EP3393320B1 - Suction nozzle for a hard surface cleaning device and hard surface cleaning device having a suction nozzle of this type - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a suction nozzle for a portable hard surface cleaning device for removing and sucking up liquid from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane, comprising a suction nozzle housing with a first and a second housing half-shell, which form a suction channel between them, the suction channel extending from a suction opening, on which an exchangeable pull-off lip is held, extends to a suction channel end section to which a vacuum source can be connected to form a suction flow, and wherein the two housing half-shells each have at least one holding element adjacent to the suction opening and a holding section of the exchangeable pull-off lip between the holding elements of the two housing half-shells is arranged to hold the replaceable pull-off lip on the suction opening, the holding elements each forming an engagement with the holding section.

The invention also relates to a portable hard surface cleaning device with such a suction nozzle.

From the WO 2015/007328 A1 a portable hard surface cleaning device is known with the aid of which a hard surface, in particular a window pane, can be cleaned. The portable hard surface cleaning device has a suction nozzle with a squeegee that can be moved along the hard surface in the manner of a manual window squeegee so that liquid can be drawn off the hard surface. The liquid collects at a suction opening of the suction nozzle and can be sucked up from the suction opening via a suction channel and transferred to a dirty liquid tank. The portable hard surface cleaning device has a suction unit for this purpose is in flow connection with the suction channel. By means of the suction unit, a suction flow can be generated in the area of the suction opening, under the effect of which a mixture of liquid and air is sucked in via the suction opening.

From the U.S. 5,184,372 a suction nozzle is known with two housing half-shells, which form a suction channel between them, which extends from the suction opening to a suction channel end section to which a vacuum source can be connected. A replaceable pull-off lip is attached to the suction opening. On one of the two housing half-shells there is a retaining element in the form of a groove, which accommodates a one-sided projection of the replaceable pull-off lip, and on the other housing half-shell, in the area of the suction channel, several supporting elements are arranged at a distance from one another, which support the replaceable pull-off lip.

A suction nozzle with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is from WO 2015/161876 A1 known.

The object of the present invention is to further develop a suction nozzle of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the replaceable pull-off lip is held more reliably on the suction opening.

This object is achieved by a suction nozzle having the features of claim 1.

In the suction nozzle according to the invention, the holding section of the replaceable stripping lip engages both with the at least one holding element of the first housing half-shell and with the at least one holding element of the second housing half-shell. As a result, the replaceable pull-off lip is reliably held at the suction opening by the two housing half-shells that form the suction channel. The two half-shells of the housing form the suction channel between them and no additional component is required to hold the pull-off lip. When installing the suction nozzle the two housing half-shells are connected to one another, in particular screwed, with the exchangeable pull-off lip interposed, with the holding elements of both housing half-shells each forming an engagement with the holding section of the exchangeable pull-off lip.

According to the invention, the suction nozzle has, in addition to a replaceable pull-off lip, a non-replaceable pull-off lip, which is molded onto the first half-shell of the housing. The non-replaceable pull-off lip can form a support for the replaceable pull-off lip. When cleaning a hard surface, the liquid located on the hard surface is drawn off by the replaceable wiper lip, so that the replaceable wiper lip is subject to wear, particularly in the case of a rough hard surface. On the other hand, the non-replaceable squeegee lip is subject to at most minor wear, which has practically no effect on the cleaning effect that can be achieved.

The non-replaceable pull-off lip, together with the first half-shell of the housing, forms an injection molded part with a hard component and an elastomer component. The hard component can form the wall of the first half-shell of the housing and the elastomer component can form the non-replaceable pull-off lip, which, due to the elastomer material used, is flexible in the same way as the replaceable pull-off lip, namely flexible.

A polypropylene material or an ABS material (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), for example, can be used as the hard component, in particular a polypropylene material reinforced with talc.

A thermoplastic elastomer material, for example, can be used as the elastomer component.

At least one holding element of the first housing half-shell is arranged in the area of the suction channel and forms a flow guide element. The at least one holding element, which is arranged in the area of the suction channel, can support and fix the exchangeable pull-off lip in the area of the suction channel and can at the same time serve to guide the suction flow.

The elastomer component forms the non-replaceable pull-off lip. According to the invention, the at least one holding element, which is arranged in the region of the suction channel, is at least partially surrounded by the elastomer component in the circumferential direction.

