AU2019275870B2

AU2019275870B2 - Wiper mop plate

Info

Publication number: AU2019275870B2
Application number: AU2019275870A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alessandro Brugora
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2018-05-29
Filing date: 2019-05-16
Publication date: 2022-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-16
Also published as: EP3801170B1; CA3101850A1; CN112203570A; EP3801170A1; CN112203570B; DE102018112821A1; WO2019228817A1; AU2019275870A1; CA3101850C

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper mop plate (1) comprising a main body (2) to which a first wiper mop plate wing (3), a second wiper mop plate wing (4), and a joint (5) are pivotably connected, the wiper mop plate wings (3, 4) being pivotable between a working position (6) and a wringing-out position (7), and the main body (2) being assigned a device (8) for locking the joint (5), said device (5) fixing the joint (5) along the longitudinal axis (9) of the joint (5) when the wiper mop plate wings (3, 4) are outside the working position (6).

Description

Wiper Plate

Field of the Invention The invention concerns a wiper plate, comprising a basic structure, to which a first wiper plate wing, a second wiper plate wing and a joint are attached, wherein the wiper plate wings can swivel between a working position and a wringing out position.

Background of the Invention Such a type of wiper plate is for example known from patent DE 10 2012 007 525 Al. The wiper plate forms a part of a wiping device, wherein the wiping device along with the wiper plate has a shaft, which connects to the wiper plate via the joint. The wiper plate is allocated a wiper covering, which is secured to the wiper plate in a detachable manner, so it contacts the floor which must be cleaned. In this way, the wiper plate presses the wiper covering flat against the floor which must be cleaned.

To wring out the wiper covering, the wiper plate wings are transferred from the working position to the wringing out position. When doing so, the wiper covering hangs down from the wiper plate in the form of a loop. The wiper covering hanging down from the wiper plate in such a way may be wrung out in a basket shaped wringing attachment by pressing the wiping device in. It is also known that wiper coverings can be pressed into a rotatable wringing out attachment in which the wiper covering is wrung out through rapid rotation of the wringing out basket together with the wiper plate. In both cases, it is advantageous for a simple introduction of the wiper plate, if the wiper plate with the wiper covering is pushed straight into the wringing attachment. For a manual wringer attachment, with which wringing out occurs through pressing the wiper plate in, it is problematic, that the joint can tip over during pressing in, which reduces the force which must be introduced and makes the outcome of the implementation worse.

Summary of the Invention The invention is based on the task of providing a wiper plate, which can be introduced to a wringing out attachment in a particularly simple manner.

To solve this task, a facility to arrest the joint has been arranged in the basic structure, which fixes the joint along its longitudinal axis, whenever the wiper plate wings are not situated in the working position. In particular, the joint is fixed along its longitudinal axis by the stop facility, whenever the wiper plate wings swivel from the working position to the wringing out position. Fixing to this extent is also provided according to the invention, whenever the wiper plate wings are situated in the working position. In this way we can assure, that whilst pressing the wiper plate into the wringing out basket, the joint can no longer swivel or tilt. In this way, the entire force applied via the shaft into the wiper plate for wringing out work is used. In this way, the outcome of wringing out improves.

The joint should preferably be formed as a universal joint.in this way, the joint together with the shaft can be swivelled both in a longitudinal as well as also in a crosswise direction relative to the wiper plate.

The joint should preferably have a first joint structure and a second joint structure, wherein the first joint structure should preferably be arranged on the basic structure in a pivotable manner and the second joint body should be arranged on the first joint structure in a pivotable manner, wherein the swivel axis is directed between a first joint structure and a second joint structure crossways to the swivel axis between a first basic structure and a second basic structure. The universal joint is produced from this arrangement.

The second wiper plate wing may contain protruding elements, formed in such a way that the second wiper plate wing grasps the basic structure with the elements and the join allocated to the basic structure in a U-shape. In such a form, when the wiper plate wings are swivelled, the elements swivel in the direction of the joint and in this way block the joint. The elements cover the joint in the region of the main sides, that is of the front edge and the rear edge of the wiper plate. With a tilted open wiper plate, the wiper plate wing and the elements prevent the shaft being able to pivot in the direction of the main sides.

The elements may be allocated stop elements, which in the wringing out position point in the direction of the joint. The stop elements may enlarge the stop region and in this way effect improved fixation of the joint.

