WO2005074782A1

WO2005074782A1 - Work tool with variable pivot brake

Info

Publication number: WO2005074782A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Olsson
Original assignee: Vikan Ab
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2005-02-09
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: SE526385C2; EP1713375A1; SE0400278D0; SE0400278L

Abstract

The invention relates to a work tool, preferably a mopping tool, having a tool part (2) and a handle part (3), the tool part and the handle part being interconnected by means of a pivot system (4) wich is pivotable about at least two mutually diverging pivot axes (A, B) and, thus, has at least two different pivoting directions. The pivot system (4) comprises at least one first pivot set (5, 6) adapted for a first pivot axis (A) the pivoting direction of which differs from at least one second pivot set (7, 8) 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 (4) having an adjusting means (9) which, when operated, is adapted to cause said radial variation of at least one member forming part of a pivot set, said adjusting means (9) being connected to at least one transmission means (10) for the purpose of power transmission, which transmission means (10) 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.

Description

WORK TOOL WITH VARIABLE PIVOT BRAKE

Field of the Invention 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 .

Technical Background Work tools, such as a cleaning tool of the kind described above are well known in the art. 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. Usually, 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. When cleaning floors using a mopping tool or the like, it is advantageous, in particular for the user, if the pivot resistance is as small as possible, so that all the force applied is used to move the mopping tool across the floor. When 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. When cleaning a ceiling, for example, there is a risk of the tool part tilting due to the force of gravity as the mopping tool is removed from the ceiling surface, which would cause any loose particles on the mop cloth to fall off and end up on, for instance, the floor underneath. It is previously known to facilitate the operation of the mop part by restricting the pivoting capacity of the tool part about each pivot axis by means of wing nuts. However, this may require an elaborate and time- consuming adjustment, which requires considerable force in order to obtain the desired operating properties. Modern work tools have to satisfy tough requirements in terms of ergonomics and manageability.^' For instance, they should be easy and flexible to use. It is also desirable to provide a powerful work tool that facilitates different operations. Requirements regarding strength and robustness also have to be met. Furthermore, cleaning tools are used in a demanding environment in which they are subjected, for example, to chemicals, grime and varying levels of stress. In addition, manufacturing and mounting should not be too expensive. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a work tool that meets one or more of the requirements mentioned above.

Summary of the Invention The above object is achieved by a work tool as described by way of introduction, in which 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. Moreover, 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. In this manner, a secure and reliable power transmission can be achieved to provide said surface interaction. 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. Furthermore, 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. Thus, 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. In this way, a space-saving pivot system is obtained with the possibility of a reduced number of parts. Advantageously, 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.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings, which illustrate, for the purpose of exemplification, preferred embodiments of the invention. 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.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 shows a mopping tool 1 having a tool part 2 and a handle part 3. In the present case, the handle part 3 is also adapted to be attached to a handle (not shown in the figure) . According to this embodiment, 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. According to the first embodiment, 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. Preferably, 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. 2a, 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. According to the first embodiment, the first pivot body 5 forms the second housing 8. Thus, 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. Referring again to Fig. 1, 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. Referring again to Fig. 2a, the upper of the two pivot body portions 12 shown has a turnable adjusting means 9 for providing an operating movement. Preferably, 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. Preferably, the cam surface 11 abuts and/or is pressable against the surface of the second pivot body 7 in an adjustable manner. With reference to Figs 2a and 2b, the assembly of the pivot system will be described below. 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. In this way, 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 β are attached to the plate 14 by means of matching fastening portions, for example a screw joint or the like. Referring now to Figs 2a and 2B, the functioning of the pivot system will be described below. When the adjusting means 9 is in said first position, as shown in Fig. 2a, the pivot sets are not subjected to any braking action and the pivot bodies slide unobstructedly relatively to the oppositely located hous- ings. When the user turns the adjusting means 9 (clockwise in Fig 2b) in the direction towards said second position, which is a braked position, the following occurs : The cam surface 11 is turned relatively to the second pivot body 7 for the axis B, which causes the geometrically designed cam surface to ride on the circumferential surface portion of the pivot body 7. Owing to its attachment to the upper pivot body portion 12, the adjusting means 9, which preferably is prevented from performing any axial movement, causes the cam surface 11, in said second position, to provide a relative axial extension in relation to the second pivot body . The fact that the cam surface 11 is pressed against the second pivot body 7 results in the two pivot body portions 12 being pressed radial- ly apart (as indicated by the arrows pointing upwards in Fig. 2b) , and the second pivot body 7 being pressed against said lower pivot body portion 12, which causes a resistance to any relative movements. Thus, 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. In this manner, 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. To reset the pivot system to its first position, the unbraked position, the user operates the adjusting means 9 by a counter-clockwise turning motion to allow cleaning of, for example, floors or the like. 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. In said second position, the second pivot body 7 is located in the second recess 17, in the form of two raised, cup-shaped and concave portions, the pivot resis- tance being achieved according to the above description. Referring to Fig. 4, which shows a second embodiment of the invention, 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 definitions, elements and variants regarding the previously described first embodiment, which are not mentioned explicitly in connection with the second embodiment, are similar to those of the second embodiment, wherefore reference is made to the above description and no further description is given below. The transmission means 10' is arranged between the parts of the second pivot body and the transmission means 10' has a rectangular-like shape. Naturally, the trans- mission means 10' may be designed in a variety of ways, but preferably has at least one cam surface 11. Thus, 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. Preferably, 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. For instance, 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. For instance, the first housing 6 described above may be radially movable and have the form of, for exam- pie, a partly compressible sleeve. In this case, 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. Furthermore, 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. Moreover, there may, of course, be additional adjusting positions in which the braking action can be adjusted by degrees or in steps.

Claims

1. A work tool, preferably a mopping tool, having a tool part (2) and a handle part (3) , the tool part and the handle part being interconnected by means of a pivot system (4) which is pivotable about at least two mutually diverging pivot axes (A, B) and, thus, has at least two different pivoting directions, characterised in that the pivot system (4) comprises at least one first pivot set (5, 6) adapted for a first pivot axis (A) the pivoting direction of which differs from at least one second pivot set (7, 8) 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 (4) having an adjusting means (9) which, when operated, is adapted to cause said radial variation of at least one member forming part of a pivot set, said adjusting means (9) being connected to at least one transmission means (10) for the purpose of power transmission, which transmission means (10) 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.

2. A work tool as claimed in claim 1, in which said adjusting means (9) is movably arranged and has at least one first position in which said first (5, 6) and second (7, 8) 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.

3. A work tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said adjusting means (9) has at least one cam surface (11) which interacts with at least one member forming part of a pivot set to cause, during operation, said radial variation. . A work tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least said first pivot set is formed of at least one first pivot body (5) , which is pivotally arranged in at least one first housing (6) and said second pivot set is formed of at least one second pivot body (7), which is pivotally arranged in at least one second housing (8) . 5. A work tool as claimed in claim 4, in which one of said first (5) and second (7) pivot body forms one of said second (8) and first (6) housing for the other of said second (7) and first (5) pivot body. 6. A work tool as claimed in claim 5, in which said transmission means acts on the inside of said first (5) and second (7) pivot body for expanding power transmis- sion to the at least partly enclosing housing (8; 6) for the purpose of expanding it and, thereby, providing said simultaneous braking action. 7. A work tool as claimed in any one of claims 4-6, in which at least one of said first (5) and second (7) pivot body has at least two pivot body portions (12) that are radially movable in relation to one another. 8. A work tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said first pivot axis (A) has two axially spaced-apart pivot sets, which are pivotable about said first pivot axis (A) . 9. A work tool as claimed in any one of claims 4-8, in which said adjusting means (9), in connection with an operating motion intended to provide said simultaneous braking action, causes pressing of the transmission means against said second pivot body (7) to provide said braking action in said second pivot set, said pressing caus- ing a radial expansion of said first pivot body (5) to provide a braking action in said first pivot set. 10. A work tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said first pivot axis (A) is adapted to orthogonally intersect with said second pivot axis (B) .