It is advantageous if the retaining section of the replaceable pull-off lip is between the at least one retaining element of the first housing half-shell and the at least one retaining element of the second housing half-shell both in a first position of use of the replaceable pull-off lip and in a second position of use of the pull-off lip rotated by 180° about a central axis of the pull-off lip Housing half-shell can be positioned, the central axis of the replaceable pull-off lip being aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel. This gives the ability to rotate the blade and thereby increase the life of the blade. You can first assume a first position of use, in which it is moved along the hard surface to be cleaned. In the first position of use of the pull-off lip, the holding section is positioned between the holding elements of the two housing half-shells and is in engagement with the holding elements of the two housing half-shells. In the first position of use, the exchangeable pull-off lip can contact the hard surface with a first contact area. This area can be subject to wear and tear when cleaning the hard surface, so that once a maximum degree of wear has been reached, the cleaning effect that can be achieved is impaired. Once this degree of wear has been reached, the replaceable pull-off lip can be rotated through 180° about its central axis, which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel, in order to assume a second position of use. In the second position of use, too, the holding section assumes a position between the holding elements of the two housing half-shells and is in engagement with the holding elements of the two housing half-shells. Also in the second position of use the scraper lip can be moved along the hard surface to be cleaned, contacting the hard surface with a second contact region that has not been worn up to now. Both in the first position of use and in the second position of use, the retaining elements arranged on the two half-shells of the housing ensure that the wiper lip is reliably held at the suction opening and that a very good cleaning effect can be achieved by means of the wiper lip in both usage positions.

It is favorable if the replaceable pull-off lip is designed symmetrically to its center plane, with the center plane being aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel.

To change the position of use, it is advantageous if the replaceable pull-off lip can be pulled out of the suction nozzle housing transversely to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel, then rotated by 180° around its central axis and then pulled back into the suction nozzle housing transversely to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel.

Preferably, changing the usage position of the replaceable pull-off lip can be done without tools. With such a configuration, the user can grasp the front area of the extraction lip protruding from the suction nozzle housing and pull it out of the suction nozzle housing laterally, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel, and after turning the extraction lip back into the suction nozzle housing. The holding elements of the two housing half-shells can form a guide for the holding section of the replaceable pull-off lip.

The two housing half-shells are preferably detachably connected to one another. It can be provided, for example, that the two half-shells of the housing can be screwed or releasably latched to one another.

The retaining elements of the housing half-shells form the interchangeable ones both in the first position of use and in the second position of use Pull-off lip from an engagement, preferably a form fit with the holding portion of the replaceable pull-off lip.

The holding section of the replaceable pull-off lip preferably has two depressions which are symmetrical with respect to the center plane of the pull-off lip and into which complementary projections of the holding elements of the first and second housing half-shells engage both in the first position of use and in the second position of use of the pull-off lip.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding section of the replaceable pull-off lip is designed as an extension designed symmetrically to the center plane of the replaceable pull-off lip, and the holding elements of the two housing half-shells have depressions into which the extension engages.

It can be provided, for example, that the extension of the holding section is designed in the form of a straight bead and the holding elements of the two housing half-shells each have a depression into which the bead dips.

The bead can have a circular cross-sectional area, for example, and the holding sections of the two housing half-shells can each accommodate approximately half of the cross-section of the bead with their indentation.

The at least one holding element arranged in the region of the suction channel preferably forms a flow guide rib. The flow guide rib can specify a direction of flow for the suction flow in the area of the suction opening, so that a mixture of liquid and suction air can flow into the suction channel in the specified direction. As a result, flow losses can be kept low, and this in turn has the advantage that the energy consumption of the vacuum source can be kept low.

A plurality of flow-guiding ribs spaced apart from one another are preferably arranged in the region of the suction channel.

It is particularly favorable if the flow guide ribs are arranged in a fan shape. In relation to the centrally arranged longitudinal axis of the suction channel, the flow guide ribs can have an increasing inclination towards the longitudinal axis with increasing distance from the longitudinal axis.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flow guide ribs are arranged at the same height in relation to the longitudinal axis of the suction channel.

In order to keep the flow resistance of the flow guide ribs low, it is advantageous if the flow guide ribs taper against the flow direction of the suction flow.

It is advantageous if the flow-guiding ribs each have a depression on their upper edge facing away from the first half-shell of the housing, into which the holding section of the replaceable pull-off lip dips.

In relation to the flow direction of the suction flow, the indentations are preferably arranged at a rear end area of the upper edge, and in a section in front of the indentations, the upper edges of the flow guide ribs preferably form a flat contact surface for the replaceable pull-off lip. In an advantageous embodiment, the bearing surface is inclined in the direction of a bottom wall of the suction channel.

It is favorable if the flow-guiding ribs have a wedge-shaped cross section. In a longitudinal section, they can have an increasing height to the bottom wall of the suction channel in the flow direction of the suction flow.

The replaceable pull-off lip is preferably seated on the flow-guiding ribs over at least half of its extent in relation to the direction of flow of the suction flow.

In addition to the at least one holding element, which is arranged in the suction channel, in a preferred embodiment the first housing half-shell has at least one further holding element, which is arranged outside of the suction channel.

In particular, it can be provided that the first housing half-shell has two further holding elements which are arranged symmetrically to one another outside of the suction channel in relation to its longitudinal axis. The two holding elements arranged outside of the suction channel can each extend, starting from a side wall of the suction channel, to an edge of the housing half-shell.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second housing half-shell has a holding element which extends along the entire holding section of the replaceable pull-off lip and thus forms an engagement with the holding section along the entire holding section.

One of the two housing half-shells preferably has a latching element in the region of the suction channel end section, which forms an elastically deformable wall section of the suction channel and is encapsulated by an elastomer component. If the end section of the suction channel is connected to the vacuum source, the latching element of the housing half-shell can form a latching connection together with a latching element of the vacuum source designed in a complementary manner. This ensures that the suction nozzle does not unintentionally become detached from the vacuum source. The locking element of the housing half-shell is arranged in the area of the suction channel end section and forms an elastically deformable wall section of the suction channel. In order to avoid suction air escaping from the suction channel in the area of the locking element can flow out, the locking element is encapsulated by an elastomer component. The elastomer component thus forms a sealing element and ensures that the latching element can deform elastically to produce a latching connection.

The latching element advantageously forms a latching hook which has a spring tongue and a latching projection protruding outwards from the spring tongue. The spring tongue forms an elastically deformable wall section of the suction channel and is encapsulated by the elastomer component.

The spring tongue is preferably designed in the manner of a leaf spring, which is connected in one piece to the wall of the housing half-shell at one end and carries the outwardly protruding latching projection at its other end. With the exception of its end, which is connected in one piece to the wall of the housing half-shell, the spring tongue is encapsulated by the elastomer component.

Provision can be made, for example, for a housing half-shell of the suction nozzle to be an injection-molded part with a hard component and an elastomer component, with an elastically deformable wall section of the suction channel being designed by the hard component in the form of a spring tongue which, with the exception of an end region, is surrounded by a through-slot passing through the hard component is, wherein the passage slot of the hard component is covered by the elastomeric component molded onto the hard component. The spring tongue is only connected in one piece to the hard component at one end, but is otherwise separated from the hard component by means of the through-slot. This gives the spring tongue elastic deformability. In order to prevent liquid and suction air from being able to flow out of the suction channel via the through-slot, the spring tongue is overmoulded with the elastomer component that seals the through-slot. The elastomer component ensures that the spring tongues bend relative to the hard component of the housing half-shell can, whereby the elastomer component is also subject to bending stress, without the tightness of the suction channel being impaired as a result.

As mentioned at the outset, the invention not only relates to a suction nozzle of the type explained above, but also to a hard surface cleaning device for removing and sucking up a liquid from a hard surface with such a suction nozzle. The portable hard surface cleaning device has a suction unit for forming a suction flow so that a mixture of liquid and suction air can be sucked off the hard surface to be cleaned. In addition, the portable hard surface cleaning device according to the invention has a dirty liquid tank in which the liquid that has been sucked up can be deposited. The portable hard surface cleaning device according to the invention has a separating device for separating the liquid from the sucked-up liquid-air mixture.

The separating device is preferably arranged in a separating chamber which is positioned in the flow path between the suction nozzle and the suction unit, and the separated liquid can be transferred from the separating chamber into the dirty liquid tank. The separation chamber and the dirty liquid tank are thus advantageously structurally separate from one another.

