Device for applying a sheet material on a surface such as a floor

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6223378
  • Patent Number
    6,223,378
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, July 22, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 1, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
The invention relates to a device (1) for applying to a floor (2) a sheet material drawn from a reel (5) of a strip (6), which device comprises a frame (7) and two rollers (8, 9) guided in rotation on the frame around parallel axes, on which a strip (6) of material (4) is disposed so that a generator of each roller is selectively placed in contact with the floor (2) by an application means during the utilization of the device (1) in a back-and-forth movement; a handle (3) articulated to the frame (7) around an axis (3A) parallel to the axes of the rollers; a means for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor (2) and the winding of the soiled strip (6) onto a receiving mandrel (12).
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a device for applying a sheet material onto a surface such as a floor.




The invention relates more particularly, though not exclusively, to a device having an advantageous application to the cleaning of a floor.




The invention relates to a device for cleaning a floor, of the type which is moved by a person, in front of himself, by means of a control handle, and which places in contact with the floor a sheet material drawn from a reel of a strip of cleaning material of this type.




In addition to a frame, a cleaning device of this type comprises:




two cylindrical rollers, called nose and heel rollers, guided in rotation on the frame around approximately parallel axes, on which a strip of cleaning material is disposed and held taut so that at least one generator of each roller carrying this sheet can be selectively placed in contact with the floor by an application means during the utilization of the device in a back-and-forth movement,




a control handle articulated to the frame around an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the rollers,




a means for controlling the feeding of the strip so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Devices of this type are described for example in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,610 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,642.




These devices of the prior art have their advantages, but they comprise a means for controlling the feeding of the strip of the type that makes use of a friction component on the floor.




The operation of this type of feeding means cannot be guaranteed when the floor to be cleaned has been made slick by cleaning agents.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




One object of the invention is to obtain a cleaning device comprising an autonomous means for controlling the feeding of the cleaning strip that is reliable, and whose operation is not dependent on a coefficient of friction between the floor and a mechanism that receives a movement from said floor when the device is moved.




Another object of the invention is to obtain a cleaning device in which the replacement of a soiled strip is fast and trouble-free.




Another object of the invention is to obtain a device that makes it possible to apply a maintenance product to the floor, such as a liquid cleaning agent, a wax or the like.




To this end, the subject of the invention is a device of the above-mentioned type, characterized in that:




the axis of articulation of the handle on the frame is disposed behind the heel roller, and




the application means comprises:




an element for support on the floor, which is movable relative to the frame between two positions, including a first position in which it removes the heel roller from contact with the floor while inducing the application of the nose roller to the floor, and a second position in which, conversely, it removes the nose roller from contact with the floor while inducing the application of the heel roller to the floor, and




an elastic element at least indirectly disposed between the element for support on the floor and the frame, so as to stress this element for support on the floor toward its so-called first position.




The invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the following description, given as a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawing, which schematically represents:











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




FIGS.


1


and


2


: two simplified lateral views of the device of the invention during use,




FIGS.


3


and


4


: at a larger scale, two sectional views of the device of the invention in two different planes,




FIG.


5


: a partial sectional view of the device seen from the rear,




FIG.


6


: a view in perspective of a part of the device of the invention,




FIG.


7


: longitudinal sectional views of two detachable complementary coupling elements.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The drawing shows a device


1


for applying a strip


6


of material


4


to a surface


2


such as a floor.




The term “floor” is used hereinafter to designate any surface to which the device can be applied.




By way of example, the device of the invention is described as a device for cleaning a floor


2


, of the type which is moved by a person (not represented), in front of himself, by means of a control handle


3


, and which places in contact with the floor


2


a sheet material


4


drawn from a reel


5


of a strip


6


of cleaning material of this type [in strip form]


6


.




In addition to a frame


7


, a cleaning device of this type comprises:




two cylindrical rollers


8


,


9


, called nose (


8


) and heel (


9


) rollers, guided in rotation on the frame around approximately parallel axes


8


A,


9


A, on which a strip


6


of cleaning material


4


is disposed and held taut so that at least one generator


8


B,


9


B of each roller


8


,


9


carrying this sheet


4


can be selectively placed in contact with the floor


2


by an application means (


10


) during the utilization of the device


1


in a back-and-forth movement in a direction approximately perpendicular to said rollers,




a control handle


3


articulated on the frame


7


around an axis


3


A substantially parallel to the axes


8


A,


9


A of the rollers


8


,


9


, and




a means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip


6


so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor


2


and the winding of the soiled strip


6


onto a receiving mandrel


12


.




