WASHING DEVICE FOR TUBES/PIPES/POLES

Abstract

 It is disclosed a device for washing cylindrical objects such as wires, poles, pipes or hoses, wherein the device comprises a sheath (7) surrounding a moisture-absorbing material (4), said sheath (7) being divided into two sheath halves that between them possess a hinged area (5). This device may, after having been moistened, be squeezed around the pipe- or hose-formed object and be passed axially along said body for cleaning this externally.

Description

Ambit of the Invention

[0001] The present invention concerns a device for external washing of wires, poles, pipes and hoses and generally elongated cylindrical objects, said device comprising a soft porous and moisture-absorbent material being partly segregated by a lengthwise cut in the moisture-absorbing material so that the porous and moisture-absorbing material may be passed axially along the wire, hose or pipe. The porous, soft and moisture-absorbing material may in a preferred embodiment be surrounded by a cover, sheath or holster that may expel moisture, said sheath furthermore optionally being equipped with a hinge for providing access to the internal moisture-absorbing material. Furthermore, the invention particularly concerns the use of such a device for cleaning charging cables for electrical vehicles.

Background for the Invention

[0002] Pipe- and hose-shaped objects such as charging wires and cables for electrical vehicles, garden hoses, posts (e.g. signposts), etc. that are exposed to dust, dirt, loose grass, etc. have the need to be cleaned/rinsed regularly for maintaining their looks and optionally function. Such cleaning is conventionally performed by using a sponge or a cloth together with a bucket containing a washing fluid where the washing fluid is added to the object that is to be cleaned, whereupon the object is rinsed and dried and optionally impregnated with water repellant. Frequently cleaning with such equipment is inconvenient and cumbersome, and frequently there exists a need for an aid that is stored in a vehicle, requires little space optionally without the need for a bucket or access to external fluid/washing liquid.

Prior Art

[0003] From DE patent 102016011587 is known a cleaning device for a charging cable for electrical cars. This device has a handle with two internal cleaning elements. The handle is inter alia suggested as a dual combination. The washing elements are suggested to be made of rubber, plastic, sponge or textile.

General Disclosure of the Invention

[0004] The device according to the present invention will be better understood with reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the structure and composition of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a closed device according to the invention seen from the outside.

Fig. 3 shows a diametrical cross-section of an embodiment of a device according to the invention depicting a possible structure of the device.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention in a perspective axial section.

Fig. 5 shows an axial section of the device depicted in Fig. 4.

[0005] The device according to the present invention comprises in its simplest form a soft, porous body 4 such as a sponge that may retain a liquid and including a cut wherein it is possible to place a hose, a pipe, a pole or a cable so that the porous material surrounds the cable, hose, pipe or pole when these are placed inside the cut, and where it is possible to pass the porous material axially along the hose, pole, pipe or cable for externally cleaning these objects with the porous material. The relevant cut runs preferably inwards to about the middle of the porous body 4. In such an embodiment it is not necessary that the porous material is hinged as long as it is able to envelop the wire, cable, pole, pipe or hose through its suppleness and porousness in the cut area. Such a porous material 4 may in a different embodiment comprise an internal longitudinal hole 6 to hold the cable, pipe, hose or wire in place therein. This hole may be constructed as explained infra. The porous and liquid-absorbing material 4 may comprise such materials as explained infra.

[0006] An alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a pipe-formed sheath 1 split into two halves 2,3, each sheath half 2,3 being filled with a fluid-absorbing soft material 4 such as sponge, a wooly material of a natural or synthetic porous material such as a foam material, or a combination of such materials. In the shown embodiment the halves 2,3 may in one embodiment between themselves be equipped with a hinge 5 making it possible to close the halves 2,3 against each other so that the internal moisture-absorbing material 4 abuts against each other. The hinge 5 may be present as a number of freely located hinges distributed over the hinged edge between the halves 2,3 or may in one embodiment be present as a foldable, flexible edge of plastic binding the two halves 2,3 together.

[0007] In one further embodiment of the device according to the present invention the internal porous material 4 may be equipped with a penetrating hole 6 for locating a pipe or hose-formed body that is to be cleaned (not shown). In its simplest embodiment it is not necessary for such a hole to exist, since the inner soft and porous and moisture-absorbing material 4 very well may accommodate and envelop such a pipe or hose, but it is preferred that such a groove or hole 6 is present since this will ease the placing of the device axially around the pipe, hose, pole or wire that is to be cleaned. It is preferred that the penetrating hole 6 is adapted to substantially accommodate the size/diameter of the cable, hose, pipe or pole that is to be held therein during the cleaning procedure with the device according to the invention.

