Floor squeegee

Abstract

 Floor squeegee comprising a floor squeegee body (22) and a rubber blade holder (1,4,5,6,16) which can be coupled and uncoupled manually by displacing a coupling member (16) which is provided on the rubber blade holder (1,4,5,6,16) between a coupling position and an uncoupling position, in which the coupling member (16) is displaceable between said positions along the longitudinal direction (P) of the rubber blade holder (1,4,5,6,16). Such a coupling is particularly user-friendly and reliable, and makes it possible to design the floor squeegee body (22) as a simple and easily cleanable element.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor squeegee comprising a floor squeegee body and a rubber blade holder which can be coupled and uncoupled manually, in which the rubber blade holder comprises a coupling member which can be displaced with respect to the rubber blade holder between a coupling position in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body are coupled to one another and an uncoupling position in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body are uncoupled. The present invention also relates to a rubber blade holder for such a floor squeegee.

[0002] Floor squeegees having manually detachable rubber blade holders are generally known. The connection between the floor squeegee body and the rubber blade holder is often accomplished by means of elastically deformable coupling means which form a snap connection. If such connections are used frequently, the rebound force of the deformable coupling means can decrease, thus reducing the reliability of the connection. In addition, the deformable coupling means are also susceptible to fracture. A known floor squeegee is described in WO 2008/117014 A1.

[0003] DE 29807244U describes a floor squeegee in which the rubber blade holder has to be slid laterally into a cavity in the floor squeegee body. This coupling is not very user-friendly.

[0004] It is a first object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks by providing a very reliable and user-friendly floor squeegee.

[0005] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a floor squeegee, both the floor squeegee body and the rubber blade holder of which are suitable for use at locations with very strict hygiene requirements and more specifically the spread of bacteria. At locations where the presence of bacteria has to be absolutely prevented or at least has to be limited to a strict minimum, as is the case in production spaces in the food industry or in hospitals and the like, stringent requirements have to be met with regard to keeping the cleaning tools free from bacteria. Thus, the floor squeegee body has to be cleaned in an autoclave at 120°C after each use.

[0006] Some floor squeegee bodies have a complex shape and are provided with coupling means, as a result of which certain spots or cavities in the floor squeegee body are difficult to reach during a thorough cleaning procedure. There is a relatively great risk of bacteria developing in these locations. Therefore, it is also an object to remedy this problem by providing a floor squeegee of which the floor squeegee body can also be thoroughly cleaned in a simple manner.

[0007] According to the present invention, the above objects are achieved by providing a floor squeegee having a floor squeegee body and a rubber blade holder which can be manually coupled and uncoupled, in which, according to the present invention, the rubber blade holder comprises a coupling member which can be displaced with respect to the rubber blade holder between a coupling position, in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body are coupled to one another, and an uncoupling position, in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body are uncoupled, and in which the coupling member comprises at least two coupling projections, while the floor squeegee body comprises a number of fixed projections, in which the coupling projections are in a position in which they are retained by fixed projections on the floor squeegee body when the coupling member is in the coupling position, and in which the coupling projections are in a position in which they are not retained by fixed projections on the floor squeegee body when the coupling member is in the uncoupling position.

[0008] Due to the fact that the displaceable coupling member forms part of the rubber blade holder, the floor squeegee body can be designed in such a manner that it does not have complex coupling means. Thus, the displaceable coupling member can, for example, cooperate with one or more simple fixed projections or recesses on the floor squeegee body. As a result thereof, the floor squeegee body can be designed in such a manner that it does not have any spots which are difficult to reach, thus preventing an increased risk of bacteria developing. A connecting system comprising a coupling member which can be moved between two positions produces a very reliable connection and can be produced in such a manner that it can readily resist fracture and has a long service life, even with frequent use.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the floor squeegee according to the present invention, the coupling member is displaceable between said positions along the longitudinal direction of the rubber blade holder.

[0010] The floor squeegee according to the present invention may, for example, be designed to have a rubber blade holder which comprises a fixing element to which one or more rubber blades are attached, while the fixing element is accommodated in a holder element, and while said coupling member is connected to the holder element in such a manner that it is displaceable along the longitudinal direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a rubber blade holder which is designed to be attached to a floor squeegee body in a manually detachable manner, in which case this rubber blade holder comprises a coupling member which can be displaced with respect to the rubber blade holder between a coupling position and an uncoupling position in order to connect or disconnect the rubber blade holder to or from a floor squeegee body.

