DK2667761T3 - Manually operated cleaning device and wiping cover - Google Patents
Manually operated cleaning device and wiping cover Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- DK2667761T3 DK2667761T3 DK11758464.9T DK11758464T DK2667761T3 DK 2667761 T3 DK2667761 T3 DK 2667761T3 DK 11758464 T DK11758464 T DK 11758464T DK 2667761 T3 DK2667761 T3 DK 2667761T3
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- DK
- Denmark
- Prior art keywords
- elements
- handle
- fastening
- wiping
- attachment
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
- A47L13/20—Mops
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
- A47L13/20—Mops
- A47L13/24—Frames for mops; Mop heads
- A47L13/254—Plate frames
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
- A47L13/42—Details
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G3/00—Attaching handles to the implements
- B25G3/02—Socket, tang, or like fixings
- B25G3/06—Socket, tang, or like fixings with multiple socket, e.g. T-socket
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G3/00—Attaching handles to the implements
- B25G3/38—Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints
Description
Description
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a hand-operated cleaning device having a handle with a gripping stem and a cleaning head and to a wiping cover comprising a textile element which may be connected releasably to a handle.
State of the art
Numerous hand-operated cleaning devices are known in the state of the art. They comprise a gripping stem to be gripped by the operator and have a cleaning head usually connected in hinged manner to the gripping stem, which cleaning head itself is designed as a cleaning device, for example is a sweeping device or a stripping device, or can be fastened to the one cleaning device, such as for example a wiping cover.
In particular wiping mops in the state of the art consist of three basic elements. They are firstly the gripping stem, secondly a mop holder, which can be connected in hinged manner to the gripping stem, and as the third element, a wiping cover which may be connected to the mop holder. In order to connect a wiping cover to a mop holder, various concepts are known. The wiping cover may be attached via a Velcro connection or a further releasable connection to a rigidly designed, plate-like mop holder. Alternatively, in the state of the art solutions are also known, according to which the mop holder may be inserted in storage pouches of a mop cover. For this purpose, the plate-like mop holders are provided with folding wings which for cleaning or changing the wiping cover may be brought from an extended position with folding wings locked against one another to a second position, in which the folding wings are closed one on another. In this position, the wiping cover may be either cleaned suspended on the mop holder or pressed out in a press or removed completely from the mop holder. The mop holders usually designed in elongated shape may thus be folded against one another about a pivoting axis in longitudinal direction, as is known from European granted patent 0 757 903, or also may be pivoted about an axis vertical to the longitudinal extension of the mop holder, as described for example in European granted patent 0 663 178.
The wiping cover known from United States application 4 715 081 has an insert which is placed in a pouch-like textile element. The textile element has a central opening for attachment elements of the insert. A further wiping cover is known from European application 1 961 359. It is thus a pouch-like textile element which has an opening arranged centrally relative to the longitudinal axis. The two layers forming the pouch are thus adhered to one another. The opening serves to receive a wiping plate as part of the cleaning device.
Such cleaning devices designed as a wiping mop indeed allow simple and easy exchange of the wiping cover, but the mop holder itself is connected firmly to the mop holder via a universal joint. To carry out other cleaning tasks, a separate, hand-operated cleaning device with separate gripping stem and separate cleaning head, for example in the form of a broom, must be carried separately by the cleaning personnel.
The operation of the wiping mop described above in the state of the art is indeed simple, but it should be established time after time that untrained cleaning personnel even with mop holders with only one single foot-operated control button still have problems. Therefore there is a need for a hand-operated cleaning device which is built firstly in modular manner and can be operated independently of the cleaning head used always in the same and as simple as possible manner.
Belgian 1 009 772 A6 describes a hand-operated cleaning device which comprises a handle with a gripping stem and a fastening device which has a fastening element. The fastening element cooperates with a dimensionally stable cleaning head. The ferromagnetic end of the handle is thus fastened to a magnet of the cleaning head.
French application 1 056 318 shows a hand-operated cleaning device. The gripping stem thus has two arms which have in each case an angular end directed away from each another and which can be introduced into a correspondingly arranged mounting of a plate-like element of a mop cover. After introducing the angular ends into the mountings of the wiping mop, the angular ends are held positively and to be rotatable relative to the plate of the wiping mop so that the handle is fastened to the wiping mop and can be pivoted relative to the latter. French application 1 056 318 is the closest state of the art.
Presentation of the invention
The object of the invention is to propose a hand-operated cleaning device which can be fastened to a cleaning head in as simple and easy as possible manner. The invention also relates to a wiping cover which is such a cleaning head.
This object is achieved by a hand-operated cleaning device having the features of claim 1 or 2 and a wiping cover having the features of claim 11 or 12. Preferred embodiments follow from the remaining claims.
The hand-operated cleaning device of the invention comprises a handle with a gripping stem and a fastening device which comprises two fastening elements, and a cleaning head which comprises two attachment elements which are arranged and designed so that they can be coupled to the fastening elements of the handle. At least one fastening element and the associated attachment element comprise permanent magnets which are preferably embedded in plastic or at least one fastening element comprises an electromagnet. In other words, the connection between the handle and the cleaning head is effected at least at two attachment points. Each attachment point consists of a fastening element on the handle and an associated attachment element on the cleaning head. At least one such fastening pair consisting of fastening element and attachment element thus has permanent magnets or an electromagnet. In order to reduce or to completely avoid corrosion of the magnets in the cleaning insert, the permanent magnets or electromagnets are preferably embedded completely in plastic or in nonmagnetic metal, that is, metal having low magnetic susceptibility.
Alternatively, the hand-operated cleaning device of the invention comprises a handle with a gripping stem and a fastening device which comprises two fastening elements, and a cleaning head which comprises two attachment elements which are arranged and designed so that they can be coupled to the two fastening elements of the handle. Both fastening elements comprise a permanent magnet or an electromagnet which can be coupled to one or two elements made from ferromagnetic material of the two attachment elements. As also according to the first alternative design mentioned above, the connection between the handle and the cleaning head is effected at least at two attachment points. Each attachment point thus produces a magnetic connection between the handle and the cleaning head.
The advantage of the solution of the invention consists in that firstly different cleaning heads can be connected to the handle in a simple manner. Since at least one pair of permanent magnets or one electromagnet is provided, the connection between handle and cleaning head may be designed so that two attachment points are provided between handle and cleaning head and one or both attachment points have a magnetic connection. In this manner the cleaning head may be attached to the handle in very simple manner, removed again from the latter and replaced by a further cleaning head. A further advantage of the use of permanent magnets or electromagnets consists in that they may define a preset releasing force depending on arrangement and strength. A preset releasing force ensures that during use, the cleaning head is not released in undesirable manner from the handle. At the same time it is however possible to ensure due to the use of a magnetic connection that a certain tensile force is not exceeded. In other words, the connection between handle and cleaning head can be set so that the cleaning head remains coupled to the handle during proper use, but can be released from the handle without problems as soon as an increased action of force occurs. Such a situation occurs not only when the operator pulls specifically on the handle and for example thus fixes the cleaning head with a foot, but may also occur in situations when for example with a dry-wiping head or wet-wiping head, the latter remains suspended on a table leg. If in such a case, the handle is then released from the wiping head, damage may possibly be avoided, because otherwise the cleaning device could pull jerkily on the table leg and could thus cause objects on the table to fall.
