Cleaning tool or self-propelled cleaner

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a cleaning tool which can be easily attached to and detached from a cleaning body, can improve workability, and can be effectively utilized by reducing useless parts where the cleaning body is not used. [Solution] In a cleaning tool 10, brush members 6, 6 composed of a plurality of bristle materials 5 are formed on a cleaning head 1, and a cleaning body 8 in which a plurality of fibers to which tips of the plurality of bristle materials 5 are inserted and fixed are formed of a nonwoven fabric 7 is mounted on the cleaning head 1. Each of the plurality of bristle materials 5 has a projection part extending in a wire diameter direction at the tip, and the adjacent bristle materials 5, 5 are flocked at intervals mutually interfering with each other. When the cleaning head 1 is used, the bristle materials 5 and the cleaning body 8 are fixed by hooking the projection parts of the bristle materials 5 to the fibers of the cleaning body 8.

Description

Cleaning equipment or self-propelled vacuum cleaner

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning tool having a cleaning head and an operating handle, and a self-propelled vacuum cleaner.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A mop has been known in the past in which a wiper cloth made of paper, fabric, or the like is replaceably attached to a wiper cloth attachment member connected to the tip of a handle (Patent Document 1).

[0003] The mop described in Patent Document 1 consists of a wiping cloth for sweeping, a flat, elongated wiping cloth mounting member for interchangeably attaching the wiping cloth, and an operating handle connected to the wiping cloth mounting member.The wiping cloth mounting member is formed into a thin, rectangular flat plate made of a flexible, elastic material such as synthetic rubber or synthetic resin, and has locking means for locking the ends of the wrapped wiping cloth at positions near the four corners, and the handle is connected to the center of the top surface via a connecting means.

[0004] Patent No. 3457402

[0005] However, the wiping cloth of the mop described in Patent Document 1 requires time and effort to be locked onto the locking means formed near the four corners, and if the locking means are formed as cut holes, the wiping cloth may tear and remain on the locking means, requiring work to remove it. Also, because the wiping cloth is configured to be wrapped from the underside of the wiping cloth attachment member to the locking means formed on the upper surface, there is a problem that the wiping cloth on the upper surface does not contribute to cleaning the floor and is wasted.

[0006] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a cleaning tool and a self-propelled vacuum cleaner that can be easily attached to and detached from the cleaning body, improves workability, and reduces unused, unnecessary parts of the cleaning body to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the past, the invention of claim 1 provides a cleaning tool having a cleaning head that is approximately rectangular in plan view and an operating handle fixed to one side of the cleaning head, wherein the other side of the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed thereon, and a cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet with a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to the other side of the cleaning head, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals where they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and are fixed to the bristles and the nonwoven fabric sheet.

[0008] In the invention of claim 1, the cleaning element with a nonwoven fabric sheet is attached to a brush member formed on the side of the cleaning head opposite the side to which the operating handle is attached, thereby enabling attachment and detachment. This eliminates the need to wrap the cleaning element around the operating handle, as in the past, reducing wasted space in the cleaning element and reducing costs. Furthermore, the bristles are planted at intervals that allow them to interfere with each other. During use of the cleaning head, the protruding portions of the bristles hook onto the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet, and the fibers become sandwiched and tangled between adjacent bristles, maintaining the hooking and providing a strong fixation. Meanwhile, when removing the cleaning element, the nonwoven fabric sheet is gradually removed from the end of the cleaning head, causing the bristles to bend in the radial direction, making it easier to release the fibers sandwiched between adjacent bristles. This facilitates removal of the cleaning element and reduces the adhesion of cleaning element fiber debris to the bristles, making maintenance easier.

[0009] The invention of claim 2 is a cleaning tool having a cleaning head having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and an operating handle extending from approximately the center of one surface of the cleaning head, wherein the other surface of the cleaning head has a brush member formed of a plurality of bristles, and a cleaning body is attached to the other surface of the cleaning head, the cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which the tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed and made of a plurality of intertwined fibers, each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fix the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. In this invention, since the operating handle extends from approximately the center of one surface of the cleaning head, a user can operate the operating handle to firmly press the cleaning body against the surface to be cleaned.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is a cleaning tool having a cleaning head that is approximately rectangular in plan view and an operating handle extending from one or both longitudinal ends of the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed on the surface facing the surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning element having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which the tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed, is attached to the surface of the cleaning head facing the surface to be cleaned, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to secure the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. In this invention, the operating handle extends from one or both longitudinal ends of the cleaning head, so that it does not get in the way when attaching or detaching the cleaning element and makes it possible to secure the cleaning element to two opposing surfaces of the cleaning head.

[0011] The invention of claim 4 is a cleaning tool having a generally rod-shaped or generally flat cleaning head and an operating handle extending from the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles, and a cleaning body is attached to the cleaning head, the cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which the tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed, each of the plurality of bristles having protrusions extending in the linear direction, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fix the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. In this invention, the generally rod-shaped or generally flat cleaning head makes it easy for the cleaning head to enter narrow gaps, grooves, etc., allowing for effective cleaning. Furthermore, since any shape of operating handle is included as long as it extends from a cleaning head that is approximately rod-shaped or approximately flat, this allows for freedom in the overall shape of the cleaning tool and can be applied to cleaning tools with compact shapes.

