Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
Mop-head plate with pivotable wings
The present disclosure relates to a mop-head plate comprising a main body, to
which
a first mop-head-plate wing, a second mop-head-plate wing and a joint are
attached,
wherein the mop-head-plate wings can be pivoted between a working position and
a
wringing-out position.
A mop-head plate is known, for example, from DE 10 2012 007 525 At The mop-
head plate forms part of a mop, wherein, in addition to the mop-head plate,
the mop
has a handle, which is connected to the mop-head plate via the joint. The mop-
head
plate is assigned a mop cover, which is fastened in a releasable manner on the
mop-
head plate such that it can be brought into contact with the floor which is to
be
cleaned. The mop-head plate here pushes the mop cover flat onto the floor
which to
be cleaned.
In order for the mop cover to be wrung out, the mop-head-plate wings are
transferred
from the working position into the wringing-out position. The mop cover here
hangs
down in the form of a loop from the mop-head plate. The mop cover hanging down
in
this way from the mop-head plate can be wrung out in a basket-like wringer by
virtue
of the mop being pushed into same_ It is also known for the mop covers to be
pushed into a rotatable wringer, in which the mop cover is wrung out as result
of
rapid rotation of the wringer basket together with the mop-head plate. In both
cases,
it is advantageous, for straightforward introduction of the mop, if the mop-
head plate
with the mop cover is pushed into the wringer in a straight position. The
problem of a
manual wringer, in which the mop-head plate is wrung out as result of being
pushed
in, is that the joint can tilt during the pushing-in action, which reduces the
force which
can be applied and impairs the performance results.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
2
The present disclosure provides, in an aspect, a mop-head plate which is
particularly
easy to feed into a wringer.
According to an embodiment, the main body has arranged in it a device for
arresting
the joint, said device fixing the joint along the longitudinal axis when the
mop-head-
plate wings are located outside the working position. The joint is fixed along
the
longitudinal axis by the arresting device in particular when the mop-head-
plate wings
pivot from the working position into the wringing-out position. To this
extent, fixing is
also provided according to the present disclosure when the mop-head-plate
wings
are located in the wringing-out position. This ensures that it is no longer
possible for
the joint to pivot or tilt while the mop-head plate is being pushed into the
wringer
basket. This makes it possible for the entire force which is applied to the
mop-head
plate via the handle to be used for the wringing-out work. This improves the
wringing-
out result.
The joint is designed, in an embodiment, in the form of a universal joint.
This makes
it possible to pivot the joint with the handle together both in the
longitudinal direction
and in the transverse direction relative to the mop-head plate.
According to an embodiment, the joint has a first joint body and a second
joint body.
In an embodiment, the first joint body is arranged in a pivotable manner on
the main
body and the second joint body is arranged in a pivotable manner on the first
joint
body, wherein the pivot axis between the first joint body and second joint
body is
oriented transversely in relation to the pivot axis between the first joint
body and main
body. This arrangement gives rise to the universal joint.
The second mop-head-plate wing can have projecting elements, which are
designed
such that the second mop-head-plate wing engages in a U-shaped manner, by way
of the elements, around the main body and the joint, which is assigned to the
main
body. In the case of such a configuration, the elements pivot in the direction
of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
3
joint, and thus block the joint, as the mop-head-plate wings pivot. The
elements
overlap the joint in the region of the main sides, that is to say of the front
edge and of
the rear edge, of the mop-head plate. When the mop-head-plate wings are in the
folded state, the elements prevent the handle from being able to pivot in the
direction
of the main sides.
The elements can be assigned stop elements which, in the wringing-out
position, are
oriented in the direction of the joint. The stop elements can increase the
size of the
stop region and thus provide for improved fixing of the joint.
The first joint body can accommodate a resilient needle, which projects
through a
longitudinal opening made in the first joint body. The second joint body can
have an
aperture which is congruent with the longitudinal opening when the second
joint body
is aligned in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the first
joint body. This is
the case when the pivot axis is 00, or in the region of 0 , both in the
longitudinal
direction and in the transverse direction.
This configuration allows the joint body to be fixed when the two joint bodies
are
aligned along the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal opening accommodates the
resilient needle, wherein the resilient needle penetrates into the aperture
when the
second joint body is aligned in the direction of the longitudinal axis
relative to the first
joint body. As result, the two joint bodies are fixed in relation to one
another and are
no longer able to pivot automatically.
The resilient needle can have a pin-like needle portion, which is arranged in
the bore,
and a resilient portion, which is arranged in a further transverse opening
which is
open in the direction of the main body, and therefore, as the mop-head plate
pivots
from the working position into the wringing-out position, the two mop-head-
plate
wings come into contact with the resilient portion and push the resilient
needle
through the longitudinal opening in the direction of the aperture of the
second joint
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
4
body. This ensures that the resilient needle penetrates into the aperture only
when
the mop-head-plate wings are transferred from the working position into the
wringing-
out position.
In the working position, in contrast, the resilient needle is located only in
the
longitudinal opening, and therefore the first joint body can be pivoted in
relation to
the second joint body. The configuration in the form of the resilient portion
makes it
possible for prestressing of the resilient needle to be built up during
pivoting, and
therefore pivoting of the mop-head-plate wings is possible even when the
handle is
not aligned with the longitudinal axis. If, once the mop-head-plate wings have
been
pivoted from the working position into the wringing-out position, the handle
is aligned
with the longitudinal axis, the resilient needle, in contrast, springs
automatically into
the aperture on account of the prestressing.
As the mop-head-plate wings transfer from the wringing-out position into the
working
position, the prestressing of the resilient portion decreases until the
resilient portion,
after reaching the working position, is free and the needle portion is
arranged in a
freely movable manner in the aperture and longitudinal opening. The action of
gravitational force means that the resilient needle leaves the aperture
automatically
and remains merely in the longitudinal opening. The two joint bodies can then
be
pivoted freely in relation to one another again.
The resilient portion can be assigned an intermediate element which, as the
mop-
head-plate wings transfer from the working position into the wringing-out
position,
comes into contact with the resilient portion and causes the needle portion to
be
pushed through the longitudinal opening into the aperture. In an embodiment,
in the
working position, the intermediate element is at a distance from the resilient
portion,
and therefore the needle portion moves automatically out of the aperture and
the two
joint bodies are freed.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
5
Two laterally projecting protrusions can be formed from the joint and rest on
sliding
surfaces formed from the main body. The protrusions here project in the
direction of
the narrow sides of the mop-head plate and rest on the sliding surfaces in the
region
of the free ends of the protrusions. Essentially semicircular elevations can
be formed
from the main body, wherein the outer contours of the semicircular elevations
form
the sliding surfaces. On the upper side of the elevations, that is to say on
that side of
the elevations which is directed away from the main body, a plateau is formed
from
the sliding surfaces.
In an embodiment, the plateau is designed such that it projects beyond the
sliding
surfaces, and therefore a respective step is formed at the two transitions
from
plateau to sliding surface.
During the cleaning work, the handle is usually pivoted by an angle of between
450
and 800 in relation to the longitudinal axis. In this angle range, the
protrusions rest on
the curved sliding surfaces and the mop-head plate can be pivoted in relation
to the
handle.
In particular when the cleaning appliance is moved rearward, the mop-head
plate
can be subjected to a force which causes the mop-head plate to flip over, and
therefore the mop cover is no longer resting on the floor which is to be
cleaned. This
is the case, in particular, with mop covers which are only slightly damp and
with dull
floors. The step in the region of the transition between the curved sliding
surfaces
and the plateau sets against the protrusions a resistance which prevents the
mop-
head plate from flipping over when the mop-head plate is moved rearward during
cleaning work.
A number of non-limiting example configurations of the mop-head plate
according to
the present disclosure will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with
reference to
the figures, in which, schematically in each case:
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
6
Figure 1 shows the front view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
Figure 2 shows the plan view of the mop-head plate in the working position;
Figure 3 shows the bottom view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
Figure 4 shows the side view of the mop-head plate in the working position;
Figure 5 shows a further side view of the mop-head plate in the working
position;
Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the mop-head plate in
the
working position;
Figure 7 shows a side view of the mop-head plate in the wringing-out
position;
Figure 8 shows the front view of a detail of the mop-head plate in the
wringing-
out position;
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the mop-head plate in the wringing-out
position;
Figure 10 shows the mop-head plate in the wringing-out position, partially
in
section;
Figure 11 shows the mop-head plate in the working position, partially in
section;
and
Figure 12 shows the front view of the mop-head plate, partially in section,
with the
foot pedal actuated.
The figures show a non-limiting example mop-head plate 1 having a main body 2,
to
which a first mop-head-plate wing 3 and a second mop-head-plate wing 4 are
attached in a pivotable manner. The main body 2 is assigned a joint 5, in this
case a
universal joint, which can be connected to a handle. The mop-head-plate wings
3, 4
can be fixed in a reversible manner in a working position 6. In the working
position 6,
the two mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are aligned essentially in a single plane.
Actuation
of a foot pedal 23 allows the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 to be pivoted from the
working position 6 into a wringing-out position 7.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
7
The mop-head plate 1 and the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 have an upper side and
an
underside, which forms the mopping surface. The undersides of the first mop-
head-
plate wing 3 and second mop-head-plate wing 4 move toward one another as the
mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot from the working position 6 into the wringing-
out
position 7. In the wringing-out position 7, the two undersides of the two mop-
head-
plate wings 3, 4 are located opposite one another.
The foot pedal 23 is arranged in a pivotable manner on the first mop-head-
plate wing
3 and is designed such that the foot pedal 23 fixes the second mop-head-plate
wing
4 in the working position 6. The foot pedal 23 is also designed such that the
second
mop-head-plate wing 4 pivots relative to the first mop-head-plate wing 3 when
the
foot pedal 23 is actuated.
The foot pedal 23 is attached in a jointed manner to the first mop-head-plate
wing 3,
wherein the foot pedal 23 has a first free end, which projects from the first
mop-
head-plate wing 3 and forms the actuating portion of the foot pedal 23. The
foot
pedal 23 also has a second free end, which projects in the direction of the
second
mop-head-plate wing 4 and forms the locking portion of the foot pedal 23.
The foot pedal 23 has two protrusions 28, 29, which are assigned to the
locking
portion. The two protrusions 28, 29 are designed in the form of resilient
elements
and, in the working position 6, are assigned to the underside of the second
mop-
head-plate wing 4. The two protrusions 28, 29 lie in abutment there under
elastic
prestressing.
The second mop-head-plate wing 4 has projecting elements 26, which are
designed
such that the second mop-head-plate wing 4 engages in a U-shaped manner,
together with the elements 26, around the main body 2. Retaining elements 31
are
formed from the foot pedal 23 and engage over the elements 26 of the second
mop-
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
8
head-plate wing 4 and thus, together with the protrusions 28, 29, fix the mop-
head-
plate wings 3, 4 in the working position 6.
If the foot pedal 23 is actuated, the retaining elements 31 move away from the
second mop-head-plate wing 4 and free the second mop-head-plate wing 4 for
pivoting purposes. At the same time, the two protrusions 28, 29 push onto the
underside of the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and thus pivot the second mop-
head-plate wing 4 relative to the first mop-head-plate wing 3 as result of the
foot
pedal 23 being actuated.
The first mop-head-plate wing 3 and the second mop-head-plate wing 4 each have
a
toothing formation, wherein the teeth of the toothing formation engage one
inside the
other. The two mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 thus pivot simultaneously relative to
the
main body 2. In the wringing-out position 7, the two mop-head-plate wings 3, 4
are
located beneath the main body 2, or in a straight line in relation to the
handle, the
joint 5 and the main body 2.
The first mop-head-plate wing 3, the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and the foot
pedal 23 are locked in a form-fitting manner in the working position 6.
The main body 2, the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 and the joint 5 are formed from
plastic which can be injection molded. The underside of the mop-head-plate
wings 3,
4 is provided with a structure in the form of ribs 24. The ribs 24 provide for
a locally
high level of surface pressure of the mop cover against the floor which is to
be
cleaned. This improves the cleaning performance.
The mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are provided with a device 25 for fastening a
mop
cover. In the case of the present configuration, said device comprises
apertures
which are made in the peripheral regions of the narrow sides of the mop-head-
plate
wings 3, 4 and serve to accommodate snap fasteners of a mop cover. This means
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
9
that the mop cover is fixed to the mop-head plate 1 even in the wringing-out
position
7, and therefore the mop cover can be wrung out in a wringer in a state in
which it
hangs down from the mop-head plate 1.
The main body 2 is assigned a fixing device 8 for arresting the joint 5, said
device
fixing the joint 5 along the longitudinal axis 9 of the joint 5 in the
wringing-out position
7.
As the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot, the projecting elements 26 of the
second
mop-head-plate wing 4 pivot in the direction of the joint 5. As result, the
joint 5 is
blocked and cannot pivot in the direction of the elements 26. The elements 26
are
assigned stop elements 32, which increase the size of the contact surface area
between the elements 26 and joint 5. To this extent, the elements 26 form part
of the
fixing device 8 and limit the movement capability of the joint 5 in the
pivoting direction
oriented in the direction of the main sides of the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4.
The joint 5 is designed in the form of a universal joint and has a first joint
body 15
and a second joint body 16. The first joint body 15 is arranged in a pivotable
manner
on the main body 2. The second joint body 16 is arranged in a pivotable manner
on
the first joint body 15, wherein the pivot axis between the first joint body
15 and
second joint body 16 is oriented transversely in relation to the pivot axis
between the
first joint body 15 and main body 2, this giving rise to a universal joint.
In a further part of the fixing device 8, the first joint body 15 accommodates
a
resilient needle 17, which projects through a longitudinal opening 18 made in
the first
joint body 15. The second joint body 16 has an aperture 19 which is congruent
with
the longitudinal opening 18 of the first joint body 15 when the second joint
body 16 is
aligned in the direction of the longitudinal axis 9 relative to the first
joint body 15.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
10
The resilient needle 17 has a needle portion 20, which is arranged in the
longitudinal
opening 18, and a resilient portion 21, which is arranged in a transverse
opening 22
which is made in the first joint body 15 and is open in the direction of the
main body
2. As the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 pivot from the working position 6 into the
wringing-out position 7, the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 come into contact, via
an
intermediate element 27, with the resilient portion 21, which in turn pushes
the
needle portion 20 through the longitudinal opening 18 in the direction of the
aperture
19 of the second joint body 16. If the joint 5 is aligned with the
longitudinal axis 9, the
needle portion 20 is pushed into the aperture 19, and therefore the first
joint body 15
and the second joint body 16 are fixed in relation to one another along the
longitudinal axis 9. If the two joint bodies 15, 16 have not yet been fully
aligned in
relation to one another, the needle portion 20 butts under prestressing
against the
second joint body 16, and the needle portion 20 pushes automatically into the
aperture 19 when the two joint bodies 15, 16 are finally aligned along the
longitudinal
axis 9. If the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 are moved from the wringing-out
position 7
into the working position 6, the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 move away from the
intermediate element 27 and the prestressing of the resilient portion 21 on
the
needle portion 20 decreases, as result of which the needle portion 20 moves
automatically out of the aperture 19.
Two laterally projecting protrusions 10, 11 are formed from the joint 5 and
rest on
essentially semicircular sliding surfaces 12, 13 formed from the main body 2.
The
sliding surfaces 12, 13 have a plateau 14, wherein the plateau 14 is designed
such
that a step is formed at the transition between curved sliding surface 12, 13
and
plateau 14. If the joint 5 has been oriented obliquely in relation to the
longitudinal
axis 9 during the cleaning work, the protrusions 10, 11 rest on the circular
portions of
the sliding surfaces 12, 13. If, then, the joint 5 is pivoted in the direction
of the
longitudinal axis 9, the protrusions 10, 11 are displaced on the sliding
surfaces 12,
13 in the direction of the plateau 14, wherein the protrusions 10, 11 are
deformed
once they reach the step. This increases the resistance against any further
pivoting
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
11
of the joint 5, and therefore the mop-head plate 1 does not flip over during
cleaning
work.
Figure 1 shows the front view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6.
Figure 2 shows the plan view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6.
Figure 3 shows the bottom view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6. In
addition to the ribs 24, the bottom view shows a covering which covers the
foot pedal
23 on the underside. The foot pedal 23 is thus protected against undesirable
interference from the underside.
Figure 4 shows the side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working position
6. This
side view illustrates the first mop-head-plate wing 3 with the foot pedal 23.
Figure 5 shows a further side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the working
position 6.
This side view illustrates the second mop-head-plate wing 4.
Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional illustration of the mop-head plate 1 in the
working position 6.
Figure 7 shows the side view of the mop-head plate 1 in the wringing-out
position 7.
The illustration shows the first mop-head-plate wing 3 with the foot pedal 23.
Also
evident are the elements 26 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4. In the
wringing-
out position 7, the elements 26 have been pivoted in the direction of the
joint 5.
Further evident are the protrusions 28, 29 of the foot pedal 23, said
protrusions being
designed in the form of resilient tongues and, in the working position 6,
butting under
prestressing against the underside of the second mop-head-plate wing 4.
Additionally evident are the stop elements 32, which increase the size of the
contact
surface area between the elements 26 and joint 5.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
12
Figures 8 and 9 show details of the mop-head plate 1 in the wringing-out
position 7_
It is possible to see, in particular, the stop elements 32 and also the
sliding surfaces
12,13 and the plateau 14 with the step formed therein.
Figure 10 shows a view of part of the mop-head plate 1 in the wringing-out
position
7.
Figure 11 shows the mop-head plate 1 in the working position 6, the region
around
the foot pedal 23 being shown in section. In this position, the retaining
elements 31
of the foot pedal 23 engage around the elements 26 of the second mop-head-
plate
wing 4. The protrusions 28, 29 of the foot pedal 23 butt under prestressing
against
the underside of the elements 26 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4_
Figure 12 shows the mop-head plate 1 according to figure 11, the foot pedal 23
having been actuated. As result, the retaining elements 31 have been moved
away
from the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and the second mop-head-plate wing 4 has
been freed for pivoting purposes. At the same time, the protrusions 28, 29
push onto
the underside of the elements 26 of the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and thus
move the second mop-head-plate wing 4 and, via the toothing formation, also
the
first mop-head-plate wing 3 out of the working position 6. If the foot pedal
23 is then
released, it is no longer possible for the mop-head-plate wings 3, 4 to lock
automatically and, when the mop-head plate 1 is raised, the mop-head-plate
wings 3,
4 pivot into the wringing-out position 7.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-06-09