Furthermore, the connection by means of magnets however also serves to design the connection simply. Since strong permanent magnets only have to be applied in relative proximity to one another to be mutually centred and to produce a connection with one another, the connection between handle and cleaning head may be significantly simplified. The further attachment point may likewise be formed via a pair of permanent magnets. In this case it is particularly simple for the cleaning personnel to couple the handle to the cleaning head. However, in the same manner it is conceivable that only one attachment point is formed via permanent magnets and a simple positive connection is located on the other side. Also in this case, the attachment is simple because the two fastening elements and attachment elements may be designed so that for coupling of the cleaning head to the handle, first of all the first fastening element of the handle is connected to the associated attachment element of the cleaning head, in that for example one of the two elements engages in the other positively. Then the handle only has to be pivoted until the permanent magnets have been brought close enough to one another that they are automatically coupled to one another. Hence, the handle has to be arranged exactly only at one point corresponding to the cleaning head by the cleaning personnel, whereas the second connecting point no longer has to be placed so exactly since the permanent magnets automatically take over the required mutual centering.
If according to the alternative design, the two attachment elements have an element made from ferromagnetic material, this has the advantage that the exchangeable cleaning head may be produced using cost-effective materials, whereas the durable handle which can be used frequently with different cleaning heads has the permanent magnets or electromagnets which can be coupled in each case to an element made from ferromagnetic material of the two attachment elements.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning head is a sweeping device, wet-wiping device, stripping device or a window cleaning device. These different cleaning heads are often required in professional use of cleaning forces so that currently usually separate cleaning devices are carried for the various tasks. The solution of the invention facilitates coupling of different cleaning heads to one and the same handle due to the modular structure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning head is a wiping mop. This design is particularly interesting if the wiping mop is designed to be holderless, that is, the handle may be fastened directly to a wiping cover. Differently to drywiping and wet-wiping devices known in the state of the art, the cleaning device of the invention thus consists only of two separately provided elements, namely the handle and the cleaning head which is already the wiping mop. Hence, the handle can be fastened directly to the wiping cover. A mop holder connected in hinged manner to the handle, as used in the state of the art, may be omitted in this case.
At least one fastening element preferably comprises a positive-locking element which forms a positive connection with complementary-shaped positive-locking geometry of the associated attachment element. Different options are thus conceivable. When providing two fastening elements, both fastening elements may comprise magnets, wherein in addition a positive-locking element is provided at one fastening point or both. Furthermore, a magnetic connection may be provided at one of two fastening points and a positive-locking element at the other fastening point. It is also possible to provide positive-locking elements at both fastening points, wherein one fastening point is formed via correspondingly shaped magnets or with those surrounded by corresponding shaping. Finally, it is also conceivable that a magnetic connection with additional positive-locking element is provided only at one of two fastening points, whereas the second fastening point is formed from one fastening element and associated attachment element which in the coupled state have two surfaces with high frictional resistance lying one on another.
In the case of providing a positive-locking element, it is preferably designed so that the positive-locking geometry of the at least one fastening element of the handle comprises a projecting element which is preferably spring-loaded into the projecting position. This constitutes a concrete possibility of how positive-locking geometry may be realised.
The spring-loading of the projecting element facilitates locking of the projecting element into a corresponding depression of the associated attachment element.
This positive-locking geometry is preferably developed to the effect that the positivelocking element of the at least one attachment element is a depression which accommodates the projecting element, and wherein the depression comprises a first region which is shaped in corresponding manner to the geometry of the projecting element, and a second region which comprises a ramp-like slope . A spring-loaded locking nose, which may be released without an unlocking mechanism on the handle, can be designed in this manner. For locking, the spring-loaded projecting element locks into the depression in the associated attachment element with relieving of the spring.
For releasing, the handle may be brought to a certain position relative to the cleaning head, for example exactly in a vertical position relative to the cleaning head lying on a flat base. In this position, a ramp-like slope exists between the depression for the spring-loaded, projecting element and the end face-side surface of the attachment element on the cleaning head. If the handle is brought to this defined position, it may be removed from the cleaning head with a preset tensile force, whereas in other angular positions between handle and cleaning head, the positive connection between the handle-side fastening elements and the cleaning head-side attachment elements does not allow this.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening device of the handle has two pivoting levers which are connected to one another in hinged manner via an axle, wherein each pivoting lever supports a fastening element, and the fastening elements are pretensioned in the direction of the attachment elements by a resilient element, preferably a torsion spring which is arranged on both pivoting levers in the region of the axle. This design of the handle is particularly preferred in connection with the use of at least one attachment point, that is, of a fastening element of the handle and of the associated attachment element of the cleaning head as a positive-locking pairing. Due to the use of pivoting levers, the two fastening elements fastened in each case to one pivoting lever may be pretensioned outwards. In other words, the two fastening elements of the handle are moved away from one another by the spring-loaded pivoting levers and are thus moved essentially in a direction vertically to the longitudinal extension of the handle away from one another. If the associated attachment elements are arranged on the cleaning head so that their contact regions coming into contact with the fastening elements of the handle are facing one another, the fastening elements of the handle are pressed in the direction of the contact elements by the resilient element and thus produce a secure connection between each fastening element and the associated attachment element.
The hand-operated cleaning device further preferably comprises an operating device in the region of the handle, the operation of which changes the position at least of one fastening element and/or of the positive-locking element. To operate the at least one grip-side fastening element and/or positive-locking element of the handle, any variants known in the state of the art are conceivable. Hence, it is possible to provide the fastening elements on pivoting levers, wherein however each pivoting lever is provided with a pulling element, such as for example cable pull, which allows operation of at least one of the fastening elements by a suitable operating element in the region of the handle. A further alternative is the provision of a displacement sleeve in the region of the handle which may be displaced in the axial direction of the handle and in the displaced state acts on one or both spring-loaded pivoting levers as the support of a fastening element. Due to the displacement of the displacement sleeve in the axial direction, one fastening element or even both may thus be changed as regards position, preferably in a direction vertically to the longitudinal extension of the handle and preferably on the longitudinal axis of the handle. In addition to the change in position of at least one fastening element, it is also possible in the same manner to change a positive-locking element as part of the operating element with regard to its position. A change with regard to the position may include an axial displacement of a projecting positivelocking element, but also a twisting of a positive-locking element so that the latter may engage in a correspondingly shaped depression in the associated attachment element and after release of the operating element in the region of the handle is moved back again to the original position, where locking is effected between the fastening element and the attachment element. When designing such a positive-locking connection and in particular the locking described above, care should however be taken that the described advantage of an adjustable releasing force between handle and cleaning head is not prevented.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the attachment elements of the cleaning head have in each case a first contact surface and the first contact surfaces facing one another of the attachment elements are arranged at an angle to one another. The fastening element of the handle has associated second contact surfaces, the angular arrangement of which is complementary to the first contact surfaces. An angular arrangement is understood here to mean that the contact surfaces stand at an angle to any plane in which the longitudinal axis of the handle lies. It can be achieved in this manner that due to the angular design of the surfaces with respect to one another and the corresponding orientation of the angular surfaces with respect to one another, the required force to release the handle from the cleaning head may be configured. Hence, the first contact surfaces may be arranged at an angle to one another so that in a working position, in which the longitudinal axis of the handle is about at an angle of 45° to 60° relative to the cleaning head arranged on a flat base, the withdrawal force is high, whereas in a position in which the longitudinal axis of the handle stands vertically on the cleaning head standing on a flat base, the handle may be released from the cleaning head with low expenditure of force.
