Abstract:
A cleaning device is provided with a housing which has a placement surface for setting down a container and with travel wheels for moving the cleaning device. In order to develop the cleaning device further in such a manner that a container can be secured on the placement surface in a simple manner, it is suggested that the cleaning device have at least one storage space, in which at least one tensioning element is arranged in a storage position, this tensioning element being withdrawable from the storage space at least partially and being transferable into a working position for the purpose of securing the container on the placement surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of international application number PCT/EP2011/055124, filed on Apr. 1, 2011, and claims the benefit of German application number 10 2010 003 754.0, filed on Apr. 8, 2010, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a cleaning device with a housing which has a placement surface for setting down a container and with travel wheels for moving the cleaning device. 
         [0003]    Cleaning devices of this type are used, for example, in the form of vacuum cleaners or also in the form of high-pressure cleaning devices. They are utilized, for example, on building sites but also at other locations of use. The cleaning devices are equipped with travel wheels and can, therefore, be moved along a floor. 
         [0004]    The cleaning devices are often positioned in a transport vehicle for the purpose of transporting them to a location of use. Often, the stowing space available in the transport vehicle is restricted. For this reason, containers are, in many cases, placed on the cleaning devices positioned in the stowing space, for example tool boxes or other containers which accommodate utensils or accessories. When the transport vehicle has reached its destination, the containers and the cleaning device will be removed from the transport vehicle and, subsequently, transported to the actual site of their use. 
         [0005]    EP 0 916 302 B1 discloses a cleaning device in the form of a vacuum cleaner, the housing of which has on the upper side a placement surface with a recess, into which a container can be inserted. The container is, as a result, secured on the placement surface of the housing against shifting. In addition, the container can be locked in the recess with the aid of locking elements. The locking elements are designed as displaceable locking bars. The locking of the container to the placement surface has the advantage that the vacuum cleaner can be moved by the user together with the container in the form of a single transport unit. However, it is necessary for the container to have the dimensions of the recess. Containers and vacuum cleaners must, therefore, be adapted to one another in their dimensions. In addition, it is necessary for the purpose of locking the container for it to have fastening elements interacting with the locking elements. 
         [0006]    The object of the present invention is to further develop a cleaning device of the type specified at the outset in such a manner that a container can be secured on the placement surface in a simple manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a cleaning device of the generic type, in that the cleaning device has at least one storage space, in which at least one tensioning element is arranged in a storage position, this tensioning element being withdrawable from the storage space at least partially and transferable into a working position for the purpose of securing the container on the placement surface. 
         [0008]    For the purpose of securing the container on the placement surface of the housing, the cleaning device has at least one tensioning element which is arranged in a storage position in a storage space provided by the cleaning device. The tensioning element can be withdrawn from the storage space at least partially and transferred into a working position for the purpose of securing a container on the placement surface. Since it is carried along by the cleaning device in the storage space, it is available to a user at any time for securing a container or also any other object on the placement surface. After use, the tensioning element can be brought back into the storage space again, in which it can be stored. 
         [0009]    It may be provided for the cleaning device to have only a single storage space, in which a single tensioning element is arranged in a storage position. However, it may also be provided for the cleaning device to comprise several storage spaces which each accommodate a tensioning element. In addition, it may be provided for several tensioning elements to be arranged in at least one storage space of the cleaning device in a storage position, from which they can be transferred into a working position. 
         [0010]    It is favorable when the at least one storage space is arranged beneath the placement surface. This offers the possibility of fixing the container, which has been set down on the placement surface, in position on the placement surface by means of the at least one tensioning element in a constructionally simple manner. The tensioning element can, for this purpose, be withdrawn from the storage space arranged beneath the placement surface at least to such an extent that the container can be fixed in place on the placement surface by means of the tensioning element. For example, the container can have the tensioning element engaging around it at least partially in circumferential direction. 
         [0011]    The placement surface is preferably arranged on the upper side of the housing. This facilitates the positioning of the container on the placement surface. 
         [0012]    In one advantageous embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention, the tensioning element is adapted to be pulled at least partially out of the storage space. This facilitates the handling of the tensioning element. 
