CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of LTS Provisional Patent Application 62/547,080, filed on August 17, 2017, and US Utility Patent Application 15/807,372, filed on November 8, 2017, both incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to window washing, and more particularly to a wearable bucket for holding a mop, squeegees, and a cleaning solution.

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RECTMED (RULE 91) - ISA/US DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Squeegees and mops are utilized by window cleaners for cleaning commercial and residential glass surfaces. The surface of the window is moistened and scrubbed to loosen and remove dirt and debris, utilizing a mop containing cleaning solution. The squeegee is then used to dry the glass by removing the cleaning solution residue and any remaining dirt or debris from the window.

Professional windows cleaners are contracted and motivated to clean glass surfaces quickly and efficiently. In support of this effort, the "bucket on a belt" was invented to hold the squeegee, mop, and cleaning solution (which usually consists of water and various soaps). An early version of such a device can hold only a single squeegee and a single mop, as shown in US Patent 5,076,478, issued to Henry Unger. Modern devices can accommodate two squeegees as well as a mop. Other companies that currently produce such buckets include Ettore Products Company, Moerman NV, IPCEagle, as well as Unger.

Such devices, while satisfactorily holding a squeegee and mop, are all currently designed for an 18 inch mop and an 18 inch squeegee. However, modern commercial window cleaners desire mops and squeegees larger than 18 inches and frequently use tools up to 36 inches. While the larger tools exist on the market and are very common among window cleaners today, there is currently no bucket on a belt which can comfortably accommodate such large tools. Therefore, a need exists for a bucket on a belt that can accommodate larger mops and squeegees. In addition, all existing buckets have an essential flaw, namely, the position of the mop. The mop is positioned closest to the leg. This results in cleaning solution frequently transferring onto the window cleaner's leg. While the wet leg may be uncomfortable during warm seasons, it can be physically dangerous during the winter, especially in areas where the wind chill can freeze the water against the window cleaner's leg, possibly causing frostbite. Thus, there exists a very real need for a bucket that is designed with the mop located away from the window cleaner's leg, preventing unnecessary solution transfer to the user.

Further, all existing products require the squeegee to sit vertically in its assigned slot. While this is acceptable for smaller squeegees, it can be uncomfortable when a larger squeegee is in the slot. For example, a 36 inch squeegee is going to hinder the arm movement of the window cleaner by nature of its position. Thus there is a need for a design in which larger tools are not an inconvenience for the window cleaner.

Lastly, all existing products are designed for a window cleaner of a specific height. No currently offered bucket allows for the adjustment of the buckle, allowing the bucket to ride higher or lower on the window cleaner's belt. Different window cleaners may desire a higher ride or lower ride, depending on their body stature and the activities they need to perform that day. Not only is there a need for an adjustable strap, but it should be interchangeable to match company colors or the preferences of the window cleaner.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can accommodate larger mops and squeegees. Such a needed invention would reduce the amount of cleaning solution that ends-up contacting and soaking into the window washer's pants, socks and shoes. Further, such a needed device would accommodate relatively large squeegees, mops and other tools in a substantially vertical configuration, and would provide means for adjusting the height of the bucket when worn by the window cleaner. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a bucket for use by a person washing windows with a mop, at least one squeegee, and a cleaning solution. The bucket includes a proximate section open at a top end thereof. The proximate section includes a rear panel, a front panel, a pair of opposing side panels, a bottom panel, and at least one divider for defining a plurality of compartments each configured for holding one of the at least one squeegee.

The rear panel includes a belt attachment mechanism proximate the top end of the proximate section. Preferably the belt attachment mechanism includes an aperture traversing the rear panel of the proximate section. A strap is preferably further included for traversing the aperture and for attachment with a belt worn by the person. Such a strap preferably includes a top loop configured for attachment with the belt, and a length adjustment buckle for adjusting the height of the bucket while worn by the person. The strap is preferably selectively removable from the aperture. In some embodiments the rear panel of the proximate section further includes a strap anchor bar projecting away therefrom and configured for receiving an end portion of the strap for stabilizing the bucket when worn on the belt of the person. Alternately the end portion of the strap may loop around the strap anchor bar and be fixed to itself with a mechanical fastener.

A distal section of the bucket is open at a top end thereof and has a front panel, a rear panel, a pair of opposing side panels, and a bottom panel. The distal section is fixed to the front panel of the proximate section such that the rear panel of the distal section is integral with the front panel of the proximate section. The distal section is configured for holding the mop and the cleaning solution therein.

Some embodiments of the distal section include at least one U-shaped notch at the top end thereof and adapted for holding a handle of the mop while the mop is at least partially contained within the distal section and submerged in the cleaning solution. In at least one embodiment the distal section includes two of the U-shaped notches, each formed at a corner between one of the opposing side panels and the front panel and aligned such that a handle of the mop or squeegee can be contained by either of the U-shaped notches, the mop and/or squeegee being stored in a substantially vertical configuration through the open end of the distal section. A channel is preferably formed between the distal section and the proximate section to allow the at least one squeegee to drain off excess cleaning solution back into the distal section.

The present invention can accommodate larger mops and squeegees. Such a needed invention would reduce the amount of cleaning solution that ends-up contacting and soaking into the window washer's pants, socks and shoes. Further, such a needed device would accommodate relatively large squeegees, mops and other tools in a substantially vertical configuration out of the way when not being used, and would provide means for adjusting the height of the bucket when worn by the window cleaner. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG 4 is a front perspective view of the invention, illustrated as in-use by a person; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word "each" is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word "each" does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a bucket 10 for use by a person 20 washing windows with a mop 30, at least one squeegee 40, and a cleaning solution 50. The bucket 10 includes a proximate section 60 open at a top end 68 thereof. The proximate section 60 includes a rear panel 66, a front panel 64, a pair of opposing side panels 65, a bottom panel 62, and at least one divider 70 for defining a plurality of compartments 75 each configured for holding one of the at least one squeegee 40 (FIG. 4). The

compartments 75 are each desirably tilted away from the rear panel 66 so that the at least one squeegee 40 tilts away from the person 20 while the bucket 10 is in-use. Preferably the rear panel 66 is curved so as to conform to the curvature of a leg 25 of the person 20 while the person 20 wears the bucket 10 on a belt 28 fixed with the belt attachment mechanism 80.

The rear panel 66 includes a belt attachment mechanism 80 proximate the top end 68 of the proximate section 60. In some embodiments the belt attachment mechanism 80 includes an aperture 81 traversing the rear panel 66 of the proximate section 60. A strap 100 is preferably further included for traversing the aperture 81 and for attachment with a belt 28 worn by the person 20 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Such a strap 100 preferably includes a top loop 108 configured for attachment with the belt 28, and a length adjustment buckle 105 for adjusting the height of the bucket 10 while worn by the person 20. The strap 100 is preferably selectively removable from the aperture 81, but in some embodiments may be instead riveted (not shown), bolted, adhered, or otherwise affixed with the rear panel 66 of the proximate section 60.

In some embodiments the rear panel 66 of the proximate section 60 further includes a strap anchor bar 110 projecting away therefrom and configured for receiving and retaining the strap 100 for stabilizing the bucket 10 when worn on the belt 28 of the person 20. Alternately strap 100 may loop around the strap anchor bar 110 and be fixed to itself with a mechanical fastener (not shown), such as a mechanical snap, hook-and-loop type fastening material, a zipper, retaining slide, or the like. In embodiments without the anchor bar 110, the strap 100 is simply riveted, bolted, adhered, or otherwise fixed with the rear panel 66 of the proximate section 60. A distal section 90 of the bucket 10 is open at a top end 98 thereof and has a front panel 94, a rear panel 96, a pair of opposing side panels 95, and a bottom panel 92. The distal section 90 is fixed to the front panel 64 of the proximate section 60 such that the rear panel 96 of the distal section 90 is integral with the front panel 64 of the proximate section 60. The distal section 90 is configured for holding the mop 30 and the cleaning solution 50 therein, away from the person 20 by at least the width of the proximal section 60, thereby keeping drips of the cleaning solution 50 away from the person 20.

Some embodiments of the distal section 90 include at least one U-shaped notch 120 at the top end 98 thereof and adapted for holding a handle 35 of the mop 30 while the mop 30 is at least partially contained within the distal section 90 and submerged in the cleaning solution 50 (FIGS. 1 and 4). In at least one embodiment the distal section 90 includes two of the U-shaped notches 120, each formed at a corner between one of the opposing side panels 95 and the front panel 94 and aligned such that the handle 35 of the mop 30 can be contained in either of the U-shaped notches, allowing both left- handed and right-handed persons 20 to conveniently store the mop 30. A channel (not shown) is preferably formed between the distal section 90 and the proximate section 60 to allow the at least one squeegee 40 to drain off excess cleaning solution 50 back into the distal section 90.

Preferably the proximal section 60 and distal section 90 are integrally molded using a plastic injection molding process out of a rigid plastic material. The strap 100 is preferably a nylon strap or the like. In some alternate embodiments of the invention, the front panel 64 of the proximate section 60 and the rear panel 96 of the distal section 90 are integrally formed as a removable section 140 (FIG. 5). Further, the opposing side panels 65 of the proximate section 60 including a pair of opposing slots 150 for receiving the removable section 140 slidably therein. The removable section 140 may include hooks 160 or other mechanical fastening arrangements for securing the removable section 140 within the bucket 10.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the proximal section 60 and distal section 90 are shown in the drawings as each being generally four-sided in plan view, each section 60,90 may be oval in shape, or hexagonal in shape, or take some other suitable shape. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference.

Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above "Detailed Description. " While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.