CLEANING DEVICE FOR CLEANING HOOK-AND-LOOP FASTENERS

Abstract

A cleaning device (10; 110; 210), in particular for cleaning hook-and-loop fasteners, includes a plurality of projections (16; 116; 216) which project inclined from a surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device, such that between the projections and the surface (13; 113; 213) there is formed a mouth (17) respectively, the cross-section of which is tapering in an xz-plane from a mouth opening (B, D) in a sharp angled manner towards a vertex (C) wherein the mouth opening (B, D) includes an angle (α) in the xz-plane of 10 to 40° with the vertex (C) as center of the angle (α).

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device, in particular for cleaning hook-and-loop fasteners, and even more preferred for cleaning the hook-part of the hook-and-loop fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hook-and-loop fasteners are very commonly used in our daily life and proofed to be convenient and secure fastening means. However, over time, when the hook-and-loop fasteners get in contact with fuzzy objects, such as fabric, the fuzz or threads easily get caught by the fasteners, in particular by the hook-part of the fasteners. The good fastening properties of the fasteners make it difficult to remove these contaminants again.

In the state of the art, cleaning devices for cleaning hook-and-loop fastening systems have been provided, such as in WO 2000/78179 A1.

The state of the art also includes WO 03000104 A1, which discloses disposable cleaning sheets for removing debris from a surface. Each sheet comprises a substrate and a plurality of protrusions affixed to the substrate, wherein the cleaning sheet is removably attachable to a cleaning implement. The protrusions are preferably hook-shaped. The preferred hook-shaped protrusions can be made of certain thermoplastic resins and can have certain geometric configurations. The protrusions can be affixed to the substrate via a variety of process and are preferably affixed to the substrate in one or more zones of the substrate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,339 A discloses a hook for hook and loop fasteners, having a profile defined by an inner smoothly contoured generally concave face and an outer generally convex face. A a loop engaging the hook in tension, with the applied force being substantially normal to the base member, will deform the hook portion resiliently under the applied force to release the loop at a desired applied force and such that a loop engaging the hook in shear, with the applied force substantially parallel to the base member, will engage the sturdy base member, the sturdy base member being sufficiently sturdy that it will not deform to release a loop engaging the hook in shear at or below the desired applied force.

However, there is still room for improvement for those cleaning devices in terms of smoothness of removal of the contaminants, preservation of the hook-and-loop fastener itself when being cleaned and efficiency of cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device, in particular for cleaning hook-and-loop fasteners having improved cleaning properties.

