# US 9,750,386 B2 · Foldable spin flat mop and cleaning tool including same

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- Number: US 9,750,386 B2
- Document ID: US9750386B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/434,358
- Filed: 2013-10-10
- Published: 2015-10-01
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-11
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Feng Zeng; Xiaolin Yin; Peng Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750386B2

## CPC

- A47L 13/258: of adjustable or foldable type
- A47L 13/256: for mops made of cloth
- A47L 13/58: Wringers for scouring pads, mops, or the like, combined with buckets
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A foldable spin flat mop (100) is disclosed that comprises a handle (10); and a mop head (20) connected to the handle. The mop head comprises: at least two independent cleaning plates (21), which together being able to form a coplanar and flat cleaning flat surface; and a connection mechanism disposed to rotatably connect the at least two independent cleaning plates to the handle. The connection mechanism comprises: a plurality of seats (23) provided respectively at the at least two independent cleaning plates; and at least one joint member (24) connecting the plurality of seats; wherein each of the at least two independent cleaning plates is rotatable with regard to the joint member, such that the at least two independent cleaning plates each is capable of freely rotating relative to the handle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foldable spin flat mop, comprising:
a handle; and
a mop head connected to said handle, said mop head comprising:
at least two independent cleaning plates being able to form a coplanar and flat cleaning surface; and
a connection mechanism disposed to rotatably connect said at least two independent cleaning plates to said handle, said connection mechanism comprising:
a plurality of seats provided respectively at said at least two independent cleaning plates; and
at least one joint member connecting the plurality of seats;
wherein each of said at least two independent cleaning plates is rotatable with regard to said joint member, such that said at least two independent cleaning plates each is capable of rotating relative to said handle; and
wherein each of said at least one joint member has an “H”-shaped configuration, which includes a straight joint body connected to said handle, and two end joint bodies respectively disposed upon a corresponding one of said at least two independent cleaning plates and respectively connected to the seats of the corresponding one of said at least two independent cleaning plates.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 1, wherein in each of said at least one joint member, said two end joint bodies each connects with the straight joint body and defines a pivotal axis perpendicular to the straight joint body, and each of said at least two independent cleaning plates is rotatable around its corresponding pivotal axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 2, wherein in each of said at least two independent cleaning plates the distance between the end joint body and the handle is less than the distance between a vertical centre line of the independent cleaning plate and said handle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 2, wherein in each of said at least two independent cleaning plates, the distance between the end joint body and the handle is greater than or equal to the distance between a vertical centre line of the independent cleaning plate and the handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 1, said connection mechanism further comprising:
a cardan joint member connecting said joint member to said handle, wherein said cardan joint member is configured to be rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the straight joint body and extending through the cardan joint member, and be rotatable around the straight joint body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 1, further comprises cleaning elements each of which is installed to a corresponding one of said at least two independent cleaning plates.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The foldable spin flat mop according to claim 6, wherein each of the cleaning elements comprises a microfiber bonnet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A cleaning tool kit, comprising:
a foldable spin flat mop according to claim 1; and
a bucket including a bucket chamber and a rotatable basket disposed in said bucket chamber;
wherein when the mop head of the foldable spin flat mop is placed into the rotatable basket, each of said at least two independent cleaning plates will rotate around its corresponding end joint body to lean against the side wall of the basket, such that once the mop head together with the basket is driven to gyrate, the centrifugal dehydration of the mop head is performed.