AU2002361377A1

AU2002361377A1 - Floor cleaning device

Info

Publication number: AU2002361377A1
Application number: AU2002361377A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Johannes Engl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2002-12-23
Publication date: 2003-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-23
Also published as: EP1463609B1; NO20043331L; ATE387992T1; EP1463609A1; AU2002361377B2; DE50211860D1; WO2003057419A1; ATA422002A; AT411815B

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device comprising a base plate (1) and a handle retaining sleeve (7), which is connected in an articulated manner to said plate. A coupling part (12) of the handle can be inserted into and fixed in the handle retaining sleeve (7). At least one detent tongue is provided in the wall of the handle retaining sleeve (7). Said tongue (14), provided with a detent lug (16) that projects inwards, stands free of the wall by means of slits and its free end can be deflected in a radial direction. The coupling part (12) has at least one detent recess (17) and said part (12) can be inserted into the handle retaining sleeve (7) by the outward radial deflection of the detent tongue(s) (14) on said sleeve (7), whereby the detent lug (16) of the detent tongue (14) on the handle retaining sleeve (7) is snapped into the detent recess (17) of the coupling part (12).

Description

Commonwealth of Australia Patents, Trade Marks and Designs Acts VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION I Thomas Ermer of Wordmaster Translation P/L, 19 High Road, Camberwell, 3124 am the translator of the English language document attached and I state that the attached document is a true translation to the best of my knowledge and belief of a)* PCT International Application No. PCT/AT02/00364 as filed on 23.12.2002 (with amendments). b)* A certified copy of the specification accompanying Patent (Utility Model Application No. filed in on c)* Trade Mark Application No. filed in o d)* Design Application No. filed in on *Delete inapplicable clauses D ated this........... 2 5 th..........................day of ........................ June........................................2004 Signature of Translator.... ....................... ..... ... .................. N N No1 73 THOMAS ERMER TRANSignature SLAOR F.B. RICE & CO. PATENTENGLISH F.B. RICE & CO. PATENT AT EYgs Floor cleaning device The invention concerns a floor cleaning device with a base plate and a handle holder sleeve articulately connected with the latter, into which a coupling piece of 5 the handle can be inserted, that can be secured in the handle holder sleeve. Such floor cleaning devices, to which a floor cleaning cloth can be attached for the cleaning of a surface, are known in Various embodiments. Not only floor surfaces, but also wall surfaces, for example tiled walls, or decking surfaces can 10 be cleaned with such floor cleaning devices. To connect the base plate with a handle, various handle holders have become known in conjunction with such floor cleaning devices. For example, a handle holder sleeve, articulately connected with the base plate, may have an inside 15 thread, into which a coupling piece, having an external thread, can be screwed. A disadvantage of this handle holder is, that the connection of the handle with the base plate is relatively cumbersome and that this connection may inadvertently loosened during use, so that the rotation-preventing guiding of the base plate relative to the handle is lost and the connection has to be retightened. 20 A further clamping connection between a handle holder sleeve and a tapered coupling piece is known, wherein the coupling piece is pushed into the handle holder sleeve until the coupling piece is jammed in. The disadvantage of this is that if the jamming is insufficient, the base plate may be inadvertently loosened 25 during use, whereas in the case of too strong a jamming the coupling piece can be pulled out from the handle holder sleeve only by using great force. In the case of a further prior known handle holder the coupling piece has a passing through hole, with which at a specified rotated position of the coupling 30 piece relative to the handle holder sleeve, holes provided in diametrally opposing positions in the handle holder sleeve, will become aligned. A locking pin is provided to secure the coupling piece in the handle holder sleeve, said locking pin being inserted through an opening in the handle holder sleeve, the passing through hole of the coupling piece as well as the opposite situated hole in the 2 handle holder sleeve. Such a handle holder is known from DE 19 916 555 Al. So that to have an automatic alignment of the rotated position of the coupling piece relative to the handle holder sleeve during the insertion of the coupling piece into the handle holder sleeve, so that the holes in the handle holder sleeve would 5 align with the hole in the coupling piece, in the case of this prior known handle holder associated bevelled surfaces are provided at the front end of the coupling piece and at the bottom of the handle holder sleeve. A particular disadvantage of this handle holder is, that the locking pin, forming a relatively small single part, may get lost, for example when it is misplaced after being pulled out from the 10 handle holder sleeve and the removal of the coupling piece. The object of the invention is to produce a floor cleaning device with an improved handle holder, that is simple in its construction and is simple and fast in its operation. According to the invention this is achieved by a floor cleaning device 15 having the features of claim 1. In the case of the floor cleaning device according to the invention to secure the handle the coupling piece is inserted into the handle holder sleeve and possibly rotated relative to the handle holder sleeve, until the locking lug of the at least 20 one locking tab snaps into the locking recess. In a preferred embodiment of the invention on the outside of the handle holder sleeve a further displaceably mounted locking slide is provided, that in an advantageous manner can be constructed as a sleeve surrounding the handle holder sleeve. In that position, in which it locks the coupling piece, a rigid wall of this locking slide abuts against the 25 outside of at least one locking tab and blocks the outward deflection of this locking tab. This will prevent the pulling out of the locking lug of this locking tab from the locking recess of the coupling piece. Basically it is conceivable and feasible to omit such a locking slide. In that case a 30 locking of the coupling piece in the handle holder sleeve can be carried out either in a different manner or the locking connection will be so designed, that the pulling out of the coupling piece from its locked position in the handle holder sleeve requires a force that is greater than the force normally arising during the use of the floor cleaning device.

