EP0663177A1 - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaner comprises a head (2) with a dispenser for the cleaning liquid and a spreader (11) to apply it over the surface being cleaned. A scraper (6) is linked to a suction system (12) for picking up the used liquid and delivering it to a reservoir (25) inside the central shaft (3). The upper end of the shaft incorporates a housing for a suction turbine, driven by a small, battery-powered electric motor, which picks up the used liquid from the cleaned surface, while a deflector plate prevents the liquid from being drawn into the turbine. The suction pipe also contains a filter to trap dust and impurities.

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device by spreading cleaning liquid and by suction of used liquid.

Document EP 0.422.977 A1 by the same inventor describes a suction device with a squeegee for removing dirty water when cleaning certain surfaces. The squeegee comprises, according to a particular variant of embodiment, a stepped cut along one of the edges of its working end and comprises at least one suction channel formed inside the part of the body of this squeegee which is located directly above this tiered cutout.

According to a particular variant, the known device comprises a reservoir of cleaning liquid supplying a spreading member such as a brush through a series of small channels, and a reservoir of dirty cleaning liquid intended to collect the dirty cleaning liquid. after aspiration by a roller pump.

All of the aforementioned elements are mounted inside a casing comprising a sleeve intended to receive an operating handle or a grip handle.

This known device is generally satisfactory for intensive use, but proves to be inconvenient for household use for the following reasons: the casing incorporating a roller pump and its drive motor, the two reservoirs and the necessary connection pipes is necessary. 'A significant weight, which makes handling, or moving on surfaces with reliefs such as stairs, relatively difficult; in addition, since most of the weight of the device is in frictional contact on the ground, the displacement force to be applied to the handle is significant.

Document DE 24.24.218 A1 describes a cleaning device for windows, facades, planks or the like, comprising a working head arranged at the end of a hollow handle, said working head comprising means for supplying clean liquid, means for distributing said liquid on the surface to be cleaned and a cleaning squeegee. A tubular enclosure in the shape of a hollow handle contains a reservoir of cleaning liquid connected to said means for supplying cleaning liquid.

This device is generally satisfactory, but requires periodic spinning of a liquid absorption sponge in a receiving container.

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the known technique, by creating a new portable cleaning device, convenient to use and economical to manufacture.

The subject of the invention is a device for cleaning planks, floors, tiles, walls or similar smooth surfaces by spreading cleaning liquid and by suction of used liquid, of the type comprising in combination: a working head or cleaning member comprising means for supplying cleaning liquid; means for distributing said liquid on the surface to be cleaned and a cleaning squeegee; a tubular enclosure in the form of a hollow sleeve containing a reservoir of cleaning liquid connected to said means for supplying cleaning liquid, and a grip handle; characterized in that the device further comprises a used liquid reservoir contained at least partially in said tubular enclosure, as well as means for depressurizing said used liquid reservoir, so as to suck the used liquid through a suction orifice used liquid provided on the squeegee and a used liquid suction pipe.