The term heel roller


9


designates the one of the rollers


8


,


9


that is located at the rear part of the device


1


, that is, the one that is closest to the person who moves said device


1


.




Thus, the term nose roller


8


designates the one of the rollers


8


,


9


which, conversely, is the farthest away from the person who moves the device


1


.




In a remarkable way:




the axis


3


A of articulation of the handle


3


on the frame


7


is disposed behind the heel roller


9


, and




the application means


10


comprises:




an element


15


for support on the floor


2


, which is movable relative to the frame


7


between two positions


15


B,


15


C, including a first position


15


B in which it removes the heel roller


9


from contact with the floor


2


while inducing the application of the nose roller


8


to the floor


2


, and a second position


15


C in which, conversely, it removes the nose roller


8


from contact with the floor


2


while inducing the application of the heel roller


9


to the floor


2


, and




an elastic element


16


at least indirectly disposed between the element


15


for support on the floor


2


and the frame


7


, so as to stress this element


15


for support on the floor


2


toward its so-called first position


15


B.




Preferably, the application means is elastically notched, i.e., it comprises elements (not represented) that tend to elastically retain the element


15


for support on the floor in at least one of its extreme positions.




Advantageously, the element


15


for support on the floor is comprised of a wheel


15


.




Remarkably, the device comprises an elastic part


14


, carried at least indirectly by the frame, for cooperating with another stop carried by the handle


3


, these stops being oriented and disposed so that when the handle


3


is lifted, i.e., when the device


1


is pulled backward S


2


, they induce, if necessary, the application of the nose roller


8


to said floor


2


.




Preferably, the elastic part


14


is comprised of a flexion spring.




These technical characteristics make it so that when a person moves the device


1


in front of himself, imparting to it an alternating forward (S


1


) and backward (S


2


) movement:




during the forward movement, the heel roller


9


comes into contact with the floor


2


while the nose roller


8


moves away from said floor, whereas




during the backward movement, the order of the rollers


8


,


9


in contact with the floor is reversed, i.e., the nose roller


8


comes into contact with said floor


2


, while the heel roller


9


moves away from the floor


2


.




Remarkably, the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip


6


comprises an element


17


disposed so as receive an alternating movement from a moving element


18


at least indirectly associated with the element


15


for support on the floor


2


, and so as to drive, at least indirectly in rotation by a fraction of a turn, via an element


19


A through


19


E, at least the mandrel


12


for receiving the soiled strip, in a direction such that said strip


6


is moved, by a fraction of the distance that separates the nose roller


8


and the heel roller


9


, from said nose roller


8


toward said heel roller


9


.




These characteristics make it so that when the device


1


is drawn backward on the floor


2


, the nose roller


8


places in contact with the floor


2


, a generator equipped with an unsoiled strip


6


(FIG.


2


).




This makes it possible for a surface against which the strip has just been moved to be wiped clean.




Preferably, in the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip, the element


17


for receiving an alternating movement from an element


18


associated with the element


15


for support on the floor


2


, and for driving in rotation an element


19


E for controlling the rotation of the mandrel


12


for receiving the strip


6


, cooperates at least indirectly with an element


19


F for driving the heel roller


9


in rotation.




This makes it possible to guarantee a better feeding of the strip


6


.




Notably, the heel and nose rollers are coated with a flexible sticky material such as a foam, which enables the strip to cling to them.




These characteristics also enable the strip to better conform to irregularities in the floor


2


.




Equally remarkably, in the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip, the element


17


for receiving an alternating movement from an element


18


associated with the element


15


for support on the floor


2


, and for driving in rotation the element


19


E for controlling the rotation of the mandrel


12


for receiving the strip


6


, cooperates at least indirectly, particularly via an element


19


G, with an element


19


H disposed so as to cooperate with at least one of two elements, i.e., the nose roller


8


and the strip reel


5


, and to alternate cause their rotational immobilization and release in sync with the control of the fractional forward movement of the strip


6


.




