Device for cleaning a sanitary appliance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a sanitary appliance. The invention addresses the problem of providing a device which is intended for cleaning a sanitary appliance, does not readily become detached, during use, from the sanitary appliance to be cleaned and can be adapted individually to different models of the sanitary appliance. According to the invention, the device is characterized in that a variable-size balloon (2) for closing an outlet (20) of a sanitary appliance (16) contains within it a tubular balloon core (21), and the device has arranged on it an overflow (12) which, once the device for cleaning a sanitary appliance has been fitted in the sanitary appliance, has its upper edge arranged beneath an upper edge of the sanitary appliance (16), the overflow being connected fluidically to a first end of the balloon core, and a tubular outlet connector (14) being arranged at a second end of the balloon core.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cleaning a sanitary facility. The sanitary facilities for which the device can be used are primarily toilets, but the device can also be used for sinks, bidets, showers, bathtubs, urinals, and other water-flowing drains. The device is adaptable to the respective intended use. Description of the invention

[0002] Devices for cleaning sanitary facilities, particularly hard-to-reach areas, are well known. For example, DE 20 2016 006 209 U1 describes a toilet fitting with an innovative additional function, in which an overflow pipe is inserted into the drain of a toilet bowl. After inserting this overflow, which completely closes the drain, the bowl can be filled with a cleaning fluid that removes dirt residues and germs from the bowl. After cleaning, the overflow is removed so that the water used to clean the bowl can drain away. It should be noted that the document proposes a ceramic version, which is not only highly susceptible to damage but also requires large contact surfaces. As a result, many parts of the sanitary facility to be cleaned are either impossible or difficult to reach, resulting in a poor cleaning effect.This device can only be used for one specific toilet bowl model and is not suitable for universal use.

[0003] The device disclosed in DE 88 14 729 U1 operates according to a similar principle. A bell-shaped rubber bead is mounted on a stem and is inserted into a toilet drain with the bell opening facing upwards. The rubber bead adapts to the shape of the drain and closes the drain when the toilet bowl is filled with cleaning fluid. Since there is no overflow, this type of cleaning can lead to the user filling the bowl with too much cleaning fluid, causing it to overflow. Furthermore, as before, not every area of ​​the toilet bowl is accessible to the cleaning fluid, since dirt residues cannot be reached or even collect beneath the rubber bell, and particularly in the area where the rubber bell is pressed against the drainpipe. This can lead to unwanted dirt marks.

[0004] The device, which is known from US 6 405 385 B1, comprises an elastic body that can be inserted into the drain of a toilet bowl. By actuating a bellows, the thickness of this elastic body can be changed by pumping in air such that the elastic body fits snugly against the drain wall and prevents water from flowing away. A cleaning fluid poured into the toilet bowl serves to clean the bowl. Here, too, there is a risk that a) not all areas of the toilet bowl can be cleaned with the same level of quality and b) overflow of cleaning fluid cannot be prevented if a maximum fill level is exceeded. The possibility of the air-filled body floating up if the elastic body is not positioned correctly cannot be ruled out.

[0005] Finally, DE 100 32 439 C1 should be mentioned, which, from the inventor's perspective, can be considered the closest prior art. Here, too, a shut-off bladder is inserted into the drain and filled with air by actuating a bellows. Filling with air can lead to the previously identified problem of the bladder becoming detached from the drainpipe. Furthermore, the bladder's contact with the drainpipe is again very large, so that large parts of the sanitary facility cannot be cleaned. Here, too, an overflow, which would simplify cleaning, is missing. Furthermore, the bladder cannot be pushed far enough into the drainpipe, so that the cleaning effect in the still visible area of ​​the drain may be reduced.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for cleaning a sanitary facility which does not easily detach from the sanitary facility to be cleaned during use and which can be individually adapted to different types of sanitary facility.

[0007] The problem is solved with the features of claim 1, wherein the subclaims describe further embodiments.

