Surface Cleaning Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface cleaning device, comprising a support body (1), connected to a cleaning sponge (2), whereby the support body (1) has at least one plunger-shaped projection (3) on the side thereof facing the cleaning sponge (2), which is arranged in a corresponding recess (4) in the cleaning sponge (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a surface cleaning device.

Surface cleaning devices are known in general, and they comprise, for example, a carrier body, which is connected to a cleaning sponge. The cleaning sponge consists, for example, of PU foam with constant firmness and with a cuboid shape.

As a result of the constant firmness throughout the entire cleaning sponge, and the cuboid design, the contact pressure that needs to be applied by the user to the surface cleaning device is of substantially the same magnitude over the entire area of the cleaning surface of the cleaning foam. To remove more resistant soiling on the surface to be cleaned requires frequent back and forth wiping, and a strong increase of the force applied by the user to the cleaning foam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of further developing a surface cleaning device of the type mentioned in the introduction so that more resistant soiling on parts of the surface to be cleaned can be removed more rapidly and/or more easily with the application of less force by the user.

This problem is solved according to the invention with the characteristics of claim 1. The dependent claims refer to advantageous designs.

To solve the problem, a surface cleaning device is provided, which comprises a carrier body that is connected to a cleaning sponge, where, on the side turned toward the cleaning sponge, the carrier body presents at least a plunger-shaped projection, which is arranged in a congruently shaped recess of the cleaning sponge. Here, it is advantageous that the projection that is turned toward the surface to be cleaned present a smaller separation from the surface to be cleaned than the adjoining areas of the carrier body; in other words: the cleaning sponge presents a height, between the surface to be cleaned and the projection, which is smaller than the height of the cleaning sponge in the areas that are adjacent to and abut the projection.

If the surface cleaning device according to the invention is to be used to remove resistant soiling from the surface to be cleaned, this can be achieved in a comparatively simple way by the user having to apply, with only slightly increased effort, pressure via the carrier body and the cleaning sponge to the surface to be cleaned. Because the height of the cleaning sponge between the surface to be cleaned and the front side of the projection that is turned toward the surface to be cleaned is smaller than the total height of the cleaning sponge, a slightly increased effort is sufficient to allow application in the area of the projection of a specific higher contact pressure to the surface to be cleaned, where this specific higher surface compression has the effect in the area of the projection that even resistant soiling can be removed without problem from the surface to be cleaned.

The ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge is smaller than or equal to 1. It is preferred for the ratio to be 0.3-0.95, and more advantageous for it to be 0.5-0.75. If 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 side of the projection is only very small. Although it is advantageous that, as a result, the force of the user can be applied almost directly and without loss to the surface area to be cleaned, the disadvantage by comparison is that the cleaning sponge in the area of its only very small height is exposed to high mechanical stress, and as a result wears relatively rapidly, and, in the case of damage to the cleaning sponge in the area in the area [sic] of the projection, there is a risk of damaging the surface to be cleaned.

If the ratio is equal to 1, then the cleaning sponge, on the side turned toward the surface to be cleaned, presents a cleaning towel, preferably made of microfibers, where the projections can then act directly on the cleaning towel, if pressure is applied to the cleaning sponge.

For most application cases it has been shown to be advantageous if the ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge is 0.5-0.75. Such a design ensures a very good compromise between the increased cleaning efficiency in the area of the projection, on the one hand, and the durability of the cleaning sponge in this area, on the other hand.

In an advantageous design, the cleaning sponge presents a plurality of recesses, where a projection is arranged in each of the recesses.

According to a first design, the recesses can be arranged in a regular distribution over the upper surface of the cleaning sponge that is turned toward the carrier body. The surface of the surface cleaning device, which covers the projections, is relatively large, wherein the force that is exerted onto the surface cleaning device is distributed over the plurality of the projections, and as a result, with respect to each individual projection, with constant effort, only a comparatively small force can be exerted on the surface to be cleaned.

