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  Mop bucket closure assemblyUSPTO Application #: 20070235453Title: Mop bucket closure assembly Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel mop bucket cover assembly, wherein a fully removable lid is tightly secured to a mop bucket by several clamps. The clamps may be changed in an infinite amount of locations around a rim of the mop bucket to provide a superior seal. This cover assembly serves to keep the contents of the bucket from spilling out during transport, while also offering the additional safety of retaining chemical contents within the bucket when the bucket is tipped over. This invention is useful to those in the custodial business, as well as the suppliers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers of groups in this trade. (end of abstract)
Agent: Bradley D. Goldizen - Virginia Beach, VA, US Inventor: Donald Outlaw USPTO Applicaton #: 20070235453 - Class: 220326000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Receptacles, Closures, Having Means For Securing Or Retaining Closure In Its Closed Position (e.g., Fastening Devices), Clamps, Clips, Hooks, Or Latches, Biased The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070235453. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] There are no related patent applications. [0002] This application did not receive federal research and development funding. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of Invention [0004] The present invention relates to a mop bucket, a planar lid and quick attachment means that prevents spillage of internal liquids from a mop bucket to which the lid is attached. More particularly, the invention is a combination mop bucket, mop bucket lid and a plurality of readily attachable/detachable clamps that secure the lid to the mop bucket. By securing the lid, the user does not invite water and chemical spills that frequently occur when transporting mop buckets during use and cleaning processes. [0005] 2. Description of Prior Art [0006] Maintaining the cleanliness of commercial, industrial, institutional and public buildings is a task that needs constant attention. The cleanliness of these areas is of utmost importance because of the large numbers of people that are frequently exposed to these areas. To that end, any inventions that improve both the safety and efficiency of these tasks are significant. [0007] One particular facet of custodial work involves mopping floors. Over the years, certain mop buckets have been introduced that have helped to increase the efficiency of the mopping process. One such improvement was placing the mop buckets on wheels to allow the user to easily move the bucket as work is performed. However, despite these improvements, little development has been made toward enhancing the safety of mopping or preventing spillage of liquids from the mop bucket. [0008] Mop buckets typically contain hot water, ammonia, detergents, bleach, phosphates and similar compounds that can cause sever injury either by contact with the skin or eye, or by slipping on them. Moreover, spillage of these caustic liquids may cause deterioration of wax that has been applied to a cleaned floor necessitating the re-application of wax to the affected area and leading to inefficient use of resources. [0009] These safety and inefficient use of resource concerns have been greatly ignored by the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,175 introduced a mopping system with an open-topped bucket on which a drain was attached. While such a design helps with productivity, the danger of tipping over the bucket and its contents, or easily spilling the harmful contents remains. In similar fashion U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,217 discloses a cleaning system for aiding in the mopping of floors. This system includes a water tank with an attached dispenser as well as a cleaning-liquid dispenser. [0010] A further device aimed at alleviating some of the safety concerns associated with mopping is directed towards child safety. U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,000 discloses a child-resistant lid for a pail that features a small opening for a mop. However, the lid used in this invention is difficult to remove and reattach to ensure that a child could not open it. Thus, the bucket lid actually worked against efficiency and may actually contribute to a spillage because of the difficult nature of removal of the lid from the bucket. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,441 discloses another child-safe mop bucket. This patent also has a child-safe lid that is difficult to remove along with a small slot for the mop. Thus, this patent was designed for home use, and is inapplicable to the productivity needs of places open to the public. Because of the difficulty in removing the lid, this patent does not aid in preventing spillage of liquids from within the mop bucket. [0011] It is obvious that there is vast room for improvements in this field of invention. No mop bucket has simultaneously made improvements in both efficiency and safety. While mop buckets for home use do not necessitate extreme efficiency, mop buckets for use in commercial building and public areas having large floor surfaces require both safety and efficiency. The present invention addresses these concerns by presenting a novel system for increasing both safety and efficiency for commercially used mop buckets. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The invention at hand features important improvements in the safety, versatility and efficiency of mopping. Today the shape of most buckets makes transporting water and chemicals a difficult task. Some of the buckets include odd-shaped sidewalls that adversely affect the ability of the user to prevent splashing of any liquid from an interior of a bucket. Thus, these mop buckets are good for cleaning as long as the bucket is not moved during the process. The present invention alleviates this problem. It comprises a lid comprising a planar, inert material impervious to water and chemicals. The lid is cut to be sized and shaped to perfectly match one of the seven most common mop buckets on the market today. This lid is placed onto the mop bucket and then held in place by typically two to four clamps that include an engagement jaw assembly that pinches an exterior surface of the lid against an upper edge of sidewalls of the bucket to close an opening in the bucket that is used for accessing an interior of the bucket. While these clamps effectively hold the lid on the bucket, they are also easily removed to ensure that they do not impede efficiency. Thus, the lid is formed to a particular shape and thereafter may be used to prevent water or other chemicals contained within an interior of the bucket from being accidentally spilled or splashed from the bucket. [0013] The instant invention provides additional efficiency improvements as compared to the prior art. Most importantly the lid eliminates water and chemical spillage that occurs when transporting the bucket to different locations. When custodial staff must mop large areas, they frequently have to transport the bucket with them. Eliminating any potential spills that occur during their task helps by ensuring that the custodians do not have to waste any time or money mixing additional chemicals or cleaning up spills. [0014] The lid also aids in efficiency because it offers the user the option of saving their cleaning solution for later use. By merely placing and securing the lid onto the bucket, the user may save the contents, thereby saving time and operating costs. [0015] The present invention is an improvement over the prior art because of its versatility. All of the previous art was designed to fit onto a particular mop bucket; often the mop bucket's size was part of the patent. In contrast, the present invention is custom designed to fit any one of seven of the most commonly used mop buckets on the market. Thus, this allows the user to use their existing buckets, and then attach the matching lid thereto. Additionally, even the clamps may be provided in various sizes to guarantee at tight-fitting lid. Therefore the flexibility of the present invention allows numerous users to gain from its efficiency without requiring them to purchase an entirely new mopping system. [0016] Finally the present invention features new safety enhancements. First, the lid is made of chemical resistant material that serves to help contain chemical odors. Also, the clamps fasten the lid securely over the mop bucket and its contents, such that the invention prevents spills that occur during transport. The invention prevents harmful chemical spills that people can either slip on, or accidental release of caustic liquids that may cause deterioration of wax that has been applied to a cleaned floor necessitating the re-application of wax to the affected area and leading to inefficient use of resources. Consequently, the present invention presents novel advancements in efficiency, versatility, and safety. [0017] The above explanations are provided to illustrate the utility of the invention. And, by no means necessary were these explanations intended to limit the application of this invention to other purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1A is a prospective view of the mop bucket cover assembly, including the clamps and the lid, as attached to a mop bucket. FIG. 1B is a partial view of the lid, clamp and lip taken from line D-D. [0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art type of mop bucket. [0020] FIG. 3 is plan view of a first individual lid design. [0021] FIG. 4 is a a plan view of a second lid design having a different size and shape than that of the design shown in FIG. 2. Continue reading... Full patent description for Mop bucket closure assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Mop bucket closure assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Mop bucket closure assembly or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Garbage-containing apparatus Next Patent Application: Storage container lid Industry Class: Receptacles ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Mop bucket closure assembly patent info. 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