Patent Application
20250134340
The present disclosure relates to a mop holder, a connecting piece, and a kit of parts formed with the aforementioned components. According to the disclosure, a use of the mop holder, connecting piece, or kit of parts is provided for cleaning, for example, of floors, walls and/or ceilings in sterile clean rooms.
Mop systems are used for cleaning floors or other surfaces in clean rooms. Working in clean rooms is accompanied by particular hygiene requirements. This relates to the working equipment and methods that can be used, for example, in clean rooms. It is of primary importance to prevent the introduction of soiling, such as particles and/or germs, into the clean room, as well as possible cross-contamination of clean objects by soiling of other objects.
For mop systems and other working equipment that are introduced into clean rooms, it is generally the case that these must be decontaminatable and disinfectable, if appropriate even sterilizable, for example by autoclaving at 121° C. for up to 25 minutes or at 134° C. for up to 6 minutes. The mop systems must likewise be resistant to cleaning agents, disinfectants, and/or solvents. Disinfectants comprise, for example, diamines, isopropanol, ethanol, active chlorine, and hydrogen peroxide. Cleaning agents comprise, for example, alkaline cleaning agents, such as sodium hydroxide and/or acidic cleaning agents. A solvent is, for example, acetone.
When cleaning clean rooms, it is of particular importance to make all the necessary working steps as reproducible as possible. The correct use of the mop system by the cleaning personnel is of great importance here. Furthermore, it has been found that, when working in clean rooms, the number of individual manual working steps should be kept as low as possible. Few individual working steps are advantageous in clean rooms, since particles are released into the clean room by the cleaning personnel and also by the equipment with each movement. Such a release of particles should be minimized as far as possible.
In conventional cleaning systems with mop systems, the cleaning personnel often have to make considerable efforts for various working steps. This applies particularly to the cleaning of wall and/or ceiling surfaces, during which the cleaning personnel is subject to the weight of the mop system, and to an increased extent for cleaning personnel of small body size. Experience has shown that excessive physical stress on the cleaning personnel leads quickly to fatigue and demotivation. A particular challenge for the cleaning personnel when cleaning wall and/or ceiling surfaces is that, in conventional mop systems, the mop holder with the mop cover can tilt in an uncontrolled manner from the starting position provided for cleaning, as a result of its own weight. The cleaning personnel have to balance the tilted mop holder back into the starting position in a complex manner.
When cleaning clean rooms, the mop cover generally has to be replaced after each cleaning operation, i.e., a multiplicity of mop covers is often required to clean a room. The mop covers are usually replaced after approximately 15-20 m2. Manual contact with the mop by cleaning personnel is disadvantageous since cross-contamination can occur. In this case, contamination can be transmitted from a used mop cover to a user and from a user to a fresh mop cover or other objects in the clean room. This can lead to undesired contamination of the clean room. To avoid cross-contamination when using mop systems, fresh mop covers are received and used mop covers are discarded without manual contact. In addition, this avoids the cleaning personnel having to bend when receiving and/or discarding a mop cover.
A cleaning device for clean rooms in the form of a mop system comprising a shaft section, a closure element, and a holder for a mop cover is described, for example, in DE 20 2013 011 946 U1.
US 2019/0374085 A1 describes a mop system with a spring-back mop holder. The mop holder is equipped with a connecting piece for attaching an elongate mop handle. Coaxially to the mop handle and surrounding the latter, an adjustable force applicator is provided which is configured to align the mop holder with respect to an axis on the mop handle. The mop holder is pivotable with respect to the mop handle about a further axis. The force applicator is formed by a spiral compression spring at the lower end of the mop handle, which is supported on the one hand on a shoulder of the mop handle and on the other hand on conical, rounded edges of the mop holder. The shoulder is formed by a threaded sleeve which is held adjustably along the mop handle. The threaded sleeve can be rotated towards the mop holder for pretensioning the spiral spring in order to restrict or prevent a movability of the mop holder relative to the mop handle about the one axis. The position of the mop holder relative to the mop handle about the further axis is uninfluenced by the force applicator. The proposed mop system has proven to be rather disadvantageous and unergonomic for use, for example, in clean rooms in which not only floor surfaces but also wall surfaces and ceiling surfaces have to be cleaned. After the adjustment sleeve has been tightened for the treatment of the wall or ceiling surfaces for tensioning the spiral spring, it has to be released again for the floor surfaces because the restoring force is otherwise perceived by the cleaning personnel as disturbing and tiring. It is not readily apparent to the cleaning personnel whether the adjustment sleeve is in a released, a tightened or in an intermediate state. The adjustment sleeve additionally repeatedly requires a series of additional handles for the adjustment of the force applicator.
The present disclosure provides a device, a kit of parts, and a method of use which is particularly easy to use, in particular with as few individual handling movements as possible, and/or with application of as low a force as possible by cleaning personnel. In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a device, a kit of parts and a method of use in which all surfaces in the clean room can be treated without additional configuration work steps. The present disclosure enables ergonomic and simple cleaning.
