Search

EP-4734809-A1 - FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE

EP4734809A1EP 4734809 A1EP4734809 A1EP 4734809A1EP-4734809-A1

Abstract

A floor cleaning device comprising a maneuvering handle configured to be grasped by an operator, a base portion comprising at least one cleaning tool, and an articulated joint connecting the maneuvering handle to the base portion. Said articulated joint includes an outer body comprising an inner cavity and an inner surface delimiting said inner cavity, and an inner body disposed in the inner cavity of the outer body, such that the outer body and the inner body are, at least in an operating condition, angularly movable relative to each other. The joint further includes a locking mechanism configured to define a locking condition in which the internal body is angularly locked in position relative to the external body, and in which said locking mechanism is positioned wholly or at least partially within at least one between the internal body and the external 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; - a base portion (20) including at least one cleaning tool (22) configured to perform floor cleaning operations; - an articulated joint (30; 130) connecting the maneuvering handle (10) to the base portion (20), said articulated joint (30; 130) comprising: o an external body (40; 140) comprising an internal cavity (41 ; 141 ) and an internal surface (42; 142) bounding said internal cavity (41 ; 141 ); o an internal body (50; 150) arranged, at least partially, in the internal cavity (41 ; 141 ) of the external body (40; 140), the external body (40; 140) and internal body (50; 150) being, at least in an operating condition, angularly movable relative to each other to allow angular articulation between the maneuvering handle (10) and the base portion (20); - a locking mechanism (70) configured to define a locking condition wherein the internal body (50; 150) is angularly locked in position relative to the external body (40; 140), said locking mechanism (70) being positioned entirely or at least partially within at least one between the internal body (50; 150) and the external body (40; 140).
  2. 2. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein said locking mechanism (70) comprises a locking socket (71 ) and a locking plug (72) that are active between the internal body (50; 150) and the external body (40; 140), said locking plug (72) being movable between an operating position and a locking position to define respectively: - the operating condition, wherein the locking plug (72) is out of the locking socket (71 ) allowing angular articulation between the internal body (50; 150) and the external body (40; 140); and - said locking condition, wherein the locking plug (72) is inserted within said locking socket (71 ) to lock the internal body (50; 150) to the external body (40; 140).
  3. 3. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein: - the locking socket (71 ) is formed on the internal surface (42; 142) of the external body (40; 140) and the locking plug (72) is carried by the internal body (50; 150), the locking plug (72) being movable within the internal body (50; 150) between said operating position and said locking position, and wherein: o in the locking position, the locking plug (72) protrudes from the external surface of the internal body (50; 150) toward and within the locking socket (71 ) of the external body (40; 140), o in the operating position, the locking plug (72) is out of the locking socket (71 ) and housed, at least partially, within the internal body (50; 150); or wherein: - the locking socket (71 ) is formed on the external surface of the internal body (50; 150) and the locking plug (72) is carried by the external body (40; 140), the locking plug (72) being movable within the external body (40; 140) between said operating position and said locking position, and wherein: o in the locking position, the locking plug (72) protrudes from the internal surface (42; 142) of the external body (40; 140) within the internal cavity (41 ; 141 ), o in the operating position, the locking plug (72) is out of the locking socket (71 ) and housed, at least partially, within the external body (40; 140).
  4. 4. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein: - if the locking plug (72) is carried by the internal body (50; 150), the locking plug (72) is entirely housed within the internal body (50; 150) when arranged in the operating position; - if the locking plug (72) is carried by the external body (40; 140), the locking plug (72) is entirely housed within the external body (40; 140) when arranged in the operating position.
  5. 5. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal body (50; 150) comprises a coupling portion (55) constrained, or configured to constrain, to a respective coupling portion (11 ; 21 ) of the maneuvering handle (10) or base portion (20), and wherein the internal body (50; 150) comprises a bottom portion (56; 156) opposite, with respect to a center of the internal body (50; 150), to the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50; 150), said center of the internal body (50; 150) being interposed between the bottom portion (56; 156) of the internal body (50; 150) and the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50; 150), said locking plug (72) being movable by translation along a direction substantially parallel to and/or coincident with an axis passing through the coupling portion (55) of the internal body (50; 150) and the bottom portion (56; 156) of the internal body (50; 150).
  6. 6. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim and in combination with at least claim 2, wherein the external body (40; 140) includes an articulation opening (46; 146) that puts the internal cavity (41 ; 141 ) in communication with the external environment, and wherein the external body (40; 140) includes a respective bottom portion (40a) such that the internal cavity (41 ; 141 ) is interposed between said articulation opening (46; 146) and said bottom portion (40a), and wherein: - the locking plug (72) emerges, when in the locked position, from the bottom portion (56; 156) of the internal body (50; 150), and - the locking socket (71) is positioned at said bottom portion (40a) of the external body (40; 140); or wherein: - the locking plug (72) emerges, when in the locked position, from the bottom portion (40a) of the external body (40; 140), and - the locking socket (71) is located at said bottom portion (56; 156) of the internal body (50; 150).
