WO2013151784A1

WO2013151784A1 - Basket-less cleaning tool set

Info

Publication number: WO2013151784A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/032977
Authority: WO
Inventors: Feng ZENG; Liang Cheng
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2012-04-01
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: CN202489907U; TW201345473A

Abstract

A cleaning tool set that does not require a dewatering basket is disclosed. The cleaning tool set comprises a dewatering bucket and a hand driven spin mop. The dewatering bucket comprises a bucket body with an upper opening; a " ⊓ " shaped handle with its two ends respectively connected to the two sides of the bucket body, the handle comprising two side vertical segments and one middle horizontal segment connecting the two vertical segments, wherein an engaging part is disposed at the middle horizontal segment of the handle, for engaging with an engaging member provided on the rod body of the mop, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod body is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions. The disclosed cleaning tool set significantly reduces the space occupancy, and has a simpler structure and incurs lower costs.

Description

Basket-less Cleaning Tool Set

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to home care products, more specifically, to a kind of cleaning tool set that does not require a dewatering basket.

Background

At present, there is a variety of cleaning tool sets sold in the market. As shown in figure 1, a type of cleaning tool set currently on sale comprises a dewatering bucket and a mop, wherein the dewatering bucket comprises a dewatering region and a cleaning region. Specifically, the dewatering region on one side of the dewatering bucket comprises a cylinder-like dewatering basket movably connected to the dewatering bucket via a rotation shaft, the dewatering basket being capable of rotating freely and having an upper opening. The cleaning region is located on the other side of the dewatering bucket, which is a hollow cavity having an upper opening, and is adapted to hold an amount of water for cleaning a mop head. A rotation driver mechanism is deployed within the rod of the mop used with the dewatering bucket. A user may engage the mop head of the mop with the dewatering basket of the dewatering bucket, and press a handle on the upper end of the mop rod downward, thereby making the mop rod along with the mop head rotate through the rotation driver mechanism. As such, a centrifugal dewatering of the mop head is achieved. Making use of this type of cleaning tool set, which includes a dewatering bucket and a mop, a user needs not to detach the mop head from the mop to clean it. Chinese patents

ZL200920160684.6 and ZL200920154510.9 have disclosed further details of this type of cleaning tool set.

On the other hand, as shown in figure 2, another type of cleaning tool set includes a foot pedal type dewatering bucket and a mop. Similarly, the foot pedal type dewatering bucket also comprises a dewatering region and a cleaning region. The dewatering region comprises a dewatering basket and a foot pedal driver unit. When it is necessary to dewater the mop head, the mop head will be placed into the dewatering basket, and the foot pedal driver unit is stamped to drive the dewatering basket (and also the mop head) to rotate through gear drive and realize a centrifugal dewatering of the mop head. The handle of the dewatering bucket can be locked into a vertical position. And when the handle is in the vertical position, a clenching member for clenching the rod of the mop, which is disposed on the handle, will be located on the central axis of the dewatering basket. When the mop head is to be dewatered, a user may lock the handle of the dewatering bucket into the vertical position, and keep the central axis of the mop rod align with the central axis of the dewatering basket, thereby realizing a stable and reliable dewatering of the mop. Chinese Patent ZL200920150294.0 has disclosed further details of this type of cleaning tool set.

Although above-mentioned cleaning tool sets may make the cleaning and dewatering of a mop head more convenient, in practice, people still find that these currently existing cleaning tool sets have defects such as occupying a relatively large space, having a complex structure, and incurring a high manufacturing cost, etc. Thus, it is necessary to devise a kind of cleaning tool set that can impart better user experience, simplify the product structure, and lower the manufacturing cost.

Summary

The disclosed cleaning tool set provides the benefits of a spin mop without use of a basket making the cleaning tool set smaller, simpler in construction and use, and less expensive to make.

A basket-less dewatering bucket for use with a hand driven spin mop is provided. In one embodiment, the dewatering bucket comprises: a bucket body with an upper opening; a " " shaped handle with its two ends respectively connected to the two sides of the bucket body, the handle comprising two side vertical segments and one middle horizontal segment connecting the two vertical segments; wherein an engaging part is disposed at the middle horizontal segment of the handle, for engaging with an engaging member provided on the rod body of the mop, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions.

