The invention concerns the field of floor mops and in particular flat mops for mopping floor surfaces and which have detachable absorbent mopping layers.

Over time, the mopping layers used for cleaning floors become soiled and hence become less efficient and require replacement. In sterile environments mopping layers may be discarded after every use to prevent contamination.

A popular type of cleaning mop comprises an elongate handle extending from a mop head and a removable mopping layer. Having a removable mopping layer is desirable so that it can be washed or replaced, thus maintaining the ability to effectively clean floors or other flat surfaces. GB-A-2518449 discloses a mopping layer that can be released from the head, turned around and then re-fitted so that the other side of the mopping layer can be used, and its useful life extended.

When a user wishes to remove and replace the mopping layer of a current flat mop, it is necessary to manually detach and reattach the mopping layer. This means that the user handles both the soiled layer, which may be undesirable for hygiene purposes, and the clean layer, which may be undesirable due to the chemical nature of cleaning agents that may be present. It would therefore be beneficial to mitigate such problems.

GB-A-2423698, WO2014/187286, US 2015/01 13750, CN203647273U and

CN203388809U each disclose flat mops with detachable mopping layers.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a flat mop in accordance with any of the claims hereinafter. Thus, there is provided a flat mop comprising an elongate handle portion attached to a flat mop head, the mop head comprising a generally central base plate, an upper side of the base plate being attached to a handle mount via a pivot mechanism, wherein the base plate is disposed between two horizontally extending co-planar side wings to which a detachable mopping layer may be attached, wherein the side wings are movable one with respect to the other so as to articulate between the co-planar operative horizontal orientation in which they align with each other so as to retain a mopping layer extended between opposite ends of the wings and a folded orientation in which one wing is angled with respect to the other so that the separation between wing opposite ends is reduced thereby facilitating the detachment of the mopping layer or attachment of a new mopping layer, wherein the base plate includes a wing latching mechanism which holds the side wings in the horizontal orientation, but which includes at least one movable release member which may be displaced to permit the wings to adopt the folded orientation, and characterised in that the handle mount comprises an actuation member which is movable to approach the base plate to directly or indirectly displace the release member and permit folding of the side wings.

Preferably the latching mechanism may comprise two release members between the side wings and each of which is movable between a locked horizontal orientation and an open downward orientation and which, when in the horizontal orientation, cooperate to hold the side wings in the horizontal orientation. Each release member may optionally be independently depressible by the actuation member.

When the release member or members are sufficiently depressed / lowered the change in position removes the constraint on the position of the side wings such that they are no longer impelled to be horizontally aligned and one or both can naturally lower due to gravity. The invention thereby allows a user to release a mop layer from a mop head by operating the actuation member to open the side wings. In this way the user does not need to directly handle a soiled mop layer. Further, a new mop layer can easily be fitted by engaging the mop layer using the wings and pushing the wings and release member or members (e.g. against the floor) so that they move back to the horizontal orientation, again avoiding the necessity for direct manual mop layer interaction by the user. When the wings and release member(s) are in horizontal orientations the wings will be held there by the action of the release member(s) until depressed again. Mopping may thereby continue afresh.

In embodiments having two release members they may conveniently adjoin each other. Preferably the release members are hinged to each other and displacement of the release members involves depressing the hinged regions of each release member.

The hinging between the release members may take the form of a straight rod which couples sections of the release members. Coupled sections may be interleaving.

The hinging, e.g. the rod, hinders unintentional release member movement when in the aligned horizontal orientation and limits the degree of relative separation which the adjoining ends of the release members can attain. Further, if one of the release members is rotationally fixed with respect to such a rod while the other is able to pivot about it the movement of the release members may be more interdependent.

Optionally either or both side wings may be attached to the base plate. In this regard the side wings should be secured with respect to the base plate but this need not necessarily be direct.

Conveniently each side wing inner end is pivotally attached to a respective opposite outer region of the base plate.

Preferably outer regions of each release member or members abut inner faces of the side wings to hold them horizontal when in an undisplaced position. It may be preferred for each side wing to adjoin only one release member. Conveniently each side wing is hinged directly to a release member. In such embodiments with two release members each would be hinged to a different side wing. Conveniently the hinging axis of each side wing to the base plate is vertically and horizontally offset with respect to its hinging to a release member such that moving the side wing from the folded to a horizontal orientation may pull the adjoining edge of a release member outwards such that the release member may be pulled towards the horizontal orientation.

Hinges between release members, release members and and side wings and/or between side wings and the base plate may conveniently take the form of a rod with respect to which certain parts may be fixed and others may be relatively free to rotate.

For example, a rod may couple sections of a side wing and release member.

