ATTACHABLE RECEPTACLE

Abstract

A collector container for a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has an elongate main part with a centrally positioned handle element or a fastening element for a stem or handle, and a wiping blade is fastened to the main part, and wherein the collector container can be fastened or more particularly clipped to the main part of the cleaning device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Section 371 U.S. National Stage Filing of International Application No. PCTEP2014/061238, filed May 30, 2014, which was published in the German language on Dec. 18, 2014, under International Publication No. WO 2014/198559 A1, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2013 106 238.5, filed on Jun. 14, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a receptacle for a cleaning device.

Numerous cleaning devices with a wiper blade are known that comprise a longitudinal body, wherein a wiper blade is fastened to the body. It is also possible for a gripping element or a fastening element for a handle or grip to be arranged as a rule centrally on the body. The body can be formed so that a person can also use the cleaning device without the grip or handle having been screwed on. For this purpose the body generally comprises corresponding external contours to improve handling.

Such cleaning devices generally do not have any small receptacle or tank, so that the fluid removed from a surface, in particular a pane, has to be collected with an additional piece of cloth so that it does not drip uncontrollably. If the cleaning devices themselves have access to a holding vessel, then this is generally formed by the body or a receptacle itself formed thereon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an attachable receptacle for cleaning devices with a wiper blade that have no available receptacles or only a small one.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the receptacle can be fastened to, in particular clipped onto, the body of the cleaning device. Owing to the arrangement on the body an aesthetically pleasing overall arrangement is advantageously obtained, which furthermore is very space-saving and convenient to use.

The receptacle according to the invention preferably includes the lower region of the body and forms together with this an intermediate space, which serves as holding vessel or tank. The removed fluid passes from the underneath of the wiper blade over the body into the intermediate space formed by the receptacle and body. If the cleaning device itself has an available collecting groove in the region underneath the wiper blade, then the fluid first of all flows into the groove until the latter is full, and then runs into the intermediate space. Since the receptacle is arranged underneath the body of the cleaning device when fluid is removed, the fluid flows into the receptacle and does not flow or drip in an uncontrolled manner from the cleaning device onto the floor or person operating the cleaning device.

The receptacle according to the invention can advantageously comprise a trough-shaped region with longitudinal side walls and also with sealing walls on the front side. Advantageously at least one projection and/or wall section can adjoin, in particular be formed on, a longitudinal side wall. The projection or wall region serves to fasten the receptacle to the cleaning device. For this purpose the projection and/or wall region is formed in such a way that it at least partly overlaps the upper side of the body. The projection and/or wall section can be formed readily elastic, so that they act as a kind of catch element, whereby the receptacle according to the invention can be clipped onto the body of the cleaning device and can also be removed again from the cleaning device.

Obviously it is also possible for the trough-like receptacle to be fastened in a positive manner by means of catch and/or snap-fit connections to the body of the cleaning device.

The trough-shaped region should underneath the wiper blade or the plane in which the wiper blade is arranged, be fastenable to the body of the cleaning device so that the intermediate space is disposed underneath the wiper blade when the fluid is removed.

The receptacle can have a floor wall on which the front-side walls and the longitudinal side walls adjoin or are formed. It is however also possible for the longitudinal side walls to be formed curved and to meet directly in the lower region. The side walls and front sides can be adapted to the contour of the body, so that when the receptacle is installed the cleaning device does not lose its characteristic shape. In particular the rear side of the receptacle facing away from the wiper blade can be adapted to the curvature of the body, in particular can abut or rest against the body, whereby the projections at least partly overlap the upper side of the body.

If the grip or the fastening device for a grip or handle is arranged on the body of the cleaning device on the side facing opposite the wiper blade, the longitudinal side wall of the receptacle, which rests on or encloses the side of the body comprising the grip or the fastening device, has a recess for the grip or the fastening device. During installation the receptacle according to the invention is slid from below over the body, the recess advantageously being U-shaped, and thereby surrounds the grip, handle or the fastening device from three sides.

