Cleaning tool

A cleaning tool 10 having at least one side opening 41 and a cleaning roll 50 at a cleaning head 30, wherein a dust guide surface 42 for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening 41 is provided along a lower end of the side opening 41; the cleaning roll 50 is formed of an elastic roll having a surface covered with a thin film 53, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening 41 and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned; and the cleaning roll 50 rotating according to movement of the cleaning head 30 takes the dust through the dust guide surface 42 into the side opening 41 while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool.

RELATED ART

As described in Patent Literature 1, some cleaning tools have a side opening and a rotary brush at a cleaning head. Along a lower end of the side opening, a dust guide surface for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening is provided. The rotary brush is coaxially fixed to a shaft of a drive wheel rolling on the surface to be cleaned, and is arranged in a position to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned and the dust guide surface on a front surface of the side opening. The rotary brush that rotates according to movement of the cleaning head scrapes up the dust on the surface to be cleaned, and collects the dust from the dust guide surface through the side opening into a dust container.

Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique of a cleaning tool of a rotation roller type which has an elastic roller provided with restriction wheels of a relatively small diameter on its opposite side surfaces, and a dust guide plate disposed in the axial direction of a circularly curved surface of the elastic roller, in which dust on a surface to be cleaned is captured and fed to the dust guide plate while the elastic roller is pressed and rotated, and the dust is put into a dust container by pressing and sliding the dust on the dust guide plate without changing its state. In Patent Literature 2, a sponge roller is exemplified as the elastic roller.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The cleaning tool described in Patent Literature 1 has the following problems.

(1) The rotary brush scrapes up particle dust (rice, confectionery chips, dirt, sand or the like), hair, or dust ball on the surface to be cleaned, but the hair and dust ball may be entwined around the rotary brush and may not be put into the dust container. When a large amount of hair and dust ball are entwined around the rotary brush, such hair and dust ball may adhere to the surface to be cleaned again to smear the surface to be cleaned.

(2) In the rotary brush, the side opening cannot be closed because gaps are present between bristles thereof. When the cleaning head is lifted up from the surface to be cleaned or is inverted, the particle dust or the like collected in the dust container comes out through the side opening to scatter around.

(3) The rotary brush is fixed coaxially to the shaft of the drive wheels at the opposite sides. Therefore, a cleaning range of the rotary brush with respect to the whole width of the cleaning head is narrow. Also, a range of the wheel width from near a wall becomes an uncleanable range.

The cleaning tool described in Patent Literature 2 has the following problems.

(1) When the sponge roller is used as the elastic roller, dust and smear on the surface to be cleaned enters apertures on a sponge surface at and after the start of use, and it is difficult to put the dust into the dust container. Also, a lifetime has been extremely short due to rapid smearing of the sponge roller and/or clogging thereof.

(2) When a non-foamed ordinary rubber roller is used as the elastic roller, capturing dust has been more difficult than the sponge roller in terms of softness required for the roller to capture dust. Also, a high friction occurs between the roller rubber and the surface to be cleaned, and therefore a force is required, for example, when the rubber roller is to be slid in the axial direction in order to capture dust near a wall. Therefore there has been a problem in operability of the cleaning tool.

An object of the present invention is to collect stably dust on a surface to be cleaned through a wide range of the surface to be cleaned.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention according to claim1provides a cleaning tool having at least one side opening and a cleaning roll (pushing roll) at a cleaning head. The cleaning tool is configured such that a dust guide surface for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening is provided along a lower end of the side opening; the cleaning roll is formed of an elastic roller having a surface covered with a thin film, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned; and the cleaning roll rotating according to movement of the cleaning head takes the dust through the dust guide surface into the side opening while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

Preferably, the thin film has such a thickness that can conform to elastic deformation of the cleaning roller without impairing softness of the cleaning roll, and has a thickness preferably from 10 μm to 100 μm, and more preferably from 10 μm to 50 μm.

The thin film covering the surface of the cleaning roll increases a lifetime of the cleaning roll by preventing dust and smear from adhering to the roller surface, facilitates slide in the axial direction of the cleaning roll by reducing a coefficient of friction of the roll surface, and improves operability of the cleaning tool. Further, when the cleaning roll is formed of a particle-compacted roll or a fiber-compacted roll, the thin film also serves to retain the shape of the cleaning roll in a roll-like shape.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, since the cleaning roll having the elastic roll covered with the thin film is used, the dust on the surface to be cleaned can be stably collected through a wide range of the surface to be cleaned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cleaning tool10illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4collects particle dust (rice, confectionery chips, dirt, sand and the like), hair and dust ball on a surface to be cleaned which is a wood floor, carpeted floor or the like. The cleaning tool10has a dust container40at a cleaning head30provided at a tip end of a handle20, has front and rear side openings41(41F and41R) provided at the front and rear of the dust container40, and has front and rear cleaning rolls50(50F and50R) closing these side openings41.