In one embodiment " " shape means opposing side walls connected by a lateral wall. In one embodiment, " " means opposed parallel side walls connected by a lateral wall that is generally perpendicular to each side wall.

In one embodiment, the engaging part is disposed on the middle portion of the handle.

In one embodiment, the engaging part is a clenching member with a cavity running through its upper and lower ends and having a side opening, at least a part of the inner contour of the clenching member being identical with the outer contour of the engaging member, such that the engaging member can be placed within the clenching member. Also, obstructive steps are provided within the lower inner space of the clenching member, which causes the radial dimension of the lower opening of the clenching member to be smaller than the radial dimension of the engaging member, but larger than the radial dimension of the rod body.

In one embodiment, the engaging part is a segment between two anti-sliding bumps provided on the horizontal segment of the handle, for engaging with the engaging member in a horizontal segment- inversed "U" shaped hook engagement manner. Further, when the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the engaging member, in the longitudinal direction of the handle and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the engaging part and the engaging member have identical dimensions.

In above-mentioned basket-less dewatering bucket, the handle is vertically fastened to the bucket body.

Alternatively, in above-mentioned basket-less dewatering bucket, the handle is movably connected to the bucket body. In this situation, the vertical segments on the two sides of the handle are respectively installed within vertical slots disposed on the two sides of the bucket body, the inner widths of the vertical slots being identical with the widths of the vertical segments, and the vertical segments can move in the vertical direction along the vertical slots. In one embodiment, each of the vertical slots comprises two first sheets substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the dewatering bucket and a second sheet substantially parallel with the outer wall of the dewatering bucket, the upper end of each second sheet being higher than the upper ends of corresponding first sheets, and a vertical hole being provided on each second sheet.

In one embodiment, cylindrical rods perpendicular to and extending through corresponding vertical holes are respectively provided on the outer sides of the end portions of the two vertical segments, the diameters of the cylindrical rods being equal to the widths of corresponding vertical holes, and cylindrical benches, with diameters larger than the widths of corresponding vertical holes, are

respectively provided on the ends of the cylindrical rods that have extended through the vertical holes.

In one embodiment, the vertical distance between the lower end of each vertical hole and the bucket opening is less than the length of the corresponding vertical segment, and the vertical distance between the upper end of each vertical hole and the upper ends of corresponding first sheets is larger than the diameter of the corresponding cylindrical rod.

In one embodiment, a hand driven spin mop for use with aforementioned basket-less dewatering bucket is provided. The mop comprises: a mop head; a rod body connecting to the mop head, a rotation driver mechanism being provided within the rod body; wherein an engaging member is provided on the rod body, at least a portion of the engaging member being capable of freely rotating about the rod body, but the engaging member being unable to move vertically or horizontally, the engaging member being used for engaging with the engaging part on the handle of the dewatering bucket, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod body is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions.

In one embodiment, in the hand driven spin mop, the engaging member is a cylindrical sliding bush which is muff-coupled with the rod body, the outer contour of the sliding bush being identical with the inner contour of the engaging part provided on the handle of the dewatering bucket, such that the sliding bush can be placed within the engaging part, and the diameter of the sliding bush is larger than the width of the side opening of the engaging part.

In one embodiment, in the hand driven spin mop, the engaging member comprises a cylindrical sliding bush muff-coupled with the rod body and an inversed "U" shaped hook fastened to the cylindrical sliding bush, for engaging with the engaging part provided on the handle of the basket-less dewatering bucket in an inversed "U" shaped hook-horizontal segment engagement manner. And when the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the hook, in the longitudinal direction of the handle and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the hook and the engaging part have identical dimensions.

Further, a cleaning tool set is provided. The cleaning tool set comprises aforementioned basket- less dewatering bucket and hand driven spin mop.

