(19)
(11) EP 1 310 192 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
21.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/21

(21) Application number: 01123558.7

(22) Date of filing: 01.10.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7A47B 81/02

(54)

Cabinet for cleaning tools

Aufbewahrungsschränkchen für Putzmittel

Armoire pour éléments de nettoyage


(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(43) Date of publication of application:
14.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/20

(73) Proprietor: Park, Hyuk Koo
Suwon-shi, Kyonggi-do (KR)

(72) Inventor:
  • Park, Hyuk Koo
    Suwon-shi, Kyonggi-do (KR)

(74) Representative: Flaccus, Rolf-Dieter, Dr. 
Patentanwalt Bussardweg 10
50389 Wesseling
50389 Wesseling (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
US-A- 3 364 838
US-B1- 6 237 880
US-A- 5 387 053
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


    FIELD OF THE INVENTION



    [0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning tool cabinet, and more particularly to a cleaning tool cabinet constructed in waste synthetic resin by way of injection molding to enable to remove corrosion and stench, and to allow easy storage and proper arrangement of cleaning tools and to enable to easily drain water remaining thereinside for collection in one place.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART



    [0002] Generally, a cleaning tool cabinet is made of wood or steel such that when it is frequently exposed to dust, water and moisture, stench is generated by rust, corrosion, rottenness and the like, resulting in sanitation problems.

    [0003] Furthermore, the cleaning tool cabinet is not equipped with a gutter so that filthy water remaining on cleaning tools can flow thereinto, prompting to frequently clean an inside floor thereof and causing inconvenience and discomfort.

    [0004] A cleaning tool cabinet utilizing waste synthetic resin according to the prior art is comprised of a body 1 including side plates, upper plate and doors by way of injection molding, as illustrated in Figure 1, where floor thereof is installed with synthetic resin mesh 4 while the body 1 is partitioned therein into a plurality of tool accommodation parts 5 and is formed at one upper side thereof with opening 2 formed with a plurality of grooves 2a or dust mops 100 to be input and output, and to be positioned at a predetermined place thereat. The body 1 is mounted thereunder with a gutter 3 for being input and output in drawer way toward front side.

    [0005] However, there is a problem in the cleaning tool cabinet utilizing waste synthetic resin thus constructed according to the prior art in that floor of the plurality of cleaning tool accommodation parts 5 is installed with waste synthetic resin mesh 4, such that when filthy water containing foreign objects flows from the mops 100 through the mesh 4, the filthy water passes through the mesh 4 to be collected at the gutter 3 but the foreign object, once caught by the mesh 4, stay untouched for a long time, thereby generating stench and degrading the whole sanitary state of the cleaning tool cabinet.

    [0006] There is another problem in that the gutter 3 mounted underneath the body 1 is input and output in drawer style, so that when the gutter 3 is removed from the body 1 in order to get rid of filthy water collected at the gutter 3, the dirty water collected at the gutter 3 can be split out of unbalance or carelessness.

    [0007] There is still another problem in that the plurality of accommodation parts 5 installed at doors (not shown) are not mounted with drafts such that ventilation is not properly performed to deteriorate drying of the cleaning tools, thereby resulting in generating stench.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0008] The present invention is disclosed to solve the aforementioned problems and it is an object of the present Invention to provide a cleaning tool cabinet adapted to install a stainless rod-like mop rack inside a body thereof to allow watery dust mop to hang at a predetermined height and to make filthy water and foreign objects remaining at the rag directly drop without being hitched thereat, thereby eliminating generation of stench and enable to maintain a sanitary state at all times.

    [0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning tool cabinet adapted to accommodate a separate water container on a floor inside a body of the cabinet to enable to remove collected filthy water and foreign objects easily.

    [0010] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning tool cabinet adapted to install drafts at the rear surface of the body to enable to facilitate ventilation, thereby increasing a drying rate of accommodated cleaning tools and simultaneously removing generation of stench and enabling to maintain a pleasant space at all times.