It is to be noted that in the cleaning tool10of the present embodiment, an operation force applied to the handle20rolls the cleaning rolls50on the surface to be cleaned, a direction in which the cleaning head30travels by the pushing operation force applied to the handle20is referred to as a forward direction (a direction F inFIG. 3) and, a direction in which the cleaning head30travels by a pulling operation force applied to the handle20is referred to as a rearward direction (a direction R inFIG. 3).

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the handle20is a long member of about 1 meter in length formed of a plurality of successively connected rods21, and includes a grip at its base end. The handle20is provided at its tip end with a forked portion22having a slit into which a coupling plate24of a joint23is inserted, and the coupling plate24is pin-coupled to a bushing26fixed to the forked portion22by a screw25inserted into the forked portion22. In addition, the joint23is inserted between left and right supports32and32which are provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction (a traveling direction of the cleaning roll50due to the movement) and a lateral direction (the axial direction of the cleaning roll50) of an upper frame31U of the cleaning head30, and is pin-coupled to a pin27fixed to these supports32. The pin27extends in the lateral direction of the cleaning head30, and the bushing26is arranged perpendicularly to the pin27. This allows a user to swing laterally the handle20around the bushing26, and to swing longitudinally the handle20around the pin27.

In the handle20, as illustrated inFIGS. 4(A)and (B), a central aperture of the rod21at its tip end is loaded with a coil spring28, and a slider28A elastically sprung by this coil spring28is pushed against an arc-shaped surface24A (a surface in an arc centered at the bushing26) provided at the coupling plate24of the joint23to restrict the free swinging of the handle20around the bushing26. In addition, a central aperture provided and opened on an upper surface of a boss34(to be described later) of the upper frame31U of the cleaning head30is loaded with a coil spring29, and a slider29A elastically sprung by this coil spring29is pushed against an arc-shaped surface23A (a surface in an arc centered at the pin27) provided at the joint23to restrict the free swinging of the handle20around the pin27. Thereby, the user holding the handle20can lift up whole the cleaning tool10from the surface to be cleaned, and can move whole the cleaning tool10while keeping its initial position without changing a relative angular position of the cleaning head30with the handle20.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 4, the cleaning head30is formed of a combination of the upper and lower frames31U and31L coupled together.

The upper frame31U extends throughout the longitudinal and lateral areas of the cleaning head30, and arc-shaped covers provided at opposite ends in the longitudinal direction substantially cover the upper halves of the front and rear cleaning rolls50. The upper frame31U includes a central rib33which is suspended at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface, and which extends throughout an area in the lateral direction crossing left and right side walls of the upper frame31U. At a central portion in the lateral direction of the central rib33on the lower surface of the upper frame31U, the boss34which is loaded with the foregoing coil spring29is projected downwardly.

The lower frame31L has a frame-like form fitted between the left and right side walls of the upper frame31U, and has, as illustrated inFIGS. 7(A)and (B), a rectangular stepped portion36in which a lower surface of a rectangular outer peripheral frame35is a horizontal surface that can come into sliding contact with the surface to be cleaned and a bottom plate43(a cleaning sheet44to be described later) can be fitted into the inside of the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35. The stepped portion36forms a rectangular opening for removably attaching the bottom plate43, and includes a stepped surface36A having a stepped depth equal to a thickness of the bottom plate43. The lower surface of the bottom plate43fitted into the stepped portion36of the lower frame31L can be flush with the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35, and can come into sliding contact with the surface to be cleaned.

The lower frame31L includes a central rib37within a surface of the stepped surface36A included in the stepped portion36within the outer peripheral frame35. The central rib37is included standing at a central portion in the longitudinal direction within the outer peripheral frame35, and extending throughout the area in the lateral direction crossing the left and right stepped portions36of the outer peripheral frame35. A lower surface of the central rib37is flush with the stepped surface36A of the stepped portion36.

The lower frame31L includes a plurality of cross members38which are parallel to each other between the stepped portions36at the front end side and rear end side of the outer peripheral frame35and the central rib37. A lower surface of each cross member38is flush with the stepped surface36A of the stepped portion36and the lower surface of the central rib37. An upper surface of each cross member38forms a curved and inclined surface38A which descending from the upper portion of the central rib37to the upper portion of the outer peripheral frame35. It is to be noted that as illustrated inFIG. 5, the cross member38has a triangular cross section having a narrower upper surface to facilitate falling of the dust put in by the cleaning roll50as will be described later.