Hence the nose roller


8


is only free to rotate when the mandrel


12


and the heel roller


9


are driven in rotation.




Advantageously, the device


1


comprises a means


5


B for braking the rotation of the reel


5


of material in strip form


6


.




Preferably, the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip comprises at least:




an elongated part called a slider


18


, guided in translation on the frame


7


in a direction approximately perpendicular to the floor, which carries the element


15


for support on the floor


2


at one of its ends and which receives, at the other end, the action of the elastic element


16


for stressing said element


15


for support on the floor


2


toward its so-called first position


15


B,




wheels


19


E,


19


F with ratchets


19


C,


19


D, each at least indirectly linked to the mandrel


12


for receiving the soiled strip and to the heel roller


9


so as to drive, during their own rotation, these rollers


8


,


9


,




an element


17


called a control lever, which is articulated to the frame


7


and disposed so as to receive an alternating movement from the slider


18


, and via a lever


19


A articulated to the frame


7


, to move a pusher


19


B guided in translation on said frame


7


and carrying the ratchets


19


C,


19


D for cooperating with the wheels


19


E,


19


F for this purpose,




a wheel


19


H at least indirectly linked rotationally to the nose roller


8


, for rotationally immobilizing, during its rotational immobilization, said nose roller


8


,




an element


19


G articulated on the frame, for cooperating at least indirectly with the control lever


17


and the wheel associated with the nose roller, so as to alternately, and in sync with the control of the fractional feeding of the strip


6


, rotationally immobilize the nose roller


8


and release this roller


8


.




Preferably, the element


17


called the control lever receives the movement from the slider


18


by means of a pin


18


A.




As shown in the drawing, the device comprises a means


20


for irrigating the fraction of the strip


6


disposed between the heel roller


9


and the nose roller


8


, which means


20


itself comprises a reservoir


20


A of liquid equipped with at least one outlet


20


B for the evacuation of liquid to said fraction of the strip


6


, each outlet


20


B being disposed approximately directly above the strip


6


and being provided with an element


20


C for controlling the flow of liquid.




Although it is not represented, the control element


20


C is elastically stressed into the closed position by an element for this purpose.




Notably, the axes of rotation


12


A,


5


A of the mandrel


12


for receiving the soiled strip and of the reel


5


of the strip


6


are contained in a plane P


1


located above a plane P


2


that contains the axes of rotation


8


A,


9


A of the nose


8


and heel


9


rollers, and are offset relative to said axes


8


A,


9


A so that the reel


5


of material in strip form can be at least partially housed between the nose


8


and heel


9


rollers.




Equally remarkably, the reservoir


20


A has a lower wall shaped so that, without contact with the strip


6


, it at least partially covers the cylindrical shapes of the reel


5


and of the mandrel


12


when they are loaded with a strip


6


.




These technical characteristics make it possible to reduce the total height of the device.




Remarkably, the device


1


comprises:




a means


21


for alternately controlling the element


20


C for controlling the flow of liquid issued from the reservoir


20


A, between a closed position and an open position, which means


21


itself comprises at least one element


21


A for receiving at least indirectly a control movement from the control handle


3


of the device


1


,




a means


22


for adjusting the value of the opening of the element


20


C for controlling the flow of liquid.




The means


21


for alternately controlling the flow control element


20


C comprises at least one element


21


A, such as a lever, for receiving the movement from the slider


18


and for applying this movement at least indirectly to said flow control element


20


C so that the irrigation of the strip takes place while the heel roller is in contact with the floor.




The adjusting means


22


is advantageously comprised of a means for adjustment by rotating the handle.




Precisely, the means


22


for adjusting the value of the opening of the control element


20


C comprises:




a rotating cam


22


A having a cam path


22


B formed by a surface disposed so as to oppose the movement of the flow control element


20


C in a way that is adjustable as a function of the orientation of the cam


22


A around an axis of rotation


22


C,




a means


22


D for guiding a rotating part of the handle


3


in rotation on the longitudinal axis


3


B of said handle relative to a supporting part


22


E that is articulated on the frame


7


on the axis of articulation


3


A of the handle


3


,




a flexible element


22


A for rotationally linking the rotating part of the handle


3


and of the cam


22


A.




