AU2002361378B2

AU2002361378B2 - Floor cleaning device

Info

Publication number: AU2002361378B2
Application number: AU2002361378A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Johannes Engl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2002-12-23
Publication date: 2007-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-23
Also published as: EP1463433B1; WO2003056997A1; AU2002361378A1; EP1463433A1; AT411566B; DE50202749D1; NO20043318L; ATA432002A; ES2240843T3

Description

Floor cleaning device The invention concerns a floor cleaning device with a base plate and a handle holder, wherein the base plate has a housing that is connected with the handle holder, and has pivoting plates pivotably mounted about pivot axes on both sides of the housing and a locking device is provided to lock the pivoting plates in a position in which their undersides are approximately in one plane, and the locking device, that has at least one locking bolt to lock the pivoting plates, can be released by means of an actuating part.

Floor cleaning devices with pivotably mounted pivoting plates, to which a floor cleaning cloth can be attached to clean a surface, are known in various executions. Not only floor surfaces, but also wall surfaces, for example tiled walls, or decking surfaces can be cleaned with such floor cleaning devices.

When a surface is being cleaned, the pivoting plates of the base plate are locked in a position, in which their undersides are at least approximately in one plane.

After releasing the locking device the base plates can be pivoted downwards (in the direction averted from the handle holder) towards one another. In this position of the pivoting plates, pivoted towards one another, a cleaning cloth, fastened on a cloth holder, hangs loosely downwards and in this position it can be washed or wrung by hand or by means of a device provided for this purpose. Furthermore, by virtue of the pivotable mounting of the pivoting plates, such a floor cleaning cloth with sack-like straps on its upper side, into which the lateral ends of the pivoting plates can be introduced, can be attached also to the base plate.

A floor cleaning device of the type mentioned in the introduction is known from DE 199 16 556 Al. In this case a locking bolt with locking lugs on both sides and biased by a spring is used as a locking device for the pivoting plates. The locking lug, situated on one side, engages from behind a shoulder in one of the pivoting plates, the locking lug situated on the opposite side, engages in the locked position of the pivoting plates from behind a shoulder of a spring-loaded push button mounted in the second pivoting plate. When this push button is pivoted against the force of a spring, the shoulder of the push button disengages the locking lug of the locking bolt, due to which the locking bolt is displaced by the bias of the spring and the other locking lug releases the shoulder on the other pivoting plate.

Thus in the downward pushed position of the push button the pivoting plates can be pivoted against one another. Thus, to pivot the pivoting plates, in the case of this prior known floor cleaning device it is necessary to push down the push button against the 0 force of the spring and to pull simultaneously the handle of the floor cleaning device upwards, requiring a relatively tedious movement.

SSimilar floor cleaning devices, also having the features mentioned in the introduction,

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are known also from DE 40 11 713 Al and DE 198 44 389 Al. The disadvantages, mentioned in conjunction with DE 199 16 556 Al, are present in this case also. In addition, for the locking of the pivoting plates in their parallel position the force of the spring of the spring-loaded locking bolt has to be also overcome.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a floor cleaning device with a base plate and a handle holder, wherein the base plate has a housing that is connected with the handle holder, and has pivoting plates pivotably mounted about pivot axes on both sides of the housing and a locking device is provided to lock the pivoting plates in a position in which their undersides are approximately in one plane, and the locking device, that has at least one locking bolt to lock the pivoting plates, can be released by means of an actuating part, characterised in that in the housing separate locking bolts are mounted for both pivoting plates, said locking bolts in the locked state of the pivoting plates protrude past the housing in the direction of the respective pivoting plate and engage the locking holes in the pivoting plates and in the unlocked state of the pivoting plates are displaced into a retracted position opposite the locking holes, and ;that by means of the actuating part the locking bolts can be displaced via a sliding block guide between their positions engaging the locking holes and the retracted position Copposite the locking holes and the sliding block guide has for each locking bolt at least one sliding block and a pin engaging the sliding block, while one of these parts of the 0 sliding block guide is arranged on the locking bolt and the other of these two parts on a guide part that can be displaced by the actuating part..