The lower frame31L is coupled to the upper frame31U by screwing screws39inserted through a plurality of locations on the lower surface of the central rib37into lower attaching portions of the upper frame31U while keeping such a state that an upper end concavity37A of the central rib37is fitted to a lower end convexity33A of the central rib33of the upper frame31U.

Thereby, the cleaning head30forms the dust container40between the upper and lower frames31U and31L in such a state that the upper and lower frames31U and31L are coupled together and the bottom plate43is fitted into the stepped portion36of the lower surface of the lower frame31L. At a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning head30, the dust container40is longitudinally partitioned by the central rib33of the upper frame31U and the central rib37of the lower frame31L. The cleaning head30has front and rear dust containers40F and40R. The front dust container40F includes a side opening41F opened forward, and the rear dust container40R includes a side opening41R opened rearward.

In the cleaning tool10, dust guide surfaces42for leading the dust from the surface to be cleaned to the side openings41are provided along lower ends of the side openings41(41F and41R) included in the dust containers40(40F and40R) of the cleaning head30. Outer side surfaces of the outer peripheral frame35at the front and rear sides of the lower frame31L of the cleaning tool30form the dust guide surfaces42in the form of arc-shaped surface, each of which is in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the cleaning roll50throughout the length of the cleaning roll50, or which is spaced from the outer periphery of the cleaning roll50by a minute gap. When the cleaning tool10moves, a lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42crossing the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35at an acute angle comes into close contact and sliding contact with the surface to be cleaned, and scoops up the dust from the surface to be cleaned onto the dust guide surface42. An upper end edge42B of the dust guide surface42also forms an acute angle, and around the cleaning roll50rotating toward the upper end edge42B (for example, when the cleaning tool10moves forward (the direction F inFIG. 3), the cleaning roll50R inFIG. 3located at the rear (the direction R inFIG. 3) of the cleaning tool10), it is made difficult for the dust in the dust container40(40R) to enter the pushing roll50(50R) through the upper end edge42B (FIG. 3).

At this time, the bottoms of the dust containers40(40F and40R) are sealed by the bottom plate43fitted into the stepped portion36of the outer peripheral frame35of the lower frame31L. As illustrated inFIGS. 7(A)and (B), the bottom plate43can be formed of the cleaning sheet44. The cleaning sheet44includes a sheet-like wiper44B made of nonwoven fabric or the like and bonded to a lower surface of a shape retaining layer44A made of paperboard or the like, and includes a sheet-like adhesive44C prepared by applying an adhesive to an upper surface of the shape retaining layer44A. Coating for facilitating peeling such as Teflon (registered trademark) coating and the like is applied to the stepped surface36A and the lower surfaces of the central rib37and the cross members38which are flush with each other within the stepped portion36of the outer peripheral frame35. The sheet-like adhesive44C of the cleaning sheet44is stuck on these surfaces in an easily peelable manner. Thereby, the cleaning sheet44is removably provided at the stepped portion36of the outer peripheral frame35such that the lower surface of the sheet-like wiper44B is flush with the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35of the lower frame31L to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned of the cleaning head30. During the cleaning with the cleaning tool10, the sheet-like wiper44B removes the fine dust such as dirt on the surface to be cleaned that slipped through the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42. In addition, the sheet-like adhesive44C holds the dust that the cleaning roll50sandwiched with the dust guide surface42and put into the dust container40through the side opening41.