As to the cleaning tool set, as shown in figure 3, when the " p " shaped handle of the dewatering bucket is locked into a vertical position, its middle horizontal segment will be located on the central axis of the opening of the dewatering bucket. After the engaging part on the horizontal segment engages with the engaging member on the rod body of the mop, the mop head will be located within the upper waterless region of the dewatering bucket. In this situation, when the rod body of the mop is pressed downward, the mop head will be driven to rotate and a centrifugal dewatering of the mop head is thus achieved. In addition, as shown in figure 4, after the engaging member on the rod body of the mop is detached from the engaging part on the " _|— _| " shaped handle of the dewatering bucket, the " p " shaped handle can be transitioned from the vertical position to a horizontal position. In this situation, the opening of the dewatering bucket is no longer blocked, which enables a user to place the mop head into the water in the dewatering bucket for cleaning.

As such, compared with currently existing cleaning tool sets (their dewatering buckets all include a cleaning region and a dewatering region), the disclosed dewatering bucket of the cleaning tool set merely uses one cavity region for fulfilling the dewatering and cleaning of the mop, thus greatly reduces the space occupied by the cleaning tool set. In the meantime, by respectively providing an engaging member and an engaging part on the rod body of the mop and on the " _|— _| " shaped handle of the dewatering bucket, the disclosed cleaning tool set cancels the dewatering basket and the relevant rotation shaft in the currently existing dewatering bucket, thus simplifies the product structure and lowers the manufacturing cost.

Brief Description of the Drawings

To render the above-mentioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention clearer, a further description will be given with reference to the accompanying figures and specific embodiments.

Figure 1 illustrates a kind of prior art mop and dewatering bucket;

Figure 1 a illustrates an enlarged image of the interior of the bucket of Figure 1 ;

Figure 2 illustrates another kind of prior art mop and dewatering bucket;

Figure 3 schematically illustrates a mop and a dewatering bucket in a dewatering status;

Figure 4 schematically illustrates the mop and the dewatering bucket of Figure 3 in a cleaning status;

Figure 5 is a front view of a dewatering bucket and a mop in an engaged status;

Figure 6 is a side view of the dewatering bucket and the mop in the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the engaged parts of the dewatering bucket and the mop of Figure

5;

Figure 8 is a top view of the engaged parts of the dewatering bucket and the mop of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a side view which further illustrates the bucket body, the handle, and the sliding slot of the dewatering bucket of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a front view which further illustrates the bucket body, the handle, and the sliding slot of the dewatering bucket of Figure 5;

Figure 1 1 is a top view which further illustrates the bucket body, the handle, and the sliding slot of the dewatering bucket of Figure 5; Figure 12 is a front view of a dewatering bucket and a mop in an engaged status;

Figure 12a illustrates an enlarged section from Figure 12;

Figure 13 is a side view of the dewatering bucket and the mop in the embodiment of Figure 12;

Figure 13a illustrates an enlarged section from Figure 13;

Figure 14 is a front view which further illustrates the bucket body and the handle of the dewatering bucket in the embodiment of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a front view of a dewatering bucket and a mop in an engaged status;

Figure 16 is a top view which further illustrates the bucket body and the handle of the dewatering bucket in the embodiment of Figure 15.

Detailed Description

In the following, embodiments will be described in detail. The examples of these embodiments will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and throughout the description identical reference signs will be used for denoting similar or identical elements. The following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are illustrative and are intended to exemplify the present invention. They shall not be construed as any constraints to the present invention.

Embodiment 1

Figure 5 and Figure 6 illustrate one embodiment of a cleaning tool set that does not require a dewatering basket. The cleaning tool set includes a basket-less dewatering bucket 1 and a hand driven spin mop 3. The basket-less dewatering bucket 1 can be engaged with the mop 3, to realize dewatering and cleaning of the mop head of the mop 3. Specifically, Figure 5 is a front view of a dewatering bucket 1 and a mop 3 in an engaged status, while Figure 6 is a side view of the dewatering bucket 1 and the mop 3.

