CA2666827C

CA2666827C - Cleaning container

Info

Publication number: CA2666827C
Application number: CA2666827A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ralf Juergens; David Mcknight; Norbert Weis
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2007-09-14
Publication date: 2011-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-14
Also published as: US20100314272A1; CA2666827A1; DE102006050475A1; DE102006050475B4; EP2091400A1; WO2008046482A1; TW200840534A; TWI333414B

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning container (1) for a cleaning device (4) comprising a handle (6) and a cleaning head (5), in particular for a lavatory brush. Said cleaning container (1) comprises a primary compartment (3) for cleaning and storing the cleaning device (4), in addition to a secondary compartment (13), which is connected to the primary compartment (3) via a passage (16) and which contains a unit for applying a cleaning fluid to the cleaning device (4) in the primary compartment (3). To guarantee a hygienic, simple operation, in particular when the cleaning container (1) is emptied and cleaned, according to the invention the primary compartment (3) and secondary compartment (13) are designed as separate container elements (2, 12) that are detachably interconnected

Description

CLEANING CONTAINER
Technical Background The invention relates to a cleaning container for a cleaning device, which has a handle and a cleaning head, in particular for a toilet brush, such that the cleaning container has a main chamber for cleaning and storing the cleaning device and a secondary chamber connected to the main chamber through an opening passage and having a device for treating the cleaning device in the main chamber with a cleaning fluid.
State of the Art A cleaning container of the generic type is known from DE 198 04 064 Al. The known cleaning container for a toilet brush has a main chamber for storing and cleaning the toilet brush. The main chamber is connected to a secondary chamber through an opening; a spray bottle or a dispenser with a disinfecting gas or a disinfecting liquid is contained in this secondary chamber. In addition, an opening mechanism for the spray bottle or the dispenser is provided which can be operated either by hand or by appropriate levers or cams on the brush head or on the handle on insertion of the toilet brush into the main chamber. In operation of the opening mechanism, disinfecting liquid and/or a disinfecting gas is dispensed from the spray bottle or the dispenser and passed through the abovementioned opening between the chambers to the brush head. The opening mechanism is operated against spring force, so that the spray bottle and/or the dispenser is in the open position only briefly. Due to the fact that the brush head is exposed to the disinfecting agent within the relatively limited space of the cleaning chamber, it should be possible, according to the cited patent, to free the brush head of bacterial contaminants within a few hours. The usual agents used for cleaning toilets should be suitable as the disinfectant.

One disadvantage of the known cleaning container is that the possibility of contamination residues or residues of the disinfectant collecting on the bottom of the main chamber and contaminating it over a period of time cannot be ruled out. No cleaning of the container is provided according to the cited patent. However, this would be very complex in any case.

The entire bulky container would have to be inverted and rinsed out after dismantling the spray bottle or the dispenser. With this tedious handling, the possibility cannot be ruled out that contamination residues might enter the environment.

Description of the Invention The object of the present invention is to improve upon a cleaning container of the generic type so that cleaning of the cleaning container is easily possible with simple means and under hygienic conditions even after use.
According to the invention, it is provided that in a cleaning container for a cleaning device which has a handle and a cleaning head in particular for a toilet brush, whereby the cleaning container has a main chamber for cleaning and storage of the cleaning device and a secondary chamber connected to the main chamber through an opening with a device for treating the cleaning device with a cleaning fluid in the main chamber, the main chamber and the secondary chamber are designed as separate container elements which are detachably joined together.

It has surprisingly been found that even this simple design measure is fully sufficient to allow emptying and cleaning of the cleaning container in a simple and hygienic manner.
For emptying and cleaning, the container element with the main chamber is easily detached from the container element with the secondary chamber with the cleaning fluid and cleaned separately. Following the cleaning, the two container elements can easily be joined together again. Another advantage of the inventive cleaning container is that the container element with the main chamber may be embodied with a very simple geometric design, e.g., in the manner of a pot, so it is very simple to clean. Since the size of the container element does not significantly exceed the size of a brush head in order to achieve the highest possible concentration of cleaning fluid in the main chamber with the most economical possible dosing, it is readily possible to pivot it out into a bath of cleaning fluid.

The two container elements are advantageously joined together by a plug connection because the two parts can be released from one another very easily with minimal force and are rejoined again.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the container element with the device for treating the cleaning device with a cleaning fluid is designed as a base body on which the container element with the main chamber can be set down. Such an arrangement can be designed not only in a very attractive manner visually but also in particular has the advantage that the container element to be cleaned can easily be lifted upward. It is also readily possible to change the container with the cleaning fluid in this way.
In addition, the socket container may be designed to be wider than the container element with the main chamber to thereby ensure a secure and stable position of the entire cleaning container without any negative effect on the optical impression or making the entire cleaning container too large.