[0008] According to the prior art, a device for cleaning a sanitary fixture comprises a size-adjustable bladder for closing a drain of a sanitary fixture, a hose connected to the bladder at a first end, a valve connected to a second end of the hose, and a bellows. The device for cleaning a sanitary fixture is characterized in that a bladder core is arranged within the bladder and an overflow is arranged on the device. After the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture has been inserted into the sanitary fixture, the overflow is arranged with its upper edge below an upper edge of the sanitary fixture. For this purpose, the overflow is fluidically connected to a first end of the bladder core. A drain nozzle is arranged at a second end of the bladder core. The drain nozzle also serves to control the introduction of the bladder with the bladder core, which is not yet filled with air.When inserted into the drain of the sanitary fixture, the bubble is guided early within the drain by the advanced drain nozzle, thus avoiding or at least reducing the risk of the process being slowed down by the preferably rubber-like bubble hitting the drain wall. This applies to applications with toilet bowls as well as sinks or shower drains. When inserting the device into the sanitary fixture, the bubble can be pushed deep into the drainpipe, both around a first bend and a second bend, using the drain nozzle. This also increases the cleaning effect deep into the drainpipe.Thanks to the fluid connection between the overflow and the bladder core and the drain connection, excess cleaning fluid can be drained behind the bladder into the sanitary fixture's outlet after the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture has been installed. This eliminates the need to keep additional devices such as buckets or bowls outside the sanitary fixture.

[0009] In a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary fixture, the drain nozzle is designed in a flat S-curve shape. This flat S-curve shape greatly facilitates both the deflection of the front end of the device around the drain bend at the base of the sanitary fixture and further advancement within the drain. Optimal insertion of the device into the drain is ensured, particularly when the drain nozzle is attached in the axis of the bladder core, but then, when the device is in a use position, bends towards the base of the sanitary fixture and, in a further curve, continues parallel to the axis through the bladder core. The S-shaped form is preferable for use in toilets.

[0010] According to a further special embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary fixture, the bladder core and / or the drain nozzle have an oval cross-section. When inserting the device into the sanitary fixture, the drain nozzle should not twist to ensure proper drainage from the overflow. It has been shown that an oval design of the bladder core helps ensure that the drain nozzle remains stable in its position relative to the drain of the sanitary fixture when the device is inserted into the sanitary facility. Twisting is prevented by the oval shape of the bladder core.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture according to the invention, the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture can be attached to the sanitary fixture or suspended in the sanitary fixture by means of a holder. For improved usability, particularly during the pumping process on the bellows, it is advantageous if the device is securely attached to the sanitary fixture. This allows the device to be kept out of the cleaning fluid, particularly during longer exposure phases of cleaning agents after the drain has been closed by the bladder.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, in a first form the overflow hose is guided at least partially through the hose and the bladder. According to another form the overflow hose is guided at least partially around the hose and through the bladder. Both variants have the advantage that only one hose-like element needs to be guided during installation. This facilitates handling and reduces the risk of incorrect insertion. In practice, routing the hose through the overflow hose is recommended, particularly in sanitary facilities with larger water volumes, for improved water drainage when needed.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary fixture, the overflow is mounted on the holder and / or the hose in a height-adjustable manner by means of an overflow holder. In this way, a precise fill level of the cleaning fluid is always achieved for the most thorough cleaning of the sanitary fixture. This improves the cleaning result. In the use position of the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture, the overflow is arranged such that, after the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture has been inserted into the sanitary fixture, its upper edge is positioned below an upper edge of the sanitary fixture.This allows the sanitary fixture to be safely filled with cleaning fluid—whether via a faucet, by flushing, or by other means—without the user having to worry about the water overflowing the top of the fixture. However, when dimensioning the overflow and its drain, care must be taken to ensure that it can also absorb and drain larger quantities, e.g., from flushing a toilet, in a short time.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, a shape-changing hollow body that can be filled with a liquid is arranged on the valve. Water is preferably used here, but any other liquid that is heavier than water can also be used in the same way. Inside the shape-changing hollow body, in turn, a shape-changing balloon is arranged, which is fluidly connected to the bellows. Actuating the bellows causes air to be pumped into the balloon, which displaces the liquid in the shape-changing hollow body. This liquid is guided through the tube into the bladder, which then expands and closes the drain.To ensure that the sanitary fixture can be cleaned in the drain area as well, the hose is long enough to allow the bladder to be pushed around at least one bend in the drainpipe and into the drainpipe. This allows all visible and invisible areas of the inside of the sanitary fixture to be treated to be cleaned. The shape-independent hollow body should have a volume that is at least as large as the volume of the bladder when it is inserted into a large DIN-specified drain of a sanitary fixture. It is also advantageous to design the valve in such a way that separating the hollow body from the valve does not cause the fluid to escape from the hose or bladder, but rather can only be done by actuating the valve accordingly.

