WO1993009706A1

WO1993009706A1 - A multi-function tool for the cleaning of surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1993009706A1
Application number: PCT/IT1992/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Augusto Banzi
Original assignee: Augusto Banzi
Priority date: 1991-11-22
Filing date: 1992-11-03
Publication date: 1993-05-27
Also published as: EP0618778A1; AU2955692A

Abstract

The tool comprises a body (1) exhibiting, on the surface (25) opposing the surface (26) facing the surface to be cleaned (2), at least one seating (3) for the connection of a manoeuvring handle (24); the said surface (26) facing the said surface to be cleaned (2) has a rough profile, and at the edges of the first said surface (25) on-off connecting means (4) are envisaged for an interchangeable cleaning accessory (5).

Description

Description.

A Multi-function Tool for the Cleaning of Surfaces,

Technical Field.

The invention relates to a multi-function tool for the cleaning of surfaces.

Background Art.

The prior art teaches very varied structural types of tools used for the cleaning of rooms or surfaces in general, such as for example brooms, brushes, sponges etc.: those of a traditional type are essentially constituted by a support of the cleaning body to which a handle is associated.

This handle can be associated to the support in a fixed position, hinged to the said support in such a way as to adapt to the movements of the user, or it can be screwable at one end into a corresponding seating realised on the surface of the support; in this last case the two elements can be put into separate wrappings, where the handle is of a universal type, while in the two preceding cases the handle is commercialised only in a single wrapping, that is, in a kit-form, with the rest of the tool.

These solutions however present some drawbacks of practical and economic natures: the first kind of drawback regards the use of the tools, due to the fact that if the tool is of the separate-element kind it is necessary for the user to make continuous substitutions of the cleaning body in accordance with the kind of cleaning operation to be performed (brushing or wahing of surfaces, glass cleaning etc.); the poor economy of such solutions is due to the fact that in practice, especially in the household context, the user is obliged to equip the various supports bearing relative cleaning bodies with corresponding handles, especially if the support bodies exhibit different fixing systems (joint-type or screw-type for example).

A further drawback is due to the considerable mass created by all of the elements which obviously is more greatly felt in the small cupboards, such as those in recently- built housing, which are dedicated to the housing of such tools.

The aim of the present invention is there ore to eliminate the abov-mentioned drawbacks by providing a multi-function tool for cleaning and treatment of various surfaces, which tool envisages a single variously-positionable handle and a single cleaning surface support adaptable to several types of cleaning surfaces, thus to be defined a practical, functional and economical tool.

Disclosure of the Invention.

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the above-mentioned aims, are clearly represented in the following claims and the advantages of the invention will better emerge from the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a non-limiting embodiment here described purely in the form of an example, in which: figure 1 shows, in a lateral view with some parts removed better to evidence others, a portion of a first embodiment of a body and an accessory cleaning element of the tool; - figures 2 and 3 show, respectively in plan views from above and from below, the body of the tool; figure 4 shows, in lateral view, a particular of the connecting means between the body of the tool and the accessory cleaning element of figure 1, with a further possible cleaning means supported by the accessory;

- figures 5 and 6 show, in transversal section, two particulars relative to possible embodiments of the connecting means between the body of the tool and the cleaning accessory; - figure 7 shows, in lateral view with some parts removed in order better to evidence others, the accessory element of figure 4, with two embodiments of the connecting means; figure 8 shows, in a lateral view with some parts removed better to evidence others, the embodiment variations of the connecting means and the cleaning accessory of figure 7;

- figure 9 shows, in a partial plan view from above, a further embodiment of the accessory element; - figure 10 shows, in a section view according to line X- X, the embodiment of figure 9;

- figure 11 shows, according to the section line XI-XI of figure 3, an embodiment example of the connection between the tool and a handle, with the two positions which can be assumed;

- figure 12 shows an exploded view of the example of figure 11;

- figure 13 shows a lateral view of one of the connection elements between the handle and the tool;

- figure 14 shows, according to the section line XI-XI of figure 3, ^■ an embodiment of a connection between the tool and a handle;

- figure 15 shows, in a cross section, a different embodiment of the accessory element.