According to a further preferred design of the invention, the fastening device comprises two fastening elements, wherein the fastening elements on the handle are mounted to be rotatable on the fastening device. When providing fastening elements in the form of a permanent magnet or electromagnet sheathed with plastic, an additional axis of rotation may thus be cast with coating of the magnet so that a magnet with an essentially cylindrical basic geometry may be attached in simple manner to be rotatable on the handle. The general provision of fastening elements mounted to be rotatable on the fastening device serves to improve the handling of the hand-operated cleaning device, in that when pivoting the handle relative to the cleaning head, the position between the fastening elements and attachment elements is not changed, but they retain a rigid connection to one another and the fastening elements can be pivoted relative to the handle. This necessitates that the axes of rotation of the fastening elements are aligned with one another and are arranged essentially vertically to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
The operating device preferably comprises an element which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the gripping stem, preferably a displacement sleeve, the displacement of which changes the position of at least one fastening element. This embodiment may be used in particular with outwardly spring-loaded limbs. Due to the provision of a sleeve, which can be moved downwards, these pivoting levers expanding outwards may be pressed inwards against the spring force of a torsion spring so that a rigid pin connection, in addition to at least one magnetic connection, can be released in this manner.
The tensile force in the longitudinal direction of the gripping stem to release the connection between handle and cleaning head is preferably more than ION. The presetting of a minimum tensile force of 10 N ensures that there are no working delays due to unintentional, automatic release of the cleaning head from the handle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the hand-operated cleaning device with provision of two attachment elements with elements made from ferromagnetic material, each magnet is arranged so that both magnetic poles are facing one of the elements made from ferromagnetic material and are in operative connection with the latter. Bundling of the magnetic field lines, which from one magnetic pole enters into the ferromagnetic element of the attachment element and emerges from the latter again to the opposite magnetic pole, is produced in this manner. Due to this arrangement between the dipole magnet and the attachment element made from a material with high magnetic susceptibility, a high magnetic holding force can be generated.
Alternatively, the permanent magnets may be arranged so that only one of the magnetic poles is facing one of the elements made from ferromagnetic material, and the permanent magnet is additionally surrounded by a metal body which is in operative connection with the element made from ferromagnetic material. The metal body should thus likewise consist of a material with high magnetic susceptibility, such as for example iron. In this case the metal body, which to maintain a high magnetic force should likewise consist of a material with high magnetic susceptibility, has the function of guiding the magnetic field lines from the one magnetic pole to the other magnetic pole, wherein the field line path runs through the element made from ferromagnetic material of the attachment element and the metal sleeve surrounding the magnet.
The wiping cover of the invention comprises a textile element, to which attachment elements are fastened, wherein at least one of the attachment elements comprises a permanent magnet protected against contact with liquid. The flat wiping cover is additionally designed to be dimensionally stable and can be coupled directly to a rodlike handle. Finally, the attachment elements of the wiping cover are arranged and designed so as to produce a releasable connection with fastening elements of the handle. The important standpoint of the wiping cover of the invention is that it can be coupled directly to a rod-like handle. Thus a separate mop holder is not interposed between the flat wiping cover and a gripping stem. At the same time, the flat wiping cover is however designed to be dimensionally stable. The term “dimensionally stable” thus does not mean however that the wiping cover is completely rigid, but should express that the textile element is indeed flexible, but has a dimensional stability so that the wiping cover essentially retains its shape in the wet state and under its inherent weight of the wiping cover. This means that the flat wiping cover, for example when the whole cleaning device is raised from a flat base using the wiping cover of the invention, essentially retains its shape. The advantage of the dimensional stability consists in that a hand-operated cleaning device may be employed using the wiping cover of the invention, for example for wiping steps. Hence, the cleaning device has to be raised from step to step and placed on the next higher or next lower step. Only one wiping cover designed with sufficient dimensional stability may usefully be employed here, because after placing on the next step, it again rests flatly on the latter. Also for cleaning the risers, it depends on the fact that the wiping cover has an adequate dimensional stability, since otherwise the latter cannot transfer pressure which is exerted by the handle on the wiping cover.
Alternatively, both attachment elements comprise an element made from ferromagnetic material and the attachment elements of the wiping cover are arranged and designed so as to produce a releasable connection with two fastening elements of the handle, wherein at least one fastening element has a permanent magnet. Also in this alternative design, the flat wiping cover is designed to be dimensionally stable, as has been illustrated in the preceding section, and can be coupled directly to a rod-like handle.
According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment elements are connected to one another via a rigid intermediate element. This measure serves to hold the attachment elements of the wiping cover at a preset distance from one another. This is necessary because when cleaning wiping covers at high washing temperatures, a certain shrinkage of the textile material cannot be ruled out. However, since importantly it depends on the exact positioning of the attachment elements present directly on the wiping cover relative to the fastening elements of the handle, the correct distance between the attachment elements may be ensured by connecting the two attachment elements by means of for example a rigid clamp.
According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the textile element is designed like a pouch and provided with an essentially central opening on one of the sides of the textile element for coupling of the handle, wherein the attachment elements are located in the region of the central opening. The provision of a textile element which is designed like a pouch, makes it possible to provide different wiping surfaces with different characteristics on the two main surfaces of the textile element designed like a pouch. Hence, a relatively rough surface may be provided for example on one of the two main surfaces to release adhering dirt, whereas a surface with particularly high absorption capacity is provided on the other side. The term “like a pouch” thus also includes a textile element which is closed all-round with the exception of the central opening.
The textile element preferably comprises fibres, the diameter of which is at least 0.5 dtex and the tensile strength of which is at least 35 cN/tex. Such fibres are particularly suitable to impart an adequate dimensional stability to the wiping cover.