[0015] According to a special embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, the shape-resistant hollow body has a pressure-tight, sealable inlet. Through this inlet, the fluid inside the shape-resistant hollow body can be replaced or drained for storage of the device. The pressure resistance prevents fluid trapped in the shape-resistant hollow body from escaping through the inlet when the bellows is actuated. The inlet can be designed, for example, as a screw cap or plug.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, a balloon valve is arranged in the fluidic connection between the bellows and the balloon. This allows the bellows to be actuated repeatedly to pump larger amounts of air into the balloon to displace the liquid into the shape-resistant hollow body, without the air escaping from the balloon. The balloon valve should be designed so that the pumped-in air can be released from the balloon by actuating a vent. Backflowing liquid facilitates the release of the bladder from the drainpipe.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the device for cleaning a sanitary facility according to the invention, the overflow or overflow holder is connected to the bladder core by a chain. This chain serves to secure the part of the device inserted into the drain against being flushed away, should the overflow hose, for example, tear off or otherwise detach from the bladder core. Furthermore, such a chain protects the hose or overflow hose from excessive kinking, so that water can be easily discharged into the outlet behind the filled bladder at any time, should this become necessary.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary fixture, the device for cleaning a sanitary fixture has a volume reduction element, wherein the volume reduction element is a basin that is open at the top and can be inserted into the sanitary fixture. For example, a bowl-like volume reduction element can be provided for a washbasin, while for a toilet bowl it should be more box-shaped. At the upper end of the basin, at least one support arm is arranged, which serves to attach the volume reduction element to the sanitary fixture or to suspend it in it. Care must be taken to ensure that the outer sides do not come into contact with the inner surfaces of the sanitary fixture, since otherwise the cleaning result at the contact points may be impaired.This volume reduction element can be used to reduce the amount of water required for the cleaning process, as once the drain has been closed using the bladder, only a volume of water reduced by the volume of the volume reduction element can be let into the basin. The volume reduction element must be attached to the sanitary fixture in such a way that water flowing into the sanitary fixture does not cause the volume reduction element to float. It can be clamped or strapped on, for example. Other attachment methods are possible. Handles on the top of the volume reduction element are advantageous. These allow the volume reduction element to be lifted out of the sanitary fixture, even when it is full. This is because the user may want to supplement cleaning work on the basin when the drain from the sanitary fixture is closed.A volume reduction element would interfere with this process, causing the water, which is already standing at a very high level in the sanitary facility, to splash out of the sanitary facility. Removing the volume reduction element also lowers the level of the cleaning water in the sanitary facility.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, the volume reduction element has a closable water inlet and outlet on its underside. Through this, water can penetrate into the volume reduction element when the sanitary facility is filled. As soon as the water inlet and outlet are closed, the water remains in the volume reduction element, even if several cleaning cycles are carried out. The simplest type of closure is achieved by a grate in the floor with a rubber mat lying above it, whereby the rubber mat is connected to the volume reduction element on at least one side. Penetrating water lifts the rubber mat; when filled, the water in the volume reduction element presses the rubber mat onto the grate and thus closes the water inlet and outlet. However, for exampleA rotating mechanism or a valve or other means can also be used to allow temporary water inlet into the volume reducing element.

