WO2005074781A2

WO2005074781A2 - Method and device for cleaning a surface, in particular a floor

Info

Publication number: WO2005074781A2
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000086
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Maas; Petrus Lambertus Wilhelmus Hurkmans
Original assignee: Afa Polytek B.V.
Priority date: 2004-02-06
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: WO2005074781A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a surface, such as a floor, making use of a cleaning device (101) comprising a handle (102), a mopping member (104) fixed to an end of the handle and means (107) for dosed dispensing of a cleaning agent, wherein the length of the handle (102), the working width of the mopping member (104) and/or the distribution of the cleaning agent is or are adjusted prior to and/or during cleaning. The invention further relates to a cleaning device (101) for use in this method. Such a cleaning device comprises a handle (102), a mopping member (104) fixed to an end of the handle and means (107) for dosed dispensing of a cleaning agent. The mopping member (104) can be adjustable or exchangeable. In addition or instead, the dispensing means (107), which dispense the cleaning agent in distributed manner in width direction of the mopping member (104), can be adapted to vary the distribution, and the handle (102) can be adjustable in longitudinal direction.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLEANING A SURFACE, IN PARTICULAR A FLOOR

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a surface, in particular a floor, as specified in the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a device for performing this method as according to the preamble of claim 2. Such a cleaning device, which is also referred to as a spray mop, is known and marketed under the name Leifheit PicoSpray. The known device has a handle with a mopping member, the so-called floor plate, which is arranged hingedly on the underside thereof and around which a mopping cloth can be wrapped. In order to improve the cleaning action compared to conventional mops, a spraying system is further arranged on the underside of the handle, close to the attachment point of the floor plate, with which a cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the floor. The spraying system consists of a pump part with a spray nozzle and a detachable reservoir for the cleaning agent. The reservoir is elongate and is placed along the handle. The spraying system is operated by means of a lever or trigger which is arranged on the upper part of the handle and which is connected to the pump via a rod or other transmission member. Compared to other known cleaning mops, which have a dispensing system for cleaning agent which operates on the basis of gravity, this spray mop has the advantage that the dispensed quantity of cleaning agent does not depend on the position of the handle, and therefore of the reservoir.

