Cart for carrying cleaning tools

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cart (1) which is convertible between a non-compact and a compact state, comprising: a base part (2) having a bottom side (22) and a top side (21), which top side comprises a carrying surface (23), a set of castors (3) which are located on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2) and extend over a distance (A2) with respect to said bottom side (22), a clamping device which comprises at least one clamping element (4), (5), wherein at least one clamping element (4) is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element (4) is located above the top side (21) of the base part (2), and a second position, in which the clamping element (4) is located on the bottom side (22) and extends from said bottom side (22) over a distance (Al) not exceeding the distance (A2) over which the set of castors (3) extends with respect to said bottom side (22).

Description

[0001] CART FOR CARRYING CLEANING TOOLS

[0002] The present invention relates to a cart for carrying cleaning tools, which cart is convertible between a non-compact state in which, during use, it is movable on castors and a compact state, comprising a base part having, as seen in the non-compact state of the cart, a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the base part comprises a carrying surface for carrying a removable liquid container, and a set of castors which, in the non-compact state of the cart, are located at least partially on the bottom side of the base part and extend over a distance with respect to said bottom side. In addition, the present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a cart of this type and a removable liquid container.

[0003] A removable liquid container of this type is, for example, a bucket, which may be filled with water. Professional cleaners usually use a wide variety of cleaning material for cleaning purposes, including cleaning tools such as one or more brushes, a floor wiper, a window squeegee, sponges, mops, a bucket of water or a mixture of water and a cleaning agent, and other small items such as refuse bags, and containers for cleaning agents. The cleaner is also required to constantly move all of this cleaning material, which is not always easy and is often physically strenuous.

[0004] To make the job of a cleaner easier, a cleaning cart is used in which all of this material can be placed such that a cleaner can easily walk around while pushing the cart and have all of the necessary cleaning material always within their reach, as shown in US2009026732A1, for example.

[0005] However, although this type of cleaning cart is often widely used in indoor environments, it is very rarely used by cleaners who clean outdoors, such as window cleaners who need to wash the windows on the outside of a building. This is mainly because the cleaning carts are often only suitable to be moved over horizontal, level ground and are also quite sizable and therefore often difficult to use outdoors on uneven and / or sloping ground. Another known solution is a carrier which is movable on castors and comprises a bucket holder on which a large bucket can be placed. As the carrier is only provided to carry the bucket and as little extra material as possible, it can be configured to be more robust such that it can also be suitable for outdoor use. A carrier of this type makes it much easier and less strenuous for the cleaner to carry a large bucket containing a large quantity of water. However, said carriers are not suitable for carrying a lot of other cleaning material in addition to the bucket, and any adjustment to remedy that would make the carrier more sizable and less user-friendly.

[0006] A more fundamental problem encountered with such cleaning carts or carriers is that they are often not provided at the location where cleaning is to be carried out, but have to be taken by the cleaner to the place where cleaning is to be carried out. However, such cleaning carts or carriers are often quite sizable, unwieldy and heavy, as a result of which it is often impossible or at least challenging for the cleaner to load such movable carriers or cleaning carts into their vehicle and unload them again at the location where cleaning is to be carried out.

[0007] One known solution to this problem is to make the movable carriers foldable between a first, extended use state and a second, compact non-use state, as in US10239546A1. This describes a carrier which is movable on castors and is collapsible in a manner similar to a pram or buggy, such that a cleaner can collapse said movable carriers for easier storage or transport. However, said carriers are not an ideal solution: for instance, the bucket cannot be placed in or removed from the bucket holder in a user- friendly way, only a very limited number of bucket types can be placed in the bucket holder, and the movable carrier is still sizable and difficult to carry even in the compact, collapsed position, etc.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a cart that offers sufficient space and options for carrying a large number of cleaning tools, including a liquid container such as a bucket, and yet is provided to be easily brought into a state that is much more compact than when the cart is in use, and therefore can be easily carried and transported, and wherein, in addition, removable liquid containers of a wide variety of shapes and dimensions can be easily placed in a stable position on the cart and carried along in the non-compact state of the cart during use thereof. The object of the present invention is achieved by providing a cart for carrying cleaning tools, which cart is convertible between a non-compact state in which, during use, it is movable on castors and a compact state, comprising a base part having, as seen in the non-compact state of the cart, a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the base part comprises a carrying surface for carrying a removable liquid container, and a set of castors which, in the non-compact state of the cart, are located at least partially on the bottom side of the base part and extend over a distance with respect to said bottom side, a clamping device which is provided to extend at least partially above the top side of the base part in the non-compact state of the cart in order to hold a liquid container placed on said carrying surface in a clamped manner, wherein the clamping device comprises at least one clamping element which is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element is located at least partially above the top side of the base part, and a second position, in which the clamping element, in the compact state of the cart, is located substantially on the bottom side of the base part and extends from said bottom side over a distance not exceeding the distance over which the set of castors extends with respect to said bottom side.

