Flexible surface cleaning device

Abstract

Disclosed is a mop with a bendable handle member. The mop comprises a mop head and a handle member comprising elongate top and bottom handle segments coupled by a knuckle joint comprising conventional single and double eye members. An elongate lock pin that axially and longitudinally extends through the double eye member is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin engages the single eye member so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning device comprising:
 (a) a mop head; and   (b) a handle member comprising:
 (i) an elongate top handle segment; 
 (ii) an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom handle segment connected to the mop head; and 
 (iii) a knuckle joint connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint comprising:
 (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom extremity of the top handle segment; and 
 (2) a bottom single eye member connected to a top extremity of the bottom handle segment; 
 
   (c) an elongate lock pin; and   wherein, the lock pin is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye member at at least one lock point thereon so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the lock pin is biased towards the lock position. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a pin handle extending from the lock pin, the pin handle for retracting the lock pin to the unlock position. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein, the pin handle integrally extends from the lock pin. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein, the pin handle is at right angles with respect to the lock pin. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3  wherein, the pin handle extends from an extremity of the lock pin. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 3  wherein, the pin handle is slidably disposed within an elongate pin handle recess, which is disposed on the exterior surface of the top handle segment, the pin handle recess defined between a proximal end and a distal end wherein, in the lock position, the pin handle is at the distal end of the pin handle recess, and wherein, in the unlock position, the pin handle is at the proximal end of the pin handle recess. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 3  further comprising a lock sleeve slidably disposed over the handle member, the lock sleeve disposed in operative connection with the pin handle whereby, the pin handle can be operated by manually sliding the lock sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the double eye member comprises a thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess, within which, the lock pin is slidably disposed. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, each of the at least one lock point is radially aligned with respect to the eye of the single eye member. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the mop head is pivotally secured to the handle member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the top handle segment is telescopically built so as to be extended or retracted to suit individual height preferences. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, each of the top and bottom handle segments is tubular. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the at least one lock point comprises one lock point. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 15  wherein, the lock point comprises a lock hole for slidably receiving the lock pin therewithin. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein, the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments at the lock position comprises 180 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, the knuckle pin prevents the angular movement beyond 180 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A surface cleaning device comprising:
 (a) a mop head; and   (b) a handle member comprising:
 (i) an elongate top handle segment; 
 (ii) an elongate bottom handle segment, a bottom extremity of the bottom handle segment connected to the mop head; and 
 (iii) a knuckle joint connecting the top and bottom handle segments, the knuckle joint comprising:
 (1) a top double eye member connected to a bottom extremity of the top handle segment, the double eye member comprising a thorough, elongate longitudinal lock recess; and 
 (2) a bottom single eye member connected to a top extremity of the bottom handle segment, the single eye member comprising at least one lock hole disposed thereon such that, the at least one lock hole is radially aligned with the eye thereof; 
 
   (c) an elongate lock pin slidably disposed within the lock recess; and   (d) an elongate pin handle extending from the lock pin;   wherein, the lock pin is movable between a forward lock position, where the lock pin, while extending through the double eye member, engages the single eye member at a lock point thereon so as to lock the angular position between the top and the bottom handle segments, and a backward unlock position, where the lock pin is disposed within the double eye member disengaged from the single eye member, the lock pin biased towards the lock position, the lock pin retractable by the pin handle into the unlock position.