[0012] The invention of claim 5 is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising a main body, a pair of travel rollers arranged on the bottom surface of the main body, a motor for rotating the travel rollers, and a control unit for controlling the motor, wherein the main body has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed on the bottom surface thereof, and a cleaning element is attached to the bottom surface of the main body, the cleaning element comprising a nonwoven fabric sheet having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed, each of the plurality of bristles having protrusions extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to secure the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. This allows the brush member on the bottom of the main body and the cleaning element to be easily attached by simply placing the self-propelled vacuum cleaner on the cleaning element, thereby reducing the burden of attaching the cleaning element, such as the effort of turning the self-propelled vacuum cleaner over.

[0013] The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 2 to 4, the cleaning head is rotatably fixed to an operating handle, the cleaning head is generally flat, and by rotating the cleaning head, cleaning elements having brush members formed on two opposing surfaces that face the surface to be cleaned during use and equipped with a nonwoven fabric sheet can be attached to each of the two opposing surfaces. As a result, when cleaning elements are attached to both opposing surfaces, the area that can be cleaned at one time increases, reducing the frequency of cleaning element replacement (by replacing the cleaning element with an unsoiled part of the same nonwoven fabric sheet) or exchange, thereby reducing the burden of cleaning work. Furthermore, reducing the frequency of cleaning element replacement or exchange slows wear of the brush members formed on the cleaning head.

[0014] The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the protrusions of the bristles are formed around the entire circumference of the bristles in the linear direction, thereby enabling more reliable fixation to the cleaning body.

[0015] The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the protrusions of the bristles extend in one direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the cleaning head moves when in use, thereby ensuring secure fixation to the cleaning element and allowing easy removal of the cleaning element from the side opposite to the direction in which the protrusions of the bristles extend.

[0016] The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the extension length of the bristles at the protruding portions is in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm, and the fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric applicable to the cleaning element is in the range of 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm. This makes it compatible with common nonwoven fabrics available on the market and ensures more reliable fixation to the cleaning element. Note that if the extension length of the bristles at the protruding portions is less than 0.01 mm, the bristles will not catch tightly with the fibers of the nonwoven fabric, resulting in insufficient fixation, and if the extension length of the bristles at the protruding portions is more than 0.1 mm, the bristles will not easily penetrate between the fibers of the nonwoven fabric, resulting in insufficient fixation.

[0017] The invention of claim 10 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 4, the brush members are formed near the four corners on the other surface of the cleaning head, thereby making it possible to fix the cleaning body near the four corners to the brush members, and to fix the cleaning body to the cleaning head efficiently and reliably.

[0018] The invention of claim 11 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 4, the brush member is formed linearly near and approximately parallel to the two long sides of the other surface of the cleaning head. This allows the brush member to be fixed linearly near and approximately parallel to the two long sides of the cleaning body, thereby enabling the cleaning body to be fixed to the cleaning head efficiently and reliably.

[0019] The invention of claim 12 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 4, a part of the other surface of the cleaning head has a buffer portion that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, and a space is formed between the buffer portion and the brush member. This allows the buffer portion to press the cleaning element evenly and uniformly against the surface to be cleaned, allowing for efficient use of the cleaning element. Furthermore, the space between the buffer portion and the brush member allows the bristles that make up the brush member to bend, which strengthens the adhesion of the cleaning head to the cleaning element during use and makes it easy to remove.

[0020] The invention of claim 13 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 4, a portion of the other surface of the cleaning head has a buffer portion that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, and the tips of the bristles are approximately flush with the tips of the buffer portion or protrude further than the tips of the buffer portion. This allows the buffer portion to press the cleaning element more evenly against the surface to be cleaned, allowing for efficient use of the cleaning element. In addition, the bristles that make up the brush member can easily penetrate into the nonwoven fabric that makes up the cleaning element, strengthening the adhesion between the cleaning head and the cleaning element.

[0021] The invention of claim 14 is characterized in that, in any one of the inventions of claims 1 to 4, a part of the other surface of the cleaning head has a buffer portion that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, the buffer portion is made of an elastic material, and the tip of the buffer portion is approximately flush with the tip of the bristles or protrudes further than the tip of the bristles. This allows the buffer portion to press the cleaning element evenly against the surface to be cleaned, allowing the sheet to be used efficiently.

[0022] The inventions of claims 1 to 4 reduce unnecessary parts of the cleaning body and can reduce costs. Also, the bristles are planted at intervals where they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the cleaning body and maintain that catch, allowing for strong fixation. When removing the cleaning head, the bristles bend in the direction of their diameter, making it easy to remove the fibers of the cleaning body from the protrusions, and fiber debris from the cleaning body is less likely to adhere to the bristles, making maintenance easier.

[0023] The invention of claim 5 allows the brush member on the bottom of the main body and the cleaning body to be easily attached simply by placing the self-propelled vacuum cleaner on the cleaning body, thereby reducing the burden of attaching the cleaning body, such as the effort of turning the self-propelled vacuum cleaner upside down. Furthermore, the invention of claim 6 reduces the frequency of replacing or changing the cleaning body, thereby reducing the burden of cleaning work. It also slows down wear on the brush member formed on the cleaning head.

[0024] According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, the cleaning body can be securely fixed, and the cleaning body can be easily removed.

[0025] The invention of claim 9 allows for more reliable fixing to the cleaning element, and the inventions of claims 10 and 11 allow for efficient and reliable fixing of the cleaning element to the cleaning head.