The attachment elements are preferably stitched and/or adhered and/or welded to the textile element. All three fastening variants mentioned are possible as long as when providing permanent magnets in the region of the attachment elements, they are protected against contact with liquid. In order to achieve this, the permanent magnets are preferably completely surrounded by a plastic material so that even the stitching of the attachment elements to the textile element is possible. In addition to the said individual attachment alternatives, any combinations between the said fastening alternatives are however also possible to ensure secure fastening of the attachment elements to the textile element. In the alternative design of the attachment elements with an element made from ferromagnetic material, the same fastening alternatives are possible and advantageous.
In the case of a design of the textile element like a pouch, the wiping cover preferably further comprises a dart in the region of the central opening which is a closed seam about the central opening and connects the two main surfaces of the textile element designed like a pouch to one another. Such a dart closes the central opening so that in the case of using the wiping cover for wet wiping, cleaning liquid cannot flow to a considerable extent into the pouch of the textile element.
In order to provide the wiping cover with adequate dimensional stability, apart from the use of suitable fibres, the wiping cover preferably comprises one or more stiffening elements which are provided in addition to the attachment elements and are stitched or adhered to the textile element and/or are inserted into inner pouches of the textile element. Such stiffening elements may be for example plastic strips which are inserted into inner pouches of the textile element of the wiping cover and due to their arrangement and shaping, dimensional stability may be generated in a certain, preset direction. The same also applies to stitched or adhered stiffening elements, the properties, shape and dimension of which may be selected so that the dimensional stability can be influenced separately in the two main directions of the inner pouches.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wiping cover further comprises a flexible insert which is designed to be integral with the attachment elements and is arranged in a pouch of the textile element. Hence, alternatively to the embodiment, according to which the attachment elements are stitched and/or adhered and/or welded to the textile element, the embodiment may also be provided, according to which the attachment elements are connected to a flexible insert. The flexible insert is thus preferably made from silicone or a further resilient plastic. The shaping and material selection of the flexible insert may be selected according to the required dimensional stability of the wiping cover. Furthermore, the flexible insert is heat-resistant at least up to 60°, so that the wiping cover with flexible insert arranged therein may be washed.
According to a preferred embodiment, the flexible insert is sewn in the textile material designed like a pouch. In this manner the flexible insert cannot slip inadvertently out of the textile element designed like a pouch and the wiping cover now as before is an integral element which can be connected directly to the rod-like handle. The flexible insert cannot be compared to a mop holder in the state of the art, because the textile element of the wiping cover is not provided separately to the flexible insert, but is a single modular unit.
It is also possible to design the wiping cover so that the flexible insert can be inserted into the textile element via an opening in the textile element designed like a pouch. The opening may thus be located in the case of a textile element with essentially rectangular shape both on one longitudinal side and on a transverse side. If the flexible insert does not extend over the entire width of the pouch, it is possible for example to arrange the opening so that the flexible insert is pushed into the pouch initially in a direction through the opening, but then has to be displaced in a second direction vertically thereto within the pouch to bring the attachment elements connected to the flexible insert into the region of the central opening.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the textile element has two main surfaces which are designed as wiping surfaces and have different surface characteristics, in particular different absorption capacity. In addition to different absorption capacity, other differences may however also be present with regard to the surface characteristics of the two main surfaces.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wiping cover also has a passive electronic component, preferably an RFID tag. The provision of an RFID tag serves to facilitate the logistics within larger places to be cleaned, such as hospitals or airports. It can be established when a certain wiping cover has been produced and operated or a certain wiping cover can be identified. It may also be proved in the case of complaints at which points in time a certain wiping cover has been cleaned. RFID tags are thus suitable passive electronic components, because they also operate reliably in the presence of attachment elements designed as permanent magnets. Furthermore, RFID tags are cost-effective to produce. If the wiping cover is provided anyway with storage pouches for stiffening elements, in the same manner an inner pouch for receiving the RFID tag may also be used, but wherein it is closed by a dart to prevent the loss of the RFID tag.
The textile element is preferably designed to be essentially like a pouch and has an essentially rectangular shape with two essentially parallel longitudinal edges and two essentially parallel transverse edges, wherein the attachment elements are arranged close to one of the longitudinal edges and the modular unit consisting of the two attachment elements is arranged essentially centrally relative to the suggested longitudinal edge. The attachment elements preferably have an essentially cylindrical geometry and are arranged with respect to one another so that the end faces of the two cylinders are facing one another and are arranged at a defined distance from one another.
Brief description of the figures
The invention is described below purely by way of example using a few embodiments which are shown in the figures.
Figure 1 thus shows a hand-operated cleaning device of the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 show a possible fastening between the handle and the cleaning head by means of magnets;
Figure 4 shows a connection between handle and cleaning head with the aid of permanent magnets in combination with a positive-locking element and a variant for operating a lever mechanism;
Figure 5 shows a fastening element of the handle and an attachment element of the cleaning head in the coupled state, wherein both a magnetic connection and a positive-locking connection are present, and the attachment of an axis of rotation for rotatable fastening of the fastening element to the handle;
Figures 6a, 6b show different views of an attachment element to accommodate a positive-locking element on the fastening element;
Figure 7 shows a fastening element for use with an attachment element according to Figures 6a and 6b;
Figure 8 shows the provision of inclined contact surfaces between a fastening element and an attachment element;
Figure 9 shows a hand-operated cleaning device with wiping cover of the invention according to a first embodiment;
Figure 10 shows a hand-operated cleaning device with a wiping cover of the invention according to a second embodiment; and
Figure 11 shows a side view of the cleaning device according to Figure 10;
Figure 12 shows in exploded representation, a hand-operated cleaning device of the invention according to a further embodiment of the invention;
Figure 13 shows schematically one possible orientation of a dipole permanent magnet relative to the attachment element of the cleaning head;
Figure 14 shows schematically an alternative orientation of a dipole permanent magnet relative to the attachment element of the cleaning head;
Figure 15 shows a possible constructive design of the attachment elements of the cleaning head when using a dipole magnet according to Figure 13 or 14;
Figure 16 shows a further embodiment of an insert of a cleaning head;
Figure 17 corresponds to Figure 15 in frontal view and with an inserted handle;
Figure 18 shows in exploded view, the elements of the hand-operated cleaning element using the attachment geometry shown in Figure 16;
Figure 19 shows the design of the cleaning head as a wet-wiping mop; and
Figure 20 shows the cleaning head according to Figure 18 from below.
Ways of executing the invention
The invention is described below purely by way of example using the embodiments shown in the figures, wherein in all representations in each case the same structural members and structural components are indicated by the same reference numbers.
Figure 1 shows a hand-operated cleaning device which is designated generally by reference number 10. The term “hand-operated” should thus express that the cleaning device is not driven by motor or is moved automatically, but is moved manually by an operator. The hand-operated cleaning device 10 has a handle designated generally by reference number 12 which consists essentially of an elongated gripping stem 14 which may be designed in a manner which is conventional in the art. In the present example, the gripping stem 14 is provided with a ball grip 16, but which is to be understood only as an example. The handle 12 has a fastening device not shown in more detail in Figure 1, by means of which the handle 12 may be coupled releasably to a cleaning head 18. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the cleaning head 18 is a wiping mop, of which essentially only one wiping cover 20 designed like a pouch is visible.
