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(11) | EP 4 212 085 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | HANDLE FOR A HOUSEHOLD CLEANING TOOL, SUCH AS A DUSTPAN, WITH IMPROVED COUPLING SYSTEM |
| (57) The present invention relates to the field of household utensils and in particular
to a handle (1) for a household cleaning utensil (such as a dustpan or broom, scrubbing
brush or the like) with an improved attachment system (120, 240).
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[0001] The present invention relates to the field of household utensils and in particular relates to a handle for a household cleaning utensil (such as a dustpan or broom, scrubbing brush or the like) with an improved coupling system.
[0002] Taking the example of dustpans or crumb collectors, they are used in combination with a broom to collect crumbs swept up from the ground.
[0003] This type of dustpan usually consists of a crumb tray with a flat bottom that has a mouth sloping towards the ground to receive what is swept up from the ground; the bottom is bordered by edges that rise substantially perpendicular thereto. In particular, there are side edges that laterally delimit the sliding mouth and a raised rear edge intended to be associated with a handle for the user to grip. A particular type of dustpan, which can be used by the user standing up, has a handle that rises vertically from the tray at the raised rear edge. In some models, the handle can be folded (by about 75° to 90°, for example) between a vertical position or use position, in which it rises vertically from the tray, and a folded or rest position in which it rests against the tray to allow the dustpan to be stored even in tight spaces.
[0004] The free end of the handle, opposite the tray, usually mounts a hand grip for the user to grip.
[0005] The hand grip can be aligned with the handle or curved, to facilitate a more comfortable grip by the user. The hand grip can have a recess for the broom handle, so that when at rest it is engaged with the dustpan for storage together in one set.
[0006] Going further into the details of the handle, this usually comprises a plastic or metal tube, which has two ends. At one end there are means of attaching the handle to the dustpan, at the second end - opposite the first on the tube - there are gripping means such as the above-mentioned hand grip.
[0007] Turning to the coupling means, these are usually represented by a thread that can be made either directly on the handle or on the outer profile of a barrel terminal that is fitted onto the end of the handle attachment. The latter solution is the most widely used, as it can be applied indiscriminately to metal or plastic tubes, which are then produced in standard sizes and then adapted through the terminal to the various types of trays and associated threads.
[0008] Correspondingly, the tray has an attachment hole at the raised edge, which includes a corresponding thread, to allow the handle to be screwed in.
[0009] This type of solution is the most widely used to date and is applied not only in the described example of a dustpan but also for attaching the handle to other types of utensils, such as brushes, brooms, scrubbing brushes etc. However, this solution, in its simplicity, presents problems and therefore room for improvement.
[0010] In particular, the screw connection between the handle and the utensil is not stable; with constant use, the screw connection may fail and thus the connection may not be optimal. This part is therefore certainly the one most exposed to malfunctioning.
[0011] In addition, the need for a terminal complicates the structure of the handle, which is in fact made of several parts, often made of different materials, with the disposal problems this entails.
[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an attachment system that overcomes known drawbacks.
[0013] In particular, it is the purpose of the attachment system according to the invention to be robust and reliable.
[0015] It is a further purpose of the invention to reduce the parts of which the handle is composed with a view to limiting production ensuring a longer life of the object and facilitating the subsequent disposal at the end of the cycle.
[0016] These and other purposes are achieved by the handle with its attachment system according to the invention, the essential features of which are defined by the first appended claim. Other important additional characteristics are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0017] The features and advantages of the handle and related attachment system will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- figure 1 shows the handle and attachment system installed in a dustpan;
- figure 2 shows the handle in isolation;
- figure 3 depicts an attachment end of the handle of figure 2 in detail;
- figure 4 shows an attachment system between the handle and tray of the dustpan in the previous figures;
- figure 5 represents a section of the attachment system of figure 4;
- figure 6 is an exploded view of the dustpan according to the invention.
[0018] With reference to the figures, a handle and attachment system according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to a specific example embodiment, namely a dustpan, without prejudice to its applicability to any household cleaning utensil.
[0019] The dustpan includes a handle 1 and a tray 2 for collecting dirt. The handle 1 extends along an axis X1 thereof; it comprises a main portion 10, a first end 11 and a second end 12. A hand grip 11 for a user is placed at the first end 11.
[0020] In a preferred form of the invention, the hand grip 11 is made as a single piece by shaping the first end of the handle.