    [0011] In accordance with the objects of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning tool cabinet, the cabinet including a body comprised of a rear panel, left and right panels and upper and lower panels and left and right doors for opening and closing a front opening of the body, the cabinet comprising:

    a partition panel positioned between the left panel and the right panel and assembled by the upper panel, the lower panel and the rear panel in order to partition an inner space of the body;

    a shelf positioned between the upper panel and the lower panel and secured by the left panel and the partition panel in order to partition an inner space of the body;

    a rack for accommodating the handle of a mop positioned at an upper end between the right panel and the partition panel and fixed by the shelf, the right panel and the rear panel to allow free access by a mop to stably secure the handle of the mop;

    a pad for a mop positioned between the rack for accommodating the handle of a mop and the lower panel and fixed by the shelf and the right panel to allow a head of the mop to be hitched thereat;

    two water containers accommodated on floor of the body; and

    a plurality of round drafts for ventilation that are formed between the left panel and the partition panel or between the right panel and the partition panel relative to the upper side of the rear panel.


    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0012] For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

    Figure 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a cleaning tool cabinet according to the prior art;

    Figure 2 is a perspective view for illustrating a cleaning tool cabinet according to the present invention where doors are closed; and

    Figure 3 is a perspective view for illustrating a cleaning tool cabinet according to the present invention where doors are opened.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



    [0013] Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

    [0014] Throughout the drawings in Figures 2 and 3, like reference numerals are used for designation of like of equivalent parts or portions for simplicity of illustration and explanation, whereby redundant references will be omitted.

    [0015] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, a cleaning tool cabinet includes a body 20 having a rear panel 10, left and right panels 12 and 14 and upper and lower panels 16 and 18 in order to open a front side thereof, a partition panel 22 positioned between the left panel 12 and the right panel 14 and assembled by the upper panel 16, the lower panel 18 and the rear panel 10 in order to partition an inner space of the body 20, a shelf 24 positioned between the upper panel 16 and the lower panel 18 and secured by left panel 12 and the partition panel 22 in order to partition an inner space of the body 20, a rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26 positioned at an upper end between the right panel 14 and the partition panel 22 to allow free access by a mop 100 and fixed by the shelf 24, the right panel 14 and the rear panel 10 to stably secure the handle of the mop 100, a pad for a mop 28 positioned between the rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26 and the lower panel 18 and fixed by the shelf 24 and the right panel 14 to allow a head of the mop 100 to be hitched thereat, two water containers 30 accommodated on floor of the body 20, and left and right doors 32 and 34 respectively assembled by the left panel 12 and the right panel 14 in order to open and close a front opening of the body 20 by way of opening and shutting method.

    [0016] At this time, the rear panel 10, the left and right panels 12 and 14, the upper panel 16, the lower panel 18, the partition panel 22, the shelf 24, the rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26, the pad for a mop 28, left and right doors 32 and 34 are respectively standardized for assembly.

    [0017] A plurality of round drafts 10a are respectively formed between the left panel 12 and the partition panel 22 or between the right panel 14 and the partition panel 22 relative to an upper side of the rear panel 10.

    [0018] The rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26 is formed at a front surface thereof lengthwise each at a predetermined interval with a plurality of semi-circled hitching grooves 26a for a handle of the mop 100 to be securely held thereat.

    [0019] The pad for a mop 28 of stainless steel rod shape is mounted at both ends thereof at central positions of entire breadth of the body 20 and simultaneously fixed to surfaces facing the partition panel 22 and the right panel 14 so as to be positioned lower than an entire central height of the body 20.

    [0020] The two water containers 30 are opened at uppers thereof and one of them is positioned between the left panel 12 and the partition panel 22 relative to the floor of the body 20 while the other container is positioned between the right panel 14 and the partition panel 22 relative to the floor of the body 20. Unexplained reference numeral 40 defines an opening through which the mop 100 can access. At this location, the water containers 30 are made to be positioned lower than the height of pad for a mop 28.

    [0021] In the construction thus described, when the mop 100 is inserted through the opening 40 provided at upper right side of the body 20, head part of the mop 100 is inserted into a space between the partition panel 22 and the right panel 14 relative to interior of the body to be hitched at the pad for a mop 28 mounted at a predetermined height, as shown in Figure 3, while handle of the mop 100 is accommodated into one of the plurality of hitching grooves formed at the rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26, maintaining the mop 100 at a stable vertical state.

    [0022] At this time, the head part of the mop 100 is hung toward the floor of the body 20 by intrinsic weight of the mop when it is hitched at the pad for a mop 28 and concurrently stays in the mid air in order to maintain a predetermined distance from an upper end of opening at the water container 30, such that filthy water and foreign objects remaining at the head of the mop 100 make free fall into the water container 30 and are collected thereat.

    [0023] Furthermore, the mop 100, while in store at the body 20, is rapidly dried by current (air) coming and going through the plurality of drafts 10a formed at the rear panel 10, thereby being minimized in decomposition of the mop 100 and generation of stench therefrom, such that sanitary state of the body 20 can be further maintained.