As shown in Figure 5, the mop 3 comprises a mop head 33, an inner rod body 32, an outer rod body 35 and a rotation driver mechanism 34 disposed within the inner rod body (it should be understood that the rotation driver mechanism also can be disposed within the outer rod body). When a user presses the rod body of mop 3 downward with his hand, the rotation driver mechanism 34 can drive the mop head 33 to rotate, to realize dewatering of the mop head. Mop 3 in accordance with this embodiment can be based on the mops as described in Chinese patents ZL200920154510.9 and ZL200920214941.X or other similar hand driven spin mops, but its rod body has been modified. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a bumped sliding bush 31 is provided at a position on the lower part of the rod body of the aforementioned hand driven spin mop close to the mop head 33. The sliding bush 31 has a cylindrical shape and is muff-coupled with the inner rod body 32, and its diameter is larger than the rod body of the mop. The sliding bush can freely rotate about the inner rod body 32, but cannot move vertically or horizontally. As shown in Figure 5, when the mop 3 is vertically engaged with the dewatering bucket 1, the sliding bush 31 will be locked to a location. At this time, if the rod body of the mop is pressed downward, then the rod body along with the mop head 33 connected to the rod body can freely rotate within a horizontal plane, and the mop 3 does not move in the horizontal or vertical directions. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5, Figure 8, and Figure 11, the basket-less dewatering bucket 1 comprises a bucket body with an upper opening and a " _|— _| " shaped handle with its two ends connected to the two sides of bucket body. The " p " shaped handle is comprised of vertical segments on its two sides and a middle horizontal segment connecting the vertical segments. A clenching member 21 is provided at the middle horizontal segment, for engaging with the sliding bush 31 provided at the rod body of the above-mentioned mop 3. The clenching member 21 can be locked into a position on the central axis of the opening of the basket-less dewatering bucket. After the clenching member engages with the sliding bush 31 of the mop 3, the mop head 33 will be in the upper water-less region of the basket-less dewatering bucket. When a user presses the rod body of the mop 3 downward with his hand, by way of the rotation driver mechanism disposed within the rod body of the mop 3, the mop head will rotate to realize its centrifugal dewatering. On the other hand, the clenching member 21 can be removed from the opening of the bucket, which fully opens the opening of the bucket, so as to enable the user to place the mop 3 into the water in the dewatering bucket for cleaning.

Specifically, to realize the engagement and detachment of the clenching member 21 of the basket- less dewatering bucket 1 and the sliding bush 31 of the mop 3, as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, the clenching member 21 has a cavity running through its upper and lower ends and has a side opening 212. The upper inner contour of the clenching member 21 is identical with the outer contour of the sliding bush 31 of the mop, such that the sliding bush 31 can be placed within the clenching member 21 and cannot move horizontally. And when the sliding bush 31 is pulled upward, it can be detached from the clenching member 21. Obstructive steps 21 1 are provided within the lower inner space of the clenching member 21 , such that the radial dimension of the lower opening of the clenching member is less than the diameter of the sliding bush 31 and is larger than the diameter of the inner rod body 32 of the mop. Such a configuration not only prevents the sliding bush 31 from moving downward at the time of the mop rod being pressed downward, but also ensures the free rotation of the inner rod body 32 of the mop. The width of the side opening of the clenching member 21 is less than the diameter of the sliding bush 31 and is larger than the diameter of the inner rod body 32 of the mop, which not only prevents the sliding bush 31 from moving horizontally after it is engaged with the clenching member 21 , but also enables the inner rod body 32 of the mop to enter into and depart from the clenching member 21 through the side opening.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, cylindrical rods 24 perpendicular to the vertical segments 23 are respectively provided on the outer sides of the end portions of the handle's two vertical segments 23, and cylindrical benches 241, with diameters larger than the diameters of the cylindrical rods, are respectively provided on the ends of the cylindrical rods. Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 9 and Figure 1 1, two vertical slots are symmetrically provided on the outer wall of the basket- less dewatering bucket 1. Each vertical slot comprises three sheets that are substantially perpendicular to each other. In particular, two sheets 1 13 are substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the basket- less dewatering bucket 1 , while another sheet 1 14 is substantially parallel with the outer wall of the dewatering bucket 1. As such, the configuration formed by the three sheets and the outer wall of the basket-less dewatering bucket has a " P " shaped cross section. The inner width of each vertical slot is equal to the width of the corresponding vertical segment 23 of the " p " shaped handle (on the same side of the bucket), and the inner depth of the vertical slot 1 1 is a bit larger than the length of the corresponding vertical segment 23, which enables the vertical segment 23 to move vertically within the sliding slot 1 1 and prevents the vertical segment from swaying in the horizontal direction. The upper end of the sheet 14 is higher than the upper ends of the corresponding sheets 1 13 (on the same side of the bucket), and its lower end is substantially aligned with the lower ends of the sheets 113. For each sheet 1 14, a vertical hole 1 141 is provided in the middle of the sheet, and the cylindrical rod 24 disposed on the end of the corresponding vertical segment 23 extends through the vertical hole. On the end of each cylindrical rod 24 which has extended through the corresponding vertical hole 1 141, a cylindrical bench 241 with a diameter larger than the diameter of the cylindrical rod 24 is disposed. The width of the vertical hole 1 141 is set to be equal to the diameter of the cylindrical rod 24 (i.e., less than the diameter of the cylindrical bench 241), which prevents the cylindrical bench 241 from being detaching from the vertical hole. Further, the vertical distance between the upper end 1 1 1 of each vertical hole and the upper ends of corresponding sheets 113 (on the same side of the bucket) is larger than the diameter of corresponding cylindrical rod 24(on the same side of the bucket) disposed on the end portion of the vertical segment of the " p " shaped handle, which enables the " _|— _| " shaped handle to be transitioned from a vertical position to a horizontal position, when both cylindrical rod 24 are at their upmost positions (i.e., the upper ends 1 1 1 of corresponding vertical holes). In addition, the vertical distance between the lower end 1 12 of each vertical hole 1 141 and the opening of the basket-less dewatering bucket 1 is less than the length of the handle's corresponding vertical segment 23 (on the same side of the bucket). As such, the lower end 1 12 may be used for defining the lowest position of the handle 2.