[0009] The clamping device preferably comprises at least two clamping elements. This makes it possible to firmly clamp the removable liquid container in a more stable manner.

[0010] The clamping device ensures that liquid containers of different shapes and profiles and / or of different dimensions, both in the transverse direction and in terms of height, can be clamped in a stable way.

[0011] The clamping device preferably has for this purpose at least two different clamping positions, preferably a multiplicity of different clamping positions, in which, respectively, liquid containers of different transverse dimensions can be clamped.

[0012] The clamping device comprises, for example, one or more clamping elements, preferably at least two clamping elements, having a first clamping position and a second clamping position in which the clamping elements, as seen in a top view of the cart during use thereof, define a clamping space having a first and a second transverse dimension, respectively, with the first transverse dimension being greater than the second. In the first clamping position and in the second clamping position, the clamping elements can securely clamp, respectively, a first and a second liquid container of different dimensions in the transverse direction. Preferably, a multiplicity of different clamping positions is provided for the clamping elements.

[0013] The clamping elements preferably have clamping positions which are changeable in a continuously variable manner. Preferably, the clamping positions are determined in a continuously variable manner due to the fact that the clamping elements, under the influence of a spring force generated by a spring element and / or under the influence of a return spring force resulting from an elastic deformation of the clamping elements, move up to the outer surface of a side wall of the liquid container and then exert a clamping force on said side wall under the influence of said (return) spring force.

[0014] Due to the fact that at least one of the clamping elements is provided to be moved into a second position, wherein said clamping element, in the second position, is no longer located on the top side of the base part but on the bottom side of the base part and extends over a distance not exceeding the distance over which the castors extend with respect to the bottom side, it is possible to make the cart much more compact compared to its non-compact state than in the known solutions. This is mainly due to the fact that said at least one clamping element does not protrude beyond the castors in the compact state of the cart.

[0015] Due to the fact that the cart is also provided to clamp a removable liquid container, such as a bucket, in a clamping device in which at least one of said clamping elements is movable, it is also possible to place and clamp said liquid container between said clamping elements in a much simpler manner. In addition, this also makes it possible to clamp a much wider variety of liquid container types.

[0016] The set of castors preferably comprises four castors, preferably in pairs parallel to one another, but may equally comprise any other number of castors. The castors are further preferably of identical shape and identical dimensions. Preferably, the cart comprises at least one swivel castor and / or at least one fixed castor, and at least one castor is provided with a brake. Preferably, at least one of said castors is adjustable using a locking mechanism between a configuration in which said castor is a swivel castor and a configuration in which said castor is a fixed castor. Preferably, said locking mechanism is also provided with a guiding mechanism that first guides a swivel castor into a position in which the castors are in the same orientation as the fixed castors, if the cart comprises at least one fixed castor. The castors preferably comprise tyres that are preferably solid, but alternatively they may also be filled with air. As the tyres of the castors are solid, the tyres are less likely to be punctured when using the cart on rougher surfaces. The castors are preferably fastened to a shock-absorbing suspension system, which improves shock absorption and makes the cart more suitable for rougher surfaces. The castors are preferably made of nylon and / or thermoplastic polyurethane, due to the advantageous properties of thermoplastic polyurethane such as good adhesion and improved wear resistance. Alternatively, it is also possible for the castors to be made of, for example, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer or a different plastic.

