CLEANING INSTRUMENT, CORRESPONDING CLEANING ELEMENT, USE OF A CLEANING ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR CLEANING

Abstract

A cleaning instrument (1) is provided according to which, in a distal receiving portion (6), a dimensionally stable cleaning element (7) consisting of cellulose material, particularly tissue or recycled paper, is arranged such that it can be ejected, and this cleaning element (7) is ejected from the receiving portion once cleaning has been completed, disposed of using wastewater from a toilet, and replaced with a new cleaning element (7).

Claims

1. A cleaning instrument (1), comprising: a rod (2) which has a distal end (3) and a proximal end (4); a handle (5) formed at the proximal end (4); a receptacle (6) for an exchangeable cleaning element (7) formed at the distal end (3); and an ejection device (8) on or in the rod that is configured to eject a cleaning element (7) inserted into the receptacle (6).

2. The cleaning instrument (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle (6) has a cross section which remains constant in an insertion direction, and the receptacle (6) is closed off at an end (12) thereof facing away from the distal end (3) of the cleaning instrument (1), with the exception of a passage opening (13) for the ejection device (8).

3. The cleaning instrument (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ejection device (8) is operable from the proximal end (4) by a bar (9) which runs in the rod (2) and is biased to a rest position via a restoring force of an elastic element.

4. A cleaning element (7), comprising cellulose formed at least one of in a dimensionally stable fashion, rolled, or pressed.

5. The cleaning element (7) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cleaning element (7) has a cross section which remains constant in an insertion direction, and is formed essentially without adhesive, with a wound a web of material which is secured with an adhesive only at one end section, or completely without adhesive.

6. The cleaning element (7) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cleaning element (7) comprises a wound web of material which is formed without slits in at least one section having a length that is at least a circumferential length of the cleaning element.

7. The combination of the cleaning instrument (1) as claimed in claim 1 and a cleaning element (7), comprising cellulose formed at least one of in a dimensionally stable fashion, rolled, or pressed, wherein the cleaning element (7) is inserted in a removable fashion into the receptacle (6) and protrudes from the receptacle (6).

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cleaning element (7) at least one of seals the receptacle (6) or is fabricated with an excess dimension with respect to the receptacle (6).

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the combination forms a toilet bowl cleaning instrument.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein an external diameter of the cleaning element (7) is between a smallest internal diameter of the receptacle (6) of the cleaning instrument (7) and a largest internal diameter of the receptacle (6).

11. A method for cleaning a toilet bowl, comprising: providing a cleaning element (7) formed of cellulose in at least one of a dimensionally stable, rolled, or pressed arrangement; inserting the cleaning element into a cleaning instrument (1) having a rod (2) which has a distal end (3) and a proximal end (4), a handle (5) formed at the proximal end (4), a receptacle (6) configured to receive the cleaning element (7) formed at the distal end (3), and an ejection device (8) on or in the rod that is configured to eject the cleaning element (7) inserted into the receptacle (6); cleaning the toilet bowl with the cleaning element (7) held in the cleaning instrument; and ejecting the cleaning element from the cleaning instrument (7) after cleaning, and disposing of the cleaning element via the toilet bowl.

12. The cleaning instrument of claim 1, wherein the cleaning instrument is a toilet bowl cleaner.

13. The cleaning instrument of claim 1, further comprising an insertion aid formed at the receptacle that is configured to allow insertion of the cleaning element into the receptacle by pushing the cleaning element in axially, without applying transverse compression, the receptacle has a distal insertion region and a proximal holding region, and the receptacle includes a larger internal diameter in the insertion region than in the holding region as the insertion aid.

14. The cleaning instrument of claim 1, wherein the ejection device (8) includes a plunger (11) which is moveable in the receptacle (6) in order to eject the cleaning element (7).

15. The cleaning instrument of claim 14, wherein the plunger (11) seals the receptacle via an elastic sealing element formed on the plunger (11).

16. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cleaning element (7) has a greater outer diameter than a minimum internal diameter of the receptacle.

17. The combination of claim 7, wherein the cleaning element (7) inserted in the receptacle (6) protrudes by at least a third of an overall length thereof from the receptacle (6).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, but is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments are obtained by combining the features of individual or of a plurality of features of the protection claims with one another and/or with individual or a plurality of features of the exemplary embodiment.

[0049] In the drawings:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning instrument according to the invention in an exterior view from the side, a longitudinal section and a front view of the distal end, in each case with the cleaning element removed,

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a cleaning element according to the invention for use in a cleaning instrument according to FIG. 1 in an exterior view from the side and a front view of the distal end,

[0052] FIG. 3 shows the cleaning instrument according to FIG. 1 in an exterior view from the side, a longitudinal section and a front view of the distal end with the ejection device removed,

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the removed ejection device (without a spring) of the cleaning instrument according to FIG. 1 in an exterior view from the side, a longitudinal section and a front view of the distal end, and

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a receptacle according to the invention for a cleaning element on a cleaning instrument according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In the text which follows, the figures are described together.

[0056] A cleaning instrument, denoted in its entirety by 1, for toilet bowls has a rod 2.

[0057] The rod 2 extends in a longitudinal direction between a distal end 3 and a proximal end 4.

[0058] A handle 5 is formed as a grip region at the proximal end 4.

[0059] A receptacle 6 is present at the distal end 5. A cleaning element 7 (illustrated in FIG. 2) which is to be described in more detail can be inserted into the receptacle 6 in such a way that it can be removed and replaced.