[0026] The inventions of claims 12 to 14 allow the cleaning element to be pressed evenly against the surface to be cleaned by the buffer part, allowing for efficient use of the cleaning element. The invention of claim 12 also allows for strong adhesion to the cleaning element during use and allows for easy removal. The invention of claim 13 also allows for strong adhesion between the cleaning head and the cleaning element.

[0027] (a) A perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head. (b) A perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom side of the cleaning head. (a) A perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, with a cleaning element fixed thereto. (b) A perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom side of the cleaning head, with a cleaning element fixed thereto. (a) to (c) A procedure for fixing a cleaning element to a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (a) A perspective view showing a first embodiment of bristles constituting a brush member; (b) A perspective view showing a second embodiment of the same; (c) A perspective view showing a third embodiment of the same; (d) A perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the same; (a) A perspective view showing an example of a state in which the bristles are fixed to the nonwoven fabric; (b) A perspective view showing another example of a state in which the bristles are fixed to the nonwoven fabric; (a) and (b) A perspective view showing a cleaning tool of the second embodiment; (a) A perspective view showing a procedure for fixing a cleaning body to a cleaning tool of the third embodiment according to the present invention; (a) A perspective view showing a cleaning tool of the fourth embodiment; (b) A bottom view of the cleaning head of the cleaning tool of the fourth embodiment. (a) A perspective view of the first embodiment of the cleaning element. (b) A perspective view of the second embodiment of the cleaning element. (c) A perspective view of the third embodiment of the cleaning element. (d) A perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the cleaning element. (a) A perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the cleaning tool as seen from the top side of the cleaning head. (b) A side view of the fifth embodiment of the cleaning tool. (c) A perspective view of the sixth embodiment of the cleaning tool as seen from the top side of the cleaning head. (d) A perspective view of the sixth embodiment of the cleaning tool. (e) A perspective view of the cleaning tool of the seventh embodiment, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head. (f) A side view of the cleaning tool of the seventh embodiment. (a) to (c) Side views showing a procedure for attaching a cleaning element to the cleaning tool of the sixth embodiment. (a) and (b) Perspective views of the cleaning tool of the eighth embodiment. (c) and (d) Perspective views of the cleaning tool of the ninth embodiment. (a) A perspective view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment according to the present invention, viewed from the bottom side. (b) A perspective view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment, viewed from the top side.

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1( a) is a perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, and FIG. 1( b) is a perspective view of the cleaning tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom side of the cleaning head. Also, FIG. 2( a) is a perspective view of the cleaning tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, with a cleaning element fixed thereto. Also, FIG. 2( b) is a perspective view of the cleaning tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the bottom side of the cleaning head, with a cleaning element fixed thereto. Also, FIGS. 3( a) to 3(c) are side views showing the procedure for fixing the cleaning element to the cleaning tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An overview of the first embodiment of the cleaning tool according to the present invention will be described below using these figures.

[0029] The cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment has a cleaning head 1 that is substantially rectangular in plan view, an operating handle 2 that is fixed to one surface 1a of the cleaning head 1, and a joint member 3 that connects the cleaning head 1 and the operating handle 2. The joint member 3 has a rotation shaft 4, and the operating handle 2 is configured to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 4.

[0030] The cleaning head 1 has a brush member 6 made up of a plurality of bristles 5, 5... formed on the other surface 1b, and a cleaning body 8 formed of a nonwoven fabric 7 made of a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of the plurality of bristles 5, 5... are inserted and fixed, and is configured to be attached to the other surface 1b of the cleaning head 1.

[0031] As will be described later, each of the multiple bristles 5, 5... has a protrusion 9 extending in the radial direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles 5, 5 are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other. When the cleaning head 1 is in use, the bristles 5 and the cleaning body 8 are fixed in place by the protrusion 9 of the bristles 5 getting caught on the fibers of the cleaning body 8.

[0032] The cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment is configured so that the cleaning body 8 formed of nonwoven fabric 7 is fixed to the brush member 6 formed on the surface 1b of the cleaning head 1 opposite the surface 1a to which the operating handle 2 is fixed, thereby enabling attachment and detachment. This eliminates the need to wrap the cleaning body 8 around the surface 1a on the operating handle side, as in the conventional case, eliminating wasted portions of the cleaning body 8 and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. Furthermore, as will be described later, the bristles 5, 5 are planted at intervals where they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head 1 is in use, the bristles 5 and the cleaning body 8 are fixed by the protrusions 9 of the bristles 5 catching on the fibers of the cleaning body 8. This makes it easy to attach and detach the cleaning head 1 and the cleaning body 8, improving workability.

[0033] The cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment is configured such that the brush members 6, 6 are formed in a row near the two long sides of the other surface 1b of the cleaning head 1. This allows the brush members 6, 6 to be fixed in a row near the two long sides of the cleaning element 8, so that the other surface 1b of the cleaning head 1 can be entirely covered with the cleaning element 8 and the cleaning element 8 can be fixed to the cleaning head 1 reliably.

[0034] In addition, in the cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment, a portion of the other surface 1b of the cleaning head 1 has a buffer portion 35 formed by a buffer member 35a that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5 that make up the brush member 6, and a space 36 is formed between the buffer portion 35 and the brush member 6. This allows the buffer portion 35 to press the cleaning element 8 evenly against the surface to be cleaned X, allowing the cleaning element to be used efficiently. Furthermore, the space 36 between the buffer portion 35 and the brush member 6 allows the bristles 5 that make up the brush member 6 to bend, which strengthens adhesion to the cleaning element during use and makes it easy to remove.

