GB2599712A

GB2599712A - Apparatus and method for cleaning a flat head mop

Info

Publication number: GB2599712A
Application number: GB2016069.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Staves Lee; Abry Zeke
Original assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Current assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-09
Filing date: 2020-10-09
Publication date: 2022-04-13
Also published as: GB202016069D0

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a flat mop of the type having a foldable flat mop head 110 comprises a bucket 100 for holding a cleaning fluid therein, the bucket including an open end 122 for receiving the flat mop head therethrough for cleaning of the flat mop head within the bucket and a guide 140 configured to, in use, direct the flat mop head into and out of the bucket, wherein the guide comprises a protrusion 142 configured to be engageable with the flat mop head and unlock the flat mop head such that the flat mop head is arrangeable in an unlocked configuration. The protrusion is preferably configured to engage with the flat mop head and unlock the flat mop head as it is withdrawn and is configured such that the flat mop head remains locked in a flat configuration as the flat mop head is introduced into the bucket past the protrusion. The protrusion may be curved or hooked away from the open end of the bucket.

Description

I

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A FLAT HEAD MOP

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and a method for cleaning a flat head mop, and in particular to apparatus for cleaning a flat head mop without requiring the user to touch the flat mop head

Background of the Invention

Flat mops are typically used to clean floors with a hard surface, such as concrete or tile, and are typically used when a large floor area requires cleaning because they allow the user to clean an area relatively quickly. A flat mop typically includes a flat mop head and an elongate handle attached thereto. A surface of the flat mop head is typically covered with an absorbent material, such as a microfiber cloth, and this surface is used to clean the floor. The absorbent material becomes soiled in use, and therefore requires regular replacement or cleaning.

To avoid the need to regularly replace the absorbent material, it is known to provide a bucket with the flat mop to allow for the flat mop head to be cleaned within the bucket. The user may fill the bucket with a cleaning fluid and intermittently submerge the flat mop head in the cleaning fluid to clean it. Accordingly, a user may wipe the floor with the flat mop, clean the flat mop in the bucket, and continue to wipe the floor with a clean mop.

Typically, either the flat mop or the bucket will include means for removing excess cleaning fluid from the absorbent material of the flat mop head. The flat mop may have a hinged articulated frame which is foldable to squeeze the absorbent material between two or more sections of the frame. A lever or arm may be provided which may be used to push two portions of the mop head together with a greater force, thereby removing more of the cleaning fluid from the absorbent material squeezed therebetween.

However, some problems exist with currently known apparatus for cleaning a flat mop. For example, the user may need to touch the flat mop head to wring the absorbent material. The flat mop head may be soiled or covered in a cleaning fluid, making this step undesirable. Furthermore, squeezing the absorbent material between two sections of the frame may not remove an adequate amount of excess cleaning fluid from the absorbed material.

Objects and aspects of the present invention seek to alleviate at least these problems with prior known flat mop cleaning apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for cleaning a flat mop of the type having a foldable flat mop head, the apparatus comprising: a bucket for holding a cleaning fluid therein, the bucket including an open end for receiving the flat mop head therethrough for cleaning of the flat mop head within the bucket; the apparatus further comprising a guide configured to, in use, direct the flat mop head into and out of the bucket; wherein the guide comprises a protrusion configured to be engageable with the flat mop head and unlock the flat mop head such that the flat mop head is arrangeable in an unlocked configuration.

A key advantage of the present invention is that a user may unlock the flat mop head, for wringing thereof, via the protrusion. As such, the use may unlock the mop head for wringing without needing to touch the mop head.

The cleaning fluid may comprise water, bleach, an antibacterial solution, and/or any other known cleaning fluid.

The open end of the bucket may be an end of the bucket including an aperture, through with an interior volume of the bucket is accessible.

The protrusion may be configured to engage with the flat mop head. The protrusion may be configured to unlock the flat mop head as the flat mop head is withdrawn from the bucket past the protrusion. In this way, the flat mop head may be automatically unlocked when withdrawn from the bucket. Therefore, there may be no need for a user to touch the flat mop head to unlock it and place it into a folded arrangement. The protrusion may protrude from an interior surface of the bucket.

