GB2436519A

GB2436519A - Torsionally wringable mop

Info

Publication number: GB2436519A
Application number: GB0705565A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ta-Chun Kao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-28
Filing date: 2007-03-23
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: FR2901986B3; DE202007004390U1; GB0705565D0; FR2901986A3

Abstract

A mop includes a liquid absorbent member 33 having two ends fastened respectively to a movable rigid member 31 and a fixed rigid member 32, a rod body 2, a tubular actuator unit 3 sleeved on the rod body 2, a tubular driven unit 5 sleeved rotatably On the actuator unit 3, and an operation member 9 sleeved on the driven unit 5. The fixed rigid member 32 is anchored to the rod body 2. The movable rigid member 31 is sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body 2. A planetary gear mechanism 6 is disposed between the driven unit 5 and the movable rigid member 31 for transferring rotation of the driven unit 5 to the movable rigid member 31. To wring out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 33, the operation member 9 is moved on the driven unit 5 so as to rotate the driven unit 5 on the actuator unit 3, thereby rotating the movable rigid member 31 relative to the fixed rigid member 32.

Description

WRINGABLE MOP

This invention relates to a mop, and more particularly to a wringable mop.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional wringable mop includes a handle 11, a rod body 12, a sliding sleeve 13, an upright tube 14, a coupling member 15, and a liquid-absorbent member 16 including a plurality of strands of cloth. The handle 11 is connected fixedly to an upper end of the rod body 12. The coupling member 15 includes an upper clamping element 151 connected fixedly to a lower end of the rod body 12, and a lower clamping element 152 connected threadably to the upper clamping element 151.

The liquid-absorbent member 16 has an upper end fastened to a movable rigid member 161, and a lower end fastened to a fixed rigid member 162. The fixed rigid member 162 is clamped between the upper and lower clamping members 151, 152. Acouplingsleeve 17 is sleeved fixedly on a lower end of the upright tube 14, and is connected fixedly to the movable rigid member 161.

The upright tube 14 has a plurality of projections 141 arranged helically on an annular outer surface thereof and engaging a helical groove 131 in the sliding sleeve 13.

As such, axial movement of the sliding sleeve 13 relative to the upright tube 14 can be converted into rotation and axial movement of the upright tube 14 relative to the rod body 12.

To wring out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 16, the handle 11 is held with one hand, and the sliding sleeve 13 is moved downwardly on the upright tube 14 with the other hand so as to rotate and move the movable rigid member 161 relative to the fixed rigid member 162, thereby twisting the liquid absorbent member 16. A large torque is required to twist the liquid absorbent member 16. As a result, the user must exert a large force on the sliding sleeve 13 to wring out the liquid absorbent member 16.

The object of this invention is to provide a mop that can be wrung out without the need for the user to overly exert him or himself.

According to this invention, a mop includes: a rod body; a cleaning unit including a fixed rigid member anchored to the rod body, a movable rigid member sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body and disposed above the fixed rigid member, and a liquid absorbent member having two ends fastened respectively to the fixed rigid member and the movable rigid member; a tubular actuator unit sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body; a tubular driven unit sleeved rotatably on and co-movable with the actuator unit, the driven unit being movable relative to the rod body to an upper limit position so as to move the movable rigid member away from the fixed rigid member, thereby stretching the liquid absorbent member; a planetary gear mechanism interconnecting the driven unit and the movable rigid member so as to transfer rotation of the driven unit to the movable rigid member; a positioning unit sleeved movably on the rod body and movable on the rod body between a release position whereat bidirectional rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body is allowed, and a limiting position whereat the positioning unit engages the driven unit so as to limit the driven unit to rotate relative to the rod body in a predetermined direction when the driven unit is disposed in the upper limit position; and an operation member sleeved movably on the driven unit such that axial movement of the operation member on the driven unit in a direction is converted into rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body and, thus, rotation of the movable rigid member relative to the fixed rigid member so as to twist the liquid absorbent member to thereby wring out liquid in the liquid absorbent member.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1. is an exploded perspective view of a conventional mop; Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the conventional mop; Fig. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention; Fig. 4 is a partly sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, wherein a cleaning unit is removed for best illustration; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, partly perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a rotation direction-limiting unit; Fig. 7 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when an operation member is disposed in a release position; Fig. 8 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when a driven unit is moved to an upper limit position and when the positioning unit, is moved to a limiting position; Fig. 9 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how an operation member is moved on a driven unit for twisting a liquid absorbent member; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken along line X-X in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, partly perspective view the second preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention, illustrating a modified rotation direction-limiting unit; Fig. 12 is a partly sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention; Fig. 13 is a side view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention when a telescopic tube unit is in a retracted state; and Fig. 14 is a side view of the fourth preferred embodiment when the telescopic tube unit is in an extended state.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire

disclosure.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention includes a rod body 2, a cleaning unit 3, a tubular actuator unit 4, a tubular driven unit 5, a planetary gear mechanism 6, a positioning unit 8, and an operation member 9.

