EP0834263A1 - Pipe cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The pipe cleaner (1;19) has a symmetric rotation cleaning body (3;16;21), made from absorbent material, with a grip piece (2;20) built from the rotation body. The grip piece has a coaxial pin projection (9;24), which can be wound and/or rotated in a coaxial recess (10;25) of the cleaning body. The diameter of the grip piece may be between 1-2 cm, and it may also have a friction-jacket covering, which may be pimpled.

Description

The invention relates to a pipe cleaner with a rotationally symmetrical Cleaning body made of an absorbent material and a handle.

Long-term enjoyment of pipe smoking requires constant care the whistle. In particular, those that accumulate inside the pipe body must Residues should be removed if possible after each use of the pipe. To get rid of loose ash residues, it is sufficient to knock out the inverted ash Pipe bowl; the pipe juice, which is always present, must be used can be removed together with adhering particles using a pipe cleaner. In the past, Chenille fiber cleaners were mostly used for this purpose are enclosed in their central region by wires and by twisting the wires get an approximately brush-roller shape. Because of your brush structure however, the absorbency of such cleaners is extremely limited. Furthermore these cleaners can only apply relatively small forces to the inside of the pipe exercise, otherwise the wire core will bend or bend. Finally, at such pipe cleaners do not have proper handles, but the wire core protrudes at one end and is bent over so that it is at least somewhat can be taken. Due to its small cross section, it cuts However, metal soul here in the fingers of the smoker, which is extremely painful is.

Therefore it is known, for example from DE-GM 89 06 467, for cleaning one relatively dimensionally stable, largely cylindrical body made of an absorbent fiber material, preferably to form cellulose fibers and this with an end Handle to be provided. The cleaning body can either be in a Recess of the handle can be used, or the handle has a handle-like Extension, which is inserted into a slot in the cleaning body. However, all these constructions have in common that the handle is elongated Form similar to a key handle, so that the smoker at best can make a half turn and then either reach around or pull the cleaner out of the pipe bowl. Therefore designed pipe cleaning as a draining undertaking, so that a smoker after the enjoyment of his tobacco pipe in view of the forthcoming hardship rarely fails to clean his pipe.

In addition, the pipe cleaner disclosed in DE-GM 89 06 467 is extreme uneconomical. Because with the standard version described there, the entire pipe cleaner despite the elaborate, key handle-like handle construction be thrown away so that the careful smoker at regular intervals considerable costs are expected. On the other hand, with another also known from DE-GM 89 06 467 version with reusable Handle provided a simple plug mechanism, being in the cleaning body a coaxial sleeve is inserted into which the elongated stem of the handle can be inserted. This simple plug mechanism has the consequence, however, that an inserted into the pipe cleaning body, there due to its diameter finds a good grip on the handle can be withdrawn more because this is the result of the integrated Sleeve releases, so that this embodiment is completely unsuitable.

This results from these disadvantages of the prior art Problem initiating the invention, such a generic pipe cleaner to further develop that the cleaning of a tobacco pipe with comfortable handles can be carried out; in addition, the economy of a generic Pipe cleaner can be further improved.

To achieve the object, the invention provides that the handle a solid body of rotation is formed, which is a coaxial pin extension Pushing and / or screwing into a coaxial recess of the cleaning body having. So here is in contrast to the prior art not a key-like, flat handle, but a solid rotating body, which does not involve rotating the entire wrist or even the entire wrist Forearm requires, but a comfortable roll between thumb and index finger makes possible, so that in particular cleaning in an upright position Keeping the pipe bowl is possible, with no ash residues or the like. can fall down. If according to the invention the diameter of the handle is not larger than about 1 to 2 cm, can be rolled between the thumb and Index finger without reaching back one turn of the cleaning body 360 ° can be carried out while in the prior art, key handle-like Embodiment already after 180 ° a change of grip is necessary. To that for the Cleaning the pipe bowl transfer the required torque to the handle To be able to, it has proven to be favorable that this is a friction-increasing Has lateral surface, for example. Knurled.