Coupled sections may be interleaving. The side wing may be substantially rotationally fixed with respect to the rod so that moving the side wing upwards pulls on the rod. Conveniently the release member can rotate freely about the rod.

Further, preferably vertically and horizontally offset with respect to this, a side wing may be coupled directly to the base plate. For example, a rod could span between the sides of the base plate and through a section or sections of a side wing to engage it. Another option may be to have two shorter rods, one either side of the base plate and each engaging a separate part of a side wing, though this may be less desirable due to reduced stability. Conveniently the side wing can rotate relatively freely about a base plate coupling rod or rods, such that the side wing may be easily displaced with respect to the base plate.

Preferably a side wing is coupled by separate offset rods to the base plate and a release member, the side wing being rotationally fixed with respect to the release member rod but able to freely rotate with respect to the base plate rod and the release member being able to freely rotate with respect to the rod coupling it to the side wing. In this way the rods form two axles arranged in an over-centre

configuration such that when a side wing is moved from an open (vertical) to a horizontal orientation the adjoining edge of a release member is pulled outwards and thereby the release member is pulled towards the horizontal orientation. Coupled sections may be interleaving.

It will be appreciated that configurations as discussed above may apply to either or simultaneously to both side wings as may be appropriate in various embodiments.

In embodiments with two release members they may optionally be symmetrical and/or may be the same shape but rotated (e.g. by 180°) with respect to each other.

The actuation member may be movable in an axial direction with respect to the elongate handle attached to the handle mount.

The actuation member may comprise a sleeve provided on the handle mount.

The actuation member may comprise one or more axially oriented extensions for displacing the (or each) release member when operated.

The actuation member outer sleeve may be in the form of a spring loaded plunger which is biased away from a release position. In this way the actuation member will conveniently be disengaged from the release member or members when not in use.

The base plate may be provided with one or more apertures in an upper surface region thereof which permit the actuation member to access and displace one or both release members. One or more release member may comprise a raised platform which occupies a corresponding aperture in the base plate. The extent of the folding of either or both side wings with respect to the base plate may optionally be limited by one or more stop features provided on the base plate.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one mode for putting the present invention into effect.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a flat mop in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows the same flat mop which is equipped with an absorbent mopping layer.

Figure 3 is a side view of the flat mop (without absorbent layer) in a horizontal working configuration.

Figure 4 is a side view of the flat mop in a folded and splayed configuration for replacement or attachment of a mopping layer.

Figure 5 is a perspective view from one end of the folded mop head of figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view from one end of the mop head in the horizontal working configuration and with a mopping layer attached.

Figure 7 is a similar perspective view, but with an actuating sleeve and plunger depressed onto unlatching platforms in a base plate of the flat mop.

Figure 8 shows the base plate in detail with the platforms shifted so as to unlatch and splay the side wings of the mop head.

Figure 9 shows detail of a side wing in proximity to a pocket of a mopping layer for attachment (or removal) of the mopping layer.

Figure 10 is an underside view of the mop head's base plate showing the

latching/unlatching mechanism. Figure 1 1 is a side view, partially in section and cut away, of one end region of the flat mop, in the horizontal working configuration, showing detail of the latching mechanism.

Figure 12 is the same view, but in the unlatched configuration.

Figure 13 is a perspective underside view of the flat mop, in the unlatched, folded configuration.

A flat mop is shown generally as 1 1 in figure 1 . The flat mop 1 1 comprises a central generally planar base plate 12. The base plate has an upper central region provided with a two-axis pivot 13 via which an elongate handle portion 14 is attached. The pivot is of conventional construction and design. The handle portion comprises a handle mount 15 which has an upper region which is adapted to receive an elongate mop handle in the form of a rod or tube 35. The handle mount has is provided with an axially-movable outer sleeve portion 16 which serves as a spring loaded plunger. The spring is not shown but could for example be a tension spring or compression spring, preferably a coil compression spring, one end of which is compressed by the plunger and the other being anchored to the handle mount, or vice versa. The spring loaded plunger has two extensions (downward facing axially extending prongs 17, 18 best seen in figure 6) which are disposed on either side of the sleeve lower region. The extensions are disposed and oriented to engage and displace platforms 19 and 20 when the plunger is lowered.

The platforms are accommodated upstanding in respective rectilinear apertures provided on opposite upper side regions of the central base plate 12. Either side of the base plate are two releasable side wings 21 and 22. The side wings have respective tapered ends 31 , 32 for engaging inward facing pockets 37 formed in upper end regions of a mopping layer 36 (shown in figure 2). The mopping layer has an absorbent underside for cleaning floor surfaces and the like.

