EP0997099A2 - Mop for cleaning a floor tiling - Google Patents

Abstract

The flow of cleaning liquid through tube (5) is controlled by a rod (12) inside the hollow handle (1) connected to a pommel on the handle's upper end. When the pommel is depressed, the piston pressure is released and liquid flows through the tube. The floor cleaner has a container of cleaning fluid. The fluid is dispensed through a flexible tube (5) to head (6). The tube passes through a sleeve (14) on the lower part of the handle and is normally closed by pressure from a spring-loaded piston (13) inside the sleeve. The flow of liquid is controlled by a rod (12) inside the hollow handle (1) connected to a pommel on the handle's upper end. When the pommel is depressed, the piston pressure is released and liquid flows through the tube.

Description

The present invention relates to a tile washing brush comprising a liquid outlet regulator.

For cleaning tiles there is already known a process consisting of distribute a certain amount of detergent or disinfectant liquid beforehand floor tile. We distribute and rub this liquid by means of a broom or a plate provided at its base with a mop. We also know brooms whose handle is connected, via a universal joint, to a flat board on the surface bottom of which is placed a cotton or similar fabric. To get a better grip with the fabric, we cover the bottom surface of the board with a sole rubber or else it is made with roughness or a roughness which penetrates in the fabric. In other cases, the board is provided, on its upper surface, with the place of its angles, of recesses provided with resin plates on which are distributed star notches into which the four corners of the fabric are inserted wrapping the clipboard.

There are brushes on the market equipped with a liquid reservoir mounted on their handle, this reservoir being provided, at its lower part, with an outlet to which is connected a small flexible tube which descends to arrive near the plate, making protruding forward. There are also other brushes on the market fitted with a tank. of liquid, mounted on the handle, which differ from the one mentioned previously because the small flexible tube connects the bottom of the tank directly to a tubular appendage of the board, this appendage feeding a small channel with holes formed in the board in the longitudinal direction, to make drain the liquid underneath so as to permeate the underlying tissue.

In the types of brushes mentioned above, the regulation of the liquid flowing to the bottom is obtained in various ways. One of these ways is to insert a tap (which can be a drip) immediately below the tank. Tap allows, in addition to opening and closing, to adjust as needed the importance of the flow of the liquid contained in the tank.

Another way of doing things that is more convenient in practice is to intervene. on the small tube connected to the reservoir, for the downward flow of the liquid, which for this must be done in a flexible material, by compressing more or less a section of this little tube. By completely crushing the small tube, it blocks the passage of the liquid. Yes no compression is applied to the small tube, the liquid flows freely downwards from the tank. If there is reduced pressure on the small flexible tube, performing a partial crushing thereof, the importance of the flow of the liquid flowing towards the bottom is determined based on the value of the crush.

The brushes which exist on the market whose tank is mounted on the handle and in which the adjustment of the flow of liquid from the reservoir is carried out by crushing a section of the small tube of flexible material connected to the lower part of the tank, are carried out as described below.

• d'un réservoir en forme de bouteille, monté sur le manche ;
• d'un petit tube de matière flexible qui relie un appendice tubulaire du fond du réservoir à la planchette de base, après avoir traversé le manche du balai ;
• d'un manche qui soutient un réservoir et qui est relié, par l'intermédiaire d'un joint à la cardan, à la planchette de base qui est équipée d'un tissu ;
• d'un pommeau qui est situé au sommet de la poignée du manche et qui est relié au dispositif permettant de comprimer le petit tube flexible à l'endroit de sa traversée du manche ou d'un prolongement du manche ;
• d'une planchette de base qui est reliée, d'une manière articulée, par l'intermédiaire d'un porte-manche, à la partie inférieure du manche et à laquelle est transmis, par l'intermédiaire du petit tube flexible, le liquide contenu dans le réservoir ; et
• d'un dispositif, actionné par un ressort et qui, à l'état de repos, maintient totalement écrasé le petit tube flexible provenant du réservoir, à l'endroit de sa traversée du manche ou d'un prolongement de celui-ci.

The brushes are made up of:

• a bottle-shaped reservoir mounted on the handle;
• a small tube of flexible material which connects a tubular appendage from the bottom of the tank to the base board, after having crossed the handle of the broom;
• a handle which supports a tank and which is connected, by means of a universal joint, to the base board which is equipped with a fabric;
• a knob which is located at the top of the handle of the handle and which is connected to the device making it possible to compress the small flexible tube at the point of its crossing of the handle or of an extension of the handle;
• a base board which is connected, in an articulated manner, via a handle holder, to the lower part of the handle and to which is transmitted, via the small flexible tube, the liquid contained in the tank; and
• a device, actuated by a spring and which, in the idle state, keeps the small flexible tube coming from the reservoir totally crushed, at the point where it crosses the handle or an extension thereof.