[0035] Furthermore, in the cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment, the tips of the bristles 5 are formed so as to be substantially flush with the tips of the buffering portions 35 or to protrude beyond the tips of the buffering portions 35. This makes it easy for the bristles 5 constituting the brush member 6 to penetrate deep into the nonwoven fabric 7 constituting the cleaning body 8, thereby strengthening the bond between the cleaning head 1 and the cleaning body 8.

[0036] Next, a procedure for fixing the cleaning element 8 to the cleaning tool 10 of the first embodiment will be described using Figures 3(a) to 3(c). First, as shown in Figure 3(a), the cleaning tool 10 is pressed against the cleaning element 8 placed on the surface to be cleaned X so that the brush members 6 are evenly abutted against it. At this time, the tips of the multiple bristles 5 of the brush members 6 penetrate between the tangled fibers that form the nonwoven fabric 7 of the cleaning element 8, and the protrusions 9 formed on the tips of the bristles 5 hook onto the fibers of the nonwoven fabric 7, thereby fixing the cleaning element 8 to the nonwoven fabric. Next, as shown in Figure 3(b), for example, by pushing the operating handle 2 diagonally forward and downward (in the direction of the arrow), which is the forward direction, the bristles 5 of the brush member 6 can more flexibly penetrate deeper into the nonwoven fabric 7, thereby fixing the bristles 5 to the fibers deeper inside the nonwoven fabric 7. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(c), when the operating handle 2 is pushed diagonally downward and rearward (in the direction of the arrow), which is the backward direction, the bristles 5 of the brush member 6 can penetrate even more flexibly deeper into the nonwoven fabric 7, so that the bristles 5 can be fixed to the fibers deeper inside the nonwoven fabric 7, and the cleaning body 8 can be securely attached to the underside 1b of the cleaning head 1.

[0037] 3(b) and 3(c) are only a part of the operations performed during use, so no special operation is required to attach the cleaning element 8 to the cleaning head 1, providing excellent convenience. Furthermore, by repeatedly switching between the state of FIG. 3(b) and the state of FIG. 3(c) during use, the cleaning element 8 and the cleaning head 1 can be more securely fixed together. Furthermore, because adjacent bristles 5, 5... are planted at intervals that allow them to interfere with each other, they support each other and prevent the bristles from becoming disengaged from the fibers of the nonwoven fabric 7. Specifically, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and the like can be used as the bristles' material. The bristles' diameter can be in the range of 0.02 mm to 0.2 mm, and preferably in the range of 0.06 mm to 0.15 mm. By using such a material and wire diameter, the bristles are easily flexible, allowing the tips of the bristles to easily penetrate into the entangled fibers of the nonwoven fabric, and the protruding portions of the bristles to hook onto the fibers of the nonwoven fabric. The bristles may have a bristle length in the range of 1 mm to 15 mm, preferably in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm. The distance between the tips of the bristles may be in the range of 0 mm to 2 mm, preferably in the range of 0 mm to 0.3 mm. By using such a bristle length and distance between the bristles, adjacent bristles can easily interfere with and support each other, thereby strengthening the hooking of the protruding portions of the bristles onto the fibers of the nonwoven fabric.

[0038] 4(a) is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of bristles constituting a brush member. The bristles 5 of the first embodiment have protrusions 9 extending radially from the tips of the bristles 5, at a direction approximately 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5. The bristles 5 are fixed to the cleaning head 1 so that the extension direction of the protrusions 9 is approximately perpendicular (the longitudinal direction or short-side direction of the cleaning head 1) to the direction in which the cleaning head 1 moves during use (the short-side direction or long-side direction of the cleaning head 1). This ensures secure fixation to the cleaning element 8. Furthermore, when removing the cleaning element 8, the cleaning element 8 can be easily removed from the side opposite the extension direction of the bristles' protrusions 9.

[0039] 4(b) is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the bristles constituting the brush member. The bristles 5a of the second embodiment have protrusions 9a extending from the tips of the bristles 5a in the radial direction, and the protrusions 9a are formed around the entire circumference of the bristles 5a in the radial direction. This allows for more reliable fixation to the cleaning body 8.

[0040] 4(c) is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the bristles constituting the brush member. The bristles 5b of the third embodiment have protrusions 9b extending radially from the tips of the bristles 5b, which are generally spherical and extend around the entire circumference of the bristles 5b in the radial direction. This allows for more reliable fixation to the cleaning body 8.

[0041] 4(d) is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of bristles constituting the brush member. The bristles 5c of the fourth embodiment have protrusions 9c extending from the tips of the bristles 5c in the radial direction, at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5c. This allows the bristles 5c to be fixed to the cleaning head 1 so that the extending direction of the protrusions 9c is at a predetermined angle relative to the direction of movement of the cleaning head 1 during use (the short-side direction of the cleaning head 1). This allows the degree of fixation to the cleaning element 8 to be adjusted. Furthermore, when removing the cleaning element 8, the cleaning element 8 can be easily removed from the side opposite the extending direction of the bristles' protrusions 9c.

[0042] The extension length of the protrusions 9, 9a, 9b, 9c of the bristles 5, 5a, 5b, 5c is preferably in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm, and the fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric 7 applicable to the cleaning element 8 is preferably in the range of 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm. The relationship between the extension length of the protrusions 9, 9a, 9b, 9c and the fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric 7 is such that if the extension length of the protrusions is half or more of the fiber diameter, the protrusions can be expected to catch on the fibers, and preferably if the extension length of the protrusions is twice or more the fiber diameter, the protrusions can be reliably caught on the fibers.

