Loop roll mop apparatus

Abstract

A loop roll mopping apparatus in which an elongate sheet of mopping material is apportioned over a foot structure. As the mopping material becomes soiled, it is advanced from a spool or cartridge of clean mopping material. Numerous embodiments are described to suit different applications, different unit sizing, commercial versus household use, and other situations. The soiled mopping material is either retained on a take-up spool, or retained on the take-up side to allow excess soiled mop material to be removed (torn off) and disposed of. Various tensioning mechanisms are described, which in a first mode allow mop material advance, while in a second mode hold the mop material taut during mopping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mopping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a foot structure;   (b) an elongate handle rotatably coupled to an upper side of said foot structure;   (c) an elongate sheet of mopping material retained in a source spool or cartridge of mopping material; and   (d) a mopping material retention mechanism configured in a first mode to allow selective advance of said elongate sheet of mopping material over the underside of said foot structure, and in a second mode to retain said elongate sheet of mopping material in a taut position over the underside of said foot structure during a mopping operation.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said foot structure is in the shape of a rectangle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate handle is rotatably coupled in one or two axes to the upper side of said foot structure. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate sheet of mopping material comprises a synthetic fabric material whose length is at least five to ten times its width. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mopping material retention mechanism comprises a take-up spool which is configured for receiving soiled mop material around the take-up spool, as mop material is apportioned from said mop material source spool or cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said mopping material take-up spool is on an opposing side of said foot structure as said mop material source spool or cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said mopping material take-up spool is on a same side of said foot structure as said mop material source spool or cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a mopping material advancing mechanism which is mechanically coupled to said take-up spool, wherein user mechanical input on said mopping material advancing mechanism causes said take-up spool to mechanically advance mopping material over said foot structure. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more tensioning bars or rollers along the path of said mopping material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more retention clips along the path of said mopping material for retaining said mopping material taut over an underside of said foot structure while in a first position, and allowing the advancement of said mopping material over said foot structure while in a second position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said retention clips retract to engage a recessed structure on said foot structure for retaining said mopping material taut over the underside of said foot structure. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mopping material retention mechanism comprises a retention clip under which a terminal side of said mopping material is retained, allowing a soiled portion of the mopping material to be removed. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said retention clip for retaining the terminal side of said mopping material is on an opposite side of said foot structure than said source spool or cartridge of mopping material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said retention clip for retaining the terminal side of said mopping material is on a same side of said foot structure as said source spool or cartridge of mopping material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a spritzing mechanism configured for wetting said mopping material, or the floor nearby said mopping material, from liquid in a reservoir in response to user activation of a spritzer trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said mopping material retention mechanism is configured for receiving a source spool upon which mopping material is already loaded, with a terminal end of said mopping material already connected to a take-up spool, whereby the user need not thread the mop material onto the take-up spool. 
     
     
         17 . A mopping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a foot structure;   (b) an elongate handle rotatably coupled to an upper side of said foot structure;   (c) an elongate sheet of mopping material retained in a source spool or cartridge of mopping material;   (d) a mopping material retention mechanism configured in a first mode to allow selective advance of said elongate sheet of mopping material over the underside of said foot structure, and in a second mode to retain said elongate sheet of mopping material in a taut position over the underside of said foot structure during a mopping operation; and   (e) a pair of mop material path clips extending from said foot structure of said mopping apparatus, said pair of mop material path clips are configured for applying pressure to squeeze the mop material against said foot structure when in a retracted position used during a mopping operation, and configured for being moved into an extended position wherein said pair of mop material path clips allow said mop material to be moved to apportion fresh mop material over said foot structure.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said retention clips retract to engage a recessed structure on said foot structure for retaining said mopping material taut over the underside of said foot structure. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said mopping material retention mechanism is configured for receiving a source spool upon which mopping material is already loaded, with a terminal end of said mopping material already connected to a take-up spool, whereby the user need not thread the mop material onto the take-up spool. 
     
     
         20 . A mopping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a foot structure;   (b) an elongate handle rotatably coupled to an upper side of said foot structure;   (c) an elongate sheet of mopping material retained in a source spool or cartridge of mopping material;   (d) a mopping material retention mechanism configured in a first mode to allow selective advance of said elongate sheet of mopping material over the underside of said foot structure, and in a second mode to retain said elongate sheet of mopping material in a taut position over the underside of said foot structure during a mopping operation;   (e) a mopping material advancing mechanism which is mechanically coupled to a mop material take-up structure, wherein user mechanical input on said mopping material advancing mechanism causes said take-up structure to mechanically advance mopping material over said foot structure; and   (f) a pair of mop material path clips extending from said foot structure of said mopping apparatus, said pair of mop material path clips are configured for applying pressure to squeeze the mop material against said foot structure when in a retracted position used during a mopping operation, while in an extended position said pair of mop material path clips allow said mop material to be moved to apportion fresh mop material over said foot structure.