In these types of tank brushes available on the market, the tank has the shape of a bottle with a neck provided with a cap for its filling and it is provided at its lower part with a tubular appendage for its connection with one end of the small flexible tube. Such a tank is provided with holes on its bottom and on its top, which are intended to be crossed by the handle, and the support is obtained at means of fittings or a specific seal made between the tank and the handle. To allow the liquid to flow downwards from the tank, we act on the knob located at the top of the handle, lifting it up. Because of this upward actuation, pulling of the wire which connects the knob to the device compressing the small flexible tube at the point where it passes through the handle or a extension of the handle. By varying the value of the lift of the knob, we varies the traction of the wire which proportionally counterbalances the action of the spring of the crushing device for the small flexible tube.

The distribution of the liquid in the lower part of the base board is produced by means of a mixed metal-resin pipe which presents a series of holes in a groove (provided with holes) which are made in the board basic itself. The mixed metal-resin pipe is supplied from the small flexible tube at the place of a tubular appendage which is in the part top of the base board.

Tank brushes of the type described above, in addition to being of a cost of high production and antieconomic from the handling point of view, present a series disadvantages that reduce their performance.

One drawback consists in making the reservoir intended to contain the liquids to be used for cleaning. To house the tank in a way symmetrical around the handle and to ensure the continuity of this handle, the tank has at its bottom and at its top two holes through which the handle passes. To allow the tank to function properly, it is necessary to remove, the location of the lower hole and the upper hole, suitable fittings which are held against the handle. To protect the wall of the handle in its part which is found inside the tank, in case the liquids introduced into the tank can be aggressive towards the material of the handle, the latter must be previously wrapped in a sheath of suitable material and maintaining the hole lower and the upper hole of the tank mounted on the handle is made against the protective shealth. In the latter case, the appropriate ones are chosen. materials of the tank and the sheath and instead of the use of the linings, it is possible to heat seal.

A type of tank produced as described above has a cost not negligible as a result of the adoption of the holding fittings and the sleeve sheathing. If heat sealing is carried out on the protective sheath, it is possible to damage the reservoir (for example the tubular appendix where the small flexible material can break) and this results in the replacement of the tank together with the handle, requiring complete disassembly of the entire structure.

The bottle-type tank is provided at its upper part with a neck with a closure cap. To fill the tank or empty it quickly, it there remains the problem that must be removed and then take the plug back previously removed, as happens with all normal bottles with a cork, this occupying one hand and taking a long time.

Another disadvantage lies in the mode of actuation of the device which ensures the crushing of the small flexible tube in its part where the tube is actually crushed. The actuation is produced by the lifting of the knob, which is at the top of the handle and which pulls a wire. The uprising of the knob constitutes an inappropriate operation during cleaning operations which interfere with job performance. The traction of a wire, given the smallness of the stroke to which the device which causes the crushing is subjected, has a phase frequent recovery of the length of the wire because in use the wire is subjected to a elongation. The possible break of the wire finally leads to the disassembly of the entire structure.

Another disadvantage is the way the liquid is distributed in the base board which is intended to move a piece of fabric over the tiles. For liquid distribution, a mixed metal-resin type pipe provided a series of drainage holes, inserted into a hollowed out longitudinal groove in the lower plane of the base board. Such a mixed metal-resin pipe is combined with the closing plane of the groove and this closing plane is provided with holes corresponding to those made in the metal portions of the pipeline. The liquid that comes out of the holes formed in the metal portions of the pipe, in addition to being able to exit through the holes in the closure plane, can fill the free interior of the groove provided for its housing, which has for disadvantage that the liquid continues to come out below the base board even when you want to interrupt the flow by blocking the small flexible tube.

The object of the present invention is to produce a broom provided with a reservoir with a liquid outlet regulator which eliminates all the disadvantages associated with brushes provided with a reservoir and a liquid outlet regulator which exist on the market, thanks to new functional and structural concepts reducing the costs of production and handling.

The liquid reservoir which is not bottle-shaped but has a open mouth, is obtained in one piece and has a tubular cavity at the center whose wall, the same height as the external wall is in continuation, by through the bottom of the tank, with this outer wall. The reservoir thus produced does not require handle retention pads. The tank is easily replaceable in case of damage due to the fact that it can be removed from the handle. In the case presently considered, the handle does not in fact participate in the production of the reservoir.