• le réservoir de liquide usagé est constitué par un assemblage étanche de la tête de travail ou organe de nettoyage et de l'intérieur de la partie inférieure de l'enceinte tubulaire,
• le réservoir de liquide usagé est constitué d'un seul tenant (figure 5) et comporte une ouverture de passage pour une pipe d'aspiration de liquide usagé,
• le réservoir de liquide usagé présente une conformation en T et comporte à sa base une extension transversale munie d'un bouchon de vidange,
• l'extrémité de la pipe d'aspiration par laquelle le liquide usagé débouche dans le réservoir de liquide usagé, et l'extrémité de la tubulure d'aspiration d'air par laquelle ledit réservoir est mis en dépression sont disposées sensiblement selon un même axe et espacées axialement, de manière à éviter toute aspiration de liquide usagé par la tubulure d'aspiration d'air,
• le réservoir de liquide nettoyant est obturé par une poignée de préhension,
• la poignée de préhension porte les moyens de mise en dépression du réservoir de liquide usagé,
• la poignée de préhension est disposée à l'extrémité supérieure du réservoir de liquide nettoyant, tandis que les moyens de mise en dépression sont disposés entre le réservoir de liquide nettoyant et le réservoir de liquide usagé,
• une cloison transversale est prévue entre la tubulure de mise en dépression du réservoir de liquide usagé et la pipe d'aspiration du réservoir de liquide usagé, de manière à constituer un chapeau déflecteur empêchant le liquide usagé d'être aspiré dans la tubulure de mise en dépression,
• la tubulure d'aspiration et de mise en dépression du réservoir de liquide usagé loge un goupillon de nettoyage amovible faisant fonction de filtre contre les grosses impuretés.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the used liquid reservoir is constituted by a sealed assembly of the working head or cleaning member and the interior of the lower part of the tubular enclosure,
• the used liquid tank is made in one piece (Figure 5) and has a passage opening for a used liquid suction pipe,
• the used liquid reservoir has a T-shaped configuration and has at its base a transverse extension provided with a drain plug,
• the end of the suction pipe through which the used liquid opens into the used liquid tank, and the end of the air suction pipe through which said tank is placed under vacuum are arranged substantially along the same axis and spaced axially, so as to avoid any suction of used liquid by the air suction pipe,
• the cleaning liquid tank is closed by a grip handle,
• the gripping handle carries the means for placing the used liquid tank under vacuum,
• the gripping handle is disposed at the upper end of the cleaning liquid tank, while the vacuuming means are arranged between the cleaning liquid tank and the used liquid tank,
• a transverse partition is provided between the suction pipe of the used liquid tank and the suction pipe of the used liquid tank, so as to constitute a deflector cap preventing the used liquid from being sucked into the delivery pipe depression,
• the suction and vacuum tubing of the used liquid tank houses a removable cleaning brush acting as a filter against large impurities.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the tubular enclosure comprises two superimposed compartments which are sealed relative to one another, a lower compartment forming the reservoir for used liquid, an upper compartment forming the reservoir for cleaning liquid, the air suction pipe passes axially through the cleaning liquid tank and is connected to the outside of the latter with the vacuum means carried by the grip handle.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the tubular enclosure comprises three compartments: a lower compartment constituting the used liquid reservoir, an intermediate compartment constituting the housing of the vacuum means and an upper compartment constituting the cleaning liquid reservoir, the grip handle being removably mounted so as to constitute the cap of the filling opening of the cleaning liquid reservoir.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which follows given by way of nonlimiting example with regard to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of a cleaning member of the device according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 schematically represents in cross section a central part of the device according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically represents in cross section a head of the device according to FIG. 1.

Figure 5 schematically shows an exploded top view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of the cleaning member of the device according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 schematically represents in longitudinal section in their service position the waste water suction pipe, the air suction pipe and the vacuum means of the device of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 schematically represents a view in longitudinal section of the means for recharging the electric batteries of the device of FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 9 schematically represents a detail view in enlarged section of the means for closing the supply pipe for the cleaning liquid for the device of FIGS. 5 to 8.

FIG. 10 schematically represents a profile view of the push button represented in FIG. 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a device according to the invention designated as a whole by the reference 1 is intended in particular for cleaning large smooth surfaces, such as floors or tiles.

The device 1 comprises a cleaning member 2, a central part 3 and a handle 4 which can be sequentially interlocked in a sealed manner with one another by means of suitable conformations and seals.

The cleaning member 2 comprises a one-piece squeegee 5 made of elastomer, rubber or the like. The squeegee 5 has a step configuration 6 and at least one central channel 7 communicating through a nozzle 8 with a suction pipe 9 of the used liquid spilled on the ground.

The cleaning member 2 preferably has a housing 10 for receiving the squeegee 5 so as to facilitate replacement.

Advantageously, provision is made to mount at a substantially symmetrical inclination relative to the longitudinal median plane L of the cleaning member 2, a removable spreading member 11, of the brush, porous pad, spongy pad or the like type. The spreading member 11 is used to regularly spread clean liquid emerging through at least one central pipe 12 for supplying clean liquid opening substantially in the longitudinal median plane L through an orifice 12a.