As described herein, a mop holder, in some cases a flat mop holder, having an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, which faces or can face an inner side of a mop cover, is provided. A mop cover can generally be equipped with an outer side or active side for bringing into contact with a surface to be cleaned, and with an inner side different from the outer side or active side. A mop cover can, for example, be equipped on the inner side with opposite receiving pockets into which the mop holder, in some cases the flat mop holder, can engage.
The mop holder comprises, in the region of the upper side, a connecting piece which is adapted and arranged to receive a mop handle and to connect it to the mop holder. In particular, the connecting piece is arranged and adapted to releasably connect the mop handle to the mop holder. It shall be clear that “at the bottom” in the sense of this disclosure is to be understood as directed towards the surface to be cleaned or facing away from the mop handle; and that “at the top” in the sense of this disclosure is to be understood as directed away from the surface to be cleaned or facing towards the mop handle. The connecting piece can, for example, have an at least sectionally convex or at least sectionally concave receptacle for receiving the mop handle. The connecting piece and the mop handle can be configured sectionally shape-complementary to one another. It is conceivable that the connecting piece is firmly, i.e., not non-destructively separable, connected to the mop handle and in this respect continuously receives it.
In various embodiments, the connecting piece comprises a pivot-tilt joint. The pivot-tilt joint is adapted and arranged to permit a movability of the mop holder relative to the mop handle about an axis of rotation and about a tilt axis. The pivot-tilt joint can, for example, comprise a cardan joint. With the aid of the pivot-tilt joint, the connecting piece permits a first pivoting movement or rotational movement of the mop handle relative to the mop holder about an axis of rotation, which can, for example, correspond to the longitudinal extension of the mop holder. In addition, the connecting piece permits, with the aid of a pivot-tilt joint, a second pivoting movement or movement of the mop handle relative to the mop holder about a tilt axis, which can, for example, correspond to the width extension of the mop holder. Preferably, the axis of rotation and the tilt axis are oriented transversely to each other, in some cases orthogonally to each other.
In the case of the mop holder according to the present disclosure, the pivot-tilt joint comprises an elastic pretensioning device, which is adapted and arranged to urge the mop holder with respect to the tilt axis and with respect to the axis of rotation into a predetermined, in some cases central, starting position. The predetermined starting position of the mop holder can be defined by a predetermined angle of rotation relative to the axis of rotation, in some cases a 0°-angle of rotation and/or a predetermined tilt angle relative to the tilt axis of the pivot-tilt joint, in some cases a 0°-tilt angle. Preferably, the elastic pretensioning device is adapted and arranged to bring the mop holder into the predetermined starting position against the force of gravity. The elastic pretensioning device is preferably arranged to provide a compensating force which substantially corresponds to the weight force of the mop holder or which is lower than the weight force of the mop holder. The pretensioning device counteracts an uncontrolled tilting of the mop holder relative to the mop handle in any direction, in particular when cleaning wall and/or ceiling surfaces, and thus relieves the cleaning personnel. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is ensured that the mop holder assumes a central position in a predetermined rest and/or starting position and is arranged to be flexibly pivotable about at least one axis, in some cases two axes, preferably by up to 360°, without further manual configuration. It is particularly advantageous that the cleaning personnel can transfer the mop holder from the starting position into a cleaning operation without further assistance merely by carrying out the working steps which are necessary in any case for cleaning.
According to at least one embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises at least one first pretensioning mechanism, such as a torsion spring, a tension spring or a compression spring, in order to urge the mop holder with respect to the tilt axis into the predetermined starting position. In addition, the pretensioning device has at least one second pretensioning mechanism, such as a torsion spring, a tension spring or a compression spring, in order to urge the mop holder with respect to the axis of rotation into the predetermined starting position. By using various first and second pretensioning mechanisms for the resetting of the mop holder on the one hand with respect to the tilt axis or on the other hand with respect to the axis of rotation, the respective first or second pretensioning mechanism can be dimensioned with respect to its individual resetting force adapted to the geometry of the mop holder. For example, in the case of a mop holder, the longitudinal direction of which is greater than in the width direction and which consequently experiences a greater torque during pivoting as a result of the greater longitudinal extent, the first pretensioning mechanism can, for example, be dimensioned to compensate for the greater torque and the second pretensioning mechanism can be dimensioned to compensate for the lower torque. In particular, the respective resetting force of the first and/or second pretensioning mechanisms can be dimensioned such that it is sufficient or no more than sufficient to compensate for the torque as a result of the own weight of a mop holder, in some cases with a preferably soaked mop cover, during pivoting about the tilt axis or about the axis of rotation. In this way, it can be ensured that, against pivoting about the tilt axis and/or about the axis of rotation, there is always no resistance force which can be perceived as disturbing by the cleaning personnel during cleaning, for example on the floor, without manual adjustment of the pretensioning device by the cleaning personnel being necessary.