[0043] 5(a) is a perspective view showing an example of the state in which the bristles and the nonwoven fabric are fixed together. As shown in this figure, the fibers of the nonwoven fabric 7 constituting the cleaning element 8 are caught and fixed on the protrusions 9 at the tips of the bristles 5.

[0044] Figure 5(b) is a perspective view showing another example of the state of fixation between the bristles and the nonwoven fabric. As shown in this figure, adjacent bristles 5, 5 are planted at intervals where they interfere with each other, and thus the bristles become entangled in a pinched manner, allowing the fibers of the nonwoven fabric 7 constituting the cleaning element 8 to remain caught on the protrusions 9 at the tips of the bristles 5. By performing the procedure for fixing the cleaning element 8 to the cleaning tool 10 shown in Figures 3(a) to 3(c), the bristles penetrate deeper into the nonwoven fabric, forming a firmly fixed state where the bristles interfere with each other, as shown in Figure 5(b). Note that Figures 3(b) and 3(c) are only part of the operations performed when using the cleaning head 1, and therefore no special operations are required to attach the cleaning element 8 to the cleaning head 1, providing excellent convenience.

[0045] 6 is a perspective view showing a cleaning tool of the second embodiment. In the cleaning tool 20 of the second embodiment, brush members 16, 16, 16, 16 are formed near the four corners of the other surface 11b of the cleaning head 11. This allows the brush members 16 to be fixed near the four corners of the cleaning element 8, and the cleaning head 11 can be more reliably fixed to the cleaning element 8. Furthermore, peeling of the cleaning element 8 can be efficiently prevented.

[0046] Furthermore, in the cleaning tool 20 of the second embodiment, a part of the other surface 11b of the cleaning head 11 has a buffer section 31 formed of a buffer member 31a that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5d that make up the brush member 16, and a space 33 is formed between the buffer section 31 and the brush member 16. This allows the buffer section 31 to strongly press the cleaning body 8 against the surface to be cleaned X. Furthermore, the space 33 between the buffer section 31 and the brush member 16 allows the bristles 5d that make up the brush member 16 to bend, making it easy to attach and detach the cleaning body 8 to and from the cleaning body 8.

[0047] Furthermore, in the cleaning tool 20 of the second embodiment, the tips of the bristles 5d are formed so as to be substantially flush with the tips of the buffering portions 31 or to protrude beyond the tips of the buffering portions 31. This allows the bristles 5d constituting the brush member 16 to penetrate deep into the nonwoven fabric 7 constituting the cleaning body 8, thereby strengthening the bond between the cleaning head 11 and the cleaning body 8.

[0048] 7(a) and (b) are side views showing a procedure for fixing a cleaning element to a cleaning tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the cleaning tool 30 of the third embodiment, a part of the other surface 21b of the cleaning head 21 has a buffer portion 32 formed of an elastic member 32a that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5e constituting the brush member 26. The tip of the buffer portion 32 is formed to be substantially flush with the tip of the bristles 5e or to protrude further than the tip of the bristles 5e. A space 34 is formed between the buffer portion 32 and the brush member 26.

[0049] 7(a), when the cleaning head 21 is placed on the cleaning body 8, the buffer part 32 comes into contact with the cleaning body 8, and from this state, as shown in Fig. 7(b), by pressing the operating handle 2 firmly against the surface to be cleaned X, the bristles 5e constituting the brush member 26 become fixed to the nonwoven fabric 7 constituting the cleaning body 8. As a result, the buffer part 32 allows the cleaning body 8 to be pressed firmly against the surface to be cleaned X when the cleaning head 21 is in use.

[0050] Fig. 8(a) is a perspective view of a cleaning tool according to a fourth embodiment, viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, and Fig. 8(b) is a bottom view of the cleaning head of the cleaning tool according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8(a), a cleaning tool 40 includes a cleaning head 41 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, an operating handle 42 fixed to one surface 41a of the cleaning head 41, and a joint member 43 connecting the cleaning head 41 and the operating handle 42. The joint member 43 has a rotation shaft 44, and the operating handle 42 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 44. The cleaning head 41 includes a suction nozzle 45 having an opening 45a on the front side of the other surface 41b, and brush members 46, 46 consisting of multiple bristles 5, 5... formed linearly on the rear side near and substantially parallel to the long sides of the cleaning head 41.

