Mop

Abstract

A mop has an elongated shaft and a mop head. The elongated shaft has a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end has a rolling device that extends downwards from the elongated shaft. The mop head is attached adjacent to the bottom end of the elongated shaft above the rolling device. The mop head has a cleaning element. The mop head is movable between a non-rolling position and a rolling position. The non-rolling position positions the rolling device between the cleaning element and the elongated shaft. The rolling position allows the mop head to pivot such that the rolling device is contactable with a surface to be cleaned. A locking mechanism allows the mop head to be locked in the non-rolling position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mop, comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having a rolling device extending downwards from the elongated shaft;   a mop head being attached adjacent to the bottom end of the elongated shaft above the rolling device, the mop head having cleaning elements, the mop head being movable between a non-rolling position and a rolling position, the non-rolling position having the rolling device being positioned between the cleaning elements and the elongated shaft, the rolling position allowing the mop head to pivot such that the rolling device is contactable with a surface to be cleaned;   a locking mechanism for locking the mop head in the non-rolling position.   
     
     
         2 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the rolling device is a caster. 
     
     
         3 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the rolling device is a wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the mop head has an elongated shaft attachment for attaching to the elongated shaft and a mop attachment. 
     
     
         5 . The mop of  claim 4  wherein the elongated shaft attachment of the mop head has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         6 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is a slidable sleeve positioned on the elongated shaft, the slidable sleeve having a catch for holding the mop head when the mop head is in the non-rolling position. 
     
     
         7 . The mop of  claim 6  wherein the catch is a pair of slits extending upwards from a bottom edge of the slidable sleeve, the pair of slits being sized such that at least a portion of the mop head is slidably engageable within the pair of slits. 
     
     
         8 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is a latch positioned adjacent a top of the mop head for latching the mop head to the elongated shaft, the latch having a pair of movable arms positionable on either side of the shaft such that the mop head is held in the non-rolling position. 
     
     
         9 . The mop of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is a removable dowel insertable through at least one locking aperture positioned adjacent a top of the mop head and an elongated shaft aperture.