[0017] The cart is further preferably provided for carrying cleaning agents and / or cleaning tools for window cleaners, such as cleaning tools provided with a shaft such as a brush, and is preferably provided for carrying and clamping a liquid container that is at least partially filled with a liquid such as water or, for example, soapy water. Preferably, the cart is further provided with one or more cavities, projections and / or fastening points such as click-fit systems, for positioning cleaning tools thereon. The clamping elements that are movable are preferably provided with an opening, or a different gripping element, such that a user of the cart can easily move the clamping elements. The clamping elements that are movable can also preferably be moved into one or more intermediate positions. The base part is preferably configured to be robust, and more preferably configured to be robust by providing a layer of material having a honeycomb structure, such as a layer of plastic having a honeycomb structure, on the bottom side of the base part.

[0018] The distance to which each clamping element movable into the second position extends from the bottom side of the base part is defined as the distance perpendicular to the plane of the bottom side, between the plane that is in contact with the bottom side and the parallel plane that is in contact with the point of the clamping element that is furthest from the bottom side. The distance to which the set of castors extends from the bottom side is defined as the distance perpendicular to the plane of the bottom side, between the contact surface on the bottom side and the parallel plane that is in contact with the point of the set of castors that is furthest from the bottom side.

[0019] Preferably, the clamping device comprises at least one clamping element which is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element, in the non-compact state of the cart, is located at least partially above the top side of the base part, and a second position, in which the clamping element, in the compact state of the cart, is located substantially on the top side of the base part.

[0020] The combination of at least one clamping element which, in the second position, is located substantially on the bottom side of the base part and extends from said bottom side over a distance not exceeding the distance over which the set of castors extends with respect to said bottom side, and at least one clamping element which, in the second position, is located substantially on the top side of the base part is particularly preferred. When using relatively large and / or relatively thick clamping elements, there is not always enough space to store all clamping elements on the bottom side of the base part in a compact manner. By placing at least one clamping element, in the compact position of the cart, on the top side of the base part, it is possible to use the space on the bottom side and the top side of the base part in an optimal manner. This allows the cart to be provided with additional holding elements or carrying elements for carrying and / or retaining various cleaning tools in a stable position, while still allowing the cart to be converted into a very compact state. This makes the cart even more suitable for use as a cart for carrying cleaning tools.

[0021] Said at least one clamping element may preferably also be located in intermediate positions between the first and the second position. In specific embodiments, it is alternatively also possible that a clamping element can be moved into both a second position, in which it is located on the bottom side of the base part, and a third position, in which it is located on the top side of the base part. Preferably, at least one clamping element which is provided to be moved between a first position and a second position is further rotatably connected to the cart and is rotatable between the first position and the second position by means of rotation about an axis of rotation.

[0022] The use of rotation about an axis of rotation makes it simpler to switch a clamping element between the first and the second position, allowing the cart to be converted more quickly between the compact and the non-compact state.

[0023] Preferably, the set of castors comprises at least two castors having a common castor axle, and at least one rotatably connected clamping element is rotatably connected to the castor axle and is rotatable about the castor axle between the first position and the second position.

[0024] By using the castor axle as an axis of rotation, a clamping element can be rotatably connected to the cart in a very simple manner. The fact that no additional axis of rotation has to be provided ensures a simpler construction of the cart, which also improves its compactness when it is brought into the compact state.

[0025] Preferably, the cart further comprises a spring element which is provided to exert a spring force on at least one rotatably connected clamping element in order to cause the clamping element to rotate into the first position or into the second position. The use of such a spring element allows the cart to be converted between the compact and the non-compact state in an even faster and more user-friendly manner. Said spring element is preferably a torsion spring.