[0020] Finally, according to a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for cleaning a sanitary facility, the holder is removable from the device and has a shape at least at one end of the holder that is adapted to the shape of the hose or overflow hose. Thus, the holder can fulfill a second function when inserting and removing the device into the sanitary facility, as it can be used to guide the hose around at least the first bend in the drain. This guidance is supported by a semicircular groove that is suitable for enclosing at least a small portion of the hose or overflow hose.

[0021] To clean the sanitary fixture, the device can be inserted partially into the drain of the sanitary fixture with the bladder and hose at the front, using the holder to assist you. Once the bladder has reached a position beyond the first, or better yet, second bend in the drain of the sanitary fixture, the bladder can be filled by actuating the bellows, thus blocking the drain. Optionally, the volume reduction element can also be installed at this point. The sanitary fixture can now be filled with a cleaning fluid. This can also be done, for example, by adding cleaning agent to the existing flush water of a toilet during at least one flush, or by turning on a tap on a shower or sink. The cleaning fluid can be let in up to the desired fill level and then, for example, over a desired period of time.The bladder can be left in the device overnight or even for an entire weekend. This increases the cleaning power of the cleaning agent, especially natural or organic cleaning agents. Any excess cleaning fluid is released directly into the drain via an overflow. After cleaning is complete, the bladder is returned to its original shape by opening the valve and emptying, allowing the cleaning fluid and its particles to flow out through the sanitary fixture's drain.

[0022] The use of a liquid as a filler for the bubble inserted in the outlet is advantageous because the lack of air prevents the bubble from floating up. The hose - particularly its length - and the drain nozzle ensure that the hose can be pushed in behind a bend or into the area of ​​a odor trap. This increases the area of ​​influence of the cleaning liquid and improves the overall cleaning result. The cleaning process no longer has to be supplemented manually because, for example, the intensive cleaning of the inner rim of the toilet bowl is no longer necessary or at least made easier. All areas of the sanitary facility that can be seen by the user can be cleaned in one cleaning process. This is possible despite the use of the device because it is not or hardly in contact with the sanitary fixture in the visible area.After the cleaning process, the cleaning fluid simply flows through the drain of the sanitary fixture. By adapting the bladder and hose, the device can be used for toilets, wash basins, kitchen sinks and shower drains, as interchangeable hoses and bladders allow adaptation to the respective pipe diameters of the drains. If particularly thin hoses and elongated, foldable bladders are used, it is also possible to pass these elements through a sieve arranged in the drain area of ​​a wash basin, for example. The advantage of this design is that the hose and bladder can then be easily carried along by the draining water and placed in the correct position in the drain before the bladder is filled with fluid. With suitable additives, it can also be adapted to pond or swimming pool facilities.Another significant advantage is that the hollow body can be connected to multiple hoses simultaneously, allowing, for example, adjacent sink drains in the restrooms of large facilities to be cleaned simultaneously with a single hollow body. By using a variety of hoses, especially those with different diameters, different sanitary fixtures in a bathroom can also be cleaned one after the other without the need for multiple hollow bodies. After installation in the restroom, the shower / bathtub and sink drains can also be sealed with other hollow bodies. Implementation of the invention

[0023] The invention is explained using exemplary embodiments. Figure 1 shows a sanitary fixture with an inserted device in a first embodiment in section, Figure 2 shows a sanitary fixture with an inserted device in a second embodiment in section, Figure 3 shows a hollow body in an oblique view, Figure 4 shows a system comprising a hose and bladder for use in a toilet bowl in section, Figure 5 shows a system comprising a hose and bladder for use in a washbasin or a shower and Figure 6 shows a section through a sanitary fixture with a suspended volume reduction element.