The cleaning tool10pivot-supports, at the front and rear sides of the right and left side walls of the cleaning head30(the upper frame31U), the opposite ends of the front and rear cleaning rolls50(50F and50R), respectively. In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the cleaning roll50is an elastic roll formed by depositing a sponge roll52on the outer periphery of a shaft tube51made of rigid plastics, or metal such as an aluminum pipe and the like throughout its circumference and length, and covering the surface of the sponge roll52throughout its length with a cylindrical thin film53which is, for example, resistant to electrification. The cleaning roll50closes the side opening41of the dust container40, and is rotatably arranged in a position to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned. In addition, the cleaning roll50is rotatably arranged in a position preferably to be in contact with the dust guide surface42. It is to be noted that as illustrated inFIG. 9, as long as it is possible to lead the particle dust and the like on the surface to be cleaned biting into the cleaning roll50to the dust guide surface42by the rotation of the cleaning roll50, further pinch the dust between the cleaning roll50and the dust guide surface42to slide the dust upward onto the dust guide surface42, and then put the dust into the dust container40through the side opening41by the elastic repulsive force of the sponge roll52, the cleaning roll50may be rotatably arranged being spaced from the dust guide surface42by a constant and minute gap. An amount of the minute gap can be appropriately set depending on sizes of the collected dust. Further, the cleaning roll50has caps54which are inserted into the openings at the opposite ends of the shaft tube51and are fixed thereto. Support shafts55screwed and fixed to the left and right side walls of the upper frame31U of the cleaning head30pass through central apertures of the caps54, so that the cleaning roll50is pivot-supported by the cleaning head30.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, the cleaning roll50is formed by putting the thin film53made of, e.g. heat-shrinkable film over the sponge roll52, and thermally shrinking the thin film53to bring the thin film53into close contact with the surface of the sponge roll52to cover the sponge roll52with the thin film53. For preventing adhesion of dust, an end surface of the sponge roll52is preferably covered with the end of the thin film53or is covered with a side film of the same material as the thin film53. The sponge roll52is preferably made of urethane foam. The thin film53is preferably made of thermoplastic polyurethane resin. A hardness of the sponge roll52is measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method), and is preferably from 10 N to 100 N, more preferably from 15 N to 70 N, further preferably from 15 N to 60 N, even further preferably from 15 N to 50 N, and further more preferably from 15 N to 40 N. When the hardness falls within these ranges, the cleaning roll50does not run up onto the particle dust on the surface to be cleaned, and can be deformed in accordance with the shape of the particle dust so that the cleaning roll50can also take in other dust near the particle dust. When the cleaning roll50runs up onto the particle dust on the surface to be cleaned, a gap occurs between the cleaning roll50and the surface to be cleaned, and the cleaning roll50cannot take in the other dust near the particle dust without difficulty in some cases. It is to be noted that the present embodiment uses the sponge roll of 30 N in hardness. In addition, the foregoing hardness may be applied to a roll member (to be described later) other than the sponge roll. Meanwhile, the thin film53has a film thickness preferably of 10 μm to 100 μm, more preferably of 10 μm to 50 μm, further preferably of 10 μm to 40 μm, and further more preferably of 20 μm to 40 μm. When the film thickness of the thin film53falls within the above range, it can be deformed in accordance with the shape of the dust, and can be deformed integrally with the sponge roll52. Further, the cleaning roll50does not run up onto the particle dust on the surface to be cleaned, and can be deformed in accordance with the form of the particle dust so that the cleaning roll50can take in the other dust near the particle dust. It is to be noted that the present embodiment uses the thin film of 30 μm in film thickness. In addition, the above film thickness of the thin film may be applied to a thin film material (to be described later) other than the thermoplastic polyurethane resin.

The thin film53covering the surface of the cleaning roll50can prevent dust and smear from adhering to the roll surface, and thereby can increase the lifetime of the cleaning roll50. In addition, certain kinds of thin films can reduce a coefficient of friction of the roll surface to facilitate slide in the axial direction of the cleaning roll50, and thereby can improve operability of the cleaning tool10. In addition, when the cleaning roll50is formed of a particle-compacted roll or a fiber-compacted roll (to be described later), the thin film53serves to retain the shape of the cleaning roll50in a roll-like shape.

It is to be noted that in addition to using the above heat-shrinkable film, the method of covering the surface of the sponge roll with the thin film includes a method in which a film forming the thin film is wound over the surface of the sponge roll and opposite ends thereof are bonded (bonding with an adhesive, heat bonding or the like), a method of performing outsert of a film forming the thin film when molding the sponge roll, a method of applying a liquid agent which changes into a film to the surface of the sponge roll, a method of molding a material resistant to electrification into the sponge roll and forming a skin layer on the roll surface at the time of molding, and the like.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8, the cleaning roll50may form the sponge roll52by a plurality of roll members52A and52B of different hardness. When the roll members52B (e.g., of a hardness of 50 N) harder than the main roll member52A (e.g., of a hardness of 30 N) are provided in two positions at opposite end sides of the sponge roll52, a pressing pressure of the sponge roll52against the surface to be cleaned increases to improve a grip force and then a frictional rotating force of the cleaning roll50with respect to the surface to be cleaned. When a sufficient grip force can be secured only by the roll member52A, the roll member52B is not required.

It is to be noted that in the case where the cleaning roll50is formed of the plurality of roll members52A and52B of different hardness, the thin film53may not be required provided that materials to be described later are appropriately selected. For example, the thin film53may not be required in the case where the roll member52A is made of a non-porous material of a low coefficient of friction and the roll member52B is made of a non-porous material of a high coefficient of friction.