To reduce the expenditure for pipe cleaning, the invention provides that the handle has a coaxial rod, at least partially with a profiled, in particular knurled surface for torsion-proof Inserting into a coaxial recess of the cleaning body is provided. This creates a very firm connection between the cleaning body and the handle possible. The cleaning body can to a limited extent Retract the profiled pin and then nestles tightly on its uneven surface, creating an intimate form fit Can withstand both twisting and shifting. After use, the cleaning body can be removed and replaced by a new ones will be replaced. It has proven to be favorable that the profiled area the lateral surface is at the front, free end of the profile rod, where during attack the greatest forces during the cleaning process. Of course it is possible to provide the entire pen with a profiled surface.

As an alternative to this, the invention also provides for the handle to be coaxial Has rod that at least partially with a screw thread is provided in a coaxial recess of the cleaning body. This is it is possible to conveniently replace a used cleaning body with a new one to replace, the handle can be reused. On the other hand is a cleaning body fixed by screwing as a result of the thread engagement in its longitudinal direction immovably fixed to the handle so that it is in contrast to the embodiment according to DE-GM 89 06 467 when withdrawing cannot detach from the pipe head from the handle.

In a further development of this inventive concept, the invention provides that Thread has a right-hand pitch. This can in particular Right-handers maintain the screwing direction they are used to from many activities.

As a result of an all-round contact shoulder arranged on the handle is at least a rotation of the cleaning body relative to the handle encountered effectively in the screwing direction. With appropriate rotation of the handle, therefore, the cleaning body can not Loosen the handle, on the contrary, it is tightened more if necessary.

In order to avoid injuries when replacing the cleaning body, provided that the profile or threaded rod has a rounded tip.

So that the compliant material of the cleaning body from the screw thread is sufficiently held, a thread geometry according to Art of a wood thread with a wide thread flank that goes deep into the material of the Cleaning body engages. On the other hand, the flexibility of the cleaning body dimensioning is not too restrictive prefer, the diameter of the threaded rod about 1/3 to 1/6, preferably corresponds to about 1/4 to 1/5 of the diameter of the cleaning body. Even after prolonged use, there is no risk that the thread leaks to any area of the cleaning body.

In another embodiment, the economy of the cleaning tool can be achieved in that the handle with a coaxial rod a prismatic, preferably rectangular or square cross section has, which is glued into a corresponding recess of the cleaning body is. This results in an arrangement that can be produced with little effort, which can therefore be offered very inexpensively, so that the replacement costs are relatively small and the cleaning body confidently together the handle can be thrown away. An intimate connection between the cleaning body and handle is in this embodiment by the angular-prismatic cross-section of the coaxial rod resulting from positive locking on the one hand, achieved by the adhesive connection on the other hand, so that here too Relative rotation is completely excluded.

In all the embodiments described above, it has been found that the length of the coaxial, pin-like or rod-like extension about 60% to 95% of the Corresponds to the length of the cleaning body. A longer length of the extension leads on the one hand to a particularly firm connection between the cleaning body and Grip and on the other hand gives the relatively flexible material the cleaning body has a sufficient internal hold, so that this is a very occupies a stable position. On the other hand, the extension should be slightly shorter than that Cleaning body, so that the tip of the extension even with an axial pressure force does not penetrate through the face of the cleaning body.

The pipe cleaners according to the invention are preferred in the context of a cleaning set offered that several replacement cleaning bodies or complete Disposable cleaner includes and can for example be surrounded by a case.

The front area of the cleaning body can vary depending on the application and Pipe geometry a completely straight face, but also a convex, have a chamfered or conical or conical geometry.

