Device for cleaning floor surfaces

Abstract

Device for cleaning the joints between paving stones and floor slabs laid outdoors, comprising a suction device with a manually handleable suction tube (1), wherein the end region of the suction tube (1) is provided and designed for contact with the ground, wherein a steel pin (5, 5') is arranged centrally in the end region of the suction tube (1), projecting outwards from the end region, and which is provided and designed to be inserted deep into the joints with its front end, wherein the steel pin (5') is held inside in a thickened section (18) of the wall (17) of the suction tube (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cleaning the joints between paving stones and floor slabs laid outdoors, comprising a suction device with a manually handleable suction tube, wherein the end region of the suction tube is provided and designed for contact with the ground, and wherein a steel pin protruding outwards from the end region is arranged centrally in the end region of the suction tube, which is provided and designed to be inserted deep into the joints with its front end.

[0002] Besides technically complex devices for cleaning joints, simplified versions are known that utilize the suction power of a vacuum cleaner, such as a garden vacuum. For example, DE 10 2017 118 896 A1 describes an attachment for a vacuum cleaner suction tube that has a triangular blade arranged externally at its free end. By rotating the blade, one point of the triangle protrudes beyond the suction tube. This allows for only shallow cleaning of joints, as the two sides of the triangular point quickly encounter the edges of the stones or slabs, thus preventing deeper penetration. Further joint cleaning devices are known from US 2019 / 0314870A1, US 2008 / 0256737A1, and DE 101 62 102 A1.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of finding an improvement in such a way that the device penetrates deep into the joints.

[0004] This problem is solved according to claims 1 and 2 by holding the steel pin inside a thickened section of the wall of the attachment element. This is considered a significant innovation compared to the prior art.

[0005] With the suction device switched on, the free end of the suction tube with the protruding steel pin is pulled through the joints to be cleaned in one direction, thereby loosening moss, dirt, and weeds located in the joints and simultaneously drawing these materials into the suction device via the suction tube. Because the steel pin is positioned at the end of the suction tube, this method offers the advantage over the previously described prior art that the joints are cleaned thoroughly and the loosened material is immediately and completely vacuumed up. With the aforementioned triangular blade according to the prior art, the external position of the blade does not guarantee the complete removal of material loosened in the joints; rather, the suction tube with the blade must be moved back and forth along the joint to capture all the loosened material.

[0006] According to further inventive embodiments of the feature combination according to claim 1, as specified in the dependent claims, the front end of the steel pin can be configured differently, as a knife or a scraper. Furthermore, the device can be designed as an attachment element for sliding onto the end of the intake manifold. The steel pin is preferably detachably fastened along the central axis of the intake manifold or the attachment element so that it can be adjusted longitudinally. In a non-inventive alternative, the steel pin is preferably detachably fastened along the central axis of the intake manifold or the attachment element so that it can be adjusted longitudinally. In the embodiment according to the invention, the steel pin is held in a thickened section of the wall of the intake manifold or the attachment element.

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown in the following drawing. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of a non-inventive attachment element for mounting on a suction pipe; Fig. 2: a rear view of the attachment element according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3: a side view of the attachment element according to Fig. 1 without the protruding steel pin; Fig. 4: a perspective sectioned view of the attachment element according to Fig. 1; Fig. 5: a top view of a sectioned view according to line VV in Fig. 3 with a three-armed holder for the steel pin; and Fig. 6: in sectional view a holder according to the invention for the steel pin in a thickened section of the wall of the attachment element.

[0008] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an attachment element 1 designed for detachable connection to a manually operated suction tube. The suction tube (not shown) is connected to a suction device, for example, a garden vacuum cleaner, thus creating a device for cleaning joints. Alternatively, the attachment element 1 can also be an integral part of the suction tube and thus form the end section of the suction tube 1. The attachment element 1 is essentially a cylindrical element made of plastic or metal. It has a suction tube end 2 and a front end 4. Material drawn in at the front end 4 is conveyed by the attachment element 1 to the suction tube end 2 and from there further through the suction tube to the suction device. The attachment element 1 has a conically tapered section 3 at the suction tube end 2, with its largest diameter at the suction tube end 2.The upper half of the attachment element 1 has a constant diameter. This makes it possible to insert suction pipes of different diameters into the suction pipe-side end 2 of the attachment element 1 and create an airtight and suction-resistant connection. A steel pin 5 protrudes centrally from the front end 4 of the attachment element 1; this pin is designed and intended to be inserted into the joints between slabs and / or stones.

