Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02625331 2008-04-07
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CLEANING DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cleaning device.
Cleaning devices are generally known and include, for example, a support body
which is connected with a cleaning sponge. The cleaning sponge consists, for
example, of
a polyurethane film with constant thickness and is in the form of a
rectangular prism.
The contact pressure exerted by the user onto the cleaning device is
essentially the
same over the whole cleaning surface of the cleaning sponge because of the
constant
thickness within the whole cleaning sponge and the construction in the shape
of a
rectangular prism.
More strongly adhered dirt on the surface to be cleaned must be removed by
repeatedly back and forth wiping and by exertion of a highly increased force
onto the
cleaning sponge by the user.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the invention to further develop a cleaning device of the
above
mentioned type in such a way that strongly adhered dirt on the surface to be
cleaned can
be more easily removed in part faster and/or with less effort by the user, and
that the
cleaning device can be easily and cost effectively manufactured.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with the features of
claim
1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
A cleaning device is provided for the achievement of this object which
includes a
support body which is connected with a cleaning sponge, whereby the support
body has at
least two stamp-shaped projections on the side facing the cleaning sponge
which are
positioned in a single common recess of the cleaning sponge. It is hereby
advantageous
that the projections oriented towards the surface to be cleaned have a smaller
spacing from
the surface to be cleaned than the adjacent portions of the support body; in
other words:
the cleaning sponge has a height between the surface to be cleaned and the
projection
which is smaller than the height of the cleaning sponge in the regions
adjacent the
projection.
If strongly adhered dirt is to be removed from the surface to be cleaned with
the
cleaning device in accordance with the invention, this is achieved
comparatively
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easily in that pressure is exerted with only slightly increased effort by the
user onto the
surface to be cleaned through the supporting body and the cleaning sponge.
Since the
height of the cleaning sponge between the surface to be cleaned and the front
end of the
projections facing the surface to be cleaned is smaller than the total height
of the cleaning
sponge, an only slightly increased force is sufficient to exert in the region
of the
projections/the recess a specifically increased contact pressure onto the
surface to be
cleaned, whereby the specifically higher surface pressure in the region of the
projections/the recess has the effect that even strongly adhered dirt can be
removed
without problem from the surface to be cleaned.
Preferably, all projections have a corresponding height or are of
corresponding
construction. With respect to manufacturing technology, this makes the
cleaning device
easy and cost efficient to manufacture.
The projections can have a height which corresponds to the height of the
recess.
With such a construction, the end surface of the projections opposite the
cleaning sponge
rests directly on the floor of the recess of the cleaning sponge, for example
with a small
elastic preload. During cleaning of a soiled surface, the increase of the
contact pressure by
the user is thereby directly and immediately transferred to the surface to be
cleaned.
Different heights of the projections and the recess are also possible,
depending on the
respective parameters of the application.
In top view of the cleaning sponge, the recess can be essentially square. A
good
size of the recess for many of the applications is about 4 x 4 inch. Different
therefrom , the
recess can also be rectangular or round when seen in plan view of the cleaning
sponge.
The size of the recess is respectively selected such that the specific surface
pressure with
which the projections and the cleaning sponge are forced onto the surface to
be cleaned in
this region is sufficiently large for a removal of even more strongly adhered
from the
surface to be cleaned without problem and with normal force input. Recesses
which in
plan view have a different shape, for example rectangular or round, can be
advantageous
for special applications.
The recess can be surrounded by an outer peripheral, circumferential and
continuous edge. It is thereby advantageous that the projections are also
surrounded at
their circumference by the edge. The projections thereby do not come into
direct contact
with surfaces to be cleaned and/or with sensitive baseboards during the
intended use.
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The recess can be tub shaped when viewed in the longitudinal section of the
cleaning sponge. The manufacturer of a tub shaped recess can be cost
efficiently carried
out, since more expensively manufactured sharp corners of the recess which are
however
unnecessary for the function can be avoided.
In contrast to the above described outer peripheral, circumferentially and
continuous edge of the recess, the recess when viewed in cross-section of the
cleaning
sponge, can be open at the longitudinal sides of the cleaning sponge. This
further
simplifies the manufacture. A sponge type, plate shaped semifinished product
can be
processed by a rotor or planar tool in such a way that it subsequently has one
recess over
the whole length which is open in the direction of working. Subsequent to the
manufacture
of the recess, the semifinished product is tailored. This is achieved in that
cleaning
sponges ready for use are cut out of the semifinished product; the
semifinished product is
cut to length, for example, transverse to the direction of working, so that a
cleaning sponge
ready for use is created. It is not disadvantageous for most applications when
the recess is
open in the region of the longitudinal sides of the cleaning sponge; the
manufacture is
however significantly simplified and clearly more cost efficient with such a
construction.