The first joint body may include a spring needle, which protrudes through a longitudinal opening made in the first joint structure. The second joint structure may have a recess, which is congruent to the longitudinal opening, whenever the second joint body is directed in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the first joint structure. This is then the case whenever, the swivel axis both in the longitudinal direction as well as also in the cross direction is 00 or in the region of 00.

This form of design makers it possible to fix a joint structure in place, whenever both joint structures are directed along the longitudinal axis. The longitudinal opening accepts the spring needle pin, wherein the spring pin penetrates the recess, whenever the second joint structure is directed in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the first joint structure. In this way, both joint structures are fixed to one another and can no longer swivel automatically.

The spring pin may include a pin-like needle section, which is arranged in the recess, as well as a spring section, which is arranged in a further crossways opening in the direction of the basic structures, so that the two wiper blade wings on swivelling of the wiper blade move from the working position to the wringing our position in contact with the spring section and the spring pins press right through the longitudinal opening in the direction of the recess of the second joint body. In this way we can ensure, that the spring pin will only penetrate the recess, if the wiper blade wings are transferred from the working position to the wringing out position.

In the working position, the spring pin is situated on the other hand only in the longitudinal opening, so that the first joint structure is pivotable to the second joint body. Through the design as a spring section, during swivelling pre-tensioning can be built up on the spring pin, so that a swivelling of the wiper plate wing is also possible, whenever the shaft is not directed towards the longitudinal axis. If following swivelling of the wiper plate wing from the working position to the wringing out position, on the other hand the spring pin independently into the recess under the basis of pre-tensioning.

With the transition of the wiper plate wing from the wringing out position to the working position, the pre-tensioning on the spring section reduces, until the spring section is free after reaching the working position and the pin section is arranged freely moveable in the recess and the longitudinal opening. Through the effects of the gravitational force the spring pin leaves the recess independently and merely continues persist in the longitudinal opening. The two joint structures can then both freely pivot towards one another again.

The spring section may be allocated an intermediate element, which on transferring the wiper blade wing from the working position to the wringing out position comes into contact with the spring section and effects, the needle section being pressed through the longitudinal opening into the recess. In working position, the intermediate element should preferably be separated at a distance from the spring section, so the needle section independently removes itself from the recess and the two joint structures are released.

Two protrusions emanating from the side can be formed from the joint, which rest on the sliding surfaces formed on the basic structure. In this case the protrusions protrude in the direction of the narrow sides of the wiper plate and are in the region of the free ends of the protrusions on the sliding surfaces. Predominantly semi-circular elevations can be formed from the basic structure, wherein the external contours of the semi-circular elevations form the sliding surfaces. On the top side of the elevations, that is the side of the elevations turned away from the basic structure, a plateau is formed from the sliding surfaces.

The plateau should preferably be formed in such a way, that it juts out over the sliding surfaces, so that in each case a step arises on the two transitions from the plateau to the sliding surface.

During cleaning work, the shaft is usually swivelled through an angle of between 450 and 800 to the longitudinal axis. In this region of angles, the protrusions lie on top of the curved sliding surfaces and the wiper plate may be swivelled facing the shaft.

In particular during backwards movement of the cleaning device, a force may act on the wiper plate, which effects a folding over of the wiper plate, so that the wiper covering no longer is lying on the floor which must be cleaned. This is especially the case with slightly moist wiper coverings and dull floors. Through the step in the region of the transition between the arched sliding surfaces and the plateau, the protrusions are opposed by a resistance, which prevents the wiper plate from flipping over during reverse movement of the wiper plate.

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a wiper plate, comprising a basic structure, to which a first wiper plate wing, a second wiper plate wing and a joint have been connected in a pivotable manner, wherein the wiper plate wings can swivel between a working position and a wringing out position, wherein a facility for arresting the joint has been allocated to the basic structure, wherein the facility fixes the joint along the longitudinal axis of the joint only when the wiper plate wings are situated outside of the working position.