According to at least one development of the mop holder, the first pretensioning mechanism is oriented coaxially to the tilt axis. Alternatively or additionally, the first pretensioning mechanism can emit a first pretensioning force or resetting force in the circumferential direction with respect to the tilt axis. According to another development of the mop holder, which can be combined with the previous development, the second pretensioning mechanism can be oriented coaxially to the axis of rotation. Alternatively or additionally, the second pretensioning mechanism can emit a second pretensioning force or resetting force in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation. In contrast to the prior art, in which a force applicator is used, the force output direction of which is not matched to the circumferential direction of the pivot axis to be compensated for, and which consequently requires an over-dimensioned spiral spring, in the development of the mop holder according to the present disclosure, the dimensioning of the pretensioning mechanism can be matched to the actually required resetting forces. It can thereby be ensured that the resetting force of the pretensioning device is not perceived at all or at least not perceived as disturbing by the cleaning personnel during the treatment of floor surfaces.
In some cases, the elastic pretensioning device can comprise at least one spring. The at least one spring of the elastic pretensioning device can, for example, comprise at least one tension spring, in some cases two tension springs, at least one compression spring, in some cases two compression springs, and/or at least one torsion spring. In some cases, the at least one spring is arranged or can be arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. Preferably, the elastic pretensioning device comprises at least two springs, which are arranged about the pivot-tilt joint, preferably opposite one another on both sides of a tilt axis or an axis of rotation of the pivot-tilt joint. In some cases, an elastic pretensioning device can have a first spring, which is arranged on a first side of the pivot-tilt joint and acts in a resetting manner in a first direction of rotation on the pivot-tilt joint with a compressive, tensile or bending force. In addition, the pivot-tilt joint can have a second spring opposite the first spring, which is arranged on a second side of the pivot-tilt joint and acts in a resetting manner in a second direction of rotation on the pivot-tilt joint with a compressive, tensile or bending force. The first and the second direction of rotation are preferably directed oppositely with respect to the same axis of rotation or tilt axis. A spring, in some cases a tension and/or compression spring, can, for example, be arranged curved in in arc in relation to a tilt axis or in relation to an axis of rotation about the respective axis. A spring, in some cases a torsion spring, can, for example, comprise at least one cantilever, which is arranged transversely, preferably radially, in relation to one of the tilt or axis of rotation and is elastically movable in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis.
According to a first alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises at least one torsion spring which can be arranged or is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. According to another alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises at least two lever arms, which can be arranged or are arranged on the pivot-tilt joint, and at least two tension springs, which are adapted and arranged to control the at least two lever arms. According to a further alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises or consists of a compression spring which can be arranged or is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. In some cases, the pretensioning device comprises a compression spring which is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. The first alternative preferred embodiment, the other alternative preferred embodiment, and the further alternative preferred embodiment can be combined with one another as desired.
According to at least one development of the mop holder, the at least one compression spring and/or the at least one tension spring is present in an, in some cases arched, receptacle, in some cases groove, of the pivot-tilt joint. The receptacle, in some cases arched groove, preferably extends offset or transversely in relation to the tilt or axis of rotation of the connecting piece, preferably skewed or ring sectionally coaxially. The at least one centering spring is arranged in the interior in a space-saving and weight-saving manner and is thus optimally suitable for use in the clean room.
In at least one development of the mop holder with a spring, preferably compression spring, arranged in a receptacle, the receptacle extends partially or completely around the axis of rotation or around the tilt axis. The mop holder further comprises a engaging piece, which can, for example, be formed as a nose or as a second groove, which is in engagement with the spring, preferably the compression spring. For example, the compression spring can be held in the receptacle and the engaging piece can extend into the receptacle in order to come into engagement with the compression spring. Alternatively, the compression spring can be held proportionally in directly adjacent grooves, of which one acts as a receptacle and the other as an engaging piece. The pivot-tilt joint has a mop holder-side part, which is firmly connected to the mop holder, and a mop handle-side part, which is firmly connectable or connected to the mop handle. The receptacle is stationary with respect to either the mop holder-side part or the mop handle-side part of the pivot-tilt joint. The engaging piece is stationary with respect to the other part of the pivot-tilt joint, i.e., either the mop handle-side part or the mop holder-side part. During pivoting, the engaging piece performs a relative movement with respect to the receptacle, so that the pretensioning mechanism, in some cases the compression spring, is tensioned and provides a resetting force, which is directed oppositely to the relative movement.
In a preferred embodiment, the pivot-tilt joint further comprises a snap-in connection, in some cases a bayonet connection, which is adapted and arranged to connect a mop handle, in some cases with one hand, to the mop holder. Preferably, the snap-in connection, in some cases the bayonet connection, is arranged and adapted to connect the mop handle to the mop holder, without having to lift the mop holder.
In an embodiment, which can be combined with the previous embodiment(s), the connecting piece is cylindrical, in some cases cylindrical-sleeve-shaped. The connecting piece preferably forms a cylindrical receptacle for the preferably cylindrical, in some cases circular or polygonal, mop handle.