The protrusion may be configured such that the flat mop head remains locked in a flat configuration as the flat mop head is introduced into the bucket past the protrusion. Therefore, the flat mop head may be cleaned in the bucket whilst the mop head is locked in a linear configuration, which may improve the cleaning of the mop head. The protrusion may be curved or hooked. The protrusion may be curved or hooked away from the open end of the bucket. As such, the mop head may only engage with the protrusion when it passes the protrusion in a direction opposite to the direction of curvature of the protrusion. The mop head may ride over or pass by the protrusion when introduced into the bucket in a direction aligned with the direction of curvature of the protrusion, such that the mop head is not unlocked when it is introduced into the bucket.

The guide may define a looped path. The guide may be configured such that the flat mop head is spaced from the protrusion when the flat mop head is introduced into the bucket. As such, the mop head may not be unlocked by the protrusion when it is introduced into the bucket. The guide may be further configured such that the flat mop head passes adjacent to the protrusion as the flat mop head is withdrawn from the bucket. As such, the mop head may be unlocked by the protrusion when it is withdrawn from the bucket The apparatus may further comprise a wringer. The wringer may be positioned between the protrusion and the open end of the bucket. In this way, as the flat mop head is withdrawn from the bucket after being cleaned therein, it may first pass the protrusion and be unlocked before passing to the wringer for wringing of excess cleaning fluid from the flat mop head. The wringer may include an entrance and an exit. The exit of the wringer may be positioned further from the protrusion when compared to the entrance of the wringer. A cross-section of the entrance may narrow from a free end thereof towards the exit. As such, the mop head may be more easily located in the wringer.

Preferably, the bucket comprises the guide. Alternatively, the wringer comprises the guide.

The wringer may include a roller. The roller may be positioned between the entrance and the exit of the wringer. The roller may be configured to engage with a cleaning surface of the flat head mop. In this way, excess cleaning fluid may be removed from the mop head by the roller.

The wringer may include another roller positioned adjacent to the roller. The roller may be considered to be a first roller, and the other roller may be considered to be a second roller. The other roller may be positioned such that an axis of rotation of the other roller is parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller. The mop head may pass, in use, between the roller and the other roller. In this way, the user may simply wring the mop head by passing it between the rollers. The wringer may include more than two rollers.

The wringer may further comprise an actuable arm. The arm may be configured such that actuating the arm moves the roller. In this way, the user may actuate the arm and cause the roller to wring excess fluid from the cleaning surface of the flat mop head. Actuating the arm may move the roller in a translational manner away from the exit and towards the entrance. In this way, to wring the mop head, the user may hold the mop head in a fixed position, and move the roller over the mop head by actuating the arm. Moving the roller from the exit towards the entrance may mean moving the roller away from the open end of the bucket, such that cleaning fluid removed from the mop head is pushed by the roller into the bucket.

Actuating the arm may move the roller along a curved path away from the exit and towards the entrance. The wringer may include a curved surface. Actuating the arm may, in use, wring the cleaning surface of the mop head between the roller and the curved surface. In this way, the cleaning surface of the mop head may be wrung between the roller and the curved surface by actuating the arm.

Actuating the arm with the flat mop head positioned adjacent to the wringer in an unlocked arrangement may cause the arm to engage with the flat mop head and fold the flat mop head. The flat mop head may be positioned in the wringer in an unlocked and/or partially folded arrangement, after passing the protrusion, and may be further and/or fully folded by the arm. The arm may be configured such that actuating the arm with the flat mop head adjacent to the wringer in an unlocked arrangement causes the flat mop head to fold and a cleaning surface of the flat mop head to become spaced from a frame of the flat mop head. As such, the cleaning surface or material may be wrung more efficiently. Actuating the arm may further cause the roller to wring the cleaning surface of the flat mop head.

The guide may comprise an open end. The guide may be configured to accept the mop head via its open end in only a single orientation. In this way, inserting the mop head into the guide may orient the mop head such that, after passing through the guide, the mop head is arranged for engagement with the protrusion.

The guide may comprise a shoulder. The shoulder may be convex. The shoulder may be arranged adjacent to the open end of the guide. The shoulder may be configured to engage with the mop head and position the mop head in the orientation required for entry into the guide. In this way, the user may orient the mop head into the orientation required for entry into the guide by simply passing the mop head over the shoulder. Furthermore, the user need not touch the soiled mop head to reorient it The open end of the guide may be positioned adjacent to the open end of the bucket. The guide may be positioned within the bucket. The guide may be wholly contained within the bucket. Alternatively, the guide may be partially contained within the bucket, such that it extends out of the open end of the bucket.

