Hybrid roller mop

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hybrid roller mop having a handle, a mop head with a slot defined therein, a cleaning member and a lever mechanism. The mop head can be connected to the handle at one end and have rollers connected at the other end and spaced by the slot defined in the mop head. The cleaning member and lever mechanism can be connected together by a linkage disposed in the mop handle. The lever mechanism can be configured for raising and lowering the cleaning member between the rollers and into the slot of the mop head in order to wring out excess liquid from the mop. The cleaning member can have a generally inverted “V” shape that can lie flat against a floor or similar surface and can be folded into a compressed position when pulled between the rollers and into the slot of the mop head.

1 . A hybrid roller mop comprising:
 an elongated handle;   a mop head connected to said elongated handle and having a receiving slot defined therethrough;   a retractable cleaning member positioned adjacent to said mop head; and   a lever mechanism comprising a lever handle pivotably connected to said elongated handle and a linkage rod connecting said lever handle to said retractable cleaning member;   wherein said lever mechanism is configured for selectively raising said retractable cleaning member into said receiving slot of said mop head by raising said lever handle.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 1 , wherein said retractable cleaning member comprises a first member region, a second member region, and a center folding region extending longitudinally through said retractable cleaning member and separating said first and said second member regions, wherein said center folding region causes said retractable cleaning member to fold about said center folding region when raised into said mop head. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 2 , wherein said retractable cleaning member further comprises a raised portion positioned above said center folding region and has a backing member attached thereto, wherein said backing member is attached to said linkage rod of said lever mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 3  wherein said raised portion urges said retractable cleaning member to fold about said center folding region when raised into said mop head. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 2 , wherein said retractable cleaning member further comprises a substantially flattened rectangular bottom side extending across said first member region, said center folding region and said second member region when said retractable cleaning member is positioned on a floor surface and not retracted into said mop head. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 5 , wherein said retractable cleaning member further comprises a plurality of sides extending upward from said bottom side, said plurality of sides being substantially perpendicular to said bottom side. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 6 , wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides has a scrubbing pad attached thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 7 , wherein said scrubbing pad has a downward facing orientation when said retractable cleaning member is retracted into said mop head. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 1  further comprising at least two spaced apart rollers connected to said mop head directly below said receiving slot and on each side of said receiving slot. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a channel defined into said elongated handle adjacent to said lever handle; and 
 a linkage connecter extending through said channel and connecting said lever handle and said linkage rod contained within said elongated handle; 
 wherein said channel has an elongated shape configured to allow said lever handle to be selectively moved between a lowered position and a fully raised position; 
 wherein said lever handle raises said linkage rod within said elongated channel when said lever handle is moved between said lowered and fully raised positions. 
 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 10 , wherein when said lever handle is in said lowered position, said linkage rod positions said retractable cleaning member into a use position where said retractable cleaning member is positioned below said mop head, and wherein when said lever handle is in said fully raised position said retractable cleaning member is in a fully retracted position wherein said retractable cleaning member is positioned within said mop head in a folded configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 11 , wherein said lever mechanism further comprises a rotatable component positioned around said elongated handle and extending at least partially over said channel, wherein said rotatable component includes a notch defined therethrough and is configured for selective rotation around said elongated handle for positioning said notch over said channel. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 12 , wherein said notch is configured to receive said linkage connector when said rotatable component is rotated over said channel to maintain said lever handle in a partially raised position intermediate said lowered position and said fully raised position, wherein said linkage rod positions said retractable cleaning member in a partially retracted scrubbing position when said lever handle is in said partially raised position, wherein said retractable cleaning member is partially within said mop head when in said partially retracted scrubbing position. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 13 , wherein said retractable cleaning member includes front and rear sides, and wherein said front and rear sides remain positioned below said mop head when said and face away from said mop head when said retractable cleaning member is in said partially retracted scrubbing position. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said front and said rear sides have a scrubbing pad attached thereto. 
     
     
         16 . A hybrid roller mop comprising:
 an elongated handle having a mop head connected to one end thereof;   a slot defined partially through said mop head, said slot extending upward from a lower end of said mop head and at least partially along a height of said mop head;   a pair of spaced apart rollers positioned on each side of said slot and directly below said mop head;   a retractable cleaning member configured for being selectively positioned between a raised position within said slot and a lowered position below said mop head; and   a lever mechanism configured for raising and lowering said retractable cleaning member between said raised and lowered positions, said lever mechanism comprising:
 a lever handle connected to said elongated handle; 
 a linkage rod extending through said elongated handle and mop head and connecting said elongated handle to said retractable cleaning member; 
   wherein said retractable cleaning member includes a center folding region extending longitudinally through said retractable cleaning member, said center folding region configured for urging said retractable cleaning member to fold in a longitudinal direction when entering said slot of said mop head.   
     
     
         17 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 16 , wherein said retractable cleaning member has a rectangular shape and comprises a generally flat bottom side, front and rear sidewalls, and first and second member portions, said first and second member portions separated by said center folding region. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 17 , wherein said front and rear sidewalls include a scrubbing pad. 
     
     
         19 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 18 , wherein said lever mechanism is configured to selectively retain said lever handle in an intermediate position where said retractable cleaning member is folded about said center folding region and partially received within said mop head, wherein said front and rear sidewalls remain below said mop head and spaced rollers when said lever handle is placed into said intermediate position. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid roller mop of  claim 19 , wherein said lever mechanism includes a rotatable handle component positioned around said elongated handle and containing a notch for securing said lever handle in said intermediate position when said rotatable handle is rotated about said elongated handle.