The rod body 2 has a lower end 21, an upper end 22 connected fixedly to a handle 70, and an annular groove 24 formed in an upper end portion thereof. The cross section of the rod body 2 is non-circular.

The cleaning unit 3 includes a fixed rigid member 32 anchored to a lower end of the rod body 2 by a clamping unit 72, a movable rigid member 31 sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body 2 and disposed above the fixed rigid member 32, and a liquid absorbent member 33 having two ends fastened respectively to the fixed rigid member 32 and the movable rigid member 31. The liquid absorbent member 33 includes a plurality of strands of cloth. The clamping unit 72 includes a pair of upper and lower clamping disks 721, 722, which are connected fixedly to the lower end 21 of the rod body 2 and which clamp the fixed rigid member 32 therebetween.

The actuator unit 4 is sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body 2, and includes an upright tube 41 and a hollow cylinder 42. The upright tube 41 is sleeved on the rod body 2, and has an annular outer surface with an annular toothed portion 43 disposed at an upper end thereof. The hollow cylinder 42 includes a bottom wall 421 formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube 41 at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall 422 extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall 421.

An upper end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 is disposed around the hollow cylinder 42.

The driven unit 5 includes an upright tube 51 sleeved rotatably and movably on the upright tube 41 of the actuator unit 4 such that the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4 is disposed outwardly of the driven unit 5. An annular outer surface of the upright tube 51 is formed with two parallel helical grooves 53, an annular toothed portion 54 disposed at an upper end thereof and under the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4, and an annular groove 541 disposed immediately under the toothed portion 54 and extending along a circumferential direction of the driven unit 5. The driven unit 5 is movable relative to the rod body 2 to an upper limit position shown in Fig. 8 so as to move the movable rigid member 31 away from the fixed rigid member 32, thereby stretching the liquid absorbent member 33.

The planetary gear mechanism 6 interconnects the driven unit 5 and the movable rigid member 31, and includes a first sun gear 52, a ring gear 423, a first carrier 612, a plurality of first planet gears 613, a second sun gear 615, a second carrier 611, and a plurality of second planet gears 613' . The first sun gear 52 is formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube 51. The ring gear 423 is formed integrally with an inner surface of the surrounding wall 422 of the actuator unit 4. The first carrier 612 is sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The first planet gears 613 are connected pivotally to the first carrier 612, and are disposed between and mesh with the first sun gear 52 and the ring gear 423, as shown in Fig. 5. The second sun gear 615 is fixed on a top surface of the first carrier 612.

The second carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5, and is disposed above the first carrier 612. The second planet gears 613' are connected pivotally to the second carrier 611, and are disposed between and mesh with the second sun gear 615 and the ring gear 423.

The second carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The first carrier 612 is disposed within the hollow cylinder 42. A retaining member 71 is sleeved rotatably on the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. An outward flange 510 on the outer surface of the upright tube 51 engages an annular groove 710 in an inner surface of the retaining member 71 such that the retaining member 71 is rotatable relative to the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. As such, the driven unit 5 is co-movable with the actuator unit 4. The retaining member 71 is connected fixedly to the second carrier 611 so as to clamp the movable rigid member 31 between the retaining member 71 and the second carrier 611.

When the actuator unit 4 and the ring gear 423 cannot rotate relative to the rod body 2 and when the driven unit 5 and the first sun gear 52 are rotated relative to the rod body 2, all of the first carrier 612, the first planet gears 613, the second sun gear 615, the second carrier 611, and the second planet gears 613' rotate relative to the rod body 2. As a consequence, rotation of the driven unit 5 can be transferred to the movable rigid member 31 such that the rotation speed of the movable rigid member 31 is smaller than that of the driven unit 5.

With further reference to Fig. 6, the positioning unit 8 is sleeved movably on the rod body 2, and is movable between a release position shown in Fig. 7 and a limiting position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The positioning unit 8 includes a tubular housing 81 formed with a non-circular hole 811 engaging fittingly the rod body 2 so as to allow for axial movement of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2, while preventing rotation of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2. The tubular housing 81 has an annular inner surface formed with an annular first toothed portion 82. When the driven unit 5 is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit 8 is disposed at the limiting position, the toothed portion 82 of the positioning unit 8 engages the toothed portion 43 of the actuator unit 4 so as to prevent rotation of the actuator unit 4 relative to the rod body 2.