The cleaning body according to the invention has several tasks to perform: on the one hand, it must be sufficiently rigid to absorb the cleaning forces as much as possible against bending and torsion. On the other hand, it must be pliable enough to avoid damage to the pipe bowl and to nestle optimally against the surface to be cleaned during the cleaning process. According to the teaching according to the invention, swirled, pressed textile fibers are best suited for this purpose, in which high strength on the one hand and sufficient surface suppleness on the other hand can be set and in addition there is sufficient absorption capacity for the present purpose. The cleaning body is preferably made of felt and can be impregnated with a cleaning liquid. Optimal strength and suppleness result from felt with a density in a range of 0.2 - 0.5 g / cm ³ . The cleaning body can additionally be solidified by an inserted stiffening body. Such a cleaning body can even be used without an additional handle.

Fig. 1

eine achsonometrische Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Griffstücks gemäß Figur 1;

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch den Reinigungskörper aus Figur 1;

Fig. 4

eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung eines weiteren, erfindungsgemäßen Griffstücks;

Fig. 5

eine der Figur 3 entsprechende Darstellung eines anderen Reingungskörpers;

Fig. 6

eine der Figur 2 entsprechende Darstellung eines wiederum anderen Griffstücks;

Fig. 7

einen Reinigungskörper, der bevorzugt in Verbindung mit dem Griffstück gemäß Figur 5 verwendet wird; sowie

Fig.8

einen Schnitt durch die Figur 5 entlang der Linie VII - VII.

Further features, details and advantages on the basis of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention and from the drawing. This shows in:

Fig. 1

an axiometric representation of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of the handle of Figure 1;

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through the cleaning body of Figure 1;

Fig. 4

one of FIG 2 corresponding representation of a further handle according to the invention.

Fig. 5

a representation corresponding to Figure 3 of another cleaning body;

Fig. 6

a representation corresponding to Figure 2 of yet another handle;

Fig. 7

a cleaning body, which is preferably used in connection with the handle according to Figure 5; such as

Fig. 8

a section through Figure 5 along the line VII - VII.

The pipe cleaner 1 shown in perspective in FIG. 1 consists of a rear handle part 2 and the actual cleaning body 3. Both that Handle part 2 and the cleaning body 3 have a rotationally symmetrical Shape. The cleaning body 3 consists of a relatively strong felt with a cylindrical Shape. The diameter of this cylinder is about 1 cm, its length preferably between 4 and 5 cm.

The handle part 2 used to hold this cleaning body 3 is divided in a front distance area 4, which is approximately in terms of its diameter corresponds to the cleaning body 3, and in a widened cross-section Gripping cylinder 5 with a knurled pattern 6 on its outer surface. The diameter of the gripping cylinder 5 is preferably not more than 1-2 cm, so that by rolling between the thumb and index finger the pipe cleaner 1 almost a full turn can be given without the wrist should take action in some form.

The front spacer 4 has a straight end face 7, on which the flat, rear end face 8 of the cleaning body 3 bears over the entire surface. In order to the relatively soft cleaning body 3 despite its high density also increases Lateral forces do not bend too much from its cylindrical shape is on the front end face 7, a coaxial metal pin 9 is arranged, which is preferably has a length of about 3-4 cm and a diameter of about 2-3 mm. This pin 9 is in a coaxial recess 10 of the cleaning body 3 inserted and then forms a kind of stiffening backbone for the same.

So that the same after inserting the cleaning body 3 into the pipe bowl can also be withdrawn without hesitation, there is a thread 11 on pin 9 arranged, which is relatively wide and flat, cutting-like thread flanks has in the manner of a wood thread and is therefore intensively in the felt of the Cleaning body 3 cuts and consequently for a firm hold two parts 2, 3 together. The thread 10 of the pin 9 can, for example be easily realized by a wood screw from her head freed and with the rear shaft portion 12 in a coaxial recess 13 of the handle part 2 is glued.

After completely screwing the cleaning body 3 onto the grub screw 9 reaches the rear end face 8 of the cleaning body 3 in full area Contact with the front face 7 of the spacer 4. Despite its relative soft nature, the cleaning body 3 is stable enough to be in this Clamp position so that another relative rotary motion in this Direction of screwing is largely inhibited. Therefore, the smoker can now use of the gripping cylinder 5, the cleaning body 3 for cleaning a pipe in the Turn the screwing direction.