Brief Description of the Drawings Some forms of design of the wiper plate in accordance with the invention are explained in more detail using the figures below. These indicate, in each case schematically:

Fig. 1 the wiper plate in the working position, in frontal view; Fig. 2 the wiper plate in the working position, in aerial view; Fig. 3 the wiper plate in the working position, viewed from below; Fig. 4 the wiper plate in the working position, in side-on view; Fig. 5 the wiper plate in the working position, in a further side-on view. Fig. 6 the wiper plate in the working position, in spatial representation; Fig. 7 the wiper plate in the wringing out position, viewed side on; Fig. 8 the wiper plate in the wringing out position in frontal view, in detail; Fig. 9 the wiper plate in the wringing out position viewed in perspective; Fig. 10 the wiper plate in the wringing out position, viewed in cross section; Fig. 11 the wiper plate in the working position viewed in;

Fig. 12 the wiper plate in frontal view seen in section, with the foot pedal activated.

Detailed Description The Figures indicate a wiper plate 1 with a basic structure 2, on which a first wiper plate wing 3 and a second wiper plate wing 4 are attached in a pivotable manner. The basic structure 2 is allocated a joint 5, a universal joint, which can be connected to a shaft. The wiper plate wings 3, 4 can be fixed reversibly in a working position 6. In working position 6 the two wiper plate wings 3, 4 are predominantly directed in one plane. The wiper plate wings 3, 4 can be swivelled from working position 6 into a wringing out position 7 through activating a foot pedal 23.

The wiper plate 1 and the wiper plate wings 3, 4 have a top side and an underside forming the wiping surface. The undersides of the first wiper plate wing 3 and the second wiper plate wing 4 move towards one another on swivelling the wiper plate wings 3, 4 from the working position 6 to the wringing out position 7. In the wringing out position 7, the two undersides of the two wiper plate wings 3, 4 are positioned opposite to one another.

The foot pedal 23 is arranged on the first wiper plate wing 3 in a pivotable manner and is designed in such a way, that the foot pedal 23 fixes the second wiper plate wing 4 in working position 6. What is more, the foot pedal 23 is designed, so that the second wiper plate wing 4 on activating foot pedal 23 swivels relative to the first wiper plate wing 3.

The foot pedal 23 is attached to the first wiper plate wing 3 in an articulated manner, wherein the foot pedal 23 has a first free end protruding from the first wiper plate wing 3, which forms the activation section of the foot pedal 23. What is more, the foot pedal 23 has a second free end protruding in the direction of the second wiper plate wing 4, which forms the locking section of the foot pedal 23.

The foot pedal 23 has two protrusions 28, 29, which are allocated on the locking section. The two protrusions 28, 29 are designed as spring elements and are allocated in working position 6 to the underside of the second wiper plate wing 4. The two protrusions 28, 29 rest there under elastic pre-tensioning.

The second wiper plate wings 4 has projecting elements 26, which are designed in such a way, that the second wiper plate wing 4 including elements 26 grips around the basic structure 2 in a U-shape. Holding elements 31 are formed out of the foot pedal 23, which overlap the elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4 and in this way, together with the protrusions 28, 29 fix the wiper plate wings 3, 4 in working position 6.

If foot pedal 23 is activated, the holder elements 31 separate themselves from the second wiper plate wing 4 and release the second wiper plate wing 4 to swivel. At the same time, the two protrusions 28, 29 press onto the underside of the second wiper plate wing 4 and in this way swivel the second wiper plate wing 4 relative to the first wiper plate wing 3 through activation of the foot pedal 23.

The first wiper plate wing 3 and the second wiper plate wing 4 in each case have interlocking teeth, wherein the teeth interlock with each other. In this way, the two wiper plate wings 3, 4, swivel at the same time relative to the basic structure 2. In the winging out position 7, both the wiper plate wings 3,4 are below the basic structure 2, or in a straight line to the shaft, the joint 5 and the basic structure 2.

The first wiper plate wing 3, second wiper plate wing 4 and foot pedal 23 are locked in a form-fit manner in working position 6.

The basic structure 2, wiper plate wings 3, 4 and the joint 5 are made out of plastic suitable for injection moulding. The underside of the wiper plate wings 3, 4 are covered with a structure in the form of ribs 24. The ribs 24 make local high contact pressure of the wiper covering on the floor to be cleaned. In this way, the cleaning performance is improved.

The wiper plate wings 3, 4 are fitted with a facility 25 for fastening a wiper covering. In the design present here, this consists of recesses, which are affixed in the edge regions of the narrow sides of the wiper plate wings 3, 4 and serve for including pressure buttons for a wiper covering. In this way, the wiper covering is also connected securely to the wiper plate 1 in the wringing out position 7 to the wiper plate 1, so that the wiper covering can be wrung out in the wringing out attachment hanging down from wiper plate 1.