[0021] Again, the hand grip 11 can provide a groove 110 to accommodate the tubular handle of a broom (not shown), so that when at rest, the broom can be engaged with the dustpan and thus be stored together.
[0022] At the second end 12, attachment means 120 of said handle are placed to engage reversibly with corresponding attachment means of said utensil (in the case of the example with the tray 2 of the dustpan).
[0023] The attachment means 120 of said handle comprise a projection 120a extending from the second end 12.
[0024] The projection 120a extends aligned to the main portion, according to the vertical axis X1 of the handle.
[0026] As will be seen below, the projection 120a is inserted into the utensil's own attachment means.
[0027] Again, between the end 100 of the main portion 10 and the protuberance 120a a flat face 100 is defined from which the protuberance 120a extends perpendicularly. As will be seen below, in the connection between the handle and the utensil, the flat face 100 acts as an abutment and stabilisation surface between the two.
[0028] On the projection 120a, there are also snap engagement means 120b. In particular, the snap means project in relief from the projection according to a direction Y1 substantially transverse to the axis X1 thereof.
[0029] Going into greater detail, according to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the protuberance 120a has a free end from which a planar tab 120c projects, along axis X1 defining at least one planar face 120c' perpendicular to the transversal axis Y1.
[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the planar tab has two principal faces opposite and perpendicular to the axis Y1.
[0031] The snap engagement means include at least one tooth 120b protruding at least from one planar face 120c' of this tab. In an embodiment, the planar tab 120c is perpendicular to the terminal flat face 100 of the second end 12. The at least one tooth 120b has a tapered shape according to the axis X1 i.e. it has a wedge shape with an inlet facing a free end of the tab; more in detail, the at least one tooth has a flat face 120b' inclined at a decreasing angle towards the bottom of the handle with respect to the face of the planar tab. In the part with the greatest inclination, between the inclined flat face 120b' and the planar tab, a transverse abutment surface 120b" parallel to the face 100.
[0033] Reference is now made to the attachment means of the household cleaning utensil. In the example illustrated, they are located at a raised edge 21 at the rear of tray 2, an edge opposite a dirt inlet mouth 22 sliding towards the floor.
[0034] Going into detail, the attachment means comprise a tubular seat 24 that defines a hole 240. The hole 240 defines its own axis X2. The hole is large enough to accommodate the projection 120a by inserting.
[0035] Within the hole 240 there are engagement means 242 adapted to co-operate with the above-mentioned snap engagement means 120b of the handle, and in particular in abutment with the flat surface 120b", to prevent accidental removal of the handle from the hole.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the engagement means comprise a slot 242 into which the at least one tooth 120b snaps.
[0037] In even more detail, the hole 240 is delimited below by a planar bottom 241. On the planar bottom is the slot. When bayonet fitting the handle into the hole, the planar tab 120c penetrates the slot. The tooth 120b, due to its slipped shape, penetrates the slot, but is prevented from a return movement by the abutment effect of the flat surface 120b" on the planar bottom 241. The matching of at least one tooth 121 on the bottom achieves the locking of the protuberance and thus of the handle within the tubular seat 24 and thus the fixing of the handle to the tray.
[0038] The attachment means just described can be adapted to any type of household cleaning utensil.
[0039] If necessary, the engagement means 242 can also be realised in another way, in general any form of the snap means and engagement means that realises a snap engagement between handle and tray is applicable.
[0040] In a specific embodiment for application to the dustpan, the tubular seat 240 is materialised by an insert fixed to the tray in a pivoting manner along a transverse axis Y2 thereof. For this purpose, the insert provides pins 243 extending outwardly along the transverse axis Y2; the pins are designed to engage in appropriate seats 231 made on the utensil and in particular on a seat 23 provided for this purpose on the utensil. Due to the pivotal engagement of the insert with respect to the edge 21, when the handle is mounted, it pivots with respect to the tray and thus the handle can be placed in a vertical position, essentially at 90° to the tray in use, or in a folded or resting position where it rests against the tray to allow the dustpan to be stored even in tight spaces when not in use.
[0041] In a further embodiment variant, a thread can also be provided in the tubular seat 240, so that it is adapted to accommodate other standard, screw-mounted handles in addition to the handle just described.