To prevent evaporation of the cleaning fluid out of the cleaning container, the container element with the main chamber can preferably be sealed.

The sealing may be accomplished, for example, by means of a cover element on the handle of the cleaning device such that the cover element can be placed from above onto the edge area of the main chamber on insertion of the cleaning device into the main chamber. The cover element may either be integrally molded in one piece on the handle or may be manufactured separately and detachably or permanently attached to it.
In addition the sealing effect may also be increased by means of a sealing ring.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the main chamber can be sealed by means of two hemispherical elements that are hinge-connected to the upper circumferential area of the base body and can be pivoted toward one another.
This embodiment not only has the advantage that it looks very attractive in both the opened and closed states but also has the additional advantage that it is not necessary to attach a cover element to the handle of the cleaning device, so the latter is easier to handle. Furthermore, replacement by a cleaning device that does not have a fully identical geometric design is more likely to be possible than in the case of the,integrated cover element described above.

Another advantage is that due to this relatively simple design measure, when the hemispherical elements are opened, the inlet opening is large enough that insertion of the cleaning device vertically from above is possible with no problem. Since the hemispherical elements form a type of funnel with walls that widen essentially in a conical shape toward the top when opened, any drops that may fall down are collected and directed into the interior of the container. In no case is there any unwanted or unaesthetic contamination of the outside wall of the cleaning container.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, devices may be provided which lead to automatic pivoting of the two hemispherical elements into their sealed position on insertion of the cleaning device. Those skilled in the art are well aware of such devices.
For example, they may comprise lever elements. For automatic opening on removal of the cleaning device, the hemispherical elements may be designed and/or arranged in such a way that they are pivoted apart merely on the basis of gravity when the pressure on the level elements is removed.

The mechanisms for treating the cleaning device with cleaning fluid preferably comprise a spray bottle, a cartridge or a dispenser with cleaning fluid, as they are known from the state of the art. The storage and targeted dosing of the cleaning fluid are especially simple in this case. The spray bottle and/or the cartridge or the dispenser must be located in a secondary chamber within the corresponding container element of the cleaning container so that the cleaning fluid can pass through the common opening into the main chamber to the cleaning device which is to be cleaned. There are no further restrictions with regard to the geometric arrangement. Thus the secondary chamber may be arranged either centrally or non-centrally with respect to the main axis of the cleaning container.
Advantageously however the cleaning head of the cleaning element, as is known from the state of the art, is acted upon with cleaning fluid from beneath to achieve the best possible cleaning result.

Dosing of the cleaning fluid may be accomplished easily by triggering the opening mechanisms already present with the spray bottles, cartridges and/or dispensers, e.g., by depressing the head on the spray bottle and/or the cartridge or the dispenser.

Operation of the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser may be done easily by hand. In the case of an inventive cleaning container, however, an operating mechanism is advantageously provided for automatic operation of the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser or some other mechanism that may be provided for acting upon the cleaning device with cleaning fluid and it can be triggered, for example, by insertion of the cleaning device into the cleaning container. Such automatic operating mechanisms are essentially known. They are usually based on the fact that protrusions, levers or the like are provided on the cleaning container and are arranged in such a way that on insertion of the cleaning device into the cleaning container, they trigger the opening mechanism on the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser, for example, in particular by depressing the head on the spray bottle of the cartridge or the dispenser.

In addition, an automatic reset mechanism for closing the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser after briefly releasing cleaning fluid or some other device for treating the cleaning device with cleaning fluid is advantageously also provided. Such resetting mechanisms are known per se. For the sake of simplicity, spring elements which counteract the movement for releasing the operating mechanism are used for this purpose.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a timer is provided for operating the opening mechanism. In this way, a cleaning may be performed at regular freely adjustable intervals in particular during long storage times without the use of the cleaning device. If the cleaning fluid that is used also contains perfumes, a regular release of fragrance into the room is also achieved as a side effect due to the lack of a hermetic seal on the cleaning container.

The cleaning container described above should be used in particular in the area of sanitary applications, especially preferably for cleaning toilet brushes. In general, however, the inventive cleaning container is suitable for hygienic cleaning and storage of all types of cleaning devices, which are characterized by a handle and a cleaning head, e.g., also for cleaning toothbrushes.
The inventive cleaning container can be used not only for cleaning brushes but in principle may also be used for such cleaning devices in which the cleaning head is not designed as a brush but instead as a molded body made of foam or a nonwoven or the like.

