Cleaning tool

A cleaning tool includes a support tool for rotatably supporting an adhesive tape roll via bearing members; and a storing case for storing the adhesive tape roll. Bearing caps detachably attached to both ends of the adhesive tape roll are used as the bearing members. The support tool has a gate-shaped frame which is made of a synthetic resin and includes a pair of left and right leg plates and a support base extending between the upper ends of the leg plates. An opening having substantially the same width as the gate-shaped frame while the storing case is closed, is formed between matching surfaces of a pair of openable case members from both side surfaces thereof over an upper surface thereof, the case members constituting the storing case. A portion of the outer contour of the storing case is complemented by the gate-shaped frame of the support tool.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2016/068081 filed Jun. 17, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool using an adhesive tape roll, and more specifically, to a support tool of the adhesive tape roll and a storing case for storing the adhesive tape roll when not in use.

BACKGROUND ART

The adhesive tape roll is an adhesive cleaning roll constituted by winding a tape base material having an adhesive member layer on one surface a predetermined number of times so that the adhesive member layer thereof is placed outside and is rolled over a surface to be cleaned such as a floor surface to catch garbage with the adhesive member layer. The adhesive tape roll is provided with a perforation line approximately at every circumference, and stripping off the adhesive tape at the outermost periphery, an adhesive force of which is weakened by catches of garbage, causes an unused adhesive tape in an underlayer to newly appear.

Since the adhesive member layer is always exposed on the surface, the cleaning tool requires a dedicated support tool (operation tool) for rolling the adhesive tape roll and a storing case for storing the adhesive tape roll when not in use.

Various types of support tools are available, and an invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1 uses a support tool including a cylindrical support roller which is inserted into a winding core of an adhesive tape roll and a support shaft including a spindle part for pivotally supporting the support roller at one end thereof and a grip part (operation handle) at the other end.

A storing case constructed of a pair of half-split-shaped case members, a base part of which is connected to be openable by a hinge part and a whole of which is formed of injection molded synthetic resin is used as the storing case for storing the adhesive tape roll.

In the above-described support tool, a metal shaft which is folded into a cantilever hanger shape is used as the support shaft, which, however, is more expensive than a resin shaft.

The winding core of the adhesive tape roll has an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the spindle part of the support shaft, and so the support roller having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the winding core is attached to the spindle part to rotatably support the adhesive tape roll via the support roller, but the use of the support roller constitutes a factor of a cost increase.

Furthermore, the adhesive tape roll is attached to the support tool and stored in the storing case, but the adhesive tape roll needs to be held in midair in the storing case to prevent the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape from adhering to an inner surface of the storing case.

As a way to achieve this object, the invention disclosed in Patent Literature 1 provides an engaging part for sandwiching part of the support shaft when the case is closed at a position close to the center of gravity of the grip on a matching surface of the pair of half-split-shaped case members, which, however, requires a complicated molding die and is not preferable in terms of cost.

Another method for preventing the adhesive tape roll from sticking to the inner surface of the storing case is forming a plurality of ribs arranged in a circumferential direction of the adhesive tape roll on the inner surface of the storing case along the axial direction of the adhesive tape roll as disclosed in Patent Literature 2. However, setting up the ribs over a relatively large area along the circumferential direction of the adhesive tape roll on the inner surface of the storing case results in a problem that sinks are more likely to occur during injection molding.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning tool including a support tool, a whole of which is made of synthetic resin, the cleaning tool designed to have a harmonious combination of the support tool and a storing case.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a cleaning tool including an adhesive tape roll constituted by winding a tape base material including an adhesive member layer on one surface around a winding core a predetermined number of times so that the adhesive member layer is placed outside, a support tool including an operation handle and rotatably supporting the adhesive tape roll via bearing members, and a storing case made of synthetic resin in which the adhesive tape roll is stored while being supported by the support tool, in which a pair of left and right bearing caps detachably engaged to both ends of the winding core are used as the bearing members, each of the bearing caps is made of synthetic resin and a rotary spindle is coaxially disposed on each cap, the support tool includes a gate-shaped frame made of synthetic resin including a pair of left and right leg plates having bearing holes that engage with the rotary spindles and a support base extending between upper ends of the leg plates, each of the leg plates and the support base having substantially the same width, and the storing case includes a pair of half-split-shaped case members, bases of which are openably coupled by a hinge part, an opening having substantially the same width as the gate-shaped frame when the storing case is closed is formed between matching surfaces from both side surfaces of the case members to upper surfaces thereof, and a portion of the outer contour of the storing case is complemented by the gate-shaped frame.