With additional reference to Fig. 10, the positioning unit 8 further includes a pivot pin 830, a pawl 831 formed with an integral Positioning element 832, a torsional spring 833, and a spring-biased ball 84 disposed on the inner surface of the housing 81. The pivot Pin 830 is disposed in the positioning unit 8, and extends parallel to the rod body 2. The pawl 831 is disposed pivotally on the inner surface of the positioning unit 8 by the pivot pin 830. When the Positioning unit 8 is disposed in the release position, the spring-biased ball 84 engages the annular groove 24 in the rod body 2 so as to allow for bidirectional rotation of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2, while preventing axial movement of the positioning unit 8 relative to the rod body 2. When the driven unit 5 is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit 8 is disposed at the limiting position, the Positioning element 832 engages the annular groove 541 in the driven unit 5 so as to maintain the relative position between the positioning unit 8 and the driven unit 5. As such, the pawl 831 is biased by the torsional spring 833 to engage the toothed portion 54 of the driven unit 5 so as to limit the driven unit 5 to rotate relative to the rod body 2 only in a predetermined direction.

The toothed portion 54 of the driven unit 5, the pivot pin 830, the pawl 832, and the torsional spring 833 constitute cooperatively a rotation direction-limiting unit. The housing 81 has a lower end portion formed with a window 834. The pawl 831 extends through the window 834 (see Fig. 3), and has an outer end disposed outwardly of the housing 81. When the Positioning element 832 engages the annular groove 541 in the driven unit 5, the outer end of the pawl 831 can be operated to remove the positioning element 832 from the annular groove 541. This allows the positioning unit 8 to be moved from the limiting position to the release position.

The operation member 9 is sleeved rotatably and movably on the driven unit 5 such that axial movement of the operation member 9 on the driven unit 5 is converted into rotation of the driven unit 5 and, thus, the movable rigid member 31 relative to the rod body 2. In this embodiment, the operation member 9 has an inner surface formed with two projections 91 received respectively and slidably within the helical grooves 53 in the driven unit 5. As such, when the operation member 9 moves axially on the driven unit 5, the driven unit 5 rotates on the rod body 2. Hence, the movable rigid member 31 rotates relative to the fixed rigid member 32 so as to twist the liquid absorbent member Ii 33, thereby wringing out the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 33.

With additional reference to Fig. 7, when the positioning unit 8 is disposed in the release position, due to gravity actuating on the actuator unit 4, the driven unit 5, the planetary gear mechanism 6, and the operation member 9, the hollow cylinder 42 and the operation member 9 abut respectively against the upper clamping disk 721 and the retaining member 71. In this state, since the movable and fixed rigid members 31, 32 are in close proximity to each other, the liquid absorbent member 33 is collapsed and scrunched up. Therefore, the handle 70 can be declined so as to allow a lower end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 to contact a floor (not shown) Subsequently, the lower end portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 can be moved on the floor for cleaning the floor.

With additional reference to Fig. 8, when it is desired to twist the liquid absorbent member 33, an assembly of the driven unit 5, the planetary gear mechanism 6, and the operation member 9 is lifted so as to move the driven unit relative to the rod body 2 to the upper limit position.

Hence, the fixed rigid member 32 moves away from the movable rigid member 31 until the liquid absorbent member 33 is stretched and in a state of tension. Subsequently, the positioning unit 8 is moved downwardly on the rod body 2 from the release position to the limiting position. In the limiting position, rotation of the actuator unit 4 and the ring gear 423 relative to the rod body 2 is prevented, and the driven unit 5 is limited to rotate relative to the rod body 2 in the predetermined direction.

With additional reference to Fig. 9, after the driven unit 5 and the positioning unit 8 are moved respectively to the upper limit position and the limiting position, an upward force is applied to the operation member 9. At this time, since the fixed rigid member 32 is anchored to the lower end of the rod body 2, the movable rigid member 31 and the driven unit 5 cannot move upwardly relative to the rod body 2. This results in unidirectional rotation of the driven unit 5 relative to the rod body 2 and, thus, unidirectional rotation of the movable rigid member 31 relative to the fixed rigid member 32. As a result, the liquid absorbent member 33 is twisted. During twisting of the liquid absorbent member 33, due to the presence of the planetary gear mechanism 6, an upward force significantly smaller than that required to be applied to the abovementioned prior art is enough to move the operation member 9 on the driven unit 5. When the operation member 9 is released, it rotates and moves downwardly along the helical grooves 53 in the driven unit 5. Therefore, the twisting operation can be repeated.

