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EP-4734808-A1 - FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE

EP4734808A1EP 4734808 A1EP4734808 A1EP 4734808A1EP-4734808-A1

Abstract

A floor cleaning device comprising a maneuvering handle configured to be grasped by an operator, a base portion provided with at least one cleaning tool, and an articulated joint connecting the maneuvering handle to the base portion. Said articulated joint includes an external body including an inner cavity, and an internal body disposed in the inner cavity of the external body, wherein the internal body includes an external surface forming at least one recessed channel. The external body and the internal body are, at least in an operating condition, angularly movable relative to each other. The coupling includes at least one torque transmission member received within said at least one recessed channel of the internal body, wherein said torque transmission member is movable relative to the internal body along the at least one recessed channel of the internal body.

Inventors

  • WILL, Dietmar
  • BAERTSCH, Andre

Assignees

  • Diversey, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . Floor cleaning device (100) including: - a maneuvering handle (10) configured to be grabbed by an operator to guide said floor cleaning device (100); - a base portion (20) provided with at least one floor cleaning tool (22) configured to perform floor cleaning operations; - an articulated joint (30) connecting the maneuvering handle (10) to the base portion (20), said articulated joint (30) comprising: o an external body (40) comprising an inner cavity (41 ) and an inner surface (42) bounding said inner cavity (41 ); o an internal body (50) arranged, at least partially, in the inner cavity (41) of the external body (40), the internal body (50) comprising an external surface (51 ) forming at least one recessed channel (53), the external body (40) and the internal body (50) being, at least in one operating condition, angularly movable relative to each other to allow angular articulation between the maneuvering handle (10) and the base portion (20); o at least one torque transmission member (60) positioned between the external body (40) and internal body (50), said at least one torque transmission member (60) comprising an operating portion received within said at least one recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50), said operating portion of said torque transmission member (60) being movable relative to the internal body (50) along the at least one recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50).
  2. 2. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein: - the at least one torque transmission member (60) includes a first torque transmission member (60') and a second torque transmission member (60") opposite each other with respect to the internal body (50), or - the at least one torque transmission member (60) comprises a plurality of torque transmission members (60) equispaced from each other, and wherein the articulated joint (30) includes at least as many recessed channels (53) on the internal body (50) as torque transmission members (60).
  3. 3. Floor cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: - the at least one torque transmission member (60) is fixed relative to the external body (40) during an angular movement of the internal body (50) relative to the external body (40), and wherein each torque transmission member (60) comprises a supporting portion opposite to the operating portion, the external body (40) comprising at least one fixing seat (44) fixedly coupled to the supporting portion of said at least one torque transmission member (60), the at least one torque transmission member (60) being interposed between said fixing seat (44) of the external body (40) and said recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50); or - the at least one torque transmission member (60) is movable with respect to the external body (40) during a movement of the internal body (50) with respect to the external body (40), wherein the external body (40) includes respective one or more recessed channels (43) formed on the inner surface (42) of the external body (40) and receiving the at least one torque transmission member (60), the at least one torque transmission member (60) being movable relative to the external body (40) along said one or more recessed channels (43) of the external body (40).
  4. 4. Floor cleaning device according to claim 3 and claim 2, wherein the first torque transmission member (60') and the second torque transmission member (60") have elongated shape each along a respective extension axis (EA), and wherein the extension axis (EA) of the first torque transmission member (60') and the extension axis (EA) of the second torque transmission member (60") are coaxial with each other.
  5. 5. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articulated joint (30) is a homokinetic joint, and wherein the external body (40) is coupled to the internal body (50) preventing translation movements between the internal body (50) and the external body (40).
  6. 6. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one torque transmission member (60) comprises one between at least one pin and at least one sphere.
  7. 7. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the external surface (51 ) of the internal body (50) extends along a respective ideal spherical surface, said ideal spherical surface of the internal body (50) defining a respective center of the internal body (50); and wherein the inner surface (42) of the external body (40) extends along a respective ideal spherical surface, said ideal spherical surface of the external body (40) defining a respective center of the external body (40), said center of the external body (40) being located inside the inner cavity (41 ) of the external body, and wherein the center of the internal body (50) coincides with the center of the external body (40) defining a central point of articulation of the articulated joint (30), the internal body (50) and external body (40) being angularly movable with each other only around said central point of articulation.
  8. 8. Floor cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, in which the external body (40) surrounds, at least partially, the internal body (50) by defining an undercut that prevents relative axial translation between the internal body (50) and the external body (40).