The bucket may comprise a scrubber. The scrubber may be positioned within the interior of the bucket. The scrubber may be provided such that the flat mop head may be cleaning by scrubbing the flat mop head against the scrubber. The scrubber may be substantially planar. In this way, the substantially planar flat mop head may be scrubbed entirely, without needing to reposition it relative to the scrubber. Alternatively, the scrubber may be curved. The scrubber may include a combination of planar and curved portions. The scrubber may include a scrubbing surface comprising grooves, ridges, perforations, slots, dimples, depressions, an astroturf or artificial grass surface and/or bumps, against which the flat mop head may be scrubbed to clean the cleaning surface of the flat mop head. In this way, the user may clean the cleaning surface effectively by scrubbing it against the scrubber.

The scrubber may depend from an interior surface of the bucket. The scrubber depending from an interior surface of the bucket may mean the scrubber extends from the interior surface. The scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket. Alternatively, the scrubber may be permanently attached to the bucket. The scrubber may comprise a first portion, such as a frame, which may be permanently attached to the bucket, and may include a second portion, such as a portion including the scrubbing surface, which may be releasably attached to the first portion.

The interior surface of the bucket may be a surface opposite the open end of the bucket. Accordingly, with the open end of the bucket as the top end of the bucket, in use, the interior surface of the bucket may be a lower surface of the bucket. In this way, the scrubber may depend from the lower surface of the bucket. The scrubber may extend from the interior surface of the bucket towards the open end of the bucket. The user may therefore scrub the flat mop head against the scrubber by moving the mop in an up and down motion. This may be preferable to a side to side motion, or any other motion, because the user may not move the bucket whilst cleaning the flat mop head.

The scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket such that the scrubber is replaceable. The apparatus may further comprise a replacement scrubber. In this way, the scrubber may be replaced when worn, or replaced with a scrubber having different characteristics. A scrubbing surface of the scrubber may be releasably attached to the bucket such that the scrubbing surface is replaceable. The apparatus may further comprise a replacement scrubbing surface. In this way, the scrubbing surface may be replaced when worn, or replaced with a scrubbing surface having different characteristics, without needing to replace the entire scrubber.

The guide may comprise a rail and/or a slot into which the mop head is posifionable. The mop head may be conveyed along the rail and/or slot. The guide may be a relatively narrow passageway, wherein the movement of the mop head within the passageway is restricted to linear translational motion along the passageway. The guide may be configured such that the mop head is prevented from rotating within the guide. The guide may be forked, such that the guide splits into two separate channels. One channel may lead to the scrubber, whilst the other channel may lead to the wringer. The user may therefore selectively move the mop head to the scrubber or the wringer.

The wringer may be engageable with a cleaning surface of the flat mop head. The wringer being engageable with the cleaning surface of the flat mop head may mean that the wringer is brought into contact with the cleaning surface. Alternatively, or additionally, the cleaning surface may be brought into contact with the wringer. The wringer may be operable to remove only a portion of the total amount of cleaning fluid absorbed by the absorbent material. Accordingly, the absorbent material may still be wetted after being wrung by the wringer.

The exit of the wringer may be positioned further from the scrubber when compared to the entrance of the wringer. The entrance of the wringer may be positioned further from the open end of the bucket when compared to the exit of the scrubber.

The guide may be configured to, in use, direct the mop head from the scrubber to the wringer. In this way, the user may simply move the mop head from the scrubber to the wringer by moving it along the guide. This may remove the need for the user to position the mop head in the wringer.

The bucket may be configured to hold a cleaning fluid therein to a depth such that the scrubber is entirely submerged in the cleaning fluid. In this way, the scrubber may be entirely submergible in cleaning fluid, thereby allowing the user to scrub the mop head whilst it is submerged in the cleaning fluid. This has been found to result in a cleaner mop head, when compared to conventional apparatus.

The protrusion may be configured to engage with the mop head and cause the flat mop head to at least partially fold from a cleaning position, in which the flat mop head is substantially flat or planar. Folding the mop head may cause the cleaning surface, such as a microfiber cloth or any other known cleaning material, to fold or double over. The cleaning surface may become spaced from a frame of the flat mop head. When the mop head is folded, the cleaning surface may extend away from the frame of the flat mop head. In this way, the cleaning surface may be wrung by the wringer to remove excess fluid. Actuating the actuable arm may fold the mop head frame before causing the roller to wring the cleaning surface.