IND

N In the case of embodiments of the floor cleaning device according to the invention for

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the purpose of unlocking the pivoting plates the locking bolts are displaced by means of the actuating part to their retracted positions situated opposite the locking holes in the pivoting plates. In this position, retracted opposite the locking holes, the pivoting plates may be freely pivoted relative to the housing about their pivoting axes. In this case for the displacement of the locking bolts a sliding block guide is provided, that comprises for each locking bolt at least one sliding block and a pin engaging the sliding block, while one of these two parts of the sliding block guide is provided on the locking bolt and the other of these two parts on a guide part that may be displaced by an actuating part in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the base plate.

A floor cleaning device according to the invention may be constructed without using steel parts, thus simplifying a subsequent environmentally correct disposal. The floor cleaning device according to the invention may be produced particularly light, leading to an increased user friendliness. The wear, occurring in a floor cleaning device according to the invention, may be kept very low; for example, steel springs, subject to fatigue, may be avoided.

An embodiment of the invention is an improved floor cleaning device of the type mentioned in the introduction, whereby a tedious movement to release and pivot the pivoting plates is avoided and it can have a robust construction and a long service life.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below based on the embodiment illustrated in the drawing. The drawings show in: Fig. 1 a side view of a floor cleaning device according to the invention with a coupling piece of a handle that is inserted into the handle holder sleeve, wherein the locking Ssleeve is illustrated in the position displaced towards the base plate; Fig.2 a vertical central longitudinal section of the floor cleaning device of Fig.] 00 without the coupling piece inserted into the handle holder sleeve and with the locking sleeve in its top end position; 0 C Fig.3 a vertical central longitudinal section in a plane that is perpendicular to that of Fig.2, wherein the knuckle joint is pivoted 90° about its bottom pivot axis relative that shown in Fig.2 and a coupling piece is inserted into the handle holder sleeve; Fig.4 a perspective illustration of the floor cleaning device of Fig. i, viewed at an angle from below (without covering the recess in the housing) an exploded perspective view of the floor cleaning device, viewed at an angle from above, and Fig.6 an enlarged detail of the illustration of The base plate I of the embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention illustrated in the figures comprises two pivoting plates 4, pivotably The description continues on page 4.

mounted about the pivot axes 3 on a housing 2. A handle holder of the floor cleaning device has a handle holder sleeve 5, that is joined with the housing 2 via a knuckle joint 6. On the handle holder sleeve 5, at diametrically opposed positions, locking tabs 7, produced by slots, are provided, the locking tabs having inward facing locking lugs 8 in the region of their free ends. A coupling piece of a handle can be introduced into the entry opening 9 provided in the handle holder sleeve 7 on that side which is averted from the knuckle joint 8. The end section of the handle shaft 11, that may have a telescopic construction, is indicated in Figs.1 and 3 in dotted lines. The locking lugs 8 of the locking tabs 7 of the handle holder sleeve 5 can snap into the locking recesses 12 in the coupling piece 10 when the coupling piece 10 is inserted into the handle holder sleeve 5. To secure the connection between the handle and the handle holder sleeve 5, a locking sleeve 13, that surrounds the handle holder sleeve and can be axially displaced on it, is provided on the handle holder sleeve 5. In its top end position the locking sleeve prevents a radial outward deflection of at least one of the locking tabs 7. The locking sleeve 13 also has a locking tab 14 with a radially inward facing locking lug, that in the top end position of the locking sleeve 13 snaps into the locking depression 15. In the bottom end position of the locking sleeve 13 (cf. Fig.1) it surrounds the knuckle joint 6 and locks the knuckle joint 6 against a lateral pivoting.