The ratio of the length of the cleaning sponge to the length of the recess is
preferably 3:1. Such a ratio is advantageous for the handling and function of
a cleaning
device. If the ratio were smaller, the cleaning surface of the cleaning sponge
under the
recess relative to the total cleaning surface of the cleaning sponge would be
too large and
the user could only insufficiently exert a contact pressure onto the cleaning
surface with
normal force input. In contrast, if the ratio would be larger, one would have
to wipe back
and forth many times for the cleaning of strongly soiled areas, because of the
only small
cleaning surface in the region of the recess, which would be disadvantageous
with respect
to a good, efficient cleaning of the surface to be cleaned.
The cleaning sponge and the recess are preferably symmetric to an imaginary
plane
transversely dissecting the cleaning sponge at half the length. The symmetry
supports a
simple handling of the cleaning device, since the properties of use of the
cleaning device
can be well predicted by the user because of its symmetry.
The ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge is
preferably 0.3 to 0.95.
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When the ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning
sponge is
close to 1, this means that the remaining height of the cleaning sponge
between the
cleaning surface of the cleaning sponge and the front end of the projections
is only very
small. Although it is advantageous that the force of the user can thereby be
exerted almost
directly onto the surface to be cleaned and without loss, it is however a
disadvantage that
the cleaning sponge in the region of its only small height is exposed to a
high mechanical
load and is thereby used up relatively fast and that the danger of damage to
the surface to
be cleaned exists in the case of damage to the cleaning sponge in the region
of the
projections.
For example, if the ratio is 1, the cleaning sponge has a cleaning cloth on
the
surface facing the surface to be cleaned, preferably made of micro-fibers,
whereby the
projection upon pressure onto the cleaning sponge then directly act on the
cleaning cloth.
It has proven advantageous for most applications when the ratio of the height
of
the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge is 0.5 to 0.75. In such an
embodiment, a
very good compromise is achieved between the increased cleaning performance in
the
region of the projections on the one hand and the durability of the cleaning
sponge in this
region on the other hand.
The recess is positioned in only a section of the cleaning sponge and that
section
forms a power zone with higher cleaning power, relative to the regions of the
cleaning
sponge adjacent to this section. It is thereby advantageous that the force
exerted by the
user, relative to the total cleaning surface, is exerted in a smaller section
so that a
specifically higher force acts onto the surface to be cleaned. Most strongly
adhered dirt
can thereby be removed well with the same force input. Furthermore, such an
embodiment
has the advantage that in the regions adjacent to this section the full height
of the cleaning
sponge is available and therefore a large volume which serves as a reservoir
for the
cleaning liquid.
The cleaning sponge can be made of polyurethane (PU). It is thereby
advantageous
that the cleaning sponge has a good durability even under strong mechanical
load.
According to another embodiment, it is possible that the cleaning sponge is
made
of polyvinylalchol (PVA). Instead, the cleaning sponge can be made, for
example, of
cellulose.
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PVA as well as cellulose have the advantage compared to cleaning sponges made
of PU that they can take up and store larger amounts of cleaning liquid and
that the
cleaning performance is improved compared to cleaning sponges made of PU.
5 The cleaning sponges consist, for example, only of cellulose or only of
polyurethane. It is however a disadvantage of this uniform material
construction of the
sponge, especially when the cleaning sponge is used in connection with a
winged mop,
that the cleaning sponge of cellulose in the dry condition is not bendable
without damage
or only with difficulty and that sponges made of polyurethane have only a
comparatively
low cleaning performance and therefore cannot take up dirt very well.
To overcome the mentioned disadvantages, the cleaning sponge includes at least
two partial cleaning sponges with a respective cleaning surface, whereby the
partial
cleaning sponges are made of mutually different materials and are positioned
side by side
as well as connected to one another, whereby the first partial cleaning sponge
has a higher
pliability than the second, respectively in the dry condition.
It is an advantage of such a construction that the cleaning sponge can be well
adapted to the respective parameters of the application and can be easily
handled in
connection with a winged mop. The winged mop is then easily handled even when
the
cleaning body is dry or substantially dry without damaging or destroying the
cleaning
sponge.
