US20190008355A1

US20190008355A1 - Cleaning device comprising cleaning strips

Info

Publication number: US20190008355A1
Application number: US16/064,008
Authority: US
Inventors: Diana Thyson
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2016-02-26
Filing date: 2017-01-18
Publication date: 2019-01-10
Also published as: CA3013525A1; AU2017223758A1; ES2839451T3; BR112018012539B1; EP3419493B1; AU2017223758B2; CA3013525C; MX2018010217A; DE102016002265A1; WO2017144198A1; CN108430294A; RU2713485C1; EP3419493A1; BR112018012539A2

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a main body and cleaning strips bound to the main body at binding regions. The cleaning strips each include cleaning regions. At least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips is strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body. A cleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip is less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region. Different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2017/050912, filed on Jan. 18, 2017, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2016 002 265.5, filed on Feb. 26, 2016. The International Application was published in German on Aug. 31, 2017 as WO 2017/144198 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a cleaning device.

BACKGROUND

A cleaning device that comprises cleaning strips is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,408 B1. However, the cleaning strips can be spread apart only by means of a laborious manufacturing process so as to extend over a wide and large surface area.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cleaning device comprising: a main body; and cleaning strips bound to the main body at binding regions, the cleaning strips each comprising cleaning regions, at least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips being strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body, and a cleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip being less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region, wherein different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cleaning device comprising dangling cleaning strips,

FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaning device from below, it being possible to identify that cleaning strips and cleaning regions of different widths are provided, and

FIG. 3 shows three types of cleaning strips, depicted on the basis of individual cleaning strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the invention, textile cleaning strips are used which are strengthened in the binding region thereof to the cleaning device. The cleaning strips are preferably strengthened in the center thereof, as a result of which it is possible to spread apart the textile of which the cleaning strips consist. At the same time, a production process that is already known can be retained. Again according to the invention, different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths. Textile cleaning strips of different widths are used. This allows for maximum surface coverage. Wider cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions increase the planar contact of the highly effective outer cleaning strips. This increases the efficiency of the textile.
The cleaning device, specifically the mop, is designed such that some cleaning strips are wider than the rest of the cleaning strips. The combination of widened cleaning strips, the free ends of which are preferably on the outside, and cleaning strips having a smaller width allows for an overall widening of the cleaning device, specifically the mop. The previously known manufacturing method can be retained, only negligibly more material needing to be used.
The strengthening and widening of cleaning strips in combination make it possible to spread out the mop, as a result of which it is possible to cover a larger wiping surface area. This effect would not occur if only wider cleaning strips or only strengthening were provided. In addition, the widening can be achieved using known work steps, and no further steps are required for processing. Cost-optimized and simple manufacture is thus possible, and good cleaning efficiency is provided.
This solves the problem mentioned at the outset.
The binding region may comprise a lamination. The strengthening could be designed as lamination. As a result, just one textile fabric can be used to manufacture a strengthened cleaning strip.
The cleaning strips may also be designed as loops.
Different cleaning regions may also supplement one another. Advantageously, different cleaning regions are provided. For example, there are cleaning regions that allow more planar wiping contact and thus allow, in a manner comparable to a flat mop, rapid and thorough cleaning. On account of a corresponding design, for example due to finer ends, further cleaning regions allow particularly favorable cleaning of corners and other locations that are difficult to access. These different cleaning regions are arranged in or on the cleaning device so as to be mutually supporting.
Specifically, three types of cleaning strips may be provided, which strips comprise a central lamination by means of a microfiber textile and additionally comprise flocking in the lower region. Preferably, a plurality of cleaning regions are formed on a cleaning strip. However, all three cleaning strips can use said cleaning regions simultaneously when wiping, and therefore flock on a first cleaning strip can be supplemented by flock on a second cleaning strip and by flock on a third cleaning strip.
The cleaning device can thus be designed such that one or more cleaning regions are formed as a cross. This indicates a preferred wiping direction. This specifically assists the mentioned planar contact.
Two different widths may be in a ratio of 1:1.1-2, preferably in a ratio of 1:1.25-1.5, to one another. These ratios have been found to be particularly advantageous.
At least one cleaning region could be more planar than another. This allows for a wiping process having wider wiping contact.
At least one cleaning region could be narrower than another. This allows for isolated cleaning. Moreover, it is possible to reach locations that are difficult to access.
The mop head may be a shape that is not round. This assists the use of the different widths. The planar contact is assisted by the fact that mop head is a shape that is not round. This indicates to the user isolated cleaning and accessibility of locations hard to access in the longitudinal direction, and planar use in the transverse direction.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cleaning device 1 comprising a main body that is formed as a mop head, cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c being bound to the main body 2 at the binding regions 5, 5 c thereof, the cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c each comprising cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c, at least one cleaning strip 4, 4 c being strengthened at the binding region 5, 5 c thereof to the main body 2, and a cleaning region 6, 6 c of the cleaning strip 4, 4 c being less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region 5, 5 c.
Different cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and/or cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c have different widths. The binding region 5, 5 c comprises a lamination. Different cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c supplement one another. Two different widths are in a ratio of 1:1.1-2, preferably in a ratio of 1:1.25-1.5, to one another. At least one cleaning region 6 is more planar than another cleaning region 6 a, 6 c. At least one cleaning region 6 a, 6 c is narrower than another cleaning region 6. The mop head is of a shape that is not round.
FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device 1, specifically a mop, comprising a main body 2 and a handle 3, by means of which a user can move the cleaning device 1 on a surface to be cleaned.
The binding region 5, 5 c extends over the center of the cleaning strip 4, 4 c and ends at the cleaning regions 6, 6 c. The cleaning regions 6, specifically the cleaning regions 6 facing the free ends 7, are less strengthened compared with the binding region 5.
In the embodiment shown here, the strengthening is achieved by means of a lamination. In the binding region 5, 5 c, a separate textile material is laminated onto the textile substrate material, for example of a cleaning strip 4, 4 c. It would technically also be conceivable, however, for the strengthening to be achieved for example by means of more intense heat treatment or tighter needling of the substrate material at the binding region 5, 5 c.
FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaning device 1 from below, showing that different cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and different cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c have different widths. The free ends 7 of the wider cleaning strips 4 protrude radially further outwards than the free ends 7 a of the narrower cleaning strips 4 a which are split up into two partial strips 4 b in portions.
FIG. 3 shows individual cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and the widths thereof. The central, wider cleaning strip 4 has a width x of 5 cm. The left-hand, narrower cleaning strip 4 a has a width z of 3.75 cm. The left-hand cleaning strip 4 a is split up into two partial strips 4 b in portions, each of which partial strips has a width y of 1.875 cm. A further cleaning strip 4 c is shown on the right-hand side, which strip is narrower than the central, wider cleaning strip 4. The cleaning region 6 a is composed of two cleaning regions 6 b of the partial strips 4 b.
However, the binding region 5, 5 c may also have a cleaning effect.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a main body; and

cleaning strips bound to the main body at binding regions, the cleaning strips each comprising cleaning regions, at least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips being strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body, and a cleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip being less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region,

wherein different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the binding region comprises a lamination.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein different cleaning regions supplement one another.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein two different widths are in a ratio of 1:1.2 to one another.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein at least one cleaning region is more planar than another cleaning region.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein at least one cleaning region is narrower than another cleaning region.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a mop head of the cleaning device is of a shape that is not round.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the ratio is 1:1.25-1.5.