According to the present invention, engagement pieces are formed in substantially a center on an upper surface side of the respective case members in directions facing each other, and engagement grooves are formed on both side surfaces of the support base as counterparts of the engagement pieces.

According to the present invention, leg parts are provided which extend behind rear edges of the engagement pieces and are formed integrally with an inner wall surface of the case members on both right and left ends of the engagement pieces and a gap for preventing sinks during injection molding is formed between the rear edge of the engagement piece and the inner wall surface of the case member.

According to the present invention, the bearing cap includes a cap cover having a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the winding core and including the rotary spindle in a center thereof and a skirt part integrally provided on the back side of the cap cover so as to be inserted into the winding core, and a finger hook hole is formed in the cap cover.

The cap cover is preferably formed into a mountain shape in which a peripheral edge thereof corresponds to a hem and a central part thereof at which the rotary spindle is provided corresponds to an apex.

According to the present invention, a portion of each leg piece from the bearing hole to the end portion is formed as a finger hook part which is inclined in a direction gradually away from the bearing cap.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, bearing caps made of synthetic resin are attached to both ends of an adhesive tape roll as bearing members, an support tool of the adhesive tape roll is constructed of a gate-shaped frame made of synthetic resin including a pair of left and right leg plates having bearing holes that engage with a rotary spindles of the bearing caps and a support base extending between upper ends of the leg plates, each of the leg plates and the support base having substantially the same width, thus eliminating the necessity for any metal shaft and support roller, and it is thereby possible to reduce the cost accordingly. Furthermore, an opening having substantially the same width as the gate-shaped frame of the support tool while the storing case is closed is formed between matching surfaces from both side surfaces of the case member constituting the storing case to upper surfaces thereof, and a portion of the outer contour of the storing case is complemented by the gate-shaped frame, and it is thereby possible to provide a cleaning tool designed to have a harmonious combination of a support tool and a storing case.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First, referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a cleaning tool1according to the present embodiment includes a support tool10for rotatably supporting an adhesive tape roll2and a storing case20for storing the adhesive tape roll2when not in use in a state in which the adhesive tape roll2is supported by support tool10.

Although not illustrated more specifically, the adhesive tape roll2is constituted by winding a tape base material having an adhesive member layer on one surface around a winding core2a(seeFIG. 5) a predetermined number of times so that the adhesive member layer is placed outside and is provided with a perforation line approximately at every circumference.

Referring toFIG. 3together, the support tool10includes a gate-shaped frame13including a pair of left and right leg plates11,11and a support base12extending between upper ends of the leg plates11,11. The leg plate11on the right side and the leg plate11on the left side are arranged so as to face each other at a distance substantially equal to an axial length of the adhesive tape roll2.

The gate-shaped frame13has substantially the same width over the right side leg plate11, the support base12and the left side leg plate11and a grip part (operation handle)14is erected at substantially the center of the support base12in the present embodiment. The whole gate-shaped frame13including the grip part14is made of a synthetic resin member. Note that the grip part14may also be drawn laterally from a shoulder of one leg plate11.

According to the present embodiment, bearing caps30,30are attached to both ends of the adhesive tape roll2as bearing members in order to rotatably support the adhesive tape roll2to the support tool10. The bearing caps30,30have the same configuration and are preferably made of a synthetic resin member.

Referring toFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the bearing cap30is provided with a cap cover31and a skirt part32. The cap cover31has a larger diameter than an inner diameter of the winding core2aand is provided with a rotary spindle310at a center thereof. The skirt part32has a cylindrical shape and is provided coaxially and integrally with a back side of the cap cover31so as to go into the winding core2a.

A plurality of ribs321are preferably formed on an outer circumferential side of the skirt part32so as to engage with the inner surface of the winding core2awith an appropriate frictional force. A finger hook hole311is formed in the cap cover31to facilitate the holding by fingers when attaching or removing the cap cover31to/from the adhesive tape roll2.

The leg plates11,11are each provided with a bearing hole110that engages with the rotary spindle310of the bearing cap30. Note that althoughFIG. 4illustrates a state in which the bearing caps30are attached to the respective leg plates11, the bearing caps30,30are actually attached to both ends of the adhesive tape roll2first, and then the bearing holes110,110of the leg plates11,11engage with the rotary spindles310,310.

The adhesive tape roll2is removed by hooking a finger onto the end portions11a,11aof the leg plates11,11and widening the interval between the leg plates11,11so that the bearing holes110,110come off from the rotary spindles310,310, and a portion from the bearing hole110of each leg piece11to the end portion11ais formed as a finger hook part111which is inclined in a direction gradually away from the bearing cap30.

