Mop cleaner

Abstract

A mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, the mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, the mop cleaner comprising: a frame, the frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting the vacuum cleaner unit; a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding the mop head therealong, the mop head guide being mounted to the frame, the mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, the opening leading into the mop cleaning suction nozzle; a valve, the valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, the outlet being connectable to the vacuum cleaner for allowing the vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to the outlet; a mop cleaner tube extending between the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling the mop cleaning suction nozzle and the mop cleaning inlet to each other; wherein the valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which the suction nozzle is in fluid communication with the outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which the vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet.

1 . A mop cleaner usable in combination with a vacuum cleaner unit for cleaning a mop head, said mop cleaner being also usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, said mop cleaner comprising:
 a frame, said frame defining a vacuum cleaner support for supporting said vacuum cleaner unit;   a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding said mop head therealong, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame, said mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, said opening leading into said mop cleaning suction nozzle;   a valve, said valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connectable to said vacuum cleaner for allowing said vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to said outlet;   a mop cleaner tube extending between said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet to each other;   wherein said valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which said mop cleaning suction nozzle is in fluid communication with said outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which said vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet;   whereby
 when said valve is in said mop cleaning configuration and said outlet is connected to said vacuum cleaner unit, said dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning said mop head with said mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding said mop head along said mop head guide and across said opening; and 
 when said valve is in said vacuuming configuration with said vacuum cleaner hose connected to said vacuuming inlet and said outlet is connected to said vacuum cleaner unit, said dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using said vacuum cleaner hose. 
   
   
   
       2 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said mop head guide includes a substantially planar surface for sliding said mop head therealong, said opening being formed in said substantially planar surface. 
   
   
       3 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a frame base, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame base. 
   
   
       4 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said mop head guide includes a substantially planar surface for sliding said mop head therealong, said opening being formed in said substantially planar surface. 
   
   
       5 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 4 , wherein
 said substantially planar surface defines substantially opposed planar surface first and second ends and substantially opposed planar surface first and second side edges each extending between said planar surface first and second ends;   said mop head guide includes a guiding lip extending along said planar surface first side edge.   
   
   
       6 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said substantially planar surface is angled relative to said frame base with said planar surface first side edge closer to said frame base than said planar surface second side edge. 
   
   
       7 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said opening is substantially centrally located between said planar surface first and second ends. 
   
   
       8 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said vacuum cleaner support extends substantially away from said frame base and is configured and sized for supporting said vacuum cleaner unit in a spaced apart relationship relative to said frame base. 
   
   
       9 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a handle bar extending from said vacuum cleaner support. 
   
   
       10 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said handle bar is substantially U-shaped, said handle bar and said vacuum cleaner support together defining a vacuum cleaner receiving space extending therebetween for receiving said vacuum cleaner unit. 
   
   
       11 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising an accessory tray extending from said vacuum cleaner support. 
   
   
       12 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a hose support mechanically coupled to said said vacuum cleaner support for supporting said vacuum cleaner hose. 
   
   
       13 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said vacuum cleaner support includes a mounting plate for mounting said vacuum cleaner thereto, said mounting plate being located in a spaced apart relationship relative to said frame base. 
   
   
       14 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 4 , wherein planar surface is substantially elongated and said opening is substantially elongated and extends substantially perpendicularly to said planar surface. 
   
   
       15 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a set of wheels mounted to said frame base. 
   
   
       16 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said frame base defines a frame base first end, a frame base second end substantially opposed to said frame base first end and a pair of frame base side edges extending between said frame base first and second ends, said mop head guide extending along one of said frame base side edges. 
   
   
       17 . A mop cleaner as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an interface connector usable for removably connecting said vacuum cleaner hose thereto, said interface connector being in fluid communication with said vacuuming inlet. 
   
   
       18 . A mop cleaner, said mop cleaner being usable with a vacuum cleaner hose, said mop cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner unit;   a frame, said frame defining a vacuum cleaner support, said vacuum cleaner unit being mounted to said vacuum cleaner support;   a substantially elongated mop head guide for guiding said mop head therealong, said mop head guide being mounted to said frame, said mop head guide defining an opening and a mop cleaning suction nozzle, said opening leading into said mop cleaning suction nozzle;   a valve, said valve defining a mop cleaning inlet, a vacuuming inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said vacuum cleaner for allowing said vacuum cleaner unit to apply a vacuum to said outlet;   a mop cleaner tube extending between said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet for fluidly coupling said mop cleaning suction nozzle and said mop cleaning inlet to each other;   wherein said valve is configurable between a mop cleaning configuration in which said mop cleaning suction nozzle is in fluid communication with said outlet and a vacuuming configuration in which said vacuuming inlet is in fluid communication with said outlet;   whereby
 when said valve is in said mop cleaning configuration, said dust mop cleaner is usable for cleaning said mop head with said mop cleaning suction nozzle by sliding said mop head along said mop head guide and across said opening; and 
 when said valve is in said vacuuming configuration with said vacuum cleaner hose connected to said vacuuming inlet, said dust mop cleaner is usable for vacuuming using said vacuum cleaner hose.