With reference to the drawings, the tool comprises a body 1 exhibiting, on the surface 25 opposite to the surface 26 which will face the surfaces to be cleaned, at least one connection seating 3 for a manoeuvring handle 24 (only partially illustrated); this surface 25 exhibits, centrally, a raised portion 20 on which means of connection to the handle 24 are realised, which can be in several different configurations, and which permit of using the tool both when the handle is perpendicular and when it is not perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned. In a first embodiment, illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 and 13, a thread on the handle 24 at the end to be associated with the tool 1 is screwable on the corresponding thread present on the inside of a first tubular connecting element 30, which is equipped with a thread also on its external surface. The said tubular connecting element 30 is closed at one end, where it

05 exhibits a second, substantially rod-shaped element 31 perpendicular to the first element; when the first element 30 is inserted into the seating 3, constituted by a hole 33 arranged centrally in the body 1, the rod-shaped element 31 interacts with the body 1 itself in a throat

10 pair 32 positioned at the sides of the said hole 33 and constituting a stop against the first element 30 passing through the hole 33 in an opposite direction to the entering direction. The second, rod-shaped element 31 prevents the first

15 element 30 passing through the hole 33, allowing however a rotation about the longitudinal axis A of the rod-shaped element 31, parallel to the cleaning plane, so that the said first element 30 and the handle 24 screwed to it can occupy at least two positions, one of which being

20 perpendicular to the cleaning plane.

The through-hole 33 is conformed trunco-conically and intersected by two planes parallel between themselves as well as parallel to the cone's axis, and the seating 3 is bilaterally equipped on the side of the said lower surface

25 26 with a throat pair 32 destined to meet the said rod-

_r shaped or second element 31, in such a way as to permit of the said rotation, thus bringing the handle 24, associated to the said first element 30, into differently angled positions with respect to the cleaning plane. The different positions with respect to the cleaning plane are stably fixed by a third, hollow tubular element 34, internally equipped with a thread which is complementary to the one present on the external surface of the said first tubular element 30, reaching, following its screwing-on, a stop-point constituted by the contact with the raised portion 20 of the body 1.

The said raised portion 20 is conformed in such a way as to permit the stable positioning of the handle 24 in a predetermined number of positions, as illustrated in figures 11 and 12, wherein the possible positions are two, of which one is perpendicular to the cleaning plane, usable for example when the tool is being used as a broom, and the other position being non-perpendicular, for the use of the tool as a mop or other.

The connection to the handle 24 can be made using known methods, such as for example with a hole equipped with a thread or, in another embodiment, illustrated in figure 14, capable of offering more positions for the handle with respect to the cleaning plane by exhibiting on the raised portion 20 of the body 1 a first dead hole 21 developing perpendicularly with respect to the surface 25 plane, and a second hole 22, inclined with respect to the preceding hole 21 and the surface 25. Both of the holes 21 and 22 are further equipped with a relative thread 23, which allows the stable coupling of the end of the handle 24. In the illustrated examples, the body 1 is constituted by a flat element, preferably quadrangularly shaped and exhibiting a rough surface 26 facing the surface to be cleaned, that is, a surface 26 exhibiting a plurality of teeth 13 having a substantially conical shape and transversally and uniformly arranged on the said surface 26.

As illustrated in figures 1 and 4, at the edges of the opposing surface 25 there are on-off connecting means 4 for an interchangeable cleaning accessory 5, bearing a cleaning means 52; these connecting means 4 are constituted in effect by a pair of elements 6, each defining substantially a protuberance, realised both on the same surface, and destined to permit of stably coupling the body 1 and the cleaning accessory 5. The cleaning accessory 5 is in its turn equipped with corresponding flexible straps 8 and 9, which are mobile between a non-operative position, wherein the straps 8 and 9 are distanced from the connecting means 4 (see figure 4, broken line), to an operative position, wherein the straps 8 and 9 are stably coupled with the respective connecting means 4.

More precisely, (see figures 1 and 2) the protuberant coupling elements 6 are constituted by a pair of vertical walls, with the free end bevelled, made from and in the body 1 and perpendicularly to it, in a respective smaller side of the quadrangle defined by the body 1 in such a way as to create a stable connecting zone for the connecting tabs 8 and 9 of the cleaning accessory 5. In a first embodiment (see figures 1 and 4), each connecting strap 8 and 9 is pivoted, with one of its ends, to the edge of the respective smaller side of the cleaning accessory 5 and exhibits in section substantially an upturned L-shaped conformation; at the angle formed by the upturned L a projection 10 is envisaged, which develops downwards in such a way as to define a stable housing notch 11 at the above-mentioned operative position and which by means of elastic flexion and relative elastic return of the projection 10 receives the corresponding coupling element 6.

