Abstract:
A cleaning device ( 4, 4   a,    4   b,    4′   b,    4   c,    4′   c,    4   d,    4′   d ) for cleaning surfaces, comprising a main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) made of foam, is characterized, in regard to the task of designing and improving a cleaning device of the type mentioned above such that it has an abrasive surface with which liquid, but at the same time hair and dirt particles, can be reliably collected, in that flock material ( 2, 2   d ) is assigned to the main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) and the flock material ( 2, 2   d ) is arranged on a surface ( 6, 6   a,    6   b,    6   c,    6   d ) of the main body ( 5, 5   a,    5   b,    5   c,    5   d ) which can face a floor surface to be cleaned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase Application based on International PCT/EP2012/004876 filed Nov. 26, 2012 and also claims priority to German Patent Application Serial No. DE 10 2012 004 331.7 filed Mar. 7, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Cleaning devices for floor cleaning which comprise a main body made of foam are known from the prior art. 
         [0004]    The main body is advantageously capable of soaking up liquid and delivering it to a floor surface to be cleaned. A main body of this type can also be easily wrung out and thereby emptied of water. A main body made of foam which is not filled with liquid can absorb a liquid film from a floor surface by virtue of capillary action. 
         [0005]    In practical applications, it is frequently necessary to remove stubborn dirt from a floor surface. It is also frequently necessary to gather and remove breadcrumbs, hair or grains of sand from a floor surface. 
         [0006]    The cleaning devices known from the prior art often fail to meet the aforementioned requirements. 
         [0007]    In light of the above, a cleaning device is known from US 2004/0187241 A1 which is relatively cumbersome to manipulate, since bristles are arranged separately on a handle. 
         [0008]    When these bristles become damaged or worn, essential parts of the cleaning device must be replaced. Moreover, because the bristles are relatively inflexible in design, they are difficult to clean. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The object of the invention is therefore to design and develop a cleaning device of the type described in the introductory section such that it has an abrasive surface that can also be used to reliably collect both liquid and hair and dirt particles. 
         [0010]    This object is achieved by the present invention with the features of claim  1 . 
         [0011]    A cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning surfaces, particularly for floor cleaning, comprises a main body made of foam. 
         [0012]    According to the invention, flocked material is allocated to the main body, with the flocked material being arranged on a surface of the main body that can be turned to face a floor surface to be cleaned. 
         [0013]    The invention utilizes the knowledge that flocked material has relatively hard and resilient fibers which can have an abrasive effect. The flocked material can be used to remove stubborn dirt from a floor surface. Furthermore, a suitable arrangement of the flocked material can ensure that hair, crumbs and/or dirt particles will be collected by the flocked material. The invention utilizes the knowledge that the flocked material can give a relatively soft main body made of foam an abrasive character. Specifically, it is acknowledged that the advantages of the foam, namely the water storage capacity thereof, can be combined with the advantages of a hard surface, namely the flocked material. 
         [0014]    Since the flocking is applied to a standard wiping surface, the user can apply the flocked regions easily and without assuming anatomically uncomfortable contact angles in order to remove dirt. 
         [0015]    The lifespan of the flocking is adapted to the lifespan of the foam, so that when the foam is replaced, the original, good-as-new cleaning capacity can again be achieved. The flocking is applied to the flexible foam. As a result, when the cleaning device is rinsed with water the fibers of the flocked material are more thoroughly cleaned, since they are able to move relative to one another. 
         [0016]    Unexpectedly, a tremendous increase in cleaning ability, specifically more than 200%, in terms of the removal of stubborn dirt and the collection of hair, particularly dirt, over that of conventional foam is realized. This is combined with easy rinsability of the foam and the flocked material. 
         [0017]    A cleaning device which attains the above-stated object is thereby provided. 
         [0018]    The flocked material could be arranged in an insular manner and/or isolated in regions on the surface in such a way that the surface is not completely covered by flocked material. The insular arrangement ensures that channels and/or interstices are created between individual islands of flocked material. Hairs and particles of dirt can be easily collected and removed within these channels or interstices. The isolated arrangement of flocked material in regions on the surface ensures that a sufficient amount of the surface is not covered by flocked material. The part of the surface not covered by flocked material is available for absorbing liquid from a floor surface and/or for delivering liquid to the floor surface. 