  9. 9. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal body (50) comprises an articulating portion (54) housed within the inner cavity (41 ) of the external body (40), said articulating portion (54) being configured to allow an articulation between the internal body (50) and the external body (40) and to bind the internal body (50) to the external body (40) to prevent relative axial movements of the internal body (50) relative to the external body (40); and wherein: - the internal body (50) comprises a coupling portion (55) constrained, or configured to constrain, to a respective coupling portion (11 ) of the maneuvering handle (10), and wherein the external body (40) comprises a coupling portion (45) constrained, or configured to constrain, to a respective coupling portion (21 ) of the base portion (20); or wherein: - the internal body (50) includes a coupling portion (55) constrained, or configured to constrain, to a respective coupling portion (21 ) of the base portion (20), and wherein the external body (40) includes a coupling portion (45) constrained, or configured to constrain, to a respective coupling portion (11 ) of the maneuvering handle (10), and wherein the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50) emerges externally from the inner cavity (41 ) of the external body (40).
  10. 10. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, in which the internal body (50) comprises a bottom portion (56) opposite, with respect to a center of the internal body (50), to the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50), said center of the internal body (50) being interposed between the bottom portion (56) of the internal body (50) and the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50), and wherein the one or more recessed channels (53) of the internal body (50) extend in length along a channel trajectory (CT) between said coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50) and said bottom portion (56) of the internal body (50), and wherein the recessed channels (53) of the internal body (50) have an elongated shape along said channel trajectory (CT), said channel trajectory (CT) extending along an ideal circumference that intersects said coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50) and said bottom portion (56) of the internal body (50).
  11. 11 . Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50) comprises a first side wall (53a) and a second side wall (53b) facing each other and configured to receive and drive a respective torque transmission member (60), and wherein the torque transmission member (60) is interposed between said first lateral wall (53a) and said second lateral wall (53b) and contacts against said first and second lateral walls of the recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50).
  12. 12. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein each recessed channel of the at least one recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50) comprises a bottom wall (53c) interposed between said first side wall (53a) and said second side wall (53b), wherein the at least one recessed channel (43, 53) presents in section rounded shape to define a profile in "C" or "U" section, said section being orthogonal to the first lateral wall (53a), the second lateral wall (53b) and the bottom wall (53c).
  13. 13. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion (20) defines, in a working condition where the base portion (20) is on the floor, a footprint perimeter that projects orthogonal to the floor, and wherein the articulated joint (30) defines, in said working condition, a respective footprint perimeter that projects orthogonal to the floor, wherein the footprint perimeter of the articulated joint (30) falls outside the footprint perimeter of the base portion (20), the footprint perimeter of the articulated joint (30) falling behind the footprint perimeter of the base portion (20) with respect to a standard forward direction of the floor cleaning device.
  14. 14. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articulating joint (30) includes a locking mechanism (70) configured to define a locking condition in which the internal body (50) is angularly locked in position relative to the external body (40), said locking mechanism (70) being positioned partially or entirely inside the internal body (50) and/or inside the external body (40), and in which said locking mechanism (70) includes a locking socket (71 ) and a locking plug (72) that are active between the internal body (50) and the external body (40), said locking plug (72) being movable between an operating position and a locking position to define respectively: - the operating condition of the device, in which the locking plug (72) is out the locking socket (71 ) allowing angular articulation between the internal body (50) and external body (40); and - the locking condition of the device, in which the locking plug (72) is inserted within said locking socket (71 ) to lock the internal body (50) to the external body (40).
  15. 15. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein: - the locking socket (71 ) is formed on the inner surface (42) of the external body (40) and the locking plug (72) is carried by the internal body (50), the locking plug (72) being movable within the internal body (50) between said operating position and said locking position, and wherein: o in the locking position, the locking plug (72) protrudes from the external surface (51 ) of the internal body (50) toward and within the locking socket (71 ) of the external body (40), o in the operating position, the locking plug (72) is out of the locking socket (71 ), and wherein in the operating position the locking plug (72) is housed, at least partially, within the internal body (50); or wherein: - the locking socket (71 ) is formed on the external surface (51 ) of the internal body (50) and the locking plug (72) is carried by the external body (40), the locking plug (72) being movable within the external body (40) between said operating position and said locking position, and wherein: o in the locking position, the locking plug (72) protrudes from the inner surface (42) of the external body (40) within the inner cavity (41 ) and into the locking socket (71 ) of the internal body (50), o in the operating position, the locking plug (72) is out of the locking socket (71 ), and wherein in the operating position the locking plug (72) is at least partially housed within the external body (40).