         [0013]    It is of advantage when the tensioning element is adapted to be pulled at least partially out of the storage space contrary to the action of a restoring force. 
         [0014]    The tensioning element is favorably elastically extendable. The tensioning element can preferably be stretched by at least 50%, i.e. the length of the tensioning element can be increased by at least 50% as a result of a stretching load. It is particularly favorable when the tensioning element can be stretched by 100%, i.e. can be stretched to double its length as a result of a stretching load. 
         [0015]    A particularly simple handling during securing of a container on the placement surface of the housing results in one advantageous embodiment due to the fact that the tensioning element has a first end which is secured in the storage space as well as a second loose end which is accessible from outside the storage space. The tensioning element can be grasped by the user at its loose end and then withdrawn at least partially from the storage space. The end of the tensioning element facing away from the loose end is secured in the storage space. The user can guide the loose end around the container set down on the placement surface and fasten it to the cleaning device or also to the container. 
         [0016]    It has proven to be favorable, particularly when two tensioning elements are used, when they are each fixed in a storage space with one end and can be grasped by the user at their other end and pulled out of the storage space. 
         [0017]    A fastening element, for example a fastening hook, is preferably arranged at the loose end of the at least one tensioning element. In a working position, the tensioning element can be secured on the cleaning device or on the container in a simple manner with the aid of the fastening element in order to secure the container on the placement surface. 
         [0018]    The tensioning element can be designed as a type of tensioning belt or a tensioning rope. 
         [0019]    The at least one tensioning element is, in one advantageous embodiment of the invention, arranged in the storage space in the form of an elongated component. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, it may be provided for the at least one tensioning element to be wound onto a spool in the storage space. 
         [0021]    The at least one storage space of the cleaning device according to the invention is preferably of a channel-shaped configuration. 
         [0022]    It may be provided for the housing of the cleaning device to have a cover plate which forms the placement surface on its upper side and into which the at least one storage space is integrated. 
         [0023]    The cover plate is favorably arranged on an upper part of the housing of the cleaning device. The cover plate can preferably be releasably connected to the upper part of the housing. 
         [0024]    The cover plate preferably has, at an edge of the placement surface, at least one stop element with a stop surface which projects beyond the placement surface, wherein the container can abut on the stop surface. This facilitates the positioning of the container on the placement surface. Favorably, at least one stop element is arranged at respective edges of the placement surface facing away from one another and the stop surfaces of these stop elements face one another. 
         [0025]    It is of particular advantage when the cover plate has an underside which faces away from the placement surface and into which the at least one storage space is integrally formed. As a result, the production costs can be kept low. 
         [0026]    It may, for example, be provided for the at least one storage space to form a receiving channel which is integrally formed in the underside of the cover plate. The receiving channel can have, for example, a U-shaped or C-shaped course in a view of the underside of the cover plate. In one preferred configuration of the invention, the tensioning element can be pulled at least partially out of the receiving channel in the longitudinal direction of the channel 
         [0027]    It is favorable when the receiving channel opens into a side surface, preferably into a front side, of the cover plate. The tensioning element can be grippable by the user in its storage position in the opening area of the receiving channel. 
         [0028]    It is of advantage when the cleaning device has fastening elements, to which the tensioning element can be secured in its working position. The fastening elements can be designed, for example, in the form of fastening eyes or fastening hooks, to each of which the tensioning element can be fastened with one end once it has been guided around a container placed on the placement surface. 
         [0029]    The cleaning device preferably has a handle as this makes moving the cleaning device along the floor easier. In this respect, it is favorable when at least one fastening element for the tensioning element is arranged on the handle. The handle can preferably take up a position which is aligned at right angles to the placement surface and, as a result, laterally support the container which is set down on the placement surface. Several fastening elements, to each of which a tensioning element can be attached with one end, can favorably be arranged on the handle. The fastening elements, for example fastening eyes or hooks, are advantageously arranged at different distances in relation to the placement surface. This facilitates the securing of containers of different sizes by means of the tensioning element. 
         [0030]    It is of particular advantage when the cleaning device, together with a container arranged on the placement surface, can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation of two travel wheels. The cleaning device can then be moved together with the container in the manner of a wheelbarrow. The container can be reliably fixed in place on the placement surface by means of the at least one tensioning element and can be moved together with the cleaning device. 