According to an embodiment, the pivot-tilt joint has an activation/deactivation device. The activation/deactivation device comprises in some cases a device, preferably in the form of a lever, for blocking the pretensioning device, in some cases the spring, preferably the compression spring. Alternatively or additionally, the activation/deactivation device can have a device in the form of a cylinder, which is adapted and arranged to be able to be slipped over the pivot-tilt joint from the outside, in some cases at least sectionally, for preventing a free pivotability of the pivot-tilt joint in some cases in relation to the axis of rotation and/or in relation to the tilt axis.
In a preferred embodiment, the pivot-tilt joint comprises a thermoplastic material or consists of a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material can preferably comprise or be a polyacetal, particularly preferably polyoxymethylene.
In an embodiment, the mop holder has a rectangular basic shape. The longitudinal extension of the flat mop holder can correspond to the respective longitudinal extension of the first and/or the second mop holding wing. The longitudinal extension of the mop holder can be in the range from 35 to 55 cm, in some cases in the range from 45 to 50 cm, preferably at approximately 48 cm. Additionally or alternatively, the width of the mop holder can be in the range from 8 or 10 to 20 cm, in some cases in the range from 12 to 17 cm, preferably at approximately 14.5 cm.
Alternatively or additionally, the mop holder comprises two holding wings which are pivotable relative to one another, in some cases along their longitudinal edges. For cleaning, the holding wings are held in one plane, so that a flat mop cover can be placed flat on the lower side of the holder on a surface to be cleaned. A corresponding flat mop cover preferably has pockets opposite one another in the longitudinal direction for receiving in each case one holding wing. The mop holding wings each have a front edge and a rear edge opposite the front edge, a first (right) side edge and a second (left) side edge which is opposite the first side edge. In combination with the above-described preferred embodiment with a mop holder of rectangular basic shape, the side edges can be at right angles to the front and rear edges. Alternatively or additionally, the side edges can be parallel to one another and/or the front edge can be parallel to the rear edge. The mop holding wings can be transversely foldable along a pivot axis in the mop width direction or longitudinally foldable along a pivot axis in the mop longitudinal direction.
According to at least one embodiment, the mop holder can be realized as a flat mop holder having a first mop holding wing and a second mop holding wing. Preferably, the mop holding wings each have a wing upper side and a wing lower side. The mop holding wings have two mutually opposite transverse edges and two mutually opposite longitudinal edges, wherein in each case one outer longitudinal edge faces away from the other mop holding wing. The mop holding wings can in some cases have inner longitudinal edges which face toward one another. The longitudinal edges of a mop holding wing are longer than the transverse edges thereof. Preferably, the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal edges of the mop holder is greater than the transverse width of the mop holder. The transverse width of the mop holder can be defined by the cumulative transverse width of the transverse edge of the first mop holding wing and the transverse edge of the second mop holding wing. At least one of the two mop holding wings is movable relative to the other mop holding wing. Preferably, the second mop holding wing can be pivotable relative to the first mop holding wing and a connecting piece fastened or fastenable to the first mop holding wing. It can be preferred that one of the mop holding wings, in some cases the second mop holding wing, is pivotable relative to the other mop holding wing about a longitudinal axis of the flat mop holder.
In a preferred embodiment, the two mop holding wings are connected to one another in a foldable manner via their respective rear edge. The mop holding wings can be brought into a first substantially planar position A and into a second position B, in which the wing lower sides assume a wound position relative to one another. According to a preferred embodiment, the mop holder further comprises a fixing device for the mop holding wings, which comprises a locking mechanism, a snap-in mechanism, foldable pins and/or magnets. The fixing device is adapted and arranged to hold the mop holding wings in the substantially planar position A.
The mop holder can comprise or consist of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastics material. The mop holder expediently has a weight of at most 450 g, in some cases at most 300 g, preferably at most 200 g or at most 150 g. In some cases, the mop holder comprises at least 50%, at least at least 60%, or at least 80% or at least 95% carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFK), preferably at least 90% carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, particularly preferably at least 95% carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. The proportion of the carbon fiber-reinforced plastics is determined in some cases with respect to the surface of the mop holder, preferably the surface of the side of the mop holder to be directed towards the floor. It shall be clear that the proportion of fiber-reinforced plastics of the mop holder does not realize an articulated connection for connecting the mop holder and the mop handle to one another. Since the mop holder is formed in a weight-saving manner with carbon fiber-reinforced plastics material, a particularly effective work facilitation for the cleaning personnel can be created. The mop holder can comprise a plurality of mop holder parts, in some cases mop holding wings, movable relative to one another. The mop holding wings can be transversely foldable along a pivot axis in the mop width direction or longitudinally foldable along a pivot axis in the mop longitudinal direction.
Alternatively or additionally, the mop holder or constituent parts of the mop holder comprises stainless steel, plastics, and/or carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. Preferably, the mop holder or constituent parts of the mop holder consists of stainless steel, plastics, and/or plastics fiber-reinforced plastics.