The hand-operated cleaning device 10 is built in modular manner and may be coupled to different cleaning heads 18, such as a sweeping device, stripping device or window cleaning device which only with regard to its attachment geometry may follow the invention described here and otherwise may be built and designed in conventional manner. Therefore, alternatively to the wiping mop 20, no sweeping device designed as a broom, but equally also no stripping device or window cleaning device is shown.
The gripping stem may be made to be longitudinally adjustable. The measures required for this are known to the expert. Furthermore, the handle 12 may be made to be pivotable relative to the cleaning head 18. When using electromagnets on the handle, in addition an operating switch, which exposes the electromagnets to electric current via an energy supply preferably pressed against the gripping stem, may be provided on the gripping stem. The energy supply is thus provided for example in the form of rechargeable batteries. The batteries should have an adequate capacity to supply the electromagnets with voltage during a total period of 8-12 hours. The wiring between the energy supply, the operating switch and the electromagnet is effected in traditional manner.
Figures 2 and 3 show a possibility of the connection between a lever mechanism 22 on the sides of the handle and a cleaning head 18 not specified in more detail. The representation of the handle and of the gripping stem have been dispensed with to be able to better show the core elements of the connection between handle and cleaning head. The lever mechanism 22 is part of a fastening device 24, as shown later using Figures 9 to 11 as part of the handle. The lever mechanism 22 is provided with two fastening elements 26 which are attached firmly to the fastening device 24 of the handle. These fastening elements 26 cooperate with attachment elements 28 which are attached firmly to the cleaning head 18. In the present example, the fastening elements 26 and attachment elements 28 are permanent magnets which are completely embedded in plastic to avoid corrosive attack by caustic cleaning solution or acid-containing cleaning liquids. The magnetic fastening elements 26 and attachment elements 28 are arranged so that the attachment elements 28 have contact surfaces which are facing one another and have a predetermined distance between them. Corresponding to this, the fastening elements 26 also have contact surfaces for coupling with the attachment elements which point away from one another.
In order to engage the fastening elements 26 with the attachment elements 28, the lever mechanism, as shown in Figure 2, may be brought into an arrangement in which the individual limbs 32a and 32b are pivoted towards one another so that the total width and hence the distance between the contact surfaces on the fastening elements 26 is reduced. For this purpose, the lever mechanism 22 may be provided with a torsion spring or a further resilient element which pretensions the two limbs 32a, 32b in a spread position shown in Figure 3. The position shown in Figure 3 thus however must not correspond to that configuration in which the resilient element is completely relaxed. To improve the connection between the fastening elements 26 and attachment elements 28, it is possible in the same manner to generate an additional pressing force in the region of the contact surfaces 30 between the fastening elements 26 and attachment elements 28 due to the resilient element between the limbs 32a and 32b.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact surfaces 30 are orientated so that they run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping stem 14. This has the advantage that to release the connection between handle and cleaning head, an operator only has to pull the gripping stem in the longitudinal direction. So that the connection between handle and cleaning head is however not released automatically during proper use of the cleaning device, a minimum tensile force in the longitudinal direction of the gripping stem of 10 N is set to release the connection between handle and cleaning head. This may be generated firstly by the strength of the permanent magnets, secondly by the embedding depth of the permanent magnets into the surrounding plastic material, but also by a preset pressing force in the region of the contact surface 30. Further measures are described in the figures below and relate to positive-locking connections between the fastening elements and attachment elements.
The exemplary embodiment according to Figures 2 and 3 has on both sides, a permanent magnetic connection between fastening elements and attachment elements. According to the invention, it is however adequate if at one point, a connection using permanent magnets is effected, whereas the other side is designed for example exclusively as a positive-locking connection.
Figure 4 shows schematically again a lever mechanism 22, the limbs 32a and 32b of which are pressed apart in arrow direction A via a resilient element not shown. Hence, the limbs 32a and 32b can be moved about a common pivoting axis 34. Using Figure 4, two different things should be shown schematically. Firstly, a displacement sleeve 36 is shown schematically which may be displaced over the gripping stem 14 and the associated fastening device in arrow direction B, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the gripping stem. Due to a displacement of the displacement sleeve 36, the end face-side end 38 of the displacement sleeve 36 comes into contact with the limbs 32a and 32b and presses them towards one another counter to arrow direction A. The displacement sleeve 36 may be operated via a suitable mechanism on the gripping stem of the handle. For example it is possible that the upper-side end of the displacement sleeve not shown in Figure 4 has an inclined surface and the axial movement in arrow direction B is caused by rotation of the displacement sleeve about its longitudinal axis. In addition to the provision of a displacement sleeve, all other kinetics known in the art are however also possible to move the limbs of the lever mechanism towards one another. A second aspect shown in Figure 4 relates to the combination of a connection between the fastening elements 26 and attachment elements 28 as a magnetic connection and at the same time a positive-locking connection. For this purpose, firstly first permanent magnets 40 are provided both at the fastening elements 26 and embedded in the attachment elements 28 second permanent magnets 42. In the representation according to Figure 4, only one attachment element 28 is shown. The second permanent magnet 42 is designed to be annular. This has the advantage that in spite of a positive-locking depression additionally provided in the attachment element 28, it may be arranged close to the contact surface 46 of the attachment element 28, since the positive-locking depression 44 is located in the centre of the annular second permanent magnet 42.
Also the fastening elements 26 are provided with a positive-locking element in the form of a positive-locking projection 48, the position and shape of which is selected to be corresponding to the positive-locking depression 44 in the attachment element 28 so that in addition to the magnetic coupling, a positive connection can also be produced between the fastening elements 26 and the associated attachment elements 28.
Figure 5 shows a fastening element 26 and an attachment element 28 in the state in which they are coupled to one another. The positive-locking projection 48 of the fastening element 26 extends into the positive-locking depression 44 of the attachment element 28. In addition, a first permanent magnet 40 and second permanent magnet 42 are shown schematically. Both permanent magnets are completely embedded in plastic 49. Furthermore, Figure 5 shows an axis of rotation 50 which serves for rotatable attachment of the fastening element 26 to the fastening device 24 of the handle. In the simplest case, the axis of rotation 50 is merely a metal pin, the fixing of which in the plastic material 49 may be additionally ensured by one or more annular thickenings 52 and which may be mounted to be rotatable in suitable manner in the fastening device of the handle on the side facing away from the attachment element 28.