         [0031]    It is favorable when the cleaning device is portable. This facilitates the transport of the cleaning device on uneven floors or also over steps. 
         [0032]    It is of advantage when the cleaning device has a device handle pivotable into the placement surface. In a non-operational position, the device handle can be pivoted into the placement surface, wherein it does not then project out of the placement surface and a container can be set down on the placement surface without being affected by the device handle. Insofar as no container is positioned on the placement surface, the device handle can be pivoted out of the placement surface into an operational position, in which it can be grasped by the user in order to carry the cleaning device, for example, over a step. 
         [0033]    In one particularly preferred embodiment, the cleaning device has at least one snap-in hook for locking a carrying handle of a container placed on the placement surface. This makes it possible to secure the container not only by means of the at least one tensioning element but, in addition, the container can be secured on the placement surface with the aid of the at least one snap-in hook. The snap-in hook interacts with a carrying handle of the container. The container can be set down on the placement surface in such an orientation that its carrying handle can interact with the at least one snap-in hook of the cleaning device. In particular, it may be provided for the snap-in hook to engage over the carrying handle of the container in a snap-in position. For this purpose, the carrying handle of the container can be pivoted over the snap-in hook, wherein the snap-in hook is, first of all, deformed in the direction away from the carrying handle of the container until the carrying handle takes up a position beneath the free end of the snap-in hook so that the snap-in hook can take up a snap-in position, in which it engages over the carrying handle of the container. 
         [0034]    The cleaning device favorably comprises two snap-in hooks which are, in particular, of an identical design, interact with the carrying handle of the container set down on the placement surface and engage over it in a snap-in position. 
         [0035]    The at least one snap-in hook is preferably arranged at an edge of the placement surface, wherein it projects beyond the placement surface. 
         [0036]    In one particularly preferred configuration of the invention, the at least one receiving space opens into a side surface of the cleaning device, wherein a loose end of the tensioning element can be grasped by the user in the opening area of the receiving space and a snap-in hook, which interacts with the carrying handle of a container set down on the placement surface in order to form a snap-in connection, is arranged adjacent to the opening area. This has the advantage that following interlocking of the carrying handle with the snap-in hook the tensioning element can be guided over the carrying handle of the container and, as a result, the carrying handle can be acted upon with a force in the direction towards the snap-in hook. As a result, the container can be secured on the placement surface in a particularly reliable manner without there being any risk of the container slipping. 
         [0037]    The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves to explain the invention in greater detail in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of a cleaning device with a cover plate which forms a placement surface for one or also several containers; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective illustration of the cover plate from  FIG. 1  at an angle from above; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the underside of the cover plate from  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective illustration of the cleaning device from  FIG. 1 , wherein two containers are arranged on the placement surface one on top of the other and are fixed in place by means of two tensioning elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    A cleaning device according to the invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings in the form of a vacuum cleaner  10  with a base  12 , on which two travel wheels are mounted so as to be freely rotatable about a common axis of rotation  16 . In order to achieve a better overview, only a first travel wheel  14  is illustrated in the drawings. In addition, two support wheels are rotatably mounted on the base  12 , wherein only a first support wheel  18  is apparent in the drawings. The vacuum cleaner  10  can be moved along a floor surface by means of the travel wheels  14  and the support wheels  18 . 
         [0043]    A vacuum unit  20  is placed on the base  12  and this has a housing lower part  22  and a housing upper part  24 . The lower part  22  of the housing forms, in the customary manner, a dirt collecting container, into which suction air can be drawn in via a suction inlet  26  together with suction material. A suction hose, which has a suction nozzle at its free end, can be connected to the suction inlet  26  in the customary manner. Such suction hoses and suction nozzles are known per se to the person skilled in the art and are not, therefore, illustrated in the drawings in order to achieve a better overview. 
         [0044]    The upper part  24  of the housing surrounds, in the customary manner, a suction turbine which is driven by an electric motor. The dirt collecting container of the lower part  22  of the housing can be acted upon with a vacuum by means of the suction turbine. 