The cleaning member 2 has a substantially T-shaped shape, the branch 14 of which corresponds to a sealed interlocking duct with the lower part of the central part 3.

The seal is ensured by O-rings 15a, 15b arranged in grooves 16a, 16b and the Locking is ensured by a retractable snap button 17 at the push of a finger.

The cleaning member 2 is hollow and has a plug 18 for draining the used liquid, so that after tight assembly of the cleaning member 2 to the central part 3, the interior 19 of the cleaning member forms with the inside 20 of the bottom of the central part 3 a used liquid suction tank.

The reservoir 19-20 thus formed receives the liquid used by the pipe 9 emerging therein, the suction resulting from a depression created by the depression pipe 21 secured to the central part 3 of the device.

The central part 3 comprises two annular sealing plugs 22 and 23 included between the tubular outer wall 24, of rectangular section with rounded edges, elliptical or the like and the abovementioned vacuum tube 21.

The plugs 22, 23 delimit between them a reservoir 25 of cleaning liquid capable of being supplied by means of the filling plug 26. The reservoir 25 integrated in the central part 3 in the form of a sleeve is separated from the reservoir 20 by the plug 22 permanently fixed for example by gluing, heat sealing or a similar process and communicates with the supply conduit 12 for cleaning liquid via a pipe 26a for passing through the plug 22 and for communication with the pipe 12 for supplying cleaning liquid clean.

It is provided for this purpose that the corresponding conformations of the pipe 26a and the pipe 12 ensure a tight snap-fastening of these pipes with each other, during the assembly of the central part 3 with the cleaning member 2 .

A plug 27 mounted on an elastic system 28 controllable by a rod 29 or similar mechanical remote control means closes the upper end of the pipe 26a.

The control 29 acts by pressing on the end of an elastic conformation 28 in cantilever which, in the position of rest, closes the inlet of the pipe 26a and, in the downward support position of the rod 29, lifts the plug 27 and feeds the pipe 26a.

The rod 29 slidably mounted in the central part 3 and passing through the upper plug 23 has an upper end 29a which fits and cooperates with an operating member 30 trapped in the head 4 of the device according to the invention.

The head 4 has an enlarged shape constituting a housing 31 in which is mounted a flared part 32 forming a body for a suction turbine 33 capable of creating a vacuum through the pipe 21 in the reservoir 20 for suction of used liquid and to discharge the air sucked out through suitable holes 34.

The turbine 33 is rotated by a small electric motor 35 arranged coaxially above the turbine 33; the electric motor 35 is supplied by a set of batteries 36 in series with a power switch 37 and rechargeable by means of a coaxial connector 38.

The actuating member 30 is actuated by means of a sliding button 39, while the mechanical fixing of the head 4 on the central part 3 results from the snap-fastening of a push button 40 with a corresponding orifice of the wall 24 of the central part.

• . le premier module 2 ou organe de nettoyage comprend toutes les pièces d'usure telles que raclette 5, organe d'épandage 11, au contact des surfaces à nettoyer,
• . le deuxième module 3 ou partie centrale fait office de réservoir de liquide propre et de réceptacle de liquide sale et présente un encombrement correspondant à celui des manches des appareils de l'art antérieur,
• . le troisième module 4 ou tête fait office de poignée et regroupe tous les moyens de commande et d'énergie : source de dépression, commande d'alimentation en liquide nettoyant, moteur électrique et batteries.

This functional arrangement thus allows the device according to the invention to be separated into three separately replaceable modules:

• . the first module 2 or cleaning member comprises all the wearing parts such as squeegee 5, spreading member 11, in contact with the surfaces to be cleaned,
• . the second module 3 or central part acts as a reservoir for clean liquid and receptacle for dirty liquid and has a space corresponding to that of the handles of the devices of the prior art,
• . the third module 4 or head acts as a handle and groups together all of the control and energy means: vacuum source, control of supply of cleaning liquid, electric motor and batteries.

