Mop wringers and bucket positioning apparatus

Abstract

A wringing assembly may include a plurality of spaced apart pressure applicators, such as may be used for applying pressure to a mop element having a cleaning, absorbent or wiping material supported on the mop element. The pressure applicators may be supported so as to be centered or symmetrical on each side of a center of a wringing surface. The wringing assembly may include a substantially centered actuation element such as a handle. An actuation element on a wringing assembly may also include a receptacle for an element of a mop or other cleaning tool, such as a handle. A bucket positioning device includes a spring-loaded assembly having a hook for a bucket rim and a base for engaging a bottom of a bucket or a wheel unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wringer comprising:
 mounting components for mounting the wringer on a support;
 a wringer surface for receiving a material to be wrung the wringer surface extending between first and second lateral surfaces; and 
 a pressing assembly movably coupled to the wringer configured to press the material against the wringer surface, the pressing assembly including an actuator for causing the pressing assembly to move toward the wringer surface, the actuator being positioned spaced apart from the wringer surface and above the wringer surface at a position between the first and second lateral surfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wringer of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is substantially centered. 
     
     
         3 . The wringer of any of the preceding claims wherein the actuator includes a cage for a mop handle. 
     
     
         4 . The wringer of  claim 3  wherein the cage of the actuator includes a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity is configured to receive a portion of a mop handle. 
     
     
         5 . The wringer of  claim 3  wherein the cage of the actuator includes a single cavity configured to receive a portion of a mop handle. 
     
     
         6 . The wringer of any of the preceding  claims 3 - 5  wherein the cage includes a cavity for receiving a mop handle and where in the cavity includes an opening having a width smaller than a largest dimension of the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The wringer of any of the preceding claims wherein the pressing assembly includes a plurality of pressing elements, wherein at least first and second pressing elements are positioned on opposite sides of a center of the pressing assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The wringer of  claim 7  wherein the first and second pressing elements are positioned on opposite sides of the actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The wringer of any of the preceding claims wherein the pressing assembly includes at least one contact surface for contacting the material to be pressed when the contact surface of the pressing assembly contacts the material over a length less than a maximum length of the material. 
     
     
         10 . The wringer of  claim 9  wherein the contact surface of the pressing assembly contacts the material over a length less than 50% the maximum length of the material. 
     
     
         11 . The wringer of any of the preceding  claims 9 - 10  wherein the at least one contact surface of the pressing assembly is substantially planar. 
     
     
         12 . The wringer of any of the preceding  claims 9 - 11  wherein the pressing assembly is configured such that the at least one contact surface is positioned at an angle to the actuator such that when the at least one contact surface contacts a mop element, so as to be parallel to a surface of the mop element, the actuator extends at an angle to the surface of the mop element. 
     
     
         13 . The wringer of any of the preceding claims wherein the pressing assembly includes a resilient bias element for biasing a portion of the pressing assembly against the material. 
     
     
         14 . The wringer of  claim 13  wherein the resilient bias element includes a compression spring in a housing. 
     
     
         15 . A cleaning bucket assembly comprising:
 a cleaning bucket having an upper rim and a base wherein the base includes at least one projection extending from a surface of the base and a wringer as claimed in any of  claims 1 - 14 .   
     
     
         16 . A bucket clip assembly for keeping two cleaning buckets positioned adjacent each other, the bucket clip assembly comprising:
 a dual hook component having first and second hooks, the first hook for extending over and adjacent a rim of a first bucket and the second hook for extending over and adjacent a rim of a second bucket;   a bucket base bracket having first and second side portions, wherein the first side portion is configured to engage a complementary surface in a bottom portion of a first bucket, and the second side portion is configured to engage a complementary surface in a bottom portion of a second bucket, and wherein the bucket base bracket further includes a retaining housing for retaining a rod; and   a rod extending between the dual hook component and the bucket base bracket, and including a spring associated with the rod and engaging a portion of the retaining housing in the bucket base bracket, wherein the spring biases the bucket base bracket and the dual hook component closer together.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the dual hook component includes first and second arms extending from the rod to respective ends curving downward in a direction away from the dual hook component. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 16 - 17  wherein the first and second side portions of the bucket base bracket include cavities for engaging complementary structures on a bucket. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 16 - 18  wherein the bucket base bracket includes an upper spacer component for defining a minimum spacing between adjacent surfaces of a first and second bucket. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 16 - 19  wherein the bucket base bracket includes first and second flange elements having respective openings for receiving the rod. 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20  wherein the spring is positioned between the second flange element and the first and second side portions of the bucket base bracket, on an opposite side of the second flange element from the first flange element. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 16 - 21  wherein the bucket base bracket includes a structure for receiving an end of the rod. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the structure for receiving an end of the rod includes a cavity in a plate defining the first and second side portions. 
     
     
         24 . A bucket positioning assembly comprising means for extending on a rim of a bucket, a base for extending adjacent a bottom of a bucket, means for coupling the extending means and the base, and wherein the base includes a structure having a geometry for engaging a component associated with a bottom of a bucket wherein the structure limits planar movement between the structure and the component associated with a bottom of a bucket. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24  further including a bias element for biasing the extending means and the base toward each other. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 24 - 25  wherein the base includes at least one opening defining the geometry, and wherein the opening includes a wall having a straight portion and a curved portion. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein the opening wall includes a partly circular portion having a first dimension and a plurality of straight portions spaced apart from each other a second distance wherein the second distances less than the first dimension. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of any of the preceding  claims 26 - 27  wherein the at least one opening is formed in a bottom plate extending at a substantially obtuse angle relative to an axis of the coupling means. 
     
     
         29 . A bucket assembly comprising a bucket and an engagement component positioned on the bucket and adjacent a bottom of the bucket, and a bucket positioning assembly according to any of the preceding  claims 24 - 28  wherein the engagement component as a second geometry complementary to the geometry of the structure on the base of the bucket positioning assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The bucket assembly of  claim 29  wherein the engagement component includes a semicircular portion and a straight portion. 
     
     
         31 . The bucket assembly of any of the preceding  claims 29 - 30  wherein the engagement component includes an upper surface facing a rim of the bucket and a lower surface facing away from the rim of the bucket and wherein the lower surface includes a converging portion. 
     
     
         32 . The bucket assembly of  claim 31  wherein the lower surface includes a converging portion corresponding to the semicircular portion and a converging portion corresponding to the straight portion.