Because the cleaning liquid is forced out of the reservoir under pressure by the pump, the dispensed quantity is always constant, even when the handle with the reservoir is being held practically horizontal. It is hereby also possible to clean under furniture. Because the pump of the known spray mop is further provided with a pre-pressure system, the cleaning liquid is moreover atomized finely and uniformly. The cleaning action is hereby improved, while the formation of large drops or even pools of the cleaning agent, a problem of simple spray mops, is prevented in efficient manner. The invention now has for its object to further improve the known spray mop such that it can be more readily modified to different types of use. The method according to the invention which can be applied by making use of the improved cleaning device is distinguished from the known cleaning method in that the length of the handle, the working width of the at least one mopping member and/or the distribution of the cleaning agent is/are adjusted prior to and/or during cleaning. An optimal cleaning can thus be ensured under all circumstances, while the person performing the method can always find an ideal posture while working. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this is achieved with a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 2, in that the at least one mopping member can be adjusted substantially transversely of the handle. In this manner the width of the path which can be cleaned in one operation can be varied. For heavily soiled surfaces it is thus possible to opt for a small working width, whereby an intensive cleaning is ensured, while a greater width can be adjusted for less soiled surfaces, whereby it is possible to work more quickly. A structurally simple cleaning device is obtained when the at least one mopping member comprises a basic body which is fixed to the handle and to which at least one extension piece is movably connected. In order to enable maximum widening of the mopping member, it is recommended that the cleaning device is provided with two extension pieces which are movably connected to the basic body on either side of the point of attachment to the handle. So as to ensure that the mopping member is symmetrical relative to the handle under all circumstances, the extension pieces are preferably synchronously movable. A structurally simple embodiment is achieved when the or each extension piece is received slidably in the basic body. A similar effect can be achieved when the fixing means are detachable and the cleaning device comprises a number of exchangeable mopping members of diverse dimensions. The width of the path which can be cleaned in one operation can after all also be varied by exchanging the mopping members. The cleaning device can moreover be readily arranged in a transport and sales package by detaching the mopping member . A structurally simple cleaning device is in this case obtained when the at least one mopping member is connected to the handle for pivoting about a shaft, and the pivot shaft is releasable. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cleaning device of the above described type, which is improved relative to the known spray mop in that the dispensing means, which dispense the cleaning agent in distributed manner in width direction of the at least one mopping member, are adapted to vary the distribution. In this manner the width of the area over which the cleaning agent is distributed can be set as required. It is again the case here that a small spraying width is chosen for heavily soiled surfaces, whereby a relatively large quantity of cleaning agent is dispensed per unit of area for an intensive cleaning, while for less soiled surfaces the cleaning agent can be distributed over a larger area to enable faster working. A simple adjustment of the spraying width is achieved when the dispensing means comprise at least one spray nozzle and are adapted to vary the distance between the at least one spray nozzle and the at least one mopping member. By varying the height of the spray cone, a wider or less wide spray cone is formed on the surface for cleaning without the form of the spray nozzle having to be adjusted for this purpose. This height adjustment can be realized in simple manner when the dispensing means are fixed to the handle and the at least one spray nozzle is movable in longitudinal direction of the handle. Another option for adjusting the spray width consists of the dispensing means being adapted to vary the direction of the at least one spray nozzle relative to the at least one mopping member. By varying the direction of the spray nozzle the spray cone will come to lie on the surface for cleaning further or less far in front of the mopping member, so that a wider or less wide spray cone is again formed there while the form of the spray nozzle remains the same. In addition or instead, the dispensing means can have at least one receiving part in which a spray nozzle can be releasably received, and they can further comprise a number of exchangeable spray nozzles of varying form. A wider or less wide spray cone can thus be obtained by exchanging the spray nozzles. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the ergonomic characteristics of a cleaning device of the above discussed type are improved in that the handle is adjustable in longitudinal direction. Adjusting the length of the handle to the height of the user avoids the latter having to assume an unhealthy, for instance somewhat bent, working posture. When the handle carries an operating member for the dispensing means, it is in that case recommended that the operating member is connected to the handle such that, when the handle is adjusted, the distance between the operating member and the dispensing means remains substantially constant. For the connection between the operating member and the dispensing means use can thus be made of a transmission member of constant length, which is structurally simple. Testing has shown that, also in the case of persons of greatly varying height, the variation in the height at which the hands are situated is relatively small, so that a constant height of the operating member, which furthermore need only be operated periodically, does not have to form an obstacle to finding an ergonomically sound working posture. A structurally simple embodiment is in this case obtained when the handle comprises a basic part to which the at least one mopping member and the dispensing means are fixed, in addition to an upper part slidable relative thereto, and the operating member is mounted on the basic part. When the basic part of the handle is received between an upper collar part, which comprises an adjusting mechanism for the upper part, and a lower collar part which comprises the fixing means for the mopping member, a handle is obtained which is easy to construct and assemble. The dispensing means of the cleaning device according to the invention can comprise in known manner a pump mounted on the handle and a reservoir for the cleaning agent connected to the pump. In order to arrive at this assembly with the smallest possible number of components having the simplest possible form, it is recommended that the reservoir is tubular, extends along the handle and is received between the upper and the lower collar part, and the pump is received in the lower collar part. Finally, the operating member is preferably pivotally mounted in the upper collar part and connected to the pump by a sleeve extending at least partially around the basic part of the handle and being slidable relative thereto. The basic part can thus be used wholly to receive the upper part telescopically, without the operation of the pump being affected thereby. Conversely, it is also possible to envisage the reservoir being releasably connected via a connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece is then preferably formed and dimensioned such that it is suitable for connection to reservoirs of varying volume. Depending on the degree of soiling of the surface, the device can thus be used with a larger or smaller reservoir. The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of the connection between the handle and the mopping member of this cleaning device, Fig. 3A-3C are perspective views of the device with detached mopping member and reservoir, respectively with small and large reservoir in mounted state, Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the pump of the cleaning device according to this embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5 is a perspective view with exploded parts of the operating member of this cleaning device, Fig. 6A and 6B show top views of the mopping member of this cleaning device in retracted and extended position, Fig. 7A en 7B show respectively a front and side view of the variation in the height of the spray nozzle and the associated change of the spray cone, Fig. 8 is a schematic view indicating how a correct working posture can be found by adjusting the handle length, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view of the cleaning device of fig. 9, Fig. 11 shows a cross-section of the connection between the basic part and the upper part of the handle, with therein the operating member of the dispensing means, Fig. 12 is a cross-section through the dispensing means of the cleaning device according to this embodiment of the invention, Fig. 13 is a perspective view with exploded parts of this cleaning device, Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a part of the pump and an exchangeable spray nozzle according to yet another embodiment of the cleaning device, Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another spray nozzle for use in the pump of fig. 14, Fig. 16 and 17 show perspective views of the variation in the direction of the spray nozzle of yet another embodiment of the device, as well as the associated change of the spray cone, and Fig. 18 and 19 are perspective views indicating how the mopping member can be fixed to the handle. A first embodiment of a device 1 for cleaning a surface, for instance a floor F, comprises a handle 2 and a plate-like mopping member 4 connected to bottom end 3 of handle 2 (fig. 1) . The upper end 5 of handle 2 has a knob 6 on which cleaning device 1 can be grasped and hung up. Mopping member 4 is provided in the usual manner with clamps 33 in which a mopping cloth 34 wrapped around mopping member 4 can be attached. In the shown embodiment the bottom end 3 of handle 2 is connected to means 7 for dispensing a cleaning agent, and these dispensing means 7 are in turn attached to a coupling piece 8. This coupling piece 8 is finally connected to mopping member 4 for pivoting about two mutually perpendicular shafts 9, 10 (fig. 2) . Dispensing means 7 here take the form of a pump 11 and a reservoir 12, which is connected releasably to pump 11 via a connecting piece 13 (fig. 3A) . Pump 11 is a pre- pressure or pre-compression pump of the general type which is marketed by applicant under the name OpAd™. This pump 11 comprises a cylinder 14 in which a piston 15 can be moved up and downward (fig. 4) . Piston 15, which is biased to its highest position by a spring 16, is operated by an operating member 17 to be discussed hereinbelow. Cylinder 14 is connected via a suction line 18 to reservoir 12, and via a pressure line 19 to spray nozzle 20 which will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow. As stated, reservoir 12 is connected releasably to pump 11 and can thus be replenished or replaced when the supply of cleaning liquid received therein is exhausted, or when the use of a different cleaning agent is desired.