Figure 3 is a side view of the flat mop, showing the position of side wing pivots (rods) 42, 43 by which the wings are connected to the base plate 12. The base plate 12 has a trapezoidal profile, with bevelled end regions 38 which abut correspondingly bevelled inner ends 39 of the side wings. Figure 4 shoes the same mop in a wings- folded configuration in which both side wings have been unlatched and are splayed with respect to the base plate 12. Blunt end faces 40 of the bevelled side wing ends 39 rest against the bevelled base plate ends so as to prevent the wings from rotating further than the desired spayed configuration.

In figure 5 the pivot rod 43 is shown passing from one side wall of the base plate 12 through three spaced apart bosses 47, 48 which are accommodated in a recess 44 in the base plate end. An identical arrangement (not shown) is present on the opposite side of the base plate, in respect of pivot rod 42 and side wing 22.

In figure 6 the top of the flat mop is shown with the side wings in a horizontal latched configuration. To unlatch the sleeve portion 16 is grasped by the user and translated down against the spring bias and towards the upper side of the base plate, in the direction of the arrow A in figure 7. The two prongs 17 and 18 which project from a lower end region of the sleeve portion impinge onto the platforms 19 and 20 which are seated in apertures through the base plate 12. The platforms are each displaced downwards from the aperture, as shown in figure 8. The unlatching will be explained in more detail below. The splayed (or folded) side wings may now be withdrawn from the pockets 37 of the mopping layer 36, as shown in figure 9.

From figure 10 it will be seen that the underside of the mop head the base plate is provided with two release members 23 and 24. The platforms 19, 20 each project upwards from an upper face of each associated release member and are integrally formed therewith. The release members adjoin one another and are pivotally connected to each other by a transverse pivot rod (see dashed line 52) which passes through lapped portions 53 of the central inner regions of the release members. On either side of the lapped central region projecting block regions of each release member extend beyond the central pivot rod 19. Each projecting block outer end is formed with a respective flat end. The projecting block of one release member is accommodated in a corresponding rebate of the other release member (and vice versa), as shown in figure 10. The release members are pivotably connected to each other by pivot rod 52.

As shown in figure 10 the release members each have outer regions which are pivotably attached to an inner region of each side wing by interleaved hinge bosses which use respective common release pivot rods 25 and 26 (shown as dashed lines to mark the rod positions). The release pivot rods 25 and 26 each traverse from a boss 48' on one side of a side wing to the other, through two interleaving bosses 50, 51 of the associated release member and the three interleaving side wing bosses 47' and 48' (which are extensions of bosses 47 and 48 respectively, as shown in figure 1 1 ).

The inner regions of the side wings are hinged to outside regions of the base plate 2 by the respective transversely extending side wing pivot rods 42 and 43. So, wing pivot rods 42 and 43 each pass from one side of the base plate to the other, passing through the intervening sections of the relevant side wing but not through the release members.

Figure 1 1 shows a section through one side of the flat mop, to show the latching mechanism and pivoting action. The side wing pivot rods 43 (42 not visible in fig 1 1 ) are disposed transversely in an upper region of each side wing via wing bosses 47 and 48 and the base plate opposite ends. The release pivot rods 25 (and 26 not visible in fig 1 1 ) are each disposed transversely in a lower than the region of the side wings and the release members, so that the wing pivot rods 42, 43 are disposed above (vertically separated from) and the release pivot rods 25, 26. The wing pivot rods are also spaced apart from each other slightly more than the release rods 25 and 26.

When the plungers act on the release member platforms 19, 20 (as shown by arrow P in figure 1 1 ), the release member 23 is depressed and the release members' connection pivot 52 is displaced downwards (arrow D in figure 12), while the release member pivot 25 is shifted up (arrow U). This shift of pivots (which try to follow respective arcs, but are constrained against following these arcs) involves an over- centre type initial resistance to release and then a free release as the side wing 21 rotates down (in an anhedral direction)..

In the released configuration shown in figure 12 the second release member 24 is visible. The second release member has a platform 20 and an outer region (not visible) which co-operates with the other side wing to permit folding and splaying of that wing on shifting of the release member (in the same way as the first release member 24). This is also shown in figure 13.

The use of an axially shifting release plunger which acts upon a release mechanism in the flat mop body permits "hands-free" detachment of dirty or contaminated mopping layers. The use of an over centre type latching mechanism permits hands free insertion of the wings of a splayed mop head into the pockets of a fresh mopping layer (see figure 9), and latching of the mop head in a horizontal working configuration simply by applying axial pressure on to the mop head via the handle portion to depress the base plate and press the side wings flat, causing the release members to revert to the stable horizontal orientation. This is typically accompanied by a confirming click sound. Again, this is a hands-free operation which prevents cross contamination between user and mopping layer.