Sheet holding structure and cleaner having the same

There is provided a sheet holding structure in which a sheet holding force can be increased, and a cleaner having the structure. The sheet holding structure includes a base material made of a flexible material and having main surfaces, and a slit formed in the main surfaces of the base material. The slit includes a curved slit, and a plurality of protruding slits spaced from each other in a direction along the curved slit, connected to a protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit, and protruding and extending from the protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit. A part of the base material surrounded by the curved slit is bent and a part of the sheet placed on one of the main surfaces of the base material is inserted into the curved slit and the protruding slits and locked to thereby hold the sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a sheet holding structure for holding a sheet-shaped object such as fabric and paper and particularly to a sheet holding structure mounted to a cleaning head portion of a cleaner to hold the sheet in order to wipe a floor surface.

2. Description of the Background Art

A cleaner such as a mop to which a sheet of woven or nonwoven fabric is mounted and held is conventionally known. There is a structure for holding a sheet on the cleaner as described in International Publication No. WO01/12052 (Japanese Patent No. 3519394), for example.

The cleaner having a sheet holding structure portion and described in the foregoing publication includes a handle, a cleaning head mounted to the handle, and at least one holding structure portion disposed on the cleaning head to hold a sheet by receiving a sheet at a periphery of the cleaning head. The holding structure portion is made of a flexible material and includes a base triangular portion having an apex and a plurality of pie-shaped portions with their apexes meeting at a common point at a distance from the apex of the base triangular portion and close to a side portion of the base triangular portion. Respective two side portions of the base triangular portion and the pie-shaped portions are defined by slits formed to pass through the flexible material. The base triangular portion and the pie-shaped portions are bent respectively to hold the sheet.

In the sheet holding structure described in the forgoing publication, however, the sheet is disadvantageously detached during use of the cleaner in some cases, and a holding force for fixing the sheet to the periphery of the cleaning head is insufficient. Not only in a case of the dry sheet but also in a case in which a wet sheet impregnated with a liquid for wiping dust off is fixed to the periphery of the cleaning head, a sufficient holding force cannot be obtained; therefore, the sheet is advantageously detached from the cleaning head during use of the cleaner in some cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet holding structure in which a sheet holding force can be increased, and a cleaner having the same.

A sheet holding structure according to the present invention includes a base material made of a flexible material and having main surfaces, and a slit formed in the main surfaces of the base material. The slit includes a curved slit, and a plurality of protruding slits spaced from each other in a direction along the curved slit, connected to a protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit, and protruding and extending from the protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit. A part of the base material surrounded by the curved slit is bent and a part of a sheet placed on one of the main surfaces of the base material is inserted into the curved slit and the protruding slits and locked to thereby hold the sheet.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, a part of the sheet placed on one of the main surfaces of the base material is inserted into the curved slit and locked. The part of the sheet inserted into the curved slit is also inserted into and pinched in the plurality of protruding slits protruding from the protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit and locked. As compared with the conventional sheet holding structure in which the side portions of the base triangular portion are formed of straight slits, the part of the sheet inserted into the slit is inserted into the curved slit and also inserted into the plurality of protruding slits spaced from each other and extending separately and locked. As a result, the sheet is held more firmly.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, preferably, a protruding edge portion protruding toward the protruding portion-side forming edge is formed at a recessed portion-side forming edge of the curved slit.

In this case, because a part of the sheet inserted into the curved slit is engaged with the protruding edge portion, the sheet holding force can further be increased.

In this case, preferably, the plurality of protruding edge portions are formed at the recessed portion-side forming edge of the curved slit and respectively protrude to extend in directions in which the plurality of protruding slits protrude respectively. In this case, because the plurality of protruding edge portions are formed to correspond to the plurality of protruding slits, respectively, the part of the sheet inserted into the curved slit is engaged with the protruding edge portions and a part of the engaged sheet is inserted into the protruding slits and locked. Therefore, with interaction between the curved slit and the protruding slits through the protruding edge portions, the sheet holding force can further be increased.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, preferably, a protrusion is formed in a vicinity of the forming edge of the curved slit or forming edges of the protruding slits on the other main surface of the base material.