Connecting piece 13 takes a universal form such that it can receive reservoirs 12S, 12L (fig. 3B, 3C) of varying dimensions . Operating member 17 is mounted on handle 2 of cleaning device 1 at a distance from dispensing means 7. It takes the form of a lever or trigger which is pivotable around a shaft 21 (fig. 5) . Placed between operating member 17 and piston 15 is a transmission element 22, here in the form of a rod running through handle 2. By pressing the lever 17 to handle 2 the rod 22, and therewith piston 15, is pressed downward in cylinder 14 counter to the biasing force of spring 16, whereby a quantity of cleaning agent is dispensed and atomized. In order to improve the operation and handling thereof compared to conventional spray mops, cleaning device 1 according to the present invention can be adjusted in different ways. Mopping member 4 is thus adjustable in its width direction B to enable the working width of device 1 to be adapted to the degree of soiling of surface F. For this purpose the mopping member 4 consists of a basic body 23 and two extension pieces 24 which are placed on either side of the attachment of basic body 23 to handle 2 (fig. 6) . In the shown embodiment these extension pieces 24 are formed by U-shaped wire brackets which are received in basic body 23 and slidable between a retracted position (fig. 6A) , in which the working width is minimal, and a fully extended position (fig. 6B) for a maximum working width.

Extension pieces 24 have protruding parts 25 which protrude through slots 26 in basic body 23 and can engage with serrated edges of slots 26. A position of extension pieces 24 which is extended in greater or lesser measure is hereby defined. Since the serration of the edges functions as marking, it is possible to place extension pieces 24 in precisely the same position, so that in widened state the mopping member 4 also remains symmetrical relative to handle 2. This same effect could be achieved by a synchronizing mechanism between extension pieces 24. The spraying width of dispensing means 7 can also be adjusted. In the shown embodiment the distance between spray nozzle 20 and mopping member 4, and thereby thus the height h of spray nozzle 20 above the (floor) surface F for cleaning, can be varied for this purpose. Spray nozzle 20 is received slidably in a slot 27 and is provided with a knob 28 protruding outside slot 27, whereby it can be displaced. Spray nozzle 20 is connected to a chamber 30, into which pressure line 19 debouches, via a hose 28 which is displaceable in a tube 29. Because spray nozzle 20 forms a spray cone C with a fixed apex angle Y, an increase in the distance h between spray nozzle 20 and the surface F for cleaning, thus raising of spray cone C, results in a proportional enlargement of the base of cone C, thus the spraying width b of dispensing means 7, as can be seen by comparing the top and bottom half of fig. 7A with each other. Finally, the length of handle 2 is also adjustable.