[0051] The suction nozzle 45 communicates with a vacuum cleaner body (not shown) having a dust box (not shown) for collecting dust and a suction drive mechanism (not shown) through a suction passage 42a provided inside the operating handle 42, and functions to suck up dust from the surface to be cleaned X. The brush members 46, 46 are configured such that a cleaning element 8 formed of a nonwoven fabric 7 having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of a plurality of bristles 5, 5... are inserted and fixed is attached to the other surface 41b of the cleaning head 41. A portion of the other surface 41b of the cleaning head 41 has a buffer section 47 formed of a buffer member 47a protruding in the longitudinal direction of the bristles 5 constituting the brush member 46, and spaces 48 are formed between the buffer section 47 and the brush member 46 and between the suction nozzle 45 and the brush member 46. This allows the buffer section 47 to press the cleaning element 8 evenly against the surface to be cleaned X, allowing for efficient use of the cleaning element 8. Furthermore, since the bristles 5 constituting the brush member 46 can be bent in the space 48, the cleaning head 41 can be firmly attached to the cleaning body while in use, and can be easily removed when detached. The method of attaching the cleaning body 8 to the cleaning head 41 is the same as in the case of the cleaning tool of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] The cleaning tool 40 of the fourth embodiment can improve cleaning efficiency by sucking in large dust particles on the surface to be cleaned X through the opening 45a of the suction nozzle 45 formed on the front side of the cleaning head 41, while capturing fine dust particles with the cleaning body 8 formed on the rear side of the cleaning head 41. Furthermore, the cleaning body 8 and the cleaning head 41 can be fixed together by placing the brush members 46, 46 of the cleaning head 41 on the cleaning body 8 and pressing them together, which eliminates the need for a complex mounting structure and is not restricted by the arrangement and structure of the suction nozzle that would be required for a complex mounting structure, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving convenience.

[0053] 9A is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the cleaning element. The cleaning element 8 of the first embodiment is formed solely from a nonwoven fabric sheet 7a. The nonwoven fabric sheet 7a is available in two types: "dry" and "wet." The "wet" type contains a detergent and an antibacterial component. The nonwoven fabric sheet 7a is formed by intertwining multiple fibers, and the tips of the multiple bristles of the brush member are inserted and fixed into the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a.

[0054] 9(b) is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the cleaning element. The cleaning element 18 of the second embodiment is formed by fixing multiple string-like brushes 18a, 18a... to one surface of a nonwoven fabric sheet 7a. As with the cleaning element 8 of the first embodiment, the brush members are fixed to the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a, and the multiple string-like brushes 18a clean the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, by impregnating the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a with a cleaning liquid, the cleaning effect of the multiple string-like brushes 18a can be maintained for a long time.

[0055] 9(c) is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the cleaning element. The cleaning element 28 of the third embodiment is formed by fixing a sponge brush 28a to one surface of a nonwoven fabric sheet 7a. As with the cleaning element 8 of the first embodiment, the brush member is fixed to the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a, and the sponge brush 28a cleans the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, by impregnating the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a with a cleaning liquid, the cleaning effect of the sponge brush 28a can be maintained for a long time.

[0056] FIG. 9(d) is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the cleaning element. The cleaning element 38 of the fourth embodiment is formed by fixing multiple spherical brushes 38a, 38a... to one surface of a nonwoven fabric sheet 7a. As with the cleaning element 8 of the first embodiment, the brush members are fixed to the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a, and the multiple spherical brushes 38a clean the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, by impregnating the nonwoven fabric sheet 7a with a cleaning solution, the cleaning effect of the multiple spherical brushes 38a can be maintained for a long time. Furthermore, the spherical brushes 38a have high cushioning properties, which can absorb impacts with the surface to be cleaned and prevent damage to the surface. Furthermore, the bristles constituting the spherical brushes 38a are thin and short, allowing them to capture fine dust particles.

[0057] Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view of a cleaning tool of a fifth embodiment as viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, and Fig. 10(b) is a side view of the cleaning tool of the fifth embodiment with the cleaning element fixed. The cleaning tool 50 of the fifth embodiment has a substantially flat cleaning head 51 and an operating handle 52 extending from the cleaning head 51. The cleaning head 51 has brush members 56, 56 made of multiple bristles near the long edge of the upper surface, and a cleaning element 8a including a nonwoven fabric sheet having multiple intertwined fibers into which the tips of the multiple bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to cover the underside of the cleaning head 51. Each of the multiple bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other. When the cleaning head 51 is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to fix the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet.

[0058] Fig. 10(c) is a perspective view of the cleaning tool of the sixth embodiment as viewed from the top side of the cleaning head, and Fig. 10(d) is a side view of the cleaning tool of the sixth embodiment with the cleaning element fixed. The cleaning tool 60 of the sixth embodiment has a cleaning head 61 that is approximately rectangular in plan view and an operating handle 62 extending from one longitudinal end 61a of the cleaning head 61. The cleaning head 61 has brush members 66, 66 made of multiple bristles formed on two locations on its surface that can face the surface to be cleaned. A brush member 66 is also formed on one side of the cleaning head 61. A cleaning element 8b, which includes a nonwoven fabric sheet with multiple intertwined fibers into which the tips of the multiple bristles are inserted and fixed, is attached to two opposing surfaces that can face the surface to be cleaned so as to cover one side of the cleaning head 61. Each of the multiple bristles has a protrusion at the tip that extends in the radial direction, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals that allow them to interfere with each other, so that when the cleaning head 61 is in use, the bristles and the nonwoven fabric sheet are fixed in place by the protrusions of the bristles catching on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet.

[0059] In the cleaning tool 60 of the sixth embodiment, the operating handle 62 extends from one end 61a of the cleaning head 61 in the longitudinal direction, but the operating handle 62 may also extend from both ends of the cleaning head 61 in the longitudinal direction, and this is also included in the present invention.

[0060] In addition, in the cleaning tool 60 of the sixth embodiment, the cleaning head 61 is rotatably fixed to the operating handle 62. The cleaning head 61 is approximately flat, and by rotating the cleaning head 61, when in use, the cleaning body 8b on one of the two opposing sides that can face the surface to be cleaned is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned to clean it, and when the cleaning body 8b becomes dirty, the cleaning body 8b on the other side can be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned to clean it, thereby increasing the area that can be cleaned at one time and improving cleaning efficiency.