The present disclosure also relates to a connecting piece for connecting a mop holder, in some cases the above-described mop holder, to a mop handle. The connecting piece comprises a pivot-tilt joint.
The pivot-tilt joint can, for example, comprise a cardan joint. With the aid of the pivot-tilt joint, the connecting piece permits a first pivoting movement or rotational movement of the mop handle relative to the mop holder about an axis of rotation, which can, for example, correspond to the longitudinal extension of the mop holder. In addition, the connecting piece permits, with the aid of a pivot-tilt joint, a second pivoting movement or movement of the mop handle relative to the mop holder about a tilt axis, which can, for example, correspond to the width extension of the mop holder. Preferably, the axis of rotation and the tilt axis are oriented transversely to each other, in some cases orthogonally to each other.
According to the present disclosure, the connecting piece comprises an elastic pretensioning device, which is adapted and arranged to urge the connecting piece into a predetermined starting position, in which the connecting piece orients the mop holder transversely, preferably orthogonally, to the mop handle. The predetermined starting position of the mop holder can be defined by a predetermined angle of rotation relative to the axis of rotation, in some cases a 0°-angle of rotation and/or a predetermined tilt angle relative to the tilt axis of the pivot-tilt joint, in some cases a 0°-tilt angle. Preferably, the elastic pretensioning device is adapted and arranged to bring the mop holder into the predetermined starting position against the force of gravity. The elastic pretensioning device is preferably arranged to provide a compensating force which substantially corresponds to the weight force of the mop holder or which is lower than the weight force of the mop holder. The pretensioning device counteracts a tilting of the mop holder relative to the mop handle, in particular when cleaning wall and/or ceiling surfaces, and thus relieves the cleaning personnel.
According to one embodiment, the pretensioning device of the connecting piece comprises at least one first pretensioning mechanism, such as a torsion spring, a tension spring or a compression spring, in order to urge the connecting piece with respect to the tilt axis into the predetermined starting position. In addition, the pretensioning device of the connecting piece has at least one second pretensioning mechanism, such as a torsion spring, a tension spring or a compression spring, in order to urge the connecting piece with respect to the axis of rotation into the predetermined starting position. By using various first and second pretensioning mechanisms for the resetting of the connecting piece on the one hand with respect to the tilt axis or on the other hand with respect to the axis of rotation, the respective first or second pretensioning mechanism can be dimensioned with respect to its individual resetting force adapted to the geometry of the connecting piece and of the mop holder carried thereby. For example, in the case of a connecting piece with a mop holder, the longitudinal direction of which is greater than in the width direction and which consequently experiences a greater torque during pivoting as a result of the greater longitudinal extent, the first pretensioning mechanism can, for example, be dimensioned to compensate for the greater torque and the second pretensioning mechanism can be dimensioned to compensate for the lower torque. In addition, the first and/or second pretensioning mechanisms can be dimensioned depending on the inherent weight of the connecting piece. In some cases, the respective resetting force of the first and/or second pretensioning mechanisms can be dimensioned such that it is sufficient or no more than sufficient to compensate for the torque as a result of the inherent weight of the connecting piece and of the mop holder, in some cases with a preferably soaked mop cover, during pivoting about the tilt axis or about the axis of rotation. In this way, it can be ensured that, against pivoting about the tilt axis and/or about the axis of rotation, there is always no resistance force which can be perceived as disturbing by the cleaning personnel during cleaning, for example on the floor, without manual adjustment of the pretensioning device by the cleaning personnel being necessary.
According to one development of the connecting piece, the first pretensioning mechanism is oriented coaxially to the tilt axis. Alternatively or additionally, the first pretensioning mechanism can emit a first pretensioning force or resetting force in the circumferential direction with respect to the tilt axis. According to another development of the connecting piece, which can be combined with the previous development, the second pretensioning mechanism can be oriented coaxially to the axis of rotation. Alternatively or additionally, the second pretensioning mechanism can emit a second pretensioning force or resetting force in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis of rotation. Accordingly, in the development of the connecting piece according to the present disclosure, the dimensioning of the pretensioning mechanism can be matched to the actually required resetting forces. It can thereby be ensured that the resetting force of the pretensioning device is not perceived at all or at least not perceived as disturbing by the cleaning personnel during the treatment of floor surfaces.
