AU2016100989A4

AU2016100989A4 - Floor cleaning arrangement

Info

Publication number: AU2016100989A4
Application number: AU2016100989A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wolfgang Geurden
Original assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Current assignee: Wessel Werk GmbH
Priority date: 2016-04-28
Filing date: 2016-07-01
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-01
Also published as: AU2016204588A1; AU2023201098A1; DE102016107942A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle and a floor mopping attachment, wherein the vacuum cleaner nozzle extends in a longitudinal direction and a tranverse direction and has a suction port, which extends along the transverse direction on a lower housing side, wherein the floor mopping attachment has a middle section along the transverse direction and fastening sections on the end side, by means of which the floor mopping attachment is releasably fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the purpose of which flaps of the floor mopping attachment are guided via an upper housing side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, and wherein the middle section extends across a smaller length than the fastening sections in longitudinal direction, so as to leave at least a portion of the suction port open on the bottom side of the housing. The floor mopping attachment for the described floor cleaning arrangement is also a subject matter of the invention. To be published with Fig. 1 Fig. 1

Description

FLOOR CLEANING ARRANGEMENT DESCRIPTION:

The invention relates to a floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle. Different approaches for cleaning floor surfaces are known from practice.

The floor cleaning by means of a vacuum cleaner is particularly effective, wherein dust, particles, hair and other loose dirt can be absorbed particularly reliably from smooth and carpeted floors, wherein a deep cleaning is possible as a result of the suction air flow and dirt can also be vacuumed out of cracks or also other deeper layers of a carpeted floor.

In the case of smooth floors, such as tiles, parquet, laminate, PVC or also cast plastic flooring, a dry sweeping as well as a wet mopping can be considered. A vacuum cleaner nozzle, which can also be used as part of a floor cleaning arrangement in the context of the invention, is known from EP 0 611 544 B1 as well as from DE 20 2013 105 095 Ul.

Specific vacuum cleaner nozzles, on the bottom side of which mopping cloths or polishing surfaces are arranged fixedly or also removably, for example by means of Velcro fasteners, are known from practice as well. However, the handling as well as the cleaning effect of these vacuum cleaner nozzles, which are known from practice, needs to be improved.

Rectangular floor mopping textiles, into which a rigid support, which is fastened to a handle, can be inserted by means of a folding mechanism for cleaning purposes are furthermore known from practice.

Based on the known approaches, the invention at hand is based on the object of specifying a floor cleaning arrangement, which is characterized by an improved cleaning capacity and a simple handling.

In this context, a floor cleaning arrangement according to patent claim 1 as well as a floor mopping attachment according to patent claim 13 for such a floor cleaning arrangement is the subject matter of the invention.

The invention accordingly relates to a floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle and a floor mopping attachment, wherein the vacuum cleaner nozzle stretches in a longitudinal and a transverse direction and has a suction port, which extends along the transverse direction on a bottom side of the housing, wherein the floor mopping attachment has a middle section along the transverse direction and fastening sections on the end side, by means of which the floor mopping attachment is fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the purpose of which flaps of the floor mopping attachment are guided via an upper housing side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, and wherein the middle section extends across a smaller length than the fastening sections in longitudinal direction, so as to leave at least a portion of the suction port open on the bottom side of the housing. In a top view onto the bottom side of the housing, preferably at least 50% of the surface, across which the suction port passes, is exposed.

According to the invention, a floor cleaning arrangement is thus specified, by means of which smooth floors can be freed from different kinds of dirt in a particularly effective manner in a combined vacuum cleaning and mopping process. Loose particles, hair and other loose dirt is initially vacuumed through the suction port, before a further cleaning then occurs by means of the floor mopping attachment, which is adapted specifically to the shape of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the purpose of which the floor mopping attachment can either be dry, dampened or also wet. It is also advantageous in this context that the suction port is initially guided across the floor surface, which is to be cleaned, in the case of a normal forwards movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle with the floor mopping attachment fastened thereto, before at least the middle section of the floor mopping attachment effects a further cleaning. This also has the result that only the dirt, which has not already been vacuumed beforehand, are loosened and removed - at least on the middle section.

