Combination mop bucket and wringer unit

Abstract

A combination of a mop bucket and a wringer unit ( 10 ) is disclosed in which the bucket ( 12 ) has a bottom surface ( 16 ), and a peripheral wall ( 18 ) which upstands from the bottom surface ( 16 ), the wringer unit ( 14 ) being supportable on an upper edge ( 30 ) of the peripheral wall ( 18 ) of the mop bucket ( 12 ), and being releasably engagable from the bucket, there being releasable engaging means including a pivotable clip ( 74 ) on each of two opposing sides of the combination mop bucket and wringer unit ( 10 ) and an engagable element ( 76 ) with which a respective pivotable clip ( 74 ) can be snap-fit releasably engaged, each pivotable clip ( 74 ) being formed independently of the mop bucket ( 12 ) and the mechanical press wringer ( 14 ) and being pivotably engaged with one of the mop bucket ( 12 ) and the mechanical press wringer ( 14 ), and the engagable element ( 76 ) being provided on the other one of the mop bucket ( 12 ) and the mechanical press wringer.

1 . In combination, a mop bucket and a wringer unit the bucket having a bottom surface and a peripheral wall upstanding from the bottom surface, the peripheral wall having an upper edge which defines an opening of the bucket, and the wringer unit being supportable on the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the mop bucket and having a wringing basket for receiving absorbent mop material, one or more movable press elements for exerting a squeezing force on mop material when in the wringing basket, a press mechanism for moving the or each press element, and a handle for operating the press mechanism, and there being means for releasably engaging the wringer unit with the bucket, the releasable engaging means including a pivotable clip on each of two opposing sides of the combination mop bucket and wringer unit and an engagable element with which a respective pivotable clip can be snap-fit releasably engaged, each pivotable clip being formed independently of the mop bucket and the wringer unit and being pivotably engaged with one of the mop bucket and the wringer unit, and the engagable element being provided on the other one of the mop bucket and the wringer unit. 
   
   
       2 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable clip and corresponding engagable element are provided part way between a front edge and a rear edge of the wringer unit when supported on the bucket. 
   
   
       3 . A combination as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pivotable clip and corresponding engagable element are provided mid way between a front edge and a rear edge of the wringer unit when supported on the bucket. 
   
   
       4 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each pivotable clip is pivotably engaged with the mop bucket or the wringer unit via at least two discrete hinges which are spaced from each other in a direction from a front edge to a rear edge of the wringer unit. 
   
   
       5 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each pivotable clip includes an outwardly turned clip release element. 
   
   
       6 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a lateral cross-section of each pivotable clip has one of an inverted “F” shape and a substantially inverted “F” shape. 
   
   
       7 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are provided, interengagable formations at the rear of the combination mop bucket and wringer unit, the interengagable formations being disengagable only after release of the pivoted clips from their engagable elements. 
   
   
       8 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mop bucket further includes shoulders formed at opposing sides of the peripheral wall of the bucket, and the releasable engaging means further including two spaced abutting elements, each of which is engagable with respective shoulder, when the wringer unit is supported on the mop bucket. 
   
   
       9 . A combination as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each abutting element includes a cranked channel in and the shoulders are formed in the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the mop bucket, the shoulders being receivable by the channels. 
   
   
       10 . A combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the mop bucket forms part of an inverted U-shaped or substantially U-shaped upper lip. 
   
   
       11 . A combination mop bucket and wringer unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wringer unit, when supported on the mop bucket, covers only a portion of the opening of the mop bucket, but the wringer unit covers all or substantially all of the extent of the upper edge of the bucket of the covered portion of the opening. 
   
   
       12 . A combination according to  claim 11  wherein the covered portion is a rear portion of the bucket. 
   
   
       13 . A combination mop as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wringer unit includes a skirt which, when the wringer is supported on the mop bucket, extends downwardly below the upper edge of the peripheral wall. 
   
   
       14 . A combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the skirt extends from or adjacent to a front edge of the wringer unit to or adjacent to a rear edge of the wringer unit. 
   
   
       15 . A combination mop bucket and wringer unit as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the skirt extends along a rear edge of the wringer unit. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled)