Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cleaning element
The invention relates to a cleaning element comprising a
support body to which fringes of elongated configuration
are fixed, wherein the fringes enclose a central region
of the support body.
Such a cleaning element is disclosed in DE 10 2017 004
809 B3. In the previously known cleaning element, textile
fringes of elongated configuration are fixed at one end
to the support body. The fringes have a plurality of
strands which are connected together and which are
configured from synthetic fibers. As a result, the
fringes are voluminous and have a high water absorption
capacity. The previously known cleaning element serves
for wet or damp cleaning of floors.
The previously known cleaning element is suitable, in
particular, for being wrung out in a rotary spinner after
the cleaning operation. To this end, the cleaning
appliance, to which the cleaning element is fastened, is
pushed into a basket-like receiver, wherein the receiver
can be set in rotation along the longitudinal axis and
excess water is spun out of the fringes. In particular,
it is not necessary to remove the fringes from the
cleaning appliance for the cleaning and spinning
operation.
Although the previously known cleaning element has a high
cleaning performance, the removal of dirt stubbornly
adhering to the floor to be cleaned is problematical.
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This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The
dependent claims refer to advantageous embodiments.
The cleaning element according to the invention comprises
a support body to which fringes of elongated
configuration are fixed, wherein the fringes enclose a
central region of the support body, wherein the central
region is assigned a receiver into which a holder is
inserted, wherein the holder is assigned a flat cleaning
body.
The fringes are fixed to the support body around the
central region. The arrangement of the fringes can be
implemented in an annular manner. When used as intended,
the fringes protrude to the side below the support body
so that, in addition to the fringes, the flat cleaning
body also comes into contact with the floor to be cleaned.
As the cleaning body is arranged centrally below the
support body, a high contact pressure can be applied
thereto. As a result, and due to the flat design of the
cleaning body, a particularly effective cleaning action
is achieved relative to stubbornly adhering dirt.
The fringes can be fastened to a fringe holder of annular
configuration, wherein the fringe holder defines the
receiver and the holder is positively fastened to the
fringe holder, and wherein the fringe holder is fixed to
the support body. The fringe holder also has a number of
receiver elements which serve for receiving fringes. The
fringes in turn are preferably fixedly fastened to the
fringe holder. This is preferably implemented by a
material connection or a positive connection. The
fastening can be implemented, for example, by means of
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an adhesively bonded connection, by knotting or a
stitched connection.
The holder is preferably positively held in the receiver.
This permits a particularly simple and cost-effective
assembly. In particular, it is conceivable that the
holder is retrospectively fastened in a receiver of an
already existing support body. The holder and the
receiver preferably form a snap closure.
Both the fringe holder and the holder are preferably
fastened to the support body or to the fringe holder by
means of a snap closure. To this end, the fringe holder
and/or the holder can be provided with positive
connecting elements, for example in the form of
projections, hooks, recesses or the like.
The fringe holder and the holder can form together with
the cleaning body and the fringes a preassembled unit
which is fastened below the support body. In this
connection, in particular, it is conceivable that the
unit, consisting of the fringe holder comprising the
fringes and the holder comprising the cleaning body, is
brought into the handle as a preassembled unit so that
the fringes and the cleaning body can be replaced after
the end of their useful life, which can occur as a result
of wear.
It is conceivable here, in particular, that the fringe
holder comprising the fringes and the holder comprising
the cleaning body can be replaced separately from one
another. It is also conceivable to provide different
holders with different cleaning bodies, so that a
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cleaning body which is adapted to the cleaning task can
be selected and fastened to the fringe holder. Different
fringe holders comprising different fringes can also be
provided, wherein fringes which are adapted to the
cleaning task can also be selected and fastened to the
cleaning element.
The cleaning body can be fixed to the holder. The cleaning
body is preferably fixedly connected to the holder. This
can be implemented by a material connection, for example
by an adhesively bonded connection or by ultrasonic
welding. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the
cleaning body is fastened to the holder by means of a
stitched connection.
The cleaning body is preferably configured as a textile
fabric. The cleaning body can comprise microfibers.
