US Patent 9943207 Flat mops having folding carrier plates

A foldable flat mop is provided that has a pair of carrier plates, which define an unfolded position, a folded position with a minimum distance between the tips of the carrier plates, and a deflected position where the carrier plates are deflected towards one another to reduce the minimum distance between the tips. The foldable flat mop can include one or more biasing members that bias the carrier plates to an intermediate position between the folded and unfolded positions. The carrier plates can have a scissor-like arrangement with the tips of the carrier plates being on an opposite side of the centerline from that pivot axis of that carrier plate.