  7. 7. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking plug (72) has elongated shape along a respective extension axis, and wherein the locking socket (71 ) defines a passage opening configured to receive in insertion the locking plug (72) along a respective passage axis, said extension axis of the locking plug (72) being coaxial to the passage axis of the passage opening of the locking socket (71) when the locking plug (72) is in the locking position, and/or in a condition suitable to allow the locking plug (72) to move from the operating position to the locking position.
  8. 8. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, wherein the floor cleaning device comprises an actuating mechanism operatively connected to the locking mechanism (70) and configured to switch the locking mechanism (70) between the operating condition and the locking condition, and vice versa, said actuation mechanism including at least one actuation command (73) arranged on the maneuvering handle (10) or base portion (20) and configured to be operated by an operator, and wherein the actuating mechanism includes one between: - a release cable (75) connected to the locking plug (72) and configured to pull the locking plug (72) from the locking position to the operating position, and - an electric actuator connected to the locking plug (72) and configured to move the locking plug (72) between the locking position and the operating position, optionally to move the locking plug (72) from the locking position to the operating position and vice versa.
  9. 9. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuating mechanism is operationally connected to the locking plug (72) of the locking mechanism (70) and configured to move the locking plug (72) between the operating position and the locking position, and wherein the actuating mechanism includes an elastic element (74), optionally a spring, active in thrust on the locking plug (72) in a direction from the operating position to the locking position, said spring element (74) being active in thrust on the locking plug (72) in both the operating and locking condition.
  10. 10. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein the elastic element (74) is entirely housed within a body, selected between the internal body (50; 150) and the external body (40; 140), housing the locking plug (72).
  11. 11 . Floor cleaning device according to any one of the two claims 9 and 10, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a stop configured, upon operator command, to selectively: - keep the locking plug (72) in the operating position; and - release the locking plug (72) to allow a movement of the locking plug (72) from the operating position to the locking position, the spring element (74) providing a thrust on the locking plug (72) in a direction from the operating position to the locking position, said stop being active on the locking plug (72) or on the release cable (75).
  12. 12. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking mechanism (70) is configured, in said locking condition, to define a stable resting position of the floor cleaning device wherein the floor cleaning device lies on the floor at the base portion (20) and wherein the maneuvering handle (10) extends in height optionally above the base portion (20), wherein said stable resting position defines an equilibrium position of the floor cleaning device, optionally wherein, in said stable resting position, a center of gravity of the floor cleaning device falls within a footprint perimeter of the base portion (20).
  13. 13. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal body (50) comprises an external surface (51 ) comprising at least one recessed channel (53), and wherein said articulated joint (30) includes at least one torque transmission member (60) positioned between said external body (40) and said 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 said internal body (50), and wherein said at least one torque transmission element (60) is movable relative to the internal body (50) along the at least one recessed channel (53) of the internal body (50), said at least one torque transmission element (60) comprising one between at least one pin having an elongated shape, and at least one sphere.
  14. 14. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the internal body (50; 150) includes an external surface (51 ; 151 ), said external surface (51 ; 151 ) of the internal body (50; 150) extending along a respective ideal spherical surface, said ideal spherical surface of the internal body (50; 150) defining a respective center of the internal body (50; 150), and wherein the internal surface (42; 142) of the external body (40; 140) extends along a respective ideal spherical surface, said ideal spherical surface of the external body (40; 140) defining a respective center of the external body (40; 140), said center of the external body (40; 140) being located within the internal cavity (41 ; 141 ) of the external body, and wherein the center of the internal body (50; 150) coincides with the center of the external body (40; 140) defining a central point of articulation of the articulated joint (30; 130), the internal body (50; 150) and external body (40; 140) being angularly movable with each other only around said central point of articulation.
  15. 5. Floor cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein the locking plug (72), when carried by the internal body (50; 150), passes through said central point of articulation of the articulated joint (30; 130).

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