This object is solved with a cleaning device according to the independent claim. Advantageous further developments are subject of the dependent claims.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cleaning device, in particular for cleaning hook-and-loop fasteners but also suitable for textile surfaces, characterized by a plurality of projections which project inclined from a surface of the cleaning device, such that between the projections and the surface there is formed a mouth respectively, the cross-section of which is tapering in an xz-plane from a mouth opening in a sharp angled manner towards a vertex wherein the mouth opening includes an angle in the xz-plane of 10 to 40° with the vertex as center of the angle. In this context the tapering in a sharp angled manner may include a tapering along straight lines or a tapering along curved lines. The tapered shape of the mouth formed by the projections has the effect that contaminations, such as fibers, threads or fuzz, are caught by the relatively large mouth opening, guided towards the vertex of the mouth and then pinched at the vertex by the sharp angled tapering of the mouth. The angle of 10 to 40° is considered to provide a good relationship between the ability of the cleaning device to catch the contaminations at the mouth opening and to pinch them at the vertex.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the surface is a curved surface having an outwardly curved cross-section in an xz-plane. The advantage of this embodiment is that due to the curved shape of the surface on which the projections are arranged, the projections can easily reach into the hooks of the hook-and-loop fasteners.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the curved surface has a constant curvature, wherein a maximal dimension of the curved surface in a z-direction which is in the xz-plane (the arc height of the curved surface), is between 1 and 10% of the maximum dimension of the curved surface in an x-direction, which is in the xz-plane and perpendicular to the z-direction. Even more preferably this ratio is between 2 and 7%. These mentioned ranges are considered to provide good properties with respect to the projection's effectiveness to reach into the hooks when the cleaning device is slid over the hook-and-loop fasteners.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the projections are tapered towards their mouth openings when looking towards the surface of the cleaning device in a z-direction which is perpendicular to the x- and y-direction. This improves the ability of the projections' tips to catch and reach into the hooks when being slid over the hook-and-loop fasteners.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a surface of the projections, which faces away from the surface of the cleaning device, has a curved shape. This provides a smoother handling and sliding properties during use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the projections are formed monolithically with the surface of the cleaning device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device is constructed such that between the mouths and the surface of the cleaning device there is provided a wedge respectively, which wedge is monolithically formed with the respective projection and has a wedge-shaped cross-section in an xz-plane. This embodiment provides the benefit that the contaminations are guided into the mouth while the cleaning device is slid during use. Thus, the contaminants are already loosened when being pinched at the vertex of the mouth. The wedge also establishes a better angle of attack with respect to the line connecting C and D in the Figures.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the cleaning device further comprises a plurality of slots being opened towards the surface of the cleaning device, and a plurality of projection inserts which are adapted to be inserted into the slots, wherein a portion of each projection insert forms one of the projections. This embodiment has the advantage of providing a cheaper way of manufacturing the cleaning device, because the projection inserts could be punched from a plate-like raw material instead of milling or moulding the projections. Another advantage is that a material could be used for the inserts and thus the projections, which is different from the material of the cleaning device body in which the slots are formed. Moreover, by using the projection inserts, the mouth can be formed with a sharper angle at the vertex compared to the manufacturing by milling or moulding. Such a sharper angle has improved pinching properties.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the projection inserts have a plate-like shape comprising a cuboid base portion and a hook-shaped upper portion, wherein the hook-shaped upper portion forms the projection by projecting partially out from the slot beyond the surface of the cleaning device. This way, the dimension of the projections can be adjusted before being fixedly positioned.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the cleaning device is an outer surface of a material layer, wherein the projection is formed by a triangular portion of the material layer, in which two sides of the triangular shape are punched and one side is used as a bending line for bending the triangular shape away from the surface of the cleaning device. This embodiment provides a relatively cost efficient way of providing the cleaning device.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows the geometry of a projection of the cleaning device of FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view cut along an xz-plane;

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a curved surface with projections of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of the projections of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the cleaning device of FIG. 1 in a cross-sectional view cut along the xz-plane;

FIG. 6 shows an unrolled top view of the curved surface of the cleaning device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a part of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a projection insert of the cleaning device of FIG. 7, wherein FIG. 8a is a front view, FIG. 8b is a side view, and FIG. 8c is a top view;

FIG. 9 shows the entire cleaning device of FIG. 7 without the projection inserts;

FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a part of a cleaning device according to a third embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 11 shows a side view of FIG. 10 as seen when looking along a y-direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For reasons of clarity, all Figures indicate a three- or two-dimensional coordinate system indicated with x-, y- and z-axes, wherein these axes are perpendicular to each. A xy-plane is spanned by the x- and y- axis, an xz-plane is spanned by the x- and z-axis, and an yz-plane is spanned by the y- and z-axis.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the cleaning device 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. This cleaning device 10 has a substantially cuboid-shaped body, having two plain end surfaces 11 extending substantially in an yz-plane, two side surfaces 12 extending substantially in an xz-plane and which are curved slightly inwards (a cross-section in the yz-plane is curved inwards) in order to provide improved gripping properties, a curved surface 13 and opposite thereto a plain bottom side 14 extending in an xy-plane. However, the cleaning device body could have any suitable shape, either adapted to be used as a handle for manual use or any other shape such as a sled adapted to slide on a rail in case of an automated use, e.g. in the textile industry.

