BE1024044B1 - Cleaning instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning instrument (1) comprising - a cleaning head (5), and - a handle (2) comprising - a first portion (3) of substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis (Ap1), and a second sleeve portion (4) defined between a first end (E1) connected to said first part (3) and between a second end (E2) connected to said cleaning head (5) via a junction piece (6) allowing said cleaning head (5) to move relative to said handle (2) and vice versa, said second portion (4) having at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis (Ap1), said connecting piece (6) being located on said longitudinal axis (Ap1) of said first portion (3) of said handle (2).

Description

Cleaning instrument

The present invention relates to a cleaning instrument comprising - a cleaning head, and - a handle comprising - a first substantially rectilinear handle portion having a longitudinal axis, and - a second handle portion defined between a first end connected to said first portion and between a second end connected to said cleaning head via a junction piece allowing said cleaning head to make movements relative to said handle and vice versa, said second portion having, between said first and said second ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis.

By definition, within the meaning of the present invention, the longitudinal axis of an object must be understood as being that which extends in the direction of the length of the object.

Such a cleaning instrument is known in the state of the art when cleaning instruments comprising a swivel cleaning head and a handle exist and are intended for cleaning surfaces, particularly the cleaning of floors.

It should be noted here that it is crucial that the user can adopt a usual working position, also called ergonomic position, that is to say a position to prevent musculoskeletal injuries when using such instruments. cleaning. The ergonomics that define the search for a better adaptation between a material and its user in order to facilitate the work of this last one or to ensure its safety is, for several years, at the heart of the expectations of the company. Indeed, there is a growing demand for work tools that make it possible to reduce as much as possible the physical lesions that may be due, for example, to poor body retention or to poor positioning when using a tool or tool. 'a cleaning instrument.

The most recent cleaning instruments provide a handle which comprises a first substantially rectilinear portion having a longitudinal axis and a second portion having at least one eccentric sleeve portion and inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by the longitudinal axis of the first part of the handle. The presence of an eccentric sleeve portion allows the cleaning instrument to present a "void area" located between the longitudinal axis of the straight shaft portion and the eccentric shaft portion. In this way, obstacles between the user and the objects to be cleaned can be avoided or bypassed. For example, when a user wants to clean the upper face of a cabinet, he is confronted with several obstacles constituted by the front of the cabinet and its height. However, since the cleaning tool has an eccentric handle portion defining a "void area" between the longitudinal axis of the straight handle portion and the eccentric handle portion, the user can easily access and clean properly the upper part of the cabinet.

In this sense, the document US6119311 discloses a cleaning instrument whose handle comprises an arciform part and whose cleaning head can rotate. More specifically, the instrument according to this prior document comprises a handle having a first rectilinear portion defined between a first end which is free and between a second end. This second end is connected to a second portion of arciform handle via a junction device allowing an angular adjustment of this arcuate portion relative to the rectilinear portion of the handle, the distal portion of the second portion of the handle being connected a cleaning head that can rotate.

Practically, with the current cleaning instruments such as that disclosed in US6119311 and which have both a swiveling cleaning head and an eccentric handle portion, the user is able to reach restricted or hard-to-reach places such as ceilings, corners, the underside or the top of a piece of furniture or even areas defined between two objects close to each other. Due to the variety of applications that these current cleaning tools allow, they are regularly qualified as multifunctional cleaning tools.

Unfortunately, a cleaning instrument such as the one disclosed by the document US6119311 presents a problem that is twofold. On the one hand, the cleaning efficiency obtained with such an instrument is unsatisfactory from an ergonomic working position. Indeed, even if the cleaning instrument according to this prior document can be described as multifunctional cleaning instrument, the fact remains that the user must too often adopt a non-ergonomic position in order to hope for efficiency satisfactory cleaning, especially when it comes to cleaning hard to reach areas. On the other hand, a handle such as that of a cleaning instrument according to US6119311 and which is formed by a first rectilinear portion and a second arcuate portion does not ensure access to all places to clean and can even, in some cases, damage furniture or walls. Indeed, in this prior document, the presence of a device for connecting the first rectilinear portion and the second arcuate portion of the handle does not allow such a cleaning instrument to reach restricted spaces such as, for example, the back a radiator, the floor under a piece of furniture or the top of a piece of furniture. This is due to the presence of a device allowing the junction between the two parts of the handle, this device being bulky and constituting a significant footprint in a direction perpendicular to the second arcuate portion. As a result, when cleaning tight spaces, for example between the ceiling of a room and the top of a piece of furniture, the risk is great to hit and damage the items to be cleaned in this case, according to this example, the top of the cabinet and / or the ceiling of the room. The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing a cleaning instrument allowing the user to adopt an ergonomic position during cleaning to prevent musculoskeletal injuries while providing efficiency adequate cleaning, not only during conventional cleaning tasks (eg floor cleaning) but also when cleaning hard-to-reach areas such as under-furniture floors, the back of a radiator or still the upper part of a wardrobe. In addition, the invention aims to provide a cleaning instrument which, in addition, is not bulky and allows cleaning even in tight spaces without causing any damage (blows, claws or even breaking objects) / cleaned areas).