The basic structure 2 is allocated a fixing facility 8 for arresting the joint 5, which fixes the joint 5 in the wringing out position 7 along the longitudinal axis 9 of the joint 5.

On swivelling the wiper plate wings 3, 4, the protruding elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4 swivel in the direction of joint 5. In this way. The joint 5 is blocked and cannot pivot in the direction of the elements 26. The elements 26 are allocated stop elements 32, which enlarge the contact surfaces between the elements 26 and joint 5. To this extent, the elements 26 form a part of the fixing facility 8 and limit the manoeuvrability of joint 5 in the direction of pivoting pointing towards the main sides of the wiper plate wings 3, 4.

The joint 5 is formed as a universal joint and has a first joint structure 15 and a second joint structure 16. The first joint structure 15 is arranged in a pivotable manner on basic structure 2. The second joint structure 16 is arranged pivotably on the first joint structure 15, wherein the pivoting axis is arranged between the first joint body 15 and the second joint body16 crossways to the axis of pivoting between the first joint body 15 and the basic structure 2, so that a universal joint is formed.

In a further part of the fixing facility 8, the first joint structure 15 has a spring needle 17, which protrudes through a longitudinal opening 18 introduced to the first joint structure 15. The second joint body 16 has a recess 19, which has a congruent covering to the longitudinal opening 18 of the first joint body 15, if the second joint structure 16 is designed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 9 relative to the first joint structure 15.

The spring pin 17 has a needle section 20, which is arranged in the longitudinal opening 18 and has a spring section 21, which is arranged in the first joint structure 15 in an open crossways opening 22 in the direction of the basic structure 2. On swivelling the wiper plate wings 3, 4 from the working position 6 into wringing out position 7, the wiper plate wings 3, 4 come into contact with the spring element 21 via an intermediate element 27, which in turn press the needle section 20 right through the longitudinal opening 18 in the direction of the recess 19 of the second joint structure 16. If the joint 5 is directed towards longitudinal axis 9, the needle pin section 20 is pressed into recess 19, so that the first joint body 15 and the second joint structure 16 are fixed to one another along the longitudinal axis 9. If the two joint structures 15, 16 have not yet been fully aligned, the needle pin section 20 rests against the second joint structure 16 with pre-tensioning and the needle pin section 20 presses itself independently into recess19, once both joint structures 15, 16 are finally aligned along longitudinal axis 9. If the wiper plate wings 3, 4 are moved from the wringing our position 7 to the working position 6, the wiper plate wings 3, 4 separate themselves at a distance form interim element 27 and the pre-tensioning of spring section 21 on needle pin section 20 is reduced, and in this way the needle pin section 20 removes itself independently from the recess 19.

Two protrusions 10, 11 emanating sideways are formed from joint 5, which rest on the predominantly semi-circular sliding surfaces 12, 13 formed from basic structure 2. The sliding surfaces 12, 13 have a plateau 14, wherein the plateau 14 is formed in such a manner, that a step arises on transition between curved sliding surface 12, 13 and plateau 14. If the joint 5 is situated diagonally on to the longitudinal axis 9 during cleaning work, the protrusions 10, 11 are resting on the semi-circular sections of the sliding surfaces 12, 13. If the joint 5 is now swivelled in the direction of the longitudinal axis 9, the protrusions 10, 11 are displaced on the sliding surfaces 12, 13 in the direction of plateaus 14, herein the protrusions 10, 11 are deformed after reaching the step. In this way, the resistance against further pivoting of the joint 5 increases, so that the wiper plate 1 does not fold over during cleaning work.

Figure 1 shows wiper plate 1 in the working position 6 in frontal view.

Figure 2 shows wiper plate 1 in the working position 6 in aerial view.

Figure 3 shows wiper plate 1 in the working position 6 viewed from below. A covering can be detected alongside the ribs 24 when viewed from below, which covers the foot pedal 23 on the underside. In this way, the foot pedal 23, is protected against undesired interventions on the underside.

Figure 4 shows wiper plate 1 in working position 6 viewed from the side. The first wiper plate wing 3 with foot pedal 23 is depicted in this side-on view.