[0009] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the attachment element 1 from the rear. A center mark 7 is provided at the rear. This can be a colored element or a slot through which the steel pin 5 is visible. This makes it easier for the operator to guide the steel pin correctly downwards.

[0010] In Fig. Figure 3 shows the attachment element 1 in a side view. It can be seen in particular that the front end 4 of the attachment element 1 has an angle 6 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the attachment element 1. This angle 6 is preferably between 30° and 70°. An angle between 50° and 60° is particularly preferred. This allows for particularly convenient handling. Due to the chamfered design of the front end 4 of the attachment element 1, the front end 4 forms an ellipse 8, as shown in Figure 3. Fig. 1 shown.

[0011] In Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective cutaway side view of the attachment element 1 according to Fig. Figure 1 shows the steel pin 5 having a straight section 12 extending along the longitudinal axis of the attachment element 1. At the front end 4 of the attachment element 1, the steel pin 5 is angled, forming an angled section 13. This angled section is oriented at such an angle to the straight section 12 that it is substantially parallel to the surface normal of the front end 4 of the attachment element 1. The straight section 12 of the steel pin 5 is threaded. A lock nut 14 and a knurled thread 15 are arranged on this thread, securing and receiving the steel pin 5 in a holder 9. In this embodiment, the holder 9 has three arms 10 arranged at an angle of 120° to each other. The steel pin 5 is detachably and replaceably held in the holder 9. A top view of the holder 9 is shown in Figure 1. Fig. 5. This shows a cross-sectional view along line VV in Fig. 3. The three arms support a central inner tube 16 in which the steel pin 5 is guided. The edges of the arms 10 have chamfers 11 so that suctioned dirt and weeds do not collect on the arms 10, but are directed to the suction tube and the suction device.

[0012] Fig.Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a holder for the steel pin 5' designed according to the invention. The wall 17 of an attachment element 1' or a suction tube has a thickened wall section 18 on one side, which has an internal bore 19. The steel pin 5' of this design has a threaded section at its rear end, with which it is pushed through the internal bore 19. The steel pin 5' is secured in the wall section 18 by a nut 20 recessed inside and a wing nut 21 screwed onto the outside of the end of the steel pin 5'. The internal bore 19 is oriented such that the inserted straight steel pin 5' is parallel to the surface normal of the front end region of the attachment element 1' or the suction tube.

Claims

[1] Device for cleaning the joints between paving stones and floor slabs laid outdoors, comprising a suction device with a manually handleable suction tube (1), wherein the end region of the suction tube (1) is provided and designed for contact with the ground, wherein a steel pin (5, 5') is arranged centrally in the end region of the suction tube (1) projecting outwards from the end region, which is provided and designed to be inserted deep into the joints with its front end, wherein the steel pin (5') is held inside in a thickened section (18) of the wall (17) of the suction tube (1). [2] Device for cleaning the joints between paving stones and floor slabs laid outdoors, comprising a suction device with an attachment element (1') for a manually operated suction tube (1), wherein the end region of the attachment element (1') is provided and designed for contact with the ground, wherein a steel pin (5, 5') is arranged centrally in the end region of the attachment element (1') projecting outwards from the end region, which is provided and designed to be inserted deep into the joints with its front end, wherein the steel pin (5') is held inside in a thickened section (18) of the wall (17) of the attachment element (1'). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the front end of the steel pin (5, 5') is knife-shaped. [4] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the front end of the steel pin (5, 5') is formed as a narrow scratch. [5] Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by , that the device is designed as an attachment element (1') for sliding onto the end of a suction pipe (1) and has an internal stop for the suction pipe. [6] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the steel pin (5) is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the end region of the intake manifold or the attachment element (1'). [7] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the front end region of the intake manifold (1) or of the attachment element (1') has a circular cross-section and is aligned with its front end at an angle between 30° and 70°, in particular between 35° and 70° and in particular between 40° and 50° to the longitudinal axis of the end region of the intake manifold (1) or of the attachment element (1'). [8] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the rear end of the steel pin (5') is displaceable in the thickened section (18), has a screw thread at its rear end and can be screwed onto the thickened section (18) with an externally screwed threaded screw. [9] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the steel pin (5') is aligned with its front end region parallel to the surface normal of the front end region of the intake manifold (1) or of the attachment element (1').

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