In this case, because a part of the sheet inserted into the curved slit or the protruding slits and locked is engaged with the protrusion on the other main surface of the base material, the sheet holding force can be increased more effectively.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, preferably, an area of the base material surrounded by the curved slit is of about a size of a fingertip of a human hand.

In this case, by pressing the part of the sheet placed on the one main surface of the base material from above the area of the base material surrounded by the curved slit with the fingertip, the part of the sheet can be inserted into the curved slit. Therefore, it is possible to easily insert the sheet into the curved slit to hold the sheet without hurting the fingertip upon inserting the sheet.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, preferably, a rising wall portion curved along a shape of the curved slit is formed in an area of the base material surrounded by the curved slit on the other main surface of the base material.

In this case, the areas of the base material on the recessed and protruding sides of the curved slit can be molded while kept substantially parallel to each other. Moreover, molding strength of the area of the base material surrounded by the curved slit can be increased.

In the sheet holding structure according to the present invention, preferably, the protruding portion side of the curved slit is oriented in a direction of tension applied to the sheet.

In this case, even if the tension is applied to the sheet when the sheet is held with the part of the sheet locked to the curved slit, it is possible to effectively prevent the sheet from being detached from the slit.

The sheet holding structure according to the present invention preferably includes the plurality of slits.

In this case, the part of the sheet can be inserted into the slit and locked at each of the plurality of positions such as one and the other end portions of the sheet to thereby enhance the sheet holding force.

A cleaner according to the present invention includes a handle portion, a cleaning head portion mounted to the handle portion, and a holding structure portion disposed at the cleaning head portion to hold a sheet in such a manner that the sheet covers at least a part of a periphery of the cleaning head portion. The holding structure portion includes at least one of the foregoing sheet holding structures.

In this case, it is possible to easily attach the sheet for wiping off dust and the like to the cleaning head portion. It is possible to enhance the holding force for fixing not only the dry sheet but also the wet sheet impregnated with liquid for wiping off dust and the like or lubricant to the periphery of the cleaning head portion to thereby prevent the sheet from being detached from the cleaning head portion during use of the cleaner.

Preferably, the cleaner according to the present invention includes at least the two sheet holding structures so that one and the other end portions of the sheet are locked, recessed portion sides of the curved slits forming the two sheet holding structures face each other, and the protruding portion sides face outer sides of the cleaning head portions.

In this case, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being detached due to tension applied to the sheet from the direction along the cleaning direction as a result of friction between a face to be cleaned and a face of the sheet wrapped around the cleaning head portion.

As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet holding force can be increased.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by way of an example in which a sheet holding structure is applied to a wiping cleaner including a suction portion as a cleaner based on the drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1, the wiping cleaner100includes a wiping head3as a cleaning head portion, a suction nozzle4mounted to one side, e.g., a front side of the wiping head3, a dust container7for storing dirt and dust sucked from the suction nozzle4through a hose5, a main body6for retaining the dust container7and housing a suction driving portion and the like, and a handle9as a handle portion connected to the main body6through a connecting pipe8to operate the wiping head3. The wiping head3is connected and mounted to the handle9through the main body6and the connecting pipe8. The suction nozzle4is mounted to mounting holes4aand4b(FIG. 3) to turn with respect to the main body6.

On a surface of the wiping head3, four sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1d, for example, are arranged and mounted.

As shown inFIG. 2A, the suction nozzle4is turned upward toward the main body6as shown with an arrow to expose one head outer side face3ain a direction along a wiping direction of the wiping head3. Then, the wiping head3of the wiping cleaner100is placed on a spread sheet200so as to bring a lower face of the wiping head3in contact with the sheet200.