[0012] Preferably, this rubber blade holder also has one or more of the above-described features.

[0013] In the following description, a floor squeegee according to the present invention is described in detail. The only purpose of this detailed description is to indicate how the invention can be achieved and to illustrate the particular features of the invention and, if necessary, to clarify them further. This description can therefore not be regarded as being a limitation of the scope of protection of said patent and neither can the area of application of the invention be limited on the basis of the following description.

[0014] In this description, reference is made to the attached figures, in which:

■ Fig. 1 shows a floor squeegee according to the present invention in perspective;

■ Fig. 2 separately shows the floor squeegee body and the detached rubber blade holder of the floor squeegee from Fig. 1;

■ Fig. 3 shows said floor squeegee with the parts separated;

■ Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross section along the axis of the shaft holder of the floor squeegee shown in Fig. 1;

■ Figs. 5A and 5B show the two ends of the floor squeegee when the coupling bar is in the coupling position;

■ Figs. 5C and 5D show the two ends of the floor squeegee when the coupling bar is in the uncoupling position;

■ Figs. 6A to 6E show the fixing bar for the rubber blades, in which

• Fig. 6A shows the fixing bar in perspective,
• Fig. 6B shows a front view,
• Fig. 6C shows a vertical cross section along the axis A-A indicated in Fig. 6B,
• Fig. 6D shows an enlarged view of the part of the fixing bar which is circled in Fig. 6B,
• Fig. 6E shows a top view of the fixing bar;

■ Figs. 7A to 7D show the holder profile, in which

• Fig. 7A shows the holder profile in perspective,
• Fig. 7B shows a top view,
• Fig. 7C shows a vertical cross section along the axis A-A indicated in Fig. 7B, and

■ Figs. 8A to 8D show the coupling bar, in which

• Fig. 8A shows the coupling bar in perspective,
• Fig. 8B shows a top view,
• Fig. 8C shows a side view, and
• Fig. 8D shows a vertical cross section along the axis B-B shown in Fig. 8C;

■ Figs. 9A to 9E show the floor squeegee body, in which

• Fig. 9A shows the floor squeegee body in perspective,
• Fig. 9B shows a top view,
• Fig. 9C shows a bottom view,
• Fig. 9D shows a vertical cross section along the axis B-B shown in Fig. 9B;

■ Figs. 10A and 10B show vertical cross sections in the longitudinal direction of a floor squeegee in the coupling position and the uncoupling position of the coupling bar, respectively, in which the cooperating coupling projections and fixed projections can be seen.

[0015] The floor squeegee illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a floor squeegee body (22) with a shaft holder (26) with an internal screw thread for attaching a shaft, and a manually detachable rubber blade holder. The rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) comprises two rubber blades (6), (7) which are fixed in the rubber blade holder parallel to one another and a small distance apart. The rubber blades (6), (7) are substantially rectangular strips having a uniform thickness and are made from rubber or a similar material, for example are made completely or partly from plastic, and are provided with a series of twelve openings (6a), (7a). This series of openings runs parallel to the edges of the rubber blades which run in the longitudinal direction. The openings (6a), (7a) are evenly distributed along the length of the rubber blades (6), (7) and serve to attach the rubber blades to a fixing bar (1) which is described in detail below with reference to Fig. 3 and Figs. 6A to 6E.

[0016] The fixing bar (1) consists of a relatively thin strip of plastic having an elongate and substantially rectangular shape. Below the upper edge (1a) of this strip, a row of seven identical projections (2) is provided on each flank which extends along the longitudinal axis (L) of the fixing bar (1). The various projections (2) of each row are equidistant from one another in such a manner that these projections are distributed across the length of the fixing bar (1). In this case, the projections (2) on both flanks are placed exactly opposite one another, as can be seen in the top view shown in Fig. 6E. These projections (2) have a rounded upper side (3) and a stepped bottom side (4), as can be seen most clearly in Fig. 6D. The function of these projections (2) is discussed later in this description.