The portable hard surface cleaning device preferably has a suction channel receiving shaft which can be plugged into the suction channel end section of the suction nozzle and which has a latching receptacle for receiving a latching projection of the suction nozzle. As already mentioned, it is advantageous if the suction nozzle has a latching element which is arranged in the region of the end section of the suction channel and is preferably designed as an elastically deformable wall section of the suction channel. The suction nozzle can advantageously be plugged into a suction channel receiving shaft of the hard surface cleaning device, and a snap-in receptacle is located within the suction channel receiving shaft arranged, which cooperates with the locking element of the suction nozzle to form a locking connection.

The hard surface cleaning device according to the invention preferably forms a portable window cleaning device.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines tragbaren Hartflächenreinigungsgeräts;

Figur 2:

eine Schnittansicht des Hartflächenreinigungsgeräts aus Figur 1;

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Saugdüse des Hartflächenreinigungsgeräts;

Figur 4:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer ersten und einer zweiten Gehäusehalbschale der Saugdüse aus Figur 3;

Figur 5:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der ersten Gehäusehalbschale schräg von oben;

Figur 6:

eine perspektivische Darstellung der ersten Gehäusehalbschale schräg von unten;

Figur 7:

eine Längsschnittansicht der Saugdüse aus Figur 3.

The following description of an advantageous embodiment of the invention is used in connection with the drawing for more detailed explanation. Show it:

Figure 1:

a perspective view of a portable hard surface cleaning device;

Figure 2:

Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the hard surface cleaning device figure 1 ;

Figure 3:

a perspective view of a suction nozzle of the hard surface cleaning device;

Figure 4:

a perspective view of a first and a second housing half-shell of the suction nozzle figure 3 ;

Figure 5:

a perspective view of the first housing half-shell at an angle from above;

Figure 6:

a perspective view of the first housing half-shell at an angle from below;

Figure 7:

a longitudinal sectional view of the suction nozzle figure 3 .

In the drawing, an advantageous embodiment of a portable hard surface cleaning device according to the invention is shown schematically, which is assigned the reference numeral 10 in its entirety. With the help of the portable hard surface cleaning device 10 liquid from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane, can be pulled off and vacuumed up. Mirror surfaces or tiled walls can also be cleaned using the portable hard surface cleaning device 10 . The hard surface cleaning device 10 can be moved along the hard surface by the user in the manner of a manual window squeegee. The hard surface cleaning device 10 forms a portable window cleaning device.

The hard surface cleaning device 10 comprises a base part 12 in which a suction unit 14 is arranged. The suction unit 14 comprises an electric motor 16 which drives a suction turbine 18 in rotation. Air can be sucked in by the suction turbine 18 via a turbine inlet line 20 that is configured in a straight line in the exemplary embodiment shown. The turbine inlet line 20 submerges into a separation chamber 22 . A separating element in the form of a baffle is arranged in the separation chamber 22 at a distance from the turbine inlet line 20 , which covers an inlet opening 26 of the turbine inlet line 20 and is arched essentially convexly in the direction facing away from the turbine inlet line 20 .

On the side of the separation chamber 22 facing away from the turbine inlet line 20, the base part 12 forms a suction channel receiving shaft 28, which receives a suction channel end section 30 of an advantageous embodiment of a suction nozzle 32 according to the invention. The suction nozzle 32 is shown schematically in the drawing and is explained in more detail below.

The suction turbine 18 is separated from the separation chamber 22 by means of a first partition 34 , with the turbine inlet line 20 reaching through the first partition 34 . In the area of the first partition 34, the turbine inlet line 20 is surrounded by a sealing ring 36, which ensures that liquid from the separation chamber 22 cannot unintentionally reach the suction turbine 18 along the outside of the turbine inlet line 20.

The base part 12 has a second partition wall 38 at a distance from the first partition wall 34 and aligned parallel thereto. The suction turbine 18 is between the first partition wall 34 and the second partition wall 38 , and the electric motor 16 is arranged on the side of the second partition wall 38 facing away from the suction turbine 18 in a drive chamber 40 of the base part 12 . A motor shaft 42 of the electric motor 16 passes through the second partition wall 38 and is connected to the suction turbine 18 in a torque-proof manner. The suction turbine 18 can be rotated by means of the motor shaft 42 .

