US 7,571,831 B2
Mop bucket system with wave reduction capability
Robert W. Lauer, Winchester, Va. (US); Stephen M. Batsa, Stephens City, Va. (US); Mark Hoyle, Winchester, Va. (US); and Allen E. Badeau, Morgantown, W. Va. (US)
Assigned to Rubbermaid Commercials Products LLC, Winchester, Va. (US)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/227,443.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/610206, filed on Sep. 16, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/618175, filed on Oct. 14, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0070202 A1, Apr. 06, 2006
Int. Cl. B65D 25/04 (2006.01); B65D 6/34 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 220—555  [220/675] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mop bucket system comprising:
a liquid-retaining portion configured to retain liquid and having a bottom wall portion, a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion facing the first sidewall portion, a third sidewall portion, and a fourth sidewall portion facing the third sidewall portion, wherein the liquid-retaining portion permits retained liquid to move in a liquid-movement direction extending from the first sidewall portion toward the second sidewall portion within a higher-momentum region having a width that is approximately 70% of a distance between the third sidewall portion and the fourth sidewall portion; and
an energy-dissipation device disposed within the liquid-retaining portion and extending into the higher-momentum region, the energy-dissipation device being configured to inhibit build up of momentum of liquid in the higher-momentum region along at least a portion of the liquid-movement direction by breaking surface tension of the liquid,
wherein the energy-dissipation device includes a first baffle and a second baffle each disposed between the first and second sidewall portions and within the higher-momentum region,
wherein the first baffle projects from the third sidewall portion and the second baffle projects from the fourth sidewall portion, and
wherein the first and second baffles each project such a distance from the respective third and fourth sidewall portions that the first and second baffles are discontinuous in that the first and second baffles do not in combination form a single, uniformly shaped baffle.