By way of aforesaid configuration, the location locking and location transition of the clenching member 21 may be achieved. Specifically, a user first lifts the handle 2 and lets it be in a vertical position, and then press the handle 2 downward. As such, the vertical segments 23 on the two sides of the handle can move downward along the sliding slots 1 1 disposed on the two sides of the dewatering bucket 1 , until the cylindrical rods 24 disposed on the end parts of the handle 2 reach the lower ends 1 12 of the sheet 1 14. At this time, the handle 2 is located at its lowest position and cannot sway horizontally, nor can it move downward. As such, the clenching member 21 on the handle 2 is correspondingly locked onto the central axis of the opening of the dewatering bucket 1. When the user pulls the handle 2 upward and has the cylindrical rods 24 on the ends of the vertical segments move to upper ends 11 1 of corresponding sheets' 1 14 vertical holes 1 141, since the vertical distance between the upper end 1 1 1 of each vertical hole and the upper end of corresponding sheet 1 13 is larger than the diameter of corresponding cylindrical rod 23, the corresponding vertical segment 23 can free itself from the constraint of corresponding sliding slot 1 1 's sheets 113. This enables each cylindrical rod 24 to rotate freely about the upper end of corresponding vertical hole 1 141. As such, the handle 2 can be transitioned to a horizontal position (as shown in Figure 4), which fully opens the opening of the bucket.

Utilizing the above-mention configuration, it is clear that, when the mop head needs to be dewatered, let the " _|— _| " shaped handle 2 be in a vertical position, and then move the vertical segments of the handle 2 downward, until the cylindrical rods 24 on the end portions of these vertical segments reach the lower ends 1 12 of corresponding sheets' 114 vertical holes. At this time, the handle 2 cannot move horizontally or vertically, i.e., it is locked onto a vertical position, which also causes the clenching member on the horizontal segment of the handle 2 to be locked onto a position on the central axis of the opening of the dewatering bucket. When the aforesaid hand driven spin mop is vertically engaged with the clenching member, thanks to the engagement between the cylindrical sliding bush on the inner rod body of the mop 3 and the clenching member on the handle of the dewatering bucket, the mop 3 will not move in the horizontal or vertical directions if it is pressed downward, while the rotation driver mechanism within the rod body of the mop will drive the mop head to rotate, thereby realizing a centrifugal dewatering of the mop head. When the mop head needs to be cleaned, pull the vertical segments of the handle 2 upward and have the cylindrical rods on the end portions of the vertical segments contact the upper ends 1 1 1 of corresponding sheets' 114 vertical holes. As described above, the handle 2 now can be transitioned from the vertical position to a horizontal position. As such, the opening of the basket-less dewatering bucket is fully opened, which enables the mop head of the mop 3 to be placed into water in the bucket 1 for cleaning.