According to another design, it is possible to arrange the recesses in only a partial area of the cleaning sponge, and for the partial area to form a power zone with increased cleaning effectiveness with respect to the areas of the cleaning sponge that abut the partial area. The advantage here is that the force is applied by the user to the smaller partial area, with respect to the total cleaning surface, and as a result a specific higher force is applied effectively to the surface to be cleaned. Even more resistant soiling can, as a result, be removed with the same effort. In addition, such a design has the advantage that, in the areas that abut the partial area, the entire height of the cleaning sponge, and thus a large volume, is available as reservoir for the cleaning fluid.

The cleaning sponge can be made of polyurethane (PU). Here, it is advantageous for the cleaning sponge to present good durability even if exposed to strong mechanical stress.

According to another design, it is possible for the cleaning sponge to be made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Instead, it is also possible to make the cleaning sponge of cellulose, for example.

Compared to cleaning sponges made of PU, both PVA and cellulose present the advantage that they can absorb larger quantities of cleaning fluid and store them, and the cleaning effectiveness is improved compared to cleaning sponges made of PU.

The cleaning sponges are made, for example, entirely of cellulose or entirely of polyurethane.

However, in case the design of the sponge uses only one material, the disadvantage is particularly that, if the cleaning sponge is used in connection with a mop with wings, a cleaning sponge made of cellulose, in the dry state, can be bent only with difficulty, or not at all without being destroyed, and that sponges made of polyurethane present only a comparatively low cleaning effectiveness and therefore are not particularly well suited to absorb soiling.

To avoid the mentioned drawbacks, the cleaning sponge comprises at least two partial cleaning sponges, each with a cleaning surface, where the partial cleaning sponges, which are made of different materials, are arranged next to each other and connected to each other, and where the first partial cleaning sponge presents a greater flexibility than the second one, in each case in the dry state.

The advantage of such a design is that the cleaning sponge can be adapted well to the given circumstances of an application case, and can be suitably used together with a mop with wings. The mop with wings can also be operated well if the cleaning body is dry or largely dry, without the cleaning sponge being damaged or destroyed.

As a result of the cleaning sponge being individualized in terms of operational technology, the partial cleaning sponges are designed in such a way that they are in each case suited particularly well for solving given partial problems. The cleaning sponge, in the area of the first partial cleaning sponge, is particularly flexible, so that it can also be used well in connection with a mop with wings, and the mop with wings can also be operated without problem in the dry state of the cleaning sponge without the cleaning sponge being damaged or destroyed. The material of the second partial cleaning sponge can be selected with a view to a particularly good cleaning effectiveness without having to take into account whether it is flexible or not in the dry state.

Using the first partial cleaning sponge in the dry state, an excellent functioning of the flap mechanism of a mop with wings is ensured even if the cleaning sponge is dry or only slightly moistened.

The first partial cleaning sponge is preferably made of polyurethane (PU). The advantage here is that the first partial cleaning sponge made of polyurethane is always very flexible/foldable regardless of whether it is dry or wet, and as a result it does not have a negative effect, even in the dry or largely dry state, on the functioning of a mop with wings, to which the cleaning sponge is attached in a detachable, preferably destruction free, manner. The durability of such a partial cleaning sponge is good because polyurethane presents a comparatively high resistance against mechanical stress, even if an increased contact pressure is applied by the user to the first partial cleaning sponge.

The second partial cleaning sponge preferably consists, according to a first advantageous design, of cellulose. Here, the advantage is that the second partial cleaning sponge presents good usage properties with regard to its cleaning effectiveness because cellulose absorbs soiling particularly well. Although partial cleaning sponges made of cellulose, in the dry state, present only a very low flexibility, this does not have a disadvantageous effect on the cleaning sponge according to the invention and its use in a mop with wings because, for flexibility, the substantially more flexible first partial cleaning sponge is provided.

According to a second advantageous design, the second partial cleaning sponge is made of polyvinyl alcohol. In contrast to a second partial cleaning sponge made of cellulose, the second partial cleaning sponge made of PVA has the advantage that the pore size of the second partial cleaning sponge can be adapted very well to the given circumstances of the application case. In addition, the absorption of PVA is frequently somewhat higher than the water uptake of cellulose.

