Dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket

Abstract

The present invention relates to mop buckets, including a housing, a spin basket mounted in the housing, and a driving mechanism rotating the spin basket. The present invention uses the driving mechanism to rotate an agitator for stirring and rubbing the mop head to remove dirt and solid matters and to synchronously rotate a spin basket for drying the mop head of the mop. Further, the present invention utilizes gears and one-way couplings to transfer driving force for rotating the agitator and the spin basket at the same time, saving much installation space and facilitating mop cleaning and drying operations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket, comprising:
 a housing having a top open side and a recessed accommodation area in a front part of a bottom side thereof;   a spin basket mounted in said housing above said recessed accommodation area; and   a driving mechanism mounted in said recessed accommodation area inside said housing and adapted for rotating said spin basket;   wherein:   said driving mechanism comprises   a base having two upright supports at two opposing lateral sides thereof;   a pedal having a tubular shaft located on a front end thereof and pivotally connected between said two upright supports of said base and an extension wall at one lateral side thereof;   an arched tooth rack mounted on said extension wall of said pedal;   a first gear pivotally mounted on said base;   a second gear coaxially mounted on a top side of said first gear and meshed with said arched tooth rack;   a third gear pivotally mounted on said base and meshed with said first gear;   a first one-way coupling coaxially mounted on said third gear;   a first transmission shaft having a bottom end thereof connected to said first one-way coupling and a top end thereof inserted through said recessed accommodation area and coupled to a connector at a bottom side of said spin basket for rotating said spin basket;   a transmission gear set consisting of a series of meshed gears pivotally supported on said base, one of the gears of said transmission gear set being meshed with said third gear;   a fourth gear pivotally supported on said base and meshed with one gear of said transmission gear set;   a second one-way coupling coaxially mounted on said fourth gear;   a second transmission shaft having a bottom end thereof connected to said second one-way coupling and a top end thereof extending out of a bearing block in said housing; and   an agitator coupled to said second transmission shaft and suspending at a top side of said bearing block in said housing and rotatable by said second transmission shaft to stir and rub a mop head of a mop being attached to said bearing block.   
     
     
         2 . The dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a carrying handle pivotally arranged at a top side of said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a water retaining ring mounted at a top side of said spin basket, said water retaining ring having a water baffle downwardly suspending at one side thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second gear is a bevel gear fitting the configuration of said arched tooth rack. 
     
     
         5 . The dual-purpose spin dry mop bucket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said tubular shaft of said pedal has a return spring loaded on one end thereof for automatic return.