The cap cover31of the bearing cap30preferably has a mountain shape in which the peripheral edge corresponds to a hem and the central part provided with the rotary spindle310corresponds to an apex as shown inFIG. 3(a)in order to reduce a contact area with the leg plates11in the vicinity of the rotary spindle310and make rotation of the adhesive tape roll2smoother. This mountain shape may include not only a convex spherical surface (cup shape) but also a conical surface such as a triangular pyramid or quadrangular pyramid.

Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 6together, the storing case20is provided with a pair of left and right case members21aand21bwhich are half-split-shaped, constituted by dividing a cylindrical body having both end walls into two portions along an axial line thereof, base parts of which are openably coupled by hinge parts203and a whole of which is made of synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the hinge part203is a thin-film hinge but may also be a hinge structure.

Leg parts202aand202bwhich become a stable leg202when closed for causing the storing case20to stand alone are formed on the respective base parts of the case members21aand21bas shown inFIG. 1. Note that when the case members21aand21bneed not be distinguished, a generic term “case member21” may be used.

An opening201is formed between matching surfaces210aand210bfrom both side surfaces of the case members21aand21bto the upper surfaces thereof, the opening201having a width substantially equal to the width of the gate-shaped frame13when the storing case20is closed.

Accordingly, when the adhesive tape roll2is stored in the storing case20while it is being supported by the support tool10, a portion of the outer contour of the storing case20is complemented by the gate-shaped frame13as shown inFIG. 1.

Locking claws211(211a,211b) are uprightly stood at substantially the center on the upper surface side of the case members21aand21bso as to stand from the top end edges. The locking claws211function as finger hook parts when the storing case20is opened.

Furthermore, engagement pieces220aand220bare formed so as to face each other in the opening201in substantially the center on the upper surface side of the case members21aand21b. When the engagement pieces220aand220bneed not be distinguished, a generic term “engagement piece220” may be used.

Referring toFIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)together, support stays222,222as a left and right pair are integrally formed on both side surfaces of the engagement piece220, and the engagement piece220is supported by these support stays222,222so that a predetermined gap G is produced between the rear end thereof and the inner wall of the case member21, that is, the engagement piece220is supported so as to float from the inner wall of the case member21.

The engagement piece220including the portions of the support stays222is injection molded in a metal die (not shown) together with the case member21, but since the engagement piece220is floating from the inner wall of the case member21, it is possible to minimize sinks during molding.

Referring toFIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)together again, an engagement groove121into which one engagement piece220ais inserted is formed on the front side of the support base12of the support tool10and an engagement groove122into which the other engagement piece220bis inserted is formed on the rear side of the support base12.

A hook part221is formed at a distal end of the engagement piece220as shown inFIG. 7. In correspondence with this, engagement holes123and124are punched at deep positions of the engagement grooves121and122with which the hook part221engages while preferably generating click sound.

The adhesive tape roll2is used while being rotatably supported by the support tool10to clean a floor surface, placed while being supported by the support tool10in the storing case20which is open as shown inFIG. 6after cleaning and stored in the storing case20by closing the case members21aand21b.

When the case members21aand21bare closed, the engagement pieces220aand220bare inserted into the engagement grooves121and122of the support base12, and further the hook parts221engage with the engagement holes123and124, the gate-shaped frame13of the support tool12thereby apparently becomes a portion of the storing case20and the storing case20is closed.

According to the cleaning tool1, when the adhesive tape roll2is rotatably supported by the support tool10, the bearing caps30made of synthetic resin need only to be attached to both ends of the adhesive tape roll2as bearing members, and since this eliminates the necessity for any support roller to be inserted into the winding core of the adhesive tape roll2, it is possible to achieve a cost reduction.

The cost can also be reduced by constructing the support tool10of the gate-shaped frame13made of synthetic resin including the pair of left and right leg plates11having the bearing holes110that engage with the rotary spindles310of the bearing caps30and the support base12extending between upper ends of the leg plates11, each of the leg plates11and the support base12having substantially the same width, and thereby excluding any metal shaft.

Furthermore, the opening201having substantially the same width as that of the gate-shaped frame13of the support tool10when the storing case20is closed is formed between the matching surfaces210aand210bfrom both side surfaces of the case members21constituting the storing case20to the upper surfaces thereof, and a portion of the outer contour of the storing case20is complemented by the gate-shaped frame13, and it is thereby possible to obtain a cleaning tool designed to have a harmonious combination of the support tool10and the storing case20.