3 It is a further advantage when the coupling piece at its front end has a tapered construction and/or the locking lugs of the locking tabs of the handle holder sleeve are bevelled in the direction of the insertion opening of the handle holder sleeve in such a manner, that during the insertion of the coupling piece the 5 locking tabs of the handle holder sleeve are deflected outwards. Consequently no further manipulations of the parts of the locking connection are necessary to introduce the coupling piece into the handle holder sleeve and to lock it. Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below based on the 10 embodiment illustrated in the drawing. The drawings show in: Fig.1 - a side view of a floor cleaning device according to the invention with a coupling piece of a handle inserted into the handle holder sleeve, wherein the sleeve-shaped locking slide is illustrated in the end position towards 15 the base plate; Fig.2 - a vertical central longitudinal section of the floor cleaning device of Fig.1; Fig.3 - a section of the floor cleaning device corresponding to Fig.2, but with the 20 sleeve-shaped locking slide displaced into its top end position and without the inserted coupling piece; Fig.4 - a top view on the floor cleaning device with the coupling piece inserted in that position of the sleeve-shaped locking slide in which the knuckle joint is 25 released and with the handle holder sleeve at an angle relative to the base plate; Fig.5 - a section along the line A-A of Fig.4, and 30 Fig.6 - a perspective explosive illustration of the housing of the base plate and of the handle holder. The base plate 1 of the embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention illustrated in the figures comprises two pivoting plates 4, mounted on a 4 housing 2 and pivoting about pivot axes 3, wherein said pivoting plates can be locked relative to the housing 2 in a position in which they are essentially in one plane, as this is illustrated in the figures. For the release of this locking an actuating lever 5 is provided, whereupon the pivoting plates, seen in Fig.1, can be 5 pivoted downwards. Floor cleaning devices with pivotable pivoting plates are known from various conventional floor cleaning devices and can be constructed, for example, in a known manner. This is also valid for the cloth holding plates 6 that are pivotably mounted on the pivoting plates 4 and can be locked relative to them. To clean the surface of a floor, wall or decking surface, a floor cleaning 10 cloth, arranged on the underside of the base plate 1 may be provided, and connected with it by means, for example, of cloth holding plates 6 or by straps, arranged on the top side of the floor cleaning cloth, into which the lateral ends of the pivoting plates 4 can be introduced. 15 A handle holder sleeve 7 is connected with the housing 2 of the base plate via a knuckle joint 8. The knuckle joint 8 has two pivot axes 9, 10, which are at right angles to one another. On that side which is averted from the knuckle joint 8, the handle holder sleeve 7 has an insertion opening 11, into which a coupling piece 12 of a handle can be introduced. The end section of the handle shaft 13, that 20 can have a telescopic construction, is indicated by dotted lines in Figs.1, 2, 4 and 5. In the wall of the handle holder sleeve 7 two locking tabs 14, produced by slots, are provided at diametrically opposed positions, said locking tabs extending in the 25 axial direction of the handle holder sleeve 7 and having a certain elasticity, so that their free ends can deflect in the radial direction. On each locking tab 14 an inward projecting locking lug 16 is provided that in the non-deflected position of the locking tab projects past the inner circumference 15 of the wall of the handle holder sleeve 7. 30 On radially opposite sides the coupling piece 12 has locking recesses 17 and has a certain tapered construction towards its front free end.