Particular advantages can also follow, when the floor mopping attachment is used in a dry state. As a result of a soft, textile bottom side of the floor mopping attachment, dirt, such as dried footprints or the like can also be removed, wherein the dirt particles, which are received and loosened in this manner, can then be vacuumed in response to the further vacuum cleaning.

Due to the fact that at least a portion of the suction port is kept free, the floor mopping attachment is sickleshaped, crescent—shaped, or also C-shaped.

On principle, the floor cleaning arrangement can be formed with different embodiments of vacuum cleaner nozzles. A preferred embodiment of a vacuum cleaner nozzle is known from EP 0 611 544 B1 as well as from DE 20 2013 105 095 U1. The known vacuum cleaner nozzle is characterized by a particularly compact and simple design, wherein provision is made for rollers for a common vacuum cleaning on a bottom side of the housing in the area of the suction port on the one hand and set back on an air duct, on the other hand.

Provided that - as explained in an exemplary manner with reference to EP 0 611 544 B1 - the vacuum cleaner nozzle has support elements, in particular rollers, the latter can be covered by the floor mopping attachment according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, so that a contact, which is as complete and close as possible, of the floor surface, which is to be cleaned, with the floor mopping attachment is ensured. For example with regard to the design of a vacuum cleaner nozzle known from EP 0 611 544 Bl, the floor mopping attachment is thus advantageous so large in longitudinal direction that it extends to the rear beyond the housing of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, so as to also keep support elements, such as rollers, which are set back, away from the floor surface, which is to be cleaned, or so as to ensure a contact of the floor mopping attachment, which is as complete as possible, respectively.

On a bottom side, the floor mopping attachment can have a cleaning textile, which preferably has loops or threads, which stick out downwards. In particular, the cleaning textile can be formed in the manner of a microfiber cloth, for the purpose of which closed loops or threads comprising free ends, which stick out from a base of the cleaning textile, are formed in response to the production. These loops or threads, which are also identified as pile loops, are preferably composed of multifilament yarns, which results in a particularly soft bottom side of the floor mopping attachment, which is also able to loosen and absorb large quantities of dirt.

The width of the cleaning textile determined in transverse direction corresponds approximately to the width of the vacuum cleaner nozzle in transverse direction and can be, for example, between 20 cm and 45 cm, in particular between 25 cm and 35 cm.

Viewed in longitudinal direction, the cleaning textile on the middle section is significantly shorter than on the fastening sections, which are arranged laterally thereto, due to the recess for the suction port. The length of the cleaning textile on the middle section can be, for example, between 5 cm and 10 cm, and between 7 cm and 15 cm on the fastening section.

Irrespective of the concretely chosen dimensions, provision is also made according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for the middle section to return by at least 3 cm, starting at a front edge of the vacuum cleaner nozzle relative to the fastening sections along the longitudinal direction.

To provide for an absorption of dirt, which is as versatile as possible, and to also avoid that not all of the dirt is absorbed by means of the combined vacuum cleaning and mopping, at least a portion of an edge of the floor mopping attachment can have fringes, which stick out laterally. The fringes can be composed of thick, twisted, soft threads, for example, wherein the fringes then form closed loops.

Advantageously, fringes are not provided on a front edge of the floor mopping attachment, so that dirt can initially be vacuumed easily. The fringes are preferably provided on the lateral edges, viewed in transverse direction, as well as on a rear edge, viewed in longitudinal direction, wherein the free length of the fringes can be between 2 cm and 5 cm, for example, and wherein the fringes can be arranged in a density of between 1 to 4 per cm length of the edge.

Different natural materials or also plastics can be considered to form the fringes as well as the cleaning textile, wherein plastics are preferred in view of the absorption and transfer power of dirt. In particular, the floor mopping attachment is to also have a high durability for regular use and is to be easy to be cleaned, so that materials, such as polyamide and polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, for example, are advantageous as thread materials .

As already explained above, the floor mopping attachment is fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle by means of flaps. It is to be considered thereby that an easy handling of the floor mopping attachment in combination with the vacuum cleaner nozzle is to be ensured on the one hand, wherein in particular the floor mopping attachment is to be capable of being assembled and disassembled easily.

At the same time, however, the floor mopping attachment must also be held in a predetermined position with sufficient reliability, so that a portion of the suction port is always kept free. In particular in response to lateral movements as well as in response to a forwards and backwards movement of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, which is typically guided on a suction pipe, an excessive slipping of the floor mopping attachment relative to the vacuum cleaner nozzle is to be avoided.

To satisfy these requirements, which oppose one another per se, the flaps can be formed by a textile, which is elastic along the longitudinal direction. Preferably, an elasticity of the elastic textile is only provided in longitudinal direction, so that a high stability is ensured as a result of a low elasticity in transverse direction.

It is also important to consider in the context of the invention that the vacuum cleaner nozzle is designed so as to be rigid according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, so that only the movability of the floor mopping attachment comprising the flaps can be resorted to for fastening the floor mopping attachment.

Particularly preferably, the flaps together with a textile support, viewed in transverse direction, form pockets, which are closed to the outside.

The floor mopping attachment can rest against the bottom side of the housing with a textile support, wherein in particular a spacer textile, preferably a spacer fabric, is suitable as textile support. Several advantages can be attained by means of a spacer textile. Initially, a certain elasticity results in the through-thickness direction of the spacer textile, whereby a particularly advantageous buffer effect and an even force distribution can be attained. In addition, spacer textiles are also air-permeable, so that, depending on the design of the floor mopping attachment and arrangement on the vacuum cleaner nozzle, a portion of the suction air flow can also be guided through the textile support, whereby the latter can also already be kept clean to a certain extent in response to the floor cleaning. Finally, the volume provided by the spacer textile can also serve as liquid reservoir in response to a dampening of the floor mopping attachment.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the floor mopping attachment can thus have the cleaning textile on its bottom side in the manner of a microfiber cloth, a textile support, in particular a spacer textile, on its upper side facing the vacuum cleaner nozzle, fringes on a portion of its edge as well as flaps made of the elastic textile .

Particularly preferably, the components of the floor mopping attachment are sewed to one another. A sewing of the individual components as compared to an adhesion is characterized by a particularly simple production method and a long life cycle.

For connections on the edge side, provision can in particular be made for whipped seams, wherein provision can in particular additionally be made within the surface of the floor mopping attachment for quilting seams.

To provide for a long-term use of the floor mopping attachment, the latter can be washed at at least 30°C according to a preferred further development of the invention according to the corresponding definitions for textiles analogously to the common sewn-in labels of clothing. As a result of a suitable selection of textile materials, however, higher permitted washing temperatures, such as 60°C, for example, can be reached as well.

The floor mopping attachment comprising the above-described features, which is provided for a floor cleaning arrangement, is also the subject matter of the invention. As already explained above, the floor mopping attachment extends in a longitudinal and transverse direction. The floor mopping attachment has a middle section along the transverse direction and fastening sections on the end side, along which the mopping attachment has flaps for fastening, wherein the middle section extends across a smaller length than the fastening sections in longitudinal direction, so that a C-shape results, viewed in transverse direction. With regard to the further embodiments of the floor mopping attachment, reference is made to the explanations above with regard to the entire floor cleaning arrangement.

The invention will be explained below by means of a drawing, which only represents an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle and a floor mopping attachment in a view from the top,

Fig. 2 shows the floor cleaning arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a view from the bottom,

Fig. 3 shows the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows the floor mopping attachment of the floor cleaning arrangement after being removed from the vacuum cleaner nozzle in a view from the top.

Fig. 1 shows a floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and a floor mopping attachment 2, wherein the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and the floor mopping attachment 2 extend in a longitudinal direction 1 and a transverse direction q.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the floor mopping attachment 2, viewed in transverse direction q, has fastening sections 3 on the end side, by means of which the floor mopping attachment 2 is fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, for the purpose of which flaps 4 made of an elastic textile are guided across an upper housing side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1.

The flaps 4, which are made of the elastic textile, are sewed to a textile support 5 of the floor mopping attachment 2, which is formed by a spacer textile, in particular by a spacer fabric, wherein laterally closed pockets are formed by means of a circumferential whipped seam 6 on the edge of the textile support 5. Furthermore, the textile support 5 and the flaps 4, which are made of the elastic textile, are additionally also connected by means of a quilting seam 7, so that the pockets formed by the stitched lines on the fastening sections 3 is adapted exactly to the shape of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 on is lateral edges, whereby a secure hold of the floor mopping attachment 2 on the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is ensured.

