Combination mop cart and mop sink

July 24, 1962

W. B. SORRELLS

COMBINATION MOP CART AND MOP SINK

Filed Aug. 8, 1960

3,045,252

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ATTORNEY

United States Patent Office 3,045,252

Patented July 24, 1962

3,045,252

COMBINATION MOP CART AND MOP SINK Weldon B. Sorrells, 511 Monroe St. N., Arlington, Va.

Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,203

Claim. (CI. 4—167)

The present invention relates to a combination mop cart and mop sink and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a combination mop cart and mop sink which comprises a supporting wheeled truck upon which is affixed a lower tank for the reception of soiled solution and upon which lower tank there is mounted at one side thereof a supply tank adapted to contain a solution which is clean and, at the other side of the lower tank there is mounted atop thereof a sink. A manually controlled valve is provided for forcing clean solution from the supply tank into the sink and a drain valve is provided for allowing the flow of soiled solution from the sink to the lower tank. The device is such that a mop may be sprayed with clean solution in the sink and when the mop has been used it may be rinsed in such solution after which the solution may be drained into the lower tank, it being apparent that the clean solution in the upper tank may at all times be uncontaminated by the use of the mop in connection with the sink. A novel drain member is provided for emptying the lower tank whenever necessary.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide , a combination mop cart and mop sink which is simple. • in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet efF fective and efficient in use.

; Still another object of the invention is to provide, in . a device of the character set forth, a novel pump and spray mechanism forming a part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for separating certain fluids utilized in the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for discharging a soiled solution-containing tank forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1 but taken from a different angle,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of the invention, and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view likewise illustrating certain details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a combination mop cart and mop sink consisting of a horizontally extending platform 10 having supporting wheels 11 upon which is mounted a generally rectangular soiled solution-receiving tank 12 to the upper rear sides of which is affixed a pair of ears 13 interconnected by a handle 14.

A supply tank 15 of generally square horizontal cross , sectional area occupies the rear portion of the device and is mounted atop the rear half of the tank 12 being provided with a square reduced portion 16 which fits within inwardly directed flanges 17 extending inwardly from the rear half of the tank 12 and from a centrally located transversely extending divider 18.

A sink 19, likewise generally square in horizontal cross sectional area, is provided with an outwardly extending flanged portion 2® which lies upon inwardly directed flanges 21 in the forward portion of the tank 12.

The sink 19 is provided with a drain valve 22 operable by a link 23 which is, in turn, actuated by a shaft 24 and handle 25, all in conventional manner.

A manually controlled valve 26 is mounted on the 5 reduced portion 16 and adapted to lie beneath the forward flange 17 and is provided with an intake pipe 27 and an outlet pipe 28, the latter extending through a suitable opening in the sink 19. The valve 26 is provided with a manually operable shaft 29 extending 10 through a bracket 30 attached to the forward wall of the tank and provided with a conventional handle 31. It will be understood that the tank 15 may be maneuvered into position atop the tank 12 in such manner that the pipe 28 will extend into the sink 19 while the valve 26 15 moves into position beneath the flange 17 after which the shaft 29 may be extended through the bracket 30, bottom of tank 5 and flange 17 to connect with the valve 26, a suitable water-tight opening being provided in the tank bottom for the passage therethrough of the shaft 20 29, all in conventional manner.

A flexible drain pipe 32 is attached to a fitting 33 adjacent the bottom of the tank 12 and is adapted to be maintained in an upright position by a clamp bracket 34.

In operation, it will be apparent that clean solution may be placed, as indicated at 35, in the tank 15 and that the apparatus as a whole may then be moved from place to place by means of the handle 14 since the same is mounted upon supporting wheels or casters 11. When 30 it is desired to utilize a mop for cleaning, the mop may be placed in the sink 19 and the handle 31 manipulated to open the valve 26 and allow a gravity flow of the solution 35 in the form of a spray over the mop, the sink 19 holding such solution temporarily. When the 35 mop has been utilized upon a floor or the like, the solution in the sink may again be used until it becomes soiled whereupon the valve 22 may be manipulated by means of the handle 25 to drain such soiled solution into the lower tank 12, such soiled solution being shown ⁴θ at 36 in FIGURE 3. The same process may then be repeated until the clean solution in the tank 15 has all been used whereupon the soiled solution 36 in the tank 12 may be drained therefrom by disengaging the flexible pipe 32 from its camp 34 and moving the same to ⁴⁰ a downward position, as indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 2 whereupon the soiled solution may be led to a suitable drain, as indicated at 37.

It will be seen that the invention provides a wholly self-contained device which permits the use of clean ^δυ solution repeatedly with a mop or the like until such clean solution has been fully utilized while at the same time preventing the remaining clean solution from being contaminated during the progress of such use.

It will be understood that the sink 19 and the tanks ⁰ 12 and 15 may be made of plastic material in suitable colors and that, if desired, a wringer may be mounted upon the sink in any conventional manner.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those ⁶⁰ skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.