Abstract
The hand-held cleaning device, especially the hand-held cleaner for smooth surfaces, comprising a supporting unit, a wiper blade, a guiding device and a capture unit, wherein the wiper blade is fixed to the supporting unit, wherein the wiper blade at least in certain areas has a guiding element, which is designed for guiding fluid present at wiper blade in the direction of the guiding device, and wherein the guiding device is arranged adjacent to the wiper blade and is directly adjoining to the capture unit in order to transport the fluid from the wiper blade across the guiding element and the guiding device to the capture unit.
Claims
1. A hand-held cleaner comprising a supporting unit (5), a wiper blade (3), a guiding device (7) and a capture unit (9), wherein the wiper blade (3) is fixed to the supporting unit (5), wherein the wiper blade (3) at least in certain areas has a guiding element (32) which is designed for guiding a fluid (F) present at the wiper blade (3) in the direction of the guiding device (7), wherein the guiding device (7) is arranged adjacent to the wiper blade (3) and is adjoining to the capture unit (9) in order to transport the fluid (F) from the wiper blade (3) across the guiding element (32) and the guiding device (7) to the capture unit (9), and wherein the wiper blade (3) and the guiding element (32) are adhesively bonded to each other, and the wiper blade (3) and the guiding element (32) are made of the same material.
2. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a first end of the wiper blade (3) is fixed to the supporting unit, wherein a second end is provided, which is opposite to the first end, wherein the distance of the two ends from each other is the longitudinal extension (L) of the wiper blade, and wherein at the second end of the wiper blade a transversal lip (31) is provided, which essentially projects from the wiper blade (3) transversally to the longitudinal extension (L) and parallel to the edge of the second end.
3. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the transversal lip (31) and/or the guiding element (32) and/or the guiding device (7) is/are arranged at the side of the wiper blade (3) facing the smooth surface (1).
4. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the guiding element (32) in a region (x) projects from the wiper blade (3) to a lesser extent than the transversal lip (31) such that upon resting on the smooth surface (1), the transversal lip (31) of the wiper blade (3) will not be lifted from the smooth surface (1).
5. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the region (x) to the longitudinal extension (L) is 0.2 to 0.9.
6. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the ratio of the region (x) to the longitudinal extension (L) is around 0.4.
7. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal extension (L) of the wiper blade (3) is several times the thickness (D) of the wiper blade (3), wherein the ratio of the longitudinal extension (L) to the thickness (D) is greater than 10.
8. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal extension (L) to the thickness (D) is greater than 15.
9. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal extension (L) to the thickness (D) is about 17.
10. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element (32) essentially extends along the longitudinal extension (L).
11. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an outlet port (91) is provided at the capture unit (9) or the supporting unit (5), and wherein the outlet port (91) is closable.
12. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the outlet port (91) is arranged such that while the hand-held cleaner is oriented against a smooth surface (1) the outlet port (91) is located at the highest point of a collection compartment which is surrounded by the capture unit (9) and the supporting unit (5).
13. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the supporting unit (5) and the capture unit (9) are arranged directly adjoining to each other and are connected by way of fixing means.
14. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein fluid (F) present at the wiper blade (3) will pass to the capture unit (9) via the guiding device (7), and wherein the capture unit (9) is not arranged directly adjoining to the supporting unit (5).
15. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a handle holder (12) onto which a handle (11) is secured against deflection in relation to the supporting unit (5) is provided at the supporting unit (5).
16. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a retaining bracket (8) is pivotably fixed to the supporting unit (5) or the capture unit (9), in order to keep the wiper blade (3) forced against a smooth surface (1) at a specified deflection in relation to the supporting unit (5).
17. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the retaining bracket (8) is pivotable about a pivoting angle (), wherein a stop pin (84) is provided, which limits the pivoting movement of the retaining bracket (8) in a pivoting direction, and wherein the maximum pivoting angle () ranges between 20 and 90.
18. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the maximum pivoting angle () ranges between 30 and 70.
19. The hand-held cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the maximum pivoting angle () ranges between 40 and 50.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the hand-held cleaning device according to the invention,
(2) FIG. 2 is a lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the hand-held cleaning device according to the invention,
(3) FIG. 3-5 are views of three preferred embodiments of the guiding elements according to the invention,
(4) FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the hand-held cleaning device with a retaining bracket,
(5) FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the hand-held cleaning device of FIG. 6, and
(6) FIG. 8 is a top view of the hand-held cleaning device of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7) In a preferred embodiment the hand-held cleaner shown in FIG. 1 comprises a supporting unit 5, a wiper blade 3, a guiding device 7, a capture device 9, a handle 11 and a handle holder 12. The wiper blade 3 preferably has a transversal lip 31 and at least one guiding element 32, each extending toward the side where the guiding device 7 is supported directly adjoining to the wiper blade 3. In the figure the wiper blade 3 is shown in a deformed position, wherein the transversal lip 31 is forced against the smooth surface 1. Preferably the smooth surface 1, as shown in the figure, is the surface of a glass panel which is wetted by a fluid F. By striping the hand-held cleaning device along the glass panel the fluid F accumulates at the transversal lip 31 and flows, due to the adhesive effect, adhered to the surface of the wiper blade 3, along the wiper blade 3 to the guiding device 7. As depicted in the figure, at the guiding device there is preferably a protrusion or pedestal or shoulder 71 where the fluid F becomes separated from the wiper blade, thus flowing along the guiding device into the capture unit 9. In the preferred embodiment the compartment where the fluid F accumulates is formed both by the supporting unit 5 and the capture unit 9. In further preferred embodiments not shown in the figure the capture unit 9 may also be a closed tubular part, which for example is directly fixed to the supporting unit 5. In the preferred embodiment the wiper blade 3 is fixed to the supporting unit 5 by way of an adhesion bond, wherein the recess at the supporting unit 5 has an undercut, into which a recess at the wiper blade 3 form-fittingly engages, thus securing the wiper blade 3 against deflection and distortion in relation to the supporting unit 5. At the supporting unit 5 a handle holder 12 is furthermore provided, to which a handle 11 may be fixed.
(8) FIG. 2 shows as lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the hand-held cleaning device according to the invention, wherein, especially of the region x is marked, wherein the guiding element 32 preferably does not transversally protrude over from the wiper blade 3 further than the transversal lip 31 as shown in the figure. The longitudinal extension L of the wiper blade 3 is also shown, which extends from the fixed end of the wiper blade 3 to the free, loose or distal end, respectively. Furthermore the preferred embodiment is represented, wherein the transversal lip 31 extends in two directions perpendicular from the wiper blade 3, i.e. in FIG. 2 the figure both upwardly and downwardly. The thickness D of the wiper blade 3 is preferably several times smaller than the longitudinal extension L. Furthermore the configuration of the supporting unit 5 and the capture unit 9 may be seen in detail in the figure, which each are designed in the form of half-shell components and which are coupled to each other with fixing means which are not shown. In the capture unit 9 or the supporting unit 5 an outlet port 91 is introduced allowing emptying out the collection compartment formed by the capture unit 9, or the capture unit 9 and the supporting unit 5. It is of advantage if the outlet port 91 is preferably arranged at the supporting unit 5 in the upper half of the collection compartment or close to the fixing region of the wiper blade 3, respectively. It is especially preferable if the hand-held cleaner is employed and the wiper blade 3 obliquely projects from the hand-held cleaner in an upward direction, as it is shown in FIG. 1, the outlet port 91 is arranged close to the highest point of the collection compartment, in order to make the best use of the collecting compartment until overflow or drain, respectively, of fluid through the outlet port occurs and in order to be able to accommodate maximum amount of fluid.
