WO2016077115A1

WO2016077115A1 - An adaptor and a cleaning device with such adaptor

Info

Publication number: WO2016077115A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/058963
Authority: WO
Inventors: Blessen Korah Philip
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2014-11-10
Filing date: 2015-11-04
Publication date: 2016-05-19

Abstract

Herein disclosed is an adaptor for attaching a cleaning element to a handle. The adaptor is formed independent of the cleaning element and includes a connector attachable to the handle and a locking cap slid able along the handle such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element. The connector 10 has a handle connection portion end and a cleaning element receiving end. The connector and locking cap are fastened with each other to hold the cleaning element in place at the cleaning element receiving end.

Description

AN ADAPTOR AND A CLEANING DEVICE WITH SUCH ADAPTOR

Technical Field

The disclosure is in the field of surface cleaning devices for domestic and industrial use, particularly to adaptors usable in cleaning devices.

Background

In the field of cleaning devices floor cleaning devices are most commonly used to perform wet/dry mopping by a user in an ergonomic position. Most floor cleaning devices include a cleaning element fixed, either permanently or removably, to a handle. It is preferable when one cleaning device can accommodate different types of cleaning elements depending on the use or need of the user. Normally, plastic molded components are fixed on the removable cleaning element to secure it to the handle. Such a construction increases the cost of producing the removable cleaning element, which is replaceable with a similar refill, since the plastic molded component has to be provided in each cleaning element. The plastic molded components are generally more robust than the cleaning element itself and lasts longer, but get discarded along with the worn out cleaning element. Some cleaning devices have a locking mechanism at the base of the handle usually hidden by the cleaning element, thus making it difficult to remove the cleaning element from the handle of the device.

Summary

In a first aspect, an adaptor is provided for attaching a cleaning element to a handle. The adaptor is formed independent of the cleaning element and includes a connector attachable to the handle and a locking cap slid able along the handle such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element. Such a construction ensures that the cleaning element does not include any integrally provided plastic molded component fixed on it. Moreover, the user can release the locking cap to remove the cleaning element from an ergonomic position.

In an embodiment, the connector includes a handle connection portion end and a cleaning element receiving end and the connector is fastened with the locking cap to hold the cleaning element in place at the cleaning element receiving end. In an embodiment, the adaptor is provided so as to make the cleaning element insertable and/or removable through the handle portion. The effect of such a construction is that the user does not have to touch the soiled cleaning element with his hands to remove it.

In an embodiment, the adaptor includes a collapsible connector so as to make the cleaning element insertable and/or removable from the bottom.

In a second aspect, a cleaning device having a handle and a removable cleaning element is provided incorporating an adaptor formed independent of the cleaning element, said adaptor including a connector attachable to the handle and a locking cap slidable along the handle such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element upon assembly.

Brief Description of Drawings

The aspects and embodiments of the invention will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adaptor for attaching a cleaning element to a handle according to a first aspect;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a adaptor connector according to an embodiment;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a adaptor locking cap according to an

embodiment;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an adaptor with a cleaning element;

Figure 5 is a partially assembled view of the embodiment of the adaptor with the cleaning element;

Figure 6 is a fully assembled view of the embodiment of the adaptor with the cleaning element;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of an adaptor for attaching a cleaning element to a handle according to a another embodiment;

Figure 8 is a partially assembled view of an adaptor with a cleaning element according to a second aspect;

Figure 9 is another partially assembled view of the adaptor with a cleaning element according to the second aspect;

Figure 10 is a detailed view of 'A' shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is an assembled view of the adaptor with a cleaning element according to the second aspect;

Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the adaptor in its normal position according to the second aspect; and

Figure 13 shows a sectional view of the adaptor in the collapsed position of the connector.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an adaptor (10) for attaching a cleaning element to a handle according to a first aspect includes a connector (11) and a locking cap (13).

The connector (11) has a handle connection portion end (110) and a cleaning element receiving end (112). A handle (2) is capable of being fitted into the handle connection portion end (110) of the adaptor (10). The illustrated embodiment shows the handle connection portion end (110) to be an opening through which the handle 10 is inserted for a press fit. Other alternate forms of attachment of the handle (2) with the handle connection portion end (110) of the adaptor (10) can be readily envisaged and are within the scope of this disclosure. Further, in an embodiment, the connector (11) includes a threaded portion (116) in its external surface. The cleaning element receiving end (112) of the connector (11) includes a collared 15 portion (114) according to an embodiment. The locking cap (13) is shaped to be held and operated by a user and has an opening (134) at its center. Preferably, the locking cap (13) includes one or more depressions (132) on its external surface to allow the user to properly grip the locking cap (13). In one

embodiment, the locking cap (13) includes a threaded portion (136) in its internal surface. Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the assembly of the adaptor with the cleaning element according to an embodiment will be described. The handle (2) of a cleaning device (not shown) is inserted into the handle connection portion end of the connector (11). A cleaning element (3) having an opening (4) is dropped through the handle (2) such that a top portion of the cleaning element (3) rests on the collared portion (114) formed in the cleaning element receiving end (112) of the connector (11). The cleaning element extends out of the assembly sufficiently enough to prevent the collared portion (114) of the cleaning element receiving end (112) from touching the floor surface in normal use. The circular profile of the connector (11) together with the collared portion (114) enables the cleaning element to be spread evenly around the handle (2).

The locking cap (13) is inserted into the handle (2) through its opening (134) and rotated so that the internally threaded portion (136) mates with the externally threaded portion (116) of the connector (11), thereby holding the cleaning element (3) in place at the cleaning element receiving end (112) of the connector (11). In this assembled condition, the cleaning device can be used to clean any surface using a dry and/or wet cleaning element. The locking cap (13) is designed to have a firm grip 10 on the cleaning element (3) even when the cleaning element requires to be wrung prior to drying.

The steps in reverse are performed to release the cleaning element from the assembly. In other words, the locking cap (13) is rotated in an opposite direction to release its grip on the cleaning element (3). The cap (13) is completely removed from the handle (2) and the cleaning element (3) can be allowed to drop off through the handle (2). Thus, the user does not have to touch the soiled cleaning element with his hands to remove it.

Although a threaded mechanism for engaging the connector with the locking cap is illustrated and explained above, the threaded design can be replaced with a bayonet projection snap mechanism or other interlocking arrangements suitable for the function. If bayonet projections are used, the locking cap would have to be secured to the handle rod permanently and the connector would be the detachable male part with bayonet projections. The locking cap can also be designed to snap on to the connector from the top, thus replacing the thread with a circular snap mechanism.

In an optional embodiment, projections (118) can be provided on the top surface of the collared portion (114) as shown in Figure 7 to enable the cleaning element to be further securely held on the cleaning element receiving end (112) of the connector (11). The projections (118) can be spaced apart uniformly throughout the surface of the collared portion (114) for uniform grip on the cleaning element.

In another embodiment, an adaptor having a connector and a locking cap is 5 provided to lock the cleaning element to a cleaning element receiving end portion of the connector, where the locking cap need not be removed completely every time the cleaning element has to be detached from the cleaning device. Referring to Figures 8 to 10, an adaptor (20) for attaching a cleaning element to a handle includes a connector (21) and a locking cap (23) that would rest on the connector in the normal position. The connector (21) has a handle connection portion end (210) and a cleaning element receiving end (212). A handle (2) is capable of being fitted into the handle connection portion end (210) of the adaptor (20). The connector (21), according to this embodiment, has slits in its external surface through which a collapsible sleeve (213) can move from a normal to a flexed position as will be explained below. Before the cleaning element (3) is inserted into the cleaning element receiving end (212) the sleeve is in its normal position, aligned parallel with the external surface of the connector (21) as shown in Figure 8. This normal position is achieved when the locking cap (23) remains disengaged/unmated with the connector (21).

In this normal position the cleaning element is inserted from the bottom onto the cleaning element receiving end (212) through the opening (4). As can be seen in Figure 8, the collapsible sleeve (213) has a length that does not protrude into the cleaning element receiving end (212) of the connector (21). Upon tightening the locking cap (23) to engage with the connector (21) the sleeve (213) flexes outwardly 25 in two mutually opposite directions and rests on the top portion of the cleaning element (3). The intermediate locking position with the partially collapsed sleeve (213) is shown in Figure 9. Upon further tightening of the locking cap (23) the cleaning element is held tightly by the locking cap (23) and the fully outwardly flexed sleeve (213). The locking cap (23) is similar in construction to the locking cap (13) explained in a previous embodiment. In the flexed and tightened position, the sleeve is entirely covered by the locking cap as can be seen in Figure 11.

In an optional embodiment, the connector can have slits spaced 90° apart 5 from each other such that the collapsed sleeve can extend in four symmetrical directions on the top portion of the cleaning element, thereby providing additional grip on the cleaning element.

Referring to Figure 10, which is a detailed view of A' in Figure 9, the sleeve (213) includes a hinged mechanism (214) that facilitates the sleeve (213) to move 10 from a normal position (Figure 8) to a flexed position (Figure 9) upon tightening of the cap (23) over the connector (21).

The connector (21), functioning as an inner rod, holds the bottom end of the sleeve and connects it to the handle (2). It prevents the sleeve from detaching when the cap is moved down into the locked position. The sectional view depicted in Figures 12 and 13 show the hinge points (214) that collapse upon tightening the locking cap (23) to spread the sleeve (213) on the top portion of the cleaning element (3), which is held tightly by the locking cap (23) and the outwardly flexed sleeve (213).

To remove the cleaning element (3), the locking cap (23) is rotated in an 20 opposite direction to release its grip on the cleaning element (3). As the locking cap (23) is so rotated the collapsible sleeve (213), due to force in the upward direction, reverts to its normal position aligned parallel with the external surface of the connector (21), thereby allowing the cleaning element (3) to drop off from the bottom. Thus, the locking cap need not be removed completely every time the cleaning element has to be detached from the cleaning device. Even in this embodiment, the user does not have to touch the soiled cleaning element with his hands to remove it as the cleaning element drops off

automatically when the locking cap is fully disengaged from the connector.

In a second aspect, a cleaning device, such as mops, having a handle (2) and a removable cleaning element (3) is provided incorporating an adaptor (10, 20) 5 formed independent of the cleaning element. The adaptor includes a connector attachable to the handle and a locking cap slidable along the handle such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element upon assembly By such an arrangement the cleaning device has versatility in holding and changing different cleaning elements. It also eliminates the need for any component attached to the cleaning element to facilitate easy assembly and refill. The cleaning element (3) could be a piece of cloth with a hole in the center, or threads stitched in a circular manner leaving a hole in the center. However, other types of cleaning elements can also be used depending on the nature of use.

Insomuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications 15 and changes in detail, it is intended that the subject matter as discussed above and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is Claimed Is:

1. An adaptor for attaching a cleaning element to a handle comprising:

a connector having a handle connection portion end and a cleaning element receiving end;

a locking cap capable of sliding along a handle axis,

said connector and locking cap capable of being fastened with each other to hold the cleaning element in place at the cleaning element receiving end of the connector such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element.

2. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element receiving end includes a collared portion such that a top portion of the cleaning element rests on the collared portion.

3. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the connector includes an externally threaded portion engagable with an internally threaded portion in the locking cap to hold the cleaning element in place.

4. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein projections are provided on a top surface of the collared portion to enable secure gripping of the cleaning element.

5. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein connector includes a collapsible sleeve capable of moving from a normal position to a outwardly flexed position and vice versa.

6. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein in the normal position the collapsible sleeve is aligned parallel with the external surface of the connector: at which position the cleaning element is inserted, and, in the flexed position rests and grips a top portion of the cleaning element.

7. The adaptor according to claim 6, wherein a hinge mechanism allows the movement of the collapsible sleeve from the normal to the flexed position and vice versa.

8. The adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the handle connection portion of the connector includes an opening through which the handle is press fitted.

9. A cleaning device including:

a handle;

a removable cleaning element provided with an opening at its centre portion, wherein said cleaning device includes an adaptor for attaching the cleaning element to the handle, said adaptor comprising:

a locking cap capable of sliding along a handle axis, said connector and locking cap capable of being fastened with each other to hold the cleaning element in place at the cleaning element receiving end of the connector such that the locking cap is exposed on the top of the cleaning element.

10. A cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein said cleaning device is a domestic or industrial mop.