The partial cleaning sponge[s] are in each case designed as a single piece and of a single material. Such a design is of decisive importance particularly for the first partial cleaning sponge, because it ensures that each partial area of this first partial cleaning sponge presents the same advantageous flexibility; consequently it prevents drawbacks with regard to flexibility, which would result, for example, from using a mixture of materials for the first partial cleaning sponge, because, for example, the latter would be constructed in layers from the surface to be cleaned in the direction toward the carrier body of the mop with wings.

In each case, the partial cleaning sponges can be designed to be substantially cuboid, and they can be connected to each other in each case on their mutually facing front sides. As a result, the cleaning sponge is subdivided overall in functional zones, where each functional zone corresponds to a partial cleaning sponge.

In a particularly advantageous design, a third partial cleaning sponge is arranged on the frontal side of the first partial cleaning sponge, which side is turned away from the second partial cleaning sponge, and the third sponge is connected to the first partial cleaning sponge. It is also advantageous for the second and the third partial cleaning sponges to be designed so that they agree in terms of shape and/or material. The handling is simplified by the symmetry of the cleaning sponge with respect to the first cleaning sponge. For different application cases, the second and the third cleaning sponges may agree in terms of their shape, yet present mutually different designs with regard to the material. The second partial cleaning sponge, as a result, could exhibit, for example, a more abrasive cleaning action than the third sponge, while the third partial cleaning sponge could exhibit, for example, a greater flexibility than the second partial cleaning sponge. As a result, the cleaning sponge is adapted to the given circumstances of the application case. However, it is also possible to use the same material for the second and the third partial cleaning sponge, but a different design. For example, the second partial cleaning sponge could be rounded on the front side which is turned away from the first partial cleaning sponge, while the third partial cleaning sponge, on the other hand, could present an angular design of the frontal side which is turned away from the first partial cleaning sponge.

Only the cleaning surface of the first partial cleaning sponge may exhibit a microfiber wiping trimming on the side that is turned away from the corresponding upper surface. The wiping trimming is advantageous, especially if the first partial cleaning sponge is made of PU, which exhibits a comparatively lower cleaning effectiveness with respect to cellulose. To combine, on the other hand, the excellent flexibility of the PU material of the first partial cleaning sponge with, on the other hand, a good cleaning effectiveness, it is advantageous to use the microfiber wiping trimming. The microfiber wiping trimming is in the shape of a towel, and it presents, with respect to the thickness of the first partial cleaning sponge, a negligibly small thickness, so that the flexibility of the first partial cleaning sponge is not affected by the use of the microfiber wiping trimming.

The wiping trimming can be made, for example, of a material that is not a microfiber. If a material with stronger abrasive action is required, a wiping trimming can be used which is made in part of microfibers and in part of viscose.

The carrier body comprises two flaps, which are connected to each other in a manner which allows folding, by means of an articulation designed like a hinge, where the articulation is arranged exclusively in the area of the upper surface of the first partial cleaning sponge. A mop with wings that has such a cleaning sponge has the advantage that the folding mechanism of the mop with wings also functions well if the cleaning sponge is dry or moistened only slightly. This is achieved by the fact that the first partial cleaning sponge of the mop with wings exhibits a flexibility, which is at least largely consistently satisfactory regardless of whether the first partial cleaning sponge is dry, moist or wet.

Particularly in such a design, using the material PU for the first partial cleaning sponge is particularly advantageous because PU presents a substantially higher elongation at break than cellulose, which results in an improved durability for the cleaning sponge even in case of high mechanical stressing by the nap.

The carrier body is made advantageously of a polymer material. It is advantageous for such a carrier body to have a low weight and to be resistant against many cleaning fluids.

The projections can form a component that is formed as a single piece with, and of the same material as, the carrier body. With regard to a simple and cost effective manufacture of the surface cleaning device, such a design is advantageous, because the entire carrier body including its projections can be manufactured in a single workstep.

According to another design, the projections can be made of an elastomer material. Such projections can be connected by positive and/or nonpositive connection to a support plate of the carrier body. Projections made of an elastomer material have the advantage of automatic force limitation, so that, in spite of the advantages of the increased cleaning effectiveness, and with a comparatively small effort, the risk of damaging the surface to be cleaned in case of excessive effort is minimized.