By functionally individualizing the cleaning sponge, the partial cleaning
sponges
are constructed such that they are respectively suited for the achievement of
the partial
tasks. The cleaning sponge is pliable especially well in the region of the
first partial
cleaning sponge, so that it can be used even in connection with a winged mop
and the
winged mop can be operated without problem even in the dry condition of the
cleaning
sponge, without destruction of or damage to the cleaning sponge.
The material of the second partial cleaning sponge can be adapted for an
especially
good cleaning performance, without having to take into consideration whether
or not it is
pliable in the dry condition.
An excellent function of the folding mechanism of a winged mop in the dry
condition is ensured with the first partial cleaning sponge, even when the
cleaning sponge
is dry or only slightly damp.
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The first partial cleaning sponge preferably consists of polyurethane (PU). It
is
thereby advantageous that the first partial cleaning sponge, irrespective
whether it is dry or
wet is always well pliable/foldable and therefore even in the dry or
substantially dry
condition does not negatively influence the function of the winged mop to
which the
cleaning sponge is connected, preferably for removal without damage. The
durability of
such a cleaning sponge is good, since polyurethane has a comparatively high
resistance
against mechanical loads, even when an increased contact force is exerted by
the user onto
the first partial cleaning sponge.
The second partial cleaning sponge preferably consists of cellulose in a first
preferred embodiment. It is thereby advantageous that the second partial
cleaning sponge
has good use properties with respect to its cleaning performance, since
cellulose takes up
soiling especially well. Although partial cleaning sponges made of cellulose
have only a
small pliability in the dry condition this is not disadvantageous in the
cleaning sponge in
accordance with the invention and during its application in a winged mop,
since the
significantly more flexible first partial cleaning sponge in the region of the
joint before the
wings is provided for the pliability.
According to a second preferred embodiment, the second partial cleaning sponge
is
made of a polyvinyl alcohol. In contrast to a second partial cleaning sponge
made of
cellulose, the second partial cleaning sponge consisting of PVA has the
advantage that the
pore size of the second partial cleaning sponge can be adjusted very well to
the respective
parameters of the application. The water absorption of PVA is furthermore
often
somewhat higher than the water absorption of cellulose.
The partial cleaning sponges are respectively made in one piece and of the one
material. Such a construction is of significant importance for the first
partial cleaning
sponge, since this ensures that each section of the first partial cleaning
sponge has the
same advantageous pliabiity; the disadvantages with respect to the flexibility
which would
result, for example, from a material mix in the first partial cleaning sponge
are thereby
avoided, for example, if the latter were constructed in layers from the
surface to be cleaned
towards the support body of the winged mop.
The respective cleaning sponges can be essentially shaped as a rectangular
prism
and connected with one another on their respectively opposite face surfaces.
The cleaning
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sponge is thereby divided into functional zones, whereby each functional zone
corresponds to a partial cleaning sponge.
According to an especially advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a
third
partial cleaning sponge is positioned on the end face of the first partial
cleaning sponge
directed away from the second partial cleaning sponge and connected with the
first partial
cleaning sponge. More preferably, the second and third partial cleaning sponge
are
constructed of corresponding shape and/or material. The handling is simplified
through the
symmetry of the cleaning sponge with respect to the first partial cleaning
sponge. For
different applications, it can be provided that the second and third cleaning
sponges are of
corresponding shape but are different from one another with respect to the
material. The
second partial cleaning sponge can thereby for example, have a more abrasive
cleaning
action than the third, whereby the third partial cleaning sponge, for example,
has larger
flexibility than the second partial cleaning sponge. The cleaning sponge is
thereby,
adapted to the respective parameters of the application. It is however also
possible to make
the second and third partial cleaning sponges of the same material, whereby
the shape is
different. For example, the second partial cleaning sponge could be rounded on
the end
face directed away from the first partial cleaning sponge, while the third
partial cleaning
sponge has corners on the end face directed away from the first partial
cleaning sponge.
Only the cleaning surface of the first cleaning sponge portion can have a
micro-
fiber wiping cover on the side directed away from the corresponding surface.
The wiping
cover is advantageous, since especially when the first cleaning sponge portion
is made of
PU, it has only a comparatively small cleaning power relative to cellulose. In
order to
combine the excellent flexibility of the PU material of the first cleaning
sponge portion on
the one hand with a good cleaning power on the other hand, the micro-fiber
wiping cover
is advantageous. The micro-fiber wiping cover is in the form of a cloth and
has a
negligibly small thickness compared to the thickness of the first cleaning
sponge portion,
so that the flexibility of the first cleaning sponge portion is not negatively
affected by the
use of the micro-fiber cleaning cover.