The housing 2 has a recess that is open towards the underside of the base plate 1. In this recess two locking bolts 16 are provided, each of them comprising a base part 17 and two locking pins 18 provided on the base part 17. The locking pins 18 pass through openings 19 in the side wall 20 of the downward open recess in the housing 2, while locking holes 21 are situated opposite these openings, said engaging locks being formed from blind holes in the lateral walls of the pivoting plates 4 facing the housing 2 and are coaxial with the openings 19.

The openings 19 and the locking holes 21 extend parallel to the plane 22, formed by the undersides of the pivoting plates 4, which are parallel to one another and perpendicularly to the pivot axes 3 of the pivoting plates 4.

By means of a locking device, that will be explained in detail below, the pivoting plates 4 can be locked in the position illustrated in the figures. In this position the pivoting plates 4 and their undersides 23 are at least approximately in one plane 22. A certain deviation relative to this parallel alignment, for example in the range of up to 100 may be desirable, so that during the cleaning of a surface the force that can be exerted on the surface in the lateral edge regions (in the region of the free ends of the pivoting plates 4) could be increased. In the unlocked state of the two pivoting plates 4 they can be pivoted downward from the position illustrated in the figures until their free ends touch one another or are still at a certain distance from one another.

On those lateral surfaces of the locking bolts 16 which are situated opposite one another relative to the vertical longitudinal central plane 44 of the base plate 1 sliding blocks 24 of a sliding block guide are provided. Pins 25, provided on a guide part 26, engage these sliding blocks 24. The guide part 26 has a central web 27, that extends parallel to the pivot axes 3 of the pivoting plates 4, as well as arms 28, provided on both sides of the web and extending at right angles to the web, by virtue of which a double-T type of structure is formed when viewed from above. The inward projecting pins 25 of the sliding block guide, aligned with one another, are mounted on the free ends of the arms. At both opposing, relative to the vertical longitudinal central plane 44 of the base plate 1, lateral ends of the web 27, the guide part 26 has vertical upright side plates 29, on which hook elements 30 are formed.

The guide part 26 is arranged in the downward open recess of the housing 2, while the side plates 29 pass through a vertical opening 31 in the cover of the housing 2 and protrude with their hook elements 30 past the upper side of the housing 2. Spigots 32 interact with the hook elements 30, said spigots being provided on an actuating part 33. In the embodiment shown this actuating part 33 is constructed as a lever pivotably mounted about the pivot axis 34 of the housing 2 relative to the housing 2.

By pivoting the arm (shown on the left in the figures) of the actuating part 33, constructed as a lever, downward, the side plates 29 and consequently the guide part 26 are pushed vertically downward. Due to this the pins 25 are displaced downwards in the sliding block 24, consequently the locking bolts 16 are displaced in the direction of the pivoting plates 4. The locking pins 18 of the locking bolts 16 now engage the locking holes 21 in the pivoting plates 4.

Consequently the pivoting plates 4, aligned parallel to one another, will be locked in this position against a pivoting movement. However, if the arm (shown on the right in the figures) of the actuating part 33 is pushed downward, the spigots 32, situated on the other side of the pivot axis 34, and thus the guide part 26 are lifted upwards. Consequently the locking pins 18 of the locking bolts 16 are retracted from the locking holes 21, so that the pivoting plates 4 can pivot downward from their parallel alignment, illustrated in the figures. An upward pivoting is prevented by the lugs 35, provided on the housing 2 and overlapping the pivoting plates 4.

The pivot axes 3 for the pivoting plates 4 are formed by spigots 36, that are pushed through openings 37 in the side wall of the housing 2. Two adjacent spigots 36 are provided on each connecting piece 38, that abuts against the inside surface of the side wall 20 of the recess in the housing 2. The two spigots 36 and the connecting piece 38 form a U-shaped piece when viewed from above.

For the sake of clarity, in Figs.5 and 6 only one of the two U-shaped pieces is illustrated.