The cleaning tool10is preferably configured such that, in the free state where the cleaning tool10is placed on the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning head30squashes under its own weight including the handle20the sponge roll52of the cleaning roll50on the surface to be cleaned to cause the lower surface of the cleaning head30(the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35of the lower frame31L) to abut on the surface to be cleaned. This is set according to a relationship between its own weight of the cleaning head30including the handle20and a repulsive force of the sponge roll52. At this time, the lower surface of the cleaning head30(the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35of the lower frame31L) and the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42determined by the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35are set on the same horizontal surface. It is to be noted that Teflon (registered trademark) processing or the like is preferably applied to the lower surface of the cleaning head30(the lower surface of the outer peripheral frame35of the lower frame310for facilitating slide on the surface to be cleaned.

Accordingly, the cleaning tool10performs the cleaning operation as described below. It is to be noted that when the user moves the cleaning head30forward (the direction F inFIG. 3) with the handle20, the front cleaning roll50F performs the cleaning operation while being in close contact with the surface to be cleaned and rolling. When the cleaning head30is moved rearward (the direction R inFIG. 3), the rear cleaning roll50R performs the cleaning operation while being in close contact with the surface to be cleaned and rolling. Since the cleaning roll50, the dust guide surface42, and the cleaning sheet44(the wiper44B) are present throughout the widths of the upper and lower frames31U and31L of the cleaning head30as much as possible, even an area of the surface to be cleaned near a wall can be cleaned up.

(a) As illustrated inFIG. 9, the cleaning roll50deforms the thin film53and the sponge roll52so as to cause the particle dust and the like on the surface to be cleaned to bite thereinto, rolls on the surface to be cleaned while keeping on pushing the biting particle dust and the like against the surface to be cleaned, and thereby carries the particle dust and the like toward the dust guide surface42side. The particle dust and the like biting into the cleaning roll50are led to the dust guide surface42, are further pinched between the cleaning roll50and the dust guide surface42to be slid upward onto the dust guide surface42, and then put into the dust container40through the side opening41by the elastic repulsive force of the sponge roll52. It is to be note that for the sake of convenience for illustration,FIG. 9illustrates such that a constant minute gap is provided between the cleaning roll50and the dust guide surface42, but the cleaning roll50may be brought into contact with the dust guide surface42.

(b) The cleaning roll50leads the hair, dust ball and the like scooped by the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42to the dust guide surface42, and further pinches them with the dust guide surface42to slide them upward onto the dust guide surface42, and then puts them into the dust container40through the side opening41by the elastic repulsive force of the sponge roll52.

(c) Since the surface of the sponge roll52is covered with the thin film53resistant to electrification, the cleaning roll50can take the particle dust such as dirt into the apertures in the sponge to suppress smearing of the roll surface, and the frequency of the exchanging can be reduced. Further, the cleaning roll50captures the hair and dust ball without electrostatic adhesion thereof, and can put them through the side opening41into the dust container40.

(d) The cleaning roll50closes the side opening41of the dust container40. When the cleaning tool10is lifted up from the surface to be cleaned or inverted, the particle dust and the like collected in the dust container40do not come out through the side opening41to scatter around.

(e) When the cleaning roll50rotates rolling by itself on the surface to be cleaned, and is not accompanied with drive wheels at the opposite end sides. Therefore, the cleaning range of the cleaning roll50is large with respect to the whole width of the cleaning tool10. Further, the cleaning roll50can access an area near the wall, and hardly leaves an uncleanable range near the wall.

(f) The sheet-like wiper44B is provided on the lower surface of the cleaning head30to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned. Even when the fine dust such as dirt on the surface to be cleaned slips through a gap between the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42and the surface to be cleaned, the wiper44B on the lower surface of the cleaning head30wipes the fine dust.

(g) The cleaning head30has the dust container40including the side opening41, and the sheet-like adhesive44C is provided on the bottom surface of the dust container40. The adhesive44C holds the particle dust, hair, dust ball and the like already taken in onto the bottom surface of the dust container40. The adhesive44C holds the dust and the like against an inertial force caused by the movement of the cleaning tool10. For example, the dust and the like are prevented from being pulled out through the rear side opening41R by the rotation of the rear cleaning roll50R provided in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the cleaning tool10.

(h) The cleaning sheet44is removably provided on the lower surface of the cleaning head30to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and the sheet-like wiper44B is included on one surface of the cleaning sheet44, and the sheet-like adhesive44C is included on the other surface. By sticking the one cleaning sheet44on the lower surface of the cleaning head30, the wiper44B and the adhesive44C described above can be provided. By peeling off the cleaning sheet44from the lower surface of the cleaning head30, the dust collected in the dust container40can be disposed of while being held on the adhesive44C of the cleaning sheet44.

(i) When the sponge roll52is made of the urethane foam, and the thin film53is made of the thermoplastic polyurethane resin, the thin film53made of the thermoplastic polyurethane resin has an excellent anti-penetration property, a high electrical conductivity with a high resistance to electrification, and an elastic stretchability, and can conform well to deformation of the sponge roll52caused by the biting of particle dust.

