Holding frame for a cleaning element, mop head comprising such a holding frame, and mop

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding frame (1) for a cleaning element (15), comprising a support plate (2) and an edge (3) which extends at least partly over the outer periphery of the support plate (2), is oriented downwards, and forms a receiving area for the cleaning element (15), a device for releasably securing the cleaning element (15) in the receiving area, and a device for contactlessly releasing the cleaning element (15) out of the receiving area, wherein the device for contactlessly releasing the cleaning element (15) out of the receiving area comprises a spring-loaded pressure element in a recess (5) in the support plate (2), said pressure element being released out of the receiving area when the cleaning element (15) is actuated. According to the invention, the pressure element comprises at least one lever which is elastically hinged in the recess (5) of the support plate (2) and has means on the lower face of the pressure element, said means being supported on a base when the at least one lever is actuated and exerting a torque / force onto the end fixed to the joint. The holding frame according to the invention allows the lock to be released even when the cleaning element (15) is resting on the floor. The invention is additionally characterized by a simple and robust construction.

Description

[0001] Holding frame for a cleaning element and mop head with such a

[0002] Holding frame and mop

[0003] Description

[0004] Technical area

[0005] The invention relates to a holding frame for a cleaning element with a carrier plate and a downwardly directed edge which runs at least partially around the outer circumference of the carrier plate and which forms a receptacle for the cleaning element, as well as a device for releasably fastening the cleaning element in the receptacle and a device for contactless release of the cleaning element from the receptacle, wherein the device for contactless release of the cleaning element from the receptacle comprises a spring-loaded pressure element in a recess in the carrier plate which, when actuated, releases the cleaning element from the receptacle.

[0006] The invention also relates to a mop head with a cleaning element and such a holding frame as well as to a mop.

[0007] A holding frame of the generic type is known from US Pat. No. 2,764,774. This document relates to a mop with a holding frame for a disposable wiping element. The holding frame has a carrier plate and a downward-facing, circumferential edge, which form a receptacle for the disposable wiping element. The disposable wiping element is releasably attached to the edge of the holding frame. The holding frame further has a device for contactlessly releasing the disposable wiping element from the receptacle. This device consists of a recess in the carrier plate and a plunger arranged in the recess on the upper side of the carrier plate. The plunger has a circular, widened head at its upper and lower ends and is held by a surrounding spring in a position in which the lower head is flush with the underside of the carrier plate.To replace the disposable wiping element, the plunger is moved downwards against the spring force against the disposable wiping element by exerting pressure on the upper head and pushes it out of the holder of the holding frame.

[0008] A disadvantage of the known support frame is that it is impossible to push the cleaning element out of the support frame when the mop head is resting on the floor. To do this, the mop must be lifted while simultaneously activating the pressure element. This makes handling difficult. Another disadvantage is the complex, multi-part structure of the pressure element.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a holding frame for a cleaning element that is characterized by a simple, robust construction and easy handling when replacing the cleaning element. A further object of the invention is to provide a mop head and a mop with such a holding frame.

[0010] This task is carried out with a support frame with all the features of the

[0011] Claim 1 , with a mop head with all the features of the

[0012] Patent claim 14 and a mop with all the features of patent claim 17. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

[0013] According to the invention, in a holding frame for a cleaning element with a carrier plate and a downwardly directed edge running at least partially around the outer circumference of the carrier plate, which edge forms a receptacle for the cleaning element, as well as a device for releasably fastening the cleaning element in the receptacle and a device for contactless release of the cleaning element from the receptacle, wherein the device for contactless release of the cleaning element from the receptacle comprises a spring-loaded pressure element in a recess in the carrier plate, which, when actuated, releases the cleaning element from the receptacle, it is provided that the pressure element comprises at least one lever which is spring-mounted in the recess of the carrier plate and has means on its underside,which, when at least one lever is actuated, rest on a support and cause a torque / force to be exerted on its end fixed at the joint.

[0014] Surprisingly, this simple design feature has been shown to easily and safely release the cleaning element from the support frame, even when the mop head is resting on the floor. In this case, the support frame is pushed upwards by the pressure element, which is designed according to the invention as a lever with a support means, when the lever is actuated.

[0015] "Contactless" in the context of the invention means that the cleaning element, which may have become dirty after use, can be removed from the holding frame and replaced without contact with a hand. It is obvious that, with the mop head raised, the cleaning element can also be simply pushed down from the holding frame according to the invention by operating the lever.