This secure hold is also supported in that the elastic textile of the flaps 4 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is highly elastic only along the longitudinal direction I and is largely inelastic vertically thereto in transverse direction q.

It can already be seen in Fig. 1 that the floor mopping attachment 2 has a recess between the two fastening sections 3 on a middle section 8 in the area of a front edge of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, so that suction air can enter at a bottom side of the housing of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 in a suction port 9, which will be described in more detail below. In addition, it can also be seen that the floor mopping attachment 2 sticks out to the rear beyond a housing 10 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 along the longitudinal direction 1 and also extends below rollers 11 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, which are fastened to an air duct 12 of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1.

The vacuum cleaner nozzle can in particular be embodied according to DE 20 2013 105 095 U1 as well as EP 0 611 544 Bl, wherein provision is then also made on the bottom side of the housing in the area of the suction port 9 for further rollers, which are not illustrated in the figures here and which are also covered towards the bottom by the floor mopping attachment 2.

It can thus be attained that the floor cleaning arrangement formed by the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 and the floor mopping attachment 2 is supported downwards exclusively by the floor mopping attachment 2, whereby a particularly reliable, even and complete combined vacuum cleaning and mopping can be achieved.

Fig. 2 shows the floor cleaning arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a view from the bottom. It can be seen that the suction port 9 extends along the transverse direction q with a slight angular offset, wherein the middle section 8 of the floor mopping attachment 2 extends across a smaller length than the adjacent fastening sections 3 in longitudinal direction 1, so as to leave at least a portion of the suction port 9 open on the bottom side of the housing. Provision is preferably made for at least 50%, more preferably at least 70% of the surface of the suction port 9 to be exposed.

Only the lateral ends of the suction port 9 on the fastening sections 3 are covered in the embodiment according to Fig. 2.

It is pointed out in this context that the floor mopping attachments and in particular the flaps 4, which are provided for fastening purposes, are to be adapted to the vacuum cleaner nozzle, but that the embodiment of the vacuum cleaner nozzle is not limited further beyond this. In particular, different geometries of suction ports 9 can be provided, wherein, however, at least one section of a suction port 9 is to always be kept free.

The further embodiments of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 are also not limited. For example, the housing 10 and the air duct 12 can also be connected to one another in an articulated manner. The vacuum cleaner nozzle can also have extendible brushes, sealing lips or the like, which, however, are not used in the case of an assembled floor mopping attachment 2.

In any event, it is significant in the context of the invention that the floor mopping attachment 2 is removably fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, so that a common use of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is possible after removing the floor mopping attachment 2.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the floor mopping attachment 2 is set back from a front edge to such an extent on its middle section 8 that the suction port of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 is at least partially exposed. Typically, the middle section 8 is set back by at least 3 cm from the front edge relative to the fastening sections 3. On the middle section 8, the suction port 9 is kept almost completely free by means of the setback, for the purpose of which the middle section 8 also has a shape, which is adapted to the course of the suction port 9 and which is further stepped towards the middle.

After removing the releasably fastened floor mopping attachment, the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, which is illustrated alone in Fig. 3, can be used for a common vacuum cleaning, wherein the support of the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1 then takes place in the known manner on the rollers 11 on the rear side as well as on non-illustrated rollers on the bottom side of the housing 10. It can thus also be seen that - if applicable after a geometric adaptation - the floor mopping attachment 2 can also be used with completely different types of vacuum cleaner nozzles 1.

Further details of the floor mopping attachment result from a comparison of Fig. 1 and 2 with Fig. 4, which shows the floor mopping attachment 2, which is removed from the vacuum cleaner nozzle 1, in a view from the top.

It can initially be seen that the floor mopping attachment 2 is composed of different textile materials on its upper side and on its bottom side. According to Fig. 2, a cleaning textile 13, which is characterized by a good cleaning and dirt absorption capacity, is provided on the bottom side of the floor mopping attachment 2. The cleaning textile 13 can be made of multifilament yarns, for example in the manner of a microfiber cloth, which forms loops or free threads, which stick out downwards.

