Holder for wiper sleeve, wiper sleeve and cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a holder (1) for a wiper sleeve, comprising a core (2) consisting of a plurality of reversibly bendable, dimensionally stable strands (3), wherein the strands (3) are completely embedded in a cover (4), and a first end (5) and a second end (6), wherein at least the first end (5) has a section (7) which is wider and / or thicker than the cover (4) located directly in front of the section (7) in the axial direction. The invention also relates to a corresponding wiper sleeve and a cleaning device comprising the holder and the wiper sleeve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a holder for a wiping cover, such as is used, in particular in clean rooms, for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in corners, behind or between equipment and furniture or high up on walls. The invention also relates to a wiping cover cooperating with the holder and a cleaning device having at least one holder and at least one wiping cover arranged on the holder. Background Art

[0002] In addition to conventional surface cleaning, in particular in hospital, pharmaceutical and other commercial cleanrooms, it is necessary to clean the surfaces of equipment, furniture, machines, etc. located therein according to high cleanroom requirements. For this purpose, hand-held holders are used in particular, which are designed to be thinner and longer than mop holders for surface cleaning and are primarily designed to be less rigid. They can thus also be guided in a curved manner behind, under or behind obstructions or into gaps or other areas that are difficult to access.

[0003] Especially in the field of commercial cleanroom cleaning, in addition to disposable products, reusable products are used which must be prepared for reuse after the cleaning process. This is mainly done by autoclaving. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cage which is particularly suitable for this purpose and which is easy to operate.

[0005] This object is achieved by a holder for a wiping sleeve, which has a core composed of a plurality of reversibly bendable, dimensionally stable strands (Strang) or flat material strips, wherein the strands or material strips are each completely embedded in a cover; and further has a first end and a second end, wherein at least the first end has a section whose cross-section is constructed to be wider and / or thicker than the cover directly in front of the section in the axial direction.

[0006] It is of great advantage that the strands of wire combined into a core that are mechanically stable and reversibly deformable multiple times, but are shape-stable before and after bending, or flat material strips with corresponding properties according to the invention can achieve optimal matching to the corresponding changing use site. The core according to the invention can be bent at any position, multiple times, even in opposite directions and achieve a very wide range of bending radii. These cores composed of strands have great advantages compared to one-piece cores: in terms of their mechanical properties, they can be optimally and simply adapted to the use conditions of the cage with them, for example by selecting the number of strands, diameter, spacing between individual strands and materials. These strands are preferably made of metal here, preferably constructed as wires. Another great advantage is that the strands are completely embedded in the cover and are therefore protected from contact with the surrounding environment. This cover also ensures that the microcracks that may be generated due to tension and pressure or even torsion in the case of multiple bending in the strands do not constitute an intrusion barrier for dirt, because these possible microcracks are covered by the material of the cover. The same content also applies to the case where the core is constructed as a flat material strip.

[0007] By providing at least one end of the holder with a section whose cross section is wider and / or thicker than the cover directly surrounding this section, a support for a wiping sleeve is provided in the simplest manner, which is placed on the holder according to the invention during use. The wiping sleeve rests tightly on this section so that it cannot accidentally slip off the holder during a wiping movement.

[0008] In the structural scheme of the present invention, it is provided that the wire strands are arranged in the same direction, in particular parallel to each other, preferably equidistantly and parallel to each other. According to the present invention, the wire strands are mainly configured as round wires, but can also have an elliptical, rectangular or other cross-section. According to the present invention, the wire strands can also be arranged in two or more layers overlapping each other in the cover, wherein the individual wire strand layers, or individual wire strands, can differ from each other in their properties. According to the present invention, they can also be arranged in a plurality of vertical rows spaced horizontally from each other, configured as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional grid structure, as long as the wire strands enable the retaining frame to be bent predictably and in a stable shape.

[0009] Even a core in the form of a flat strip, in particular made of metal, is in accordance with the invention.

[0010] According to the invention, the equidistant and parallel arrangement of the wire strands is particularly simple in construction, and the wire strands are thus formed in a simple manner after injection molding or impregnation or other encapsulation methods into a continuous strip consisting of a core and a cover, which is then cut to the desired length and provided with ends to form the retaining frame according to the invention.

[0011] If the strands consist of a different material than the cover, the correspondingly advantageous properties of both materials can be advantageously combined. In principle, a holder consisting of a single material is also in accordance with the invention, in particular if this material can form equally thick strands and their thin cover. According to the invention, the cover material is primarily a plastic that can be autoclaved, in particular multiple times, and can be bent multiple times without cracks forming. Silicones or thermoplastic elastomers are in accordance with the invention in particular. The material of the strands or the flat material strip is preferably metal, in particular steel or iron, wherein due to the cover a great advantage is that expensive high-grade alloy steel can be dispensed with if necessary, and cheaper iron materials can be used. Plastics with self-healing properties are particularly preferred, that is to say those that can cope with cut-shaped damage or cracks by closing the cut / crack.