[0016] According to the invention, at least one lever is used as a pressure element. The holding frame according to the invention is thus characterized by a simple and robust construction and can be manufactured cost-effectively. A lever can also be operated easily and reliably.

[0017] According to the invention, the at least one lever is resiliently hinged in a recess in the carrier plate.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one lever is hinged with its one end to the edge of the support plate, wherein the other free pivotable actuating end is directed towards the center of the support plate.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one lever is arranged with its free pivoting end on the outer circumference of the support plate, while its other end is hinged to the support plate itself at a distance from the outer circumference of the support plate. A lever designed in this way can easily be used as a foot pedal, since the pressure surface is located on the outer circumference far enough away from the joint and handle of a mop.

[0020] The lever can also be designed as a separate component. The articulation to the edge or the support plate is advantageously achieved via a hinge joint. Hinge joints are known per se. They allow a rotary movement with only one degree of freedom. They can be constructed from one or more parts. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the support plate, the edge, and the lever are formed from the same material and in one piece. The articulated connection is designed as a film hinge. Film hinges are known per se. They consist of a flexible, thin-walled joint groove between two parts to be connected. Film hinges are a cost-effective solution. Film hinges save assembly time and individual parts. Finding a suitable wall thickness for the joint groove for the present application is easily possible for a person skilled in the art.

[0021] Preferably, the at least one lever is designed as a push button, with a pressure surface projecting beyond the upper side of the carrier plate and bevelled towards the edge for the articulated connection.

[0022] According to the invention, the lever has means for supporting itself on a base on its underside projecting into the receptacle. These means are preferably arranged between its end, which is secured by an articulated connection, and its free actuating end. If the lever is pivoted downwards, the moment it rests on the base, a torque or force is exerted upwards via the articulated connection in the manner of a two-sided lever on the lever end connected to the rim or the support plate. This results in the rim or the support plate, which are generally made of a plastic that is flexible within certain limits, being bent slightly upwards in this connection area, while a cleaning element latched into the support frame continues to be pressed downwards by the lever. This releases the latching connection and the support frame can then be lifted off.In the embodiment described above, the lever is supported on a base by means of appropriate support means. The base can be the cleaning element itself. Particularly preferably, the lever is supported on a support body of a cleaning element, as described further below.

[0023] The support means can be designed in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these means comprise a downwardly directed projection, an edge, or a curvature that, when supported on a base, forms a pivot axis between the two lever ends. A suitable geometry and dimensioning, such as the arrangement of such a downwardly projecting support means relative to the two lever ends to achieve a sufficiently large torque and shape, can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art, given the dimensions of the frame and cleaning element.

[0024] In particular, when the lever is designed as a push button, it has been shown that the ratio of the distance of the free end to be actuated from the pivot point to the distance of the end fixed by the joint to the pivot point should not be significantly less than 1 to 2, so that the necessary force to be applied can still be easily exerted with the fingers.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for supporting are integrated into the lower contour of the lever, in particular in the case of the materially uniform one-piece design of the lever and the support plate with edge.

[0026] As the lever pivots, its contact point on the base moves along the lower contour of the lever. The lower contour of the lever can be further optimized, like a cam, so that the retaining frame is pushed not only upward but also outward, reliably releasing the locking connection.

[0027] The cleaning element can be releasably secured in the receptacle in various ways. For example, a clamp or Velcro connection is conceivable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device for releasably securing the cleaning element in the receptacle comprises locking elements. Locking elements for releasably securing a cleaning element in the receptacle of a holding frame are known per se. They can comprise locking lugs, webs, recesses, or the like, which interact with corresponding counter-locking elements on the cleaning element. Such counter-locking elements are also known per se.

[0028] The locking elements are preferably associated with the edge. With this arrangement, the cleaning element can be easily snapped or clipped into the receptacle formed by the underside of the carrier plate and the at least partially surrounding edge, or released again.

[0029] The support plate can have any desired outer contour, for example, round, square, oval, etc. Advantageously, the support plate has a triangular contour with rounded corners, which is particularly suitable for cleaning even hard-to-reach, narrow areas.

[0030] Means for articulated connection to a handle may be provided on the upper side of the support plate.