In addition to the electric motor 16, a rechargeable battery 44 and control, switching and charging electronics 46 are positioned in the drive chamber 40. The control, switching and charging electronics 46 interacts with an actuating element 48, which is designed as a pressure switch in the illustrated embodiment for switching the electric motor 16 on and off Charging the battery 44. The control, switching and charging electronics 46 and the battery 44 are arranged on a common printed circuit board 49.

The drive chamber 40 is arranged in a handle 50 of the base part 12 . The handle 50 can be gripped by the user with one hand.

The handle 50 extends to a bottom wall 52 of the base part 12, with which the portable hard surface cleaning device 10 can be parked on a floor space.

In addition to the base part 12 and the suction nozzle 32, the portable hard-surface cleaning device 10 has a dirty liquid tank 54, which is held on the base part 12 in a detachable manner without tools and into which a filling device 56 is immersed. Liquid can get from the separation chamber 22 into the dirty liquid tank 54 via the filling device 56 . The filling device 56 has a filling pipe 58 and a ventilation pipe 60 which are connected to one another in one piece and dip into the dirty liquid tank 54 .

The dirty liquid tank 54 has an upper tank section 62 which faces the separation chamber 22 and which can be inserted into an upper recess 64 of the base part 12 via an upper opening 63, and a rear tank section 66 which can be inserted via a lower opening 67 into a lower recess 68 in the Base part 12 can be used. The upper recess 64 is arranged laterally next to the suction turbine 18 and is in flow connection with the suction turbine 18 so that suction air can be discharged from the suction turbine 18 via the upper recess 64 and the upper opening 63 to the environment.

A filling funnel 70 opens into the upper recess 64 and is integrally connected to the first partition 34 . Liquid from the separation chamber 22 can reach a trough-shaped recess 72 of the filling device 56 via the filling funnel 70, to which the filling pipe 58 is connected. The ventilation pipe 60 runs parallel to the filling pipe 58 , with its upper end facing away from the dirty liquid tank 54 projecting beyond the filling pipe 58 and immersing itself in the filling funnel 70 .

The lower recess 68 is arranged directly above the base wall 52, the base wall 52 having resiliently deformable base wall sections in the region of the lower recess 68 and thereby exerting a resilient holding force on the waste liquid tank 54 in the direction of a contact wall 74 arranged at a distance from the base wall 52 which the rear tank portion 66 rests with its top. The rear tank section 66 can be latched to the lower recess 68 by means of latching elements designed in a complementary manner.

The dirty liquid tank 54, together with the handle 50, delimits a gripping opening 75 of the portable hard-surface cleaning device 10, through which the user can put his fingers when holding the portable hard-surface cleaning device 10.

The suction nozzle 32 is in the Figures 3 to 7 shown separately. It has a suction nozzle housing 77 with a first housing half-shell 76 and a second housing half-shell 78 which are detachably connected to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the two housing half-shells 76, 78 are screwed together.

The two housing half-shells 76, 78 delimit a suction channel 80 between them. The suction channel 80 extends between the two housing half-shells 76, 78 from a suction opening 82 to the suction channel end section 30.

The first housing half-shell 76 forms a bottom wall 84 of the suction channel 80 and first arcuately curved side walls 86, 88 of the suction channel 80. In a corresponding manner, the second housing half-shell 76 forms a top wall 90 of the suction channel 80 and second arcuately curved side walls of the suction channel 80 which can be placed flow-tight on the first side walls 86, 88.

In order to draw off liquid from a hard surface to be cleaned, the suction nozzle 32 has a replaceable squeegee lip 92 and a non-replaceable squeegee lip 94 in the area of the suction opening 82 . The non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 is molded onto the first housing half-shell 76 and, together with the first housing half-shell 76, forms an injection-molded part with two components, namely a hard component, which forms the first housing half-shell 76, and an elastomer component, which forms the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 trains.

The suction channel 80 has a centrally arranged longitudinal axis 102 and the replaceable pull-off lip 92 is designed symmetrically to its central plane 96, which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis 102, and has a holding section 98, which has a substantially circular cross-section Bead 100 is formed. The bead 100 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis 102 of the suction channel 80 along the entire length of the replaceable pull-off lip 92 and forms its rear end area. The front end area of the replaceable pull-off lip 92 is formed by a first pull-off edge 104 and a second pull-off edge 106 which run along an end face 108 of the replaceable pull-off lip 92 that faces away from the bead 100 .