[0026] Preferably, the cart comprises at least one fixed wall, and at least one rotatably connected clamping element, when it is in the first position, is movable in the direction of the axis of rotation between a rotating position and a locking position, wherein the clamping element, in the locking position, is retained in the first position by the at least one fixed wall and prevented from rotating out of the first position into the second position and, in the rotating position, is freely rotatable into the second position. As the movement of the at least one rotatable clamping element is prevented by the at least one fixed wall in the non-compact state, the cart will remain in the non-compact state in a more stable manner. In addition, by retaining said at least one rotatable clamping element, a fixed wall ensures that the removable liquid container is better held in place, such that it is far less likely for the clamping element to come out of the first position due to the weight of a filled liquid container. In particular when the removable liquid container is very heavy, for example due to being completely filled with water, the fixed wall ensures that the at least one rotatable clamping element always remains in the first position in a stable manner and retains the heavy removable liquid container in the event of sudden movements of the cart.

[0027] Preferably, the cart further comprises a spring system which is provided to exert a spring force on at least one clamping element which is provided to be moved between a rotating position and a locking position, which spring force pushes the clamping element into the locking position. As a result, said at least one clamping element will remain in the first position in an even more stable manner, and moving said at least one clamping element between the first and the second position is very user-friendly.

[0028] The clamping device further preferably comprises at least two clamping elements and is provided to, in the non-compact state of the cart, exert on at least one of the clamping elements a force that pushes said clamping element towards at least one other clamping element in order to exert a clamping force on a removable liquid container placed between the clamping elements.

[0029] Said force is preferably a spring force. To this end, the cart is preferably provided with an elastically deformable clamping element, wherein, when positioning the removable liquid container, said clamping element is elastically deformed, such that it will exert a return spring force in the direction of another clamping element. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, for the cart to be provided to this end with a spring system. This will increase the stability of the removable liquid container during use of the cart in the non-compact state, in particular when said removable liquid container is very heavy. In addition, such a force ensures that the cart is suitable for the use of removable liquid containers of a wide variety of dimensions. Preferably, at least one of the clamping elements is further configured as a clamping wall. A clamping wall is a very sturdy clamping element, which can also have a fairly large contact area with the liquid container, and can retain the removable liquid container in a simple and very effective manner.

[0030] Preferably, at least one of the clamping elements is further configured as a clamping wall having a concave clamping surface. Said concave clamping surface makes it possible to clamp removable liquid containers of different shapes. Said concave clamping surface makes it possible, for example, to firmly clamp not only removable liquid containers having a square profile, but also removable liquid containers having a round or oval profile. Said concave clamping surface preferably has a U-shaped profile in top view, and is preferably a curved profile having a substantially uniform curvature, such as the shape of an arc. A clamping wall with a curved, concave shape can adjoin a curved outer wall of a liquid container, such that the clamping thereof is particularly good.

[0031] Preferably, the top side of the base part, at least at the location of the carrying surface, and / or at least one of the clamping elements is provided with anti-slip elements. As an alternative or in addition, the anti-slip elements may also be provided on parts of the top side of the base part that are not part of the carrying surface for the liquid container.

[0032] Said anti-slip elements also contribute to the stability of the removable liquid container during the use of the cart. The anti-slip elements are preferably manufactured by two- component injection moulding of plastics such as thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the carrying surface and / or at least one of the clamping elements is partly made of a harder plastic and the anti-slip elements are partly made of a softer plastic. Alternatively, the anti-slip elements may be manufactured by applying to the carrying surface and / or at least one of the clamping elements a layer of plastic having a relatively high friction resistance, such as rubber, and more specifically ethylene propylene diene monomer.

[0033] In addition, the cart is preferably provided with a telescopically extendable handle, wherein said telescopically extendable handle is provided to be moved between a use position, in the non-compact state of the cart, and a non-use position, in the compact state of the cart.

[0034] As a result, the cart can be configured to be even more compact. Said telescopically extendable handle can be provided to pull, push and / or tilt the cart and is preferably provided on the front or rear of the cart. Said handle is preferably rotatable between the use position and the non-use position. Preferably, at least one clamping element is provided on said telescopically extendable handle. In the non-use position, the handle is preferably in a position in which the handle, which has been telescopically brought into its shortest possible state, takes up less space than when the handle, which has been telescopically brought into its shortest possible state, is in the use position. 'Take up less space' is understood to mean that the cart is made more compact. The handle is preferably rotatably connected to the cart and is rotatable out of the use position into the non-use position, wherein the handle extends in a direction that forms an angle with respect to the plane of the top side of the base part that is greater in the use position than in the non-use position.