The cleaning cover can, for example, also be made of a material other than
micro-
fiber. When it is necessary to use a material which is more abrasive, a wiping
cover can be
used which is made of one part micro-fiber and one part viscose.
According to another embodiment, the cleaning sponge can be constructed in
layers and include at least two layers which extend extensionally parallel to
the supporting
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body. Such a layer construction is simply and cost efficiently manufactured.
Furthermore,
a comparatively large cleaning surfaces made available which because of its
unitary
material provides overall corresponding cleaning properties.
One of the layers can be made of PU and one of the layers of cellulose.
Generally
different therefrom, layers of other materials are also possible, depending on
the
application.
Preferably, the layer directed towards the supporting body is made of PU; as a
result, the layer directed towards the surface to be cleaned would be made of
cellulose.
Cellulose has the advantage that it can take up and store larger amounts of
cleaning
fluid and that it has an improved cleaning performance, relative to a cleaning
surface made
of PU.
The cleaning sponge can consist, for example, of 50% PU and 50 of cellulose.
Such a cleaning sponge has good all around properties.
A differing percentage-wise distribution can be provided for special
applications.
The recess is preferably positioned only in the layer directed towards the
supporting body and further preferably formed as a cutout. It is hereby
advantageous that
such a cleaning sponge can be easily and cost efficiently manufactured. The
recess formed
as cutout is, for example, cost efficiently and easily stamped out of the
upper layer of the
cleaning sponge.
The lower layer in contrast remains without recess/cutout.
The layers can be adhered to one another on their respectively opposing sides.
Such an adhesion is easily and cost efficiently carried out.
The supporting body has at least two wings which are foldably connected with
one
another by a hinge-type joint, whereby the joint is positioned exclusively in
the region of
the surface of the first cleaning sponge portion. A winged mop with such a
cleaning
sponge has the advantage that the folding mechanism of the winged mop
functions well
even when the cleaning sponge is dry or only slightly dampened. This is
achieved in that
the first cleaning sponge portion of the cleaning mop has a good pliability
which is at least
substantially consistent, irrespective of whether the first cleaning sponge
portion is dry,
damp or wet.
In such a construction, the material PU is especially advantageous for the
first
cleaning sponge portion, since PU has a significantly higher tear strength
than cellulose
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which results in a higher durability for the cleaning sponge even under high
mechanical
load by the projections.
The support body is preferably made of a polymeric material. It is thereby
advantageous that such a support body has only a small mass and is resistant
to a plurality
of cleaning liquids.
The projections can be a unitary component of and made of the same material as
the support body. Such a construction is of noticeable advantage with respect
to a simple
and cost effective manufacture of the surface cleaning device, since the whole
support
body including its projections can be made in one process step.
When the projections are made of an elastomeric material, their elastic
flexibility is
achieved by the elastomeric material itself. In contrast, when the projections
are made in
one piece with and of the same material as the support body, the projections
can, for
example, in a portion of their axial extent be bellows-shaped and can take up
forces which
are too high and disadvantageously high for the surface to be cleaned by
elastic
deformation.
The support body and the cleaning sponge are preferably connected to be
disconnected without damage. It is hereby advantageous that the support body
and the
cleaning sponge can be respectively recycled true to type. The cleaning
sponge, which is
subject to a higher wear than the support body, can also be exchanged without
problem by
way of the above described construction. The connection between support body
and
cleaning sponge can be force and/or form fitting. One possible fastening
arrangement is a
hook and loop closure with which the cleaning sponge is fastened to the
support body.
On the side directed away from the cleaning sponge, the support body can be
provided with a handle. The surface cleaning device thereby has the shape of a
mop or
broom and can be used by the user for the effortless cleaning of floors.
A further improved handling of the surface cleaning device can be achieved in
that
the support body and the handle are movably connected with one another by way
of a
joint. The support body and the handle can thereby be moved cardanically in
relation to
one another, for example.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Exemplary embodiments of the cleaning device in accordance with the invention
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are further described in the following by way of the Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4
as well as 5.
In schematic illustration,
Fig. 1 shows a cross-section C-D through the cleaning device according
5 to Figure 2,
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section A-B through the cleaning device of Figure 1,
Fig. 3 shows a section G-H through the cleaning device according
to Figure 4,
Fig. 4 shows a cross-section E-F through the cleaning device according
10 to Figure 3,
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through a further cleaning device.