Because the tank is open mouth, it is possible to insert, in its initial section, a cup-shaped filter, with a central tubular cavity and which, thereby prevents the introduction of any solid particles which could clog the flow of liquid at the points of a reduced diameter.

The closure of the tank mouth is achieved by means of a cover inverted cup-shaped, with a central tubular cavity sliding along the handle. The external wall of the cover is provided with an internal border intended to mate with the corresponding external border of the tank. On its upper part external and close to the handle, the cover is provided with a tubular appendage fin. This external upper part of the cover is configured in such a way that, when the cover is lifted upwards, it engages elastically on the part lower of the handle of the handle, in order to be retained by it. This allows the operator to have both hands without having to hold the cover during operations to be carried out with the mouth of the tank free.

Another important precaution is to protect the tubular appendage provided on the outside of the bottom of the tank, appendage whose rupture would lead to replacement of the entire tank, and only float the small flexible tube which could otherwise get caught in some obstacle. To remedy this drawback, we applies a sliding cap to the handle, which surrounds the tubular appendage and which forces the small tube to descend while being attached to the handle.

Another object of the present invention is to carry out, in a simple and particularly economical, the device provided for crushing a section of the small flexible tube to adjust the flow of liquid from the tank downwards.

This device consists of a small piston provided with a transverse opening for the passage of the small flexible tube, and, in the lower part of this opening, of a small nose or enlargement, and a sleeve which can be provided with an opening corresponding for the passage of the small flexible tube and in which the small slide piston. The upward push of the small piston fitted with the nose, under the action of a spring prestressed placed on the bottom of the handle holder, causes the crushing of the small tube flexible which is compressed by the nose of the piston against the edge of the wall of the sleeve in which slides the small piston.

This crushing device, consisting of the sleeve fixed firmly at the end lower of the tubular handle, the small piston provided with the nose and the push spring of the piston up, is housed in the handle holder connected by a cardan joint to the basic board. The assembly and disassembly of this crushing device are in additionally made in a simple way by fixing or releasing the handle of the handle holder associated, and this by closing or opening the sleeve holder sleeve which ensures tightening. The handle holder also has two opposite openings which cross its wall in being aligned with the openings of the sleeve and the opening of the small piston having the nose, to allow the passage of the small flexible tube.

Another object of the invention is that the actuation of the crushing device of the small flexible tube is not produced by pulling a wire but is obtained on the contrary by pressure on a rod which connects the knob located at the top of the handle of the handle, to the small piston with nose. The thrust exerted by means of the rod, and which opposes the action of the spring arranged on the bottom of the handle holder, causes the lowering of the small piston whose nose, moving away from the edge of the wall of the sleeve against which it was pressing, reducing or completely crushing the small flexible tube. The fact of not not carry out the traction actions on wires which may break but which way can also lengthen over time, guarantee the invariability of the system in time without the need to plan a periodic tune-up.

To guarantee lowering of the rod without having to keep it pressed down continuously, a key is made on a sleeve with an external flange threaded in the upper end of the handle and, on a central male pin of the threaded knob in the aforementioned sleeve a hollow which has, at its internal end, a widening in which the key, after a slight rotation of the knob, can penetrate in thus keeping the knob in its lowered position.

Another innovation present in the patent according to the present invention concerns the distribution of the liquid in the base board. The achievement is very simple and it does not involve the insertion of metal pipe portions. On the upper part of the base board is made a longitudinal groove in the bottom of which are drilled a series of holes of a diameter decreasing from the center towards the end. This groove is closed by a slender cover with a gasket underlying provided in the central area of a tubular appendage for the task of the small flexible tube from the tank. In this case, there is no danger of spreading or which could disrupt the flow. In this case also there is no parts which may undergo corrosion or obstructions. The possible cleaning of the groove is carried out with ease after removing the cover while cleaning the drain holes can be made directly from the fact that these holes are accessible to from the bottom surface of the base board.

All of the above is clear from an examination of the drawing boards annexed on which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the brush.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the brush.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the broom.

Figure 4 is the same representation as that of Figure 3 but with the opening of the tank released and the cover is shown raised upwards and taken with the lower part of the handle.

Figure 5 is another perspective view of the broom taken at an angle different from previous representations.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the entire crushing device of the small flexible tube that extends from the top and is connected to the base board.