Is the cleaning body 3 soaked with pipe juice and / or with ash particles covered, so it can be easily replaced. For this, the cleaning body now unscrewed from the thread 11 in the other direction of rotation. So that the smoker does not make his finger sooty must come here the front, reduced cross-sectional distance range 4 of the handle part 2 located. Because he can now the gripping cylinder 5 with his middle and hold on to his ring finger and then have the option of his thumb and push your index finger forward on the distance area 4 until it is with his Fingertips just cleaned body 3 on its clean, rear end 14 detected. So that the smoker turns on the unscrewed Cleaning body exposed pin 9 can not hurt, is the tip 29 rounded. After screwing on a new, clean cleaning body 3 the pipe cleaner 1 is ready for use again.

The cross-sectional shape of the cleaning body 3 can have different types of pipes be adjusted. Preferred standard designs include an exactly cylindrical one Body 3 with a straight cut front face 15 like also an alternative embodiment 16, in which the end face 17 with a all-round chamfer 18 is provided. In other embodiments, the front end face 15, 17, for example, be domed in a dome shape.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of a handle according to the invention 30, which is also in a front distance area 31 and a rear Gripping cylinder 32 divided, but is made of wood. Into the spacer 31 adjacent end face 33, a metal rod 34 is glued in, whose length is approximately the recess 35 in the matching cleaning body 16 corresponds and with its free, projecting from the handle 30 area occupies a length of approximately 90% of the cleaning body 16. To put on and replacing a cleaning body 16 no protracted screwing movements need to execute, the rod 34 is only in their rear area 37 is threaded. The length of this thread area 37 can vary within wide limits, for example 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 take up the entire free length of the metal rod 34. This one too Embodiment is the front end of the threaded rod 34 with a rounded Provided tip 36, and by means of one at the rear end of the threaded area 37 molded washer 38 when gluing the metal rod 34 an exact length of the same can be observed in the handle 30.

Since pipe cleaners are a consumable, the invention provides according to the first embodiment. Figures 1 to 4 a reusable Handle part 2 before, so that only the felt-like cleaning body 3 is replaced must be and thereby a cost reduction is possible. The same The invention achieves effect in the second embodiment according to the figures 5 to 7 in a different way. The pipe cleaner 19 there sits down again composed of a handle part 20 and a cleaning body 21. The handle part 20 has a relatively simple shape with a rotationally symmetrical Gripping cylinder 22, the diameter of which is approximately the diameter of the cleaning body 21 corresponds, and the axial extent of which is relatively small, for example 0.5 - 1 cm. On the front end face 23 of this gripping cylinder 22 is an axially parallel Shaped pin 24, the cross section according to Figure 7 is preferably rectangular is. This corresponds to a coaxial recess 25 within the cleaning body 21, which receives the pin 24. Due to the angular cross section of the pin 24 can torques from the handle 20 to the cleaning body 21 are transmitted. To increase the stability, the pin 24 with the cleaning body 21 glued.

For this reason, the handle part 20 becomes dirty after the cleaning body 21 thrown away with this. The resulting loss of value To keep it as small as possible, the grip part 20 is preferably made of one Injection molded plastic.

The cleaning body 21 also has a predominantly in this embodiment cylindrical shape that will be completely identical to the cleaning bodies 3 or 16 can. In Figure 6, however, a somewhat modified embodiment is shown, in contrast to a cylindrical rear region 26 step tapered section 27 connects, which in turn is chamfered End face 28 is completed. The advantage of this embodiment is especially in that with the cross-sectionally tapered front region 27 after Unscrewing the pipe mouthpiece also cleaning the cross-section tapered mouthpiece opening of the pipe bowl is possible while the cross-section widened rear area 26 stiffened by pin 24 primarily serves to clean the pipe opening on the top. This form of a Cleaning body 23 can of course also in connection with the handle part 2 Find use.

