[0001] The present invention concerns a container particularly suitable for cleaning floors
or other surfaces, as well as a cleaning device comprising the above mentioned container.
[0002] As is known, various types of cleaning buckets, especially those used for cleaning
floors for professional and domestic purposes, are associated with cloth wringers.
[0003] Said cloth wringers generally comprise one pair of opposite surfaces between which
the cloths to be wrung are interposed, said cloths being usually fixed to the end
of a stick that is gripped by the cleaner during the cleaning operations.
[0004] The surfaces can be mutually moved in relation to each other and they can be controlled
in such a way as to move them near each other in order to press the cloths.
[0005] The wringers of known type are positioned on the upper edge of a bucket which collects
the squeezed liquid and with which a second bucket containing clean water is generally
associated.
[0006] Such a cleaning device, comprising the two buckets mentioned above and the wringer
positioned on one of them, offers the undoubted advantage of making the surface cleaning
operations simpler and more comfortable, but also poses some drawbacks.
[0007] A first drawback is represented by the large number of parts that make up the wringer,
whose cost thus substantially affects the cost of the device as a whole.
[0008] A further drawback lies in that the wringer is rather bulky if compared to the bucket,
which makes the cleaning device difficult to store.
[0009] Another drawback posed by the cleaning devices of known type is represented by the
instability of the wringer which, since it simply rests on the bucket edge, can move
in relation to the latter, thus making the whole cleaning device rather uncomfortable
to use.
[0010] In the attempt to eliminate the drawback described above, in some known embodiments
the wringer is coupled to the upper edge of the bucket via removable connection means.
[0011] The above mentioned connection means, however, pose the drawback that they further
increase the construction complexity of the device and consequently also its cost.
[0012] The object of the present invention is to overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks
that are typical of the cleaning devices of known type.
[0013] In particular, it is a first object of the invention to produce a wringer associated
with a cleaning container that has a smaller number of components than the wringers
associated with the containers of known type described above.
[0014] It is also the object of the invention to propose a cleaning container and device
provided with a wringer, whose overall dimensions are smaller than those of analogous
devices of known type.
[0015] It is a further, yet not least important object of the invention to ensure that the
wringer is stable during use.
[0016] The objects described above are achieved by a cleaning container carried out according
to the main claim.
[0017] The same objects are achieved also by a cleaning device carried out according to
claim 14.
[0018] Other details of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
[0019] Advantageously, the reduced number of components of the device of the invention reduces
its cost compared to that of the devices of known type.
[0020] Still advantageously, the reduced overall dimensions of the device allow it to be
stored in smaller spaces compared to analogous devices of known type.
[0021] A further advantage derives from the stability of the wringer, which makes the device
that is the subject of the invention much more practical to use than the devices of
known type.
[0022] Further, advantageously, a more stable wringer makes it possible to wring the cloth
more effectively.
[0023] The said objects and advantages, and others which will be highlighted in greater
detail below, are illustrated in the description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention which is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached
drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of the cleaning device that is the subject of the
invention;
- Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the device shown in Figure 1, cross-sectioned
along plane II-II;
- Figure 3 shows a side view of a cross section of the device that is the subject of
the invention;
- Figure 4 shows a side cross-sectional view of the device that is the subject of the
invention, in a different operating position.
[0024] The cleaning device that is the subject of the invention, represented in Figure 1
where it is indicated as a whole by
1, comprises a first container
2 provided with a bottom
2a and a side surface
2b that delimit a compartment
4 for collecting the squeezed liquid, provided with an upper access opening
4a.
[0025] Preferably, but not necessarily, the first container
2 is provided with a substantially rectangular bottom
2a and its side surface
2b comprises four substantially plane walls
A, B, C, D.
[0026] However, in different embodiments of the invention, the first container
2 may have any shape, on condition that it is provided with an access opening
4a.
[0027] Preferably, but not necessarily, the device
1 also comprises a second container
3 suited to contain a washing liquid and associated with the first container
2.
[0028] The two containers
2, 3 are preferably made in a single piece, in order to advantageously limit the construction
complexity and the cost of the device
1, while at the same time making it more stable and compact.
[0029] The device
1 preferably but not necessarily comprises wheels
19 that allow it to be moved on the ground and handles
20 on the sides, said handles advantageously facilitating transport, in particular during
the cleaning operations.