    [0024] Meanwhile, the water container 30 can be simple lifted for hand carry when the filthy water and foreign objects collected therein are emptied, such that there is no problem of splitting the filthy water and foreign objects collected in the container 30 and the containers 30 can be used for other purposes.

    [0025] Furthermore, the rear panel 10, the left and right panels 12 and 14, the upper panel 16, the lower panel 18, the partition panel 22, the shelf 24, the rack for accommodating the handle of a mop 26, the pad for a mop 28, left and right doors 32 and 34 are respectively standardized for assembly, such that mold-marking cost can be saved to thereby reduce a manufacturing cost, replacement thereof is possible when each part is broken and coloring for each part can be varied to make an exterior look of the cleaning tool cabinet beautiful.

    [0026] As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the cleaning tool cabinet thus described according to the present invention in that the rear panel of a body is formed with a plurality of ventilations, a stainless steel rod-shaped pad for a mop touching a head part of mop is mounted at a predetermined height in the body to reduce contact sphere, and plural water containers are disposed on a floor of the body such that filthy water and foreign objects flowing from mop can be instantly emptied from the water containers.

    [0027] There is another advantage in that drying efficiency of the mop is improved to remove generation of stench and to maintain a constant sanitary state.


    Claims

    1. A cleaning tool cabinet comprising a rear panel (10), left and right panels (12 and 14) and upper and lower panels (16 and 18) and left and right doors (32 and 34) for opening and closing a front opening of the cabinet, characterized in that
    a partition panel (22) is positioned between the left panel (12) and the right panel (14) and assembled by the upper panel (16), the lower panel (18) and the rear panel (10) in order to partition the inner space of the cabinet;
    a shelf (24) is positioned between the upper panel (16) and the lower panel (18), and secured by the left panel (12) and the partition panel (22) in order to partition an inner space of the cabinet;
    a rack (26) for accommodating the handle of a mop (100) is positioned at the upper end of the cabinet between the right panel (14) and the partition panel (22) and is fixed by the shelf (24), the right panel (12) and the rear panel (10) to allow free access by a mop (100) and to stably secure the handle of the mop (100);
    a pad (28) for the mop (100) that is positioned between the rack (26) for accomodating the handle of a mop (100) and the lower panel (18) and is fixed by the shelf (24) and the right panel (14) to allow the head part of the mop (100) to be hitched at the pad (28); two water containers (30) accommodated on the floor of the cabinet; and
    a plurallty of round drafts (10a) for ventilation that are formed between the left panel (12) and the partition panel (22) or between the right panel (14) and the partition panel (22) relative to the upper side of the rear panel (10).
     
    2. The cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad (28) for the mop (100) is made of stainless steel and has a rod shape.
     
    3. The cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad (28) for the mop (100) is mounted at both ends thereof at central positions of the entire breath of the cabinet and is simultaneously fixed to surfaces facing the partition panel (22) and the right panel (14) so as to be positioned lower than an entire central height of the cabinet.
     
    4. The cabinet according to claim 1 characterized in that the two water containers (30) are opened at uppers thereof and one of them is positioned between the left panel (12) and the partition panel (22) relative to the floor of the cabinet while the other container is positioned between the right panel (14) and the partition panel (22) relative to the floor of the cabinet.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Putzutensilienschränkchen umfassend eine Rückwand (10), eine linke und eine rechte Wand (12 und 14) und eine obere und eine untere Wand (16 und 18) sowie eine linke und eine rechte Tür (32 und 34) für das Öffnen und Schließen einer vorderen Öffnung des Schränkchens, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Trennwand (22) zwischen der linken Wand (12) und der rechten Wand (14) angeordnet ist und an der oberen Wand (16), der unteren Wand (18) und der Rückwand (10) montiert ist, um den Innenraum des Schränkchens aufzuteilen;
    ein Fachboden (24) ist zwischen der oberen Wand (16) und der unteren Wand (18) angeordnet und ist an der linken Wand (12) und der Trennwand (22) befestigt, um einen Innenraum des Schränkchens abzutrennen;
    eine Zahnstange (26) für das Unterbringen des Griffs eines Mops (100) ist an dem oberen Ende des Schränkchens zwischen der rechten Wand (14) und der Trennwand (22) angeordnet und ist durch den Fachboden (24), die rechte Wand (12) und die Rückwand (10) fixiert, um einen freien Zugang für einen Mop (100) zu ermöglichen und den Griff des Mops (100) stabil zu lagern,
    eine Stütze (28) für den Mop (100), die zwischen der Zahnstange (26) für die Unterbringung des Griffes des Mops (100) und der unteren Wand (18) angeordnet ist und durch den Fachboden (24) und die rechte Wand (14) fixiert ist, um ein Abstützen des Kopfteils des Mops (100) an der Stütze (28) zu ermöglichen;
    zwei Wasserbehälter (30), die auf dem Boden des Schränkchens untergebracht sind, und
    eine Mehrzahl von runden Zugluftöffnungen (10a) für die Belüftung, welche zwischen der linken Wand (12) und der Trennwand (22) oder zwischen der rechten Wand (14) und der Trennwand (22), bezogen auf die obere Seite der Rückwand (10), vorgesehen sind.
     