An additional seal can be provided, which prevents fluid passing from the intermediate space via the recess to the outside. For this purpose a seal is advantageously arranged on the receptacle or on the body, which extends along the edge of the recess and in the installed state of the receptacle lies hermetically between the body and receptacle.

In order that the intermediate space is sufficiently large, the receptacle has on the inside at least one spacing element, which ensures a minimum distance to the outside of the body. The spacing element can advantageously be an integral projection or an integral reinforcing grip.

Preferably the whole receptacle can be made from a single material, in particular plastic. It is however also possible to use different materials for the trough-shaped region and the at least one projection or wall section. The material and the wall thicknesses should however be chosen so that the receptacle, in particular its regions relevant for the installation and fastening, are sufficiently elastic, so that in particular a clip-on operation or a locking engagement to fasten the receptacle to the body is possible and is ensured.

Also, the colour of the receptacle can match that of the cleaning device so that the whole device is aesthetically pleasing.

Optionally the receptacle can have an outlet, in particular a closable outlet. This can advantageously be closed or opened by means of a valve or closure. Optionally a tubing can also be attached, so that fluid that has flowed into the receptacle can immediately be diverted via the tubing, for example into a bucket, so that also very large areas can be freed from fluid by means of the cleaning device without having to empty the receptacle from time to time. Obviously it is also possible to insert or arrange for a valve between the tubing and the outlet.

The receptacle and the cleaning device can furthermore comprise corresponding and inter-engaging or interlocking fastening elements, in particular in the form of recesses, projections or retaining lugs, which serve to fasten the receptacle to the cleaning device. In this case the projections and wall sections described above are not absolutely necessary, but may nevertheless be additionally provided.

The receptacle can be designed so that its longitudinal side wall, which terminates underneath the wiper blade with its longitudinal free side, abuts, especially hermetically, the wiper blade. As soon as the device is pressed against a surface in order to remove fluid, the wiper blade is deformed and raised from the longitudinal free side of the longitudinal side wall, so that the fluid can pass into the intermediate space via the inlet opening that is then formed sufficiently large. In this connection a seal can be arranged between the body and the front sides and the longitudinal side wall of the receptacle, so that fluid present in the intermediate space cannot flow out unintentionally from the latter. Only when the wiper blade is bent upwardly can the fluid in this embodiment be emptied from the intermediate space or flow into the latter.

Obviously in addition to the formed intermediate space the receptacle can also comprise at least one further tank, which communicates with the intermediate space via at least one channel. Advantageously this additional tank can be arranged underneath the body and/or handle or fastening element and/or underneath the receptacle, so that it is ensured that it is always located at the lowest point of the whole arrangement consisting of cleaning device and receptacle while fluid is removed from a surface, in particular a glass pane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

One possible embodiment of the receptacle according to the invention is described in more detail hereinafter with the aid of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a receptacle according to the invention and a cleaning device in the non-installed state;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show various views of a receptacle according to the invention installed on a cleaning device;

FIGS. 4 to 7 show various views of the receptacle according to one of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a whole device consisting of cleaning device and installed receptacle, wherein the receptacle is shown cut away at the side;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a whole device consisting of cleaning device and installed receptacle;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a whole device when removing fluid from a pane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a receptacle 1 according to the invention, which is not yet fastened to the cleaning device 2. The cleaning device 2 comprises a body 2a, which is composed of an upper housing half 2o and a lower housing half 2u, wherein the two housing halves 2o, 2u are held together by means of screws (not shown). A grip 2b is fastened to the body 2a. For this purpose the body 2a can comprise a fastening device, for example in the form of an internal thread, into which the grip 2b can be screwed. Instead of the grip 2b a handle can however also be screwed in. In addition it is possible for the grip or handle to be formed in one piece with the body 2a or with a housing half 2o, 2u. A wiper blade 2c is clamped with its long side between the housing halves 2o, 2u. The free other long side forms the wiper lip 2d.