[0012] Such a holder according to the invention can be produced in the required width and length depending on the cleaning position and cleaning conditions, ie it can be designed from very long and thin to short and wide, wherein the wiper sleeve according to the invention is then also designed to correspond to its contour.

[0013] In the structural scheme of the present invention, it is provided that the second end also has such a section, and / or the section is configured as a bone or has an asymmetrically shaped profile with respect to the longitudinal axis of the holder. In order to make the operation of the device as simple as possible for the user, the end is shaped as follows, so that due to this shape and the selected size, it still reliably holds the set of wiping sleeves even under the influence of the force of the wiping movement, so that a separate holding device such as a button, a hook and loop fastener and more of the wiping sleeve on the holder can be advantageously omitted. The holding effect is mainly based on the extension of the wiping sleeve caused by the holder within the range of its elastic modulus, so that its fabric structure is not destroyed and the wiping sleeve automatically restores its initial shape when it is removed from the holder.

[0014] If the holder according to the invention has a connection device for connecting to a hinge or has a hinge itself, in particular provided on the cover, preferably in the region of the second end, it is particularly movable and can also be mounted on an extension element, such as a rod.

[0015] In a modification of the present invention, it is provided that it has a grip section in the region of the second end. This modification saves the structural costs of the hinge, reduces the manufacturing costs, and is particularly suitable for purely handheld use in medium-height spaces.

[0016] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a wiper sleeve having a shape corresponding to the shape of the above-mentioned cage. The wiper sleeve is designed to be correspondingly long and thin, in particular as a sleeve closed on three sides. According to the present invention, this sleeve shape is seamless, but according to the present invention, a single-sided or even circumferential seam is not excluded. Due to its shape and its elastic tensioning material, the wiper sleeve is held on the cage autonomously, in particular by force-locking on the cage by the radial tension of the wiper sleeve material and the axial friction between the inner surface of the wiper sleeve and the cage surface.

[0017] The wiper cover is particularly suitable for use in clean rooms if the wiper cover has a wiper surface consisting of a fibrous material, preferably a microfibrous material.

[0018] Finally, the object of the present invention is also achieved by a cleaning device, which has at least one holder as described above and at least one wiper sleeve arranged on the holder as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of several embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 The four sub-figures a) to d) each show a schematic cross section of a cage according to the invention; and

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic top view of a cage according to the invention is shown, which has a plurality of end shapes according to the invention.

[0022] Reference numerals list

[0023] 1 Cage

[0024] 2 Core

[0025] 3-line stocks

[0026] 4 Cover

[0027] 5 First end

[0028] 6 Second end

[0029] 7 sections

[0030] 8 Connection device

[0031] 9 Hinge

[0032] 10 Grip section

[0033] 11 Wipe Set

[0034] 12 Cleaning device

[0035] 13 Through Holes DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Figure 1 In sub-figures a) to d) schematic cross-sections of a core 3 of a cage 1 and its cover 4 are shown, respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention. In sub-figure a) a design with eight steel wires of equal diameter arranged equidistantly in one plane can be seen, which are surrounded by a cover which encloses them and consists of a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer in the form of polyethylene, which can be autoclaved and is also available under the name Purell.

[0037] Subfigure b) shows an embodiment of a core 3 according to the invention, which has three metal strips of rectangular cross section, which are also oriented parallel to each other but are aligned vertically with their longer sides as core 3. Corresponding to the embodiment schematically shown in subfigure a), the core 3 is wrapped with a cover 4.

[0038] Subfigure c) shows a plan view and a cross section of a further embodiment according to the invention of a core 3 which is designed here as a grid structure.

[0039] Subfigure d) shows a further embodiment of the core 3 according to the invention, which in this case consists of a flat metal strip.

[0040] In all these embodiments, the cover 4 is designed to be thick enough to protect the completely enclosed core from various environmental influences. The cover 4 is also thick enough to resist relatively minor surface damage caused by, for example, sharp objects or edges, without them penetrating into the corresponding core. However, the cover 4 is not designed to be too thick here either, so that it cannot be bent repeatedly.

[0041] Figure 2 The two sub-figures a) and b) each show a schematic top view of a cage 1 according to the invention, which has a shape according to the invention of the first end 5 .

[0042] Sub-figure a) shows a complete holder 1, wherein a core 3 with a cover 4 is arranged on a grip section 10. By constructing the core as a plurality of parallel, Figure 1 The strand shown in a) can therefore very advantageously be formed into any desired shape in order to also reach difficult-to-access areas within the space to be cleaned.

[0043] The first end 5 of the cage 1 is constructed to be asymmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the cage 1, that is, the area of ​​the end 5 on one side of the longitudinal axis is larger than the area on the opposite side. A circular through hole 13 is provided in the axial end region of the cage 1, which end region does not have a core 3. This through hole 13 is used on the one hand to make the end region of the cage flexible so that the wiper sleeve can be better held, and on the other hand, it provides a possibility of hanging the cage 1 and also saves cover material.