(j) When the roll member52A of the sponge roll52is excessively soft, there is a good capturing property due to the biting of dust particle into the roll member52A, but a repulsive force against the surface to be cleaned such as a wood floor is small so that a frictional rotating force required for the rotation of the cleaning roll50cannot be obtained in some cases. Accordingly, the hard roll members52B are provided, e.g., in two locations at the opposite end sides of the sponge roll52. Thereby, the roll members52B produce a large repulsive force against the surface to be cleaned, and the cleaning roll50can roll stably on the surface to be cleaned.

(k) The cleaning head30squashes under its own weight the sponge roll52on the surface to be cleaned to cause the lower surface of the cleaning head30to abut on the surface to be cleaned.

When the user holding the handle20of the cleaning tool10moves rearward to move the cleaning head30rearward, the operation force of the user tends to pull up the cleaning head30from the surface to be cleaned. Even in this case, the cleaning head30squashes under its own weight the sponge roll52to cause the lower surface of the cleaning head30to abut on the surface to be cleaned without floating it. Thereby, the stable cleaning can be performed even when the cleaning head30moves rearward.

When the user holding the handle20of the cleaning tool10swings (i.e., reciprocates circularly and laterally) the cleaning head30around the user, without the operation force of the user of pressing the cleaning head30against the surface to be cleaned, the cleaning head30squashes under its own weight the sponge roll52to cause the lower surface of the cleaning head30to abut on the surface to be cleaned without floating it. Thereby, the cleaning can be performed stably even when the cleaning head30is swung.

Regardless of the weak or strong operation force of the user of pressing the cleaning head30against the surface to be cleaned, the sponge roll52rolls on the surface to be cleaned and stably captures the dust on the surface to be cleaned while being in the state in which a constant squash amount δ (FIG. 3) (e.g., 1 mm) is imparted.

(l) In the above (k), the lower surface of the cleaning head30and the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42are set on the same horizontal surface. Therefore, when the cleaning head30moves with its lower surface being in sliding contact with the surface to be cleaned, the lower end edge42A of the dust guide surface42always slides on the surface to be cleaned to lead stably the particle dust and the like biting into the cleaning roll50to the dust guide surface42, or to lead stably the hair, dust ball and the like on the surface to be cleaned to the dust guide surface42.

The cleaning tool10illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11is a modification of the cleaning tool10illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 9in which one or a plurality of strips60each having an elongated shape are spirally wound around the surface of the cleaning roll50, and are appropriately fixed to the surface of the cleaning roll50with an adhesive or the like, and the thin film53covers the strips60and the surface of the cleaning roll50. The strip60may have a rectangular or triangular cross section or the like as illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13.

In the cleaning tool10, preferably the cleaning roll50does not abut on the dust guide surface42, and the strip60abuts on the dust guide surface42. Namely, a minute gap is provided between the outer peripheries of the cleaning roll50and the dust guide surface42to allow smooth rotation of the cleaning roll50, and the surface of the strip60is arranged in the position to be in contact with the outer periphery of the dust guide surface42. Thereby, even the dust smaller in size than the foregoing minute gap can be collected by sandwiching the dust between the strip60and the dust guide surface42, and the dust collecting efficiency can be improved.FIG. 12illustrates a state in which the dust is sandwiched between an upper surface of the strip60having a rectangular cross section and the dust guide surface42, and a front surface of the strip60scrapes up the dust.FIG. 13illustrates a state in which the front surface of the strip60having a triangular cross section scrapes up the dust.

In the cleaning tool10, the dust sandwiching mechanism between the strip60and the dust guide surface42is a mechanism primarily utilizing elastic deformation of the sponge roll52. For example, when the strip60is merely arranged on a surface of a cylinder made of metal, the sandwiching mechanism between the strip60and the dust guide surface42is hardly formed although the strip60may sputter the dust.

In the cleaning tool10, the strip60provided on the surface of the cleaning roll50has a spiral form. Therefore, in contrast to the strip60in a straight form, various portions in the longitudinal direction in the same strip60do not simultaneously abut on the dust guide surface42during rotation of the cleaning roll50, but successively abut on the dust guide surface42to be in sliding contact with the dust guide surface42. This can reduce a rotational resistance of the cleaning roll50due to such sliding contact, and can reduce the operation force so that the cleaning roll50on the surface to be cleaned also achieves a smooth and silent rolling property. Preferably, a winding angle and the number of windings of the strip60wound around the surface of the cleaning roll50are set such that the strip60on the cleaning roll50is always located on the surface to be cleaned in a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the cleaning roll50to achieve the smooth rolling property and the like of the cleaning roll50.