It can be seen in this first embodiment that, in the assembled state, the device comprises an essentially tubular enclosure comprising two superimposed compartments which are sealed to one another, namely the used liquid tank 19-20 in immediate contact with the cleaning head 5, and the cleaning liquid reservoir 25 crossed by the air suction pipe 21, the latter being connected in the upper part to the vacuum means 32-36 carried by the grip handle 4. We also see that in the used liquid tank 19-20, the opposite ends of the used liquid suction pipe 9 and the air suction pipe 21 are arranged along substantially the same vertical axis and are axially spaced. This ensures that the liquid sucked through the pipe 9 does not risk entering the tubing 21. In addition, the height of the pipe 9 inside the tank 19-20 is sufficient to give the device a collection capacity corresponding to the surface of a room to be cleaned.

If the used liquid exceeds the upper level of the pipe 9, it will act as an overflow warning the user that he must empty the tank 19-20.

Figures 5 to 10 show a second embodiment of the invention. The parts, having the same functions as in the previous embodiment, have the same references.

According to this second embodiment, the tubular enclosure of the device 1 is divided into three compartments stepped in the vertical direction: the lower compartment constituting the used liquid reservoir 19-20, the intermediate compartment 41 constituting the housing of the vacuum means and the upper compartment constituting the cleaning liquid reservoir 25.

In the example shown, this assembly is formed in one piece by plastic blowing, the intermediate compartment being obtained by pressing in and bringing the two walls of the enclosure together as seen in particular in FIG. 6.

However, these three compartments could alternatively be formed from separate elements which can be fitted in a sealed manner in a manner similar to the previous embodiment.

As in the previous embodiment, the used liquid reservoir has at its base a transverse extension 19 provided with a drain plug 18, this in order to give the device the general appearance of a conventional household mop.

However, this conformation is not essential and the transverse extension could perfectly be eliminated, the device then being of uniform section from practically the base of its handle to the end of the used liquid reservoir.

The bottom of the extension 19 has a central opening for the passage of the suction pipe 9 and, when made of material, two pins 42 for the engagement of a cleaning head 43 which carries the squeegee 5 and the means d spreading the cleaning liquid represented here in the form of brush bristles 11 (FIG. 7).

On the lateral sides of the device, two external conduits 44, 45 are arranged diametrically opposite relative to the median vertical axis of the device. The pipe 44 is intended to bring the cleaning liquid by gravity from the reservoir 25 to the supply orifice 45 at the lower end of the reservoir 19. For this purpose, substantially at the bottom of the reservoir 25, there is provided direct communication (not shown) between the reservoir 25 and the pipe 44. Inside the pipe 44 is also passed a flexible cable 47 which extends over the entire height of the device and which the lower end is provided with a conical plug 48 (FIG. 9) cooperating with the orifice 46. The upper end of the flexible cable 49 opens out above the reservoir 25 in the enclosure formed between the external wall of the device and the filler neck 50 of the reservoir 25 where it is mounted by spring means bringing it back to maintain the plug 48 in the position for closing the orifice 46. In service, the opening movement of the orifice 46 will be controlled by the sliding of the button 30 (FIG. 5) which forms the sliding closing cover on one side of the device at the level of the handle 4. To allow passage of the end 49 of the cable 44 inside its enclosure, an opening (not shown) is made in the pipe 44 at the level of this enclosure.

The pipe 45 diametrically opposite to the pipe 44 is also equipped with a flexible cable 51 which terminates in the intermediate compartment 41 to actuate the electrical switch of the motor 35. In a similar manner to the cable 46, the cable 51 is mounted at its end upper by means of return spring and operated by a button 30 symmetrical to the previous one.

It is understood that the pipe 45 could be interrupted below the switch 37. In the example shown, it is however extended to the lower end of the device for reasons of aesthetic balance.

The intermediate compartment 41 housing the motor 35, the turbine 33 and the batteries 36 is closed by a removable cover 52 provided with exhaust vents 34 for the air sucked in by the turbine 33. The compartment 41 also includes symmetrical vents 34 to those of cover 52.