[0017] Below this row of projections (2), a parallel row of twelve cylindrical pins (5) of equal length is provided on each flank. The number of pins (5) can of course vary and depends, inter alia, on the length of the rubber blades (6), (7). The pins (5) on both flanks are also situated exactly opposite one another (see Fig. 6E). The intermediate distances between the successive pins (5) are such that these pins (5) are distributed across the length of the fixing bar (1). These pins (5) serve to attach the two rubber blades (6), (7). The two rubber blades (6), (7) are slightly longer than the fixing bar (1), and each rubber blade (6), (7) is attached to a different flank of the fixing bar (1) by placing the pins (5) which are provided on said flank in the corresponding openings (6a), (7a) of the rubber blade (6), (7), so that an assembly is produced comprising two rubber blades (6), (7) with an intermediate fixing bar (1).

[0018] Both the number of pins (5) on the fixing bar (1) and the number of corresponding openings (6a), (7a) in the rubber blades (6), (7) can vary and depends, inter alia, on the length of the fixing bar (1) and the associated rubber blades (6), (7).

[0019] The abovementioned assembly (1, 6, 7) is secured in a holder profile (8). Such a holder profile (8) is substantially U-shaped and has two parallel sides (9),(10) which are connected to one another by a closed upper side (11) (see Fig. 3 and Figs. 7A to 7C). A narrower U-shaped duct (12) which extends in the longitudinal direction (see Fig. 7B) is provided in the closed upper side (11) of the holder profile (8) in such a manner that the space delimited by the duct (12) blends into the wider space between the parallel side walls (9), (10). On the outer side of the holder profile (8), the U-shaped walls of the duct (12) form an upright rib (15) on the outer side of the closed upper side (11).

[0020] The assembly of the fixing bar (1) with the two rubber blades (6), (7) is connected to the holder profile (8) by placing the upper edge (1a) of the fixing bar (1) in the duct (12). In the opposite side walls of the duct (12), a corresponding rectangular opening (13) is provided for each projection (2) of the fixing bar (1). Therefore, in each case two openings (13) are provided opposite one another in the opposite side walls of the duct (12). These openings (13) in each side wall of the duct (12) form a row which extends in the longitudinal direction of the holder profile (8), in which case the same intermediate distances are provided between the openings (13) as between said projections (2) of the fixing bar (1), and in which case also the location, the shape and the size of the openings (13) is determined in such a manner that said projections (2) fall into these openings (13) if the upper edge (1a) of the fixing bar (1) is pushed into the duct (12).

[0021] During the introduction of the fixing bar (1), inter alia the side walls of the duct (12) are deformed. As soon as each of the different projections (2) is situated in an opening (13), the deformed parts spring back so that a fixed connection is produced. The stepped bottom side (4) of the projections (2) ensures that the connection between the holder profile (8) and the assembly (1, 6, 7) cannot come apart during normal use of the floor squeegee.

[0022] The number of projections (2) and associated openings (13) of course also depends on the length of the floor squeegee. Thus, Figs. 7A to 7C show a profile holder (8) with only five openings (13). Such a profile holder (8) is therefore designed for a fixing bar (1) with five corresponding projections (2).

[0023] When the fixing bar (1) is secured in the holder profile, the rubber blades (6), (7) extend (see Figs. 1 to 3) into the wider U-shaped space between the parallel sides (9), (10) of the holder profile (8). In this case, they protrude at both ends beyond the end of the floor squeegee body (22), and they also protrude on the open bottom side of the profile (8) beyond the parallel sides (9), (10) of the holder profile (8). The edge portions of the rubber blades (6), (7) protruding at the bottom form the usable part of the rubber blades.

[0024] Furthermore, five rectangular openings (14) are also provided in each opposite side wall of the duct (12) of the holder profile (8) which are wider than the above-described openings (13) and which are provided in between these openings (13) in the same row. Thus, there are in each case two such openings (14) provided opposite one another in the opposite walls of the duct (12). These wider openings (14) serve to attach the coupling bar (16).

[0025] As can most clearly be seen in Figs. 3 and 7A, the U-shaped walls of the duct (12) form an upright rib (15) which is situated on the outer side of the closed upper side (11) on the outer side of the holder profile (8). This rib (15), and more specifically the wider openings (14) opening into it, are used to secure a coupling bar (16) to the holder profile (8) in such a manner that this coupling bar (16) is displaceable along the longitudinal direction (P) of the holder profile (6).

