Device for washing carpets

Abstract

 This invention relates to a device for washing of carpets, comprising a planar washing base (1) and a supporting frame (2) carrying the same. The invention is characterized in that washing base (1) is double-sided and mounted at the supporting frame (2) turnably about a horizontal shaft at an appropriate height from the floor (4) of a washroom, and lockable into a working position and in a vertical resting and rinsing position, and that a clamping member (5) is arranged at one of the free ends of the washing base (1) to retain the starting end of a carpet to be washed. The carpet washing device comprises also a wash basin (10) movable on wheels under the washing base (1).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for washing of carpets, comprising a planar washing base and a supporting frame carrying the same.

[0002] Especially in the washrooms of multi-storied buildings there are often moisture problems due to the fact that when large pieces of clothing or carpets are washed by hand, especially when rinsed, large amounts of water are needed, which water will flow onto the floor of the wash- room and will collect in joints and other grooves of the floor, from which the water will penetrate further into the structures of the washroom, especially if the washroom is not provided with floor heating.

[0003] Because it is not advisable to wash carpets in waterways because of the risk of eutrophication of the waterways, it would, however, be recommendable to give the residents of multi-storied buildings a possibility to wash their carpets in the washroom of the building.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for washing of carpets enabling development of moisture damages to be effectively prevented and enabling convenient washing of carpets by hand in a comfortable working position. This has been achieved by a carpet washing device being characterized in that the washing base is double-sided and has been mounted on the supporting frame turnably about a horizontal shaft at an appropriate working height from the floor of the washroom and arranged to be lockable into a working position and a vertical resting and rinsing position, and that a clamping member is arranged at one of the free ends of the washing base to retain the starting end of a carpet to be washed. The carpet washing device of this kind ensures a comfortable working position and convenient working also when long carpets are to be washed.

[0005] In order to prevent moisture damages, the carpet washing device is further provided with a wash basin movable on wheels, which basin can, before starting of washing of a carpet be brought under the washing base so that all washing water may flow into this basin. The wash basin is broader than the washing base, and its wall staying in front of the washing base is risen to form a splash guard plate extending at least to the working height of the front end of the washing base, which splash guard plate at the same time serves as a handle for the wash basin. At the bottom of the wash basin, an outlet lockable with a plug has been arranged. According to one preferred embodiment a connecting stub has been arranged in a side wall of the wash basin for a hose, the other end of which being intended to be brought into the floor drain of the washroom to discharge the water collected in the wash basin during washing and rinsing, while the wash basin is positioned under the washing base.

[0006] Preferably, the whole structure of the carpet washing device is of stainless steel in order to make it resistant to the moist conditions of the washroom. The washing base has preferably been prepared from an embossed plate of stainless steel, which plate has been folded into a box shape to form a working surface on its both sides, which surface, due to its embossing, will prevent the carpet to be washed from sliding laterally during washing.

[0007] In its working position, the washing base is preferably sloping down towards its front end which facilitates the working, and simultaneously ensures water used during washing to flow via the front end into the wash basin positioned under it.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting frame of the carpet washing device comprises two vertical U-profile bars to be fastened to the wall of the washroom, to which bars two consoles have been fixed, which in the mounted position project from the wall, and at the outer ends of which the opposite ends of a horizontal shaft has been turnably mounted. By this arrangement it is ensured that the carpet washing device remains firmly in its place during different working steps and requires the smallest possible space in the washroom when not in use.

[0009] The horizontal shaft, on which the washing base has been turnably mounted, is brought through the box-shaped structure of the washing base at the position of the centre of gravity of the turnable washing base to enable turning of the washing base as easily as possible without any tendency of taking a certain position due to the force of gravity.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the clamping member arranged at an end of the washing base is an eccentrically pivoted tube extending in the lateral direction along the edge surface of the washing base, whereby a steering wheel is non-rotarily attached to each end of said tube by means of which wheels the tube is turnable between a released position and a clamped position. When the tube is in its released position, the starting end of the carpet can be brought into the gap between the tube and the end of the washing base wherein it is lockable by turning the tube into its clamped position in order to wash the carpet.

[0011] In order to lock the washing base in separate positions, a locking wheel has been mounted at one end of the horizontal shaft, the periphery of which being provided with radial grooves at such positions that they, in cooperation with a locking pin provided in a manually controllable lever arm being pivotably mounted at the supporting frame, are arranged to lock the washing surface into predetermined positions, i.a. into the working positions of both washing surfaces as well as into both vertical resting or rinsing positions.