To solve this problem, there is provided according to the invention, a cleaning instrument as indicated at the beginning characterized in that said connecting piece is located on said longitudinal axis of said first portion of said handle.

In the context of the present invention, it has been pointed out that when the connecting piece connecting the cleaning head to the second eccentric portion of the handle is located on the longitudinal axis of the first straight portion of the handle, the cleaning instrument allows the user to clean all types of surfaces, even the most difficult to reach, while allowing him to maintain an ergonomic working position and obtain an adequate cleaning efficiency, this in contrast to the current cleaning instruments which are not optimal. Furthermore, such an arrangement of the connecting piece provides a compact instrument that can therefore reach restricted areas and / or difficult to access without causing the slightest damage.

According to the invention, the longitudinal axis of the first straight portion of the handle passes through the connecting piece connecting the cleaning head to the second eccentric portion of the handle. This particular configuration of the cleaning instrument according to the invention gives it a capacity (multifunctionality and efficiency) of cleaning greater than that observed with the current cleaning instruments while allowing the user to maintain an ergonomic posture, thus avoiding him the appearance of musculoskeletal lesions during cleanings.

Indeed, the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear portion of the handle passing through the connecting piece connecting the cleaning head to the second eccentric portion of the handle, the force exerted by the user on the cleaning instrument according to the invention, when cleaning a surface, is directly directed and applied to the joining piece. In this way, the entire force applied by the user on the cleaning instrument is transmitted to the cleaning head, contrary to what is observed with the cleaning instruments included in the state of the art when has an eccentric sleeve portion.

Indeed, with the current cleaning instruments, the longitudinal axis of the rectilinear portion of the handle of the cleaning instrument does not cross the connecting piece connecting the eccentric portion of the handle to the cleaning head. Therefore, only a portion of the force applied by the user on the cleaning instrument, from the first substantially straight portion of the handle, will be transmitted to the cleaning head. Thus, for a user-applied force that is equivalent, the cleaning instrument according to the invention will produce a higher cleaning efficiency than that obtained with a current cleaning instrument, some of the force being lost in the second case. (the applied force not being directed towards the part (the point) of connection of the handle to the cleaning head). In other words, to obtain a similar result in terms of cleaning efficiency, the cleaning of a surface made with the aid of the cleaning instrument according to the invention will require the user to provide less energy, that is to say to apply a lower force, than the cleaning of a surface made with the cleaning instruments as described in the state of the art. This allows the user to maintain an ergonomic position since it must not adopt a particular posture to exert sufficient force ensuring adequate cleaning.

In summary, a cleaning instrument according to the invention provides a higher cleaning capacity (multifunctionality and efficiency) while allowing the user to adopt an ergonomic posture. As indicated above, this is possible when the cleaning instrument has a cleaning head that can perform movements relative to the handle, a first rectilinear sleeve portion having a longitudinal axis and a second eccentric sleeve portion inscribed in a rectangle whose median is the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear shaft portion, the junction piece connecting the second eccentric sleeve portion to the cleaning head being traversed by the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear shaft portion.

Indeed, these structural characteristics give the cleaning instrument according to the invention a possibility of effectively cleaning any type of surfaces (multifunctional character) even those whose access is not easy, allowing the user to keep an ergonomic position throughout cleaning and avoiding any damage to surfaces and / or cleaned objects.