Then, as shown inFIG. 2B, one and the other end portions of the sheet200are folded back so that the sheet200covers a lower face of the wiping head3, the one head outer side face3a, and the other head outer side face3bto cover at least a part of a periphery of the wiping head3, and four portions of the sheet200are inserted into the sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1dto be held by the wiping head3. Then, as shown with an arrow, the suction nozzle4is turned downward away from the main body6and toward the one head outer side face3aand returned to an initial position. Thus, the sheet200is mounted to and held by the wiping head3.

As shown inFIG. 3, the two sheet holding structures1aand1bare arranged on the surface of the wiping head3to face each other in a wiping direction S of the wiping head3shown with an arrow so that the one and the other end portions of the sheet200can be inserted into and locked to the sheet holding structures1aand1b. Likewise, in a direction orthogonal to the wiping direction S of the wiping head3, the two sheet holding structures1cand1dare arranged in positions facing the two sheet holding structures1aand1bon the surface of the wiping head3. In other words, the four sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1dare arranged uniformly in four corners of a surface area of the rectangular wiping head3.

Each of the four sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1dincludes a base plate101as a base material made of a flexible material such as soft synthetic resin, e.g., polyethylene, elastomer and the like and having main surfaces, and a slit formed in the main surfaces of the base plate101. The slit includes a curved slit10, and a plurality of (five, for example) protruding slits20,30,40,50and60spaced from each other in a direction along the curved slit10, connected to a protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit10, and protruding and extending from the protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit10. A portion of the base plate101surrounded by the curved slit10is formed to be bent.

The curved slits10forming the respective slits of the four sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1dare arranged so that their recessed portion sides face each other and that their protruding portion sides face the head outer side faces3aand3bof the wiping head3. Thus, the protruding portion sides of the curved slits10are arranged in an orientation of a direction of a tension applied to the sheet200from a direction along the wiping direction S of the wiping head3.

As shown inFIG. 4, the portions of the base plate101surrounded by the respective curved slits10of the four sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1dare bent and the four portions at one and the other end portions of the sheet200(shown in two-dot chain lines) are inserted into the curved slits10and the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60and locked. Thus, a part of the sheet200placed on the one main surface of the base plate101is held at four positions of the wiping head3.

As shown inFIG. 5, in the base plate101of the sheet holding structure1, a slit formed of the curved slit10formed along a U-shaped curve and the five protruding slits20,30,40,50and60connected to the curved slit10, extending from the curved slit10, and protruding like branches is formed, for example. To be specific, the respective protruding slits20,30,40,50and60are spaced from each other along the curved slit10, connected to a curved slit forming edge11as a protruding portion-side forming edge of the curved slit10and protruding and extending from the curved slit forming edge11. With the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60, trapezoidal locking portions15,16,17and18are formed. A size of a clearance of the slit formed of the curved slit10and the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60is preferably about 0.8 to 1.0 mm, for example. Moreover, the protruding slits are preferably formed so that about four to six trapezoidal locking portions are formed separately.

At a curved slit forming edge12representing a recessed portion-side forming edge of the curved slit10, five protruding edges (protruding angle portions13a,13b,13c,13dand13erepresenting protruding edge portions protruding toward the curved slit forming edge11form substantially triangular apexes, for example. To be more specific, the respective five protruding edges13a,13b,13cand13eprotrude to extend in directions in which the respective five protruding slits20,30,40,50and60protrude.

An area of the base plate101surrounded by the curved slit10forms a fingertip-shaped pressing portion (locking portion)14substantially of a size of a tip of a human thumb, forefinger, or the like.