The curved surface 13 is curved such that it has a curved cross-section when cut along an xz-plane. The curvature is preferably constant having a radius R2 (as indicated in FIG. 2). From the curved surface 13, a plurality of projections 16 are projecting which are described in more detail together with the following Figures, in which FIG. 2 shows the geometry of a projection 16 in a cross-sectional view cut along the xz-plane, FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the curved surface 13 with the projections 16, FIG. 4 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of the projections 16, FIG. 5 shows the cleaning device 10 in a cross-sectional view cut along the xz-plane, and FIG. 6 shows an unrolled top view of the curved surface.

The projection 16 which is shown in FIG. 2 represents the plurality of projections 16. In a y-direction, the space in between two adjacent projections 16 is preferably such that a human finger can pass through in order remove the contaminations after using the cleaning device. In an x-direction, the space in between two adjacent projections 16 is preferably smaller than the x-length of one projection 16. As shown, the projection 16 projects oblique from the curved surface 13 and terminates in a tip. In FIG. 2 basically the area in between the reference signs A, B, C and R2 is referred to as a “projection”. In a cross-section in an xz-plane, the projections 16 taper towards the tip. Between the projection 16 and the curved surface 13 there is formed a mouth 17 which is a hollow space tapering (in a xz-plane) from a mouth opening B, D towards a vertex C with an angle α and which space is opened along a y-direction (or in other words: opened on the sides of the mouth). The tapering angle α is defined as the angle included in between a line (imaginary or real—imaginary in case the real line from B to C is curved and real in case it is in fact straight) from an upper edge B of the mouth opening to the vertex C and a line (imaginary or real) from a lower edge D of the mouth opening to the vertex C. The tapering angle α is preferably in between 10 and 40°, and more preferably in between 20 to 30°, and even more preferably in between 23 to 27°. This sharp angled shape of the mouth has the effect that the contaminations, such as threads, fibers or fuzz, are guided from the mouth opening B, D towards the vertex C and then pinched at the vertex C. Ideally the mouth terminates in a very sharp angle at the vertex C without any radius at the vertex C. However, in realistic manufacturing processes there might be a small radius remaining, but it is beneficial to keep such a radius smaller than the radius of the contaminations to be pinched in order to have good pinching properties of the cleaning device. In FIG. 2, the upper edge B (shown as a point in FIG. 2) of the mouth opening corresponds to the tip of the projection 16. Between the mouth 17 and the curved surface 13 there is provided a wedge 18, which wedge is monolithically formed with the projection 16 and has a wedge-shaped cross-section in an xz-plane which wedge tapers in a direction away from the vertex C towards an end of the wedge 18 forming the lower edge D of the mouth opening. In this embodiment, the surfaces from the upper and lower edges B, D of the mouth opening to the vertex C are plain, respectively, but they could also be curved. The upper surface 19 of the projection 16 is curved with a preferably constant curvature having a radius R1 which is smaller than the radius R2 of the curved surface 13. The non-rounded illustration of this upper surface 19 in FIGS. 3 and 4 is intended to be schematically. For reasons of clarity, in the Figures there is only one of the plurality of projections 16 and its associated elements provided with reference signs.

The projections 16 are preferably formed such that in case there is an imaginary tangent 15 drawn in a cross-sectional view as shown in FIG. 5, which tangent 15 connects the outer surfaces 19 of two adjacent projections 16 (adjacent in the x-direction), then the tip of the projections 16 are below the tangent 15.