[0044] Here, the end 5 is sprayed onto the strands formed by the core 3 and the cover 4, which were previously in a continuous shape and then cut into segments. This improves manufacturing efficiency while reducing costs. The wiping sleeve 11 shown by the dotted line according to the present invention is sleeved on this holder 1, and the wiping sleeve 11 is configured to be elongated accordingly with the holder 1. Here, the wiping sleeve 11 preferably has a fiber material, in particular a microfiber material, on its wiping side, or is completely composed of it. The wiping sleeve 11 is retained on the holder because its material is stretched tight on the holder 1 due to its flexibility. Here, the tension is mostly in the area of ​​the first end 5, but due to the static friction between the wiping sleeve 11 and the cover 4, the holder 1 also plays a retaining role in its axial length. The stronger or more the bending introduced by the user in the holder 1, the greater this retaining effect.

[0045] The wiper sleeve 11 is designed as a correspondingly elongated sleeve, in particular a sleeve closed on three sides. It is provided with a hand strap (not shown) sewn in the area near the handle, which significantly simplifies the installation on the holder 1 of the invention. A gripping area is provided at the opposite, closed end of the wiper sleeve 11, which facilitates the removal of the wiper sleeve 11 from the holder 1. The wiper sleeve 11 is preferably removed intentionally in a curved removal movement outside the longitudinal axis of the holder 1, and accidental, unintentional removal during the wiping process is excluded by the holding force and friction between the holder 1 and the correspondingly shaped and elastically force-locked wiper sleeve 11.

[0046] Sub-figure b) shows another embodiment of the first end 5, which is an elongated, more precisely rectangular area symmetrically formed around the longitudinal axis. This embodiment of the holder 1 has a hinge 9 between the grip section 10 and the holding section for the wipe sleeve, and the holding section has a connecting section 8, which is connected to the hinge 9 either fixedly or detachably by means of the connecting section 8. Due to the flexibility of the core 3 and the shape stability after bending, such a hinge 9 is not mandatory, because the holder 1 can be bent into almost any desired shape, including those with multiple bends and, if necessary, reverse bends. However, in order to further simplify the operation of the present invention, such a hinge is advantageous. The advantage of this structural solution with a holding section detachably connected to the hinge is that the user can use a holder of different structures with the same handle after replacement, depending on the cleaning task.

[0047] The invention has the great advantage that it allows surfaces in clean rooms to be cleaned using a holder that can also be autoclaved multiple times, and thus supplements the surface cleaning devices known there, so that cleaning professionals are provided with a clean room-suitable device for each cleaning location. The holder according to the invention can be bent at any position due to its encased core, even multiple times along its longitudinal axis, even in reverse, wherein the type and material of the core ensures shape stability after bending and allows repeated bending within certain time intervals without damage, embrittlement, etc. The holder according to the invention can also be used economically as a disposable device due to its favorable production costs, in particular if it has no hinges and the gripping area is simply formed by the end area of ​​the encased core, which is not covered by the wipe cover in the case of use.

Claims

1. A holder (1) for a wiper sleeve, comprising a core (2) consisting of a plurality of wire strands (3) which can be bent reversibly multiple times and are dimensionally stable before and after bending, wherein the wire strands (3) are completely embedded in a cover (4); and further comprising a first end (5) and a second end (6), wherein at least the first end (5) has a section (7) whose cross section is wider and / or thicker than the cover (4) directly in front of the section (7) in the axial direction, wherein the section (7) is bone-shaped or has a contour which is asymmetrically shaped with respect to the longitudinal axis of the holder (1), and wherein the material of the cover is autoclavable.

2. The retaining frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wire strands (3) are arranged in the same direction as each other.

3. The retaining frame (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wire strands (3) are arranged parallel to each other.

4. The retaining frame (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The wire strands (3) are arranged parallel and equidistant from each other.

5. Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The strands (3) are made of a different material from the cover (4).

6. Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The second end (6) also has such a section (7).

7. Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The holder has a connection device (8) for connecting to a hinge or has a hinge (9) itself.

8. The cage (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The connecting device (8) is arranged on the cover (4).

9. The cage (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The connecting device (8) is arranged in the region of the second end (6).

10. Cage (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The holder has a grip section (10) in the region of the second end (6).

11. The wiping sleeve (11) is characterized in that: The wiper sleeve has a shape corresponding to the shape of the holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The wiping cover (11) according to claim 11, characterized in that: The wiping cover has a wiping surface made of a fibrous material.

13. The wiping cover (11) according to claim 12, characterized in that: The wiping cover has a wiping surface made of a microfiber material.

14. A cleaning device comprising at least one holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and the wiper sleeve (11) arranged on the holder (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

Images