The receptacle 1 comprises a trough-shaped region 1t, which is formed by the longitudinal side walls 1a, 1b and the front walls 1d. The longitudinal side walls 1a, 1b are joined to one another on the underneath 1i of the trough-shaped region 1t by means of a floor wall 1h. Spacer elements 1g, which are formed in particular as reinforcing ribs, are shaped on the inner wall 1y of the trough-shaped region 1t, and are designed so that the inner wall 1y is always at a minimum distance from the outer wall of the surrounding body 2a, whereby the intermediate space Z is formed between the receptacle 1 and the body 2a and serves to receive a fluid F removed from a surface S (see FIG. 10) by means of the auxiliary blade 2c, 2d.

Two wall sections 1c are formed on top at the rear longitudinal side wall 1b, wherein the free ends 1f of the sections overlap the upper side 2h of the body 2a of the cleaning device 2 and in particular are formed so that a type of locking engagement or snap-on connection is realised, so that in the installed state the receptacle is held by positive engagement on the body of the cleaning device 2. The wall sections 1c, 1f are thin-walled as far as possible so that they have a certain elasticity, so that the receptacle 1 can be detached with a certain expenditure of force from the cleaning device 2 or its body 2a.

Since the grip 2b is fastened to the rear side of the body 2a and the rear wall 1b of the receptacle 1 is arranged in the region of the fastening of the grip 2b, a corresponding recess 1e must be formed on the rear wall 1b, 1c, by means of which the receptacle 1 can be slid from below onto the body 2a and can with its free catch ends 1f overlap the body 2a on its upper side 2h.

On the upper side 2h the body 2a comprises longitudinal projections or webs 2g, which serve as gripping surfaces when the body 2a of the cleaning device is gripped by the hand. These webs 2g at the same time serve for locking engagement and as a rear grip for the free ends 1f of the receptacle 1.

The cleaning device 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises in the region underneath the wiper blade 2c a groove 2e formed on the lower housing half 2u for receiving removed fluid. This groove 2e has only a limited capacity, which is increased by the receptacle 1 according to the invention. The front longitudinal side wall 1a is formed so that the free edge 1p terminates in front of the groove 2e underneath the wiper blade 2c and optionally presses against the underneath side 2cu of the wiper blade 2c, unless the wiper blade 2c, as illustrated in FIG. 10, is bent by pressing against a surface S to be cleaned and is bent away from the edge 1p. The formed webs or ribs 1g have recesses 1m, in which the groove 2e of the lower housing half 2u of the cleaning device 2 can lie in the trough-shaped region 1t.

If the cleaning device 2 does not have a corresponding groove 2e, the reinforcing ribs 1g can also be formed without a corresponding recess 1m.

As is clear from FIGS. 4 to 7, the reinforcing ribs 1g, which are formed on the front longitudinal wall 1a and on the rear longitudinal wall 1b, are not connected to one another, so that they form a passage channel 1k through which the fluid F₃ can flow along the floor wall 1h from one front side 1t to the other side, so long as the cleaning device 2 is appropriately inclined or swivelled backwards and forwards. The side walls 1d can with their ends 1z extend somewhat higher than the edge 1p of the front longitudinal side 1a, so that, as illustrated in FIG. 9, they engage the wiper blade 2c at least partly on the side.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the installed overall device consisting of cleaning device 2 and receptacle 1, the side wall 1d of the receptacle 1 being cut away in FIG. 8 so that the channel 1k as well as the spacing elements in the form of reinforcing ribs 1g together with their recesses 1m are visible.

The housing body 2a of the cleaning device 2 is clamped between the spacing elements 1g and the projection 1f and/or the wall sections 1d, so that the receptacle 1 and cleaning device 2 can be detached from one another only by applying a certain force.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the wiper blade 2c impacts with its lower side 2cu against the edge 1p of the front wall 1a of the receptacle, whereby the fluid already contained in the intermediate space Z is to some extent prevented from flowing out forwardly from the receptacle 1.

The recess le of the rear wall 1b, 1c engages the lug of the grip or fastening element 2p of the body 2a. If desired, the edging 1n of the recess 1e can be hermetically sealed with respect to the body 2a by means of a seal, so that the fluid present in the receptacle 1 cannot flow unintentionally from the receptacle 1 via the recess 1e.