As shown in particular in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the projections 16 and the wedges 18 also taper in a top view towards their mouth openings B, D with an angle β which is preferably between 1 and 40°, and more preferably between 5 and 30°, and more preferably between 5 and 15° in the first embodiment and 10 and 25° in the later described third embodiment, and most preferably around 10° in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a cleaning device 110 according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of a part of the cleaning device 110, which part only includes one out of a plurality of projections 116. This cleaning device 110 has the same substantially cuboid-shaped body as described in connection with the first embodiment. A curved surface 113 is curved as described in connection with the curved surface 13 of the first embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, in this second embodiment, the projection 116 is not formed monolithically with the curved surface, but formed by a separately formed projection insert 120 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 8 in which FIG. 8a is a view along the x-direction, FIG. 8b is a view along the y-direction, and FIG. 8c is a view along the z-direction. These projection inserts 120 are insertable into slots 121 which are formed in the cleaning device 110 such that they are opened towards the curved surface 113 (see FIG. 9). Optionally, the slots 121 may also be opened on the bottom surface opposite to the curved surface 113. The projection inserts 120 are adapted to the slots 121 such that they can be slid into the slots and held aligned by the slots in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. The projection inserts 120 have a plate-like shape comprising a cuboid base portion 122 and a hook-shaped upper portion 123, wherein the hook-shaped upper portion 123 forms the projection 116 by projecting partially out from the slot 121 beyond the curved surface 113. By sliding the projection insert 120 in the slot 121, a height of the projection in a z-direction beyond the curved surface 113 can be set. Thereafter, the projection insert 120 can be fixed such that its position is maintained (also in the sliding direction) by adhesive bonding, welding, screws, a snap mechanism, to name but a few. A space 124 of the slot 121 which is kept empty due to the shape of the hook-shaped portion 123, could be filled with a material which is fluid when being filled in and which is self-curing or can be cured to close the space 124 even to the curved surface 113. In the preferred case, however, it is kept empty.

In contrast to the first embodiment, there is no wedge present, but the surface which is provided between the vertex C and the lower edge D in FIG. 2, is formed by the curved surface 113 at the edges of the slot 121 and/or the above mentioned optionally filled in material which is even to the curved surface 113. Further, the projections 116 are also not tapered in a top view, but preferably have a constant thickness in a y-direction in this embodiment. Apart from these differences, the description of the first embodiment shall apply.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a cleaning device 210 according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a part of the cleaning device 110, which part only includes one out of a plurality of projections 216. This cleaning device 210 also has a cleaning device body as described in connection with the first embodiment to which body a material layer 224 is attached by means of welding, adhesive, screws, etc. A curved surface 213 is curved as described in connection with the curved surface 13 of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 shows a side view of FIG. 10 as seen when looking along the y-direction. As shown, in contrast to the first embodiment, in this third embodiment the projection 216 is not tapered in an xz-plane towards the projection tip, but has a constant material thickness. However, as can be seen in FIG. 10, the projection 216 is tapered towards the tip in a xy-plane (in a top view). In the third embodiment, the curved surface 213 is the outer surface of the material layer 224, wherein the projection 216 is formed by a triangular portion of the material layer 224, in which two sides 225, 226 of the triangular shape are cut and one side 227 is used as a bending line for bending the triangular shape away from the curved surface 213.

In contrast to the first embodiment, there is no wedge present, but the surface which is provided between the vertex C and the lower edge D in FIG. 2, is formed by the curved surface 213 and/or the curved surface 213 at the edge of the two sides 225, 226 where the material layer 224 is punched. Apart from these differences, the description of the first embodiment shall apply.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive and it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) for cleaning hook-and-loop fasteners, comprising a plurality of projections (16; 116; 216), wherein

the plurality of projections project inclined from a surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device, such that between the projections and the surface (13; 113; 213) there is formed a mouth (17) respectively, the cross-section of which is tapering in an xz-plane from a mouth opening (B, D) in a sharp angled manner towards a vertex (C) wherein the mouth opening (B, D) includes an angle (α) in the xz-plane of 10 to 40° with the vertex (C) as center of the angle (α).

12. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 11, wherein the surface (13; 113; 213) is a curved surface having an outwardly curved cross-section in an xz-plane.

13. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 12, wherein the curved surface (13; 113; 213) has a constant curvature, wherein a maximal dimension of the curved surface in a z-direction which is in the xz-plane, is between 1 and 10% of the maximum dimension of the curved surface in an x-direction, which is in the xz-plane and perpendicular to the z-direction.

14. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 11, wherein the projections (16; 116; 216) are tapered towards their mouth openings (B, D) when looking towards the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device in a z-direction which is perpendicular to the x- and y-direction.

15. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 11, wherein a surface of the projections (16; 116; 216), which faces away from the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device has a curved shape.

16. Cleaning device (10; 210) according to claim 11, wherein the projections (16; 216) are formed monolithically with the surface (13; 213) of the cleaning device.

17. Cleaning device (10) according to claim 11, wherein between the mouths (17) and the surface (13) of the cleaning device there is provided a wedge (18) respectively, which wedge (18) is monolithically formed with the respective projection (16) and has a wedge-shaped cross-section in an xz-plane.

18. Cleaning device (110) according to claim 11, further comprising

a plurality of slots (121) being opened towards the surface (113) of the cleaning device, and

a plurality of projection inserts (120) which are adapted to be inserted into the slots (121), wherein a portion of each projection insert (120) forms one of the projections (116).

19. Cleaning device (110) according to claim 18, wherein the projection inserts (120) have a plate-like shape comprising a cuboid base portion (122) and a hook-shaped upper portion (123), wherein the hook-shaped upper portion (123) forms the projection (116) by projecting partially out from the slot (121) beyond the surface (113) of the cleaning device.

20. Cleaning device (210) according to claim 11, wherein the surface (213) of the cleaning device is an outer surface of a material layer (224), wherein the projection is formed by a triangular portion of the material layer (224), in which two sides (225, 226) of the triangular shape are punched and one side (227) is used as a bending line for bending the triangular shape away from the surface (213) of the cleaning device.

21. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 12, wherein the projections (16; 116; 216) are tapered towards their mouth openings (B, D) when looking towards the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device in a z-direction which is perpendicular to the x- and y-direction.

22. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 12, wherein a surface of the projections (16; 116; 216), which faces away from the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device has a curved shape.

23. Cleaning device (10; 210) according to claim 12, wherein the projections (16; 216) are formed monolithically with the surface (13; 213) of the cleaning device.

24. Cleaning device (10) according to claim 12, wherein between the mouths (17) and the surface (13) of the cleaning device there is provided a wedge (18) respectively, which wedge (18) is monolithically formed with the respective projection (16) and has a wedge-shaped cross-section in an xz-plane.

25. Cleaning device (110) according to claim 12, further comprising

a plurality of slots (121) being opened towards the surface (113) of the cleaning device, and

a plurality of projection inserts (120) which are adapted to be inserted into the slots (121), wherein a portion of each projection insert (120) forms one of the projections (116).

26. Cleaning device (210) according to claim 12, wherein the surface (213) of the cleaning device is an outer surface of a material layer (224), wherein the projection is formed by a triangular portion of the material layer (224), in which two sides (225, 226) of the triangular shape are punched and one side (227) is used as a bending line for bending the triangular shape away from the surface (213) of the cleaning device.

27. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 13, wherein the projections (16; 116; 216) are tapered towards their mouth openings (B, D) when looking towards the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device in a z-direction which is perpendicular to the x- and y-direction.

28. Cleaning device (10; 110; 210) according to claim 13, wherein a surface of the projections (16; 116; 216), which faces away from the surface (13; 113; 213) of the cleaning device has a curved shape.

29. Cleaning device (10; 210) according to claim 13, wherein the projections (16; 216) are formed monolithically with the surface (13; 213) of the cleaning device.

30. Cleaning device (10) according to claim 13, wherein between the mouths (17) and the surface (13) of the cleaning device there is provided a wedge (18) respectively, which wedge (18) is monolithically formed with the respective projection (16) and has a wedge-shaped cross-section in an xz-plane.