Electric mop

Abstract

The mop can be enclosed in a housing. Backing members hold mopping members and both are preferably located below the housing. A series of gears transmit force from a single motor to two drive shafts that connect to the upper portion of the coupling member. Multiple gears in series create a path where energy and mechanical movement travels to the drive shaft. The drive shaft moves mopping members. Circular mopping members contact with the floor to wipe it clean. Dual circular mopping members made of disposable material such as paper or light cloth counter rotate to preserve axial stability.

1 . A cleaning device for a floor comprising: 
 a. a housing having a handle, wherein said housing retains a motor;    b. a pair of a set of gears in series comprising a left set and a right set, wherein both sets receive power from said motor, wherein the housing retains both sets of gears in a substantially bilateral and symmetrical fixed configuration;    c. a pair of couplings of the same size and shape comprising a left coupling and a right coupling each comprising two halves, wherein an upper half has a protrusion matedly and non-destructively reconnectable from a depression formed in a lower half, the upper half of the pair of couplings individually connected to their respective set of gears so that the left set of gears is attached to the upper half of the left coupling and the right set of gears is attached to the upper half of the right coupling, both pairs of couplings receiving power from the motor through the gear sets, whereby a user can temporarily disconnect the coupling halves for maintenance;    d. a pair of backing members of the same size and shape each individually attached to their respective lower coupling half;    e. a pair of circular mopping members of the same size and shape each individually attached to their respective backing members by an attachment means allowing non-destructive attachment and reattachment between the circular mopping members and the backing members, whereby a user can remove circular mopping members for replacement, cleaning or wringing, wherein the circular mopping members rotate when the device is activated, wherein rotation of the circular mopping members capable of cleaning the floor.    f. a vertical adjustment mechanism limiting downward force applied on circular mopping members by raising said housing above the floor.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein gears are configured to allow the circular mopping members to operate in counter rotation, wherein circular mopping members share the same rate of angular rotation, from the perspective of a user standing behind the device, a left mopping member rotates clockwise and a right mopping member rotates counterclockwise.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein gears are configured to allow the circular mopping members to operate in counter rotation, wherein circular mopping members share the same rate of angular rotation, from the perspective of a user standing behind the device, a left mopping member rotates counterclockwise and a right mopping member rotates clockwise.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein circular mopping members are made from a light cloth upper side and a paper lower side, wherein a variety of cleaning surfaces can be applied as the paper lower side for a variety of cleaning applications.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein the housing, gears, backing members and vertical adjustment mechanism is made of plastic.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical adjustment mechanism consists of three plastic wheels.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical adjustment mechanism consists of sliders mounted on a lower portion of the housing.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein the pair of backing members is plastic, circular and each have a thickness of 0.26 to 0.34 cm.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning device of  claim 1  wherein the attachment means comprises hook and loop tape, said hook and loop tape mounted at a plurality of connection points having a common radius to the axis of rotation of circular mopping members, strips of hook and loop tape preferably rectangular in shape having a length longer than a width, the length attached perpendicular to the central axis of rotation of circular mopping members, four equal distant spaced strips of hook and loop tape being used.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein a light cloth upper side of a laminate constructed mopping member receives four equal distantly spaced strips of hook and loop tape located on a lower portion of circular and flexible backing members, light cloth forming loops capable of receiving a multitude of hooks on the hook tape, hook and loop tape mounted to allow the hook tape portion to be above the loop tape portion, a circular flexible backing member having an upper surface portion, wherein mopping members are both between 0.26 to 3.4 cm thick and circular flexible backing members are both about 0.26 to 3.4 cm thick.