[0026] To this end, the coupling bar (16) is designed (see Figs. 8A to 8C) as an elongate profile having a U-shaped groove on one side, the open side being provided on the bottom side in the figures. At the bottom of the opposite side walls which delimit the groove laterally, five pairs of two opposite elastically deformable lips (17), (18) are provided. The location and the shape of these lips (17), (18) is such that each pair of opposite lips (17), (18) can hook into a pair of wider rectangular openings (14) in the opposite walls of the duct (12). As these openings (14) are wider than the width of the lips (17), (18), the coupling bar (16) can be moved along the longitudinal direction (P) (see Fig. 2) of the holder profile (8), and also the longitudinal direction of the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) of the floor squeegee. During this displacement, said lips (17), (18) in the wider openings (14) move. In order to make this operation easier for the user, pressing surfaces (19), (20) are provided at the ends of the locking bar (16).

[0027] The assembled unit comprising the fixing bar (1) with the rubber blades (6), (7), the holder profile (8) and the displaceable coupling bar (16) is a rubber blade holder (see Fig. 2) which can be secured in the insertion space (24) of a floor squeegee body (22) as a whole and can be removed again by a simple manual operation, for example in order to subject the floor squeegee body (22) to a thorough cleaning operation at a relatively high temperature (for example at 120°C in an autoclave).

[0028] The coupling bar (16) can be displaced by hand along the longitudinal direction (P) of the floor squeegee body (22) between a coupling position, in which the rubber blade holder is situated in the insertion space (24) and is coupled to the floor squeegee body (22), and an uncoupling position, in which the rubber blade holder can be detached from the floor squeegee body (22) by hand and can be removed from the insertion space (24).

[0029] On the opposite outer sides of the coupling bar (16), a row of six coupling projections (21) is provided which, in a certain position of the coupling bar (16), are retained by a corresponding number of fixed projections (23) in the insertion space (24) of the floor squeegee body (22), as a result of which the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) is securely held in the floor squeegee body (22). This position of the displaceable coupling bar (16) is the coupling position.

[0030] By displacing the coupling bar (16), the coupling projections (21) are displaced with respect to the fixed projections (23) in the insertion space (24) of the floor squeegee body (22), so that the coupling projections (21) are no longer retained by these fixed projections (23) and the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) can be readily removed from the insertion space (24) in the floor squeegee body (22). This position of the coupling bar (16) is the uncoupling position.

[0031] The required number of coupling projections (21) and associated fixed projections (23) is of course also dependent on the length of the floor squeegee.

[0032] The floor squeegee body (22) has an elongate profile which delimits a hollow insertion space (24) for the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16), which space (24) is accessible from the bottom side, and comprises, on the upper side, a shaft holder (26) with an internal screw thread (26a). The insertion space (24) is substantially U-shaped, as can best be seen in the cross section of Fig. 9D, and has a narrowed portion (25) with opposite side walls at the top. On both opposite side walls of the narrowed portion (25), six pairs of opposite fixed projections (23) are provided at intermediate distances between these pairs which correspond to the intermediate distances between the six coupling projections (21).

[0033] In this case, the location and the size of the coupling projections (21) and the fixed projections (23) of the floor squeegee body (22) are adapted to one another in such a way that, when the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) is placed in the insertion space,

• the coupling projections (21) are situated above the fixed projections (23) when the locking bar (16) is in the coupling position, so that the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) can then not be removed from the insertion space (24), and
• the coupling projections (21) are not situated above the fixed projections (23) when the locking bar (16) is in the uncoupling position, so that the

rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) can then be readily removed from the insertion space (24).

[0034] The number of coupling projections (21) and associated fixed projections (23) also depends on the length of the floor squeegee.

[0035] Moving the locking bar (16) between the coupling position and the uncoupling position is achieved by the user in a simple manner by exerting pressure on the one (19) or the other push plate (20) at the ends of the locking bar (16) by means of his finger. Obviously, the shape of the floor squeegee body (22) is such that these push plates (19), (20) are readily accessible via the usual openings or recesses in the floor squeegee body (22).