While in the previous embodiment, inside the used liquid tank 19-20, the tubing 21 and the pipe 9 were arranged with a slight offset between their axes of vertical symmetry, in the present embodiment they are aligned on the same axis. As in the previous example, the opposite ends of the pipe 9 and the tubing are separated axially by a space allowing the used liquid to fall back into the reservoir 19-20, along the pipe 9 without risk of entering the tubing 21.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in this second embodiment, but which is also applicable to the previous example, the end of the pipe 21 opposite the pipe 9 is capped with a transverse partition 53 connected to the pipe by legs 54.

The partition 53 is of larger section than that of the tubing so as to constitute a deflector cap which prevents the liquid from entering the tubing in the case where the user raises the device for example when he wants to change the squeegee 5 or the brush 11.

As a variant, this arrangement could be made by a partition closing off the end of the tube 21, radial openings being made in said tube in the immediate vicinity of the partition.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the tube 21 houses a brush 54 whose bristles appear in the end openings of the tube, the handle of this brush being oriented towards the turbine 33.

This bottle brush 54 has two functions. On the one hand, when it is housed in the tubing 21, it prevents large impurities which could be sucked in by the depression (for example cigarette butts or the like) from being able to penetrate the tubing 21.

On the other hand, when the bottle brush is removed from the tubing, it is used to clean the pipe 9 which must be perfectly clean and smooth so that any deposits do not constitute obstacles to the suction of the used water.

To allow access to the bottle brush 54, this exemplary embodiment has been provided for years to mount the motor-35 turbine assembly 33 removably in its intermediate compartment 41. If one wishes to apply this variant to the exemplary embodiment above, it suffices to provide that the partition 53 is removably mounted at the end of the tube 21.

FIG. 8 illustrates the means for recharging the batteries of the device in the embodiment of FIG. 5. For this purpose, there is provided in the wall of the cover 52 a recess 55 provided with a coaxial connector 38. This recess allows the whole device to be fitted on a frame 56 fixed to the wall M by a stud 57 and connected to the electrical network by the cord 58. The outlet (not shown) will then be fitted with a standard transformer.

Claims (10)

1.- Device for cleaning planks, floors, tiles, walls or similar smooth surfaces by spreading cleaning liquid and by suction of used liquid, of the type comprising in combination: a working head (2) or cleaning member comprising means supply of cleaning liquid; means for distributing said liquid on the surface to be cleaned and a cleaning squeegee; a tubular enclosure in the form of a hollow handle supporting a reservoir of cleaning liquid connected to said means (12) for supplying cleaning liquid, and a grip handle; characterized in that the device further comprises a used liquid tank (19-20) contained at least partially in said tubular enclosure, as well as means for depressurizing said used liquid tank, so as to suck the used liquid by a used liquid suction port provided on the squeegee and a used liquid suction pipe. 2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the used liquid tank (19-20) is constituted by a sealed assembly of the working head or cleaning member (2) and the interior (20) of the lower part of the tubular enclosure (3). 3.- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the used liquid reservoir is made in one piece (Figure 5) and has a passage opening for a suction pipe (9) of used liquid. 4.- Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the reservoir (19-20) of used liquid has a T-shaped configuration and has at its base a transverse extension (19) provided with a drain plug (18 ). 5.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the suction pipe (9) through which the used liquid opens into the used liquid reservoir, and the end of the tubing ( 21) of air suction by which said tank is placed under vacuum are arranged substantially along the same axis and axially spaced, so as to avoid any suction of used liquid through the air suction pipe (21). 6.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning liquid reservoir is closed by a grip handle. 7.- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the gripping handle carries the means for depressurizing the used liquid tank. 8.- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the grip handle is disposed at the upper end of the cleaning liquid tank, while the vacuuming means are arranged between the cleaning liquid tank and the used liquid. 9.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transverse partition is provided between the suction pipe of the used liquid tank and the suction pipe of the used liquid tank, so as to constitute a deflector cap preventing the used liquid from being sucked into the vacuum tube. 10.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction pipe and the depression of the used liquid tank accommodates a filter to retain dust and impurities.

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