Embodiment 2

Figure 12, Figure 12a, Figure 13, Figure 13a, and Figure 14 illustrate another embodiment a kind of cleaning tool set. The cleaning tool set includes a basket-less dewatering bucket 1 and a hand driven spin mop 3, and also can fulfill the centrifugal dewatering and cleaning of the mop's mop head.

In this embodiment, the locking mechanism between the handle 2 and the bucket body of the dewatering bucket 1 is the same as its counterpart in Embodiment 1. Also, the mop 3 in this embodiment is based on the mop as described in Chinese patents ZL200920154510.9 and ZL200920214941.X or other similar hand driven spin mop, but its rod body has been modified differently compared with the mop in Embodiment 1. Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 13, an inversed "U" shaped hook is additionally fastened to the sliding bush 31 disposed on the lower part of the mop 's inner body 32.

Correspondingly, as shown in Figure 12 and Figure 14, a clenching member is no longer needed to be provided on the middle horizontal segment of the bucket's handle 2, instead, two anti-sliding bumps 25 are provided on the horizontal segment, such that after the hook engages with the portion of the handle's horizontal segment between the two anti-sliding bumps , in the longitudinal direction of the handle, the hook and the portion of the handle's horizontal segment between the two anti-sliding bumps have the same dimensions, to prevent the possible leftward or rightward horizontal movement of the hook 36. In addition, as shown in Figure 13, in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the hook and the portion of the handle's horizontal segment between the two anti-sliding bumps also have the same dimensions, to prevent the possible frontward and backward horizontal movement of the hook 36. As such, it can be ensured that, after the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the aforesaid hook, even if the mop is pressed downward by hand, it will not move in the horizontal or vertical directions, and its mop head will rotate in the horizontal plane to realize the centrifugal dewatering. When the mop head needs to be cleaned, the mop can be pull upward, which causes the hook 36 to be detached from handle 2. Then, as described in Embodiment 1 , the handle is transitioned from the vertical position to a horizontal position to fully open the bucket opening. Afterward, the mop head is placed into the water in the dewatering bucket for cleaning.

Embodiment 3

Figure 15 and Figure 16 illustrate another embodiment of a kind of cleaning tool set. The cleaning tool set includes a basket-less dewatering bucket 1 and a hand driven spin mop 3, and also can fulfill the centrifugal dewatering and cleaning of the mop's mop head.

In this embodiment, the engagement between the sliding bush 31 of the mop and the clenching member 21 of the dewatering bucket is the same as its counterpart in Embodiment 1. What is different from Embodiment 1 is, in this embodiment, the handle of the basket-less dewatering bucket is always vertically fastened to the bucket body of the dewatering bucket. As such, the clenching member provided on the handle is always located on a fixed position on the central axis of the bucket opening. In this situation, after the hand driven spin mop is engaged with the clenching member on the handle, the mop head can be dewatered. Detach the mop from the handle, place the mop into the water in the bucket, and the mop head can be cleaned. In contrast, in Embodiment 1 , since the vertical segments of the handle can move upward and downward along the vertical slots on the two sides of the dewatering bucket's bucket body, and the handle can be transitioned from the vertical position to a horizontal position, the location of the clenching member provided on the handle can be varied.

Similar to Embodiment 3, it will be obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art to think of changing the handle movably connected to the basket-less dewatering bucket's bucket body to a handle vertically fastened to the bucket body, for Embodiment 2.

The complete disclosures of the patents cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. Various modifications and alterations to this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is not intended to be unduly limited by the illustrative embodiments and examples set forth herein and that such examples and embodiments are presented by way of example only with the scope of the disclosure intended to be limited only by the claims set forth herein as follows. For example, although a " p " shaped handle is used in aforesaid embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art can readily understand that an arched, parabolic, or other shaped handle is also feasible, as long as the clenching member or specially configured segment can engage with the sliding bush or hook provided on the rod body of the hand driven spin mop, such that when the mop vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket is pressed downward, it will not move in the vertical or horizontal directions. As another example, the contour of the sliding bush on the rod body of the mop as described in Embodiment 1 needs not to be cylindrical. Actually, the sliding bush may have other contours, provided that the sliding bush can freely rotate about the rod body of the mop and cannot move horizontally or vertically, and can engage with a corresponding clenching member provided on the handle of the dewatering bucket. In addition, the aforesaid clenching member or the aforesaid portion between the anti-sliding bumps, as provided on the middle portion of the handle of the basket-less dewatering bucket, needs not to be provided on the middle portion of the handle. Instead, they can be provided on the other portions of the handle, so long as the hand driven spin mop, vertically engaged with the handle, does not move in the horizontal or vertical directions, when the mop is pressed downward.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A basket- less dewatering bucket for use with a hand driven spin mop, comprising:

a bucket body with an upper opening; and

a handle comprising two side vertical segments and a middle horizontal segment connecting the two vertical segments, wherein each side vertical segment connects with the bucket body;

wherein an engaging part is disposed at the middle horizontal segment of the handle, for engaging with an engaging member provided on the rod body of the mop, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions.

2. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a " _|— _| " shape formed from the two side vertical segments and middle horizontal segment.

3. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 1, wherein the engaging part is disposed on the middle portion of the handle.

4. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 1, wherein the engaging part is a clenching member with a cavity running through its upper and lower ends and having a side opening, at least a part of the inner contour of the clenching member being identical with the outer contour of the engaging member, such that the engaging member can be placed within the clenching member, and obstructive steps are provided within the lower inner space of the clenching member, which causes the radial dimension of the lower opening of the clenching member to be smaller than the radial dimension of the engaging member, but larger than the radial dimension of the rod body.

5. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 4, wherein the width of the clenching member's side opening is larger than the radial dimension of the mop's rod body, but less than the radial dimension of the engaging member.

6. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 1, wherein the engaging part is a segment between two anti-sliding bumps provided on the horizontal segment of the handle, for engaging with the engaging member in a horizontal segment-inversed "U" shaped hook engagement manner.

7. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 6, wherein when the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the engaging member, in the longitudinal direction of the handle and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the engaging part and the engaging member have identical dimensions.

8. The basket-less dewatering bucket of any of claims 1-7, wherein the handle is movably connected to the bucket body.

9. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 8, wherein the vertical segments on the two sides of the handle are respectively installed within vertical slots disposed on the two sides of the bucket body, the inner widths of the vertical slots being identical with the widths of the vertical segments, and the vertical segments can move in the vertical direction along the vertical slots.

10. The basket- less dewatering bucket of claim 9, wherein each of the vertical slots comprises two first sheets substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the bucket body and a second sheet substantially parallel with the outer wall of the bucket body, and in each vertical slot, the upper end of the second sheet being higher than the upper ends of the first sheets, and a vertical hole being provided on each second sheet.

1 1. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 10, wherein cylindrical rods perpendicular to and extending through corresponding vertical holes are respectively provided on the outer sides of the two vertical segments' end portions, the diameters of the cylindrical rods being equal to the widths of corresponding vertical holes, and cylindrical benches, with diameters larger than the widths of corresponding vertical holes, are respectively provided on the ends of the cylindrical rods that have extended through the vertical holes.

12. The basket-less dewatering bucket of claim 1 1, wherein in each vertical slot, the vertical distance between the lower end of the second sheet's vertical hole and the bucket opening is less than the length of the vertical segment inserted into the vertical slot, and the upper end of the vertical hole is higher than the upper ends of the first sheets, and the vertical distance between the upper end of the vertical hole and the upper ends of the first sheets is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical rod.

13. The basket-less dewatering bucket of any of claims 1-6, wherein the handle is vertically fastened to the bucket body.

14. A hand driven spin mop for use with the basket- less dewatering bucket of claim 1, comprising: a mop head; and

a rod body connecting to the mop head, a rotation driver mechanism being provided within the rod body;

wherein an engaging member is provided on the rod body, at least a portion of the engaging member being capable of freely rotating about the rod body, but the engaging member being unable to move vertically or horizontally, the engaging member being used for engaging with the engaging part on the handle of the dewatering bucket, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod body is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions.

15. The hand driven spin mop of claim 14, wherein the engaging member is a cylindrical sliding bush which is muff-coupled with the rod body, the outer contour of the sliding bush being identical with at least a part of the inner contour of the engaging part provided on the handle of the dewatering bucket, such that the sliding bush can be placed within the engaging part, and the diameter of the sliding bush is larger than the width of the side opening of the engaging part.