[0030] The first container
2 is associated with a wringer
5 for cloths, comprising a moving element
7 opposing a counteracting element
6.
[0031] The moving element
7 is associated with the container via guide means
8, clearly visible in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2, which allow it to be moved
from a position away from the counteracting element
6, shown in Figure 3, and a position close to the counteracting element
6, shown in Figure 4, in order to wring the cloths interposed between the two elements
6, 7.
[0032] In particular, the cloths are wrung between two surfaces
6a, 7a facing each other and respectively belonging to the counteracting element
6 and the moving element
7.
[0033] The above mentioned surfaces
6a, 7a are preferably plane and thus make the device that is the subject of the invention
more practical to use.
[0034] In any case, in different embodiments of the invention the above mentioned surfaces
6a, 7a may have any shape different from the plane shape, for example they can be curved.
[0035] In any case, it is preferable for the two surfaces
6a, 7a to have matching shapes, in such a way as to improve the wringing effect.
[0036] The guide means
8 belong to the first container
2, with which the moving element
7 is therefore directly associated.
[0037] Consequently, any undesired movement of the wringer
5 in relation to the first container
2 are avoided, thus achieving the object to make it more stable than the wringers of
known type, which rest on the edges of the container.
[0038] Furthermore, the integration of the guide means
8 in the first container
2 eliminates the need for further supporting structures for the moving element
7, thus reducing the complexity of the device
1 compared to the devices of known type.
[0039] Preferably, the moving element
7 and the counteracting element
6 are mostly or completely arranged inside the compartment
4 defined by the first container
2, in such a way as to limit the overall dimensions of the device
1 compared to the analogous devices of known type, thus achieving another object of
the invention.
[0040] In particular, the counteracting element
6 is permanently housed in a seat
21 belonging to the side wall
B of the first container
2, preferably at the level of its lower edge and of its upper area, as can be partially
observed in Figure
3.
[0041] Advantageously, since the counteracting element
6 is directly associated with the first container
2, no external structures are necessary to support it, which further simplifies the
device
1.
[0042] In construction variants of the invention, the counteracting element
6 can be arranged in a way different from that shown in Figure 3 and, in particular,
it can be spaced from its side surface
2a, for example when it is necessary to allow the liquid to be squeezed out of both sides
of the cloth.
[0043] In further construction variants of the invention not represented herein, the counteracting
element
6 may belong to the first container
2, for example it may be incorporated in the wall
B.
[0044] As regards the guide means
8, they are clearly visible in Figure 2, where a cross-sectional view of the container
2 shows its internal part.
[0045] It can be noticed that the guide means
8 comprise two pairs of grooves
9 belonging to corresponding opposite side walls
A, C of the first container
2 that are adjacent to the wall
B comprising the counteracting element
6.
[0046] The grooves
9 are preferably but not necessarily defined by profiles
9a projecting towards the inside of the first container
2.
[0047] The moving element
7 comprises projecting bodies
10, preferably but not necessarily with cylindrical cross section, which slide in the
above mentioned grooves
9.
[0048] The grooves
9 and the projecting bodies
10 define, for the moving element
7, a sliding direction incident on the counteracting element
6.
[0049] The use of the grooves
9 and of the corresponding projecting bodies
10 to guide the moving element
7 makes it possible to improve the effectiveness of the wringing operation compared
to the known wringers in which the moving element is hinged to the container.
[0050] In fact, during the wringing operation, the moving element
7 can assume positions that are more or less inclined in relation to the counteracting
element
6, in such a way as to adapt to the configuration of the cloths to be wrung and obtain
the result described above.
[0051] Obviously, in construction variants of the invention not represented herein, the
number and arrangement of the grooves
9 can be different from those illustrated, provided that they define for the moving
element
7 a position away from and a position close to the counteracting element
6.
[0052] However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the presence
of two pairs of grooves
9 advantageously ensures that the moving element
7 is guided with precision.
[0053] Obviously, in further construction variants not represented herein, the moving element
7 can be associated with the side walls by means of other guide means equivalent to
the grooves
9 and the projecting bodies
10.