[0024] In Figure 11 shows a first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention in the use position in a sanitary fixture 16. The figure shows use in a toilet bowl. The device 1 is suspended in the bowl by means of a holder 10. A valve 4 with a bellows 5 mounted thereon is arranged on the holder 10. When the bellows 5 is actuated, air is released through the valve 4 into a hose 3, which causes a bladder 2 to inflate in the drain 20 of the sanitary fixture 16. The drain 20 is then closed. An overflow 12 is also arranged in the holder 10 by means of an overflow holder 15, through which excess water in the sanitary fixture 16 can flow away through the overflow hose 13, the bladder core 21 and the drain nozzle 14. The overflow is arranged such that the cleaning fluid level 19 is above the inner bowl rim 17.The bladder core 21 is attached to the overflow 12 by a chain 22 to protect the bladder core 21 from tearing off. The chain 22 also serves as a kink protection for the overflow hose 13 and the hose 3. The drain connection 14 is S-shaped and extends behind the second bend of the drain 20. The water, which can be mixed with cleaning agents for the cleaning process, is poured into the sanitary fixture 16 via the toilet inlet 18.

[0025] In Figure 2is a sectional view of a sanitary fixture 16, in this case a toilet bowl with an inserted device 1 for cleaning the sanitary fixture 16 in a second embodiment. The device 1 has a bladder 2 which, when filled, can close the outlet 20 of the sanitary fixture 16. The bladder 2 is filled via a hose 3 connected to a valve 4, so that the contents of the bladder 2 or the hose 3 can only escape after the valve 4 has been opened. A shape-invariant hollow body 6 is arranged on the valve, the contents of which can be displaced towards the bladder 2 by means of the bellows 5. A holder 10 is also arranged on the valve 4, which holds the device 1 in a use position on the sanitary fixture 16. To clean the sanitary fixture 16, after the outlet 20 has been closed by filling the bladder 2, toilet water is poured into the toilet bowl via the toilet inlet 18.Cleaning agent can be added. Several flushes may be necessary to completely fill the toilet bowl. As soon as a desired cleaning fluid level 19 is reached, preferably above the toilet inlet 18, an additional amount of cleaning fluid flows out of the sanitary fixture 16 via an overflow 12, an overflow hose 13, and a drain connection 14. The cleaning fluid level 19 should be selected so that the cleaning fluid also reaches the area behind the inner bowl rim 17 while the cleaning fluid is taking effect. After cleaning, the valve 4 can be opened and the contents of the bladder 2 can escape, allowing the cleaning fluid, along with the collected dirt particles, to flow out through the drain 20.

[0026] In Figure 3the shape-unchangeable hollow body 6 is shown in more detail. This is connected to the hose or bladder (neither shown in detail) by means of the valve 4. Inside the shape-unchangeable hollow body there is a liquid which can be filled or removed via an inlet 7. When a bellows 5 is actuated, air is pumped through a balloon valve 9 into a balloon 8 which is arranged inside the shape-unchangeable hollow body 6. The expanding balloon displaces the liquid from the shape-unchangeable hollow body 6 through the valve 4 towards the bladder 2, which closes the drain of a sanitary fixture after filling.

[0027] The Figure 3 The area of ​​the device 1 not shown in detail is Figure 4 shown, again referring to the details from Figure 3is omitted. The device 1 is suspended in the sanitary fixture by means of a holder 10. Holder wings 11 can prevent the device from being changed in position after it has been suspended. The bellows 2 is filled and closes the drain. An overflow 12 is arranged on the hose 3, which connects the bellows 2 to a valve 4, by means of an overflow holder 15. Excess cleaning fluid can be collected through this overflow 12 and, with the help of the overflow hose 13 connected to the overflow 12, can be discharged through the bladder 2 via a drain nozzle 14 into the drain of the sanitary fixture. The overflow hose 13 is partially guided through the hose 3.