We see in this figure the handle equipped, at its lower part, with a sleeve in which can move a small piston provided with a small nose projecting sideways. This piston is pushed up by a spring and during operation it can be pushed down by means of a rod located inside the handle and controlled by a knob located at the top of the handle, this rod acting against the action of the spring. The entire device consisting of the sleeve, the piston comprising the small nose side and spring, is contained inside the handle holder which anchors the handle by means of a tightening ferrule. As you can see, the sleeve holder, the sleeve integral with the handle and the small piston with lateral nose are pierced with openings suitable for the passage of the small flexible tube through them. Crushing of the small flexible tube is produced by the small nose of the piston which, when pushed back towards the top, compresses the tube against the edge of the wall of the sleeve in which the small piston.

Figure 7 is a sectional view in an exploded manner, without representation of the handle holder, of the parts which constitute the device for crushing the small tube flexible and the sleeve which is fixed to the lower part of the handle, the small piston provided from the side projecting nose is connected to the operating rod, the spring causing the thrust towards the top of the small piston, a portion of the small flexible tube intended to pass through the openings of the handle holder, the sleeve and the small piston with lateral nose.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the handle holder provided with the ferrule of tightening and connected by a cardan joint to the base board. In this figure, also appear the openings which are formed in the walls of the handle holder.

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing the various elements which constitute the upper part of the broom and also the tank cover which is not retained by the handle of the handle. We see in the figure the handle, the handle mounted on the handle, the sleeve with external collar threaded into the upper upper part of the handle, the knob connected to the operating rod and the central male pin of which slides at the inside of the sleeve with external flange. Regarding the cover, we see that its internal underside is provided with assembly elements which allow its coupling with the upper external rim of the tank. In its central part, the cover has a tubular cavity whose wall is almost adherent to the handle. On its external upper part and near the handle, the cover is provided with a tubular appendage with fins capable of engaging elastically on the lower part of the handle.

Figure 10 is a representation corresponding to that of Figure 9 but on Figure 10, the cover is lifted and leaned against the lower part of the handle which retention due to elastic coupling between the lower part of the handle and the tubular appendage with fins of the cover.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the reservoir, of a portion of the handle and a protective cap for the tubular appendage of the reservoir which is mounted below of the tank and around the handle. Note that the tank is made in one part and that its outer tubular wall and the tubular wall of the inner cavity are in continuity through this background.

Figure 12 shows the pommel which is located at the top of the handle of the handle and which is integral with the operating rod to cause the crushing of the small flexible tube and reduce the flow of liquid.

Figure 13 shows the sleeve with external flange which is threaded on the upper end of the handle and in which the central male pin of the knob integral with the operating rod.

Figure 14 shows the knob of Figure 12 with a cutaway which highlights evidence of the enlargement made in the upper part of the hollow on the spindle male central.

Figure 15 shows the sleeve of Figure 13 with a cutaway which puts in evidence the key which engages in the hollow of the central male pin of the knob.

Figure 16 is a bottom view of the knob shown in Figure 12 and it highlights the hollow present in the central male pin.

Figure 17 is a bottom view of the sleeve shown in Figure 13 and it highlights the presence of the key.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view, on a scale almost equal to one, from the base board, highlighting the groove made in the surface upper and provided, at its bottom, with holes for the distribution of the liquid coming from of the tank.

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the closure cover of the groove of the base board which is provided with the tubular appendage for its connection with the small flexible tube coming from the liquid tank.

In the different figures, we can see the handle 1, the handle 2 mounted on the handle, the reservoir 3 of the liquid mounted on the handle, the cover 4 of the reservoir, the small flexible tube 5 which connects the reservoir 3 to the base board 6, the tubular appendage 7 present on the cover 3 ensuring the closing of the groove made in the board 6 and to which is connected the small flexible tube 5, the handle holder 8, the ferrule 9 for tightening the handle holder 8, the knob 10 located at the top of the handle and connected to the rod operation 12, the universal joint 11 connecting the handle holder 8 and the base board 6, the rod 12 which connects the upper pommel 10 to the small piston 13 with a lateral nose, the lowering reduces or cancels the crushing of the small flexible tube 5, against the upward thrust exerted by the spring 16, the sleeve 14 fixed at the lower end of the handle 1 and in which the small piston 13 with a lateral nose slides, the openings opposite 15 and 15 'which are present in the wall of the handle holder 8, the opening 17 present in the sleeve 14, the opening 18 present in the small piston 13 with lateral nose 19, the nose 19 of the small piston 13 which, under the effect of the upward push of the small piston 13 exerted by the spring 16, is pressed against the edge 31 of the wall of the sleeve 14. If the small flexible tube 5 is inserted through the openings 17 and 18, it is crushed, in rest condition, against the edge 31 of the wall of the sleeve 14, by the lateral nose 19 of the small piston 13.

