Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a work tool, preferably a mopping tool, having a tool part and a handle part, the tool part and the handle part being intercon- nected by means of a pivot system which is pivotable about at least two mutually diverging pivot axes (A, B) and, thus, has at least two different pivoting directions .
• Work tools of this kind generally comprise a handle part that, for example, consists of a lengthwise adjustable handle and a tool part, such as a mop holder (also called mop frame), which is adapted to be fitted with a mop cloth.
• the mop holder may be, for example, in the form of a plate on which a mop cloth can be arranged.
• the handle and the tool holder are connect- ed to a pivot system.
• This pivot system generally has two perpendicular pivot axes and the tool holder is therefore pivotable about a first as well as a second pivot axis.
• Cleaning tools may, for instance, be used to clean floors, walls and ceilings in rooms or similar spaces.
• the pivot resistance is as small as possible, so that all the force applied is used to move the mopping tool across the floor.
• the mopping tool is used to clean ceiling or wall surfaces a problem that may arise is, for instance, a difficulty to guide the mopping tool across the surface due to the lack of pivot resistance.
• the pivot system comprises at least one first pivot set adapted for a first pivot axis (A) the pivoting direction of which differs from at least one second pivot set adapted for a second pivot axis (B) , at least one of the members forming part of each pivot set being at least locally variable in the radial direction and, thus, adapted to be pressed against an opposite member forming part of the same pivot set, the pivot system having an adjusting means which, when operated, is adapted to cause said radial variation of at least one member forming part of a pivot set, and said adjusting means being connected to at least one transmission means for the purpose of power transmission, which transmission means is common to said pivot sets and arranged between said pivot sets to press the members forming part of one pivot set against one another by surface interaction and, thus, to provide a simultaneous braking action in each of the pivot sets.
• the invention as defined by claim 1 offers several advantages, one being that the work tool simplifies handling, for example in terms of the adjustable braking action, which can be easily adjusted using the adjusting means.
• a further advantage is that the user can obtain a braking action in both pivoting directions by moving the adjusting means.
• Said adjusting means is preferably movably arranged and has at least one first position in which said first and second pivot sets move essentially unobstructedly in the respective pivoting directions, and at least one second position in which said first and second pivot sets are subjected to said braking action. This simplifies the user's handling of the work tool.
• said adjusting means preferably has at least one cam surface, which interacts with at least one member forming part of a pivot set, to cause, during operation, said radial variation.
• Said first pivot set is formed of at least one first pivot body, which is pivotally arranged in at least one first housing and said second pivot set is formed of at least one second pivot body, which is pivotally arranged in at least one second housing.
• one of said first and second pivot body suitably forms one of said second and first housing for the other of said second and first pivot body.
• one of the pivot bodies of a pivot set can also serve as a housing for the other pivot body of the other pivot set.
• said transmission means can act on the inside of said first and second pivot body for expanding power transmission to the at least partly enclosing housing for the purpose of expanding it and, thereby, providing said simultaneous braking action.
• This allows the pivot system to reduce the exposure to, for example, grime and chemicals.
• At least one of said first and second pivot body preferably has at least two pivot body portions that are radially movable in relation to one another. This allows said local radial variability to be obtained.
• Said first pivot axis (A) can have two axially spaced-apart pivot sets, which are pivotable about said first pivot axis (A) , which, for example, makes it possible to distribute the braking action power in two pivot sets in the same pivoting direction.
• Said adjustment means can, in connection with an operating action intended to achieve said simultaneous braking action, cause pressing of the transmission means against said second pivot body to provide a braking action in said second pivot set, said pressing causing a radial expansion of said first pivot body to provide a braking action in said first pivot set.
• Said first pivot axis (A) can be adapted to orthogonally intersect with said second pivot axis (B) , which allows a satisfactory flexibility and power transmission to be obtained in the pivot system.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic view of part of a mopping tool according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2a is a schematic view in more detail of parts of the mopping tool in Fig. 1, partly in cross-section and in a first position, according to the first embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2b is a schematic view of parts of the mopping tool in Fig. 2a in a second position.
• Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a transmission means provided with a cam surface, according to the first embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a second pivot body and a transmission means according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a mopping tool 1 having a tool part 2 and a handle part 3.
• the handle part 3 is also adapted to be attached to a handle (not shown in the figure) .
• the tool part 2 has a holder in the form of a plate 14.
• the holder is also called a frame on which, for instance, a mop cloth (not shown) can be arranged.
• the tool part 2 and the handle part 3 are connected to a pivot system 4, which preferably is pivotable about two mutually diverging pivot axes A and B and, thus, has at least two different pivoting directions.
• the pivot axis A is preferably perpendicular to the pivot axis B and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the plate 14 of the tool part 2.
• the pivot system 4 which can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2a, preferably but not necessarily has two pivot sets for the axis A.
• the pivot sets for the axis A are formed of a first pivot body 5, which extends axially along the axis A and which is enclosed at both ends in first housings 6.
• the first pivot body 5 and the first housings 6 have slidably interacting surfaces that are arranged facing one another in the radial direction, whereby the first pivot body 5 will have a pivot function in each first housing 6. Referring to Fig.
• the first pivot body 5 preferably consists of two pivot body portions 12, which in the present case are two separate, complementary parts that form opposite surfaces along the A axis.
• Each housing 6 is mechanically connected to the plate (frame) 14 of the tool part.