As shown inFIG. 6, in a back face of the base plate101forming the sheet holding structure1as the other main surface of the base material, a plurality of circular cylindrical protrusions70as protrusions are formed in a vicinity of the curved slit forming edge11of the curved slit10and a plurality of circular cylindrical protrusions80are formed in a vicinity of the curved slit forming edge12. To be more specific, the plurality of circular cylindrical protrusions70are respectively disposed and formed in vicinities of an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge21, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge22, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge31, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge32, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge41, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge42, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge51, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge52, an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge61, and an intersection of the curved slit forming edge11and a protruding slit forming edge62. The plurality of circular cylindrical protrusions80are respectively formed in vicinities of the protruding edges13a,13b,13c,13dand13eon the curved slit forming edge12.

On the back face of the base plate101forming the sheet holding structure1as the other main surface of the base material, a rising wall portion (vertical rib) curved along a shape of the curved slit10is formed and a rising wall portion91is formed, for example, in the area of the base plate101surrounded by the curved slit10. A rising wall portion92is formed to be connected to the rising wall portion91. A rising wall portion93is formed along the curved slit forming edge12. The rising wall portions91and92form relatively high vertical walls, and the rising wall portion93forms relatively low vertical wall.

In the sheet holding structure1formed as described above, the part of the sheet200placed on the one main surface of the base plate101is inserted into the curved slit10and locked and a part of the sheet200inserted into the curved slit10is also inserted into and pinched in the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60protruding from the curved slit forming edge11and locked. As compared with the conventional sheet holding structure in which the side portions of the base triangular portions are formed of straight slits, the part of the sheet200inserted into each slit is inserted into the curved slit10and also inserted into the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60spaced from each other and extending separately and locked. Therefore, the sheet200is held more firmly. In this case, it is preferable to press a fingertip against the fingertip-shaped pressing portion14as the area of the base plate101surrounded by the curved slit10to insert the part of the sheet200into the curved slit10to thereby push the part of the sheet200to the back face sides of the trapezoidal locking portions15,16,17and18and pinch the part in the protruding slits20,30,40,50and60.

Because a part of the sheet200inserted into the curved slit10is engaged with the protruding edges13a,13b,13c,13dand13e, the holding force of the sheet200can further be increased.

Moreover, because the respective protruding edges13a,13b,13c,13dand13eare formed to correspond to the respective protruding slits20,30,40,50and60, the part of the sheet200inserted into the curved slit10is engaged with the protruding edges13a,13b,13c,13dand13eand a part of the engaged sheet200is inserted into the respective protruding slits20,30,40,50and60and locked. Therefore, with interaction between the curved slit10and the respective protruding slits20,30,40,50and60through the protruding edges13a,13b,13c,13dand13e, the holding force of the sheet200can further be increased.

Because a part of the sheet200inserted into the curved slit10or the respective protruding slits20,30,40,50and60and locked is engaged with the circular cylindrical protrusions70and80on the back face of the base plate101, the holding force of the sheet200can be increased more effectively.

As other function and effect, by pressing the part of the sheet200placed on the surface of the base plate101from above the fingertip-shaped pressing portion14as the area of the base material surrounded by the curved slit10with the fingertip, the part of the sheet200can be inserted into the curved slit10. Therefore, it is possible to easily insert the sheet200into the curved slit10to hold the sheet200without hurting the fingertip upon inserting the sheet200.

In this embodiment, on the back face of the base plate101, the rising wall portions91,92and/or93curved along the shape of the curved slit10are formed on the back face of the fingertip-shaped pressing portion14as the area of the base plate101surrounded by the curved slit10. Therefore, the areas of the base plate101on the recessed and protruding sides of the curved slit10can be molded while kept substantially parallel to each other. Moreover, molding strength of the fingertip-shaped pressing portion14can be increased.

In this embodiment, the protruding portion of the curved slit10is in the orientation of the direction of the tension applied to the sheet200. Therefore, even if the tension is applied to the sheet200when the sheet200is held with the part of the sheet200locked to the curved slit10, it is possible to effectively prevent the sheet200from being detached from the slit.