The bucket may comprise a spout adjacent to the open end thereof. The spout may be configured such that a cleaning fluid contained within the bucket may be poured from the bucket via the spout. The spout may be positioned adjacent to the entrance to the guide. The spout may include a drip tray configured such that, in use, a flat mop head may be rested on the drip tray before being urged into the guide. The drip tray may be in fluid communication with the bucket such that fluid may pass from the drip tray to the bucket. A filter may be provided to filter the fluid from the drip tray before it passes to the bucket. The filter may be removable and replaceable.

The bucket may comprise one or more handles. The handles may be positioned on a side of the bucket opposite to the spout. The handles may be configured such that, in use, the bucket may be inclined and a fluid poured from the bucket via the spout. A handle or more than one handle may be pivotable to aid pouring of cleaning fluid from the bucket.

The wringer may be releasably attachable to the bucket. The wringer may be held adjacent to the bucket with one or more fixings, such as a screw, a clamp, a clip, a bolt or any other known fixing. In this way, the wringer may be removed from the bucket for servicing or replacement. Furthermore, the wringer may be removed from the bucket such that a fluid may be poured from the bucket more easily.

The apparatus may further comprise a wheeled base. In this way, the bucket may be, in use, wheeled to an area requiring cleaning with the flat head mop. The bucket may be releasably attachable to the wheeled base. As such, the bucket may be removed from the wheeled base for servicing or replacement of either component. Furthermore, a fluid may be more easily poured from the bucket when the bucket is removed from the wheeled base. The wheeled base may comprise any number of wheels. For example, the wheeled base may comprise three or four wheels. The wheels may be provided on casters or any other known multi-directional wheel system.

The wheeled base may comprise a braking system. The braking system may be operable to selectively inhibit rotation of one or more wheels of the wheeled base.

The braking system may be operable to selectively inhibit rotation of one, two, three, or any number of the wheels. The braking system may be operation to selectively inhibit rotation of each of the wheels. In this way, the apparatus may be kept stationary in a desired position, even if the ground is sloping.

The curved surface of the wringer may be perforated, slotted or otherwise arranged such that a fluid wrung from the cleaning surface may pass through the curved surface. A filter may be provided adjacent the curved surface and arranged such that fluid passing through the curved surface is filtered by the filter. The filter may be removable and replaceable.

The bucket may comprise a drain to allow the cleaning fluid to be drained from the bucket therethrough. The bucket may comprise a lid configured to cover the open end of the bucket. The lid may comprise an aperture configured to allow the mop head to pass therethrough and into the bucket.

After being cleaned with the apparatus, the flat mop may be withdrawn from the apparatus entirely and used to clean a surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a flat mop, the method comprising the steps: providing the apparatus of the first aspect; providing a cleaning fluid within the bucket; inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket via the guide; cleaning the mop head in the bucket; and withdrawing the mop head from the bucket such that it engages with the protrusion and is thereby unlocked.

When the apparatus includes a wringer, the method may further comprise the steps: positioning the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer.

When the apparatus includes an actuable arm, the method may further comprise the step of actuating the arm

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a bucket for cleaning a flat head mop; Figure 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figure 1 with the mop head in an inclined position; Figure 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the mop head positioned adjacent to the scrubber; Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 1 to 3 with the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket shown in Figures 1 to 4 with the mop head folded.

Figure 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a bucket 100 for cleaning a flat head mop 110. The bucket 100 includes a watertight housing 120 which allows the bucket 100 to be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water or an antibacterial solution. The housing 120 includes an opening 122 in its upper end to allow a mop head 112 to be inserted into the bucket 100 for cleaning.

The bucket 100 includes a drip tray 124 adjacent to the opening 122. A user may place the mop head 112 on the drip tray 124 before pushing it into the bucket 100 for cleaning. The drip tray may be perforated, include a drain or be otherwise fluid permeable such that fluid may drain away from the drip tray 124. The bucket 100 may also include a filter arranged such that fluid draining from the drip tray 124 is filtered before flowing into the bucket 100.

Inside the housing 120, adjacent to its opening 122, is a convex curved shoulder 130. The shoulder 130 turns through approximately 90°. Accordingly, the mop head 112 may be placed on one side of the shoulder 130 (the position shown in Figure 1, in which the mop head 112 is arranged horizontally), and pushed over the shoulder (to the position shown in Figure 2, and discussed in greater detail below, in which the mop head 112 is inclined with respect to horizontal) to rotate the mop head 122. Rotating the mop head 112 on the shoulder 130 arranges the mop head 112 in a position suitable for entry of the mop head 112 into a guide 140.