In one remarkable embodiment, the means


20


for irrigating the strip


6


comprises at least one element


20


D,


9


for distributing the liquid across the width of the strip.




Advantageously the element


20


D consists of a roller disposed so as to collect the liquid released from the reservoir and apply it to the heel roller


9


.




Advantageously, interposed between the articulating part


22


E of the handle


3


on the frame


7


and the handle


3


is a rotational indexing means


22


G.




For example, this indexing means


22


G comprises an index


22


H, such as a ball, carried by one of two elements, i.e., the articulating part


22


E or the handle


3


, and a notched surface


22


I carried by the other of said elements.




The frame


7


of the device


1


comprises means


23


through


27


for rotationally guiding:




cylindrical rollers


8


,


9


, called the nose (


8


) and heel (


9


) rollers, around approximately parallel axes


8


A,


9


A,




the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip,




the reel


5


of the strip


6


of cleaning material in strip form.




These means conventionally comprise rotating cylindrical bearing surfaces.




Remarkably:




the frame


7


of the device


1


comprises two distinct parts


7


A,


7


B, which cooperate via a detachable joining means


28


, which parts


7


A,


7


B are




a first part


7


A, on which the handle


3


is articulated, and which carries the irrigating means


20


as well as the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip


6


,




a second part


7


B, which at least indirectly carries the means


23


through


26


for rotationally guiding the rotating elements that are the cylindrical nose


8


and heel


9


rollers, the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip, and the reel


5


for the strip


6


of cleaning material,




the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip


6


and the various rotating elements comprise detachable complementary coupling elements


23


A,


23


B,


24


A,


24


B,


25


A,


25


B (FIGS.


5


and


7


).




Advantageously, but in a non-limiting way, the detachable coupling means (


23


A,


23


B,


24


A,


24


B,


25


A,


25


B) are constituted by notched surfaces constituting claws.




Notably, a clutching means M is interposed between the element


19


E for rotationally driving the mandrel and the means for rotationally coupling this element and said mandrel.




This clutching means M makes it possible to compensate for the peripheral speed differences between the heel roller


9


and the mandrel


12


.




Preferably, and remarkably:




the second part


7


B of the frame


7


comprises two flanges


7


C between which extend the heel (


9


) and nose (


8


) rollers and which, being held in approximately parallel planes by a crosspiece


7


D, carry means


23


through


26


for rotationally guiding the ends of said rollers


8


,


9


, the ends of the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip


6


, and the reel


5


of the strip


6


of cleaning material in strip form


6


,




the first part


7


A of the frame


7


has two cheeks


7


E, each intended to cooperate with one of the flanges


7


C of said second part


7


B, which carry elements and components of the means


11


for controlling the feeding of the strip


6


, including detachable elements


23


A,


24


A,


25


A for coupling with complementary elements


23


B,


24


B,


25


B carried by at least certain ends of the rollers


8


,


9


, of the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip, and of the reel


5


of the strip


6


of cleaning material in strip form.




Advantageously, the crosspiece


7


D for holding the flanges


7


C extends in a plane approximately tangent to the generators


8


B,


9


B of the nose


8


and heel


9


rollers for placing the strip


6


in contact with the floor


2


.




The second part


7


B of the frame


7


carries the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip


6


and the reel


5


of the strip


6


of cleaning material in strip form by means of rotational guiding means


27


of a removable type.




Thus, once the second part


7


B of the frame


7


is removed, the mandrel


12


for winding the soiled strip


6


and the reel


5


of the strip


6


of cleaning material in strip form


6


can be removed in order to be replaced by a set that includes a clean strip.




The second part


7


B of the frame can also be comprised of a single-use cartridge.