• the first housings 6 each have a cone-shaped recess arranged opposite one another and adapted to receive in a complementary manner the respective ends of the first pivot body 5.
• the pivot system 4 further has a pivot set for the B axis, which is formed of a second pivot body 7 and a second housing 8.
• the first pivot body 5 forms the second housing 8.
• the two pivot body portions 12 are adapted to receive, at least partially, the second pivot body 7.
• the second pivot body 7 and the second housing 8 preferably have slidably interacting surfaces that are arranged facing one another in the radial direction, whereby the second pivot body 7 will have a pivot function in the second housing 8.
• the elongate second pivot body 7 suitably has a circular cross-section to allow a satisfactory sliding interaction relatively to the second housing 8.
• the second pivot body 7 has, at both ends, a handle arm 13 that extends radially from the second pivot body 7 and forms an angle with the plate 14.
• the two handle arms are mechanically connected to one another, in the form of a handle sleeve, to form a part that allows connection of the handle part 3, for example, a circular, sleeve-shaped handle.
• the upper of the two pivot body portions 12 shown has a turnable adjusting means 9 for providing an operating movement.
• the adjusting means 9 has at least two operating posi- tions: a first position in which the respective pivot sets slide essentially unobstructedly and a second position in which the pivot sets are subjected to a braking action.
• the adjusting means 9, which at one end has the form of a knob, has according to the first embodiment at its other end a cam surface 11 adapted to fit the second pivot body 7.
• the cam surface 11 abuts and/or is pressable against the surface of the second pivot body 7 in an adjustable manner.
• the adjusting means 9 shown in Fig. 2a comprises two parts, the knob and the cam surface part being joined, for example, by engaging interaction when mounted on either side of a recess 15 in said upper pivot body portion 12.
• the adjusting means 9 is turnably mounted in said upper pivot body portion 12, with, for example, a pivoting feature of 50°, and thus allows said first and second position.
• the second pivot body 7 is then arranged in contact with the upper pivot body portion 12 shown in Fig. 2a and the cam surface 11, the lower pivot body portion 12 being arranged to form said second housing 8 and, in this case, the first pivot body 5 as well.
• the free ends of the first pivot body (with its associated parts as described above) are inserted in the two first housings 6.
• the first housings ⁇ are attached to the plate 14 by means of matching fastening portions, for example a screw joint or the like.
• fastening portions for example a screw joint or the like.
• the cam surface 11 acts as a transmission means 10 between the pivot sets in relation to said upper pivot body portion 12 and through the turnable mounting of the adjusting means 9.
• the radial movement of the pivot body portions 12 further causes a braking action vis-a-vis the two first housings 6.
• a pivot resistance is obtained simultaneously in both pivoting directions (for the A axis and the B axis) by the user carrying out a turning action as described above on the adjusting means 9. In this position, a user can easily manoeuvre the mopping tool when cleaning, for example, walls and/or ceilings.
• FIG. 3 shows a transmission means 10 having a cam surface 11, according to the first embodiment of the invention.
• the transmission means 10 has a first recess 16 in the form of a hollow and a second recess 17, which is adapted for the second pivot body 7 for respectively said first, and said second position. In said first position, the second pivot body.7 slides essentially unobstructedly in the hollow 16.
• a second pivot body 7' is at least partly divided into at least two portions, in this case two semicircular parts with a transmission means 10' located therebetween.
• the transmission means 10' is arranged between the parts of the second pivot body and the transmission means 10' has a rectangular-like shape.
• the trans- mission means 10' may be designed in a variety of ways, but preferably has at least one cam surface 11.
• the adjusting means 9 is arranged, for example, at one end of the second pivot body 7' to allow a selectable radial displacement of the parts of the second pivot body 7' by means of a cam surface or the like.
• the sequence of illustrations in Fig. 4 shows, from left to right, a transition from said first position to said second position. In said second position, the parts of the second pivot body 7' cause a radial movement of the second housing 8, which in turn provides a braking effect between the second pivot body 7' and the second housing 8 as well as the first pivot body portions 12 and the first housings 6, as described correspondingly above.
• the parts forming part of the pivot system 4 are made of acetal plastic or a corresponding dur- able and resistant material as required according to the invention.
• the ageing of the material should be insignificant in terms of both properties and function.
• Suitable materials may be at least one from the group consisting of acetal plastic, amid plastic, fluoro- plastic, melamine plastic and/or propene plastic. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above can be modified and varied by the person skilled in the art without abandoning the inventive idea as defined by the claims.
• the cam surface 11 described above may, of course, be of different shapes, such as screw-shaped, wedge-shaped, spline-shaped or any other projection-like shape.
• the first housing 6 described above may be radially movable and have the form of, for exam- pie, a partly compressible sleeve.
• the power transmission means 10 can be radially displaced by means of the manoeuvrable adjusting means 9, when operated to bring about a braking action, and provide a braking action against the second pivot body 7 while at the same time radially closing and compressing the sleeve so that a braking effect is obtained also at the first housing 6.
• the adjusting means for example, and any power transmission means 10 connected thereto or associated therewith may have several other positions than the two described above, for example a third position in which at least one of the pivot sets is completely locked.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=31885276

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2004
  • 2004-02-10 SE SE0400278A patent/SE526385C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2005
  • 2005-02-09 WO PCT/SE2005/000164 patent/WO2005074782A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-02-09 EP EP05704812A patent/EP1713375A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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