         [0045]    A cover plate  30 , which is connected releasably to the upper part  24  of the housing, is arranged on the upper part  24  of the housing and this is essentially of a rectangular shape and has a first longitudinal side  31 , a second longitudinal side  32  facing away from the first longitudinal side  31  as well as a front side  33  and a rear side  34 . A recess  36 , which is essentially U-shaped in the plan view, is integrally formed in the front side  33  in the center. 
         [0046]    The cover plate  30  has an upper side which forms a placement surface  38  for the placement of one or more containers. This is apparent from  FIG. 4 . Moreover, the cover plate  30  has an underside  40  which faces away from the placement surface  38  and with which it rests on the upper part  24  of the housing. 
         [0047]    At the rear-side edge of the placement surface  38 , the cover plate  30  has on its upper side a first stop  42  which projects out of the placement surface  38  and has a first stop surface  43  aligned essentially at right angles to the placement surface  38 . Between the recess  36  and the first longitudinal side  31  the cover plate  30  has at the front-side edge of the placement surface  38  on its upper side a second stop  45  which projects out of the placement surface  38  and has a second stop surface  46  aligned essentially at right angles to the placement surface  38 , and between the recess  36  and the second longitudinal side  32  the cover plate  30  has at the front-side edge of the placement surface  38  on its upper side a third stop  48  which projects out of the placement surface  38  and has a third stop surface  49  aligned essentially at right angles to the placement surface  38 . The second stop surface  46  faces the first stop surface  43 , likewise the third stop surface  49 . 
         [0048]    A first snap-in hook  51  projects out of the placement surface  38  at the front-side edge of the placement surface  38  between the second stop  45  and the recess  36  and a second snap-in hook  52 , which is of an identical design to the first snap-in hook  51 , projects out of the placement surface  38  at the front-side edge of the placement surface  38  between the recess  36  and the third stop  48 . Both snap-in hooks  51  and  52  face away from the first stop surface  43  and are elastically deformable. 
         [0049]    A device handle  54  is mounted in the placement surface  38  so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis  55 . The device handle  54  is essentially of a U-shaped design and comprises a first arm  56  and a second arm  57  which are connected to one another in one piece at their free ends via a device crosspiece  58 . In its non-operational position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the device handle  54  is accommodated by a handle recess  60  which is integrally formed in the placement surface  38  on its upper side and out of which it can be pivoted into an operational position aligned at right angles to the placement surface  38  for the purpose of carrying the vacuum cleaner  10 . 
         [0050]    A first storage space in the form of a first receiving channel  62  and a second storage space in the form of a second receiving channel  64  are integrally formed in the underside  40  of the cover plate  30 . The first receiving channel  62  opens into the front side  33  of the cover plate  30  beneath the second stop  45  and forms a first opening  66  in this region. Proceeding from the first opening  66 , the first receiving channel  62  extends with a first channel section  67  in the direction of the rear side  34 . The first channel section  67  is followed at a short distance from the rear side  34  by a second channel section  68  which extends parallel to the rear side  34  and is followed by a third channel section  69  which extends parallel to the second longitudinal side  32  and ends at a channel end  70  approximately at the level of the center of the second longitudinal side  32 . 
         [0051]    The second receiving channel  64  opens into the front side  33  of the cover plate  30  beneath the third stop  48  and forms a second opening  71  in this region. Proceeding from the second opening  71 , the second receiving channel  64  extends with a first channel section  72  in the direction of the rear side  34 . The first channel section  72  is followed at a short distance from the rear side  34  by a second channel section  73  which extends parallel to the rear side  34  and is followed by a third channel section  74  which extends parallel to the first longitudinal side  31  and ends at a channel end  75  approximately at the level of the center of the first longitudinal side  31 . 
         [0052]    The first receiving channel  62  accommodates a first, elastically extendable tensioning element  80  which is secured with a first end  81  to the channel end  70  of the first receiving channel  62  and dips with a second end  82  into the first opening  66 . A fastening element in the form of a first fastening hook  83  is secured to the second end  82 . 
         [0053]    The second receiving channel  64  accommodates a second tensioning element  85  which is secured with a first end  86  to the channel end  75  of the second receiving channel  64  and the second end  87  of which dips into the second opening  71 . A fastening element in the form of a second fastening hook  88  is secured to the second end  87 . 
