Mop Head

Abstract

A mop head. The mop head comprises a body member for attaching to a mop handle. The body member is connected to a fastening member by a hinge. The fastening member is moveable about the hinge between a closed position for retaining mop material and an open position for attaching and detaching mop material. The mop head further comprises a lever connected to the body member at a pivot. The lever is arranged to move about the pivot between an engaged position where the lever is engaged with and retains the fastening member in the closed position and a disengaged position where the lever is disengaged from the fastening member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mop head, said mop head comprising:
 a body member for attaching to a mop handle, said body member connected to a fastening member by a hinge;   said fastening member moveable about said hinge between a closed position for retaining mop material and an open position for attaching and detaching mop material;   said mop head further comprising a lever connected to said body member at a pivot; and   wherein said lever is arranged to move about said pivot between an engaged position where said lever is engaged with and retains said fastening member in said closed position and a disengaged position where said lever is disengaged from said fastening member.   
     
     
         2 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein said body member further comprises a foot member for engaging said fastening member when said fastening member is located in said closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The mop head according to  claim 2 , wherein said fastening member comprises a cavity for accepting said foot member when said fastening member is located in said closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of said lever when said lever is in said engaged position is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastening member when said fastening member is located in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of said hinge and the axis of rotation of said pivot are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein said pivot and said hinge are located on opposing sides of said body member. 
     
     
         7 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein rotation of said lever about said pivot from said engaged position to said disengaged position is in the same rotational direction as rotation of said fastening member about said hinge from said closed position to said open position. 
     
     
         8 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein said mop head comprises a stop formation, where said stop formation is arranged to limit the rotational freedom of said lever about said pivot. 
     
     
         9 . The mop head according to  claim 8 , wherein said stop formation is arranged to stop rotation of said lever about said pivot past said disengaged position. 
     
     
         10 . The mop head according to  claim 8 , wherein said stop formation comprises a projection extending from said lever. 
     
     
         11 . The mop head according to  claim 8 , wherein said stop formation comprises a recess in body member. 
     
     
         12 . The mop head according to  claim 8 , wherein said mop head comprises two stop formations located on opposing sides of the body member. 
     
     
         13 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein said mop head comprises a locking formation for securely engaging and retaining said fastening member in said closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The mop head according to  claim 13 , wherein said locking formation is located on or proximate a side of said body member opposing said hinge. 
     
     
         15 . The mop head according to  claim 13 , wherein said locking formation comprises an aperture extending through said fastening member. 
     
     
         16 . The mop head according to  claim 13 , wherein said protrusion is arranged to extend through said aperture and securely engage and retain said fastening member in said closed position when said lever is located in said engaged position. 
     
     
         17 . The mop head according to  claim 13 , wherein said locking formation is arranged to securely engage and retain said fastening member in said closed position when said lever is located in said engaged position. 
     
     
         18 . The mop head according to  claim 17 , wherein said locking formation comprises a protrusion extending from said lever. 
     
     
         19 . The mop head according to  claim 18 , wherein said protrusion comprises a tapered surface and a barb. 
     
     
         20 . The mop head according to  claim 19 , wherein, in said engaged position, said barb engages and retains said fastening member. 
     
     
         21 . The mop head according to  claim 1 , wherein said lever comprises a fixing formation for securely holding said lever in said engaged position. 
     
     
         22 . The mop head according to  claim 21 , wherein said fixing formation extends from an end of said lever spaced from said pivot. 
     
     
         23 . The mop head according to  claim 21 , wherein said fixing formation comprises a snap-fit or push-fit mechanism for reversibly attaching said lever to a mop handle extending from said body member. 
     
     
         24 . The mop head of  claim 23 , wherein said snap-fit or push-fit mechanism comprises a clip. 
     
     
         25 . The mop head of  claim 24 , wherein said clip resembles a major segment of a circle.