[0060] An ejection device 8, which is described in more detail, is designed for ejection of a cleaning element 7 which is inserted into the receptacle 6.

[0061] The receptacle 6 has a cylindrical cross section which remains constant in an insertion direction of the cleaning element 7. Matching the above, the cleaning element 7 has a cylindrical cross section which remains constant. The diameter of the cleaning element 7 is adapted to an internal diameter of the receptacle 6 in such a way that the receptacle 6 is filled and sealed by the cleaning element 7.

[0062] The ejection device 8 can be activated from the proximal end 4. For this purpose, the ejection device 8 has a bar 9 which runs in the hollow rod 2 between the distal end 3 and the proximal end 4. A spring 10 develops a restoring force counter to the activation of the ejection device 8 and guides the ejection device 8 back into the illustrated position of rest. The bar 9 fills the rod 2, as a result of which linear guidance is brought about.

[0063] The ejection device 8 has a plunger 11 which can be moved in the receptacle 6 to eject the cleaning element 7. The plunger 11 makes contact with the cleaning element 7 over a surface and seals the receptacle 6.

[0064] The receptacle 6 is closed off at its end 12, facing rearward away from the distal end 3, with the exception of a passage opening 13. In the passage opening 13 the bar 9 of the ejection device 8 is guided in a displaceable fashion. The plunger 11 is fitted as a plug onto the bar 9, in order to permit subsequent mounting in the illustrated position of use.

[0065] The spring 10 is supported at the edge 14 of the passage opening 13, which is integrally formed on the rod 2, in order to bring about the abovementioned resetting. A shoulder 15, on which the spring 10 engages, is formed on the bar 9.

[0066] An annular elevation, which serves as a stop 16 for the bar 9, is applied on the edge 14. This stop 16 has the effect that in the case of a proximal activation the bar 9 is at maximum flush at the distal end 3 with the receptacle 6 and therefore the entry of soiling into the receptacle 6 during the ejection process can be prevented.

[0067] An annular stop 16 for the shoulder 15 is therefore preferably formed integrally or as a sleeve with the rod 2 above the edge 14.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a cleaning instrument 1 according to the invention, in which the receptacle 6 is formed in a conical fashion. In the region of the insertion opening 18, a chamfer 17 is formed which has the effect that the internal diameter of the receptacle 6 is made larger in the insertion region, in particular at the location of the insertion opening 18, than a distal external diameter of a cleaning element which is to be inserted into the receptacle 6. Furthermore, the internal diameter of the receptacle 6 has a larger internal diameter in the distal insertion region 19 than in the proximal holding region 20. Due to the conical configuration of the receptacle 6, the internal diameter of the receptacle 6 additionally decreases monotonously from the insertion region 19 toward the holding region 20. In this context, a minimum internal diameter in the holding region 20 is made smaller than a maximum external diameter of a cleaning element 7 which is to be used with the cleaning instrument 1.

[0069] The cleaning element 7 is manufactured from cellulose, in particular from tissue paper, and is embodied in a dimensionally stable fashion. In this context, the dimensional stability is achieved by dense packing of the cellulose, in particular tissue paper, for example by winding on (rolling) or pressing.

[0070] The cleaning element 7 is manufactured essentially without adhesive, wherein the cleaning element 7 made of cellulose, for example from toilet paper, is rolled and/or pressed.

[0071] During use, the cleaning element 7 is inserted into the receptacle 6 in a removable fashion and protrudes from the receptacle 6 by at most a half and by at least a third of its overall length.

[0072] The cleaning element 7 is therefore used in the case of the cleaning instrument 1 to execute a method for cleaning a toilet bowl. In this context, the dried cleaning element 7 is inserted into the receptacle 6 of the cleaning instrument 1. The toilet bowl is now cleaned with the cleaning element 7, wherein the cleaning element 7 is directed with the cleaning instrument 1. As a result of contact with water, the cleaning element 7 swells in the receptacle 6 in this context and is held therein. After the termination of the cleaning processing, the plunger 11 moves the cleaning element 7 out of the receptacle 6 of the cleaning instrument 1 through proximal pressure on the bar 9. The cleaning element 7 is therefore ejected, drops into the toilet bowl and is disposed of via the toilet bowl.

[0073] An insertion aid for the cleaning element 7 which is fabricated with an excess dimension is formed by a chamfer 17. As a result, the cleaning element 7 is held in the receptacle.

[0074] In the case of a cleaning instrument 1 it is provided to arrange, in a distal receptacle 6, a dimensionally stable cleaning element 7 made of cellulose, in particular tissue paper or recycled paper, in such a way that it can be ejected and to eject the cleaning element 7 from the receptacle after cleaning has been terminated, to dispose of it via waste water of a toilet and to replace it with a new cleaning element 7.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0075] 1 cleaning instrument [0076] 2 rod [0077] 3 distal end [0078] 4 proximal [0079] 5 handle [0080] 6 receptacle [0081] 7 cleaning element [0082] 8 ejection device [0083] 9 bar [0084] 10 spring [0085] 11 plunger [0086] 12 end of 6 [0087] 13 passage opening [0088] 14 edge of 13 [0089] 15 shoulder [0090] 16 stop [0091] 17 chamfer [0092] 18 insertion opening [0093] 19 insertion region [0094] 20 holding region