         [0019]    In light of the above, the flocked material could comprise fibers and an adhesive matrix, wherein the fibers are injected into the adhesive matrix such that unattached ends of the fibers project outward from the adhesive matrix. The fibers injected into the adhesive matrix are very securely connected to the adhesive matrix. Moreover, the fibers are arranged tightly adjacent to one another, so that they form a relatively hard cluster that has an abrasive effect. The unattached ends of the fibers are capable of removing stubborn dirt from a floor surface. The unattached ends of the fibers can be moved like a brush over a floor surface. 
         [0020]    The flocked material could comprise fibers having a thickness ranging from 20 to 100 decitex (dtex). Unexpectedly, it has been found that fibers of this thickness are stiff enough to have an abrasive effect, while being fine enough for small particles of dirt to collect among them, in the manner of a comb. 
         [0021]    The flocked material could comprise fibers having an extension length of 1 to 3 mm. The extension length is understood as the region of a fiber that is not encompassed within the adhesive matrix. An extension length of 1 to 3 mm ensures that the fibers are sufficiently flexible, but are also sufficiently hard and rough. 
         [0022]    The flocked material could be arranged directly on the main body made of foam. In this specific embodiment, the adhesive matrix is arranged directly on the main body. As a result, the surface of the foam is covered only by the adhesive matrices. All other regions of the surface of the foam are available for absorbing and/or delivering liquid. 
         [0023]    The flocked material could be arranged on a layer which is attached to the main body made of foam. It is therefore specifically possible for fleece or non-woven fabric to be laminated to the main body. In this specific embodiment, the flocked material can be easily applied in a specific pattern to the layer, in a separate production step. With the arrangement of complex patterns, in particular, it is expedient to first form said patterns on a flat surface made of fleece or non-woven fabric, and to deform the fleece or non-woven fabric once the pattern has been formed, during attachment to the main body. Complex patterns of flocked material can thereby be easily arranged on a main body having curved surfaces. 
         [0024]    A gripping or holding means could be arranged on the main body. The gripping or holding means allows the cleaning device to be easily gripped manually. 
         [0025]    The gripping or holding means could be designed as a head with a receptacle for a handle, or could have such a head. This specific embodiment allows a handle to be easily screwed or snapped into the receptacle. The cleaning device can thereby be easily used for floor cleaning. In particular, the cleaning device can be used as a mop. 
         [0026]    The gripping or holding means could be designed as retaining strips, which can be enmeshed with another device. The retaining strips can be inserted into a device in the manner of a rail. The device itself can be equipped with a handle, which allows the finished cleaning device to be easily guided over a floor surface. 
         [0027]    The flocked material could be designed as an elongated edge which extends along a scrubbing edge of the main body which can be turned to face the floor surface to be cleaned. The elongated edge forms an isolated region of flocked material on the surface of the main body. This specific embodiment allows stubborn dirt to be removed using the scrubbing edge of the main body, while a liquid film can be absorbed from the floor surface using an edge that faces away from the scrubbing edge. 
         [0028]    In light of the above, a set could comprise a cleaning device of the type described herein and a dustpan, wherein the dustpan is equipped with flocked material. In this specific embodiment, a main body made of foam can be wiped off on the inner side walls of the dustpan. This allows the flocked material to remove hairs and/or dirt particles from the main body and collect them. As described above, flocked material is produced by injecting fibers into an adhesive matrix. More specifically, the fibers are injected electrostatically into an adhesive, wherein the fibers are preferably 22 dtex, 50 dtex or 100 dtex fibers. 
         [0029]    In light of the above, the dustpan could have a supporting edge on which flocked material is arranged. This would allow dirt to be wiped off the main body during sweeping. 