All conceivable cleaning agents in the sanitary field are suitable as the cleaning fluid.
In particular for use in the toilet area, cleaning fluids containing so-called "drying accelerators," i.e., for example, liquids which mix with water to form an azeotrope, are preferred. For example alcohols, in particular ethanol or isopropyl alcohol are suitable as such drying accelerators.

In addition, the cleaning fluids that maybe used within the scope of the present invention contain antibacterial/antimicrobial substances that are known per se, in particular quaternary ammonium salts, e.g., octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate and phenols, e.g., o-phenylphenol, o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol, triclosan, silver and silver salts, hydrogen peroxide in free or bound form, hypochlorites or chlorine in free and in bound form.

As mentioned above, the cleaning fluid may also contain perfume additives.
An especially preferred cleaning agent contains:
0.1% alkyl [50% C(14), 40% C(12), 10% C(16)] dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate 79% ethanol 20.9% other additives and inert additives.

In addition to the device described above for treating the cleaning device with a cleaning fluid, other devices, e.g., lamps for fluorescent light for killing bacteria or the like are provided for cleaning the cleaning device.

The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional diagram through an inventive cleaning container according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional diagram of an inventive cleaning container according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cleaning container 1 having a first container element 2 with a main chamber 3 in which a cleaning device 4 with a cleaning head 5 and a handle 6 is situated.
The cleaning device 4 in the embodiment depicted here is a toilet brush without any restriction on generality. The cleaning head 5 has bristles 7. The main chamber 3 is closed and sealed toward the outside by means of a cover element 8 arranged on the handle 6 of the cleaning device 1. An additional seal is achieved by the sealing ring 9 which rests on a step-shaped shoulder 10 in the inside area of the wall I 1 of the container element 2.
Reference number 12 in the figure denotes a second container element which has a secondary chamber 13. A spray bottle 15 containing a cleaning fluid is arranged in a hollow cylindrical holder 14 at the side of the secondary chamber 13. The main chamber 3 and the secondary chamber 13 are connected to one another at the height of the head 17 of the spray bottle 15 through an opening 16. In addition, a supporting element 18 with a spring element 19, the function of which will be discussed in greater detail below, is also situated in the secondary chamber 13.

It can be seen in the figure that the main chamber 3 and the secondary chamber according to the invention are designed as separate container elements 2, 12.
In particular the container element 2 is inserted into the container element 12 in the embodiment shown here. The container element 2 is supported here on the head 17 of the spray bottle 15 and on the supporting element 18 with the spring element 19. Several supporting elements 18 distributed over the circumference of the container element 12 may expediently be provided with spring elements 19. For emptying, cleaning or changing the spray bottle 15, the container element 2 is easily lifted upward out of the container element 12. Following the cleaning process and/or after replacing the spray bottle 15, the container element 2 may again be inserted from above into the container element 12.
The container element 12 has a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the container element 2 bordering the main chamber 3 and therefore forms a type of base body for the container element 2 so that a greater stability is achieved.

The container element 2 has a shield 20 which extends horizontally outward on its outside circumference in the lower area, serving to rest on the supporting elements 18 with the spring bodies 19 as well as on the head 17 of the spray bottle 15. In the area of the head 17 of the spray bottle 15, the shield 20 has an axial extent, which serves as the operating element 21 for the spray bottle 15. By briefly exerting pressure on the handle 6 of the cleaning device 4, the container element 2 is pressed briefly downward against the spring force of the spring body 19. By means of the operating element 21, the head 17 of the spray bottle 15 is also pressed downward, with the result cleaning fluid comes out for a short period of time and passes through the opening 16 into the main chamber 3 with the cleaning head 5. Due to the fact that the main chamber 3 is sealed with respect to the outside, as described above, the cleaning fluid acts on the cleaning head 5 of the cleaning device 4 in such a high concentration that a very good disinfection effect is achieved after only a short period of time.

Fig. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the invention. The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the secondary chamber for the spray bottle 15 is formed by a centrally arranged hollowed cylindrical receptacle 22 in the container element 12. A radial expansion 23 to receive the container element 2 is connected to the hollow cylindrical receptacle 22 toward the top.
The opening 16 to the main chamber 3 of the container element 2 is situated directly above the head 17 of the spray bottle 15 in the bottom of the container element 2 so that in operation of the opening mechanism for the spray bottle 15, the cleaning fluid is sprayed from beneath into the main chamber 3 with the cleaning head 5.