[0008] The expressions "mainly", "substantially", etc. have the meaning that the relevant indication has a "drift value" or an uncertainty of + 10% of the indicated value. As an example, an expression such as "mainly" or "essentially" or "about" 100 mm will mean that within this value is also included ± 10 mm, i.e. from and including 90 mm up to and including 110 mm.

[0009] The sheath parts 2,3 are in one embodiment made of a water-resistant material such as a plastic material, e.g. PVC (polyvinylchloride), PE (polyethane), PU (polyurethane), PET (polyethaneterephthalate), etc. Or a combination of such materials. It is preferred that the material of the sheath 2,3 may be compressed radially, preferably in such a way that the cylinder being formed when the halves 2,3 of the sheath are combined may be diminished by up to about 20 % or so that the walls of the sheath 2,3 may be brought closer to each other for squeezing the sponge or wool material 4 for driving out at least a part of the moisture or liquid that resides therein. The expression "at least a part" relates here to a completely saturated material wherein there has been driven out up to 85-90 % by weight of the absorbed liquid related to the liquid that maximally may be absorbed by the material (saturated condition).

[0010] In one embodiment the end edges 7 of the sheath halves 2,3 extending radially inwards for a distance in the sheath 1 for keeping the sponge or wool material 4 in place inside the sheath 1 when the device according to the invention in a closed condition is passed axially along the pipe or wire object that is to be cleaned, preferably after this object has been placed inside the penetrating hole 6 of the device according to the invention and the device has been closed about the object by the sheath halves having been brought to lie against each other by rotation about the hinge(s) 5.

[0011] The device according to the invention may in one embodiment be equipped with locking and closing device(s) 8 for keeping the sheath halves 2,3 against each other in a closed condition. Examples of such devices may be a ribbon with two surfaces, wherein each surface is equipped with cooperating parts of a hook-and-loop type, a lip 9 with a groove 10 placed on the one sheath half that may be locked with a snap lock 11 fitting inside the groove 10 located on the second sheath half 3 or optionally snap buttons 12 that may be locked onto each other when the sheath halves 2,3 abut each other in their closed condition.

[0012] It is preferred that at least one of the sheath halves 2,3, and most preferred both, is equipped with apertures or holes 13 opening for access to the sponge or wool material 4 inside the device according to the invention. Since the material inside the sheath 1 may be compressed, it will be possible to empty the fluid absorbed by the porous material 4 by squeezing the sheath 1 so that the fluid may escape through the apertures/holes 13.

[0013] The apertures/holes 13 may also function as openings through which fluid may evaporate if it is relevant to keep/store the device in a dry condition (e.g. to avoid growth of bacteria and bad odour). By immersing the dry device in a washing fluid, the fluid may enter into the porous material 4 through the holes/apertures 13.

[0014] It is preferred that the porous material 4 extends to a certain extent through the holes/apertures 13 so that this material 4 may function as a wiping device if the user wishes to clean his or her hands after ending work. For this reason it is preferred that the holes/apertures 13 have a rectangular or quadratic form even if they evidently may have another appearance as well such as circular holes, hexagonal holes, rhombic holes, etc.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment the device according to the invention may be contained in an airtight and optionally sealed container, preferably with a lid for access to the device. Such a combination will represent a set or kit wherein the device according to the invention may exist in a wet or moist condition to be used immediately after the seal has been broken. In such an embodiment it is preferred that the device is packed aseptically inside the container so that growth of bacteria is avoided. In this embodiment it may also be possible to add a bactericide to the washing fluid inside the porous material 4. It may also be possible to make the device aseptic by exposing it to ultraviolet light (UV) or by heating/pasteurising it or exposing it to microwaves. Examples of a fluid that may be held or added to the porous material are fluids such as defrosting fluid, window cleaning fluid, water added a colour, defrosting materials (glycol), perfume, etc. or combinations thereof.

