Flat mop frame

A mop frame comprising:

• a first plate comprising a planar rigid member having an inside surface and an outside surface that forms a support and backing surface for a first side of a mop pad, the first plate being pivotably connected to a handle attachment at a first pivot where the first pivot defines a first axis of rotation, the first plate being configured to engage a pocket of a mop pad;
• a first support on an inside surface of the first plate that extends for substantially the width of the first plate and comprises a support surface that is substantially parallel to the outside surface;
• a second plate comprising a planar rigid member having an inside surface and an outside surface, the first plate being pivotably connected to the second plate at a second pivot where the axis of rotation of the first pivot is parallel to the axis of rotation of the second pivot such that the second plate is movable between a first position where the second plate is substantially coplanar with the first plate and a second position where the first plate is substantially parallel to the second plate and is disposed on top of the second plate, the outside surface of the second plate and the support surface of the support form a support and backing surface for a second side of the mop pad, the second plate being configured to engage a second pocket of the mop pad;
• and
• a spring loaded latch on one of the first plate and the second plate that releasably engages a latch plate on the other of the first plate and the second plate to lock the first plate to the second plate when the second plate is in the second position and a push button for moving the latch to an unlocked position to allow the second plate to move away from the first plate to the first position.

A method of using a mop frame and mop pad where the mop pad comprises a first side comprising a first pocket and a second pocket and the mop frame comprises a first plate connected to a handle attachment at a first pivot and pivotably connected to a second plate at a second pivot where the first plate has a first lobe for engaging the first pocket and the second plate has a second lobe for engaging the second pocket comprising:

• placing the mop frame on the first side of the mop pad with the first lobe engaging the first pocket;
• rotating the first plate toward the second plate such that the second plate is rotated about the second pivot between a first position where the second plate is substantially coplanar with the first plate and a second position where the first plate is substantially parallel to the second plate and is disposed on top of the second plate to insert the second lobe in the second pocket;
• and
• locking the first plate to the second plate using a spring loaded latch on one of the first plate and the second plate that releasably engages a latch plate on the other of the first plate and the second plate when the second plate is in the second position;
• and
• actuating a push button to move the latch to an unlocked position to allow the second plate to move away from the first plate to the first position.