Detailed Description of the Invention
An exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In
both exemplary embodiments, seven stamp-shaped projections 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.7
are
provided which are positioned in a single, common recess 4 in the cleaning
sponge 2. The
projections 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.7 are of corresponding construction and height.
The height of the
projections 3.1, 3.2, ...3.7 corresponds to the height of the recess 4,
whereby the recess 4
in the two illustrated exemplary embodiments is rectangular as illustrated in
Fig. 2 or
square as illustrated in Fig. 4. In both exemplary embodiments, the recess 4,
viewed in
longitudinal section of the cleaning sponge 2, is tub shaped, whereby the
ratio of the
length 10 of the cleaning sponge 2 to the length 11 of the recess 4 is about
3:1 in both
exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, the cleaning sponge 2 and the recess 4 are
constructed symmetrical to an imaginary plane 12 transversely cross-sectioning
the
cleaning sponge 2 at half the length 10, whereby the portion 14 of the
cleaning device is
constructed as a power zone with increasing cleaning performance.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the recess 4 is constructed tub
shaped
when viewed in the illustrated longitudinal section of the cleaning sponge 2.
This provides
an especially good compressibility of the cleaning sponge 2 in the sub-area 14
between the
front end of the projections 3.1, 3.2 ...3.7, in order to guarantee a thorough
cleaning of the
surface 15 to be cleaned.
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The recess in this exemplary embodiment is surrounded by an outer peripheral,
continuous edge 7, but can also be open, as shown in Fig. 4, in the region of
the
longitudinal sides 8, 9.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the support body 1 is connected with
the
handle 29 by a cardanic joint 30 and is therefore useable as a floor cleaning
device.
In the sub-area 14 in which the projections 3.1, 3.2, ... 3.7 are placed
within the
recess 4, the cleaning surface 34 of the cleaning sponge 2 is provided with a
micro-fiber
wiping cover 28.
Figure 2 illustrates the cross-section A-B from Figure 1. The seven
projections 3.1,
3.2 ... 3.7 are shown in cross-section within the recess 4.
The exemplary embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is distinguished from the
exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in that the cleaning sponge 2 includes
3 partial
cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23, which respectively have cleaning surfaces 18, 19,
35,
whereby the partial cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23 are made of respectively
different
materials and are positioned side-by-side and connected with one another. The
first partial
cleaning sponge 16 consists of PU and has a higher flexibility than the second
17 and the
third partial cleaning sponge 23, respectively in the dry condition. The
second and third
partial cleaning sponges 17, 23 respectively consist of cellulose and are
correspondingly
constructed with respect to shape and material.
The first partial cleaning sponge 16 has the above mentioned sub-area 14,
whereby
only the cleaning surface 18 of the first partial cleaning sponge 16 has a
micro-fiber
cleaning cover 28 on the side directed away from the surface 27. The cleaning
device of
Figures 3 and 4 is constructed as a winged mop, whereby the support body 1 has
two
wings 24, 25 which are foldably connected with one another by a first hinge-
type joint 26.
The first joint 26 is exclusively positioned in the region of the surface 27
of the first partial
cleaning sponge 16.
In this exemplary embodiment, the recess 4 is open in the region of the
longitudinal sides 8, 9 of the cleaning sponge, but can also be surrounded by
an outer
peripheral, continuous edge 7, as shown in Fig. 2.
The construction of the cleaning sponge in accordance with the invention can
be
used not only for support bodies which are foldable about an axis transverse
to the
longitudinal axis of the support body (as illustrated). Support bodies which
have a joint
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that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis or corresponds to the
longitudinal axis can
also be provided with the cleaning sponge; the three partial cleaning sponges
then extend,
for example, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support body.
A further exemplary embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the cleaning
sponge 2 is constructed in layers and has at least two layers 36, 37. The
layers 36, 37
extend parallel to the supporting body 1.
The layer 36 directed towards the supporting body consists of PU and the layer
37
directed away from the supporting body of cellulose.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the cleaning sponge 2 consists
of
50% PU and 50% cellulose, whereby the recess 4 is positioned only in the layer
36
directed towards the supporting body 1. The recess 4 is constructed as a
cutout so that it
can be cost efficiently produced, for example by stamping out.
The layers 36, 37 are adhered with one another on their respectively opposing
sides.
The illustrated cleaning device can be used, for example, as floor, wall
and/or
window cleaning device.