It is to be noted that the present embodiment has been described in connection with the cleaning tool10in which the thin film53covers the strip60and the surface of the cleaning roll50. Alternatively, the thin film53may cover the surface of the cleaning roll50, and the strip60may be appropriately fixed over the thin film53.

The strip60is preferably an elastic member, and materials used for the cleaning roll50to be described later may be used appropriately. When the strip60and the cleaning roll50are made of the same material, the strip60and the cleaning roll50may be formed integrally with each other by employing a processing method such as cutting processing and molding processing, instead of the method in which the strip60is fixed with an adhesive or the like to the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning roll50.

It is to be noted that when the materials to be described later that are used for the strip60and the cleaning roll50are appropriately selected, the thin film53may not be required in some cases. For example, when the strip60and the cleaning roll50are made of a non-porous material of a low coefficient of friction, the thin film53may not be required in some cases.

The materials of the cleaning roll50and the thin film53will be described below.

(Specific Example of Materials Used for Cleaning Roll50) (FIG. 14)

The cleaning roll50used in the present invention can appropriately use a material that can be used for the elastic roll. Specifically, as the material, a synthetic foamed resin prepared by foaming a known resin material such as urethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, melamine, thermoplastic elastomers and the like, and a natural sponge such as sponge may be used. As a machine-processed roll, for example, a non-foamed homogenous rubber roll having many spaces of regular or irregular shapes formed by a machine tool may be used. As a fiber-compacted roll, a roll formed of rounded thin nonwoven fabric or a roll obtained by processing a thick nonwoven fabric into a cylindrical form, or a roll formed of a flexible tube filled with wadding, or the like may be used. In addition, the flexible tube may also serve as a thin film (described in the claims). As a particle-compacted roll, a flexible tube filled with elastic particles of synthetic resin such as foamed styrene beads, or filled with elastic pipes cut into short lengths may be used. The flexible tube may also serve as a thin film (described in the claims). The size of the particle is preferably 3 mm or less, and further preferably 1 mm or less.

Examples of the material of the non-porous roll include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomer materials such as thermoplastic elastomers, and gel. As the natural rubber roll, it is possible to use a material obtained by cross-linking sap obtained from rubber trees. As the synthetic rubber roll, it is possible to use acrylic rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, urethane rubber, chloroprene rubber, silicone rubber, and butadiene rubber as well as synthetic rubber obtained by introducing a polyether structure, polyester structure or the like into a known polymeric material. As a thermoplastic elastomer roll, it is possible to use known thermoplastic elastomers such as urethane-, styrene- and olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers. As a gel roll, it is possible to use a silicone gel or the like.

The cleaning roll50may be made by compounding these materials, or compounding these and other materials. Examples of the manner of compounding include layering and mixing. In the case of mixing, melted materials may be mixed, or one of the materials may be fine-grained and dispersed in the other material. In addition, as other materials, a known polymeric material is suitable.

From a viewpoint of control stability of softness, workability, cost and others, the cleaning roll50is preferably a synthetic resin sponge and further preferably a urethane sponge.

(Specific Examples of Materials Used in Thin Film53)

In the present invention, the specific examples of the material used in the thin film53include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, cellulose resins such as cellophane and acetate, polyamide resins such as nylon, acrylic resins such as methyl polymethacrylate and polyacrylonitrile, fluororesin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and urethane-, styrene-, and olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers. Also, the specific examples of the material include polyacetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyarylate, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyimide, polybutadiene, polyurethane, and silicone.

These polymeric materials may be blended and used as a polymer alloy. These may also be used as layered films. These may also be a resin that is cross-linked by a known method such as electron beams and ultraviolet.

Preferably, examples of the material include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, urethane- and styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers, and nylon. Further preferably, examples of the material include polyethylene, polypropylene, and urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers.

A material of which electrification is suppressed is preferable because the electrification of the film does not impair the dust collecting performance during use. Specifically, known methods may be used such as using a resin combined with a commercially available antistatic agent, and also using a resin with a carbon-based conductive filler such as acetylene black and carbon nanotube, or a metal-based conductive filler such as silver, copper and nickel kneaded therein, and using a film that has a layered metal foil of aluminum or the like, or has a metal deposition layer.

The cleaning roll50and the thin film53may be made of the same material (for example, when the cleaning roll50is a sponge roll made of urethane foam, the thin film53is a skin layer of the sponge.).

In connection with the above embodiment, the present invention further discloses the following cleaning tools.

