Floor cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device comprising a flat cleaning head (1) which is guided on a stick whereby the underside of the cleaning head is covered with interchangeable cleaning textile material (5) which is provided on the end thereof with fixing lugs (4) which protrude above the underside of the cleaning head (1) and which when upwardly folded extend as far as the topside of the cleaning head (1) and can be secured in clamping slits (3) arranged therein. In order to be able to use the inventive floor cleaning device for wet-wiping purposes, the cleaning textile material (5) is formed by a machine-washable cleaning plush material (6) on the lower area of the cleaning head (1), whereby the right-hand threads (7) or loops thereof protrude downwards in the direction of the surface which is to be cleaned. A needled felt water-storage layer (8) is disposed above the cleaning plush material (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a floor cleaning device comprising a flat cleaning head which is guided on a stick, the underside of which is covered by an interchangeable cleaning textile material, which is provided on the edges thereof with attachment tabs which protrude above the underside of the cleaning head and which when upwardly folded extend as far as the topside of the cleaning head and can be grasped in clamping slits arranged therein.

[0002] In the case of cleaning devices known according to the state of the art, of the type stated, the cleaning textile material is configured as a thin and light dust cloth, which consists of a thin nonwoven fabric having dust-attracting properties, which is disposed of, as a whole, after use. A particular advantage of such floor cleaning devices is that the effort for attaching the cleaning textile material on the cleaning head is understandably slight. This is because merely the attachment tabs which protrude above the underside of the cleaning head are provided for attachment, which when upwardly folded extend as far as the topside of the cleaning head and can be grasped in clamping slits arranged therein. This simple method of attachment presupposes, however, that the cleaning textile material is very light, so that the relatively low holding forces are sufficient to fix the cleaning textile material in place on the cleaning head, with sufficient firmness.

[0003] According to the state of the art, floor mopping covers are also known that are stretched over a stretching frame guided on a stick, as a stretched cover. Such a stretched cover has a heavy cleaning textile material that extends beyond the stretching frame to all sides, which consists of machine-washable material, in most cases, and at the top of which stretching pockets are provided, into which the stretching frame engages. The cleaning textile material and the stretching pockets must, of course, be structured to be very robust and tear-resistant, so that they are not torn apart by the stretching forces when they are stretched onto the stretching frame. Accordingly, the production of floor mopping covers for such stretching frames is complicated and expensive.

[0004] It is the task of the invention to further develop the floor cleaning device of the type stated initially, in simple manner, so that it is suitable for wet mopping work.

[0005] To accomplish this task, the invention proposes, proceeding from the floor cleaning device of the type stated initially, that the cleaning textile material is formed by a machine-washable cleaning plush material on the lower area of the cleaning head, whereby the pile threads or loops protrude downwards in the direction of the surface which is to be cleaned.

[0006] Since, in the case of the floor cleaning device according to the invention, the cleaning plush material suitable for wet mopping work is covered by the cleaning head over its entire surface area, the horizontal forces that occur during the wet mopping work are introduced directly into the cleaning head over the entire cleaning surface, without putting stress on the attachment pockets. The attachment pockets must therefore carry the weight of the cleaning textile material and any water absorbed by the cleaning textile material only when the cleaning head is lifted up. In contrast to the stretch covers known from the state of the art, the cleaning textile material does not have to absorb any stretching forces. For this reason, the cleaning textile material can be fixed in place on the cleaning head or released from it in simple manner, just like a light dust cloth. Because the cleaning plush material is machine-washable, the cleaning textile material of the floor cleaning device according to the invention is reusable, so that less waste that must be disposed of occurs.

[0007] In order to be able to absorb more water, if necessary, and in order to improve the cleaning effect, it is furthermore provided that the cleaning textile material is configured in at least two layers below the cleaning head, and has a water-storage layer above the cleaning plush material. This water-storage layer can absorb additional water. Because the cleaning head presses on the entire cleaning surface from above, this water can easily be pressed out of the water-storage layer, in order to support the cleaning work. In contrast, if the pressure on the cleaning head is relieved, the water-storage layer picks up dirty water from the floor, to the same extent.

[0008] The water-storage layer has particularly good storage and absorption properties if it is configured as a needled felt. It is practical if this needled felt consists of viscose fibers, which are known to be particularly absorbent. Alternatively, the water-storage layer can also consist of sponge material.