[0061] Fig. 10(e) is a perspective view of the cleaning tool of the seventh embodiment as seen from the top side of the cleaning head, and Fig. 10(f) is a side view of the cleaning tool of the seventh embodiment. A cleaning tool 70 of the seventh embodiment is a cleaning tool having a substantially flat cleaning head 71 and an operating handle 72 extending from the cleaning head 71. The cleaning head 71 has brush members 76, 76 made of a plurality of bristles, and a cleaning body 8c having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which the tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed, is attached to the underside of the cleaning head 71. Each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and the protrusions of the bristles hook onto the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to secure the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet when the cleaning head 71 is in use.

[0062] In addition, in the cleaning tool 70 of the seventh embodiment, the cleaning head 71 is rotatably fixed to the operating handle 72. The cleaning head 71 is generally flat and rotates using the notch 71a, allowing the cleaning element 8c to be attached to one of two opposing surfaces that can face the surface to be cleaned during use. Even if the fixing force between the cleaning element 8c and the brush members 76, 76 weakens due to bending of the bristles of the brush members 76, 76 or fiber debris remaining inside the brush members 76, 76, use can be continued by attaching the cleaning element 8c to the other surface that can face the surface to be cleaned. The fixing force between the brush members 76, 76 and the cleaning element 8c can be restored by brushing with a dedicated comb.

[0063] 11(a) to 11(c) are side views showing the procedure for attaching the cleaning element to the cleaning tool of the sixth embodiment. First, as shown in Fig. 11(a), the user operates the operating handle 62 to press the brush member 66 formed on the front side of the cleaning head 61 against the middle position of the cleaning element 8b including the nonwoven fabric sheet to fix it, and then tilts the cleaning head 61 in the direction of the arrow to reach the state shown in Fig. 11(b).

[0064] Next, as shown in Figure 11(b), the user operates the operating handle 62 to press the brush member 66 formed near one end of the surface of the cleaning head 61 facing the surface to be cleaned against one end of the cleaning body 8b equipped with a nonwoven fabric sheet, thereby fixing it, and rotates the cleaning head 61 in the direction of the arrow to reach the state shown in Figure 11(c).

[0065] 11(c), the user operates the operating handle 62 to press the brush member 66, which is formed near one end of the surface of the cleaning head 61 facing the surface to be cleaned, against the other end of the cleaning element 8b, which includes a nonwoven fabric sheet, thereby completing the fixing of the cleaning element 8b to the cleaning head 61. This allows the user to fix the cleaning element 8b to both sides of the cleaning head 61 without touching it. Next, the user can start cleaning by operating the operating handle 62 and pushing the cleaning tool 60 in the direction of the arrow.

[0066] 12(a) and (b) are perspective views showing a cleaning tool of the eighth embodiment, and FIG. 12(b) shows the cleaning tool of the eighth embodiment in a state in which the cleaning element is fixed. The eighth embodiment of the cleaning tool 80 includes a substantially flat cleaning head 81 and an operating handle 82 extending from one longitudinal end of the cleaning head 81. The cleaning head 81 has brush members 86, 86 made of multiple bristles formed on the surface facing the surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning body 18 having a nonwoven fabric sheet (see FIG. 9( b)) with intertwined fibers and into which the tips of the multiple bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to the surface facing the surface to be cleaned of the cleaning head 81. Each of the multiple bristles has a protrusion extending radially from its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other. When the cleaning head 81 is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to secure the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. This configuration firmly secures the cleaning head 81 to the cleaning body 18, preventing the cleaning body from falling off in handheld cleaning tools that are often carried around.

[0067] 12(c) and (d) are perspective views showing a cleaning tool of a ninth embodiment, and Fig. 12(d) shows the cleaning tool of the ninth embodiment in a fixed state. The cleaning tool 90 of the ninth embodiment is a cleaning tool having a substantially rod-shaped cleaning head 91 and an operating handle 92 extending from one longitudinal end of the cleaning head 91. The cleaning head 91 is formed with brush members 96, 96, 96, 96 made of a plurality of bristles, and a cleaning element 8d is attached to the cleaning head 91, the cleaning element 8d having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which tips of the bristles are inserted and fixed and in which a plurality of intertwined fibers are attached, each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head 91 is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet to fix the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet. This configuration allows the cleaning head 91 and the cleaning element 8d to be firmly fixed together, preventing the cleaning element from falling off in handy cleaning tools that are often carried around.

[0068] FIG. 13(a) is a perspective view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment according to the present invention as viewed from the bottom side, and FIG. 13(b) is a perspective view of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of the first embodiment as viewed from the top side. The self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 of the first embodiment has a main body 110, a pair of running rollers 101, 101 arranged on the bottom surface 110a of the main body, a motor (not shown) for rotating the running roller 101, and a control unit 102 for controlling the motor. The main body 110 has brush members 106, 106 made of a plurality of bristles formed on the bottom surface 110a, and a cleaning body 8e having a nonwoven fabric sheet in which a plurality of intertwined fibers are inserted and fixed, is attached to the bottom surface 110a of the main body. Each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals where they interfere with each other. When the self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 is in use, the protrusions of the bristles catch on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fix the bristles to the nonwoven fabric sheet.