In order to constitute the means


28


for detachably joining the first (


7


A) and second (


7


B) part of the frame


7


:




at least one of the cheeks


7


E of the first part


7


A of the frame


7


is at least locally flexible in a plane approximately parallel to the plane P


1


, P


2


containing the axes of the rotating elements


5


,


8


,


9


,


12


carried by the second part of the frame, and




both the flanges


7


C of the second part


7


B and the cheeks


7


E of the first part are equipped with complementary projections and depressions, which are disposed so as to cooperate during the return to position of each cheek elastically deformed for the mounting of the second part of the frame.




In a preferred embodiment, the detachable coupling means


23


A,


23


B,


24


A,


24


B,


25


A,


25


B are constituted by a shaft


23


B,


24


B,


25


B and a rotating cylindrical bore


23


A,


24


A,


25


A, the base of the bore and the corresponding end of the shaft having notched surfaces for coupling them in rotation.



Claims
  • 1. A device (1) for applying a sheet material to a surface (2), particularly for cleaning purposes, this device being the type which is moved by a person, in front of himself, by means of a control handle (3) and which places in contact with the floor (2) a sheet material (4) drawn from a reel (5) of a strip (6) of cleaning material in strip form (6),which device comprises a frame (7) and: two cylindrical rollers (8, 9) called the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, guided in rotation on the frame around approximately parallel axes (8A, 9A) and on which the strip (6) of cleaning material (4) is disposed and held taut so that at least one contact surface (8B, 9B) of each roller (8, 9) carrying this sheet (4) can be selectively placed in contact with the floor (2) by an application means (10) during the utilization of the device (1) in a back-and-forth movement oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to said rollers, the control handle being (3) articulated to the frame (7) around an axis (3A) approximately parallel to the axes (8A, 9A) of the rollers (8, 9), a means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor (2) and the winding of the soiled strip (6) onto a receiving mandrel (12), this device being characterized in that: the axis (3A) of articulation of the handle (3) on the frame (7) is disposed behind the heel roller (9), and the application means (10) comprises: support means (15) for support on the floor (2), movable relative to the frame (7) between two positions (15B, 15C), including a first position (15B) in which the support means removes the heel roller (9) from contact with the floor (2), while inducing the application of the nose roller (8) to the floor (2), and a second position (15C) in which, conversely, the support means removes the nose roller (8) from contact with the floor (2) while inducing the application of the heel roller (8) to the floor (2), and an elastic means (16) at least indirectly disposed between the means (15) for support on the floor (2) and the frame (7) so as to stress support means (15) for support on the floor (2) toward its so-called first position (15B), the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) comprises means (17) disposed so as to receive an alternating movement from a moving means (18) at least indirectly associated with the support means (15) for support on the floor (2) and so as to drive, at least indirectly in rotation and by a fraction of a turn, via driving means (19A through 19E), at least the mandrel (12) for receiving the soiled strip, in a direction such that said strip (6) is moved, by a fraction of the distance that separates the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, from said nose roller (8) toward said heel roller (9).
  • 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip, the means (17) for receiving an alternating movement from moving means (18) cooperates at least indirectly with driving means (19F), for driving the heel roller (9) in rotation.
  • 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip, the means (17) for receiving an alternating movement from moving means (18) cooperates at least indirectly with driving means (19H), disposed so as to cooperate with at least one of two means, the nose roller (8) and the strip reel (5), and to alternately cause their rotational immobilization and release, in sync with the control of the fractional forward movement of the strip (6).
  • 4. A device according to claim 1, and of the type comprising a means (20) for irrigating a fraction of the strip (6) disposed between the heel (9) and nose (8) rollers, said means (20) itself comprises a reservoir (20A) of liquid equipped with at least one outlet (20B) for evacuating liquid toward said fraction of the strip (6), each outlet (20B) being disposed approximately directly above the strip (6) and being provided with means (20C) for controlling the flow of liquid, characterized in that said means (20C) for controlling the flow comprises:a means (21) for alternately controlling the means (20C) for controlling the flow of liquid issued from the reservoir (20A), between a closed position and an open position, said means (21) for alternately controlling comprises at least one means (21A) for receiving at least indirectly a control movement from the control handle (3) of the device (1), a means (22) for adjusting the value of the opening of the means (20C) for controlling the flow of liquid.