Moreover, the cleaning body can be provided with
abrasively-acting harder fibers. In an advantageous
embodiment, harder fibers and microfibers are arranged
in the form of zones on the cleaning body.
The fringes can consist of a single component or of a
plurality of materials. The fringes can comprise, in
particular, microfibers. Moreover, the cleaning body can
comprise different fringes having different properties.
For example, harder fringes, softer fringes, fringes
comprising microfibers, absorbent fringes and abrasive
fringes can be provided. In an advantageous embodiment,
the cleaning body comprises fringes of different
thicknesses. Thicker fringes can be arranged in first
zones and thinner fringes can be arranged in second
zones. It is also conceivable that fringes having
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different cleaning properties are arranged in zones. For
example, harder fringes, softer fringes, fringes
comprising microfibers, absorbent fringes and abrasive
fringes can be arranged in zones.
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The support body, the fringe holder and the holder are
preferably configured from injection-moldable material.
The fringe holder and the holder can be configured, in
particular, from polypropylene.
The fringe holder, with the receiver fixed thereto, can
be removed from the support body and put in a machine
wash. As a result, the fringes and cleaning body can be
cleaned particularly thoroughly and also separately from
one another. In addition to the improved cleaning, this
also results in the advantage of a longer useful life.
The holder can have a peripheral edge. Preferably,
positive connecting elements, which engage in congruent
recesses of the holder, are incorporated on the
peripheral edge on the outer face. As a result, it is
also possible, amongst other things, to dispose of the
fringe holder and the holder separately from one another.
The holder can have a cover element of flat
configuration, wherein the cleaning body is fixed to the
cover element. Via the cover element the cleaning body
is pushed flat onto the floor to be cleaned, so that a
particularly effective cleaning result can be achieved.
Moreover, a particularly dimensionally stable holder is
produced by the cover element.
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The cover element can have a peripheral border, wherein
the border protrudes radially outwardly over the edge.
The border is preferably configured such that it
protrudes at least partially over the fringe holder. As
a result, after the assembly of the holder in the fringe
holder, the border covers partially the fringe holder and
partially the fringes fastened thereto. As a result, the
fringes which are fixed to the fringe holder are
deflected to the side, so that these fringes protrude to
the side. As a result, it is advantageous that the
cleaning element is particularly voluminous as a whole
and that the cleaning body comes into contact over its
entire surface with the floor to be cleaned. As the
fringes protrude outwardly to the side, they do not come
between the cleaning body and the floor to be cleaned.
Preferably, at least one through-opening is incorporated
in the cover element. If the cleaning element is cleaned
in a floor-washing bucket, the support body is surrounded
by cleaning fluid. Cleaning fluid can pass into the
interior of the support body and thus also into the
holder. The through-opening ensures that the liquid
located in the holder can drain through the cleaning
body.
A through-opening can be incorporated centrally in the
cover element. This permits, on the one hand, the
drainage of liquid located in the holder and, on the
other hand, a particularly space-saving design, since the
components of the support body can extend into the
through-opening of the cover element.
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According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least
one slot is incorporated in some portions in the corner
region between the edge and the cover element. The
cleaning element according to the invention, when viewed
in a view from above, is preferably configured to be
rotationally symmetrical and, in particular, is suitable
for being spun in a rotary spinner. To this end, the
cleaning element is inserted in a basket-like receiver
which can be set in rotation. Cleaning liquid is spun out
of the fringes as a result of the rotation. Moreover, the
rotation causes the liquid located in the holder to be
moved toward the edge and at that point to drain through
the at least one slot.
On the side opposing the receiver the support body can
have a recess with a connection for fastening a handle.
The connection can be configured here as an articulated
connection. The recess results in an improved force
distribution during the cleaning operation.
At least one second through-opening, which produces a
flow-conducting connection between the recess and the
receiver, can be incorporated in the recess. As a result,
cleaning fluid which can collect in the recess can flow
through the through-opening in the direction of the
holder fastened in the receiver. In turn, the liquid can
escape through the holder, through the through-openings
incorporated therein.