For this purpose handle 2 takes a telescopic form, with a basic part 31 on which mopping member 4 and dispensing means 7 are mounted, and an upper part 32 which is received in basic part 31 and slidable between a fully retracted position, in which the length of handle 2 is minimal (fig. 8, left-hand side) , and a fully extended position with a maximum handle length (fig. 8, right-hand side). In order to fix upper part 32 in basic part 31 in one of these extreme positions or in a random intermediate position, use is made in the shown embodiment of a per se known clamping mechanism 35 which does not form part of the invention and is not therefore described in detail here. In order to be able to make use of a simple, rigid transmission element 22 for the connection between operating member 17 and pump 11, a choice has been made in the shown embodiment to attach operating member 17 on basic part 31 of handle 2. The distance of operating member 17 to pump 11 hereby remains constant, irrespective of the extent to which handle 2 is extended. In an alternative embodiment of the cleaning device 101 (fig. 9) , basic part 131 of handle 102 is received between a lower collar part 108, which carries the dispensing means 107, and an upper collar part 121 in which operating member 117 is mounted. The lower collar part 108 is connected to mopping member 104 via attaching means 134, again in the form of two mutually perpendicular pivot shafts 109, 110. This mopping member 104 is otherwise provided on its underside with strips of Velcro 33 to which can be attached a mopping cloth (not shown here) to be wrapped round mopping member 104. In this embodiment the reservoir 112 is tubular and can be manufactured simply and at low cost by extrusion from plastic. In order to allow replenishing of reservoir 112, it is open on its top side. This open top side is sealed by a valve 143 incorporated in upper collar part 121. In this embodiment of cleaning device 101 use is made of a pump 111, of which both the suction line 118 and the pressure line 119 are connected to cylinder 114 via a cylindrical intermediate chamber 135 (fig. 11) . In this intermediate chamber 135 is accommodated an elastically deformable sealing ring 136 which is sealed on its upper side by a dome-shaped membrane 137. Sealing ring 136 is provided on its periphery with a number of annular sealing lips 138, which deform together with membrane 137 under the influence of the underpressure and overpressure generated by piston 115, and thereby determine the direction of flow of the cleaning agent through intermediate chamber 135. As stated, in this embodiment the operating member

117 is pivotally mounted in upper collar part 121. This upper collar part is herein formed by a lower shell 129 and an upper shell 130, between which the operating member 117 is clamped. The transmission element 122 here takes the form of a sleeve which partly encloses handle 102 and which is slidable in lower shell 129 of collar part 121. Sleeve 122 is connected on its underside by a pin 139 protruding through a slot 140 in handle 102 to a pressing element 141, which in turn engages on piston 115. By pivoting the trigger 117 toward handle 102, the sleeve 122 and thereby, via pressing element 141, the piston 115, is pressed downward in cylinder 114 counter to the biasing force of spring 116, whereby a quantity of cleaning agent is dispensed and atomized. The adjustability of the cleaning device 101 sought after with the invention is achieved in this embodiment as follows. Firstly, mopping member 104 is releasable and exchangeable so as to enable adjustment of the working width of device 101. For this purpose the lower pivot shaft 110 of attaching means 134 is arranged on a slide 123 which is slidable in a groove 124 in mopping member 104. Pivot shaft 110 can hereby be displaced between an unlocked position (fig. 18), in which the space between two ears 125 on mopping member 104 is left clear so that a cross piece 126 of attaching means 134 can be received therein, and a locked position, in which shaft 110 extends between ears 125 (fig. 19) . In addition, so as to allow adjustment of the spraying width of dispensing means 107, the distance between spray nozzle 120 and mopping member 104, and therewith thus the height h of spray nozzle 120 above the (floor) surface F for cleaning, can be varied. Spray nozzle 120 is received in a housing 127 which is received in turn in a recess in the lower collar part 108. Comparison of fig. 12 and fig. 14 shows that spray nozzle 120' can be placed at a different, lower height h ' above floor F by using a different housing In yet another embodiment of cleaning device 201 (fig. 16, 17), spray nozzle 220 is received in lower collar part 208 for pivoting about a horizontal axis and is connected to a protruding rotary knob 228. By varying the direction of spray nozzle 220 the distance d covered by spray cone C - at a uniform pump pressure - before making contact with the surface F for cleaning is increased or reduced. Because spray nozzle 220 forms a spray cone C with a fixed apex angle Y, this increase in the distance d between spray nozzle 220 and the surface for cleaning F results in a proportional increase in the base of cone C, and thus the spraying width b of dispensing means 207. A similar effect could of course be achieved by fixing the position of spray nozzle 220, but varying the form thereof, and therewith the apex angle Y of spray cone C. This is possible for instance by replacing the single spray nozzle 120' of fig. 14 with a double divergent spray nozzle 120" (fig. 15) . Finally, in this embodiment the length of handle 2 is also adjustable in that the upper part 132 is slidable in basic part 131 between a fully retracted position (not shown here) , in which knob 106 rests on the upper collar part 121 and the length of handle 102 is minimal, and a fully extended position with a maximum handle length (fig. 9, 10) . For fixing of upper part 132 in basic part 131 use is again made of a conventional clamping mechanism 142 not described in detail . Because in this embodiment of cleaning device 101 the reservoir 112, basic part 131 of handle 102 and operating sleeve 122 are enclosed together between lower collar part