  • 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the frame (7) of the device (1) comprises means (23 through 27) for rotationally guiding:the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, around approximately parallel (8A, 9A) axes, the mandrel (12) for winding the soiled strip, the reel (5) of the strip (6) of cleaning material in strip form, characterized in that: the frame (7) comprises two distinct parts (7A, 7B) which cooperate via a detachable joining means (28), which parts (7A, 7B) are a first part (7A), to which the handle (3) is articulated, and which carries an irrigating means (20) as well as the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6), a second part (7B) which at least indirectly carries the means (23 through 26) for rotationally guiding the rotating means that are (8, 9), the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, the mandrel (12) for winding the soiled strip and the reel (5) of the strip (6) of cleaning material, the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) and the various rotating means comprise detachable complementary coupling means (23A, 23B, 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B).
  • 6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that:the second part (7B) of the frame (7) comprises two flanges (7C) between which extend the heel (9) and nose (8) rollers and which, being held in approximately parallel planes by a crosspiece (7D), carry means (23 through 26) for rotationally guiding the ends of said rollers (8, 9), the ends of the mandrel (12) for winding the soiled strip (6), and the reel (5) of the strip (6) of cleaning material in strip form (6), the first part (7A) of the frame (7) has two cheeks (7E), each intended to cooperate with one of the flanges (7C) of said second part (7B), which carry means and components of the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6), including detachable means (23A, 24A, 25A) for coupling with complementary means (23B, 24B, 25B) carried by at least certain ends of the rollers (8, 9), of the mandrel (12) for winding the soiled strip, and of the reel (5) of the strip (6) of cleaning material in strip form.
  • 7. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises at least:an elongated part called a slider moving means (18), guided in translation on the frame (7) in a direction approximately perpendicular to the floor, which carries the support means (15) for support on the floor (2) at one of the ends of said means (18) and which receives, at the other end of said means (18), the action of the elastic means (16) for stressing said support means (15) for support on the floor (2) toward its so-called first position (15B), wheels (19E, 19F) with ratchets (19C, 19D), each at least indirectly linked to the mandrel (12) for receiving the soiled strip and to the heel roller (9) so as to drive, during their own rotation, these rollers (8, 9), a means (17), called a control lever, which is articulated to the frame (7) and disposed so as to receive an alternating movement from the slider moving means (18), and via a lever (19A) articulated to the frame (7), to move a pusher (19B) guided in translation on said frame (7) and carrying the ratchets (19C, 19D) for cooperating with the wheels (19E, 19F) for this purpose, a wheel (19H) at least indirectly linked in rotation to the nose roller (8) for rotationally immobilizing, during its own rotational immobilization, said nose roller (8), a driving means (19G) articulated to the frame so as to cooperate at least indirectly with the control lever means (17) and the wheel associated with the nose roller, so as to alternately, and in sync with the control of the fractional forward movement of the strip (6), rotationally immobilize the nose roller (8) and release this roller (8).
  • 8. A device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that in order to constitute the means (28) for detachably joining the first (7A) and second (713) part of the frame (7):at least one of the cheeks (7E) of the first part (7A) of the frame (7) is at least locally flexible in a plane approximately parallel to a plane (P1, P2) containing the axes of the rotating means (5, 8, 9, 12) carried by the second part (713) of the frame, and both the flanges (7C) of the second part (7B) and the cheeks (7E) of the first part are equipped with complementary projections and depressions, which are disposed so as to cooperate during the return to position of each cheek elastically deformed for the mounting of the second part of the frame.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
96 13283 Oct 1996 FR
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 102e Date 371c Date
PCT/FR97/01895 WO 00 7/22/1999 7/22/1999
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO98/18380 5/7/1998 WO A
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Number Name Date Kind
2601537 Lofgren Jun 1952
2828501 Brown, Sr. Apr 1958
3150407 Mitchell Sep 1964
3945078 Acquaro Mar 1976
4246674 Ingermann et al. Jan 1981
4433451 Parisi Feb 1984
4510642 Ingermann et al. Apr 1985
4550467 Johnson et al. Nov 1985
4562610 Davis et al. Jan 1986
5327609 Bierma et al. Jul 1994
5993900 Wang Aug 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
3500036 Jul 1985 DE
2736533 Jan 1997 FR
609981 Oct 1948 GB