[0012] The front end of the wash basin to be brought under the carpet washing device is preferably provided with two stationary wheels, and at its rear end, under the splash guard plate, two turnable wheels are arranged which are lockable after the wash basin has been moved to a desired place. By the above-mentioned arrangement the wash basin can easily be steered and brought into the working position under the washing base, be locked therein, and, after washing and rinsing, be displaced therefrom and moved, for instance to the site of the floor drain so that the outlet at the bottom of the wash basin is positioned directly above the floor drain allowing the water present in the wash basin to flow directly into the floor drain when the plug is removed from the outlet.

[0013] By turning the washing base half a rotation about the horizontal axis, the second working surface will come into its working position. If the turning is carried out in a direction rising the end of the washing base, from which the unwashed portion of the carpet is hanging downwards, the portion of the carpet to be washed next, will be positioned onto said second working surface. When this portion of the carpet has been washed, said turning of the washing base and the washing of the carpet are repeated until the carpet has been washed in its whole length at the side in question.

[0014] When the carpet after that has to be washed at its other side, the washing base has to be turned in the opposite direction until the carpet has been released from the washing base in its whole length and hangs therefrom with its starting end retained by the clamping member, whereafter the turning has to be continued in the same direction for less than one rotation so that the first portion of the carpet will be positioned onto the washing base with the unwashed side upwards when the washing base reaches its working position. Washing and turning of the washing base for half a rotation at a time are continued until also the other side of the carpet has been washed in its whole length.

[0015] In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by referring to the accompanying drawing wherein

Fig. 1

shows a schematic side view of a carpet washing device according to the invention, with a washing base in its working position,

Fig. 2

shows a front view of the carpet washing device, the washing base being in its resting position, and without showing a wash basin, and

Fig. 3

shows a front view of the wash basin.

[0016] A carpet washing device shown in the drawing comprises a planar washing base 1 and a supporting frame 2 carrying the same. The washing base 1 is double-sided and is mounted at the supporting frame 2 turnably about a horizontal shaft 3 at an appropriate working height from the floor 4 of the washroom. The washing base 1 can be locked into a working position, for instance into the working position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the washing base is sloping down towards its front end, i.e. towards a washer, and into a second working position reached when the washing base 1 has been turned 180°, wherein the second working surface of the washing base 1 is in its working position, as well as into two vertical resting or rinsing positions, for instance into the resting position shown in Fig. 2. In order to fix the carpet to be washed onto the washing base 1, a clamping member 5 has been arranged at one of the free ends of the washing base 1 to clamp the starting end of the carpet against said end of the washing base 1.

[0017] Preferably, the washing base 1 is manufactured from an embossed plate of stainless steel, which plate has been folded into a box shape to form a working surface of the same kind on its both sides.

[0018] In the shown embodiment, the supporting frame 2 comprises two U profile bars 2a to be vertically fastened to the wall 6, to which U profile bars two consoles 2b have been fixed, which in the mounted position project from the wall 6, at the outer ends of which consoles the opposite ends of said horizontal shaft 3 is turnably mounted. The horizontal shaft 3 is brought through the box-shaped structure of the washing base 1 to extend through the centre of gravity of the turnable washing base 1 so that the washing base 1 is turnable in both directions equally easily.

[0019] The clamping member 5 may be, for instance, in the form of an eccentrically pivoted tube extending in lateral direction along the end surface of the washing base 1, to each end of said tube a steering wheel 5a has been non-rotarily attached for turning the tube between a released and clamped position. When the tube of the clamping member 5 is in its released position, the starting end of the carpet to be washed can be slipped into the gap between said tube and the end of the washing base 1, whereafter the steering wheel 5a is turned to move said tube into its clamping position so that the carpet is firmly retained in place during the whole washing step.

[0020] For locking the washing base 1 in separate predetermined positions, a locking wheel 7 has been non-rotarily mounted to one end of the horizontal shaft 3 in the present embodiment, the periphery of which wheel being provided with radial grooves at such positions that these, in cooperation with a locking pin provided at a manually controllable lever arm being pivotably mounted at the supporting frame 2, preferably at the console 2b of it, are arranged to lock the washing base 1 into a chosen position.

