Motorized mop

Abstract

A mop includes an elongated handle portion, a movable member slidably mounted on the handle portion, a rotary motor disposed in at least one of the elongated handle portion and the movable member, a controller in electrical communication with the motor and an associated power source, and a mop head. The controller regulates power to the motor as a function of a number of rotations of the motor. The mop head is detachably connected to at least one of the elongated handle portion and the movable member. The mop head is selectively connected to the motor.

1 . A mop comprising: 
 an elongated handle portion;    a movable member slidably mounted on the handle portion;    a rotary motor disposed in at least one of the elongated handle portion and the movable member;    a controller in electrical communication with the motor and an associated power source, wherein the controller regulates power to the motor as a function of a number of rotations of the motor; and    a mop head including an absorbent material, the mop head being detachably connected to at least one of the elongated handle portion and the movable member, and being selectively connected to the motor.    
   
   
       2 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a sponge.  
   
   
       3 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a plurality of fiber strands.  
   
   
       4 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the mop head includes a first latch element and the movable member includes a second latch element, the first and second latch elements cooperating to selectively secure the mop head to the movable member.  
   
   
       5 . The mop of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery compartment for storing batteries to power the motor.  
   
   
       6 . The mop of  claim 5 , futher comprising an on-off switch in electrical communication with the battery compartment and the motor.  
   
   
       7 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the control further comprises a mechanical limit switch for controlling the number of rotations of the motor in at least a first rotational direction.  
   
   
       8 . The mop of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in electrical communication with the motor and the associated power source, wherein the switch controls the amount of current flowing to the motor.  
   
   
       9 . The mop of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in electrical communication with the motor and the associated power source, wherein the switch controls power to the motor as a function of the location of the movable member in relation to the handle portion.  
   
   
       10 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the movable member and the handle portion is configured to limit rotational movement of at least a portion of the handle portion with respect to the movable member.  
   
   
       11 . The mop of  claim 1 , wherein the mop head is movable between a use position and a wringing position by sliding movement of the movable member.  
   
   
       12 . A self-wringing mop comprising: 
 an elongated handle;    a movable member slidably connected to the handle;    an electric reversible motor disposed in at least one of the handle and the movable member;    a mop head attached to the elongated handle and the movable member, and operably connected to the motor, wherein the mop head is movable between a use position and a wringing position by sliding movement of the movable member; and    a switch element in electrical communication with the motor and an associated power source, wherein the switch element comprises a first switch for delivering current to the motor in a first direction and a second switch for delivering current to the motor in a second, opposite, direction.    
   
   
       13 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 12 , further comprising a button for activating the switch element, wherein upon pressing the button the first switch is closed and the second switch is open, and upon releasing the button the second switch is closed and the first switch is open.  
   
   
       14 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 12 , further comprising a limit switch in electrical communication with the motor and the power source, wherein the limit switch is opened and closed in response to movement of the mop head.  
   
   
       15 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 12 , further comprising an overload switch in electrical communication with the motor and the power source, wherein the overload switch opens at a predetermined current.  
   
   
       16 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 12 , wherein the mop head comprises a sponge mop and when the first switch is closed current is delivered to the motor in the first direction so that the sponge mop moves from a use position to a wrung position and when the second switch is closed current is delivered to the motor in the second direction so that the sponge mop moves from the wrung position to the use position.  
   
   
       17 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 12 , wherein the mop head comprises a plurality of fiber strands and when the first switch is closed current is delivered to the motor in the first direction so that the fiber strands are wound in a first rotational direction and when the second switch is closed current is delivered to the motor in the second direction so that the fiber strands are unwound in a second rotational direction.  
   
   
       18 . A self-wringing mop comprising: 
 a handle;    a slidable member slidably connected to the handle;    a rotating member connected to the handle;    a mop head connected to the slidable member and the rotating member, the mop head comprising an absorbent material;    a motor operably connected to the rotating member, wherein the motor drives the rotating member which moves the absorbent material between a wrung and an unwrung position;    a power source compartment disposed in at least one of the handle and the slidable member for receiving an associated power source; and    a limit switch in electrical communication with the motor and the power source compartment, the limit switch opens in response to the position of the absorbent material.    
   
   
       19 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 18 , wherein the mop head is movable between a use position and a wringing position by sliding movement of the slidable member.  
   
   
       20 . The self-wringing mop of  claim 19 , further comprising a button, and a switch element in selective contact with the button, wherein the switch element comprises a first switch for delivering current to the motor in a first direction and a second switch for delivering current to the motor in a second, opposite, direction.