In a second embodiment (illustrated in figures 7 and 8), the flexible connecting straps 8 and 9 once again emerge from the respective edges of the smaller sides of the cleaning accessory 5: the first connecting strap 8 exhibits a hook-shaped conformation in section, which the other strap 9 exhibits a conformation in section which is straight and equipped with a second projection 12 at the upper free end, which projection 12 is transversal to the strap 9; with this conformation of the connecting tabs 8 and 9, the hooking-up is done by touching the first strap

8 to the corresponding coupling element 6, while the second strap 9 permits of stably coupling and blocking the body 1 to the cleaning accessory 5 because of flexion and return of the second projection 12 (the distanced position is illustrated with a broken line).

The association of the body 1 of the tool to the cleaning accessory 5 can also be made with different coupling organs, such as for example, those illustrated in figures 5 and 6, wherein for simplicity's sake only one end of the tool is shown. In the embodiment of figure 5 the coupling organs are constituted by two or more channels 51 respectively realised on two or more lateral walls of the body 1 destined to receive the corresponding lateral edges 50 which are superiorly conformed complementarily with respect to the said channels 51. In the solution illustrated in figure 6 the association between the cleaning accessory 5 and the body 1 is made by means of the dovetail projections 54, made on the upper face of the cleaning accessory 5 and destined to be inserted internally to corresponding guides 55, which are complementary to the said dovetail projections 54 and are made on the surface 26 of the body 1 of the tool. As can be seen in figures 1, 7, 9, 10 and 15, the cleaning accessory 5 is basically constituted by a quadrangular plane exhibiting superiorly an edge 14 defining a stable housing cup for the body 1 and inferiorly a cleaning surface 52; obviously the cleaning surface 52 can be of different types, such as for example a sponge block or a series of brushes etc.. More in detail, the cleaning accessory 5 can be constituted, further to the above-described quadrangular plane exhibiting the edge 14, by a pair of wings 16 and 17 (see figure 15) coplanar and symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal ^' development axis B of the quadrangular plane, which directly define both the cleaning surface 15 and a further bearing plane. Similarly, the cleaning accessory 5 can be constituted (see figures 9 and 10) still by a quadrangular plane exhibiting the edge 14 and asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal development axis B of the quadrangular plane, a wing 18, inclined with respect to the quadrangular plane and exhibiting a central channel 19 developing along the whole length of the wing 18 and in which it is possible to house, by means of flexion of the opposing portions defined by it, a cleaning surface 15 (which in figures 9 and 10 is represented by a wiping tool).

Naturally both the coupling element 6 and the connecting straps 8 and.9 can be made on all four sides in order to obtain a better and more stable connection between the body 1 and the cleaning accessory 5 (in particular for large surfaces)? analogously the solutions illustrated by the various connecting straps 8 and 9 can be further combined among themselves in different couples: for example both hook-shaped, or both straight and equipped with relative second projections, or one hook-shaped and the other -shaped, or one straight equipped with a second projection and the other L-shaped. The possible different embodiments of the connecting means must however be of a size whereby the value of the distance between the said connecting means 4 is above that of the projection of the rough surface of the body 1 of the tool, thus avoiding interference between the said rough surface and the said support element.

The cleaning accessory 5 can bear different cleaning means 52 according to the use to which the tool is to be put: filament fibres could be used, for a broom; more rigid fibres for a brush; sponges may be attached, both stiffer sponges for abrasive cleaning operations, softer for detergent operations; a cloth of felt can be attached to the cleaning accessory, for polishing and/or waxing of floors. In figure 1 the cleaning means are represented by a sponge element; in figure 4 filament fibres are represented.