The guide 140 is a passage within the housing 120 which is arranged such that the mop head 112 may only enter the guide 140 if the mop head 112 is arranged substantially vertically. The guide 140 runs adjacent to the housing 120 at one side of the bucket 100. The mop head 112 fits tightly within the guide 140 such that rotation of the mop head 112 within the guide 140 is restricted. The mop head 112 is able to move in a translational manner within the guide 140.

The bucket 100 includes a scrubber 150 positioned inside the housing 120 such that it extends substantially vertically from the bottom of the housing 120 towards the open end 122 of the housing 120. The scrubber 150 is positioned adjacent to the housing 120 such that a gap 152 is present between the scrubber 150 and the housing 120. The gap 152 is sized such that the mop head 112 fits within it, between the scrubber 150 and the housing 120. Moving the mop head 112 along the guide 140 to a lowermost position locates the mop head 112 within the gap 152 with a cleaning surface of the mop head 112 in contact with the scrubber 150.

Accordingly, the user may then move the mop head 112 up and down, via the handle of the mop which protrudes from the bucket 100, to clean the cleaning surface of the mop head 112 against the scrubber 150. The housing 120 may be filled with a cleaning fluid, such as water, to a level such that the scrubber 150 is submerged in the cleaning fluid. Accordingly, the mop head 112 may also be submerged, and the scrubbing of the cleaning surface of the mop head 112 against the scrubber 150 may be done with the cleaning surface submerged.

An arm 170 is also provided. The arm 170 is pivotably attached at one end to the housing 120 adjacent to the opening 122 such that one end 172 of the arm 170 extends upwards above the housing 120. A roller 174 is attached to the arm 170 and is positioned generally within the housing 120.

The bucket 100 includes a protrusion 142 in the guide 140 configured such that, as the mop head 112 is withdrawn from the scrubber 150 past the protrusion 142, the mop head 112 is folded such that a cleaning surface 116 is at least partially spaced from the remainder of the mop head 112 for wringing. The protrusion 142 and the mop head 112 may be complimentary such that they are configured to engage. For example, an unlock latch on the mop head 112 may be hooked and may catch on the protrusion 142 as the mop head 112 is pulled out of the bucket 120 by a user.

As an alternative example, the protrusion 142 may be hooked and the unlock latch on the mop head 112 may catch on the hooked protrusion 142 as the mop head 112 is pulled out of the bucket 120 by a user. The unlock latch of the flat mop head 112 may be configured to be pulled in a leftward direction in the orientation shown in Figure 1, or a downward direction in the orientation shown in Figure 3, to unlock the flat mop head 112 such that it may be folded.

The guide 140 also includes a concave curved surface 144. The user may orient and position the mop head 112 such that the cleaning surface 116 is adjacent the concave curved surface 144 and push the upper end 172 of the arm 170 downwards and cause the roller 174 to push against and run along the cleaning surface 116 against the concave curved surface 144. Any excess cleaning fluid in or on the cleaning surface 116 may therefore be wrung out and may run back into the bucket 100.

The bucket 100 includes a wheeled base 180. The base 180 includes four wheels 182 (only two are shown) to allow the bucket 100 to be more easily moved around the area to be cleaned. The base 180 also includes a brake 184 that a user may apply with, for example, their foot to inhibit rotation of one or more wheels 182 to keep the bucket 100 stationary in a desired location.

The operation of the bucket 100 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 1 shows the mop head 112 positioned on a first side of the shoulder 130, on the drip tray 124. This may be the position in which the user places the mop head 112 when they wish to clean the mop head 112. The drip tray 124 has a large landing area for the mop head 112 such that the user may easily position the mop head 112 thereon. In this position, the mop head 112 is shown to rest on the bucket 100 substantially horizontally.

Figure 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figure 1 with the mop head 112 rotated to an inclined position relative to horizontal.

The user may move the mop head 112 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 by pushing the mop head 112 over the shoulder 130.

This reorients the mop head 112 such that it is inclined relative to horizontal. The orientation of the mop head 112 as shown in Figure 2 is the orientation required for entry into the guide 140. Figure 2 shows the mop head 112 within the entrance to the guide 140.

Figure 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the mop head 112 positioned adjacent to the scrubber 150. By pushing the mop down into the bucket 100, the user may arrange the mop in the position shown in Figure 3. By pushing the mop down into the bucket 100, the user causes the mop head 112 to enter the guide 140 align with the gap between the scrubber and the housing 120. Pushing the mop down further positions the mop head 112 within the gap, as shown in Figure 3. The user may then move the mop up and down, causing the mop head 112 to be scrubbed, and therefore cleaned, by the scrubber 150. Once the mop head 112 has been scrubbed to a satisfactory level, the user may begin to withdraw the mop from the bucket 100.

Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3 with the mop head 112 partially withdrawn from the guide 140. As the mop head 112 is withdrawn past the protrusion 142, the mop head 112 engages with the protrusion 142 and is unlocked from the linear arrangement such that the mop head 112 is partially folded.

Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bucket 100 shown in Figures 1 to 4 with the mop head 112 folded. Once the mop head 112 is partially folded, as shown in Figure 4, the user may push down on the arm 170 which causes the roller 174 to engage with the mop head 112 and fully fold it. This causes the cleaning surface 116 to double over and lie against the concave curved surface 144. The user may then continue to push down on the arm 170 and cause the roller 174 to run along the concave curved surface 144. As the cleaning surface 116 is positioned between the roller 174 and the concave curved surface 144, the cleaning surface 116 is wrung out and excess cleaning fluid is removed from the cleaning surface 116. The concave curved surface 144 may be perforated or otherwise cleaning fluid permeable. A filter may be provided below the concave curved surface 144 to filter cleaning fluid before it is returned to the bucket 100.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for cleaning a flat mop of the type having a foldable flat mop head, the apparatus comprising: a bucket for holding a cleaning fluid therein, the bucket including an open end for receiving the flat mop head therethrough for cleaning of the flat mop head within the bucket; and a guide configured to, in use, direct the flat mop head into and out of the bucket; wherein the guide comprises a protrusion configured to be engageable with the flat mop head and unlock the flat mop head such that the flat mop head is arrangeable in an unlocked configuration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the flat mop head and unlock the flat mop head as the flat mop head is withdrawn from the bucket past the protrusion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the protrusion is configured such that the flat mop head remains locked in a flat configuration as the flat mop head is introduced into the bucket past the protrusion.
4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the protrusion is curved or hooked.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the protrusion is curved or hooked away from the open end of the bucket.
6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide defines a looped path and is configured such that the flat mop head is spaced from the protrusion when the flat mop head is introduced into the bucket.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guide is further configured such that the flat mop head passes adjacent to the protrusion as the flat mop head is withdrawn from the bucket.
8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a wringer positioned between the protrusion and the open end of the bucket.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wringer includes an entrance and an exit, and the exit of the wringer is positioned further from the protrusion when compared to the entrance of the wringer.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a cross-section of the entrance narrows from a free end thereof towards the exit.
11. The apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the wringer includes a roller configured to engage with a cleaning surface of the flat mop head.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wringer further comprises an actuable arm.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the arm is configured such that actuating the arm moves the roller.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein actuating the arm moves the roller in a translational manner away from the exit and towards the entrance.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein actuating the arm moves the roller along a curved path away from the exit and towards the entrance.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wringer includes a curved surface and actuating the arm, in use, wrings the cleaning surface of the mop head between the roller and the curved surface.
17. The apparatus of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein actuating the arm with the flat mop head adjacent to the wringer in an unlocked arrangement causes the arm to engage with the flat mop head and fold the flat mop head.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the arm is configured such that actuating the arm with the flat mop head adjacent to the wringer in an unlocked arrangement causes the flat mop head to fold and a cleaning surface of the flat mop head to become spaced from a frame of the flat mop head.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein actuating the arm further causes the roller to wring the cleaning surface of the flat mop head.
20. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the guide comprises an open end, and the guide is configured to accept the mop head via its open end in only a single orientation.
21. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the guide comprises a convex shoulder arranged adjacent to the open end of the guide, wherein the shoulder is configured to engage with the mop head and position the mop head in the orientation required for entry into the guide.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the open end of the guide is positioned adjacent to the open end of the bucket.
23. A method of cleaning a flat mop, the method comprising the steps: providing the apparatus of any preceding claim; providing a cleaning fluid within the bucket; inserting the mop head of the flat mop into the bucket via the guide; cleaning the mop head in the bucket; and withdrawing the mop head from the bucket such that it engages with the protrusion and is thereby unlocked.
24. The method of claim 23, when providing the apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 22, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 8, further comprising the steps: positioning the mop head adjacent to the wringer; and removing a fluid from the mop head with the wringer.
25. The method of claim 24, when providing the apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 22, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 12, further comprising the step of actuating the arm.