In some cases, the elastic pretensioning device can comprise at least one spring. The at least one spring of the elastic pretensioning device can, for example, comprise at least one tension spring, in some cases two tension springs, at least one compression spring, in some cases two compression springs, and/or at least one torsion spring. In some cases, the elastic pretensioning device can comprise at least one spring. The at least one spring of the elastic pretensioning device can, for example, comprise at least one tension spring, in some cases two tension springs, at least one compression spring, in some cases two compression springs, and/or at least one torsion spring. According to a first alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises at least one torsion spring which can be arranged or is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. According to another alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises at least two lever arms, which can be arranged or are arranged on the pivot-tilt joint, and at least two tension springs, which are adapted and arranged to control the at least two lever arms. According to a further alternative preferred embodiment, the pretensioning device comprises or consists of a compression spring which can be arranged or is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. In some cases, the pretensioning device comprises a compression spring which is arranged about the pivot-tilt joint. The first alternative preferred embodiment, the other alternative preferred embodiment and the further alternative preferred embodiment can be combined with one another as desired. A spring, in some cases tension and/or compression spring, can, for example, be arranged curved in arc in relation to a tilt axis or in relation to an axis of rotation about the respective axis. A spring, in some cases a torsion spring, can, for example, comprise at least one cantilever, which is arranged transversely, preferably radially, in relation to one of the tilt or axis of rotation and is elastically movable in a circumferential direction with respect to the axis.
According to one development of the connecting piece, the compression spring and/or the tension springs is present in an, in some cases arched, receptacle, such as a groove, of the connecting piece. The in some cases receptacle, in some cases arched groove, preferably extends offset or transversely in relation to the tilt or axis of rotation of the connecting piece, preferably skewed or ring sectionally coaxially.
In at least one development of the connecting piece with a spring, preferably compression spring, arranged in a receptacle, the receptacle extends partially or completely around the axis of rotation or around the tilt axis. The connecting piece further comprises a engaging piece, which can, for example, be formed as a nose or as a second groove, which is in engagement with the spring, preferably the compression spring. For example, the compression spring can be held in the receptacle and the engaging piece can extend into the receptacle in order to come into engagement with the compression spring. Alternatively, the compression spring can be held proportionally in directly adjacent grooves, of which one acts as a receptacle and the other as an engaging piece. The connecting piece has a mop holder-side part, which is firmly connectable or connected to the mop holder, and a mop handle-side part, which is firmly connectable or connected to the mop handle. The receptacle is stationary with respect to either the mop holder-side part or the mop handle-side part of the pivot-tilt joint. The engaging piece is stationary with respect to the other part of the pivot-tilt joint, i.e., either the mop handle-side part or the mop holder-side part. During pivoting, the engaging piece performs a relative movement with respect to the receptacle, so that the pretensioning mechanism, in some cases the compression spring, is tensioned and provides a resetting force, which is directed oppositely to the relative movement.
In a preferred embodiment, the connecting piece further comprises a snap-in connection, in some cases a bayonet connection, which is adapted and arranged to connect a mop handle, in some cases with one hand, to the mop holder. Preferably, the snap-in connection, in some cases the bayonet connection, is arranged and adapted to connect the mop handle to the mop holder, without having to lift the mop holder.
In an embodiment, which can be combined with the previous embodiment, the connecting piece comprises a cylindrical body. The connecting piece preferably forms a cylindrical receptacle for the preferably cylindrical, in some cases circular or polygonal, mop handle.
According to an embodiment, the connecting piece has an activation/deactivation device. The activation/deactivation device comprises in some cases a device, preferably in the form of a lever, for blocking the pretensioning device, in some cases the spring, preferably the compression spring. Alternatively or additionally, the activation/deactivation device can have a device in the form of a cylinder, which is adapted and arranged to be able to be slipped over the pivot-tilt joint from the outside, in some cases at least sectionally, for preventing a free pivotability of the pivot-tilt joint in some cases in relation to the axis of rotation and/or in relation to the tilt axis.
In a preferred embodiment, the connecting piece comprises a thermoplastic material or consists of a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material can preferably comprise or be a polyacetal, particularly preferably polyoxymethylene.
The present disclosure also relates to a kit of parts, which comprises a mop holder, in some cases a flat mop holder, according to the above description and/or a connecting piece according to the above description and a mop handle. According to at least one development, the kit of parts further comprises a mop cover, in some cases a flat mop cover.
The kit of parts can additionally comprise a mop handle, which comprises or consists of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastics material. A mop handle can be formed at least sectionally with or from carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. It is conceivable that a mop handle has one or more carbon fiber-reinforced plastics layers. Alternatively, it can be preferred that the mop handle or parts thereof consist of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. The mop handle expediently has a weight of at most 800 g, in some cases at most 600 g, preferably at most 500 g or at most 400 g. In some cases, the mop handle comprises at least 50%, at least 60%, or at least 80% carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95% carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, in some cases with respect to the surface of the surface of the mop handle or the length of the mop handle in the longitudinal axis direction thereof. The mop handle, which can also be referred to as a shaft, makes up a large part of the weight of a conventional mop system. By using a carbon fiber-reinforced plastics instead of the conventional stainless steel or thick-walled plastics configurations, a considerable weight reduction can be achieved. The use of a mop handle made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics allows the use of a pretensioning mechanism with only a low restoring force without loss of functionality with particularly ergonomic handling.