         [0030]    The dustpan could have an upper edge on which flocked material is arranged. The upper edge would have a particularly large wiping surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The drawings show: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a pattern of flocked material which is arranged in an insular manner and isolated in regions on a layer; 
           [0033]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the layer according to  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the layer according to  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  is an elevational view of a cleaning device in which the layer is attached to a main body made of foam; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2C  is a detailed view of a region of the cleaning device of  FIG. 2B ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective illustration of a cleaning device for floor cleaning, embodied as a sponge; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3C  is a detail illustration of the cleaning device of  FIG. 3A : 
           [0040]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a further cleaning device for floor cleaning, which is equipped with a head for receiving a handle; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4B  is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning device of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the cleaning device of  FIG. 4A , wherein the flocked material is arranged on two sides of the main body; 
           [0044]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a further embodiment example of a cleaning device, equipped with a handle; 
           [0045]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment example of the cleaning device of  FIG. 5A  in which the flocked material is arranged on two sides of the main body; 
           [0047]      FIG. 5D  is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning device of  FIG. 5C : 
           [0048]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a cleaning device, the main body of which is equipped with a scrubbing edge made of flocked material; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment example of a cleaning device of  FIG. 6A  having two opposing scrubbing edges made of flocked material; 
           [0051]      FIG. 6D  is a detailed illustration of a region of the cleaning device having two scrubbing edges of  FIG. 6C ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a dustpan with flocked material; 
           [0053]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the dustpan according to  FIG. 7 , showing sectional plane AA according to  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0054]      FIG. 9  is a further cross-sectional view of the dustpan according to  FIG. 7 , showing sectional plane BB according to  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0055]      FIG. 1  A shows a layer  1 , which is provided with a punctiform pattern of flocked material  2 . The flocked material  2  is arranged in an insular manner and/or in isolated regions on the layer  1 . Among the points of flocked material  2 , open regions  3  are formed, in which hair and/or dirt particles can be captured. 
         [0056]      FIG. 1B  shows a cross-sectional illustration of layer  1 , from which flocked material  2  projects to a height of X. The layer  1  can be embodied as textile material, in particular, as fleece or as non-woven fabric. 
         [0057]      FIG. 2A  shows the layer  1  according to  FIG. 1A , arranged on a cleaning device  4  for cleaning surfaces, in particular, for floor cleaning. 
         [0058]      FIG. 2B  shows a cross-sectional illustration of the cleaning device  4 . The cleaning device  4  is for cleaning surfaces, in particular, for floor cleaning, comprising a main body  5  made of foam. Flocked material  2  is allocated to the main body  5 , with the flocked material  2  being arranged on a surface  6  of the main body  5  that can be turned to face a floor surface to be cleaned. The flocked material  2  projects to a height X from the layer  1  which secures the flocked material  2  on the surface  6  of the main body  5 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 2A  shows a region Z, indicated in  FIG. 2B . It is illustrated specifically that the flocked material  2  is arranged in an insular manner and isolated in regions on the surface  6  such that the surface  6  is not completely covered with flocked material  2 . The flocked material  2  is attached to the surface  6  via the layer  1 . 
         [0060]    The flocked material  2  comprises fibers and an adhesive matrix, wherein the fibers are injected into the adhesive matrix such that unattached ends of the fibers project outward from the adhesive matrix. The fibers of the flocked material  2  have a thickness ranging from 20 to 100 dtex. The fibers of the flocked material  2  have a projection length ranging from 1 to 3 mm. 
         [0061]      FIGS. 3A-3B  show a further embodiment of a cleaning device  4   a  for cleaning surfaces, in particular, for floor cleaning.  FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of the cleaning device  4   a.  The cleaning device  4   a  comprises a main body  5   a  made of foam. Flocked material  2  is allocated to the main body  5   a  with the flocked material  2  being arranged on a surface  6   a  of the main body  5   a  that can be turned to face a floor surface to be cleaned. 
         [0062]      FIG. 3B  shows a cross-sectional view from the side of the cleaning device  4   a.  The flocked material  2  projects to a height X from the layer  1 . The region identified as Z is detailed in  FIG. 3C .  FIG. 3C  specifically illustrates that the flocked material  2  is arranged on the layer  1 , which is attached to the main body  5   a  made of foam. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 4A-4D  show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device  4   b . Gripping or holding means  7   b  are arranged on a main body  5   b.  Gripping or holding means  7   b  have a head  8   b  for holding a handle. The main body  5   b  is substantially prismatic in design. It has a peg-shaped strip  9   b,  which is held in gripping or holding means  7   b  by a tongue-and-groove connection. 
         [0064]      FIG. 4B  shows region Z of  FIG. 4D  in detail. This view indicates that flocked material  2  projects outward from main body  5   b  and is arranged on the layer  1 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 4C  shows a cross-sectional side view of the cleaning device  4   b.  As is clear from this illustration, the flocked material  2  projects outward only from a convex curved surface  6   b  of the main body  5   b.  The flocked material  2  projects to a height X from the layer  1 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 4D  shows a further embodiment. This view shows a cleaning device  4 ′ b , in which flocked material  2  projects outward from both sides of the main body  5   b.  More specifically, two opposing, convex curved surfaces  6   b  of the main body  5   b  are each equipped with the layer  1 , on which flocked material  2  is arranged. 