[0009] It is practical if the layers of the cleaning textile material are sewn together, whereby the cleaning textile material is given a certain stiffness. This stiffness is useful, because this makes it easier to distribute the forces that are exerted on the cleaning textile material by the cleaning head.

[0010] It is practical if the attachment tabs that protrude beyond the cleaning textile material consist of a soft, tear-resistant nonwoven fabric, which is sewn together with the needled felt and the cleaning plush material. This soft, tear-resistant nonwoven fabric can be pressed into the clamping slits of the cleaning head, to attach the cleaning textile material on the cleaning head, in simple manner, and can be pulled out of them again without being damaged.

[0011] The cleaning plush material itself can consist, for example, of cotton fibers and/or viscose fibers. These fibers are particularly absorbent. Alternatively, the cleaning plush material can also consist of suitable synthetic fibers, preferably of cleaning-active microfibers. Such microfibers are known to have a particularly great cleaning strength.

[0012] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, using the drawings. These show:

[0013] FIG. 1 a top view of the cleaning head, with the cleaning textile material attached to it, from above;

[0014] FIG. 2 a cross-section along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

[0015] In the drawings, the cleaning head, which is structured as a hollow plastic box, is referred to in its totality with the reference symbol. It is provided on its topside with a connector 2 for a stick, not shown, with which the cleaning head can be guided over the floor.

[0016] In addition, the cleaning head 1 is provided, on its topside, with clamping slits 3 to hold attachment tabs 4 of a cleaning textile material 5, which is arranged below the cleaning head. The cleaning textile material 5 has a cleaning plush material 6 below the cleaning head 1, the pile threads of loops of which protrude downwards in the direction of the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning plush material 6 can consist, for example, of cotton fibers and/or viscose fibers, which make the cleaning plush material particularly absorbent. Alternatively, the cleaning plush material 6 can also consist of synthetic fibers, specifically of cleaning-active microfibers, which give the cleaning plush material 6 a particularly good cleaning capacity.

[0017] Above the cleaning plush material 6, in other words between the cleaning plush material 6 and the underside of the cleaning head 1, a water-storage layer 8 configured as a needled felt is provided, which is sewn together with the cleaning plush material 6 by means of seams 9. The needled felt, which is provided as the water-storage layer 8, preferably consists of viscose fibers, which are particularly absorbent. Alternatively, it can also consist of sponge material, for example of a viscose sponge.

[0018] The attachment tabs 4, which consist of a particularly tear-resistant but soft polyester nonwoven fabric, are sewn in between the cleaning plush material 6 and the water-storage layer 8, and protrude beyond the underside of the cleaning head 1 towards the sides. As is evident from the drawing, they are folded up as far as the topside of the cleaning head 1, in order to attach the cleaning textile material 5 on the cleaning head 1, and there they can be clamped in place in the clamping slits 3 located there.

Claims

1. Floor cleaning device comprising a flat cleaning head (1) which is guided on a stick, the underside of which is covered by an interchangeable cleaning textile material (5), which is provided on the edges thereof with attachment tabs (4) which protrude above the underside of the cleaning head (1) and which when upwardly folded extend as far as the topside of the cleaning head (1) and can be grasped in clamping slits (3) arranged therein, characterized in that

the cleaning textile material (5) is formed by a machine-washable cleaning plush material (6) on the lower area of the cleaning head (1), whereby the pile threads (7) or loops protrude downwards in the direction of the surface which is to be cleaned.

2. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning textile material (5) is configured in at least two layers below the cleaning head (1), and has a water-storage layer (8) above the cleaning plush material (6).

3. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-storage layer (8) is configured as a needled felt.

4. Floor cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that the needled felt consists of viscose fibers.

5. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the water-storage layer (8) consists of sponge material.

6. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the layers (6, 8) of the cleaning textile material (5) are sewn together with one another by means of seams (9).

7. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the protruding attachment tabs (3) consist of a soft, tear-resistant nonwoven fabric, which is sewn together with the water-storage layer (8) and the cleaning plush material (6).

8. Floor cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that the tear-resistant nonwoven fabric consists of polyester fibers.

9. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning plush material (6) consists of cotton fibers and/or viscose fibers.

10. Floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning plush material (6) consists of synthetic fibers.

11. Floor cleaning device according to claim 10, characterized in that the cleaning plush material (6) consists of cleaning-active microfibers.