[0069] The self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 of the first embodiment is equipped with a rotating cleaning body 104 in the suction port 103, and the running roller 101 and the rotating cleaning body 104 are activated by operating the operation panel 105. This allows a suction device (not shown) built into the main body 110 to suck and remove relatively large dust particles through the suction port 103, while fine dust particles adhering to the surface to be cleaned are removed by the cleaning body 8e equipped with a nonwoven fabric sheet. Furthermore, simply placing the self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 on the cleaning body 8e allows the brush members 106, 106 on the bottom surface 110a of the main body to be easily attached to the cleaning body 8e, thereby reducing the burden of attaching the cleaning body 8e, such as the effort required to turn the self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 upside down. While the self-propelled vacuum cleaner 100 of the first embodiment is equipped with a suction port 103 for a suction device, if a suction device is not provided, the wiping effect on the surface to be cleaned can be improved by increasing the size of the cleaning body 8e, which is also included in the present invention.

[0070] The cleaning tool and the self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to the present invention are used as cleaning tools for removing dirt, dust, etc. from floors, walls, windows, etc. in a room.

[0071] 1, 11, 21, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91 Cleaning head 1a, 41a One side of cleaning head 1b, 11b, 21b, 41b Other side of cleaning head 2, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92 Operating handle 3, 43 Joint member 4, 44 Rotating shaft 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e Bristles 6, 16, 26, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96, 106 Brush member 7 Nonwoven fabric 7a Nonwoven fabric sheet 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 18, 28, 38 Cleaning element 9, 9a, 9b, 9c Protrusion 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 Cleaning tool 31, 32, 35, 47 Buffer section 31a, 35a, 47a Buffer member 32a Elastic member 33, 34, 36, 48 Space 45 Suction nozzle 45a Opening 101 Traveling roller 102 Control section 103 Suction port 104 Rotating cleaning body 105 Operation panel 110 Main body 110a Bottom surface of main body X Surface to be cleaned

Claims

1. A cleaning tool having a cleaning head having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and an operating handle fixed to one surface of the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed on the other surface thereof, and a cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to the other surface of the cleaning head, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at the tip thereof, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles are caught by the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fixed.

2. A cleaning tool having a cleaning head that is substantially rectangular in plan view and an operating handle extending from substantially the center of one side of the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed on the other side thereof, and a cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to the other side of the cleaning head, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at the tip thereof, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is in use, the protrusions of the bristles are caught by the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fixed.

3. A cleaning tool having a cleaning head that is substantially rectangular in plan view and an operating handle extending from one or both longitudinal ends of the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles formed on a surface facing a surface to be cleaned, and a cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet into which the tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed, and is attached to the surface of the cleaning head facing the surface to be cleaned, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at the tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is used, the protrusions of the bristles are caught on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fixed.

4. A cleaning tool having a substantially rod-shaped or substantially flat cleaning head and an operating handle extending from the cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head has a brush member made of a plurality of bristles, and a cleaning body having a nonwoven fabric sheet having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which the tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed is attached to the cleaning head, wherein each of the plurality of bristles has a protrusion extending in the linear diameter direction at the tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other, and when the cleaning head is used, the protrusions of the bristles are caught on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fixed.

5. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body; a pair of traveling rollers arranged on a bottom surface of the main body; a motor for rotating the traveling rollers; and a control unit for controlling the motor, wherein the main body has a brush member formed on the bottom surface thereof and made of a plurality of bristles; and a cleaning body is attached to the bottom surface of the main body, the cleaning body comprising a nonwoven fabric sheet having a plurality of intertwined fibers into which tips of the plurality of bristles are inserted and fixed, each of the plurality of bristles having a protrusion extending in a linear diameter direction at its tip, and adjacent bristles are planted at intervals such that they interfere with each other; and wherein, when the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is used, the protrusions of the bristles are caught on the fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet and fixed.

6. A cleaning tool according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the cleaning head is rotatably fixed to an operating handle, the cleaning head is substantially flat, and by rotating the cleaning head, a brush member is formed on each of two opposing surfaces that can face the surface to be cleaned when in use, and a cleaning body equipped with a nonwoven fabric sheet can be attached to each of the two opposing surfaces.

7. A cleaning tool or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protrusions of the bristles are formed around the entire circumference of the bristles in the linear diameter direction.

8. A cleaning tool or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protrusions of the bristles extend in one direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the cleaning head or the self-propelled vacuum cleaner moves when in use.

9. A cleaning tool or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the extension length of the bristles at the protruding parts is in the range of 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm, and the fiber diameter of the nonwoven fabric applicable to the nonwoven fabric cleaning body is in the range of 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm.

10. A cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the brush members are formed near the four corners of the other surface of the cleaning head or the surface facing the surface to be cleaned.

11. A cleaning tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the brush member is formed linearly in the vicinity of and approximately parallel to the two long sides of the other surface of the cleaning head or the surface facing the surface to be cleaned.

12. A cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the other surface of the cleaning head or a part of the surface facing the surface to be cleaned has a buffer part that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, and a space is formed between the buffer part and the brush member.

13. A cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the other surface of the cleaning head or a part of the surface facing the surface to be cleaned has a buffer part that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, and the tip of the bristles is approximately the same as the tip of the buffer part or protrudes further than the tip of the buffer part.

14. A cleaning tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the other surface of the cleaning head or a part of the surface facing the surface to be cleaned has a buffer part that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the bristles that make up the brush member, the buffer part is made of an elastic material, and the tip of the buffer part is substantially the same as the tip of the bristles or protrudes further than the tip of the bristles.

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