The above described force limitation can be achieved by designing the projections so that they are elastically yielding in the axial direction.

If the projections are made of an elastomer material, this elastic resilience is due to the elastomer material itself. If, on the other hand, the projections are a component that is formed as a single piece with, and of the same material as, the carrier body, then the projections can be designed, for example, so that they are in the shape of bellows in a partial area of their axial extent, and can absorb excessively high forces, which are disadvantageously high for the surface to be cleaned, by elastic deformation.

The carrier body and the cleaning sponge are advantageously connected to each other in a detachable, destruction-free, manner. Here the advantage is that the carrier body and the cleaning sponge can each be individually recycled. The cleaning sponge, which is subject to greater wear than the carrier body, can also be replaced without problem by the above-described embodiment. The connection between the carrier body and the cleaning sponge can be a positive and/or nonpositive connection. A possible fastening device consists of a velcro fastener, which attaches the cleaning sponge to the carrier body.

On the side turned away from the cleaning sponge, the carrier body can present a handle. The surface cleaning device, as a result, is in the form of a mop or a broom, and it can be used by the user for effortless cleaning of floors.

The handling of the surface cleaning device can be improved further if the carrier body and the handle are connected by linkage with an articulation. The carrier body and the handle, as a result, can be moved with respect to each other as in a universal joint, for example.

The cleaning sponge can be covered by a microfiber wiping trimming in at least a partial area of the side that is turned away from the carrier body.

Such a microfiber wiping trimming is advantageous to improve cleaning effectiveness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Two embodiment examples of the surface cleaning device according to the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as 3 and 4.

The figures show, in a schematic representation:

FIG. 1 is a cross section C-D through the surface cleaning device according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 is a cross section A-B through the surface cleaning device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross section G-H through the surface cleaning device according to FIG. 4, and

FIG. 4 is a cross section E-F through the surface cleaning device according to FIG. 3.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment example of a surface cleaning device is shown. The surface cleaning device is suitable for cleaning floors, particularly floors presenting differently resistant soiling. The surface cleaning device according to the invention presents a carrier body 1 made of a polymer material, which presents seven plunger-shaped projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 on the side which is turned toward the cleaning sponge 2 in the embodiment example shown here, which projections extend from the support plate 13 of the carrier body 1 axially in the direction of the surface 14 to be cleaned. The projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 are arranged in a corresponding number of congruently shaped recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 of the cleaning sponge 2.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through the surface cleaning device according to the invention along the line C-D of FIG. 2. The ratio of the height 5 of the recesses 4.1, 4.1, 4.3 to the height 6 of the cleaning sponge 2 is approximately 0.75 in the embodiment example represented here.

The recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 are arranged only in the partial area 8 of the cleaning sponge, where this partial area 8 is designed as a so-called power zone with increased cleaning effectiveness. With respect to the areas 9 of the cleaning sponge that abut the partial area 8, as a result of an increased axial contact pressure of the surface cleaning device on the surface 14 to be cleaned in the partial area 8, a higher specific contact pressure can be applied to the surface to be cleaned because—in the sense of a transmission ratio—a comparatively slightly higher force applied by the user onto the carrier body 1 results in a considerably greater specific contact pressure on the surface to be cleaned in the partial area 8.

In the embodiment examples shown here, the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 are designed as dummy holes. The internal diameter of the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7 is slightly larger than the external diameter of the projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7. As a result, a good compressibility of the cleaning sponge between the front-side ends of the projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 and the surface 14 to be cleaned is guaranteed.

In the embodiment example shown here, the carrier body 1 is connected by means of a universal joint-like articulation 11 to the handle 10, and as a result can be used as a floor cleaning device.

In the partial area 8, in which the projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 are arranged in the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7, the cleaning surface 15 of the cleaning sponge 2 is provided with a microfiber wiping trimming 12.

In FIG. 2, the cross section A-B from FIG. 1 is represented. The seven projections 3.1, 3.2, . . . 3.7 are shown in cross section inside the recesses 4.1, 4.2, . . . 4.7, where the partial area 8, which is covered by the microfiber wiping trimming 12 in the embodiment example shown here, is drawn with broken lines.

