Clean water mopping system

Abstract

A filter bucket and a mop bucket movable relative to the filter bucket between a use position and a drain position. When the mop bucket is in the drain position, the water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket. A fluid flow path is provided between the filter bucket and the mop bucket and a filter is located in the fluid flow path such that water flows through the fluid flow path and the filter when the mop bucket is moved from the drain position to the use position.

1 . A mopping system comprising:
 a filter bucket;   a mop bucket movable relative to the filter bucket between a use position and a drain position, when the mop bucket is in the drain position the water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket;   a fluid flow path between the filter bucket and the mop bucket and a filter located in the fluid flow path such that water flows through the fluid flow path and the filter when the mop bucket is moved from the drain position to the use position.   
     
     
         2 . The mopping system of  claim 1  a mop wringer mounted such that the outlet of the wringer drains to the filter bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The mopping system of  claim 2  wherein the wringer is configured to be used with a flat mop. 
     
     
         4 . The mopping system of  claim 2  wherein the wringer is configured to be used with a string mop. 
     
     
         5 . The mopping system of  claim 1  wherein the mop bucket is connected to the filter bucket by a drain such that water in the mop bucket flows to the filter bucket through the drain when the mop bucket is in the drain position. 
     
     
         6 . The mopping system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid flow path is selectively closed by a valve. 
     
     
         7 . The mopping system of  claim 5  wherein when the mop bucket is in the drain position the drain is positioned vertically above a bottom of the filter bucket. 
     
     
         8 . The mopping system of  claim 1  wherein the mop bucket is moved vertically between the use position and the drain position. 
     
     
         9 . The mopping system of  claim 8  wherein the drain position is vertically above the use position. 
     
     
         10 . The mopping system of  claim 8  wherein when the mop bucket is in the drain position the mop bucket is vertically spaced above the filter bucket. 
     
     
         11 . The mopping system of  claim 1  wherein a handle is operatively connected to the mop bucket to move the mop bucket vertically between the use position and the drain position. 
     
     
         12 . The mopping system of  claim 11  wherein the handle is operatively connected to the mop bucket by a link. 
     
     
         13 . A mopping system comprising:
 a filter bucket;   a mop bucket movable relative to the filter bucket between a use position where the mop bucket is positioned in the filter bucket and a drain position where the mop bucket is in a raised position relative to the filter bucket,   a drain in the mop bucket operable to drain the water from the mop bucket into the filter bucket when the mop bucket is in the drain position;   a fluid flow path between the filter bucket and the mop bucket; and   a filter located in the fluid flow path such that water flows through the fluid path and the filter when the mop bucket is moved from the drain position to the use position.   
     
     
         14 . The mopping system of  claim 13  a mop wringer mounted such that the outlet of the wringer drains to the filter bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The mopping system of  claim 13  wherein the drain is selectively closed by a valve. 
     
     
         16 . The mopping system of  claim 13  wherein lift system is operatively connected to the mop bucket to move the mop bucket between the use position and the drain position. 
     
     
         17 . The mopping system of  claim 11  wherein the lift system comprises a handle operatively connected to the mop bucket. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a mopping system comprising a filter bucket; a mop bucket movable relative to the filter bucket between a use position and a drain position where when the mop bucket is in the drain position the water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket; a fluid flow path in the mop bucket and a filter located in the fluid flow path where water flows through the fluid flow path when the mop bucket is moved from the drain position to the use position, the method comprising:
 moving the mop bucket from the use position to the drain position such that the dirty water drains from the mop bucket into the filter bucket;   moving the mop bucket back to the use position into the dirty water;   allowing the dirty water to pass through the filter from the filter bucket into the mop bucket when the mop bucket is moved from the drain position to the use position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of moving the mop bucket from the use position to the drain position comprises raising the mop bucket vertically relative to the filter bucket and opening a drain in the mop bucket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further removing the filter from the filter bucket and selecting from one of cleaning the filter and replacing the filter.