FIG. 10 shows the whole device consisting of receptacle 1 and cleaning device 2 in use, whereby the fluid F, F₁ present on a pane is removed by means of the whole device and collected in the receptacle 1. The arrow R_A shows the fluid removal direction of the whole device along the pane S. By pressing the wiper blade 2c against the pane S the wiper blade 2c is bent and is raised from the front edge 1p of the receptacle1. By means of the wiper lip 2d a droplet of the fluid F₁, represented as a sphere, is removed from the pane S and travels as a bubble (F₂) along the lower side 2cu of the wiper blade 2c into the opening E and from there into the intermediate space Z, where the fluid F₃ is collected. It is not absolutely necessary that the wiper blade 2c with its lower side 2cu abuts in the non-actuated state in a hermetically sealing manner against the edge 1p.

It is furthermore possible to provide an outflow opening in the region of the floor wall 1i, which can be closed if desired and to which also an outflow tube or additional receptacle can be connected, so that an even larger volume of removed fluid F can be collected before the cleaning device and the receptacle fastened thereto have to be emptied for further use.

Obviously the receptacle according to the invention can also be used for a cleaning device without a grip 2b or fastening element 2p. The receptacle then does not require a corresponding recess 2e, i.e. the projections 2c can be connected to one another.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A receptacle for a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device comprises a longitudinal body with a wiper blade fastened to the body, the receptacle comprising a receptacle element configured to be fastened onto the body of the cleaning device.

18. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein fluid removed by means of the wiper blade from a surface passes to an intermediate space formed by the receptacle element and the body of the cleaning device.

19. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element at least partially encloses the body of the cleaning device.

20. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element includes a trough-shaped region with longitudinal side walls as well as with walls closing on a front side of the receptacle element, wherein at least one projection or wall section adjoins at least one longitudinal side wall, and wherein the trough-shaped region at least partly includes a part of the body of the cleaning device arranged underneath a plane in which the wiper blade is arranged, and forms with this part an intermediate space for receiving fluid.

21. The receptacle according to claim 20, wherein the at least one projection or wall section extends upwardly in the direction of an upper side of the body of the cleaning device, and wherein the receptacle element, when installed on the cleaning device, is held by positive engagement on the cleaning device.

22. The receptacle according to claim 20, wherein the receptacle element comprises a floor wall, on which adjoin or on which are formed front side walls and the longitudinal side walls.

23. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element further comprises a longitudinal side wall that includes a recess, which is formed for a grip element or fastening element arranged on the body of the cleaning device, for a handle or grip, and in which the grip or the fastening element of the cleaning device is accommodated in an installed state.

24. The receptacle according to claim 23, wherein the recess extends up to an upper end of the longitudinal side wall and of an adjoining projection or wall section, wherein the recess is u-shaped.

25. The receptacle according to claim 23, further comprising at least one sealing element arranged at least in a partial region or along an edge of the recess in such way that no fluid can flow outwardly from the intermediate space through the recess.

26. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle housing further comprises at least one spacing element, in the form of a reinforcing rib arranged or formed on an inside, facing towards the cleaning device, of at least one wall, of the receptacle element.

27. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element is made of a plastic material.

28. The receptacle according to claim 20, wherein at least one longitudinal side wall or the at least one projection or wall section adjoining the at least one longitudinal side wall or both are formed from an elastic material.

29. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element further comprises an outlet that can be closed by means of a valve or closure, wherein the outlet is configured for connection of tubing.

30. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle element and the cleaning device comprise corresponding and inter-engaging or interlocking fastening elements, in the form of recesses, projections or catch lugs, which serve to fasten the receptacle element to the cleaning device.

31. The receptacle according to claim 17, wherein a longitudinal side wall of the receptacle element terminates with a longitudinal free side of the longitudinal side wall underneath the wiper blade of the cleaning device.

32. The receptacle according to claim 31, wherein the longitudinal free side is spaced, at least when removing fluid from a surface, from the underneath of the wiper blade of the cleaning device on account of bending of the wiper blade of the cleaning device, so that the fluid is enabled to flow from the wiper blade through a formed opening into an intermediate space formed by the receptacle element and the body of the cleaning device.