The embodiment example from FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the embodiment example from FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the cleaning sponge 2 presents three partial cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23, which respectively present cleaning surfaces 18, 19, 28, where the partial cleaning sponges 16, 17, 23 consist of different materials, and are arranged next to each other and are connected to each other. The first partial cleaning sponge 16 is made of PU, and it presents a greater flexibility than the second 17 and the third partial cleaning sponge 23, each in the dry state. The second and the third partial cleaning sponges 17, 23 are each made of cellulose, and their structure agrees with regard to shape and material.

The first partial cleaning sponge 16 presents the above-mentioned partial area 8, where only the cleaning surface 18 of the first partial cleaning sponge 16 presents a microfiber wiping trimming 12 on the side turned away from the upper surface 7. The surface cleaning device from FIGS. 3 and 4 is designed as a mop with wings, where the carrier body 1 presents two flaps 24, 25, which are connected to each other in such a manner that they can be folded with an articulation 26 designed like a hinge. The articulation 26 is arranged exclusively in the area of the upper surface 27 of the first partial cleaning sponge 16.

The design according to the invention of the cleaning sponge can be used not only for support bodies that can be folded about an axis traverse to the longitudinal axis of the carrier body (as represented here). Support bodies that present an articulation that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis or that corresponds to the longitudinal axis can also be provided with a cleaning sponge; the two partial cleaning sponges/three partial cleaning sponges then extend, for example, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier body.

Claims

1. Surface cleaning device comprising a carrier body, which is connected to a cleaning sponge, where the carrier body presents at least one plunger-shaped projection on the side turned toward the cleaning sponge, which projection is arranged in a congruently shaped recess of the cleaning sponge, where the cleaning sponge comprises at least two partial cleaning sponges, each with a cleaning surface, where the partial cleaning sponges, which are made of different materials, are arranged next to each other and connected to each other, where the first partial cleaning sponge presents a greater flexibility than the second one, each in the dry state.

2. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the height of the recess to the height of the cleaning sponge is less than or equal to 1.

3. Surface cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is 0.3-0.95.

4. Surface cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is 0.5-0.75.

5. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning sponge presents a plurality of recesses, where a projection is arranged in each one of the recesses.

6. Surface cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the recesses are arranged with regular distribution over the upper surface of the cleaning sponge, which is turned toward the carrier body.

7. Surface cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the recesses are arranged only in a partial area of the cleaning sponge, and in that the partial area forms a power zone with increased cleaning effectiveness with respect to the areas of the cleaning sponge that border the partial area.

8. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning sponge is made of polyurethane.

9. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning sponge is made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

10. Surface cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the partial area is a component of the first partial cleaning sponge.

11. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein only the first partial cleaning sponge is made of polyurethane (PU).

12. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the second partial cleaning sponge is made of cellulose.

13. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the partial cleaning sponges are each constructed as a single piece and of the same material.

14. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the partial cleaning sponges each present a substantially cuboid design, and they are connected to each other by their, in each case mutually facing, front sides.

15. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein on the front side of the first partial cleaning sponge, which is turned away from the second partial cleaning sponge, a third partial cleaning sponge is arranged and is connected to the first partial cleaning sponge.

16. Surface cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein the second and the third partial cleaning sponge are designed so they agree with regard to shape and/or material.

17. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein only the cleaning surface of the first partial cleaning sponge presents a microfiber wiping trimming on the side turned away from the upper surface.

18. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier body presents at least two flaps, which are connected to each other in such a way that they can be folded by an articulation designed like a hinge, where the articulation is arranged exclusively in the area of the surface of the first partial cleaning sponge.

19. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier body is made of a polymer material.

20. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the projections form a component of the carrier body, which component forms a single piece with the carrier body and is made of the same material.

21. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the projections are made of an elastomer material.

22. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the projections are designed so that they are elastically resilient in the axial direction.

23. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier body and the cleaning sponge are connected to each other in a detachable and destruction-free manner.

24. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier body presents a handle on the side turned away from the cleaning sponge.

25. Surface cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier body and the handle are connected to each other by linkage with an articulation.

26. (canceled)