In contrast, the floor mopping attachment 2 has the textile support 5, which has already been described above, on the upper side, and which can in particular be a spacer fabric. The textile support 5 is elastic in the direction of its thickness and ensures a particularly even contact of the floor mopping attachment 2 with the floor surface, which can even be supported by the suction air flow. As a result of the open structure of the textile support 5, at least a portion of the suction air flow can pass through said textile support 5 as well and can even keep it clean. In this context, the flat knitted fabric layer of the spacer textile, which faces upwards, can also have a hole pattern, which can be created by means of a filet placement of the corresponding knitted fabric layer, for example.

Provision is furthermore made on the lateral edges as well as on a rear edge of the floor mopping attachment 2 for fringes 14, which stick out and which are capable of absorbing loose dirt, such as, for example, fluff or other clustered fibers and particles, exceptionally well. In addition, the fringes, which are made of twisted yarns, for example, are very soft and can also clean the edge of a floor surface or also the lower area of an adjacent wall surface well. By means of the fringes 14 it can also be possible to clean corners effectively, wherein a vacuuming can possibly also take place after first loosening dirt from corners.

As a result of the selection of the materials for the fringes 14 as well as for the cleaning textile 13, electrostatic charging effects can optionally also be used, which even additionally attract dirt. In response to such an electrostatic charging, it then becomes advantageous that the continuous suction air flow also ensures a certain self-cleaning effect.

The fringes 14 are advantageously fastened by means of seams. Based on the fastening of the fringes 14 on the cleaning textile 13 and/or the textile support 5, the free length of the fringes 14 is typically between 2 cm and 5 cm. The fringes 14 can be arranged with a tightness of between 1 and 4 per cm length of the edge, for example. A particularly long life cycle results due to the fact that the components of the floor mopping attachment 2 are sewed to one another, wherein the floor mopping attachment 2 is also machine-washable, for example at 30°C, preferably also at 60°C.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. A floor cleaning arrangement comprising a vacuum cleaner nozzle and a floor mopping attachment, wherein the vacuum cleaner nozzle extends along a longitudinal direction and a tranverse direction and has a suction port, which extends along the transverse direction on a lower housing side, wherein the floor mopping attachment has a middle section along the transverse direction and fastening sections on the end side, by means of which the floor mopping attachment is releasably fastened to the vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the purpose of which flaps of the floor mopping attachment are guided via an upper housing side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle, and wherein the middle section extends across a smaller length than the fastening sections in longitudinal direction, so as to leave at least a portion of the suction port open on the bottom side of the housing.
2. The floor cleaning arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner nozzle has support elements, in particular rollers, which are covered by the floor mopping attachment.
3. The floor cleaning arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the floor mopping attachment has a cleaning textile comprising a plurality of loops or threads, which stick out downwards, on a bottom side.
4. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein provision is made along at least a portion of an edge of the floor mopping attachment for fringes composed of twisted threads.
5. The floor cleaning arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the fringes have a free length of between 2 cm and 5 cm and are arranged in a tightness of between 1 and 4 per cm.
6. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flaps are formed by a textile, which is elastic along the longitudinal direction.
7. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the floor mopping attachment rests against the lower housing side with a textile support.
8. The floor cleaning arrangement according to claim 6 and claim 7, wherein the elastic textile and the textile support are connected to one another in each case on the two fastening sections in such a manner that pockets, which are closed to the outside, form, viewed in transverse direction.
9. The floor cleaning arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a spacer textile, in particular a spacer fabric, is provided as textile support.
10. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the components of the floor mopping attachment are sewn to one another.
11. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the floor mopping attachment can be washed at at least 30°C.
12. The floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the middle section returns by at least 3 cm, starting at a front edge of the vacuum cleaner nozzle relative to the fastening sections along the longitudinal direction.
13. A floor mopping attachment for a floor cleaning arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, which extends in a longitudinal direction and transverse direction, and has a middle section along the transverse direction and fastening sections on the end side, on which the floor mopping attachment has flaps for fastening, wherein the middle section extends across a smaller length than the fastening sections in longitudinal direction, so that a C-shape results, viewed in transverse direction.