When cleaning the upper part of a cabinet, the pivoting head (that is to say the head can perform movements relative to the handle) of the cleaning instrument according to the invention makes it easy to clean all areas of the surface in several different directions. Moreover, the second sleeve portion being eccentric (inscribed in a rectangle whose median is the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear sleeve portion) and being free of material joining pieces (unlike the instrument for cleaning the document US6119311), it not only avoids obstacles (eg the front of the cabinet) but also reduces the risk of damage to objects to be cleaned or surrounding surfaces (such as walls or ceilings ). In addition, such a configuration according to the invention allows the user to maintain a usual and ergonomic position at the ground level (thus avoiding the use of a ladder, for example) while ensuring optimum cleaning efficiency for a user. force given and applied from the first substantially rectilinear portion of the handle.

The swiveling cleaning head thus makes it possible to position the second eccentric sleeve portion in the desired direction, which enables the user to effectively clean hard-to-reach areas, for example the back of a radiator or the underside of the radiator. 'furniture.

Furthermore, the connecting piece which connects the second eccentric sleeve portion and the cleaning head being located on the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear shaft portion, the entire force exerted by the user on the instrument of cleaning is transmitted to the cleaning head, the user thus providing no unnecessary energy and can also, thanks to this configuration of the cleaning instrument according to the invention, work in a proper ergonomic position.

Thus, the cleaning instrument according to the invention offers the user a superior cleaning ability to current cleaning instruments by its efficiency and multifunctionality (all types of surfaces such as floors, corners, areas located between two objects close to each other, behind a radiator or the top of a cabinet), while allowing the user to maintain an ergonomic posture throughout the cleaning process.

Preferably, according to the invention, a distance defined between said median and a side of said rectangle parallel to said median is less than 70% of a length of said cleaning head.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said distance defined between said median and a side of said rectangle parallel to said median is between 10 cm and 35 cm and is preferably equal to 20 cm.

It has been shown that these measures optimize the technical effect of the cleaning instrument according to the invention, namely to adequately clean all types of surfaces even those that are difficult to access (such as, for example, the back of a radiator or the top of a cabinet) while allowing the user to maintain a usual and ergonomic position.

For example, in the case where the distance defined between the median and a side of the rectangle parallel to the median would be too small (less than 10 cm), the user would be limited in terms of access to the objects to be cleaned, for example during cleaning the bottom of the upper surface of a cabinet where he would be forced to climb a ladder and therefore would not be in a normal working position. Similarly, the use of the handle forming the cleaning instrument according to the invention which this distance would be too large (greater than 35 cm) would not be easy because of the size that such a distance generates and would make it difficult to cleaning of restricted areas, as well as maintaining a usual cleaning position.

Preferably according to the invention, the ratio between a length of said second eccentric shaft portion and a total length of said shaft is between 50% and 70%, said length of said second eccentric shaft portion being less than 1 m.

These parameters make it possible to optimize the cleaning instrument according to the invention. Indeed, in order to allow the user to maintain an ergonomic posture when cleaning any type of surface, even the most difficult to reach, it has been highlighted that a ratio included in 50% and 70% is preferable between the length of the second eccentric sleeve portion and the total length of the shaft.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the instrument according to the invention, said connecting piece connecting said cleaning head to said second eccentric sleeve portion is a double hinge.

Preferably, according to the invention, said connecting piece connecting said cleaning head to said second eccentric sleeve portion is a ball joint.

In addition, in a particular embodiment, said first rectilinear handle portion is telescopic. This feature makes the cleaning instrument according to the invention even more efficient and versatile by allowing the user to reach areas that are difficult to access with a cleaning instrument having a standard size, such as ceilings, and maintain an ergonomic posture.