After the liquid in the liquid absorbent member 33 is wrung out to a desired level, the pawl 831 can be operated so as to allow the positioning unit 8 to move from the limiting position to the release position.

Fig. 11 shows a rotation direction-limiting unit of the second preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention, which includes a second toothed portion 83 and a row of ratchet teeth 54. The second toothed portion 83 is formed on the inner surface of the housing 81, and is disposed under the first toothed portion 82. The ratchet teeth 54 are formed on the outer surface of the driven unit 5, and engage the second toothed portion 83.

Fig. 12 shows the third preferred embodiment of a wringable mop according to this invention, which includes a modified rod body 2, a modified planetary gear mechanism 6, and a modified positioning unit 8. The modified rod body 2 has a circular cross section, and an axial guide slot 231 formed in the rod body 2. The housing 81 of the positioning unit 8 is formed with a circular hole 811 engaging the rod body 2, and an integral positioning pin received slidably within the guide slot 231 in the rod body 2 so as to guide the positioning unit 8 to move along an axial direction of the rod body 2. The modified planetary gear mechanism 6 includes a ring gear 423, a single sun gear 52, a single carrier 611, and a plurality of planetary gears 613. The sun gear 52 is formed integrally with the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5. The ring gear 423 is formed integrally with the inner surface of the surrounding wall 422 of the actuator unit 4. The carrier 611 is sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube 51 of the driven unit 5, and is connected fixedly to the movable rigid member 31 (see Fig. 3). The planet gears 613 are connected pivotally to the carrier 611, and are disposed between and mesh with the sun gear 52 and the ring gear 423.

Figs. 13 and 14 show the fourth preferred embodiment of a mop according to this invention, which is similar in construction to the first preferred embodiment except that this embodiment further includes a telescopic tube unit disposed between the rod body 2 and the liquid absorbent member 33. The telescopic tube unit 100 includes an upper sleeve 101 attached fixedly to a bottom surface of the hollow cylinder 42, a lower sleeve 102 sleeved fixedly on the lower end 21 (see Fig. 3) of the rod body 2, and an intermediate sleeve unit including a plurality of intermediate sleeves 103 sleeved movably and rotatably on the rod body 2. In this embodiment, the intermediate sleeve unit includes a small intermediate sleeve 103 sleeved movably and rotatably on the lower sleeve 102, and a large intermediate sleeve 103' sleeved movably and rotatably on the small intermediate sleeve 103 and movable and rotatable within the upper sleeve 101. The telescopic tube unit 100 is convertible between a retracted state shown in Fig. 13 and an extended state shown in Fig. 14. In the retracted state, the lower sleeve 102 as well as the small and large intermediate sleeves 103, 103' are concealed within the upper sleeve 101. In the extended state, the lower sleeve 102 as well as the small and large intermediate downwardly from the upper sleeve 101. The design of the telescopic tube unit 100 is to prevent an upper portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 from being wound tightly on the rod body 2 during twisting of the liquid absorbent member 33. If the upper portion of the liquid absorbent member 33 is wound tightly on the rod body 2, continued rotation of the driven unit 5 on the rod body 2 will not twist a lower portion of the liquid absorbent member 33.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A mop including: a rod body; a cleaning unit including a

fixed rigid member anchored to the rod body, a movable rigid member sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body and disposed above the fixed rigid member, and a liquid absorbent member having two ends fastened respectively to the fixed rigid member and the movable rigid member; a tubular actuator unit sleeved rotatably and movably on the rod body; a tubular driven unit sleeved rotatably on and co-movable with the actuator unit, the driven unit being movable relative to the rod body to an upper limit position so as to move the movable rigid member away from the fixed rigid member, thereby stretching the liquid absorbent member; a planetary gear mechanism interconnecting the driven unit and the movable rigid member so as to transfer rotation of the driven unit to the movable rigid member; a positioning unit sleeved movably on the rod body and movable on the rod body between a release position whereat bidirectional rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body is allowed, and a limiting position whereat the positioning unit engages the driven unit so as to limit the driven unit to rotate relative to the rod body in a predetermined direction when the driven unit is disposed in the upper limit position; and an operation member sleeved movably on the driven unit such that axial movement of the operation member on the driven unit in a direction is converted into rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body and, thus, rotation of the movable rigid member relative to the fixed rigid member so as to twist the liquid absorbent member to thereby wring out liquid in the liquid absorbent member.

2. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with the upright tube, the liquid absorbent member being disposed around the hollow cylinder, the hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube of the actuator unit at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall; the driven unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the upright tube of the actuator unit; and the planetary gear mechanism includes a first sun gear formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube of the driven unit, a ring gear formed integrally with an inner surface of the surrounding wall of the actuator unit, a first carrier sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube of the driven unit, a plurality of first planet gears connected pivotally to the first carrier and disposed between and meshing with the first sun gear and the ring gear, a second sun gear fixed on a top surface of the first carrier, a second carrier sleeved rotatably on the upright tube of the driven unit and disposed above the first carrier, the movable rigid member being connected fixedly to the second carrier, and a plurality of second planet gears connected pivotally to the second carrier and disposed between and meshing with the second sun gear and the ring gear.

3. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with the upright tube of the actuator unit, the hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube of the actuator unit at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall; the driven unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the upright tube of the actuator unit; and the planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube of the driven unit, a ring gear formed integrally with an inner surface of the surrounding wall of the actuator unit, a carrier sleeved rotatably on the lower end of the upright tube of the driven unit, the movable rigid member being connected fixedly to the carrier, and a plurality of planet gears connected pivotally to the carrier and disposed between and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear.

4. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upright tube of the driven unit has an annular outer surface formed with two parallel helical grooves, the operation member having an inner surface formed with two projections received respectively and slidably within the helical grooves in the upright tube of the driven unit so that axial movement of the operation member relative to the rod body can be converted into rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body.

5. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rod body has a non-circular cross section; the actuator unit has an annular outer surface formed with an annular toothed portion; and the positioning unit has a non-circular hole engaging fittingly the rod body so as to allow for axial movement of the positioning unit relative to the rod body, while preventing rotation of the positioning unit relative to the rod body, and an annular inner surface formed with an annular first toothed portion engaging the toothed portion of the actuator unit so as to prevent rotation of the actuator unit relative to the rod body when the driven unit is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit is disposed in the limiting position.

6. The mop as claimed in Claim 5, further comprising a rotation direction-limiting unit for limiting unidirectional rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body when the driven unit is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit is disposed in the limiting position.

7. The mop as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rotation direction-limiting unit includes: an annular toothed portion formed in an outer surface of the driven unit, the toothed portion of the actuator unit disposed outwardly of the driven unit and above the toothed portion of the driven unit; a pivot pin disposed in the positioning unit and extending parallel to the rod body; a pawl disposed pivotally on the inner surface of the positioning unit by the pivot pin and engaging the toothed portion of the driven unit; and a torsional spring for biasing the pawl to engage the toothed portion of the driven unit so as to limit unidirectional rotation of the driven unit relative to the rod body.

8. The mop as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with the upright tube, the hollow cylinder including a bottom wall formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube at a center thereof, and a surrounding wall extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the bottom wall; the outer surface of the driven unit is further formed with an annular groove extending along a circumferential direction of the driven unit; and the pawl on the positioning unit is formed with an integral positioning element received slidably within the annular groove in the driven unit so as to maintain a relative position between the positioning unit and the driven unit when the driven unit is disposed in the upper limit position and when the positioning unit is disposed in the limiting position.

9. The mop as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rotation direction-limiting unit includes: an annular second toothed portion formed on the inner surface of the positioning unit; and a row of ratchet teeth formed on the outer surface of the driven unit and engaging the second toothed portion on the positioning unit.

10. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rod body has an annular outer surface formed with an annular groove, the positioning unit including a spring-biased ball disposed on an inner surface thereof and engaging the annular groove in the rod body when the positioning unit is disposed in the release position.

11. The mop as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the actuator unit includes an upright tube sleeved on the rod body, and a hollow cylinder formed integrally with a lower end of the upright tube, the liquid absorbent member being disposed around the hollow cylinder, the mop further including a telescopic tube unit disposed between the rod body and the liquid absorbent member, the telescopic tube unit including an upper sleeve attached fixedly to the hollow cylinder, a lower sleeve sleeved fixedly on a lower end of the rod body, and a plurality of intermediate sleeves sleeved movably and rotatably on the rod body and movable and rotatable within the upper sleeve, the telescopic tube unit being convertible between a retracted state where the lower and intermediate sleeves are concealed within the upper sleeve, and an extended state where the lower and intermediate sleeves extend downwardly from the upper sleeve.

12.A mop substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.