Floor cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device (1) comprising a base body (2) and an additional component (3) detachably attached to the base body (2). The base body (2) and the additional component (3) abut each other along a contact surface, with a reversible fastening element (4) arranged on the base body (2). The fastening element (4) extends in a strip-like manner in a longitudinal direction (n) from a first end region (I) to a second end region (II) and is bonded to a surface of the base body (2). According to the invention, the first end region (I) and the second end region (II) of the fastening element (4) extend away from the additional component (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a floor cleaning device comprising a base body and an additional component detachably attached to the base body, wherein the base body and the additional component abut one another along a contact surface. A reversible fastening element is arranged on the base body, which is strip-shaped in a longitudinal direction from a first end region to a second end region and is adhesively bonded to a surface of the base body.

[0002] Floor cleaning devices can sometimes be detachably connected to an additional component. This can particularly involve devices for a wiping function that need to be replaced, renewed, or cleaned. For this purpose, it is particularly known to provide a dedicated detachable fastening element that can be detachably connected to and separated from the additional component. The invention is based on embodiments in which the fastening element is adhesively bonded to the base body and is designed in a strip-like manner.

[0003] In the context of the invention, "strip-shaped" means that the fastening element has a width measured transversely to the longitudinal direction, which is essentially constant over the entire longitudinal direction and less than the maximum extension in the longitudinal direction (length). The fastening element can therefore also be referred to as a fastening strip. In particular, the fastening strip has a rectangular shape with a width and length.

[0004] In the context of the invention, bonding refers to a material-to-material connection between two components. In this case, adhesive forces are exerted between the two objects due to molecular adhesion effects. This can be achieved, in particular, by an adhesive. The adhesive can, without limitation to the invention, be in the form of a hotmelt adhesive, a single-component or multi-component chemical or physical reactive adhesive.

[0005] However, the disadvantage is that when the additional component is detached from the base body, particularly high forces occur in the end areas of the fastening strip. These can lead to the bond between the fastening element and the base body being broken, causing the fastening strip to detach. This is also known as the peel effect.

[0006] To prevent this, it is known to secure the fastening strips in the end areas to the base body by means of a positive fit. This can be achieved, in particular, by riveting, screwing, sewing, or clamping them to the base body. However, these solutions entail higher manufacturing costs.

[0007] Against this background, the invention is based on the object of realizing the production of a generic floor cleaning device more efficiently and cost-effectively.

[0008] The subject matter of the invention and the solution to this problem is a floor cleaning device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent subclaims.

[0009] Based on the generic floor cleaning device, the invention provides that the first end region and the second end region of the fastening element extend away from the additional component. This means that the end regions are curved and / or angled in such a way that they are at a greater distance from the additional component than the central region of the fastening element formed between the end regions. Due to this greater distance, there is no or less intensive contact between the fastening element and the additional component in the assembled state, whereby the adhesive force between the fastening element and the additional component is specifically reduced in the end regions, in particular to zero. As a result, when the additional component is pulled off, the end region of the fastening strip, which is particularly vulnerable to peeling, is subjected to less or no stress.This eliminates the need for additional securing measures—especially form-fitting ones—for the fastening strip. Eliminating these securing measures saves production costs and effort.

[0010] The fastening element expediently protrudes (at least in sections) beyond the contact surface in the direction of the additional component. This facilitates mechanical contact or mutual engagement. Preferably, the fastening element protrudes exclusively in a central region of the fastening element formed between the two end regions.

[0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the first end region and the second end region of the fastening element do not protrude beyond the contact surface. Thus, at least the end regions are arranged in a recess in the contact surface. Because the end regions do not protrude beyond the contact surface, they can no longer come into contact with an additional component that is too stiff to extend sufficiently deep into the recess. This minimizes the mechanical stress in the end regions during removal.

[0012] In particular, the fastening element is bonded to the surface of the base body by forming an adhesive layer between the surface and at least one carrier layer of the fastening element. The adhesive layer preferably comprises at least one circumferential frame, which runs continuously and at a distance of no more than 1 mm from the edge of the carrier layer. Within the frame, an adhesive coating of at least 25 percent by area is provided. Very particularly preferably, the carrier layer and the surface of the base body are bonded by a full-surface adhesive layer.

[0013] According to a first variant, the base body is designed as a vacuum cleaner nozzle, the base of an upright vacuum cleaner, a robot vacuum cleaner, or a sweeper. These cleaning devices can be equipped with an additional function through an additional component. This can, in particular, be a wet or dry wiping function or the application of a cleaning or care product.

[0014] Alternatively, the base body can also be designed as a cleaning attachment, in particular a wet cleaning attachment for a vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the base of an upright vacuum cleaner, for a robot vacuum cleaner, or for a sweeper. In addition to the additional component, the cleaning attachment has additional features for providing supplementary cleaning. A wet cleaning attachment can, for example, additionally include a tank for a cleaning fluid, movable brushes, and the like.