In practice the tool herein illustrated can be used both in its simplest form, that is the body 1 can be used, obviously after having been connected to the handle 24, as a pushing base for example for a cleaning cloth for surface cleaning, or by simply connecting up one of the above-described cleaning accessories 5, thanks to the relative flexible connecting straps 8 and 9 couplable to the corresponding coupling elements 6, according to the type of cleaning that the user must perform (sweeping, polishing, the cleaning of vertical surfaces such as glass etc. ); this coupling and uncoupling operation is fast, since the user simply has to insert the body 1 internally to the cup defined by the cleaning accessory 5 and at the same time bring the connecting straps 8 and 9 into contact and relative blocking position with respect to the coupling elements 6. Similarly, for the substitution of the cleaning accessory 5 it is sufficient to distance the connecting tabs 8 and 9 from the coupling elements 6 and remove the cleaning accessory 5 from the body 1. Thanks to the tool it is thus possible to have a single handle (with the possibility of varying its angle with respect to the cleaning plane), a single standard body and a series of accessories, practical and fast in their mounting and change, economical and valis from the point of view of use.

Claims

Claims .

1) A multi-function tool for the cleaning of surfaces, characterised by the fact of comprising:

- a body (1) exhibiting, on the surface (25) opposite to the surface (26) which will face the surfaces to be cleaned, at least one connection seating (3) for a manoeuvring handle (24), said body (1) exhibiting a rough lower surface (26);

- an interchangeable cleaning accessory (5), constituted by a support element for a cleaning means (52), distinct from and couplable to the preceding said body (1); the said support element of the said cleaning accessory (5) being equipped with reciprocal on-off connecting means (4).

2) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the value of the distance between the said connecting means (4) is more than that of the projection of the rough surface of the body (1) of the tool, thus avoiding interference between the said rough surface and the said support element.

3) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said connecting means (4) are constituted by at least one opposing pair of elements (6), each defining substantially a protuberance, realised both on the same surface, and aimed at peπrtiting a stable coupling between the body (1) and the cleaning accessory (5), which cleaning accessory (5) is in its turn equipped with corresponding lexible straps (8) and (9), which are mobile between a non-operative position, wherein the straps (8) and (9) are distanced from the said connecting means (4), to an operative position, wherein the straps (8) and (9) are stably coupled with the respective connecting means (4).

4) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the protuberant coupling elements (6) are constituted by a pair of vertical walls having a bevelled free end, made from and in the body (1) and perpendicularly to it, in a respective smaller side of the quadrangle defined by the body (1), in such a way as to create a stable connecting zone for the connecting straps (8) and (9) of the cleaning accessory (5).

5) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that each connecting strap (8) and (9) is pivoted, with one of its ends, to the edge of the respective smaller side of the cleaning accessory (5) and exhibits in section substantially an upturned L-shaped conformation; at the angle formed by the upturned L a projection (10) is envisaged, which develops in wardly towards the angle in such a way as to define a stable housing notch (11) at the operative position and which by means of elastic flexion and relative elastic return of the projection (10) receives the corresponding coupling element (6).

6) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the flexible connecting straps (8) and (9) emerge from the respective edges of the smaller sides of the cleaning accessory (5) : the first connecting strap (8) exhibits a hook-shaped conformation in section, while the second strap (9) exhibits a conformation in section which is straight and equipped with a second, flexible projection (12) at the upper free end, which projection (12) is transversal to the said second strap (9) so as to define, with the first said strap (8), a first stable connection with the corresponding said coupling element (6) and with the second said strap (9), due to flexion and return of the second projection (12), to effect a stable coupling of the said cleaning accessory (5) to the said body (1) .

7) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said connecting straps (8, 9) are realised at the respective edges of the smaller sides of the said cleaning accessory (5) and both exhibit a substantially hook-shaped section.

8) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said connecting straps (8, 9) are realised at the respective edges of the smaller side of the said cleaning accessory (5) and both exhibit a conformation in section which is substantially straight and are both equipped with a second flexible projection (12) at the upper free end.

9) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said connecting straps (8 and 9) are realised at the respective edges of the smaller sides of the said cleaning accessory (5) and the first said strap (8) exhibits a hook-shaped conformation while the second said strap (9) exhibits an upturned L-shape and is equipped, at the angle formed by the said upturned L, with a flexible projection (10), developing towards the inside of the angle so as to define a stable housing notch (11) for the respective said coupling element (6).

10) A tool as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said coupling straps (8, 9) are realised at the respective edges of the smaller sides of the said cleaning accessory (5) and the first (8) said strap exhibits a straight section conformation and is equipped with a second flexible projection (12) at the free upper end, while the second said strap (9) exhibits an upturned L- shaped conformation in section and is equipped,- at the angle formed by the upturned L, with a flexible projection (10) developing towards the inside of the angle so as to define a stable housing notch (11) for the respective said coupling element (6).

11) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said connecting means (4) are constituted by at least two channels (51) respectively realised on at least two lateral walls of the said body (1) which channels (51) are destined to house the corresponding lateral edges (50) of the cleaning accessory (5) which edges (50) are conformed in a way which is complementary to the said channels (51) .

12) A tool according to claim 11, characterised by the fact that the said channels (51) are realised along the longitudinal walls and the coupling between the said body (1) and the said cleaning accessory (5) is made by a longitudinally-sliding coupling.

13) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said connecting means (4) are constituted by at least one dovetail-conformed projection (54), realised on the upper face of the said cleaning accessory (5) and destined to be inserted internally to a corresponding guide (55), which guide (55) is complementarily shaped with respect to the dovetail projection (54) and realised on the said lower surface (26) of the said body (1), the said dovetail projection (54) and the said guide (55) being arranged longitudinally and the coupling between the said body (1) and the said cleaning accessory (5) being made by longitudinally-sliding coupling.

14) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said body (1) is constituted by a flat quadrangular element and the said rough surface (26) is constituted by a plurality of teeth (13) having a substantially conical profile and being transversally and uniformly arranged on the said surface.

15) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cleaning accessory (5) is constituted by a flat quadrangular element exhibiting superiorly an edge (14) which defines a stable housing cup for the said body (1) and exhibiting inferiorly a cleaning element (15).

16) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cleaning accessory (5) is constituted by a flat quadrangular element exhibiting superiorly an edge (14) which defines a stable housing cup for the said body (1) and, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal development axis (X) of the said flat quadrangular element, a pair of wings (16) and (17), with flat profile and coplanar to the said quadrangular flat element, for the support of a cleaning element (15).

17) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cleaning accessory (5) is constituted by a flat quadrangular element exhibiting superiorly an edge (14) which defines a stable housing cup for the said body (1) and, asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal development axis (X) of the said flat quadrangular element, a wing (18) with an inclined development with respect to the said quadrangular element and exhibiting a central channel (19) developing along the entire length of the said wing (18), which central channel (19) is destined to permit the housing, by means of flexion of the facing portions defined by the channel (19) itself, of a cleaning element (15).

18) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said seating (3) situated on the body (1) of the tool is equipped with a dead hole (33) arranged centrally and destined to receive on-off connecting means for the said handle (24), said connecting means being constituted by: - a first tubular element (30) introducible into the said dead hole (33), internally and externally threaded and equipped at one end with a second, substantially rod- shaped element (31) perpendicular to the axis of the said first element (30) and being longer than the diameter of the said dead hole (33), so as to constitute a stop on the introduction of the said first element (30); a third hollow tubular element (34), threaded internally; the internal thread of the said first element (30) being complementary to that of the said handle (24) and the external thread being complementary to the internal thread of the said third hollow tubular element (34), which once screwed on to the said first element (30), adheres to an upper portion (20) of the body (1) of the tool, blocking the said first element (30) and the handle (24) screwed to it.

19) A tool as in claim 17, characterised by the fact that the said dead hole (33) is trunco-conically shaped and is intersected by two planes parallel between themselves and parallel to the axis of the seating (3), said seating (3) being bilaterally equipped at the side of the said lower surface (26) with a throat pair (32) to receive the said second element (31), in such a way as to permit the blocking of the said first element (30) and the relative handle (24) in differently-angled stable positions with respect to the cleaning.plane.

20) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said surface (25) facing the said lower surface (26) exhibits, centrally, a raised portion (20) on which are realised a first dead hole

(21) developing perpendicularly to to plane of the said surface (25) and a second hole

(22), inclined with respect to the preceding said hole (21) and with respect to the the said surface (25) and defining the said at least one seating (3); each of the said holes (21 and 22) being equipped with a relative thread (23) to permit of their stable coupling with an end of the said handle (24).

21) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cleaning means (52) is constituted by a substantially longitudinally developing element made of spongey material.

22) A tool as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cleaning means (52) is constituted by filament fibres collected in groups or bunches and fixed to a support associated or associable to the said cleaning accessory (5) .