    
     
     
         30 . The wringer of  claim 28 , further comprising an electrical motor to assist in operating the wringer.  
     
     
         31 . A wringer for use with wet mops comprising: 
 a wringer body having 
 an open top and a plurality of side surfaces, the plurality of side surfaces forming an internal volume; and  
 a wringing surface having at least one perforation; and  
   a filter disposed on the wringing surface;    wherein the filter is configured and adapted to prevent dirt particles from flowing through the at least one perforation during wringing.    
     
     
         32 . The wringer of  claim 31 , wherein the filter is formed of a plurality of randomly aligned fibers.  
     
     
         33 . The wringer of  claim 31 , wherein the filter is formed of a plurality of substantially aligned fibers.  
     
     
         34 . The wringer of  claim 31 , wherein the wringer further comprises an attachment member connected to the wringer body, the attachment member being configured to allow the wringer to be attached to a container.  
     
     
         35 . The wringer of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of pins configured and dimensioned for attaching the filter to the wringing surface.  
     
     
         36 . The wringer of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of clips configured and dimensioned for attaching the filter to the second wringing surface.  
     
     
         37 . The wringer of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one slot formed on the wringer body for attaching the filter to the wringing surface.