[0035] The cart further preferably comprises an insertion cavity for containing an end part of a shaft of a cleaning tool, and comprises a holding element for retaining said shaft. The holding element may be provided to hold a shaft using, for example, a holder having elastically deformable walls that delimit a holding space for the shaft, wherein the walls must be elastically deformed in order to be able to place the shaft in said holding space, and wherein the walls, when the shaft is in the holding space, spring back to a position in which they retain the shaft in the holding space. The holding element may also comprise a click-fit system or a magnetic system. This is a very simple and compact solution for carrying large cleaning tools having a shaft in such a way that the compactness of the cart is not reduced thereby.

[0036] The object of the invention is further achieved by an assembly of a cart according to the present invention, as indicated above, and a removable liquid container, such as a bucket. The cart of the assembly may have any of the preferred features indicated above, or any combination of said features. Preferably, the clamping device comprises at least one clamping element, which is provided to, in the first position, hold the removable liquid container placed on the carrying surface in a clamped manner up to a height above the carrying surface that is at least 50% of the height of the removable liquid container. This ensures a very stable clamping of the removable liquid container. Preferably, at least one of the clamping elements of the cart is configured as a clamping wall having a U-shaped profile, wherein the profile is configured to correspond to the outer shape of the removable liquid container.

[0037] The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of a cart according to the present invention. The aim of this description is to give solely illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the present invention, and can therefore not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

[0038] Reference numerals are used in this detailed description to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

[0039] - Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly of a cart with a cleaning tool according to the invention;

[0040] - Figures 2-4 depict a side view of the placement of a bucket in a cart in a noncompact use state according to the invention;

[0041] - Figure 5 depicts a side view of an assembly of the cart from Figures 2-4 with a round bucket;

[0042] - Figure 6 depicts a bottom view of the assembly from Figure 5;

[0043] - Figure 7 depicts a perspective view of the assembly from Figure 5;

[0044] - Figure 8 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cart having a rotatable clamping element according to the invention;

[0045] - Figure 9 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a cart in the compact state according to the invention;

[0046] - Figure 10 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a cart having a rotatable clamping element according to the invention;

[0047] - Figure 11 depicts a perspective view of the cart from Figure 10; and - Figure 12 depicts a front view of an embodiment of a cart in the non-compact state.

[0048] The figures show the same embodiment of a cart (1) for carrying cleaning tools (12, 15) according to the invention, including as an assembly, with the assembly also comprising a removable liquid container (12). The removable liquid container is a bucket (12), as shown in Figures 4 and 5, but can of course also be another type of liquid container (12), and may optionally be partially or completely filled with a liquid or a combination of substances such as soapy water. Said cart (1) is suitable for carrying cleaning tools (12, 15) and is convertible between a non-compact state, as shown for example in Figures 1 and 7, and a compact state, as shown in Figure 9. The compact state from Figure 9 is easily portable and is more compact than already known carts (1) for carrying cleaning tools (12, 15). The non-compact state is movable on castors during use, as can be seen in the figures. Figures 1 and 8 also show that the cart

[0049] (1) is provided with one or more cavities, projections and / or fastening points such as click- fit systems, for positioning cleaning tools (15) thereon.

[0050] As can be clearly seen in, inter alia, Figures 6 and 8, the cart (1) comprises a base part

[0051] (2) having a top side (21) and a bottom side (22), with the top side (21) comprising a carrying surface (23) on which a bucket (12) can be placed such that it can be moved as well during use. Said carrying surface (23) may, to this end, also be embossed in order to hold said removable liquid container (12) in a more stable manner. The bottom side (22) may also be embossed in order to make the base part (2) more robust, as shown in Figure 6. Here, the bottom side (22) is provided with a honeycomb-like layer, such that the base part (2) can carry heavier removable liquid containers (12).