    2. Schränkchen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stütze (28) für den Mop (100) aus rostfreiem Stahl besteht und die Form einer Stange besitzt.
     
    3. Schränkchen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stütze (28) für den Mop (100) an ihren beiden Enden an zentralen Positionen der Gesamtbreite des Schränkchens installiert ist und gleichzeitig an Flächen befestigt ist, welche der Trennwand (22) und der rechten Wand (14) zugewandt sind, so dass sie unterhalb der gesamten, zentralen Höhe des Schränkchens angeordnet ist.
     
    4. Schränkchen nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zwei Wasserbehälter (30) an ihrer Oberseite geöffnet sind und einer dieser Behälter zwischen der linken Wand (12) und der Trennwand (22), bezogen auf den Boden des Schränkchens, angeordnet ist, während der andere Behälter zwischen der rechten Wand (14) und der Trennwand (22), bezogen auf den Boden des Schränkchens, angeordnet ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Armoire pour éléments de nettoyage, comprenant un panneau arrière (10), des panneaux gauche et droit (12 et 14) et des panneaux supérieur et inférieur (16 et 18) et des portes gauche et droite (32 et 34) pour ouvrir et fermer une ouverture frontale de l'armoire, caractérisée en ce que :

    un panneau de séparation (22) est placé entre le panneau gauche (12) et le panneau droit (14) et assemblé par le panneau supérieur (16), le panneau inférieur (18) et le panneau arrière (10) afin de séparer l'espace intérieur de l'armoire ;

    une étagère (24) est placée entre le panneau supérieur (16) et le panneau inférieur (18), et fixée par le panneau gauche (12) et le panneau de séparation (22) afin de séparer un espace intérieur de l'armoire ;

    un râtelier (26) pour recevoir le manche d'un balai à franges (100) est placé à l'extrémité supérieur de l'armoire entre le panneau droit (14) et le panneau de séparation (22) et est fixé par l'étagère (24), le panneau droit (12) et le panneau arrière (10) pour permettre un accès libre par un balai à franges (100) et pour fixer de manière stable le manche du balai à franges (100);

    un bourrelet (28) pour le balai à franges (100) qui est placé entre le râtelier (26) pour recevoir le manche d'un balai à franges (100) et le panneau inférieur (18) et est fixé par l'étagère (24) et le panneau droit (14) pour permettre à la partie tête du balai à franges (100) d'être accrochée au bourrelet (28) ;
    deux bacs à eau (30) adaptés sur le plancher de l'armoire ; et
    une pluralité d'entrées d'air circulaires (10a) pour ventilation qui sont pratiquées entre le panneau gauche (12) et le panneau de séparation (22) ou entre le panneau droit (14) et le panneau de séparation (22) par rapport au côté supérieur du panneau arrière (10).


     
    2. Armoire selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet (28) pour le balai à franges (100) est en acier inoxydable et a la forme d'une tige.
     
    3. Armoire selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet (28) pour le balai à franges (100) est monté à ses deux extrémités à des positions centrales de la largeur complète de l'armoire et est fixé simultanément aux surfaces faisant face au panneau de séparation (22) et au panneau droit (14) afin d'être placé plus bas qu'une hauteur centrale complète de l'armoire.
     
    4. Armoire selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les deux bacs à eau (30) sont ouverts à leur partie supérieure et l'un d'eux est placé entre le panneau gauche (12) et le panneau de séparation (22) par rapport au plancher de l'armoire, tandis que l'autre bac est placé entre le panneau droit (14) et le panneau de séparation (22) par rapport au plancher de l'armoire.
     




    Drawing