<1> A cleaning tool having at least one side opening and a cleaning roll at a cleaning head, wherein

a dust guide surface for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening is provided along a lower end of the side opening;

the cleaning roll is formed of an elastic roller having a surface covered with a thin film, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned; and

the cleaning roll rotating according to movement of the cleaning head takes the dust through the dust guide surface into the side opening while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

<2> The cleaning tool according to the above <1>, in which, preferably, a sheet-like wiper is provided on a lower surface of the cleaning head to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

<3> The cleaning tool according to the above <1> or <2>, in which, preferably, the cleaning head has a dust container comprising a side opening, and a sheet-like adhesive is provided on a bottom surface of the dust container.

<4> The cleaning tool according to the above <3>, in which, preferably, a cleaning sheet is removably provided on the lower surface of the cleaning head being contactable with the surface to be cleaned, and the cleaning tool comprises the sheet-like wiper on one surface of the cleaning sheet and the sheet-like adhesive on the other surface.

<5> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <4>, in which, preferably, the cleaning head squashes under its own weight the cleaning roll on the surface to be cleaned to cause the lower surface of the cleaning head to abut on the surface to be cleaned.

<6> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <5>, in which, preferably, the lower surface of the cleaning head and a lower end edge of the dust guide surface are set on the same horizontal surface.

<7> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <6>, in which, preferably, a spiral elongated strip is provided on a surface of the cleaning roll, and the spiral elongated strip is provided on the surface of the cleaning roll with the strip covered with the thin film or the surface of the cleaning roll covered with the thin film.

<8> The cleaning tool according to the above <7>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll does not abut on the dust guide surface, and the strip abuts on the dust guide surface.

<9> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <8>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll is formed of a plurality of roll members having different hardness.

<10> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <9>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll is formed of a sponge roll.

<11> The cleaning tool according to the above <10>, in which, preferably, the sponge roll is made of urethane form, and the thin film is made of thermoplastic polyurethane resin.

<12> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <11>, in which, preferably, the cleaning head is formed of a combination of upper and lower frames coupled together, and the lower frame includes a plurality of cross members which are parallel to each other and each have a triangular cross section.

<13> The cleaning tool according to the above <12>, in which, preferably, the dust container is formed between the upper and lower frames.

<14> The cleaning tool according to the above <12> or <13>, in which, preferably, an outer side surface of the lower frame forms the dust guide surface.

<15> The cleaning tool according to the above <6>, in which, preferably, a lower end edge of the dust guide surface has an acute angle.

<16> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <15>, in which, preferably, an upper end edge of the dust guide surface has an acute angle.

<17> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <16>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll has a hardness of 10 N to 100 N (measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method)).

<18> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <16>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll has a hardness of 15 N to 70 N (measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method)).

<19> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <16>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll has a hardness of 15 N to 60 N (measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method)).

<20> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <16>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll has a hardness of 15 N to 50 N (measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method)).

<21> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <16>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll has a hardness of 15 N to 40 N (measured by a measuring method of JIS K6400-2: 2004 (D method)).

<22> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <21>, in which, preferably, the thin film has a film thickness of 10 μm to 100 μm.

<23> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <21>, in which, preferably, the thin film has a film thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm.

<24> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <21>, in which, preferably, the thin film has a film thickness of 10 μm to 40 μm.

<25> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <21>, in which, preferably, the thin film has a film thickness of 20 μm to 40 μm.

<26> The cleaning tool according to any one of the above <1> to <25>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll rotates rolling by itself on the surface to be cleaned by an operation force of a user, and is not accompanied with drive wheels at its opposite end sides.

<27> A cleaning tool having at least one side opening and a cleaning roll at a cleaning head, in which

a dust guide surface for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening is provided along a lower end of the side opening;

the cleaning roll is formed of an elastic roll, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned;

the cleaning roll is formed of a plurality of roll members having different hardness; and

the cleaning roll rotating according to movement of the cleaning head takes the dust through the dust guide surface into the side opening while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

<28> The cleaning tool according to above <27>, in which, preferably, hard roll members harder than the main roll member are provided at the opposite end sides of the cleaning roll.

<29> A cleaning tool having at least one side opening and a cleaning roll at a cleaning head, in which

a dust guide surface for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening is provided along a lower end of the side opening;

the cleaning roll is formed of an elastic roll, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned;

a spiral elongated strip is provided on a surface of the cleaning roll; and

the cleaning roll rotating according to movement of the cleaning head takes the dust through the dust guide surface into the side opening while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

<30> The cleaning tool according to above <29>, in which, preferably, the cleaning roll dose not abut on the dust guide surface, and the strip abuts on the dust guide surface.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, since the cleaning roll50having the elastic roll covered with the thin film53is used, the dust on the surface to be cleaned can be stably collected through a wide range of the surface to be cleaned.

EXPLANATIONS OF LETTERS OF NUMERALS