[0036] When the coupling bar (16) is moved from the coupling position to the uncoupling position and vice versa, the lips (17), (18) are displaced along the longitudinal direction of the rubber blade holder in the openings (14) from one to the other limit position. In Figs. 5A and 5B, both ends of a floor squeegee are shown with the coupling bar (16) in the coupling position. In Figs. 5C and 5D, the ends of this floor squeegee are shown with the coupling bar (16) in the uncoupling position.

[0037] In order to achieve a coupling between the rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) and floor squeegee body (22), it is sufficient to place the rubber blade holder in the insertion space (24) of the floor squeegee body (22) and then to press the push plate (20) on one side of the coupling bar (16) so that the coupling bar (16) is moved into the coupling position.

[0038] In order to remove the coupled rubber blade holder (1, 6, 7, 8, 16) from the floor squeegee body (22) again, it is sufficient to press the push plate (19) on the other side of the coupling bar (16) so that the coupling bar (16) is moved into the uncoupling position. Subsequently, the rubber blade holder can be removed from the insertion space (24). The rubber blade holder is designed symmetrically so that it can be placed in the floor squeegee body (22) in two different positions, rotated 180° with respect to one another. This floor squeegee is therefore very user-friendly.

[0039] At the end of the coupling bar (16) which has to be pushed in order to force the coupling bar (16) into the coupling position, a click-fit projection is provided which falls into a complementary click-fit recess in the floor squeegee body (22) with an audible and perceptible click upon reaching the coupling position. Thus, the user is given a signal that the coupling bar (16) is definitely correctly positioned and can keep the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16) securely in the floor squeegee body (22).

[0040] As can clearly be seen in Figs. 10A and 10B, the coupling projections (21) are designed as having two inclined upper faces (29), (30) which taper towards one another in the upward direction and at the top, at their heighest point, connect to one another by means of a narrow upper face (31). The fixed projections (23) are provided with two inclined bottom faces (32), (33) which taper towards one another in the downwards direction and at the bottom, at their lowest point, connect to one another forming an angle so that they form a bottom edge (34).

[0041] If the user places a rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 16) in the insertion space (24) of the floor squeegee body (22) while the coupling bar (16) is not in the uncoupling position, the left-hand inclined upper face (29) of the coupling projections hits the right-hand inclined bottom face (33) of the fixed projections (23) situated above. During the further upward movement of the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16), the force which is exerted on the inclined surfaces of the coupling projections (21) will result in a lateral displacement of the coupling bar (16). As a result thereof, the coupling bar (16) is pushed automatically into the uncoupling position, so that the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16) can be placed in the floor squeegee body (22) in one movement and without problems.

Claims

1. Floor squeegee comprising a floor squeegee body (22) and a rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16) which can be coupled and uncoupled manually, in which the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16) comprises a coupling member (16) which can be displaced with respect to the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16) between a coupling position in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body (22) are coupled and an uncoupling position in which the rubber blade holder and the floor squeegee body (22) are uncoupled, characterized in that the coupling member (16) comprises at least two coupling projections (21), in that the floor squeegee body (22) comprises a number of fixed projections (23), in that the coupling projections (21) are in a position in which they are retained by fixed projections (23) on the floor squeegee body (22) when the coupling member (16) is in the coupling position, and in that the coupling projections (21) are in a position in which they are not retained by fixed projections (23) on the floor squeegee body (22) when the coupling member (16) is in the uncoupling position.

2. Floor squeegee according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling member (16) is displaceable between said positions along the longitudinal direction (P) of the rubber blade holder (1, 4, 5, 6, 16).

3. Floor squeegee according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rubber blade holder comprises a fixing element (1) to which one or more rubber blades (6), (7) are attached, in that the fixing element (1) is accommodated in a holder element (8), and in that the coupling member (16) is connected to the holder element (8) in such a manner that it is displaceable along the longitudinal direction (P).

4. Rubber blade holder designed to be attached to a floor squeegee body (22) in a manually detachable manner, characterized in that it comprises a coupling member (16) which can be displaced with respect to the rubber blade holder between a coupling position and an uncoupling position in order to connect or disconnect the rubber blade holder to or from a floor squeegee body (22).

Drawing