[0031] A mop head according to the invention comprises a support frame according to the invention, as described above, and a cleaning element. The cleaning element can comprise any conceivable cleaning means, such as cleaning strips, fringes, sponges, textiles, etc., which can be attached to the support frame in any way. They only need to be detachably attachable. A support body to which the cleaning means are attached is particularly suitable for this purpose.

[0032] In such an embodiment, it is advantageous that the support body can be easily snapped or clipped into the support frame. This facilitates handling.

[0033] The support frame is preferably an injection-molded part. Polypropylene is particularly suitable as a material due to its softness and elasticity. Polypropylene exhibits high fatigue strength, which is required for durable film hinges.

[0034] The support body is preferably ring-shaped, for example, with circumferentially arranged openings for attaching the cleaning strips or fringes. A ring-shaped support body can be easily clipped into the locking element on the edge of the holding frame. The contour of the ring-shaped support body preferably corresponds to the outer contour of the carrier plate.

[0035] A particularly preferred embodiment of a mop head according to the invention comprises a holding frame with a triangular outer contour featuring rounded corner areas with locking elements, as well as a cleaning element with an annular support body that can be locked into the holding frame. In this embodiment, the base for the support means on the lower contour of the lever can be easily formed by the inner edge of the annular support body. A mop according to the invention comprises a handle and a mop head of the type described above that is articulated to this handle.

[0036] According to the invention, several recesses with levers can be provided, for example, in a triangular support frame, one at each of two opposite corners. Preferably, exactly one lever is provided.

[0037] Short description of the drawing

[0038] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0039] It shows

[0040] Fig. 1 : in perspective view a preferred embodiment of a holding frame according to the invention,

[0041] Fig. 2: a side sectional view of the holding frame according to the invention from Fig. 1,

[0042] Figs. 3a to 3c: the sequence of movements when the push button is actuated in the holding frame according to the invention from Figs. 1 and 2.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the holding frame with foot lever according to the invention.

[0044] CORRECTED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, a support body with fringes according to the prior art, which can be arranged in a holding frame according to the invention;

[0045] Fig. 6 shows, by way of example, the installation situation of the support body from Fig. 5 in a holding frame according to the prior art.

[0046] Implementation of the invention

[0047] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a holding frame 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The holding frame comprises a support plate 2 with a surrounding, downwardly extending edge 3, which forms a receptacle for a cleaning element (not shown here).

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the illustrated holding frame 1 has a triangular outer contour with rounded corners. A joint 4 for connecting to a stem (not shown here) is arranged on the upper side of the holding frame 1. In one of the rounded corners, the support plate 2 has a recess 5 in which a one-sided lever, designed here as a push button 6 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is arranged. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the push button 6 is spring-loaded to the outer circumference of the holding frame 1 via a hinge joint 7. The free actuating end is aligned with the center of the support plate 2. The push button 6 is arranged so that it can pivot downwards in the recess 5. Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of the holding frame 1 according to the invention from Fig. 1.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an annular support body 8 of a cleaning element is clipped into the receptacle formed by the support plate 2 and the peripheral edge 3 in the holding frame 1 by means of locking lugs 9. The cleaning strips or fringes attached to the annular support body 8 are not shown here for the sake of clarity. Also visible, as in Fig. 1, is the one-sided lever designed as a push button 6, which is resiliently hinged to the outer peripheral edge of the support plate 2 via the hinge joint 7. On the underside, the push button 6, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, rests with its downwardly projecting contour 10 on the inner edge 11 of the support ring 8.The contact point 11 between the support ring 8 and the lower contour 10 of the push button 6 forms the axis of rotation for the torque exerted upon a further downward movement of the free end of the push button 6 on the end of the push button 6 secured to the outer circumference of the support plate via the hinge joint 7. This torque exerts an upward force on the frame 3 and the support plate 2 in this area (illustrated here by the blue arrows).