[0015] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the additional component is designed as a wiping cloth. This can, in particular, comprise at least one textile material. The additional component in the form of a wiping cloth enables wet or dry wiping cleaning (in addition to the primary cleaning function of the base body, e.g., suction function) or in conjunction with it (e.g., in the form of a wet cleaning attachment). A wiping cloth allows dirt particles—especially those dissolved in a cleaning fluid—to be absorbed and removed with textile fibers.

[0016] At the same time, a textile structure, e.g. a nonwoven fabric, knitted fabric or woven fabric, can serve as an attachment point for a mechanical fastening element such as a hook and loop fastener.

[0017] Therefore, regardless of the design of the additional component, it is particularly preferred that the reversible mechanical fastening element be designed as a hook and loop fastener. This can engage the material of the additional component itself and / or a dedicated textile engagement element. A positive mechanical connection is created by the positive interlocking of the engagement hooks formed on the hook and loop fastener with textile fibers. This connection can be released again by applying tensile forces while simultaneously deforming the hooks.

[0018] The invention is also suitable for other fastening systems. For example, the mechanical fastening element can also comprise locking profiles, mushroom-shaped hook profiles, micro-suction cups, and / or permanent magnets.

[0019] In particular, it is provided that the first end region has a first length in the longitudinal direction, and the second end region has a second length in the longitudinal direction. The first length and the second length each preferably represent between 2% and 10% of the total extension (length) of the fastening element in the longitudinal direction. In these end regions, the fastening element does not protrude beyond the contact surface and therefore cannot make direct contact with the additional component. Even a remotely mediated (e.g., magnetic) fastening is at least weakened in these regions.

[0020] Preferably, the fastening element has a width transverse to the longitudinal direction of extension that is no greater than one-fifth, in particular no greater than one-tenth, of the total extension in the longitudinal direction of extension. Particularly with such strip-shaped fastening elements, the problem arises in the end regions, which is solved by the present invention.

[0021] Most preferably, the surface of the base body extends in a contact plane in a region surrounding the fastening element—i.e., in the region of the contact surface. The surface of the base body to which the fastening element is bonded in the end regions is set back from the contact plane in such a way that the end regions of the fastening element do not protrude beyond the contact surface. This means that, in particular, the fastening element has a thickness, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, which is less than the offset in the end regions.

[0022] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the base body has a recess that is set back from the contact surface and in which the fastening element is arranged. The recess is set back between the end regions by an offset that is less than the thickness of the fastening element and, in the end regions, is greater than the thickness of the fastening element.

[0023] The receiving surface of the base body, to which the fastening element is bonded, is preferably not planar, at least in some sections. In particular, this surface is angled and / or rounded in or near the end regions to achieve a sufficient recess.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, it is particularly preferred that the fastening element be bonded exclusively to the surface of the base body. This means that no further connection—in particular no form-fitting and / or force-fitting connection—such as screwing, clamping, or the like, is provided.

[0025] The invention is explained below with reference to drawings that merely represent exemplary embodiments. They show schematically: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a floor cleaning device according to the invention with an additional component attached thereto, Fig. 2 a bottom view of the floor cleaning device from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a schematic cross-section through the floor cleaning device from Fig. 2 along line AA.

[0026] The Fig. 1 shows a floor cleaning device 1 with a base body 2 in the form of a vacuum cleaner nozzle and an additional component 3 in the form of a wet wipe that is detachably attached to the base body 2.

[0027] The base body 2 has a nozzle body 2a and a suction connection piece 2b arranged rearwardly on the nozzle body 2a along a working direction x. The vacuum cleaner nozzle of the base body 2 is designed as a double-jointed nozzle. A coupling piece 2c is pivotally connected to the nozzle body 2a about a front tilting axis a1 running in a transverse direction y. At its rear end, the coupling piece 2c is pivotally connected to the suction connection piece 2b about a rear tilting axis a2 also running in the transverse direction y. Furthermore, two rollers 2d are arranged laterally on the coupling piece 2c, the rotational axis of which is aligned with the rear tilting axis a2.

[0028] The additional component 3 comprises a textile carrier layer 3a and a wiping-active loop textile 3b arranged thereon, and is detachably connected to the nozzle body 2a via a strip-shaped fastening element 4 described below. The additional component 3 is designed as a wiping cloth to hold a cleaning fluid, to release it under pressure onto a floor surface to be cleaned, or to absorb and remove it in conjunction with loosened dirt particles.

[0029] How to Fig. 2 As can be seen, a sliding base 5 is formed on the underside (relative to a vertical direction z perpendicular to the working direction x and the transverse direction y) of the nozzle body 2a, which in the illustrated embodiment simultaneously forms the contact surface 6 for the additional component 3. Furthermore, a suction mouth 7 running in the transverse direction y is formed in the sliding base 5, which is fluidically connected to the suction connection piece 2b by a suction channel running through the nozzle body 2a and the coupling piece 2c. The base body 2 can be connected to a vacuum cleaning device via the suction connection piece 2b in such a way that a suction air flow generated there is sucked in through the suction mouth 7.