(9) In the FIGS. 3 to 5 views of preferred embodiments of the guiding elements 32 are shown. Preferably two or more guiding elements 32 are arranged at the respective bottom side of the wiper blade 3, the guiding elements promoting guidance of the fluid from the transversal lip 31 to the supporting unit 5 of the guiding device 7 which is not shown. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 each of the guiding elements 32 function as bars limiting the wiper blade 3 and extending along the lateral edge of the wiper blade 3. In a preferred modification of the guiding elements 32, which is shown in FIG. 5, reduction of the width which is wetted by the fluid F at the wiper blade 3 allows the guiding device 7 to be designed smaller than the wiper blade 3. Similar to the course of the guiding elements 32 in FIG. 5, in an embodiment not shown, the lateral edges of the wiper blade 3 may be provided, wherein the loose end with the transversal lip 31 has greater edge length than the end which is fixed to the supporting unit 5.
(10) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment, wherein the hand-held cleaner in addition to the features shown in the FIGS. 1 to 5 has a retaining bracket 8. The retaining bracket 8 preferably is pivotably fixed to the supporting unit 5 or the capture unit 9 via a pivoting bolt 82, wherein a stop pin 84 is provided which limits the pivoting movement of the retaining brackets 8 in one direction. In a first position, which is also to be referred to as rest position of the retaining bracket 8 and which in the figure is shown by a solid line, the retaining bracket 8 is arranged parallel to the wiper blade 3 which is not bent, or slightly rests on the latter (not shown). If the wiper blade 3 is forced to a smooth surface 1 it will be deformed thereby pivoting the retaining bracket 8 about a pivoting angle , as it is shown in the figure by a dashed line. This pivoting movement will only be allowed up to a pivoting angle .sub.max, at which the retaining bracket 8 abuts against the stop pin 84. If upon reaching this maximum pivoting angle the contact force to the hand-held cleaner will further be increased the retaining bracket 8 now will receive this additional force forcing the distal end of the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31 against the smooth surface 1 by way of this additional force. Advantageously higher contact pressure may be accomplished by way of the retaining bracket 8, than it would be possible solely by way of the reset force of the flexibly deformed wiper blade 3. In order to favor this effect the retaining bracket 8 preferably is made of a relatively stiff material, such as metal or duroplast. Preferably the stop pin 84 is formed as a hollow body and is arranged concentrically or coaxially, respectively, to the outlet port 91, wherein fluid flowing through the outlet port 91 passes the stop pin 84 and exits to the exterior.
(11) FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the detailed view of the front part of the retaining bracket 8 engaging the wiper blade 3, as already set forth in FIG. 6. Preferably the retaining bracket 8 has a receiving portion 86 in that region, where, in its maximum deflectionat .sub.maxit engages the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31 of the wiper blade 3. The receiving portion 86 especially functions for accommodating the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31, respectively, and for this purpose is preferably formed as a recess into which the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31, respectively, may engage. A cross section which at least in certain areas coincides with the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31, such as for example of the V-shaped cross section, is especially preferred. The receiving region 86 especially prevents the distal end of the wiper blade 3 or the transversal lip 31, respectively, from being shifted out of place along the retaining bracket 8 under heavy contact pressure exerted by the hand-held cleaning device against the smooth surface 1 and no longer will contact the smooth surface
(12) FIG. 8 shows a top view of the configuration shown in FIG. 6. It may initially be seen that the pivoting bolts 82 are preferably formed integrally with the retaining bracket 8 and engage into recesses on the hand-held cleaner. The gaps between the pivoting bolts 82 and the recesses are preferably tightly sealed to prevent unwanted escape of fluid.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
(13) 1smooth surface 3wiper blade 31transversal lip 32guiding element 5supporting unit 7guiding device 8retaining bracket 82pivoting bolt 84stop pin 86receiving region 9capture unit 91outlet port 11handle 12handle holder Dthickness of wiper blade Ffluid Llongitudinal extension of wiper blade xregion pivoting angle