[0049] Fig. 3 shows an example of the sequence of movements when the push button 6 is actuated. In Fig. 3 a), it can be seen that the push button 6 rests on the inner edge of the support ring 8 with its lower contour 10 when pivoted downwards. If the push button 6 is pressed further downwards with its free end, the support point 11 on the inner edge of the support ring 8 acts as a pivot point, and a torque, an upward force, acts on the hinge end of the push button 6. In Fig. 3 b), it can be seen that the torque causes the support plate 2 with the edge 3 to bend upwards. As a result, the support point moves along the beveled area of ​​the lower contour 10, with the result that a force component also acts radially outwards on the edge. This causes the support body to detach from the locking lug 9.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of a holding frame according to the invention. In the figure, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols (all reference symbols) as in Figs. 1 to 3. In contrast to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the free pivoting end of the lever 6 (pressure point) is arranged on the outer circumference of the support plate 2, and the other end is articulated on the support plate 2 via a hinge joint 7, spaced from the outer circumference of the pressure point. This has the advantage that the lever 6 can also be easily operated with the foot with the heel supported. The figure also shows the downwardly projecting support element 10. When the lever 6 is pivoted downward, the support element 10 rests on the support ring, which is not visible in this illustration (the support body has an LI shape in section. In the figure, it is cut in some places so that only the lower area is visible).This exerts a force / torque upward on the end of the lever connected to the support plate 2 via the hinge joint 7. The support plate 2 is bent slightly upward in this connection area, releasing the locking element.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows an example of a cleaning element 15 according to the prior art with a triangularly shaped annular support body 16 and fringes 17 attached thereto, which can be clipped into a holding frame 1 according to the invention.

[0052] Fig. 6 illustrates the installation situation of the support body from Fig. 5 in a holding frame according to the prior art. The fringes have been omitted for clarity. The installation situation corresponds to that of the holding frame according to the invention. The perspective view from below shows the holder of the holding frame formed by the underside of the carrier plate 2 and the edge 3. The annular support body is clipped into the holder. The underside of the articulated connection 9 for the connecting element 8 for a handle is designated by 9.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Holding frame (1) for a cleaning element (15) with a carrier plate (2) and a downwardly directed edge (3) running at least partially around the outer circumference of the carrier plate (2), which edge forms a receptacle for the cleaning element (15), as well as a device for releasably fastening the cleaning element (15) in the receptacle and a device for contactless release of the cleaning element (15) from the receptacle, wherein the device for contactless release of the cleaning element (15) from the receptacle comprises a spring-loaded pressure element in a recess (5) in the carrier plate (2), which, when actuated, releases the cleaning element (15) from the receptacle, characterized in that the pressure element comprises at least one lever which is spring-mounted in the recess (5) of the carrier plate (2) and has means on its underside,which, when at least one lever is actuated, rest on a base and cause a torque / force to be exerted on its end fixed at the joint.

2. Holding frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means comprise a downwardly pointing projection, edge or curvature which, when supported on a base, forms an axis of rotation for the at least one lever.

3. Holding frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for supporting on a base are integrated into the lower contour (10) of the at least one lever.

4. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the articulated connection of the at least one lever in the recess (5) of the support plate (2) is formed by a hinge joint (7).

5. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the carrier plate (2), the edge (3) and the at least one lever are of uniform material and formed in one piece, wherein the articulated connection is a film hinge (7).

6. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one lever is articulated with its one end to the edge (3) of the support plate (2), the other free actuating end being directed towards the center of the support plate (2).

7. Holding frame (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one lever is designed as a push button (6) with a pressure surface projecting beyond the upper side of the carrier plate (2) and beveled towards the articulated connection at the edge (3).

8. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the free end is arranged on the outer circumference of the carrier plate (2) and the other end is articulated on the carrier plate (2) at a distance from the outer circumference of the carrier plate (2).

9. Holding frame (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device for releasably fastening the cleaning element (15) comprises locking elements (9).

10. Holding frame (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking elements (9) are assigned to the edge (3).

11. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that means for articulated connection to a handle are provided on the upper side of the support plate (2).

12. Holding frame (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has a triangular outer contour with rounded corners.

13. Holding frame (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that exactly one lever or push button (6) is provided, which is arranged in one of the rounded corners.

14. Mop head with a holding frame (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13 and a cleaning element (15), characterized in that the cleaning element (15) has a supporting body (8) and cleaning fringes and / or strips (17) fixed to the supporting body (8).

15. Mop head according to claim 13, characterized in that the holding frame (1) and the supporting body (8) are annular and the supporting body (8) can be snapped into the locking elements (9) on the edge (3) of the holding frame (1).

16. Mop head according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one lever is supported with its underside on the annular support body (8).

17. A mop comprising a handle and a mop head according to at least one of claims 13 to 16 and a joint for connecting the handle to the mop head.

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