Figure 5 shows wiper plate 1 in working position 6 in a further side-on view. The second wiper plate wing 4 is depicted in this side-on view.

Figure 6 shows the wiper plate 1 in working position 6 in a spatial representation.

Figure 7 shows wiper plate 1 in wringing out position 7 viewed from the side. The first wiper plate wing 3 with foot pedal 23 is represented. What is more, the elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4 can be detected. In the wringing out position 7, the elements 26 are swivelled in the direction of the joint 5. What is more, the protrusions 28, 29 of foot pedal 23 can be detected, which are formed as spring tongues and in working position 6 rest on the underside of the second wiper plate wing 4 under pretension. What is more, the stop elements 32 can be recognised, which enlarge the contact surface between elements 26 and joint 5.

Figures 8 and 9 show details of wiper plate 1 in wringing out position 7. In particular, the stop elements 32 can be detected as well as the sliding surfaces 12,13 and the plateau 14 with the step which has been formed.

Figure 10 shows wiper plate 1 in wringing our position 7 in a partial view.

Figure 11 shows wiper plate 1 in working position 6, wherein the region around the foot pedal 23 is shown in cross-section. In this position, the holding elements 31 of foot pedal 23 overlap the elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4. The protrusions 28, 29 of foot pedal 23 rest against the underside of elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4 under pre-tensioning.

Figure 12 shows wiper plate 1 in accordance with Figure 11, wherein foot pedal 23 has been activated. In this way, the holder elements 31 are separated at a distance from the second wiper plate 4 and the second wiper plate wing 4 has been released for pivoting. At the same time, the protrusions 28, 29 press against the underside of the elements 26 of the second wiper plate wing 4 and in this way move the second wiper plate wing 4 and via the toothed gearing also the first wiper plate wing 3 out of working position 6. If the foot pedal 23 is released finally, the wiper plate wings 3, 4 can no longer be arrested or stopped independently and on raising wiper plate 1 the wiper plates 3, 4 swivel into the wringing out position 7.

Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A wiper plate, comprising a basic structure, to which a first wiper plate wing, a second wiper plate wing and a joint have been connected in a pivotable manner, wherein the wiper plate wings can swivel between a working position and a wringing out position, wherein a facility for arresting the joint has been allocated to the basic structure, wherein the facility fixes the joint along the longitudinal axis of the joint only when the wiper plate wings are situated outside of the working position.

2. The wiper plate according to claim 1, wherein the joint is formed as a universal joint.

3. The wiper plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the joint has a first joint body and a second joint body.

4. The wiper plate according to claim 3, wherein the first joint body is arranged on the basic structure in a pivotable manner.

5. The wiper plate according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second joint body is arranged on the first joint body in a manner that it can swivel, wherein the swivel axis is directed between the first joint body and the second joint body crossways to the swivel axis between the first joint body and the basic structure.

6. The wiper plate according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first joint body includes a spring pin, which protrudes through a longitudinal opening introduced into the first joint body.

7. The wiper plate according to claim 6, wherein the second joint body has a recess, which covers a congruent area to the longitudinal opening of the first joint body when the joint body is directed in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the first joint body.

8. The wiper plate according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the spring pin has a needle section, which is arranged in the longitudinal opening and has a spring section, which is arranged in an open crossways opening in the direction of the basic structure, so that on swivelling from working position to wringing out position, the wiper plate wings come into contact with the spring section and press the needle section right through the longitudinal opening in the direction of recess of the second joint structure.

9. The wiper plate according to claim 8, wherein the spring section is allocated an intermediate element, which during transition of the wiper plate wings from working position to wringing out position comes into contact with at least one wiper plate wing and the spring section and effects, that the needle section is pressed right through the longitudinal opening into the recess.

10. The wiper plate according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second wiper plate wing has protruding elements formed such that the second wiper plate wing grasps around the basic structure and joint allocated to the basic structure via elements and the joint allocated to basic structure in a U-shape.

11. The wiper plate according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein two protrusions protrude from the side of the joint, which lie on top of sliding surfaces formed from the basic structure.

12. The wiper plate according to claim 11, wherein the sliding surfaces have a plateau.

13. The wiper plate according to claim 12, wherein the plateau is formed in such a way, that it protrudes over the sliding surfaces, so that on the two transitions from the plateau to the sliding surfaces in each case a step is produced.