Patent ID: 6854149

Claim:
A mop comprising: an elongate shaft having a mopping end and a gripping end; a channel body disposed at said mopping end of said shaft and comprising spaced-apart first and second leg portions defining a channel therebetween; a mop element comprising a flexible, compressible, elongate liquid absorbent member, said mop element having a central axis, said mop element being disposed in a relatively hinged relationship with respect to said channel body along a hinge line, said hinge line being generally perpendicular to said central axis; an elongate rod having an operator end and operatively connecting said operator end to one of said mop element and said channel body, whereby the application of longitudinal force in said rod relative to the other of said mop element and said channel body causes relative hinged movement of said mop element and said channel body about said hinge line thereby drawing said mop element into said channel and causing said mop element to fold at said central axis and to become compressed between said channel body portions, and an operator handle, said operator handle including a gripping portion, a pivotal mounting on said shaft, and a pivotal connection to said operator end of said rod whereby pivotal motion of said gripping portion relative to said shaft creates tension in said rod.