[0016] In a further alternative embodiment the device according to the invention may have connected to its external sheath additional aids 14, e.g. in the form of a squeegee for removing precipitation from the windows of the vehicle, an ice-scraper for removing frost and ice from the windows of the vehicle when the outside temperature is below zero degrees Celsius, or other devices. Such accessories may also be attachable and may optionally be connected by a base or socket 15 that may possess internal threads for such securing. The external sheath 2,3 may optionally have devices that may secure the entire device to a water-conducting hose so that the device may be flushed continuously with water or fluid.

[0017] It is preferred that at least internal sponge or wool material 4 may be removed from the sheath 2,3 for separate cleaning, wash or replacement.

[0018] The penetrating hole 6 may in one embodiment be internally coated with a dirt-removing coating such as brushes. Such brushes may be soft or stiff, and they may be made of any material from a soft or pliable plastic material up to metal (steel brush/steel wool).

Examples

Example 1

[0019] This example concerns a concrete embodiment of a device as explained supra. This device has an external sheath 7 of polyethylene plastic with a cylindrical shape and with a diameter of 5 cm and a length of 10 cm where a cut is made from the external surface and inwards to the centre line of the cylinder. In this cut there may be placed a cable, a pipe, a wire or a pole with a diameter within the interval up to 2 cm so that the sponge encloses the pipe, wire, pole or cable and may be passed axially along this body for the external cleaning thereof.

Example 2

[0020] This example concerns a concrete embodiment of a device as disclosed supra. This device comprises an external sheath 7 of polyethylene plastic with a cylindrical form and with the measurements of 5 cm diameter and a length of 10 cm. The internal moisture-absorbing material is made of natural sponge. The sheath 7 and the moisture-absorbing material are cut in two.

Example 3

[0021] This example concerns a concrete embodiment of a device as explained supra in Example 2. This device has an external sheath of polypropylene plastic with a cylindrical shape and with measurements: diameter 6 cm and length 10 cm. The internal moisture-absorbing material is made of porous polyethylene sponge and has an axial penetrating hole 6 with a diameter of 1 cm. The cylinder and the internal moisture-absorbing material 4 are divided axially into two equal halves.

Example 4

[0022] This example concerns a concrete embodiment of a device as disclosed supra in Example 3. The penetrating cylindrical hole 6 is in this embodiment covered with a cotton material 10 with a thickness of 0.5 cm.

Example 5

[0023] This example concerns a concrete embodiment of a device as disclosed in Example 3. The two cylindrical halves 7 are in this embodiment connected via an externally extending lip 5 functioning as a hinge.

Claims

1. Device for washing cylindrical bodies such as wires, poles, pipes and hoses externally,
characterized in that the device comprises a moisture-absorbing material (4), said moisture-absorbing material (4) being divided into two parts by a cut in the moisture-absorbing material (4) so that a wire, hose, pole or pipe may be placed inside said cut so that the porous and moisture-absorbing material may be passed axially along the wire, hose, pole or pipe.

2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the moisture-absorbing material (4) has a axially extending penetrating hole (6) for accommodating said wire, pole, pipe or hose.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the moisture-absorbing material (4) extends inwards to about the middle of the moisture-absorbing material.

4. Device according to any of the claims 1 - 3,
characterized in that the cut in the moisture-absorbing material (4) extends inwards to about the middle of the moisture-absorbing material.

5. Device according to claim 4,
characterized in that at least one of the sheath halves (2,3) includes holes or apertures (13) through which moisture may escape.

6. Device according to any of the claims 4 - 5,
characterized in that it comprises at least one locking device (8) that may lock the sheath halves (2,3) against each other.

7. Device according to any of the claims 5 or 6,
characterized in that the inner moisture-absorbing material (4) protrudes from the openings/holes (13) in the sheath (2,3).

8. Device according to claims 5, 6 or 7,
characterized in that the openings/apertures (13) have a quadratic or rectangular form.

9. Device according to any of the claims 4 - 8,
characterized in that the hinge (5) comprises a bendable edge.

10. Device according to any of the claims 4 - 9,
characterized in that the sheath (1) is made of a plastic material such as PVC, PE, PET, PU or combinations thereof.

11. Kit or set comprising a device according to any of the claims 1 - 10, said device being contained in an airtight container.

12. The use of a device according to any of the claims 1 - 10 or kit according to claim 11 for washing charging cables of electrical vehicles.

Drawing