Hand held cleaning device

A mop for cleaning a surface comprising:

• a sponge member;
• a scrubbing member;
• a frame having a first side for supporting the sponge member and a second side generally opposite to the first side for supporting the scrubbing member;
• a handle having an end pivotally connected to the frame to allow the frame to be pivoted from a first position with the sponge member in contact with the surface to be cleaned to a second position with the scrubbing member in contact with the surface;
• and
• a wringing assembly with an actuator movable along a longitudinal axis of the handle, the actuator having at one end a roller and a force opposing member spaced from the roller with the handle therebetween, the roller and force opposing member being movable with the actuator from a non-wringing position to a wringing position with the roller in contact with the sponge member and the force opposing member engaging the second side of the frame to oppose the force of the roller, the movement of the actuator into the wringing position pivoting the frame from the first position to a position intermediate to the first and second positions with an axis of the frame generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

A mop for cleaning or scrubbing a surface comprising:

• a sponge member and a scrubbing member;
• a frame having a first side for supporting the sponge member, a second side generally opposite to the first side for supporting the scrubbing member and a groove in the second side;
• a handle having an end pivotally connected to the frame to allow the frame to be pivoted from a first position, with the sponge member in contact with the surface to be cleaned, to a second position, with the scrubbing member in contact with the surface to be cleaned, the frame and handle end having mating surfaces that hold the frame in the first or second positions until a force overcomes the holding force to allow the frame to pivot;
• and
• a wringing apparatus movable along the longitudinal axis of the handle with a roller on one side of the handle and a force opposing member on the opposite side of the handle wherein the roller is moveable into contact with the sponge member and the force opposing member is moveable in the groove of the frame to pivot the frame to a position intermediate to the first and second positions to wring the sponge.

A self-wringing mop for cleaning a surface comprising:

• an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis and opposite top and bottom ends,
• a base frame assembly having a first side and a second side generally opposite the first side,
• a sponge element mounted on the first side of the base frame and a scrubbing element mounted on the second side,
• pivotal connection means for securing the base frame to the bottom end of the elongated handle, the base frame assembly disposed at a first cleaning angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle for presenting the sponge element to the surface to be cleaned, and the pivotal connection means allowing the base frame assembly to be pivoted to a second cleaning angle to the longitudinal axis for presenting the scrubbing element to the surface to be cleaned,
• a slidable sleeve mounted on the elongated handle for limited lateral movement along the handle,
• means on the sleeve to engage the base frame assembly for pivoting the base frame assembly from either of its cleaning angles to an intermediary position substantially in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the handle,
• at least one compression roller operatively mounted to the sleeve adjacent to the bottom end of the handle so that upon sliding the sleeve towards the bottom of the elongated handle, the base frame pivots to the intermediary position and the compression roller rolls over the sponge element to progressively compress the sponge element against the base frame and wring absorbed fluids from the sponge.

A self-wringing mop for cleaning a surface comprising:

• an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis and opposite top and bottom ends;
• a base frame having two substantially flat planar surfaces on either side of the base frame;
• a sponge element positioned on one of the flat planar surfaces;
• a scrubber element positioned on the other of the flat planar surfaces;
• pivotal connection means along one edge of the base frame for securing the base frame to the bottom end of the elongated handle, the pivotal connection means allowing the base frame to rotate thereabout;
• stop means on the base frame to limit the rotation of the base frame about the pivotal connection means to two extremities, one extremity orienting the sponge to the surface to be cleaned and the other extremity orienting the scrubber element to the surface to be cleaned after rotation of the handle 180 degrees about it's longitudinal axis;
• a sleeve slidably mounted on the elongated handle for limited lateral movement with respect to the handle;
• at least one compression roller operatively connected to the sleeve adjacent to the bottom end for engaging the sponge element for progressively compressing the sponge element and wringing absorbed fluids from the sponge element as the sleeve is moved towards the bottom of the elongated handle.

A hand cleaning device for cleaning a surface comprising:

• a first cleaning element;
• a second cleaning element;
• a frame having a first side for supporting the first cleaning element and a second side generally opposite the first side for supporting the second cleaning element;
• a handle having an end pivotally connected to the frame to allow the frame to be pivoted from a first position, with the first cleaning element in contact with the surface to be cleaned, to a second position, with the second cleaning element in contact with the surface to be cleaned, by rotating the handle and exerting a force on the handle to cause the frame to pivot from the first position to the second position without the need for the user to touch the frame or cleaning elements, the frame and handle end having mating surfaces that hold the frame in the first or second positions until a force overcomes the holding force to allow the frame to pivot;
• and
• a wringing assembly mounted on the handle and moveable along a longitudinal axis of the handle into contact with at least one of the cleaning elements to wring at least the one cleaning element wherein the wringing assembly pivots the frame from either the first position or the second position to a position intermediate the first and second positions as the wringing assembly is moved into contact with the cleaning element for wringing.

A hand held cleaning device for cleaning a surface comprising:

• a first cleaning element;
• a second cleaning element;
• a frame having a first side for supporting the first cleaning element and a second side generally opposite the first side for supporting the second cleaning element;
• a handle having an end pivotally connected to the frame to allow the frame to be pivoted from a first position, with the first cleaning element in contact with the surface to be cleaned, to a second position, with the second cleaning element in contact with the surface to be cleaned, by rotating the handle and exerting a force on the handle to cause the frame to pivot from the first position to the second position without the need for the user to touch the frame or cleaning elements;
• and
• a wringing assembly having at least one roller mounted on the handle and moveable along a longitudinal axis of the handle into contact with at least one of the cleaning elements to wring at least the one cleaning element wherein the wringing assembly pivots the frame to a position intermediate the first and second positions as the wringing assembly is moved into contact with the cleaning element for wringing.