[0054] Preferably, as can be seen in the figures, the guide grooves
9 are closed at the ends, in such a way as to define stop surfaces for the projecting
bodies
10 of the moving element
7, said stop surfaces corresponding to said positions away from and close to the counteracting
element
6.
[0055] Advantageously, said stop surfaces make it possible to arrange the moving element
7 with a preset inclination at the level of each one of the above mentioned stop surfaces.
[0056] In particular, in the close position illustrated in Figure 4, the moving element
7 is arranged parallel to and against the counteracting element
6, in order to advantageously obtain the maximum wringing effect.
[0057] Vice versa, when the moving element
7 is positioned away from the counteracting element
6, it is preferably arranged in a "V" configuration with respect to the counteracting
element
6, in order to advantageously facilitate the insertion of the cloths to be wrung between
the two elements
6, 7, as shown in Figure 3.
[0058] The moving element
7 is preferably provided with a plurality of through holes
11 that, advantageously, favour the elimination of the liquid squeezed out of the cloth.
[0059] The first container
2 also comprises a holed grid
17, visible in Figures 3 and 4 and partially in Figure 2, which, advantageously, supports
the cloth during wringing, thus making this last operation more practical.
[0060] The grid
17 is arranged inside the first container
2, under the moving element
7 and the counteracting element
6, with which it delimits a wringing area
18 that houses the cloth to be wrung.
[0061] Obviously, construction variants of the invention may not be provided with the above
mentioned grid
17.
[0062] The invention also comprises means
12 for manoeuvring the moving element
7 between the position away from and the position close to the counteracting element
6, said manoeuvring means
12 preferably comprising an operating lever
13 that is operatively connected to the moving element
7 via articulation means
14.
[0063] Preferably but not necessarily the lever
13 is arranged on one side of the first container
2, in such a way as to avoid interfering with the handle with which the cleaning cloths
are generally associated.
[0064] As regards the articulation means
14, they preferably comprise a supporting body
15 for the lever
13, hinged to the first container
2, to which two rods
16 articulated at a first end
16a are rotatingly connected.
[0065] Each rod
16 has a second end
16b rotatingly connected to the moving element
7, so that when the operating lever
13 is rotated, the moving element
7 is moved accordingly.
[0066] Advantageously, the presence of two of the above mentioned rods
16, parallel to each other, ensures a precise movement of the moving element
7 which, furthermore, is thrusted more effectively against the counteracting element
6 in order to obtain the maximum wringing effect.
[0067] It is clear, however, that construction variants of the invention may comprise only
one rod or more than two rods
16, as desired by the manufacturer.
[0068] The operating lever
12 is preferably curved, so that it offers a more ergonomic configuration and advantageously
makes it possible to obtain minimum overall dimensions of the device when the moving
element
7 is in the position close to the counteracting surface
6, as shown in Figure 4.
[0069] Furthermore, the lever
13 is preferably associated with elastic means, not illustrated in the figures, which
ensure its return to the position away from the counteracting element
6 and which advantageously make the device more practical to use.
[0070] According to other embodiments of the invention, not represented herein, the cleaning
device 1 may comprise any number of containers
2, 3, in particular one container only, on condition that it is/they are provided with
a wringer
5 carried out as described above.
[0071] In practice, the cleaner wets the cloth, if necessary by soaking it into the second
container
3, if provided, and then interposes it between the moving element
7 and the counteracting element
6, preferably resting it on the holed grid
17.
[0072] Successively, the cleaner lowers the lever
13, as shown in Figure 4, thus shifting the moving element
7 towards the counteracting element
6 in order to wring the cloth and thus eliminate the excess liquid.
[0073] The water squeezed out of the cloth flows through the spaces between the moving element
7 and the grid
17, as well as through the holes of the two elements
7, 17, thus accumulating on the bottom of the first container
2 that can be emptied at the end of the cleaning operations.
[0074] Advantageously, since the counteracting element
6 and the moving element
7 are directly associated with the first container
2, it is possible to exert a greater squeezing force than in the known devices with
the wringer applied to the container, where in fact it is necessary to limit the squeezing
force in order to prevent any movement of the wringer in relation to the container
itself.
[0075] At the end of the wringing operation, the cleaner releases the lever
13 that, thanks to the elastic means with which it is associated, moves upward and brings
the moving element
7 to the position away from the counteracting element
6, as shown in Figure 3.