[0028] For use with a sink or shower drain, the device is installed as shown in Fig. 5shown - reduced. At valve 4 there is now only one hose 3, which leads to the bellows s. After placing the shape-invariant hollow body on valve 4, different drains can be cleaned with hoses of different thicknesses. This embodiment according to Figure 5 is not part of the claimed invention.

[0029] In Fig. 6Finally, a volume reduction element 23 is shown, which is suspended in a sanitary fixture 16, here again a toilet bowl. Support arms 24 hold the volume reduction element 23 on the upper edge of the sanitary fixture 16. On the underside, the volume reduction element has a water inlet and outlet 25, which is covered with a rubber mat 26. Water can enter the volume reduction element 23 through the grid-shaped water inlet and outlet 25; the weight of the water then presses the rubber mat 26 onto the grid, closing off the water inlet and outlet 25 when water in the sanitary fixture 16 flows around the volume reduction element 23. After completion of the cleaning process in the sanitary facility 16, the water in the volume reduction element 23 can be drained through the water inlet and outlet 25 by pulling on the mat chain 27, which connects the upper edge of the volume reduction element 23 to the rubber mat 26. List of reference symbols

[0030] 1 Device 2 Bladder 3 Hose 4 Valve 5 Bellows 6 Shape-invariant hollow body 7 Inlet 8 Balloon 9 Balloon valve 10 Holder 11 Holder wing 12 Overflow 13 Overflow hose 14 Drain nozzle 15 Overflow holder 16 Sanitary fixture 17 Inner bowl rim 18 WC inlet 19 Cleaning fluid level 20 Drain 21 Bladder core 22 Chain 23 Volume reduction element 24 Support arm 25 Water inlet and outlet 26 Rubber mat 27 Mat chain

Claims

1. A device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16), comprising a variable-size balloon (2) for closing an outlet (20) of a sanitary appliance (16), a hose (3) connected at a first end to the balloon (2), a valve (4) connected to a second end of the hose (3), and a bellows (5), characterized in that a tubular balloon core (21) is arranged inside the balloon (2), and the device comprises an overflow (12), which is configured, after the device (1) has been inserted into the sanitary appliance (16) for cleaning, to have its upper edge arranged below an upper edge of the sanitary appliance (16), wherein the overflow (12) is fluidically connected to a first end of the balloon core (21), and a tubular outlet connector (14) is arranged at a second end of the balloon core (21).

2. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet connector (14) is configured in a shallow S-shaped curve.

3. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the balloon core (21) and / or the outlet connector (14) has an oval cross-section.

4. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a holder (10) by means of which the device (1) can be hung on or into the sanitary appliance (16).

5. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow (12) comprises an overflow hose (13), which is routed at least partially through the hose (3) and the balloon (2), or the overflow hose (13) is routed at least partially around the hose (3) and through the balloon (2).

6. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow (12) is height-adjustably held on the holder (10) and / or on the hose (3) by means of an overflow holder (15).

7. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dimensionally stable hollow body (6) is arranged on the valve (4), which can be filled with a liquid, and a deformable balloon (8) is arranged inside the dimensionally stable hollow body (6), which is fluidically connected to the bellows (5).

8. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to claim 7, characterized in that the dimensionally stable hollow body (6) comprises a pressure-resistant closable inlet (7).

9. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a balloon valve (9) is arranged in the fluidic connection between the bellows (5) and the balloon (8).

10. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overflow (12) or the overflow holder (15) is connected to the balloon core (21) by means of a chain (22).

11. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a volume reduction element (23), the volume reduction element being an open-top basin which is insertable into the sanitary appliance (16), wherein at the upper end of the basin at least one support arm (24) is arranged, by means of which the volume reduction element (23) can be hung on or into the sanitary appliance (16).

12. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to claim 11, characterized in that the volume reduction element (23) comprises a closable water inlet and outlet (25) on its bottom side.

13. The device (1) for cleaning a sanitary appliance (16) according to any of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the holder (10) is detachable from the device (1) and comprises, at least at one end, a shape adapted to the shape of the hose (3) or the overflow hose (13).

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