[0052] The cart (1) comprises a set of castors (3) which are located on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2) and extend over a distance (A2) with respect to said bottom side (22), as indicated in Figure 6. Two pairs of parallel castors (3) are provided, but alternatively there could also be a different number of castors with an arbitrary placement on the cart (1). The castors (3) according to this embodiment are of identical shape and identical dimensions, but this is not a requirement. As shown in Figure 6, one pair of castors is configured as swivel castors and one pair of castors is configured as fixed castors. Other embodiments having more / fewer fixed castors / swivel castors are of course also possible. The fixed castors are further provided with a brake, and the swivel castors are provided with a locking mechanism that secures the swivel castors such that they become fixed castors. Figure 2, for example, shows an example of such a brake and such a locking mechanism. Preferably, the locking mechanism is also provided with a guiding mechanism that first guides a swivel castor into a position in which the castors are in the same orientation as the fixed castors, if the cart (1) comprises at least one fixed castor. The castors (3) furthermore also comprise solid tyres. The castors (3) are furthermore also fastened to a shock-absorbing suspension system, which is not shown in the figures. The castors (3) are preferably made of nylon and / or thermoplastic polyurethane, due to the advantageous properties of thermoplastic polyurethane such as good adhesion and improved wear resistance. The castors (3) may also be made of, for example, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer or a different plastic.

[0053] The cart (1) further comprises a clamping device having two clamping elements (4), (5) in order to clamp a bucket (12). Said clamping elements (4), (5) extend opposite one another from the top side (21) of the base part (2) in the non-compact state of the cart (1), and are clearly visible in, for example, Figures 4 and 5. Alternatively, one or more than two clamping elements (4), (5) may also be present in a cart (1).

[0054] Said clamping elements (4), (5) are configured as clamping walls (4), (5), as in the figures, and are provided with an opening, or a different gripping element, such that the clamping walls (4), (5) are easily movable. Said clamping walls (4), (5) are configured as a clamping wall (4), (5) having a concave clamping surface. This makes it possible, for example, to firmly clamp a round removable liquid container (12), as in Figure 5. Said concave clamping surface has a U-shaped profile in top view, and is a curved profile having a substantially uniform curvature, such as the shape of an arc. In alternative embodiments, the clamping elements (4), (5) could, for example, also be configured in such a way that the clamping elements (4), (5) together form a hoop in order to clamp the removable liquid container (12). Preferably, the U-shaped profile is configured to correspond to the outer shape of a removable liquid container (12).

[0055] In this case, at least one clamping element (4) is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element (4) is located at least partially above the top side (21) of the base part (2) and also above the carrying surface (23), as, for example, in Figures 2 and 4, and a second position, in which the clamping element (4) is located substantially on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2) and extends from said bottom side (22) over a distance (Al) not exceeding the distance (A2) over which the set of castors (3) extends with respect to said bottom side (22), as shown in Figure 9. Said clamping element (4) can also be in intermediate positions between said first position and the second position, as can be seen in Figures 8, 10 and 11.

[0056] As can be seen in most of the figures, the cart (1) also comprises a clamping element (5) which is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element (5) is located at least partially above the top side (21) of the base part (2), and a second position, located substantially on the top side (21) of the base part (2), as in Figure 9. Said clamping element (5) can also be in intermediate positions between the first and the second position. In specific embodiments, it is alternatively also possible that a clamping element (4), (5) can be moved into both a second position, in which said clamping element (4), (5) is located on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2), and a third position, in which it is located on the top side (21) of the base part (2). As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the clamping elements (4), (5) are furthermore also provided to, in their first position, hold the removable liquid container (12) placed on the carrying surface (23) in a clamped manner up to a height (L) above the carrying surface (23) that is more than half the height (H) of the bucket (12).