The first housing half-shell 76 has a multiplicity of holding elements for fixing the replaceable pull-off lip 92 , a plurality of first holding elements being arranged in the area of the suction channel and each forming a flow guide rib 114 . The flow guide ribs 114 are arranged in a fan shape, so that they have an increasing inclination to the longitudinal axis 102 with increasing distance from the longitudinal axis 102 of the suction channel 80 . All flow guide ribs 114 are arranged at the same height in relation to the longitudinal axis 102 . They protrude vertically upwards from the bottom wall 84 and each have a depression 118 on their upper edge 116 facing away from the bottom wall 84, into which the bead 100 dips in a form-fitting manner. In front of the indentations, the flow-guiding ribs 114 each have a flat support surface 119 for the replaceable pull-off lip 92 on their upper edge, directed obliquely to the bottom wall 84 . The replaceable pull-off lip 92 is supported in the area of the suction channel 80 with the aid of the flow guide ribs 114 . The shape of the flow guide ribs 114 is optimized in terms of flow technology, and they taper in their front end region facing the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 . In addition to their supporting function, the flow guide ribs 114 make it possible to guide a suction flow with very low flow losses, so that a mixture of liquid and suction air can flow through between the flow guide ribs 114 with only low flow losses.

In addition to the flow-guiding ribs 114, the first housing half-shell 78 has two further holding elements for fixing the replaceable pull-off lip 92 in place. These additional holding elements are in the form of a holding channel 120 and a retaining groove 122 which extends outside the suction channel from a first side wall 86 or 88 of the suction channel 80 to an outer wall 124, 126 of the first half-shell 76 of the housing.

The second housing half-shell 78 has a holding element in the form of a holding channel 110 for fixing the replaceable pull-off lip 92 to the suction opening 82 . The retaining channel 110 receives an upper edge area 112 of the bead 100 . In a corresponding manner, the two retaining grooves 120, 122, which are arranged outside the suction channel 80, and the flow guide ribs 114, which are arranged inside the suction channel 80, each accommodate a lower edge region 128 of the bead 100, so that the replaceable pull-off lip 92 between the both housing half-shells 76, 78 is fixed.

To clean a hard surface, the portable hard surface cleaning device 10 can be moved along with the exchangeable wiper lip 92 along a hard surface to be cleaned. The replaceable pull-off lip 92 can initially assume a first use position in which the first pull-off edge 104 faces the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94, as is shown, for example, in figure 7 is shown. When cleaning the hard surface, the first stripping edge 104 slides along the hard surface to be cleaned in this first position of use. In particular, in cases where the hard surface has roughness, the first stripping edge 104 can be subject to wear. When a maximum degree of wear is reached, the cleaning effect that can be achieved by means of the first stripping edge 104 can be impaired. The user then has the option of pulling the replaceable pull-off lip 92 out of the suction nozzle housing 77 laterally via one of the outer walls 124, 126, rotating it by 180° in relation to its central axis 130 and then pulling it back into the suction nozzle housing 77 via one of the outer walls 124, 126 . The replaceable pull-off lip 92 then assumes a second position of use, in which the second pull-off edge 106 faces the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 and the one to be cleaned hard surface can slide. As a result, the service life of the replaceable pull-off lip 92 can be extended considerably.

As already mentioned, the suction channel end section 30 can be inserted into the suction channel receiving shaft 28 of the base part 12 . This is made out in particular figure 2 clear. In order to prevent the suction nozzle 32 from detaching from the base part 12 unintentionally, the suction nozzle 32 can be latched to the base part 12 . For this purpose, a latching recess 134 is arranged in the suction channel receiving shaft 28 and the first housing half-shell 76 forms a latching element in the form of a latching hook 136 in the region of the suction channel end section 30 . The latching hook 136 has a spring tongue 138 which forms an elastically deformable wall section 139 of the suction channel 80 and is connected in one piece to the first half-shell 76 of the housing. At its free end, the spring tongue 138 carries an outwardly protruding latching projection 140 on the outside of the first housing half-shell 76. This is shown in particular figure 6 clear. The spring tongue 138 is surrounded by a U-shaped through-slot 142 with the exception of its end facing away from the latching projection 140 , at which end it is connected in one piece to the first housing half-shell 76 . This enables a resilient movement of the spring tongue 138 when the suction channel end section 30 is inserted into the suction channel receiving shaft 28 until the latching projection 140 assumes a position level with the latching recess 134 and latches into the latching recess 134 . So that no suction air and also no liquid can escape from the suction channel 80 via the through-slot 142 , the spring tongue 138 is encapsulated on the inside of the suction channel 80 by the same elastomer component that also forms the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 . The elastomer component forms a U-shaped film hinge in the area of the through-slot 142, which enables the spring tongue 138 to be moved together with the locking projection 140 relative to the hard component forming the first housing half-shell 76, whereby it is ensured, however, that through the through-slot 142 neither Suction air can still escape liquid from the suction channel 80.