According to at least one embodiment, the mop holder, the connecting piece and/or the mop handle comprises a plastics material, in some cases selected from a group consisting of thermosets, preferably epoxy resins, thermoplastics and/or mixtures thereof. Thermoplastics can preferably be selected from a group consisting of polyamides (PA), polyolefins, preferably polypropylene (PP), polyetherimides (PEI), polysulfones (PSU), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyacetals, preferably polyoxymethylene (POM), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamideimide (PAI), polybenzimidazole (PBI), and/or mixtures thereof. The mop system can comprise various plastics materials. For example, a fiber-reinforced, in some cases carbon fiber-reinforced, mop holder or mop handle section can comprise a first plastics material, in some cases as matrix material. The mop system can comprise a different, second, third and/or further plastics material. In some cases, a handle of the mop system can comprise or consist of an in some cases second plastics material. In some cases, a connecting piece of the mop system can comprise or consist of an in some cases third plastics material. In some cases, a locking device of the mop system can comprise or consist of an in some cases fourth plastics material. The plastics material of the connecting piece, of the locking device and/or of the handle is in some cases a thermoplastic, preferably selected from a group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, preferably polypropylene, polyetherimides, polysulfones, polyetheretherketone, polyacetals, preferably polyoxymethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyphenylene sulfone, polyethersulfone, polyamideimide, polybenzimidazole, and/or mixtures thereof. The plastics material of the connecting piece, of the locking device and/or of the handle can particularly preferably be POM, POM-GF (glass fiber-reinforced POM), PA-GF (glass fiber-reinforced PA), PP mineral-reinforced (in some cases talcum-reinforced), PEI, PSU, or PEEK.
According to at least an embodiment, the mop handle comprises at least one tubular mop handle section. A mop handle section can also be referred to as a shaft section. The mop handle section expediently has a weight of at most 400 g, in some cases at most 300 g, preferably at most 200 g or at most 150 g. The tubular mop handle section can comprise or consist of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. A mop handle section can be formed at least sectionally with or from carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. It is conceivable that a mop handle section has one or more carbon fiber-reinforced plastics layers. In some cases, the tubular mop handle section has a wall thickness in the range from 0.01 mm to 3 mm. The tubular mop handle section preferably has a wall thickness of at most 1 mm, in some cases at most 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.3 mm. The wall thickness of the tubular mop handle section can be at least 0.05 mm or at least 0.1 mm.
The carbon fiber-reinforced plastics comprises or consists of a matrix material and a fiber material. The matrix material comprises or consists of thermosets and/or thermoplastics, in some cases epoxy resins, polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, or mixtures thereof. The fiber material comprises or consists of carbon fibers, in some cases carbon nanotubes. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastics can have a density in the range from 1.5 to 1.6 g/cm3, in some cases in the range from 1.53 to 1.58 g/cm3, preferably approximately 1.55 g/cm3. The mop handle, the mop holder, the connecting piece, and/or other components of the mop system can each be manufactured, for example, by hand lamination, in some cases in combination with vacuum pressing, autoclave methods, injection methods, in some cases resin transfer molding or reaction injection molding, winding methods or pressing methods, in some cases hot pressing methods, wet pressing methods, or prepeg methods. In some cases, the mop handle, the mop holder, the connecting piece and/or another component of the mop system, which comprises or consists of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, can have a wall thickness in the range from 0.01 mm to 3 mm, preferably a wall thickness of at most 1 mm, further preferably at most 0.5 mm, particularly preferably less than 0.3 mm. In some cases, the carbon fiber-reinforced plastics comprises at least 50% carbon fiber, preferably between 60% and 80% carbon fiber, particularly preferably approximately 70% carbon fiber. In addition, the fiber-reinforced plastics comprises no more than 50% matrix material, preferably between 20% and 40% matrix material, particularly preferably approximately 30% matrix material. The proportions can be based on wt. %. It can be preferred that the fiber-reinforced plastics has a Twill fabric, in some cases a 2×2 Twill fabric, such as a 3 k Twill 2×2. The fiber material can preferably have a fiber diameter of no more than 0.5 mm, preferably no more than 0.3 mm, particularly preferably a fiber diameter of 0.2 mm, and/or a fiber diameter of at least 0.1 mm. The fiber-reinforced plastics material, in some cases the carbon fiber-reinforced plastics material, can be formed in some cases from a prepreg material in the form of (carbon) fiber plates or a (carbon) fiber tube. The prepreg material can have unidirectional fiber layers. The prepreg material can comprise prepreg fabric layers. In some cases, a prepreg material layer has a thickness of at least 0.03 mm, preferably at least 0.075 mm, and/or no more than 0.3 mm, preferably no more than 0.2 mm or no more than 0.15 mm. The (carbon) fiber material is formed from at least one prepreg material layer, in some cases at least two prepreg material layers, and/or no more than 15 prepreg material layers, preferably no more than 11 prepreg material layers, particularly preferably no more than four prepreg material layers.