Figures 6a, 6b and 7 show views of an attachment element 28 (Figures 6a, 6b) and of an associated fastening element 26 (Figure 7). The attachment element 28 has a positive locking depression 44 which is subdivided into a first region 44a and a second region 44b. In Figure 6b, the regions are delimited with respect to one another schematically by an interrupted line. The first region 44a of the positive-locking depression is essentially matched to the geometry and position of a positive-locking projection 48, as shown in Figure 7. The second region 44b is a ramp-like recess in the attachment element which extends only in a certain angular direction relative to the first region, as can be seen from Figure 6a. It can be seen from Figure 7 that the positive-locking projection 48 of the fastening element 26 may be pretensioned via a resilient element 47, during action of a force on the positive-locking projection 48 however may also move in against the pretension of the spring in arrow direction C into the fastening element 26. If the handle is now to be released from the cleaning head, the connection between the fastening element 26 and the attachment element 28 must be released. This is possible in that the handle is brought to a predetermined angle relative to the cleaning head, for example is placed vertically to the latter and then a tensile force is exerted on the gripping stem of the handle. This results in the positive-locking projection 48 under increasing movement in arrow direction C and increasing compression of the resilient element 46, the ramp-like slope in the second region 44b being moved upwards until the positive-locking projection 48 has been pressed completely or almost completely into the fastening element 26 and the fastening element 26 and the attachment element 28 may slide past one another along the contact surface 46 to release the connection. A further alternative design between a fastening element 26 and an attachment element 28 is shown in Figure 8. The contact surface 30 is thus not arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping stem (not shown) but at an angle. The provision of an inclined contact surface may serve with suitable orientation, at the angular position prevailing within the framework of a conventional activity between handle and cleaning head, to increase the releasing force between handle and cleaning head, whereas the connection between handle and cleaning head can be released very easily as soon as the handle is brought to a certain angular position relative to the cleaning head. This could be, for example a position vertical to the cleaning head lying on a flat base or even inclined beyond the conventional operating position.
In addition to the provision of an inclined contact surface 30 between fastening element and attachment element, in the same way it is also possible to design the two contact surfaces meeting one another with a surface, the coefficients of friction of which are high, as a result of which additionally the required force for releasing the connection is increased.
Figure 9 shows schematically a section through a hand-operated cleaning device, the gripping stem 14 of which however is not shown completely. The hand-operated cleaning device is used with a wiping cover of the invention. The latter comprises a textile element 52 which is designed essentially in the form of a pouch, as can be seen best in Figure 11. The textile element 52 has an essentially rectangular shape with two parallel longitudinal edges 54 and two essentially parallel transverse edges 56. The shaping shown in the embodiment according to Figures 9 to 11 as an essentially rectangular pouch-like wiping cover is however not a binding feature of the invention and for special cleaning purposes, in the same manner other geometries may also be provided, particularly since the system of the invention is indeed a modular system, in which different cleaning heads may be exchanged easily for one another.
The connection mechanism described above in detail is shown in the sectional representation according to Figure 9. The fastening device 24 of the handle thus has a lever mechanism 22 with two limbs 32a, 32b which can be pivoted with respect to one another. Both fastening elements 26 are provided with an axis of rotation 50 and are attached in this manner to be rotatable at the limbs 32a, 32b. Both the fastening elements and the attachment elements have permanent magnets. The second permanent magnets 42 of the attachment element are cast in an attachment element 28, which in turn is connected firmly to the textile element 52. This connection may alternatively or cumulatively be effected by stitching, welding or adhering.
So that the fastening device 24 of the handle may produce a connection with the wiping mop 20 in simple manner, a central recess 58, which can be seen best in the representation in Figure 11, is provided on one of the two longitudinal edges 54. In order to prevent unnecessary penetration of cleaning liquids into the pouch-like textile element 52, the pouch of the textile element is preferably closed around the central recess by means of a dart 60. A wiping mop 20 as described above with attachment elements 28 fastened firmly to the textile element 52 does not require a traditional mop holder, but may be fastened directly to the handle as a holder-less mop. So that the wiping mop has adequate stability, the fibres used for producing the textile element 52 may be configured accordingly. It has thus proved to be advantageous if the textile element comprises fibres, the diameter of which is at least 0.5 dtex and if the tensile strength of the fibres is at least 35 cN/tex.
In particular for the exclusive use of permanent magnets as a connection mechanism between the fastening elements and attachment elements, the exact positioning of the attachment elements is important. At the same time it must be taken into account that textile elements may be subjected to a certain shrinkage during washing. This problem may be solved in that, as shown in Figure 9, a lever mechanism 22 on sides of the handle is used and slight changes in the distance of the attachment elements 28 with respect to one another may be compensated by the pretensioning of the limbs 32a, 32b of the lever mechanism. A second possibility consists in providing a rigid connecting element 62, for example in the form of a clamp, between the attachment elements.
Figure 9 also contains a further embodiment of the invention which serves to increase the dimensional stability of the textile element 52. For this purpose, stiffening elements 64, which may consist for example of resilient plastic, are provided on the textile element 52 on one of the two inner sides of the main surfaces of the pouch-like textile element. The stiffening elements 64 may be connected to the textile element in any manner, for example stitched or adhered to the latter. However, it is also possible to provide storage pouches 66, into which the stiffening elements may be inserted, on the inner side, that is, the side of the textile element 52 facing the interior of the pouch. Depending on the required increase in dimensional stability of the textile element, all direction arrangements shown in Figure 9, such as in longitudinal direction, in transverse direction or also diagonally, may be provided, as explained using the stiffening elements 64a, 64b and 64c. Also the shape of the individual stiffening elements is selected only by way of example in Figure 9.
The same also applies to the number of stiffening elements. A storage pouch may also serve for receiving an RFID tag 72 for electronic identification of the wiping mop 20. An RFID tag may however also be fastened to the wiping mop in any other manner.
Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the mop 20. On the side of the handle there is no difference compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 9. The mop-side attachment elements 28 are however part of a flat insert 68, which may consist for example of silicone material and is located in the pouch formed in the textile element 52. The design of the insert element 68 with attachment elements 28 fastened thereto may thus have the geometry shown in Figures 2 and 3 even if in the description of Figures 2 and 3, this geometry has been described as a general form of a cleaning head not specified in more detail. However, it is important that the provision of an insert 68 changes nothing of the fact that here it is a holder-less mop, that is, the wiping cover in the form of a pouch-like textile element can be connected directly to the rod-like handle. The interposing of a mop holder with wiping covers provided separately thereto is omitted. If the wiping cover is changed, the handle is released from the mop 20 and the insert 68 is not removed from the textile element 52.
The firm binding of the insert 68 in the textile element 52 may also be expressed in that the textile element 52 is stitched firmly around the insert 68 so that after the original production, the user can no longer remove the insert 68 from the pouch-like textile element 52. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide laterally an insertion pouch 70 which is indicated in Figure 10 and shown additionally in Figure 11. The insertion pouch 70 should however be arranged so that after releasing the handle from the attachment elements, the insert cannot be removed automatically, but only after exact displacement and positioning within the pouch of the textile element 52, may it be removed again from the latter.
Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of the hand-operated cleaning device of the invention which differs from the embodiments discussed above only with regard to the coupling between at least one fastening element and two attachment elements on the cleaning head. Therefore reference may be made as regards the full content to the preceding embodiments with regard to the other design of the handle, of the cleaning head but also of the wiping cover. Hence, for example an insert 68 is shown in the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 12, whereas in the embodiment described in the following figures, it is however also possible in the same manner to provide the two attachment elements of the cleaning head separately on the wiping cover and to stitch and/or adhere and/or to weld them to the textile wiping cover.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, a block-like fastening device 24, into which fastening elements 26 designed as permanent magnets or electromagnets are inserted, is provided on the handle 12. The insert 68, on which attachment elements 28 are attached and arranged, is located in the interior of the wiping cover 20 so that they can be coupled to the fastening elements 26 of the handle. The attachment elements 28 have in each case elements 80 made from ferromagnetic material, that is, from a metal with high magnetic susceptibility which may be in operative connection with the dipole magnets 26 provided in the fastening device 24 in order to produce the firm, but releasable connection described above between the handle and the cleaning head.
As can be seen from Figure 13, the dipole magnet 26 as part of the fastening device 24 may thus be orientated so that the north pole marked by the reference symbol N and the south pole of the dipole magnet 26 marked by the reference symbol S point in the direction of the attachment element 28 of the cleaning head 18. In this case the attachment element 28 comprises a metal body 80 made from ferromagnetic material, for example a steel insert, which is in operative connection with the magnet 26 in that in the coupled state, the magnet 26 is brought to the immediate vicinity or in direct contact with the metal body 80. In this case, a magnetic flux exists between the poles of the magnet instead of as shown by the magnetic field lines marked by reference number 84. To protect the magnets from corrosive influences, as shown in Figure 13, a metal cover 86 may additionally be provided on the surface of the magnet 26 pointing towards the metal body 80.
Figure 14 shows an alternative arrangement according to which the dipole magnet 26 is orientated so that only one of the magnetic poles points in the direction of the metal body 80. In the case of the orientation of the magnet shown in Figure 14, the required action of force may be achieved in that a metal sleeve 82 in the form of an iron housing surrounding the magnet 26 is provided which has the function of guiding the magnetic field lines 84 with binding of the element made from ferromagnetic material 80 between the magnetic poles. In this manner, likewise a high magnetic holding force may be ensured between the magnet 26 and the attachment region 28 on the cleaning head 18 using a metal sleeve 82 made from ferromagnetic material with very low loss.
Figure 15 shows one possible design of the attachment elements 28 on the cleaning head 18, wherein in addition for the provision of elements 80 made from ferromagnetic material (the element shown on the left-hand side in Figure 15 is not visible), a positivelocking element 88 is provided which in addition to the fastening with the aid of the magnetic holding force, effects further fastening and securing against unintentional release of the handle from the cleaning head. Furthermore, due to a trough-like base body 90 between the individual attachment elements 28, their exact positioning and in particular their distance from one another is fixed and in addition after insertion of the fastening device 24 of the handle, suitable guiding of the same is provided. This also becomes visible from the representation in Figure 17, in which a handle is inserted. Due to the provision of the positive elements 88, the fastening device of the handle must be designed here so that the latter has pivoting levers 32a, 32b which can be pivoted with respect to one another, as has already been explained in more detail within the framework of embodiments described above.
Figure 16 shows a flat insert 68, which has a trough-like base body 90 and attachment elements 28 surrounded by positive elements 88 similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 15 and 17. Furthermore, Figure 16 shows a metal element made from ferromagnetic material, preferably a small metal sheet 100 which is located between the two attachment elements. The element 100 made from ferromagnetic material is indeed shown only in the embodiment according to Figure 16, but may be used independently of this embodiment and also independently of the trough-shaped base body in all embodiments in which at least one of the fastening elements on the handle is a magnet. The element 100 facilitates the handling of the cleaning head. Since different cleaning heads may be attached to a handle, they must be accommodated after release of the cleaning head from the handle and for example stowed in a cleaning trolley. So that a user does not have to bend down for this, contact with the element 100 may be produced with the aid of the handle and a magnetic fastening element and in this manner, without fastening the cleaning head to the handle again, may be raised from the ground and gripped and stowed easily. The element 100 may then also serve well if during a cleaning activity, the cleaning head has been released from the handle, because the latter has remained suspended, for example at a point which is difficult to access and is now located for example under a piece of furniture. If the cleaning head is fished for using the handle, the element 100 constitutes an additional and easily accessible docking point to produce a connection between handle and cleaning head and in this manner to remove the cleaning head easily again from the position which is difficult to access.
Figure 16 also shows the structure of the flat insert 68 made from numerous ribs 102 which are interlaced with one another. The rib structure serves to achieve optimum stiffening of the flat insert 68 with minimum material use. At the same time, a defined flexibility either in required positions of the flat insert or as a whole only in longitudinal direction or transverse direction of the flat insert may however be set specifically by the geometry of the rib structure. The design of the flat insert shown in Figure 16 in the form of a rib structure is independent of the further features shown in Figure 16, such as for example the trough-like base body 90, the element 100 or also the positive elements 88 around the attachment elements 28. A flat insert 68 with the rib structure shown in Figure 16 could be realised for example in the same manner in the embodiment according to Figure 10 or 12 to name but two examples here.
Finally, Figure 18 shows a hand-operated cleaning device with the individual components shown according to Figures 15 and 17 in exploded representation. The region shown in Figure 15 with attachment elements 28 is part of a flexible insert 68 which is located in the wiping cover 20 and, as has already been described above using preceding embodiments, can be inserted into the wiping cover 20, for example through an opening provided on one longitudinal side or transverse side, whereupon the wiping cover may be closed in suitable manner, for example by stitching or by the provision of a Velcro connection.
Figure 19 shows an alternative cleaning head 18 which may be used in modular manner with the holder. The cleaning head 18 has, instead of a flat insert 68 as shown in Figures 10 and 12, a head plate 92 which has an upper-side depression, in which a trough-like base body 90 and attachment elements 28 surrounded by positive elements 88 are located. The cleaning head shown in Figure 19 may be used, for example with a gripping part, as has already been described with reference to Figure 4. A lever mechanism with limbs 32a, 32b is thus provided so that the limbs and the fastening elements 26 attached thereto may be moved about a pivoting axis 34 to position the fastening elements in the region of the trough-like base body 90 and then to pivot them away from one another about the pivoting axis 34 to be brought into the positive elements 88 and in contact with the attachment elements 28.