[0076] The above shows that the cleaning device and the container of the invention achieve
all the set objects.
[0077] In particular, thanks to the fact that they incorporate the cloth wringer, their
structure is simpler than that of the equivalent known devices with the wringer applied
externally.
[0078] Furthermore, since the invention allows the wringer to be provided inside the first
container, it also achieves the object to reduce the overall dimensions of the cleaning
device and of the container compared to the known art.
[0079] Finally, since the wringer belongs to the first container, during use it is more
stable than the wringers of known type that are applied to the upper edges of the
container.
[0080] On implementation, the container and the cleaning device that are the subjects of
the invention may undergo changes that, though not illustrated or described in the
drawings, shall nonetheless be covered by the present patent, provided that they come
within the scope of the claims that follow.
[0081] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference sings have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference
signs.
1. Container (2) for cleaning surfaces, comprising a bottom (2a) and a side surface (2b)
that delimit a compartment (4) suited to collect a liquid and provided with an access
opening (4a) with which a cloth wringer (5) is associated, said cloth wringer (5)
comprising at least one counteracting element (6) and at least one moving element
(7) opposite said counteracting element (6) and associated with said container (2)
through guide means (8) in such a way as to assume at least one position away from
said counteracting element (6) to allow a cloth to be interposed between said elements
(6, 7) and at least one position close to said counteracting element (6) to allow
said cloth to be wrung, characterized in that said guide means (8) comprise at least two grooves (9) belonging to said side surface
(2b) of said container (2) and opposing each other, and wherein each one of said grooves
slidingly houses a corresponding body (10) that projects from said moving element
(7).
2. Container (2) according to claim 1), characterized in that said moving element (7) and said counteracting element (6) are arranged inside said
compartment (4).
3. Container (2) according to claim 2), characterized in that said counteracting element (6) is associated with the side surface (2b) of said container
(2).
4. Container (2) according to claim 2), characterized in that said counteracting element (6) belongs to said container (2).
5. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of said grooves (9) opposing each other.
6. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said moving element (7) is provided with a plurality of through holes (11).
7. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said counteracting element (6) and said moving element (7) mutually face each other
at the level of corresponding surfaces (6a, 7a).
8. Container (2) according to claim 7), characterized in that said mutually facing surfaces (6a, 7a) of said counteracting element (6) and of said
moving element (7) have matching shapes.
9. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that said moving element (7) is associated with manoeuvring means (12) suited to arrange
it in one of said positions away from or close to the counteracting element (6).
10. Container (2) according to claim 9), characterized in that said manoeuvring means (12) comprise at least one operating lever (13) operatively
connected to said moving element (7) through articulation means (14).
11. Container (2) according to claim 10), characterized in that said articulation means (14) comprise a supporting body (15) for said lever (13),
said body being rotatingly connected to said container (2), and at least one articulated
rod (16) provided with a first end (16a) rotatingly connected to said supporting body
(15) and a second end (16b) rotatingly connected to said moving element (7).
12. Container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a holed grid (17) arranged inside said container (2) under said counteracting
element (6) and said moving element (7) in order to delimit a wringing area (18) suited
to house said cloth to be wrung.
13. Cleaning device (1) comprising at least one first container (2) provided with a bottom
(2a) and a side surface (2b) that delimit a compartment (4) suited to collect a liquid
and provided with an access opening (4a) with which a cloth wringer (5) is associated,
said cloth wringer (5) comprising at least one counteracting element (6) and at least
one moving element (7) opposite said counteracting element (6) and associated with
said first container (2) through guide means (8) in such a way as to assume at least
one position away from said counteracting element (6) to allow a cloth to be interposed
between said elements (6, 7) and at least one position close to said counteracting
element (6) to allow said cloth to be wrung, characterized in that said guide means (8) comprise at least two grooves (9) belonging to said side surface
(2b) of said first container (2) and opposing each other, and wherein each one of
said grooves slidingly houses a corresponding body (10) that projects from said moving
element (7).
14. Device (1) according to claim 13), characterized in that it comprises a second container (3) associated with said first container (2) to contain
a washing liquid.
15. Device (1) according to claim 14), characterized in that it comprises wheels (19) suited to move it on the ground.