         [0054]    The two tensioning elements  80  and  85  are accommodated completely in the respective receiving channel  62  and  64  in their storage position. With their second ends  82 ,  87  the tensioning elements  80  and  85  are, however, accessible for the user at the front side  33  of the cover plate  30 . The first fastening hook  83  and the second fastening hook  88  can be grasped by the user at the front side  33 . The tensioning elements  80  and  85  can then be stretched in longitudinal direction, wherein they can each be stretched by 100%, i.e. they can double their length. This offers the possibility of engaging around one or more containers, which have been placed on the placement surface  38 , with the tensioning elements  80  and  85  at least partially in circumferential direction. The fastening hooks  83  and  88  can then each be hooked to a fastening eye  91  and  92 , respectively. This is apparent from  FIG. 4 . 
         [0055]    The fastening eyes  91  and  92  are arranged on a handle  94  which is essentially U-shaped, is mounted on the upper part  24  of the housing in a rearward area so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis  95  and has a first arm  99  as well as a second arm  100  which are connected to one another via a handle crosspiece  98 . It can be pivoted back and forth between a pivoted out or upright position, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , into a pivoted in position, which is not illustrated in the drawings and in which it is aligned parallel to the placement surface  38 . The handle  94  can be locked in its pivoted out position by means of a locking device  97  which is arranged at the free end of at least one arm of the handle  94 . 
         [0056]    In addition to the fastening eyes  91  and  92 , two additional fastening eyes  101 ,  102  and  103 ,  104 , respectively, are integrally formed on each of the two arms  99 ,  100  at different distances to the placement surface  38 . 
         [0057]    The tensioning elements  80 ,  85  can, therefore, be secured to the handle  94  with their fastening hooks  83 ,  88  at different distances to the placement surface  38 . As a result, containers of different sizes can be fixed in place on the placement surface  38  in a simple manner by means of the elastically extendable tensioning elements  80 ,  85 . 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 4 , the two tensioning elements  80 ,  85  are each illustrated in their working position, in which they engage around two containers  110 ,  112  which are arranged one on top of the other and set down on the placement surface  38 . The two containers  110 ,  112  are of an identical design in the embodiment illustrated. They each comprise a container lower part  114  and  116 , respectively, and a container cover  118  and  120 , respectively, which is held on the container lower part  114 ,  116  so as to be pivotable. A carrying handle  126  and  128 , respectively, is articulatedly mounted on a front side  122  and  124 , respectively, of the container lower part  114 ,  116 . The carrying handle  126  of the lower container  110  has the snap-in hooks  51 ,  52  engaging over it. This provides for an additional locking of the lower container  110  on the placement surface  38 . The snap-in hooks  51 ,  52  are elastically deformable and so the carrying handle  126  snaps into a snap-in position, which is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and in which the snap-in hooks  51 ,  52  engage over the carrying handle  126  of the container, by pivoting over the snap-in hooks  51 ,  52  once the lower container  110  has been set down on the placement surface  38 . 
         [0059]    The tensioning elements  80  and  85  can be pulled out of the receiving channels  62 ,  64  to such an extent that the two containers  110 ,  112  have the tensioning elements  80 ,  85  engaging over them in the region of the front sides  122 ,  124  and in the region of the upper container cover  120 . On the rear side, the two containers  110 ,  112  are supported by the arms  99 ,  100  of the handle  94  and so they experience, altogether, a reliable fixing in place on the placement surface  38 . 
         [0060]    The containers  110 ,  112  secured on the placement surface  38  can be pivoted to the rear about the axis of rotation  16  of the two wheels  14  together with the vacuum cleaner  10  in the form of a single transport unit and so the containers  110 ,  112  can be moved along a floor together with the vacuum cleaner  10  in the manner of a wheelbarrow. 
         [0061]    Once the containers  110 ,  112  have been removed from the placement surface  38 , the two tensioning elements  80 ,  85  can be stowed again in the receiving channels  62 ,  64 . On account of the elastic returning force of the tensioning elements  80 ,  85 , they return to their storage position automatically after being released from the fastening rings  91 ,  92 .