The hollow cylindrical receptacle 22 for the spray bottle 15 as well as the radial expansion 23 for insertion of the container element 2 are bordered by an operating element 24 which can be inserted into a corresponding receptacle 26 in the container element 12 and can be displaced vertically downward with respect to it against the force of a spring element 27 arranged in the bottom of the container element 12. This arrangement allows automatic closing of the container 2 on insertion of the cleaning device 4, as will be described below.
For closing and sealing in the embodiment presented here, two hemispherical elements 28a, 28b are provided so that they are hinge-connected to the upper circumferential area of the container element 12 and can be pivoted toward one another. The two hemispherical elements are in an open position in the figure. For automatic pivoting into the closed position on insertion of the cleaning device 4 into the main chamber 3, lever elements 29a, 29b which are fixedly connected to the hemispherical elements 28a, 28b are provided, these elements being hinge-connected to the container element 12 in the area of the radial expansion on the inside wall as well as on the operating element 24.

In exerting pressure from above onto the container element 2, e.g., in adjusting the cleaning device 4 into the main chamber 3, it is moved downward (the element is moved downward) and exerts a corresponding pressure on the operating element 24, which is also moved downward against the spring force of the spring element 27 in the same way. Due to this movement of the operating element 24, the lever elements 29a, 29b which are hinge-connected to the operating element 24, are tilted downward, which leads to a pivoting movement of the hemispherical elements 28a, 28b in the direction of their closed position. In the ideal case the spring force of the spring element 27 and the weight of the cleaning device 4 are coordinated with one another in such a way that the insertion of the cleaning device 4 leads only to closing of the container element 2 so that the opening mechanism of the spray bottle 15 is triggered only when further pressure is exerted on the handle 6 of the cleaning device 4. This has the advantage that the cleaning device 4 can be stored in the closed container element 2 without automatically resulting in triggering of the opening mechanism of the spray bottle 15.

In the embodiment shown here, the spray bottle 15 protrudes into the receptacle for the container element 2 in the area of the radial expansion 23 to such an extent that by additional brief depression after insertion of the cleaning device 4 into the main chamber 3 and pivoting of the hemispherical elements 28a, 28b into their closed position, the spray head 17 is briefly depressed, with the result that cleaning fluid is briefly sprayed upward into the main chamber 3.
It can also be seen in the figure that the bottom 31 of the container element 12 is elevated in the area of the opening 16 to prevent liquid from flowing out through the opening 16.

Claims

1. A cleaning container for a cleaning device which has a handle and a cleaning head connected to the handle, the cleaning container comprising a main chamber for cleaning and storing the cleaning device, and a secondary chamber connected to the main chamber through an opening and having a device for treating the cleaning device in the main chamber with a cleaning fluid, wherein the main chamber and the secondary chamber are defined by separate container elements which are detachably connectable to one another, wherein the container element with the device for treating the cleaning device with a cleaning fluid is designed as a base body for supporting thereon the container element with the main chamber.

2. The cleaning container according to claim 1, wherein the two container elements are detachably joined.

3. The cleaning container according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the container element with the main chamber can be sealed.

4. The cleaning container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container element with the main chamber can be sealed by means of a cover element, which is situated on the handle of the cleaning device and can be placed from above onto an edge area of the main chamber on insertion of the cleaning device into the main chamber.

5. The cleaning container according to claim 3, wherein the base body includes two hemispherical elements that are hinge-connected to an upper circumferential area of the base body and can be pivoted toward one another and the main chamber can be sealed by the hemispherical elements.

6. The cleaning container according to claim 5, wherein the hemispherical elements pivot toward one another on insertion of the cleaning device, the cleaning container further comprising devices for automatically sealing the main chamber by the two hemispherical elements upon pivoting of the hemispherical elements toward one another.

7. The cleaning container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the devices for treating the cleaning device with cleaning fluid comprise a spray bottle, a cartridge or a dispenser with cleaning fluid.

8. The cleaning container according to claim 7, wherein an operating mechanism for operating the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser is provided and is triggered by insertion of the cleaning device into the cleaning container.

9. The cleaning container according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising a reset means for closing the spray bottle, the cartridge or the dispenser after a brief release of cleaning fluid.

10. The cleaning container according to claim 9 wherein the container element with the device for treating the cleaning device with a cleaning fluid is designed as a base body onto which the container element with the main chamber can be placed., wherein the reset mechanism is operated by the use of spring force.