[0042] According to a further aspect of the invention, the handle is made by injection or plastic molding, in a single piece. Therefore, the threading projection and the associated snap means are made of one piece together with the remaining parts of the handle, in one material. This facilitates disposal as well as production operations as the handle is made in a single process without any additional operations.
[0043] If necessary, the handle may include hollowed-out parts, e.g. located in the area of the main portion 10, reinforced with ribs 10'. This reduces the material used to make the handle and thus the overall weight of the object, as well as obviously limiting production costs.
As regards the protuberance 120a, in other embodiments, it can also be materialized by a tapered portion with a reduced diameter of the first end 100, or even more simply from a portion of the same ends 100 of equal diameter.
[0044] In general, the described attachment system achieves numerous advantages. Firstly, the snap engagement by bayonet insertion between the handle and the attachment means is particularly solid and stable, not subject to problems of wear and tear or giving way like the well-known screw engagement.
[0045] Among other things, the engagement thus obtained is extremely practical and quick to achieve, as the movement is simply that of penetrating the handle into its respective seat on the cleaning utensil.
[0046] Handle and utensil can be disengaged by disengaging the snap means from their respective engagement means. This disengagement is achieved, for example, by forcing at least one tooth out of the respective slot. It goes without saying that the engagement/disengagement of the handle from the utensil is quick and reliably repeatable an extremely high number of times.
1. A handle intended for a cleaning utensil for domestic use, said handle (1) comprising
a main portion (10) defining a main extension along a longitudinal axis (X1) thereof,
said main portion being delimited between two ends, a first end (11) comprising gripping
means of said handle, a second end (12) comprising attachment means (120) of said
handle adapted to engage reversibly with corresponding attachment means (240) of said
cleaning utensil, in which said mutual engagement is a snap type engagement, wherein
said attachment means (120) of said handle comprise a projection (120a) which extends
from said second end according to said longitudinal axis (X1), said projection (120a)
supporting snap engagement means (120b), said snap engagement means comprising at
least one raised tooth (120b) which protrudes from said projection (120a) in a direction
(Y1) substantially transverse to said proper axis (X1), a planar tab (120c) extending
along said axis (X1) from said projection (120a), said at least one tooth projecting
from a flat face of said planar tab (120c).
2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tooth is tapered along
said axis (X1), i.e. it has a wedge shape with an inlet facing a free end of said
tab.
3. The handle according to claim 2 wherein said at least one tooth defines an inclined
face (120b') with respect to one face of said planar tongue, between said inclined
face and said face of said planar tongue an abutment surface being defined (120b ")
of said at least one tooth.
4. The handle according to any one of the preceding claims made of a single material.
5. The handle according to any one of the preceding claims made by plastic molding or
plastic injection.
6. The handle according to any of the previous claims in which at least the main portion
(10) is hollow and has reinforcing ribs (10').
7. The handle according to any of the previous claims wherein said end (12) defines a
flat face 100 from which the protuberance 120a extends perpendicularly.
8. Attachment means for a cleaning tool for domestic use, configured to cooperate with
the handle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, to obtain a snap engagement with
said attachment means of said handle.
9. The attachment means of a tool according to claim 8 comprising at least one tubular
seat (24) defining a hole (240), said hole defining its own longitudinal axis (X2),
said hole being able to house said projection (120a) of said handle, within said tubular
seat being provided with snap engagement means (242) which are suitable for engaging
with said snap means (120b) of said handle.
10. The attachment means according to claim 9, in which a slot (242) is formed within
said hole, suitable for receiving said at least one tooth (120b) for insertion and
defining an abutment surface (241) of said abutment surface (120b") of said at least
one tooth, so as to prevent accidental extraction along the longitudinal axis (X1,
X2) of said handle from said attachment means.
11. The attachment means according to claim 10 in which a thread is provided within said
tubular seat (240) for the engagement by screwing of a traditional-type handle.
12. The attachment means according to any one of claims 8 to 11 being arranged for pivotal
connection with a cleaning tool for domestic use by means of connecting pins which
extend along a own transverse axis (Y2).
13. A household cleaning utensil for domestic use comprising attachment means such as
any of claims 8 to 12.
14. A household cleaning utensil according to the claim 12, wherein said utensil is a
dustpan.
15. Household cleaning kit comprising the handle according to any one of claims 1 to 7
and a cleaning tool according to claim 13 or 14.