         [0067]    Surface  6   b  of the main body  5   b  is curved outward in a convex shape. The main body  5   b  is embodied substantially as a spherical triangle in cross-section, with a peg-shaped strip  9   b  extending along one edge of the spherical triangle. 
         [0068]      FIGS. 5A-5D  show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device  4   c.    
         [0069]    In this cleaning device  4   c,  the main body  5   c  is held in a bracket-type connection by a gripping or holding means  7   c.  A handle  10   c  is assigned to the gripping or holding means  7   c.  The gripping or holding means  7   c  is designed as integral with the handle  10   c.    
         [0070]    The gripping or holding means  7   c  is equipped with pin-type fastening means  11   c , which extend through the main body  5   c.  The main body  5   c  is attached to a layer  1   c , from which flocked material  2  projects. 
         [0071]      FIG. 5B  shows a cross-sectional illustration of the cleaning device  4   c.  The flocked material  2  projects outward from the main body  5   c  on two surfaces  6   c . The surfaces  6   c  are oriented orthogonally to one another. 
         [0072]      FIG. 5C  shows a further embodiment example. This cleaning device  4 ′ c  has the main body  5   c,  which has three surfaces  6   c  with flocked material  2 . Flocked material  2  projects outward from each of these surfaces  6   c.  The flocked material  2  projects to a height X from the layer  1   c.    
         [0073]    This is shown specifically in  FIG. 5D . This view illustrates region Z from  FIG. 5C . The main body  5   c  has three surfaces  6   c.  Two surfaces  6   c  are oriented parallel to one another, and one surface  6   c  is aligned orthogonally to the two parallel oriented surfaces  6   c.  With this main body  5   c,  the flocked material  2  can thus project outward in three directions from the main body  5   c.    
         [0074]      FIGS. 6A-6D  show a further embodiment example of a cleaning device  4   d .  FIG. 6A  shows that the flocked material  2   d  is designed as an elongated edge which extends along a scrubbing edge  12   d  of the main body  5   d,  which can be turned to face the floor surface to be cleaned. 
         [0075]      FIG. 6B  shows that the flocked material  2   d  projects outward from two surfaces  6   d  of main body  5   d  that are aligned orthogonally to one another. 
         [0076]      FIG. 6C  shows a further embodiment example. This cleaning device  4 ′ d  has two scrubbing edges  12   d,  on each of which flocked material  2   d  is arranged as an elongated edge. 
         [0077]      FIG. 6D  illustrates in detail that the flocked material  2   d  is arranged on a layer  1   d.    FIG. 6D  shows the region Z, which is identified in  FIG. 6C . The elongated edge of flocked material  2   d  is designed such that flocked material  2   d  projects outward from the main body  5   d  in two directions oriented orthogonally to one another. 
         [0078]    In all the embodiments shown in  FIG. 1  A to  FIG. 6D , layer  1 ,  1   c  and/or  1   d  can be made of a fleece or a non-woven fabric. 
         [0079]      FIG. 7  shows a dustpan  13 , in particular for use in a set comprising a cleaning device of the type described herein and a dustpan  13 . The dustpan  13  is equipped with a flocked material  2 . 
         [0080]    As is clear from  FIG. 7 , the dustpan  13  has a supporting edge  14  on which the flocked material  2  is arranged. The flocked material  2  is arranged on outer regions of the supporting edge  14 . The dustpan  13  has an upper edge  15  on which the flocked material  2  is arranged. The flocked material  2  is arranged on the outer regions of the upper edge  15 . Moreover, a handle  16  projecting outward in the form of a rod is provided on the dustpan  13 . The dustpan  13  also has a collecting surface  17 . The flocked material  2  is arranged on the side of the collecting surface  17 . 
         [0081]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the dustpan  13  according to  FIG. 7 , illustrating sectional plane AA, indicated in  FIG. 7 , which extends through the handle  16  of the dustpan  13 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of the dustpan  13  according to  FIG. 7 , illustrating sectional plane BB, indicated in  FIG. 7 , which extends through an outer region of the dustpan  13  which is offset parallel to the handle  16 .