108 and upper collar part 121, and because the upper part 132 of handle 102 can slide wholly into basic part 131, a compact whole is obtained which can be readily accommodated in a transport and sales package. Another factor here is that mopping member 104 can be easily detached from handle 102 and placed alongside it in the package. The cleaning device according to the invention thus enables simple adjustment of the working width of both the mopping member and the sprayer to the degree of soiling, as well as adjustment of the length of the total device to the length of the user, whereby any user can find a working posture which is optimal from an ergonomic viewpoint. Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. The different new aspects of the cleaning device can thus each be applied per se in combination with an otherwise conventional device while retaining the advantages associated therewith. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. Method for cleaning a surface, in particular a floor, making use of a cleaning device comprising a handle, at least one mopping member fixed to an end of the handle and means for dosed dispensing of a cleaning agent, characterized in that the length of the handle, the working width of the at least one mopping member and/or the distribution of the cleaning agent is/are adjusted prior to and/or during cleaning.

2. Device for cleaning a surface, in particular a floor, comprising a handle, at least one mopping member fixed to an end of the handle and means for dosed dispensing of a cleaning agent, characterized in that the at least one mopping member can be adjusted substantially transversely of the handle.

3. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the at least one mopping member comprises a basic body which is fixed to the handle and to which at least one extension piece is movably connected.

4. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 3, characterized by two extension pieces which are movably connected to the basic body on either side of the point of attachment to the handle.

5. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the extension pieces are synchronously movable.

6. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 3-5, characterized in that the or each extension piece is received slidably in the basic body.

7. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the mopping member is attached to the handle via releasable fixing means, and the cleaning device comprises a number of exchangeable mopping members of diverse dimensions .

8. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the at least one mopping member is connected to the handle for pivoting about a shaft, and the pivot shaft is releasable.

9. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 2-8 or the preamble of claim 2, characterized in that the dispensing means, which dispense the cleaning agent in distributed manner in width direction of the at least one mopping member, are adapted to vary the distribution.

10. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the dispensing means comprise at least one spray nozzle and are adapted to vary the distance between the at least one spray nozzle and the at least one mopping member .

11. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the dispensing means are fixed to the handle and the at least one spray nozzle is movable in longitudinal direction of the handle.

12. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the dispensing means are adapted to vary the direction of the at least one spray nozzle relative to the at least one mopping member.

13. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims

10-12, characterized in that the dispensing means have at least one receiving part in which a spray nozzle can be releasably received, and comprise a number of exchangeable spray nozzles of varying form.

14. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims

2-13 or the preamble of claim 2, characterized in that the handle is adjustable in longitudinal direction.

15. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the handle carries an operating member for the dispensing means, which operating member is connected to the handle such that, when the handle is adjusted, the distance between the operating member and the dispensing means remains substantially constant.

16. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the handle comprises a basic part to which the at least one mopping member and the dispensing means are fixed, in addition to an upper part slidable relative thereto, and the operating member is mounted on the basic part.

17. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the basic part of the handle is received between an upper collar part, which comprises an adjusting mechanism for the upper part, and a lower collar part which comprises the fixing means for the mopping member.

18. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 2-17, characterized in that the dispensing means comprise a pump mounted on the handle and a reservoir for the cleaning agent connected to the pump.

19. Cleaning device as claimed in claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the reservoir is tubular, extends along the handle and is received between the upper and the lower collar part, and the pump is received in the lower collar part.

20. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the operating member is pivotally mounted in the upper collar part and connected to the pump by a sleeve extending at least partially around the basic part of the handle and being slidable relative thereto.

21. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the reservoir is releasably connected to the pump via a connecting piece, which connecting piece is formed and dimensioned such that it is suitable for connection to reservoirs of varying volume.