[0057] Figures 7 and 8 show that at least one of the movable clamping elements (4), (5), in this embodiment specifically the clamping element (4) which is located in the second position on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2), is rotatably connected to the cart (1), and is rotatable between the first position and the second position by means of rotation about an axis of rotation (R). As can also be seen in the figures, the set of castors (3) comprises a common castor axle (31) between two castors, and the rotatable clamping element (4) is rotatably connected to said castor axle (31) such that the axis of rotation (R) coincides with said castor axle (31). For said rotation about the castor axle (31), the cart (1) preferably comprises a spring element (6), as shown in Figure 12. Said spring element (6) exerts a spring force on said rotatable clamping element (4) such that said rotatable clamping element (4) is rotated into the first position and / or into the second position by the spring force. It is preferably a torsion spring (6). Figure 12 also shows that the cart (1) comprises two fixed walls (7), which retain the rotatable clamping element (4) in the first position and prevent it from being able to rotate into the second position. Alternatively, this could also be one fixed wall or more than two fixed walls (7). The rotatable clamping element (4) is movable in the direction of the axis of rotation (R) between a locking position, in which the clamping element

[0058] (4), as mentioned above, is retained in the first position, and a rotating position, in which the clamping element (4) can rotate freely between the first and the second position. To this end, the cart (1) is also provided with a spring system (8), as shown in Figures 11 and 12, which pushes the clamping element from the rotating position into the locking position by means of a spring force. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the two fixed walls (7) are configured as projections with a free space behind them, such that the clamping element (4) placed in the locking position is located in this space and such that the movement of the clamping element (4) into the second position is prevented and the clamping element (4) is properly secured behind the projections (7) and can only be removed therefrom by moving the rotatable clamping element (4) into the rotating position in the direction of the axis of rotation (R), such that the clamping element (4) is no longer locked by the projection.

[0059] The cart (1) is provided with a spring system in order to exert on the clamping element

[0060] (5) located on the right-hand side a spring force that pushes said clamping element (5) towards the other clamping element (4) in order to exert a clamping force on the bucket (12). Figures 2 to 4 show that the clamping element (5), which is in the second position above the base part (2), is provided with a spring system, as a result of which said clamping element (5) can be moved away from the other clamping element (4), counter to the spring force, in order to free up more space when placing a bucket (12). Alternatively, it is also possible for the force to be brought about by the fact that the clamping element (4), (5) is elastically deformable. This also allows different types of dimensions of removable liquid containers (12) to be securely clamped, as can be seen by comparing Figure 4 and Figure 5.

[0061] Figure 8, for example, shows how the carrying surface (23) and the clamping elements (4), (5) of the cart (1) are provided with anti-slip elements (10). The anti-slip elements (10) are manufactured by two-component injection moulding of plastics such as thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the carrying surface (23) and / or at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) is partly made of a harder plastic and the anti-slip elements (10) are partly made of a softer plastic. Alternatively, the anti-slip elements (10) may also be manufactured by applying to the carrying surface (23) and / or to at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) a layer of plastic having a relatively high friction resistance, such as rubber, and more specifically ethylene propylene diene monomer. The anti-slip elements (10) may also be provided on parts of the top side (21) of the base part (2) that do not act as a carrying surface (23).

[0062] The figures furthermore also show that the cart (1) is provided with a telescopically extendable handle (11), wherein said telescopically extendable handle (11) is provided to be moved between a use position, in the non-compact state of the cart (1), and a non-use position, in the compact state of the cart (1). Said handle is connected to the cart in such a way that it is rotatable between the use position and the non-use position, wherein the handle (11) extends in a direction that forms an angle with respect to the plane of the top side (21) of the base part that is greater in the use position than in the non-use position.

[0063] The right-hand clamping element (5) is provided on said telescopically extendable handle (11), and said handle is furthermore also provided with one or more cavities, projections and / or fastening points, as shown in Figure 8, for example.