Starting from the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94, the elastomer component extends along the first side walls 86, 88 of the suction channel 80 to the latching hook 136. This is shown in particular figure 5 clear.

After the suction nozzle 32 is connected to the base part 12 by inserting the suction channel end section 30 into the suction channel receiving shaft 28, the portable hard surface cleaning device 10 can be moved along the hard surface in the manner of a manual window squeegee for cleaning a hard surface, in particular a window pane or a glass door the replaceable pull-off lip 92 and the non-replaceable pull-off lip 94 supporting it can be supplied to the suction opening 82 with liquid on the hard surface. The liquid can be sucked off from the suction opening 82 together with air via the suction channel 80 and fed to the separation chamber 20 . For this purpose, the separation chamber 22 can be subjected to negative pressure by the suction unit 14 via the turbine inlet line 20 . The mixture of liquid and air flows through the suction channel 80 and, within the separation chamber 22, first encounters a baffle plate 144 which is held on the suction channel end section 30 and on which part of the liquid carried along is separated. The liquid-air mixture then hits the baffle 24, on which the remaining entrained liquid separates, whereas the sucked-in air flows around the baffle plate 144 and the baffle 24 and reaches the suction turbine 18 via the turbine inlet line 20. From the suction turbine 18, the sucked air is discharged to the outside via an annular air outlet space 146, which surrounds the upper tank section 62 within the upper recess 64 in the circumferential direction.

The baffle plate 144 forms a first separating element for separating liquid, and the baffle wall 24 forms a second separating element for separating liquid from the liquid-air mixture sucked in. The liquid separated in the separation chamber 22 can reach the dirty liquid tank 54 via the filling funnel 70 and the filling pipe 58 . If necessary, the dirty liquid tank 54 can be emptied. The user can do this, the dirty liquid tank 54 together with the remove the filling device 56 held thereon from the base part 12 by pulling the rear tank section 66 out of the lower recess 68 and then removing the upper tank section 62 from the upper recess 64 . The user can then detach the filling device 56 from the dirty liquid tank 54 and empty the dirty liquid tank 54 . The user can then reinsert the filling device 56 into the dirty liquid tank 54 and insert this with the upper tank section 62 into the upper recess 64 and with the rear tank section 66 into the lower recess and latch with the base part 12 .

Should the first or second squeegee 104, 106 sliding along the hard surface to be cleaned become worn after prolonged use of the portable hard surface cleaning device 10, the user has the option of rotating the replaceable squeegee lip 92 by 180° about its central axis 130, as explained in detail above to twist, so that then the previously unused pull-off edge 104 or 106 can be used.

The portable hard surface cleaning device 10 according to the invention is characterized by a long service life and can be moved along the hard surface by the user in the usual manner in the manner of a manual window squeegee. The portable hard surface cleaning device 10 features low manufacturing costs.

Claims (20)