The present disclosure further relates to the use of the above-described mop holder and/or of the above-described connecting piece and/or of the above-described kit of parts for cleaning clean rooms, in particular sterile clean rooms.
Further features and advantages of the present disclosure emerge from the following description, in which preferred embodiments of the disclosure are explained by way of example with reference to schematic drawings. In the drawings:
In the following description of various preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures, the same or similar reference signs are used for the same or similar components for easier readability.
For the sake of simplicity, the mop handle 5 is described below as stationary and the mop holder 3 as movable with respect to the mop handle 5. The person skilled in the art understands that a movement of the various parts of the connecting piece 4 or of the pivot-tilt joint 41 is generally accompanied by a relative movement of the mop holder 3 in relation to the mop handle 5, wherein optionally the mop holder 3 or the mop handle 5 can be stationary, or wherein both the mop holder 3 and the mop handle 5 can be movable.
Throughout the figures, a mop holder is illustrated as a flat mop holder for the sake of simplicity of readability and generally bears the reference sign 3. A connecting piece generally bears the reference sign 4. Flat mop holder 3, connecting piece 4 and, if appropriate, a mop handle 5 and/or a mop cover 2 can belong to a kit of parts, from which a mop system 1 can be formed.
The mop holder 3 can have a release device for the mop cover 2, wherein the release device can, for example, comprise two mutually pivotable mop holding wings 30, 32, as illustrated in
A first embodiment of a pretensioning device 7 with a compression spring 73 is illustrated in
In the starting position of the mop system 1 shown in
If the mop holder-side part 40 is tilted to the right about the tilt axis K relative to the longitudinal axis A by a tilt inclination γ, for example as depicted in
If the mop holder 3, as shown in
The windings of the torsion spring 71 surround the axis of rotation D. With respect to the axis of rotation D, the legs 72 of the torsion spring 71 extend on both sides of a stop pin 48 and a counter stop pin 58, which are oriented parallel to the axis of rotation D. The stop pin 48 is arranged rigidly on the mop holder-side part 40 with respect to the axis of rotation D. With respect to the axis of rotation D, the counter stop pin 58 is fastened rigidly to the mop handle-side part 49 of the connecting piece 4. The operating principle of the pretensioning device 7 in the embodiment according to
The mop holder-side stop pin 48 realizes a release device 43 in functional union. The stop pin 48 is translationally movable as a release device 43 along the axis of rotation D. The stop pin 48 can be removed translationally from the region of the legs 72. When the stop pin 48 of the release device 43 is removed from the region of the legs 72, the mop holder-side part 40 can be rotated with respect to the mop handle-side part 49 of the connecting piece 4 about the axis of rotation D without the spring 71 being tensioned, so that consequently no resetting force acts in the direction of the starting position. The use of the release device 43 can be desired, for example, for cleaning a floor surface, so that the cleaning personnel does not have to work against the resetting force of the pretensioning device 7 when using the mop system 1.
The counter stop pin 58 is accommodated in an arched crank guide groove 42 on the mop holder-side part 40 of the connecting piece 4. It is conceivable that, instead of the depicted torsion spring 71, a pair of compression springs is accommodated in the groove 42 on both sides of the counter stop pin 58, in order to realize an elastic pretensioning device. It shall be clear that a connecting piece 4 with a pivot-tilt joint 41 can comprise a first pretensioning device with respect to the tilt axis K and a second pretensioning device with respect to the axis of rotation D (not illustrated in more detail).
The torsion spring 71 is held on a mop handle-side part 49 of the pivot-tilt joint 41 by a cylindrical mandrel 60 which is surrounded by the annular central section 70 of the torsion spring 71. An arched stop pin 48 cooperates in the rest position of the torsion spring 71 with the opposite legs 72. As the mop holder-side part 40, an elongate counter stop pin 48 extends parallel to the axis of rotation D. The counter stop pin 58 is stationary with respect to the mop holder 3 and can, together with the mop holder 3, execute a rotation inclination δ with respect to the axis of rotation D.
As illustrated in
The second pretensioning mechanism 7′ acts on a second mop holder-side part 40′ (which can be realized rigidly, stationary or as a single component with the first mop handle-side part 49) and a second mop handle-side part 49′, to which the mop handle (not illustrated in detail in
The second pretensioning mechanism 7′ comprises two compression springs 73, 74 which are arranged in partially annular groove receptacles 42 of the mop holder-side part 40′. The groove receptacle 42 extends in the circumferential direction coaxially with respect to the tilt axis K. With the two compression springs 73 and 74, diametrically opposite engaging pieces 44′ are in contact engagement at the respective ends of the compression spring 73 and 74 with respect to the tilt axis K. The engaging pieces 44′ are fastened stationary to the mop handle-side part 49′. When the mop handle (not illustrated in
The features disclosed in the above description, in the claims, and in the drawings can be essential both individually and in any desired combination for the realization of the present disclosure in its various embodiments.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the patents, applications, and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.
These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 124 419.6 | Sep 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/076244 | 9/21/2022 | WO |