Several embodiments of the cleaning element according to
the invention are explained in more detail hereinafter
with reference to the figures. In the figures, in each
case schematically:
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fig. 1 shows a cleaning element in a view from below;
fig. 2 shows the cleaning element according to fig. 1
in a view from above;
fig. 3 shows a fringe holder with fringes fastened
thereto;
fig. 4 shows a holder with the cleaning body in a view
from above;
fig. 5 shows the holder according to fig. 4 in a view
from above;
fig. 6 shows a unit consisting of the fringe holder and
the holder.
Figures 1 and 2 show a cleaning element 1 comprising a
support body 2 to which fringes 3 of elongated
configuration are fixed. The fringes are configured from
textile material and consist of a plurality of strands
which are connected together in the manner of a cord.
The fringes 3 are arranged such that they enclose a
central region 4 of the support body 5. In turn, the
central region 4 is assigned a receiver 6 in which a
holder 7 is inserted. A flat cleaning body 8 is arranged
on the holder 7. The cleaning body 8 covers the holder 7
over its entire surface.
A recess 16 with a connection 17 for fastening a handle
is arranged on the side of the support body 2 opposing
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the receiver 6. The connection 17 is configured here as
an articulated connection. A second through-opening 19,
which produces a flow-conducting connection between the
recess 16 and the receiver 6, is incorporated in the
recess 16.
When observed in a view from above, the support body 2
is configured to be triangular and the fringes 3 protrude
from the support body 2 in a substantially circular
manner in the radial direction. As a result, the cleaning
element is suitable, in particular, for being wrung out
in a rotary spinner.
Figure 1 shows the above-described cleaning element 1 in
a view from above and figure 2 shows the above-described
cleaning element 1 in a view from below.
Figure 3 shows in detail an annular fringe holder 20 to
which the fringes 3 are fastened. The fringe holder 20
defines the receiver 6 with its wall facing the internal
opening. The fringe holder 20 has receiving elements for
the fringes, wherein the fringes 3 are fixedly connected
to the fringe holder 20. To this end, the fringes 3 are
guided in the form of a loop through the receiver elements
and knotted in some portions.
Figures 4 and 5 show the holder 7 in detail. Figure 4
shows the holder 7 in a view from above and figure 5 in
a view from the side. The holder 7 has a peripheral edge
9 and a cover element 10 of flat configuration. The cover
element 10 has a peripheral border 11, wherein the border
11 protrudes radially outwardly over the edge 9. The
cleaning body 8 is fixed to the cover element 10, wherein
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the cleaning body 8 covers the cover element 10 over its
entire surface. The cleaning body 8 is fixedly connected
to the cover element 10 by means of a stitched connection
18. The cleaning body 8 covers the cover element 10 over
5 its entire surface on the side facing the floor to be
cleaned. The cleaning body 8 consists of a textile
material of flat configuration and can be provided with
abrasively-acting portions.
10 The cleaning body 8 is fixedly connected to the holder
7. In the present embodiment, this is implemented by
means of a stitched connection 18.
A plurality of through-openings 13 are incorporated in
the cover element 10. Moreover, three slots 15 are
incorporated in some portions in the corner region 14
between the edge 9 and cover element 10.
Figure 6 shows a unit 21 consisting of a fringe holder
20 comprising fringes 3 fastened thereto and a holder 7
comprising the cleaning body 8 fastened thereto.
Both the fringe holder 20 and the holder 7 are configured
from an injection-moldable material, which consists here
of polypropylene.
The holder 7 is positively fastened to the fringe holder
20, wherein the holder 7 comes into contact with the
inner wall of the fringe holder 20. To this end, the
holder 7 and the fringe holder 20 or the receiver 6 form
at least one snap closure.
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The fringe holder 20 in turn is positively and
replaceably fixed to the support body 2 by means of a
snap closure. As a result, it is possible to replace the
unit 21 consisting of the fringe holder 20 comprising the
fringes 3 fastened thereto and the holder 7 comprising
the cleaning body 8 fastened thereto. The unit 21 forms
a preassembled unit.
Date Regue/Date Received 2023-01-26