1. Suction nozzle for a portable hard surface cleaning apparatus (10) for drawing off and suctioning off liquid from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane, comprising a suction nozzle housing (77) having a first and a second housing half-shell (76, 78) which between them form a suction duct (80), wherein the suction duct (80) extends from a suction opening (82) at which a replaceable squeegee lip (92) is held in place, to a suction duct end section (30) to which a source of vacuum is connectable for creating a suction flow and wherein the two housing half-shells (76, 78) each have at least one holding element (110, 114, 120, 122) adjacent to the suction opening (82) and a holding section (98) of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) is arranged between the holding elements (110, 114, 120, 122) of the two housing half-shells (76, 78), wherein the holding elements (110, 114, 120, 122) of the housing half-shells (76, 78) in each case form an engagement with the holding section (98) of the replaceable squeegee lip (92), characterized in that the suction nozzle (32) has a non-replaceable squeegee lip (94) which is integrally formed on the first housing half-shell (76), wherein the non-replaceable squeegee lip (94) together with the first housing half-shell (76) forms an injection-moulded part comprising a hard component and an elastomer component, and wherein at least one holding element of the first housing half-shell (76) is arranged in the area of the suction duct (80) and forms a flow guide element and the elastomer component at least partially surrounds, in a circumferential direction, the at least one holding element arranged in the area of the suction duct (80).
2. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that the holding section (98) of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) is positionable between the at least one holding element (114, 120, 122) of the first housing half-shell (76) and the at least one holding element (110) of the second housing half-shell both in a first position of use of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) and in a second position of use of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) turned through 180° about the centre axis (130) thereof, wherein the centre axis (130) is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis (102) of the suction duct (80).
3. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the replaceable squeegee lip (92) has a symmetrical configuration with respect to the centre plane (96) thereof, wherein the centre plane (96) is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (102) of the suction duct (80).
4. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the holding section (98) of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) is configured as an enlargement and the holding elements (110, 114, 120, 122) each have a depression.
5. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 4, characterized in that the enlargement is configured in the form of a straight-line bead (100) and the holding elements (110, 114, 120, 122) each have a depression into which the bead (120) extends.
6. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the at least one holding element arranged in the area of the suction duct (80) forms a flow guide rib (114).
7. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of flow guide ribs (114) in spaced-apart relation to one another are arranged in the area of the suction duct (80).
8. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 7, characterized in that the flow guide ribs (114) are arranged in a fan-like manner.
9. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the flow guide ribs (114) are arranged at the same height relative to the longitudinal axis (102) of the suction duct (80).
10. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 7, 8, or 9, characterized in that the flow guide ribs (114) taper against the direction of flow of the suction flow.
11. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the flow guide ribs (114) in each case have, at their upper edge (116) facing away from the first housing half-shell (76), a depression (118) into which the holding section (98) of the replaceable squeegee lip (92) extends.
12. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 11, characterized in that the depressions (118) at the upper edges (116) of the flow guide ribs (114) are arranged in a rear end region of the flow guide ribs (114) relative to the direction of flow of the suction flow and in that, in a section upstream of the depressions (118), the upper edges (116) form a planar contact face (119) for the replaceable squeegee lip (92).
13. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the flow guide ribs (114) are of wedge-shaped configuration in cross-section.
14. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the replaceable squeegee lip (92) makes contact with the flow guide ribs (114) over at least one half of its extension, relative to the direction of flow of the suction flow.
15. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the first housing half-shell (76) has at least one further holding element (120, 122) that is arranged outside of the suction duct (80).
16. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 15, characterized in that the first housing half-shell (76) has at least two further holding elements (120, 122) which are arranged outside of the suction duct (80) in symmetrical relation with each other, relative to the longitudinal axis (102) of the suction duct (80).
17. Suction nozzle in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that one of the two housing half-shells (76, 78) has a latch element (136) in the area of the suction duct end section (30), which latch element (136) forms an elastically deformable wall section (139) of the suction duct (80) and is overmoulded by an elastomer component.
18. Suction nozzle in accordance with Claim 17, characterized in that the latch element forms a latch hook (136) which has a spring tongue (138) forming the elastically deformable wall section (139) of the suction duct (80) and a latch projection (140) projecting outwards from the spring tongue (138), wherein the spring tongue (138) is overmoulded by the elastomer component.
19. Portable hard surface cleaning apparatus for drawing off and suctioning off a liquid from a hard surface, in particular from a window pane, the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus having a suction unit (14), a dirty-liquid tank (54) and a separating device (24, 144) for separating liquid from a suctioned liquid/air mixture, and having a suction nozzle (32) in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims.
20. Portable hard surface cleaning apparatus in accordance with Claim 19, characterized in that the portable hard surface cleaning apparatus (10) has a suction duct receiving socket (28) which is pluggably connectable to the suction duct end section (30), and has a latch receptacle (134) for receiving a latch projection (140) of the suction nozzle (32).

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