16. The hand driven spin mop of claim 14, wherein the engaging member comprises a cylindrical sliding bush muff-coupled with the rod body and an inversed "U" shaped hook fastened to the cylindrical sliding bush, for engaging with the engaging part provided on the handle of the basket-less dewatering bucket in an inversed "U" shaped hook-horizontal segment engagement manner, and when the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the hook, in the longitudinal direction of the handle and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the hook and the engaging part have identical dimensions.

17. A cleaning tool set, comprising:

a basket-less dewatering bucket, the bucket comprising:

a bucket body with an upper opening; and

a " _|-_| " shaped handle with its two ends respectively connected to the two sides of the bucket body, the handle comprising two side vertical segments and one middle horizontal segment connecting the two vertical segments;

and

a hand driven spin mop, the mop comprising:

a mop head; and

wherein an engaging part is disposed at the middle horizontal segment of the handle, and an engaging member is provided on the rod body, at least a portion of the engaging member being capable of freely rotating about the rod body, but the engaging member being unable to move vertically or horizontally, the engaging member being used for engaging with the engaging part on the handle of the dewatering bucket, such that when the mop is vertically engaged with the engaging part and its rod body is pressed downward, the mop does not move in the vertical and horizontal directions.

18. The cleaning tool set of claim 17, wherein the engaging part is disposed on the middle portion of the handle.

19. The cleaning tool set of claim 17, wherein the engaging part is a clenching member with a cavity running through its upper and lower ends and having a side opening, at least a part of the inner contour of the clenching member being identical with the outer contour of the engaging member, such that the engaging member can be placed within the clenching member, and obstructive steps are provided within the lower inner space of the clenching member, which causes the radial dimension of the lower opening of the clenching member to be smaller than the radial dimension of the engaging member, but larger than the radial dimension of the rod body.

20. The cleaning tool set of claim 19, wherein the width of the clenching member's side opening is larger than the radial dimension of the mop's rod body, but less than the radial dimension of the engaging member.

21. The cleaning tool set of claim 17, wherein the engaging part is a segment between two anti- sliding bumps provided on the horizontal segment of the handle, and the engaging member comprises a cylindrical sliding bush muff-coupled with the rod body and an inversed "U" shaped hook fastened to the cylindrical sliding bush.

22. The cleaning tool set of claim 21, wherein when the mop is vertically engaged with the handle of the dewatering bucket through the hook, in the longitudinal direction of the handle and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the engaging part and the hook have identical dimensions.

23. The cleaning tool set of any of claims 17-22, wherein the handle is movably connected to the bucket body.

24. The cleaning tool set of any of claims 23, wherein the vertical segments on the two sides of the handle are respectively installed within vertical slots disposed on the two sides of the bucket body, the inner widths of the vertical slots being identical with the widths of the vertical segments, and the vertical segments can move in the vertical direction along the vertical slots.

25. The cleaning tool set of claim 24, wherein each of the vertical slots comprises two first sheets substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the dewatering bucket and a second sheet substantially parallel with the outer wall of the dewatering bucket, and in each vertical slot, the upper end of the second sheet being higher than the upper ends of the first sheets, and a vertical hole being provided on each second sheet.

26. The cleaning tool set of claim 25, wherein cylindrical rods perpendicular to and extending through corresponding vertical holes are respectively provided on the outer sides of the two vertical segments' end portions, the diameters of the cylindrical rods being equal to the widths of corresponding vertical holes, and cylindrical benches, with diameters larger than the widths of corresponding vertical holes, are respectively provided on the ends of the cylindrical rods that have extended through the vertical holes.

27. The cleaning tool set of claim 26, wherein in each vertical slot, the vertical distance between the lower end of the second sheet's vertical hole and the bucket opening is less than the length of the vertical segment inserted into the vertical slot, and the upper end of the vertical hole is higher than the upper ends of the first sheets, and the vertical distance between the upper end of the vertical hole and the upper ends of the first sheets is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical rod.

28. The cleaning tool set of any of claims 17-22, wherein the handle is vertically fastened to the bucket body.