The cleaning head shown in Figure 19 has a wiping surface 94 and fringes 96 which are shown once again in Figure 20. The wiping surface 94 thus has alternating regions 98a and 98b which differ due to different surface roughness and hence different abrasive behaviour. Hence, the wiping surface 94 may be used to release dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned chemically and/or mechanically, whereas the fringes 96 are suitable in traditional manner to release or to receive dirt released from the wiping surface 94. The wet-wiping mop shown in Figure 19 and Figure 20 may be cleaned in traditional manner in a washing bucket and then wrung out to the required residual moisture in a mop press geared to the geometry of the cleaning head. A hand-operated cleaning device and a wiping cover especially suitable therefor, which may be used within the framework of a modular system, have been proposed by the present invention. The wiping cover may be exchanged for other cleaning heads and in all cases only one rod-like handle is to be connected to the cleaning head. The provision of a connection with at least one pairing of permanent magnets additionally makes it particularly simple to attach the handle to the cleaning head. Even untrained and inexperienced cleaning personnel may immediately produce the correct connection, because the magnets have a self-centering effect and positioning inaccuracies may be compensated in this manner.
The wiping cover of the invention may be attached directly to the handle. It is thus a holder-less mop. So that the wiping cover is sufficiently dimensionally stable depending on the intended use, this may be effected either via the textile fibres used in producing the wiping cover or also via the provision of suitable stiffening elements which are located in the interior of the pouch-like wiping cover. The provision of suitable fibres and the additional provision of stiffening elements may also be used in combination.
The stiffening elements may be provided either independently of the attachment elements of the wiping cover, or also may be provided integrally with the latter to reduce the final assembly to a few individual parts. As a result, the provision of stiffening elements however changes nothing of the fact that when changing the wiping cover, the wiping cover no longer has to be released from a mop holder and a new wiping cover no longer has to be clamped onto the mop holder, but only the wiping cover as a whole has to be released from the handle and replaced for a new one.
Claims (18)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2011/051053 WO2012100824A1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2011-01-26 | Hand-operated cleaning device and mop cover |
| DE201120101141 DE202011101141U1 (en) | 2011-05-27 | 2011-05-27 | Hand-operated cleaning device and mop cover |
| PCT/EP2011/066194 WO2012100845A2 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2011-09-19 | Hand-operated cleaning device and mop cover |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| DK2667761T3 true DK2667761T3 (en) | 2015-02-23 |
Family
ID=44658753
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK11758464.9T DK2667761T3 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2011-09-19 | Manually operated cleaning device and wiping cover |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20140007365A1 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR112013018997A2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2825239A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK2667761T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2530017T3 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2571192C2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2012100845A2 (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6016621B2 (en) * | 2012-12-26 | 2016-10-26 | 花王株式会社 | Cleaning tool joint structure |
| US9242364B1 (en) * | 2013-05-15 | 2016-01-26 | Mark James Cratty | Hand extension with universal clamp systems |
| DE102014008954B3 (en) | 2014-06-23 | 2015-09-10 | Carl Freudenberg Kg | Mop cover and mop |
| USD817574S1 (en) | 2017-02-28 | 2018-05-08 | The Libman Company | Mop frame |
| RU185804U1 (en) * | 2017-09-12 | 2018-12-19 | Андрей Витальевич Кибец | Replaceable MOS for dry cleaning |
| IT201800005166A1 (en) * | 2018-05-08 | 2019-11-08 | CLEANING CLOTH FOR A MOP BASE WITH AUTOMATIC HOOKING FINS | |
| US11717861B2 (en) * | 2018-12-18 | 2023-08-08 | Adam Vincent Rudofski | Apparatus and method for cleaning |
| KR101982453B1 (en) * | 2018-12-19 | 2019-08-28 | 양혜정 | Cleaner having assistance cleaning part |
| ES1243879Y (en) * | 2020-01-22 | 2020-08-27 | Fita Juan Emilio Pastor | PERFECTED MOP |
Family Cites Families (18)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2697642A (en) * | 1949-09-28 | 1954-12-21 | Rudy Jerome | Magnetic handle connection |
| FR1056318A (en) * | 1952-02-18 | 1954-02-25 | Special broom and removable cloth | |
| US4715081A (en) * | 1981-11-18 | 1987-12-29 | Deo Welch | Dust mop with improved backing for slip-through frame |
| US4658461A (en) * | 1985-10-02 | 1987-04-21 | The Wooster Brush Company | Flat pad applicator |
| DE9400419U1 (en) | 1994-01-12 | 1994-04-21 | Vermop Salmon Gmbh | Mop holder |
| DE29512724U1 (en) | 1995-08-08 | 1995-10-19 | Vermop Salmon Gmbh | Mop holder and mop cover therefor |
| BE1009772A6 (en) * | 1995-11-23 | 1997-08-05 | Euler Willy | Magnetic connection between mop plate and handle |
| US6769153B1 (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2004-08-03 | K&R Industries, Inc. | Vehicle window cleaning apparatus and system |
| DK1761156T3 (en) * | 2004-06-29 | 2007-12-17 | Ecolab Inc | Mop holder for mounting a mop cover |
| DE102005054378B4 (en) * | 2005-11-15 | 2015-03-19 | Bruno Gruber | filing tool |
| KR100662371B1 (en) * | 2005-11-25 | 2007-01-02 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Steam dryer |
| ES2389667T3 (en) * | 2007-02-22 | 2012-10-30 | Carl Freudenberg Kg | Mop cover for a cleaning device |
| EP2301406B1 (en) * | 2007-04-03 | 2017-08-02 | Diversey, Inc. | Mop head fixation device and method |
| DE102007051509A1 (en) * | 2007-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | Vermop Salmon Gmbh | Mop holder and associated mop cover |
| JP5514202B2 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2014-06-04 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Floor cleaning tool with capture sheet around |
| FI122705B (en) * | 2008-12-30 | 2012-05-31 | Petri Rekola | cleaning Means |
| US8166597B2 (en) * | 2009-02-17 | 2012-05-01 | Ecolab Usa Inc. | Flat mop with abrasive pad |
| US9510664B2 (en) * | 2011-11-22 | 2016-12-06 | The Procter & Gamble Co | Toothbrush having an inner cavity |
-
2011
- 2011-09-19 ES ES11758464.9T patent/ES2530017T3/en active Active
- 2011-09-19 BR BR112013018997A patent/BR112013018997A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2011-09-19 CA CA2825239A patent/CA2825239A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-09-19 US US13/981,645 patent/US20140007365A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-09-19 WO PCT/EP2011/066194 patent/WO2012100845A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-09-19 RU RU2013136143/12A patent/RU2571192C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2011-09-19 DK DK11758464.9T patent/DK2667761T3/en active
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| RU2571192C2 (en) | 2015-12-20 |
| WO2012100845A2 (en) | 2012-08-02 |
| WO2012100845A3 (en) | 2012-10-04 |
| US20140007365A1 (en) | 2014-01-09 |
| BR112013018997A2 (en) | 2019-09-24 |
| RU2013136143A (en) | 2015-03-10 |
| CA2825239A1 (en) | 2012-08-02 |
| ES2530017T3 (en) | 2015-02-25 |
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