Relative to the vertical longitudinal central plane 44 extensions 39 are provided on the housing 2, said extensions aligned parallel to the pivot axes 3 and having intermediate pieces 40 mounted on them, which lie between the pivoting plates 4 and bridge them over. These intermediate pieces 40 limit in an flexible manner the maximum pivoting of both pivoting plates 4.

To close off the recess on the underside of the housing 2 a cover 43 is provided, that can be snapped into the housing by locking arms.

On the pivoting plates 4 cloth holding plates 42 are provided, that are pivotable mounted relative to the pivoting plates and can be locked with them by means of arms 43. A floor cleaning cloth can be fastened by these cloth holding plates 42 or by the straps provided on the top side of the floor cleaning cloth, into which the lateral ends of the pivoting plates 4 can be inserted.

7 It is feasible to make the entire floor cleaning device from plastic material, without using parts from steel. The base plates 3 and further parts of the floor cleaning device may be made from recyclable plastic material. In an advantageous manner the hinge parts may be made from polyamide. The cloth holding plates 42 and the actuating part 33 may be made from polypropylene. All parts of the floor cleaning device may be produced by injection moulding.

Various modifications of the embodiment shown are conceivable and possible without leaving the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the sliding block guide may be constructed differently.

Claims

2. A floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing has a recess that is open towards the underside of the base plate, said recess can be covered by a cover, while the side wall of the recess has openings situated opposite the locking holes in the pivoting plates, the openings being penetrated by the locking pins.
3. A floor cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the guide part can be displaced perpendicularly to the plane of the undersides of the pivoting plates aligned parallel to one another.
4. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that for each locking bolt the sliding block guide has two sliding blocks situated opposite one another relative to the vertical longitudinal central plane of the base plate and pins engaging them.
5. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the sliding blocks are provided on the opposite situated lateral surfaces of the locking bolt and the pins engaging the sliding blocks are provided on arms of the guide part, ;said arms situated adjacent to these lateral surfaces of the locking bolt. t,, N 6. A floor cleaning device according to claim 5, characterised in that a common guide part is provided for the locking pin allocated to both pivoting plates, said guide part has 00 0a central web extending parallel to the pivot axes of the pivoting plates and arms _3 provided on both sides of the web and extending perpendicularly to the web, thus IDforming a double-T shaped structure, as well as inward projecting pins of the sliding C€3 K block guide provided on the free ends of the arms, said pins aligned with one another.
7. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that on the guide part at least one vertical upright side plate is provided that is perpendicular to the plane of the undersides of the pivoting plates which are aligned parallel to one another, said side plate being connected with the actuating part that is constructed as a pivotably mounted lever on the housing, while preferably two side plates are provided situated opposite one another relative to the vertical longitudinal central plane of the base plate.
8. A floor cleaning device according to claim 7, characterised in that the connection of the at least one side plate with the actuating part is formed by a spigot engaging a hook element.
9. A floor cleaning device according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the guide part is provided in the downward open recess of the housing, while the at least one side plate passes through an opening in the cover of the housing and projects past the top of same. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the locking bolts can be displaced parallel to the plane of the undersides of the pivoting plates which are aligned parallel to one another. 11i. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that both pivot axes for the pivoting plates are formed by spigots, that protrude through openings in the housing at right angles to the longitudinal extension of the base plate and project past it on both sides, while in each case two adjacent spigots for two pivot IU c" axes are provided on a connecting piece abutting against the inside surface of the side Swall of the downward open recess in the housing. t(, CN, 12. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that extensions are provided on both sides of the housing that are aligned parallel to and 0 0 provided between the pivot axes, on which extensions rubber-elastic intermediate C pieces are mounted which lie between the pivoting plates and bridge them over and INO limit the maximum pivoting angle of the pivoting plates. (N,
13. A floor cleaning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the (N accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-first day of June 2007 Johannes Engi Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO