Patent ID: 7257853
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. A mop comprising: an elongate shaft having a cleaning end and an operator end; a channel body disposed at said cleaning end of said shaft and comprising spaced-apart first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween; a mop element, said mop element being disposed in a relatively hinged relationship with respect to said channel body along a hinge axis, said mop element comprising a liquid absorbent member and a mounting element that supports said absorbent member, said mop element having a central axis, said hinge axis being generally perpendicular to said central axis, said central axis dividing said absorbent member into first and second portions, said mounting element including a first support portion and a second support portion, said first support portion connected to said first portion of said absorbent member, and said second support portion connected to said second portion of said absorbent member, and said mounting element including a member connecting said first and second support portions, said member being flexible relative to said first and second support portions; an actuator link connected to one of said mop element and said channel body, whereby movement of said actuator link relative to the other of said mop element and said channel body in a wringing direction causes relative hinged movement of said mop element and said channel body about said hinge axis, thereby drawing said mop element into said channel and causing said first and second portions of said mop element to fold toward each other about said central axis and to become compressed between said leg portions of said channel body; and a mop element support including a first wing and a second wing; wherein said first support portion of said mounting element is mounted to said first wing of said mop element support, and said second support portion of said mounting element is mounted to said second wing of said mop element support, and wherein at least one of said first and second wings includes an inclined cam surface, said inclined cam surface having an inner end and an outer end, said outer end closer to said operator end of said shaft than said inner end, said inner end being relatively proximal said central axis of said absorbent member and said surface increasing in inclination from said inner end to said outer end, said cam surface engaging a portion of said channel body as said wings are drawn into said channel body.