[0021] The carpet washing device is also provided with a washing and rinsing water receiving wash basin 10 movable on wheels 9, 9a and being broader than the washing base 1, which wash basin 10 can be brought under the washing base 1 for the time the carpet is washed and rinsed. At the bottom of the wash basin 10 there is an outlet 11 closable with a plug, through which outlet water collected in the washing basin can be discharged, after the washing step, directly into a floor drain by moving the wash basin 10 above the floor drain and removing the plug from the outlet 11. In order to prevent the washing and rinsing water flowing from the washing base 1 from getting onto the floor or to the clothes of a carpet washer, the side wall 10a of the wash basin 10 staying in front of the washing base 1, when the wash basin 10 has been pushed into place, is risen to form a splash guard plate extending at least to the working height of the front end of the washing base 1. Said side wall 10a serves also as a push handle for the wash basin 10. The bottom end of said side wall 10a may also be provided with a connecting stub for a hose by which water can be discharged from the wash basin 10 into the floor drain while the wash basin is in its place under the washing base 1. To ensure convenient movability of the wash basin, the wheels 9a provided under the push handle are preferably turnable, while the wheels at the opposite end of the wash basin are stationary.

[0022] The wash basin 10 can also be used for rinsing of carpets, unless the rinsing is carried out by means of a shower, when the washing base 1 has been turned into its vertical position as shown in Figur 2.

Claims

1. A device for washing of carpets, comprising a planar washing base (1) and a supporting frame (2) carrying the same, characterized in that there is a washing surface at both sides of the washing base (1) which washing base is mounted at the supporting frame (2) turnably about a horizontal shaft (3) at an appropriate height from the floor (4) of a washroom, and is lockable into a working position and a vertical resting and rinsing position, and that a clamping member (5) is arranged at one of the free ends of the washing base (1) to retain the starting end of a carpet to be washed.

2. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the washing base (1) is made from an embossed plate of stainless steel, which is folded into a box shape.

3. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that in its working position the washing base (1) is sloping down towards its front end.

4. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting frame (2) comprises two vertical U-profile bars (2a) to be fastened to the wall (6) of the washroom, to which U-profile bars two consoles (2b) have been fixed which consoles in the mounted position project from the wall (6), to the outer ends of which consoles the opposite ends of the horizontal shaft (3) has been turnably mounted.

5. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal shaft (3) is brought through the box-shaped structure of the washing base (1) at the position of the centre of gravity of the turnable washing base (1).

6. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping member (5) comprises an eccentrically pivoted tube extending in the lateral direction along the end surface of the washing base (1), whereby a steering wheel (5a) is non-rotarily attached to each end of said tube for turning the tube between a released and clamped position.

7. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a locking wheel (7) is mounted at one end of the horizontal shaft (3), the periphery of which wheel is provided with radial grooves (7a) at such positions that these, in cooperation with a locking pin provided at a manually controllable lever arm (8a) being pivotably mounted at the supporting frame (2) are arranged to lock the washing base (1) into predetermined positions.

8. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wash basin (10) movable on wheels (9, 9a) and being broader than the washing base (1) can be brought under the washing base (1) for the time of washing and rinsing the carpet, whereby an outlet (11) closable with a plug is arranged at the bottom of said basin, and the side wall (10a) staying in front of said washing base (1) is risen to form a splash guard plate extending at least to the working height of the front end of the washing base (1).

9. The carpet washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that by turning the the washing base (1) half a rotation about the horizontal axis (3) so that the end of the washing base (1), from which the unwashed portion of the carpet is hanging down, will rise, the portion of the carpet to be washed next will be positioned onto the other surface of the washing base (1), when this reaches its working position.

10. The carpet washing device according to claim 9, characterized in that for washing the other side of the carpet, the washing base (1) has to be turned in the opposite direction until the carpet is released from the washing base (10) in its whole length and hangs therefrom with its starting end retained by the clamping member (5), whereafter the turning is continued in the same direction for less than one rotation so that the first portion of the carpet will be positioned with its unwashed side upwards when the washing base (1) reaches its working position.

11. The carpet washing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the wash basin (10) can be discharged either by means of a hose connected to a connecting stub mounted to the side wall of the wash basin, or by moving the wash basin onto the floor drain and removing the plug closing the outlet (11), when the outlet (11) is positioned directly above the floor drain.

Drawing