Advantageously, said connecting piece connecting said cleaning head and said second eccentric sleeve portion is offset from the center of said cleaning head. Such an arrangement may be useful in some cases to further improve access to a restricted area, such as the back of a radiator. The capacity (efficiency and multifunctionality) of such a cleaning instrument (whose junction piece is shifted) is retained because the longitudinal axis of the first rectilinear sleeve portion passes well through the connecting piece connecting the second eccentric sleeve portion at the cleaning head.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the instrument according to the invention, said cleaning head is removable. In this way, the cleaning head can be either support (for example a mainly flat support for fixing a disposable cloth, fabric or wipe) and can adopt many forms. (for example a classic brush or a mop with fringes). Other embodiments of a cleaning implement are indicated in the appended claims. The invention also relates to a handle for a cleaning instrument according to the invention, said handle comprising: a first portion of substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a second shaft portion defined between a first end connected to said first portion and between a second end arranged to be connected to a cleaning head via a junction piece allowing said cleaning head to move relative to said handle and vice versa, said second portion having, between said first and second ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis. Other embodiments of a handle for a cleaning instrument according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims. The invention also relates to a kit for forming a cleaning instrument according to the invention, said kit comprising: - a cleaning head, and - a handle comprising - a first substantially rectilinear handle portion having a longitudinal axis, and - a second sleeve part defined between a first end connected to said first part and between a second end connected to said cleaning head via a junction piece allowing said cleaning head to make movements with respect to said handle and conversely, said second portion having, between said first and said second ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis. Other embodiments of a kit for forming a cleaning instrument according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims. The invention also relates to the use of a cleaning instrument according to the invention for cleaning floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, windows, or areas in confined areas, and the like. Other forms of use of a cleaning instrument according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims. The invention also relates to the use of a handle arranged to form a cleaning instrument according to the invention for cleaning floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, windows, or areas located in places restricted, and the like. Other forms of use of a handle arranged to form a cleaning instrument according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims. Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description given below, without limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a cleaning instrument as described in the state of the art.

Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are schematic views of four cleaning instruments according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of another cleaning instrument according to the invention.

In the figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

Figure 1 illustrates a cleaning instrument 1 as described in the state of the art. This cleaning instrument 1 comprises: - a cleaning head 5 and - a handle 2 comprising - a first portion 3 substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis APi, and - a second portion 4 of sleeve defined between a first end E- connected to said first part 3 by means of a junction device Dj and between a second end E2 connected to said cleaning head 5 via a junction piece 6 allowing said cleaning head 5 making movements relative to said handle 2 and vice versa, said second portion 4 having, between said first Ei and said second E2 ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis APi,

According to this cleaning instrument 1 described in the previous document US6119311, the longitudinal axis AP1 of the first portion 3 of rectilinear shaft does not pass through the connecting piece 6 connecting the second portion 4 of eccentric shaft to the cleaning head 5. By therefore, a portion of the force applied by the user from the first part 3 of straight handle will be lost, this force not being directed towards the connecting piece 6 connecting the second part 4 of eccentric sleeve to the head of cleaning 5.

Similarly, the presence of a junction device Dj connecting the first rectilinear portion 3 and the second arciform portion 4 of the handle 2 does not allow such a cleaning instrument 1 to reach restricted spaces. Indeed, this junction device Dj allowing the junction between the two parts of the handle 2 being bulky, it constitutes, in addition to the second arciform portion 4 of the handle 2, a significant space in a direction perpendicular to this second part 4.

FIG. 2a illustrates a cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention, this cleaning instrument comprising: - a cleaning head 5, and - a handle 2 comprising - a first part 3 of substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis Api, and - a second sleeve portion 4 defined between a first end Ei connected to said first part 3 and between a second end E2 connected to said cleaning head 5 via a junction piece 6 allowing said cleaning head 5 making movements relative to said handle 2 and vice versa, said second portion 4 having, between said first E1 and said second E2 ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis Api.

According to this particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2a, said junction piece 6 is situated on said longitudinal axis AP1 of said first part 3 of said handle 2.

This cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention allows the user to clean all types of surfaces, even the most difficult to reach, while allowing him to maintain an ergonomic working position and to obtain an adequate cleaning efficiency, this unlike current cleaning instruments that are not optimal. Furthermore, such an arrangement of the junction piece 6 provides a compact instrument 1 which can therefore reach restricted areas and / or difficult to access without causing the slightest damage.

Figure 2b shows the same elements as those shown in Figure 2a. The principle of the cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention is identical to that described in Figure 2a (passage of the longitudinal axis Api by the junction piece 6). This FIG. 2b is therefore identical to FIG. 2a with the difference that the second eccentric sleeve portion 4 delimits, with the longitudinal axis Api, a triangle shape.