We also see in the aforementioned figures the appendage with fins 20 present on the upper external part of the tank cover, near the handle, the tubular appendage 21 located on the outside of the bottom of the tank 3 to allow the connection of the small flexible tube 5, the cap 22 for protecting the tubular appendage 21 and retaining the initial part of the small flexible tube 5, the flanged sleeve 23 threaded at the top of the handle 1 and in which the central male pin 24 of the knob 10, the hollow 25 present in the central male pin 24 of the knob 10 and in which is engaged the key 26 of the sleeve 23, the widening 32 of the hollow 25 in which can penetrate, after rotation of the knob 10, the key 26, in order to maintain the knob 10 in the lowered position reached.

We also see in the figures the longitudinal groove 27 made in the upper surface of the base board, the series of holes 28 drilled in the bottom of the groove for the downward flow of the liquid from the reservoir 3, through the small flexible tube 5, the asperities 29 formed on the lower surface of the board 6 by clamping the fabric to be rubbed on the tiling, the cover 30 provided with a seal 31 for closing the groove 27 so as to thus constitute a conduit, and the tubular projection 32 which protects by surrounding the tubular appendage 7 provided for the connection of the small flexible tube 5. From the previous description, appears the validity of the innovation which characterizes this patent which must be considered as describing and depicting a preferential solution given only as example. Within the scope of this patent, the variants and improvements that those skilled in the art can envision using the teachings resulting from the inventive concept of the patent.

Claims (9)

Washing brush for a tiled floor with a liquid outlet regulator characterized in that the exit of the liquid towards the tiling results from an action which entails the axial lowering of a rod (12) located inside the handle (1) and which, by opposing to the force which determines the crushing of a section of a small flexible tube connected to the reservoir, reduces or cancels the obstruction of the passage of liquid from the reservoir and down. Mop washing brush with liquid outlet regulator depending on the claim 1 characterized in that the lowering action of the rod is obtained by lowering a knob (10) located at the top of the handle (1) and secured to the end upper of the rod (12). Mop washing brush with liquid outlet regulator depending on the claim 1 characterized in that the device which determines the crushing of a section of the small flexible tube extending from the reservoir consists of a sleeve, which can be crossed by an opening, which is fixed to the lower part of the handle, of a small piston which slides inside the sleeve and which is crossed by an opening through which passes the small flexible tube, this piston being provided in correspondence with the bottom of the opening, a small nose provided with an enlargement, and a spring which repels the small piston against the sleeve so as to determine the crushing of the small tube between the nose or enlargement of the small piston and the edge of the wall of the sleeve. Mop for washing a tile with a liquid outlet regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the regulation of the outlet of the liquid is performed according to the lowering of the pommel located at the top and therefore of the rod whose upper end is connected to the pommel, and therefore of the lowering of the small piston provided with the nose and which is connected to the lower end of the rod (12). Mop for washing a tile with a liquid outlet regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for crushing the small flexible tube from the tank is completely contained in a normal handle holder clamping ring which is present in the usual brushes of the market provided with a handle and a sleeve holder with clamping ferrule. Mop for washing a tile with a liquid outlet regulator according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the tank which is mounted on the handle so as to surround it, is made in one piece, its tubular wall external being in continuation of its internal tubular wall via its bottom. Mop washing brush with liquid outlet regulator depending on the claim 6 characterized in that the cover of the liquid reservoir has the form of a overturned cup with a central tubular cavity sliding along the handle and provided on its upper external part, near the handle, a tubular finned appendage which, when lifted against the handle of the handle, is capable of engaging elastically with the lower part of the handle. Mop for washing a tile with a liquid outlet regulator according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the distribution of the incoming liquid on the board is made by means of a channel or hollow groove longitudinally in the upper surface of the base board, with a series of holes in its bottom which cross the thickness of the board, and a cover provided a clip for the small flexible tube coming from the tank. Mop for washing a tile with a liquid outlet regulator according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pommel located at the top of the operating rod and integral with it is provided, on its male central spindle, with a hollow which ends in a widening, so that as a result of a rotation partial of the knob, a key present on the internal surface of the sleeve collar in which the central male pin of the pommel moves, can penetrate, in this enlargement.

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