As part of a pipe cleaning set offered in the trade, can be used of the exchange principle according to FIGS. 1 to 4, a single handle part 2 be present, to which a plurality of cleaning bodies 3 is added. At a cleaning set based on the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 7 however, several complete pipe cleaners 19 are included, each of which a cleaning body 23 is firmly connected to a handle part 20.

Claims (24)

Pipe cleaner (1; 19) with a rotationally symmetrical cleaning body (3; 16; 21) made of an absorbent material and a handle (2; 20), characterized in that the handle (2; 20) is formed from a solid body of rotation, one Has coaxial pin extension (9; 24) for insertion and / or screwing into a coaxial recess (10; 25) of the cleaning body (3; 16; 21). Pipe cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the Handle (2; 20) has a diameter of about 1 to 2 cm. Pipe cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Handle (2; 20) has a friction-increasing lateral surface (5), for example. is knurled (6). Pipe cleaner (1) with a rotationally symmetrical cleaning body (3; 16) made of an absorbent material and a handle (2), characterized in that the handle (2) has a coaxial rod (9) which is at least partially knurled with a profiled, in particular knurled The lateral surface for torsion-proof insertion into a coaxial recess (10) of the cleaning body (3; 16) is provided. Pipe cleaner according to claim 4, characterized in that the profiled Area of the lateral surface in the area of the free end of the profile rod located. Pipe cleaner (1) with a rotationally symmetrical cleaning body (3; 16) made of an absorbent material and a handle (2; 30), characterized in that the handle (2; 30) has a coaxial rod (9) which is at least partially with a Thread (11; 37) for screwing into a coaxial recess (10; 35) of the cleaning body (3; 16) is provided. Pipe cleaner according to claim 6, characterized in that the thread (11) the threaded rod (9) is designed in the manner of a wood thread. Pipe cleaner according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that that the thread (11) is right-handed. Pipe cleaner according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that that the threaded area of the threaded rod (9) located at the handle end. Pipe cleaner according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized by a circumferential contact shoulder (7) of the handle (2), which is another Counteracts rotation and / or displacement of the cleaning body (3; 16). Pipe cleaner according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that that the profile or threaded rod (9) has a rounded tip (29) having. Pipe cleaner according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that that the diameter of the profile or threaded rod (9) about 1/3 to 1/6, preferably about 1/4 to 1/5 of the diameter of the cleaning body (3; 16) corresponds. Pipe cleaner with a rotationally symmetrical cleaning body (21) made of an absorbent material and a handle (20), characterized in that the handle (20) has a coaxial rod (24) with a prismatic, preferably rectangular or square cross section, which is in a corresponding recess (25) of the cleaning body (21) is glued. Pipe cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the length of the coaxial, pin or rod-like extension (9; 24) about 60% to 95% of the length of the cleaning body (3; 16; 21) corresponds. Pipe cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the cleaning body (3; 16; 21) is a straight or conical or dome-shaped end face (15; 17; 28). Pipe cleaner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the cleaning body (3; 16; 21) consists of felt and is soaked with a cleaning liquid. Pipe cleaning set, characterized by a pipe cleaner (1) with a handle (2) and exchangeable cleaning body (3; 16), in particular according to one of claims 4 to 12, and by at least one additional replacement cleaning body (3; 16). Pipe cleaning set, characterized by several pipe cleaners (19), in particular according to claim 13. Pipe cleaning set according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by a Case or other container. Rotationally symmetrical cleaning body (3; 16) made of an absorbent material for a pipe cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of swirled textile fibers at least in the outer jacket area. Cleaning body according to claim 20, characterized in that it at least consists of felt in its outer jacket area. Cleaning body according to claim 21, characterized in that the felt has a density of 0.2-0.5 g / cm ³ . Cleaning body according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized through a central recess (10; 35) for receiving a pin or. the like Cleaning body according to claim 23, characterized in that in the central recess a pin or a sleeve, preferably made of metal or a solid plastic.

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