Figure 2c shows the same elements as those illustrated in Figure 2a. The principle of the cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention is identical to that described in Figure 2a (passage of the longitudinal axis Api by the junction piece 6). This FIG. 2c is therefore identical to FIG. 2a with the difference that the second eccentric sleeve portion 4 delimits, with the longitudinal axis APi, a shape of an arc of a circle.

Figure 2d shows the same elements as those shown in Figure 2a. The principle of the cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention is identical to that described in Figure 2a (passage of the longitudinal axis APi by the junction piece 6). This Figure 2d is identical to Figure 2a with the difference that the second part 4 of eccentric sleeve delimits, with the longitudinal axis AP1l a form of rectangle.

FIG. 3 is completely identical to FIG. 2a but illustrates that the connecting piece 6 connecting the second eccentric sleeve portion 4 to the cleaning head 5 may have a certain offset with respect to the center of the cleaning head. 5. The principle of the cleaning instrument 1 is identical to that described in Figure 2a (passage of the longitudinal axis Api by the connecting piece 6).

With the various cleaning instruments 1 according to the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 3, the longitudinal axis AP1 of the first rectilinear sleeve portion 3 passing through the connecting piece 6 connecting the head 5 at the second eccentric sleeve portion 5, the force exerted by the user on the cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention, when cleaning a surface, is directly directed and applied to the connecting piece 6 In this way, the entire force applied by the user on the cleaning instrument 1 is transmitted to the cleaning head 5. This allows the user to maintain an ergonomic position since he must not adopt a special posture to exert sufficient force to ensure proper cleaning.

It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

A cleaning implement (1) comprising - a cleaning head (5), and - a handle (2) comprising - a first substantially straight handle portion (3) having a longitudinal axis (AP1), and - a second portion (4) defined between a first end (Et) connected to said first portion (3) and between a second end (E2) connected to said cleaning head (5) via a connecting piece (6); ) allowing said cleaning head (5) to make movements with respect to said handle (2) and vice versa, said second portion (4) having, between said first (E-ι) and said second (E2) ends, at at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis (AP1), characterized in that said joining piece (6) is situated on said longitudinal axis (AP1) of said first part (3) of said handle (2). 2. Cleaning instrument (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a distance (d) defined between said median and a side of said rectangle parallel to said median is less than 70% of a length (LT) of said cleaning head (5). 3. cleaning instrument (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said distance (d) defined between said median and a side of said rectangle parallel to said median is between 10 cm and 35 cm and is preferably equal to 20 cm. cm. 4. Cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ratio between a length of said second eccentric sleeve portion (LP2) and a total length of said handle (M) is between 50% and 70%, said length of said second eccentric sleeve portion (Lp2) being less than 1 m. 5. cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said junction piece (6) connecting said cleaning head (5) to said second portion (4) eccentric sleeve is a double hinge. Cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said connecting piece (6) connecting said cleaning head (5) to said second eccentric sleeve portion (4) is a patella. 7. Cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first portion (3) of straight handle is telescopic. 8. cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said connecting piece (6) connecting said cleaning head (5) and said second portion (4) eccentric sleeve is shifted relative to the center of said cleaning head (5). 9. Cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said cleaning head (5) is removable. 10. Handle (2) for a cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said handle (2) comprising: - a first portion (3) substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis (APi) and a second sleeve portion (4) defined between a first end (E-ι) connected to said first part (3) and between a second end (E2) arranged to be connected to a cleaning head (5) by via a junction piece (6) allowing said cleaning head (5) to move relative to said handle (2) and vice versa, said second portion (4) having between said first (Ei) and said second (E2) ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis (Api). 11. Kit for forming a cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said kit comprising: - a cleaning head (5), and - a handle (2) comprising - a first part (3) ) of substantially rectilinear shaft having a longitudinal axis (Api), and - a second sleeve portion (4) defined between a first end (E1) connected to said first portion (3) and between a second end (E2) connected to said cleaning head (5) via a junction piece (6) allowing said cleaning head (5) to move relative to said handle (2) and vice versa, said second portion (4) having between said first (E-ι) and said second (E2) ends, at least one eccentric sleeve portion and being further inscribed in a rectangle whose median is defined by said longitudinal axis (Api). 12. Use of a cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for cleaning floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, windows, or areas in restricted areas, and the like. 13. Use of a handle (2) arranged to form a cleaning instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for cleaning floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, windows, or areas in confined areas, and the like.