Patent ID: 6223378
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
A device (1) for applying a sheet material to a surface (2), particularly for cleaning purposes, this device being the type which is moved by a person, in front of himself, by means of a control handle (3) and which places in contact with the floor (2) a sheet material (4) drawn from a reel (5) of a strip (6) of cleaning material in strip form (6),which device comprises a frame (7) and:two cylindrical rollers (8, 9) called the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, guided in rotation on the frame around approximately parallel axes (8A, 9A) and on which the strip (6) of cleaning material (4) is disposed and held taut so that at least one contact surface (8B, 9B) of each roller (8, 9) carrying this sheet (4) can be selectively placed in contact with the floor (2) by an application means (10) during the utilization of the device (1) in a back-and-forth movement oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to said rollers,the control handle being (3) articulated to the frame (7) around an axis (3A) approximately parallel to the axes (8A, 9A) of the rollers (8, 9),a means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) so as to ensure the replenishment of the material placed in contact with the floor (2) and the winding of the soiled strip (6) onto a receiving mandrel (12),this device being characterized in that:the axis (3A) of articulation of the handle (3) on the frame (7) is disposed behind the heel roller (9), andthe application means (10) comprises:support means (15) for support on the floor (2), movable relative to the frame (7) between two positions (15B, 15C), including a first position (15B) in which the support means removes the heel roller (9) from contact with the floor (2), while inducing the application of the nose roller (8) to the floor (2), and a second position (15C) in which, conversely, the support means removes the nose roller (8) from contact with the floor (2) while inducing the application of the heel roller (8) to the floor (2), andan elastic means (16) at least indirectly disposed between the means (15) for support on the floor (2) and the frame (7) so as to stress support means (15) for support on the floor (2) toward its so-called first position (15B),the means (11) for controlling the feeding of the strip (6) comprises means (17) disposed so as to receive an alternating movement from a moving means (18) at least indirectly associated with the support means (15) for support on the floor (2) and so as to drive, at least indirectly in rotation and by a fraction of a turn, via driving means (19A through 19E), at least the mandrel (12) for receiving the soiled strip, in a direction such that said strip (6) is moved, by a fraction of the distance that separates the nose (8) and heel (9) rollers, fromsaid nose roller (8) toward said heel roller (9).