[0064] The cart (1) comprises, as shown in Figures 1 and 11, an element in which an insertion cavity (13) is provided for containing an end part of a shaft (16) of a floor wiper (15), and also comprises a holding element (14) that has a U-shaped profile and is made of an elastically deformable plastic and is provided to hold the shaft (16) by means of, for example, elastic deformation, a click-fit system or a magnetic system. Said holding element (14) is preferably provided on the telescopic handle (11). The U-shaped holding element (14) has elastically deformable walls that delimit a holding space for the shaft. Said walls must be deformed in order to allow the shaft to be placed in said holding space and, once the shaft (16) is located in the holding space, said walls spring back to a position in which they retain the shaft (16) in the holding space.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Cart (1) for carrying cleaning tools (12, 15), which cart is convertible between a non-compact state in which, during use, it is movable on castors and a compact state, comprising a base part (2) having, as seen in the non-compact state of the cart (1), a top side (21) and a bottom side (22), wherein the top side (21) of the base part comprises a carrying surface (23) for carrying a removable liquid container (12), and a set of castors (3) which, in the non-compact state of the cart (1), are located at least partially on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2) and extend over a distance (A2) with respect to said bottom side (22), characterized in that the cart (1) comprises a clamping device (4), (5) which is provided to extend at least partially above the top side (21) of the base part (2) in the non-compact state of the cart (1) in order to hold a liquid container (12) placed on the carrying surface (23) in a clamped manner, and in that the clamping device comprises at least one clamping element (4) which is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element (4) is located at least partially above the top side (21) of the base part (2), and a second position, in which the clamping element (4), in the compact state of the cart (1), is located substantially on the bottom side (22) of the base part (2) and extends from said bottom side (22) over a distance (Al) not exceeding the distance (A2) over which the set of castors (3) extends with respect to said bottom side (22).

2. Cart (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device (4), (5) comprises at least one clamping element (5) which is provided to be moved between a first position, in which the clamping element, in the non-compact state of the cart (1), is located at least partially above the top side (21) of the base part (2), and a second position, in which the clamping element, in the compact state of the cart (1), is located substantially on the top side (21) of the base part (2).

3. Cart (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one clamping element (4), (5) which is provided to be moved between a first position and a second position is rotatably connected to the cart (1) and is rotatable between the first position and the second position by means of rotation about an axis of rotation (R).

4. Cart (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the set of castors (3) comprises at least two castors having a common castor axle (31), and in that at least one rotatably connected clamping element (4), (5) is rotatably connected to the castor axle (31) and is rotatable about the castor axle (31) between the first position and the second position.

5. Cart (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the cart (1) comprises a spring element (6) which is provided to exert a spring force on at least one rotatably connected clamping element (4), (5) in order to cause the clamping element (4), (5) to rotate into the first position or into the second position.

6. Cart (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the cart (1) comprises at least one fixed wall (7), and in that at least one rotatably connected clamping element (4), (5), when it is in the first position, is movable in the direction of the axis of rotation (R) between a rotating position and a locking position, wherein the clamping element, in the locking position, is retained in the first position by the at least one fixed wall (7) and prevented from rotating out of the first position into the second position and, in the rotating position, is freely rotatable into the second position.

7. Cart (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the cart (1) comprises a spring system (8) which is provided to exert a spring force on at least one clamping element (4), (5) which is provided to be moved between a rotating position and a locking position, which spring force pushes the clamping element (4) into the locking position.

8. Cart (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device comprises at least two clamping elements (4), (5) and is provided to, in the non-compact state of the cart, exert on at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) a force that pushes said clamping element (4), (5) towards at least one other clamping element (4), (5) in order to exert a clamping force on a removable liquid container (12) placed between the clamping elements (4), (5).

9. Cart (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) is configured as a clamping wall.

10. Cart (1) according to Claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) is configured as a clamping wall having a concave clamping surface.

11. Cart (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top side (21) of the base part, at least at the location of the carrying surface (23), and / or at least one of the clamping elements (4), (5) is provided with anti-slip elements (10).

12. Cart (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cart (1) is provided with a telescopically extendable handle (11), and in that said telescopically extendable handle (11) is provided to be moved between a use position, in the non-compact state of the cart (1), and a non-use position, in the compact state of the cart (1).

13. Cart (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cart (1) comprises an insertion cavity (13) for containing an end part of a shaft (16) of a cleaning tool (15), and a holding element (14) for retaining said shaft (16).

14. Assembly of a cart (1) and a removable liquid container (12), such as a bucket, characterized in that the cart (1) is configured as a cart (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 13.

15. Assembly of a cart (1) according to Claim 14, characterized in that the clamping device (4), (5) comprises at least one clamping element (4), (5) which is provided to, in the first position, hold the removable liquid container (12) placed on the carrying surface (23) in a clamped manner up to a height (L) above the carrying surface (23) that is at least 50% of the height (H) of the removable liquid container

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