5 When inserting the coupling piece 12 into the handle holder sleeve 7, the locking tabs 14 are first deflected radially outward by the coupling piece. When, after inserting the coupling piece up to the stop 18, that is formed by a reduction of the diameter of the handle holder sleeve, the locking lugs 16 do not snap into the 5 locking recesses 17, the handle with the coupling piece 12 is rotated until the locking lugs 16 snap into the locking recesses 17. Thus a first securing of the coupling piece 12 in the handle holder sleeve 7 is achieved. To lock the coupling piece 12, inserted into the handle holder sleeve 7 and 10 secured in it by means of the above described snap locking, a further sleeve shaped locking slide 19 is also provided, that surrounds the handle holder sleeve 7 on its outside and is displaceable relative to it in the axial direction of the handle holder sleeve 7. In its end position, when the sleeve-shaped locking slide 19 is displaced towards the free end of the handle holder sleeve 7, the rigid external 15 wall of the locking slide 19 abuts against the outside of one of the two locking tabs 14 (in Fig.1 against that on the rear of the handle holder sleeve 7 and in Fig.5 the locking tab 14 on top). On the locking slide 19 a further locking tab 20, that is produced by slots against 20 the wall of the locking slide, is provided, with an inward projecting locking lug 21 being provided on said locking tab. The locking lug can be elastically deflected in the radial direction and in the non-deflected position of the locking tab 20 the locking lug 21 projects past the inside surface of the locking slide. On the outside of the handle holder sleeve 7 a locking recess 22, allocated to this locking lug 21 25 of the locking tab 20 of the locking slide 19, is provided, said locking recess provided on the outside of the locking tab 14 of the handle holder sleeve 7, shown in Fig.1 at the front. In that end position of the locking slide 19, in which it is displaced towards the free end of the handle holder sleeve 7, the locking lug 21 of the locking slide can snap into the locking recess 22, so that in the locked 30 position of the coupling piece 12 the locking slide 19 is secured against an axial displacement on the handle holder sleeve 7. To prevent a rotation of the locking slide 19 relative to the handle holder sleeve 7 a securing against rotation is formed by an axially extending spring 23 on the 6 handle holder sleeve and an associated groove 24 on the inside surface of the locking slide. The locking tab 20 of the locking slide 19 with the locking lug 21 and the locking 5 recess 22 of the handle holder sleeve 7 could be basically also provided at other associated positions of the locking slide 19 and the handle holder sleeve 7. In that end position of the sleeve-shaped locking slide 19, in which it is displaced towards the direction of the base plate 1, it surrounds the knuckle joint 8 and 10 locks it. It is conceivable and possible to provide only one locking tab 14 on the handle holder sleeve 7, the locking lug 16 of said locking tab interacting with a locking recess 17 in the coupling piece 12. More than two such locking tabs 14 may be 15 also provided. These locking tabs 14 may also originate from the free end of the handle holder sleeve 7.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning device with a base plate (1) and a handle holder sleeve (7) articulately connected with the latter, into which a coupling piece (12) of the 5 handle, that can be secured in the handle holder sleeve (7), can be inserted, characterised in that in the wall of the handle holder sleeve (7) at least one locking tab (14), produced by slots in the wall, is provided, the free end of which can deflect in the radial direction, with an inward projecting locking lug (16) provided on said locking tab, and the coupling piece (12) has at least one 10 locking recess (17), whereby the coupling piece (12) can be introduced into the handle holder sleeve (7) by radially outward deflecting the at least one locking tab (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7) and the locking lug (16) of the locking tab (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7) can snap into the locking recess (17) of the coupling piece (12). 15

2. A floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterised in that in the radially non-deflected position of the locking tab (14) the locking lug (16) of the at least one locking tab (14) projects past the inner circumference (15) of the wall of the handle holder sleeve (7). 20

3. A floor cleaning device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that to lock the coupling piece (12) inserted into and secured in the handle holder sleeve (7) a locking slide (19) is displaceable mounted on the outside of the handle holder sleeve (7), said locking slide abutting with a rigid wall against 25 the outside of at least one locking tab (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7) and blocking the outward deflection of this locking tab (14) when it is in the position in which it locks the coupling piece (12).

4. A floor cleaning device according to claim 3, characterised in that the locking 30 slide (19) is displaceably mounted in the axial direction of the handle holder sleeve (7). 8

5. A floor cleaning device according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that a securing against rotation is provided for the locking slide (19) to prevent a rotation of the locking slide (19) relative to the handle holder sleeve (7). 5

6. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the locking slide (19) surrounds the handle holder sleeve (7) in the form of a sleeve and is displaceable relative to it in the axial direction of the handle holder sleeve 7, while in that end position, in which it is displaced towards the base plate (1), it releases one or several locking tabs (14) and in that end 10 position, wherein it is displaced towards the free end of the handle holder sleeve (7) it blocks the outward deflection of at least one locking tab.

7. A floor cleaning device according to claim 6, characterised in that the handle holder sleeve (7) is connected with the base plate via (1) via a knuckle joint 15 (8) and the sleeve-shaped locking slide (19), when it is displaced towards the base plate (1), surrounds the knuckle joint (8) on its outside and locks it.

8. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least two locking tabs (14) situated preferably diametrally opposing 20 one another of the handle holder sleeve (7), are provided.

9. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that at least one locking tab (20), produced by slots in the wall of the locking slide, is provided on the locking slide (19), on said locking tab an inward 25 projecting locking lug (21) is provided, while on the outside of the handle holder sleeve (7) a locking recess (22), allocated to this locking lug (21), is provided, into which the locking lug (21) can snap in when the locking slide (19) is displaced in its end position towards the free end of the handle holder sleeve (7). 30

10. A floor cleaning device according to claim 9, characterised in that the locking recess (22) for the locking lug (21) of the locking tab (20) of the locking sleeve (19) is provided on the outside of one of the locking tab (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7). 9

11. A floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that at its front end the coupling piece (12) has a tapered construction and/or the locking lugs (16) of the locking tabs (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7) are bevelled in the direction of the insertion opening (11) of the 5 handle holder sleeve (7) in such a manner, that during the insertion of the coupling piece (12) the locking tabs (14) of the handle holder sleeve (7) are deflected outwards.