Description

TITLE Floor cleaning device DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for cleaning walkable flat surfaces, such as floors. The floor cleaning device of the present invention includes an articulated joint forming a connection between a maneuvering handle and a base portion of the device to allow angular articulation between the handle and the base portion. STATE OF THE ART Floor cleaning devices comprising a base portion provided with a floor cleaning tool, a maneuvering handle configured to be gripped by an operator to guide the device, and an articulated joint connecting the base portion to the maneuvering handle are known in the state of the art. The joint is configured to connect the maneuvering handle to the base portion and, at the same time, allow angular articulation between the base portion and the maneuvering handle. However, the applicant points out that state-of-the-art joints have flaws and disadvantages that limit the use of the device. In more detail, state of the art articulated joints have excessive bulk, which consequently reduces the space available for other components of the device. Additionally, state-of-the-art articulated joints have angular freedom of articulation between the base portion and the maneuvering handle limited by the geometric characteristics of the joint itself: articulation along a greater angular travel would result in a substantial increase of causing structural damage to the articulated joint. In fact, state-of-the-art articulated joints suffer from long-term reliability problems, especially when the articulated joint is working in extreme angular positions. Floor cleaning devices comprising a locking mechanism designed to lock the handle in place relative to the base portion are also known in the state of the art. The state- of-the-art locking mechanisms are accessible by an operator and are exposed to the external environment. The applicant points out that state-of-the-art locking mechanisms have flaws and disadvantages that impair their use. First, the state-of-the-art locking mechanisms, being exposed, can generate risks to the operator's safety: there is in fact a risk that such locking mechanisms could injure the operator by, for example, crushing an operator's hand, finger, or foot. Further, the Applicant points out that such locking mechanisms, being exposed and easily accessible from the outside, may malfunction when a foreign body interposes itself in the mechanism. For example, foreign bodies such as dust, dirt, sand, and stones may insert themselves into the locking mechanism, impairing its proper functioning. PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to solve at least one of the drawbacks and/or limitations of the previous solutions. A first goal is to provide a floor cleaning device that is structurally reliable over time. A further goal is to provide a floor cleaning device comprising a joint, between the base portion and the maneuvering handle, that allows wide angular movement while maintaining high structural reliability. A further goal is to provide a floor cleaning device comprising an articulated joint having compact dimensions. An additional goal is to provide a floor cleaning device that is easy and convenient for an operator to use. An additional goal is to provide a floor cleaning device including a locking mechanism, between the handle and the base portion, that is safe for the operator. An additional goal is to provide a floor cleaning device including a locking mechanism that presents reliable operation over time. An additional goal is to provide a floor cleaning device that meets the previous goals and, at the same time, has reasonable manufacturing costs. These goals and others, which will appear more from the following description, are substantially achieved by a floor cleaning device in accordance with one or more of the following claims and/or aspects. SUMMARY Aspects of the invention are described below. In a 1 st aspect there is provided a floor cleaning device (100) comprising: - a maneuvering handle (10) configured to be grabbed by an operator to guide said floor cleaning device (100); - a base portion (20) provided with at least one floor cleaning tool (22) configured to perform floor cleaning operations; - an articulated joint (30) connecting the maneuvering handle (10) to the base portion (20), said articulated joint (30) comprising: o an external body (40) comprising an inner cavity (41 ) and an inner surface (42) bounding said inner cavity (41 ); o an internal body (50) arranged, at least partially, in the inner cavity (41) of the external body (40), said internal body (50) comprising an external surface (51 ) having at least one recessed channel (53), the external body (40) and the internal body (50) being, at least in one operating condition, angularly movable relative to each other to allow angular articulation between the maneuve