[0030] A recess 5a is formed in the contact surface 5, in which the fastening element 4 is arranged with a longitudinal extension direction n extending in the transverse direction y. The fastening element 4 has, in the bottom view of the Fig. 2 a rectangular shape with a length L measured in the transverse direction y and a constant width B measured in the working direction x, which is more than a factor of ten smaller than the length L.

[0031] From the sectional view according to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the fastening element 4 is arranged within the recess 5a, which forms a recess opposite the contact surface 6 of the sliding sole 6. The fastening element 4 is formed in several layers, comprising a carrier layer 4a and an adhesive layer 4b. The adhesive layer 4b connects the fastening element 4 to a surface 8 of the base body 2, which simultaneously forms the base of the recess 5a.

[0032] On the side of the carrier layer 4a facing the additional component 3, a functional layer 4c is arranged for fastening the additional component 3. The functional layer 4c is designed with hooks for engagement with a textile material. The fastening element 4 is thus designed as a so-called "hook strip" for a hook-and-loop fastener. Accordingly, the textile carrier 3a of the additional component 3 forms a hook engagement element, a so-called "landing zone."

[0033] The fastening element extends in its longitudinal direction n from a first end region I to a second end region II. A central region III extends between them, in which the fastening element 4 protrudes beyond a support plane 9, within which the contact surface 6 extends. According to the invention, the first end region I and the second end region II of the fastening element 4 extend away from the additional component 3. They do not protrude beyond the contact surface 6 or the contact plane 9, respectively.

[0034] In the right half of the Fig. 3The interaction of the fastening element 4 with the additional component 3 is also shown: First, the layered structure with a carrier layer 3a and the loop textile 3b arranged thereon and connected to it is visible. In the central area III of the fastening element 4, the hooks of the functional layer 4c engage with the carrier layer 3a of the additional component 3. The hook-and-loop fastener 3a / 4c can be easily released by tensile stress downwards in the vertical direction z, while it can exert high holding forces in the horizontal plane x / y.

[0035] In the area of ​​the end regions I, II, the base 8 of the recess 5a forms a rounded slope 8a into the interior of the nozzle body 2a and connects to the surrounding sliding base 5 with a stepped projection 8b. Due to the slope 8a, on which the fastening element 4 is also arranged and glued, the fastening strip 4 no longer protrudes beyond the contact plane 9 in the direction of the additional component 3 in the end regions I, II. This prevents mechanical contact with the carrier layer 3a. A peeling effect in the end regions I, II is thus effectively avoided. At a first end 4d and at a second end 4e of the fastening element 4 opposite the first end 4d in the longitudinal direction, the fastening strip 4 has a vertical distance s from the support plane 9 of at least 2 mm.

[0036] In the longitudinal direction n, the first end region I has a first section length I 1 and the second end region II has a second section length I 2 . The sum of the two section lengths I 1 , I 2 in the exemplary embodiment amounts to approximately 5% of the total extension L of the fastening element 4 in the longitudinal direction n.

Claims

1. Floor cleaning device (1) with a base body (2) and an additional component (3) detachably attached to the base body (2), wherein the base body (2) and the additional component (3) abut one another along a contact surface, wherein a reversible fastening element (4) is arranged on the base body (2), which extends in a strip-like manner in a longitudinal direction (n) from a first end region (I) to a second end region (II), and wherein the fastening element (4) is glued to a surface (8) of the base body (2), characterized in that the first end region (I) and the second end region (II) of the fastening element (4) extend away from the additional component (3).

2. Floor cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening element (4) protrudes beyond the contact surface (5) in the direction of the additional component (3).

3. Floor cleaning device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe first end region (I) and the second end region (II) of the fastening element (4) do not protrude beyond the contact surface (6).

4. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (2) is designed as a vacuum cleaner nozzle, base part of an upright vacuum cleaner, vacuum cleaner robot or sweeper.

5. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (2) is designed as a cleaning attachment for a vacuum cleaner nozzle, for the base part of an upright vacuum cleaner, for a robot vacuum cleaner or for a sweeper.

6. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the additional component (3) is designed as a wiping cloth.

7. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the reversible fastening element (4) is designed as a hook and loop fastener.

8. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reversible fastening element (4) has at least one permanent magnet.

9. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first end region (I) has a first section length (I1) in the longitudinal direction (n) and the second end region (II) has a second section length (I2) in the longitudinal direction (n) and that the first section length (I1) and the second section length (I2) make up between 2% and 10% of the total extension (L) of the fastening element (4) in the longitudinal direction (n).

10. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fastening element (4) has a width (B) transverse to the longitudinal direction (n) which is not greater than one fifth, in particular not greater than one tenth of the total extension (L) in the longitudinal direction (n).

11. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base body (2) has a recess (5a) set back from the contact surface (6), in which the fastening element (4) is arranged.

12. Floor cleaning device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the fastening element (4) is glued exclusively to the surface (8) of the base body (2).

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