The holding structure portion of the wiping head3of this embodiment is formed of the plurality of sheet holding structures1a,1b,1cand1d, i.e., includes the plurality of slits. Therefore, the part of the sheet200can be inserted into the slit and locked at each of the plurality of positions such as one and the other end portions of the sheet200to thereby increase the holding force of the sheet200.

By applying the sheet holding structure of the present invention to the cleaner as in the foregoing embodiment, the sheet200for wiping off dust and the like can easily be attached to the wiping head3. It is possible to enhance the holding force for fixing not only the dry sheet but also the wet sheet impregnated with liquid for wiping off dust and the like or lubricant to the periphery of the wiping head3to thereby prevent the sheet200from being detached from the wiping head3during use of the wiping cleaner100. The sheet200may be in a form of woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, or the like and may be made of natural fiber such as paper, synthetic fiber, or the like. The sheet200may be a dry sheet or a sheet impregnated with liquid including a predetermined component for wiping off dust and the like.

Moreover, in the cleaner of the foregoing embodiment, at least two sheet holding structures1are provided so that the one and the other end portions of the sheet200are locked. The curved slits10forming the two sheet holding structures1are arranged in such a manner that the recessed portion sides of the curved slits10face each other and that the protruding sides face outer sides of the wiping head3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet200from being detached due to tension applied to the sheet200from the direction along the wiping direction S as a result of friction between a face to be wiped and a face of the sheet200wrapped around the wiping head3.

As shown inFIG. 7, a sheet holding structure2as another embodiment is formed by arranging a hole23at a center of a base plate201. A plurality of (e.g., about eight) radially protruding slits24a,24b,24c,24d,24e,24f,24gand24hare formed to extend radially from an outer peripheral edge of the hole23. Between the radially protruding slits24a,24b,24c,24d,24e,24f,24gand24h, a plurality of trapezoidal locking portions are formed. A size of the hole23is preferably about 8 mm and a size of a clearance of each of the protruding slits24a,24b,24c,24d,24e,24f,24gand24his preferably about 0.8 to 1.0 mm.

In other words, the sheet holding structure shown inFIG. 7includes a base material made of a flexible material and having main surfaces, the hole and slit formed in the main surfaces of the base material. The slit includes the plurality of slits spaced from each other in a direction along a forming edge of the hole, connected to the forming edge of the hole, and protruding and extending from the forming edge of the hole. The portions of the base material formed between the plurality of slits are bent and a part of the sheet placed on one of the main surfaces of the base material is inserted into the hole and the protruding slits and locked to thereby hold the sheet.

In the sheet holding structure, the part of the sheet placed on the one main surface of the base material is inserted into the hole and locked. A part of the sheet inserted into the hole is also inserted into and pinched in the plurality of slits and locked. As compared with the conventional sheet holding structure in which the side portions of the base triangular portion are formed of straight slits, the part of the sheet inserted into the hole is also inserted into the plurality of slits spaced from each other and extending separately and locked. As a result, the sheet is held more firmly. In this case, in order to insert the part of the sheet into the hole, the part of the sheet is pushed into the hole by using a finger or a stick-shaped member such as a pencil to pinch the part of the sheet in the plurality of slits positioned around the hole. In this manner, the holding force of the sheet can be increased.

In the foregoing embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the wiping cleaner including the suction portion out of the cleaners including the sheet holding structures has been described. However, also in a case of a wiping cleaner such as a mop without a suction portion and to which a sheet-shaped wiping portion such as a sheet of fabric, paper, and the like can at least be attached, by providing the foregoing sheet holding structure for holding the wiping portion, the functions and effects similar to those described above can be achieved.

In the foregoing embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the cleaner including the sheet holding structure has been described. However, the present invention can widely be applied to a technical field for holding a sheet-shaped object such as a sheet of fabric, paper, and the like. For example, by applying the present invention to a holder or the like for holding fabric such as a towel on a wall or the like, a sheet holding force can be increased.