Patent Description:
In urinals that are used in a standing position, cleanliness of the floor may often be compromised. Therefore, it is common to clean the floor quite frequently in order to maintain a hygiene environment. However, maintaining a clean and hygiene environment in public urinals that are frequently used by individuals may be more difficult to accomplish. As a result, various solutions for assisting in cleaning of urinal floors have been proposed.

<CIT> for example describes a device for cleaning a standing surface for a urinal that includes a cassette-type insert that has a moveable standing surface for insertion in a recess in a floor below the urinal. A controllable drive device is provided for moving the standing surface past a cleaning device for cleaning the moveable standing surface.

<CIT> describes a self-cleaning toilet. The toilet comprises a toilet body and a self-cleaning system, the self-cleaning system comprises a cleaning device, and the cleaning device is movable arranged in the toilet body and used for moving to a to-be-cleaned area of the toilet body to clean the to-be-cleaned area. The self-cleaning toilet can clean the toilet body in time and solve the problems that the stink of toilets is strong and bacteria are generated.

<CIT> describes a sanitary facility with an alternative floor cleaning system for automatically cleaning the sanitary facility floor, the invention proposes a sanitary facility with a plate-shaped floor and a floor cleaning device, wherein floor and floor cleaning device carry out a relative movement while cleaning the floor.

Such solutions however are dedicated for cleaning the floor below a single urinal and require installation of a special standing mechanism, which may be costly in particular if applied in a public urinal environment that includes many urinals.

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

In an embodiment there is provided a cleaning system for cleaning a floor of a restroom and comprising a wall coupled cleaning head and a docking site.

Wall coupling of the cleaning head in at least most embodiments may be taken to refer to connection and/or wiring of the cleaning head to power, liquid, pneumatic (etc.) sources required for its function. Wall coupling of the cleaning head may be via cables, pipes, electrical wires (or the like) that provide the cleaning head with access to incoming and outgoing fluid/liquid and power required for its operation.

In certain embodiments, the cleaning head may be of a self-driving ability, which may be facilitated via a driving means such as a motor implemented within the cleaning head.

In certain cases, the cleaning head may be movable via means other or in addition to self-driving - such as via an actuator or linear actuator, possibly with an integrated motor (such as an 'actuator and motor drive' and/or a 'linear belt driven actuator' available from various manufactures such as Macron Dynamics Inc. or the like). Such actuators may be coupled to the cleaning head coupling/connecting it to a wall of a restroom and may optionally be made to move along a rail (or the like) to urge movement of the cleaning head along a floor being cleaned together with tubes, pipes and the like required for its operation.

The docking site may be arranged to at least partially house the cleaning head when not in use, wherein the cleaning head being permanently connected to electrical cables, water source and drain or the like and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which:.

Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.

Attention is first drawn to <FIG> illustrating a top view of a restroom that includes several urinals <NUM> that are placed in a row along a front wall <NUM> to which the urinals are fitted. The restroom also includes in this example a side wall <NUM> that extends generally perpendicular to the front wall <NUM> at a side or the row of urinals.

It is noted that throughout the present specification urinals may be mostly mentioned, however aspects of the present disclosure may be equally relevant to any other sanitary fixture within a restroom where cleaning may be periodically required in order to maintain a hygiene environment.

The restroom seen in this view includes an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> that is wall-coupled i.e. permanently connected to a wall of the restroom during all stages of use, possibly with assistance of a cable carrier or the like (not shown in the Fig.) for guiding and supplying a cleaning head <NUM> of the system with necessary liquid, drainage, power (or the like) for its operation.

In certain embodiments the cleaning head may be of a self-driving ability for permitting the cleaning head movement back and forth along the floor of a restroom, here alongside the front wall to clean the floor below the urinals. Self-driven ability of a cleaning head may be facilitated in the various embodiments herein discussed by a driving means located within the head, such as an electric motor, that is arranged to drive the cleaning head possibly via wheels provide within the head along the floor.

In certain embodiments other possibilities may exist for moving the cleaning head along the floor. For example actuators may be coupled to a cleaning head for moving it along the floor (see, e.g., <FIG> and <FIG> illustrating scissor type actuators urging cleaning heads away and towards a wall of the restroom and/or see <FIG>).

Cleaning system <NUM> may be arranged to perform a cleaning action of the floor periodically or according to certain triggers, such as detection of liquid such as urine and/or other dirt on the floor beneath or in a vicinity of one or more of the urinals. Detection of movement e.g. or users in a vicinity of a urinal or toilet to be cleaned, may be another example of such trigger. A cleaning action by a cleaning head of such system (as in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) may also include advancing the cleaning head to clean a certain region, e.g. beneath a certain urinal, and then 'parking' the cleaning head until demand for further cleaning is required. Such 'parking' of the cleaning head not necessarily within its docking site may limit disturbance to users of the restroom by e.g. avoiding/limiting movement of the head along the floor e.g. back to the docking site after completing a cleaning action of a certain region of the floor.

Attention is additionally drawn to <FIG> illustrating an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> generally similar to <NUM>. In this figure, the urinals have been removed to provide a better view of the cleaning system and its cleaning head <NUM>. In at least certain embodiments, a docking site <NUM> of the cleaning system may be provided where the cleaning head of system <NUM> may be housed when idle. In this example, docking site <NUM> is formed as a cavity within the side wall <NUM> where the cleaning system's head <NUM> may be at least partially stored so it does not take up substantial space on the floor when not in use.

Cleaning system <NUM> may include a rail <NUM> along which it's cleaning head may be guided to maneuver along the floor, where here rail <NUM> may be placed to extend along front wall <NUM>. Rail <NUM> may be arranged to lead, move, support and/or guide flexible electrical cables and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses required for cleaning actions performed by its cleaning head (such as drainage, power and liquid supply, or the like).

Such leading, moving, supporting and/or guiding may also or alternatively be facilitated by a cable carrier (such as carrier <NUM> later discussed) that may be designed to extend concealed within the restroom environment, such as at least partially concealed within one of the walls of the restroom. In addition, in this example the cleaning system is seen including indicators <NUM> that may take form of flashing lights and/or sound indicators (or the like) for waring users of the restroom when in use.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> exemplifying an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM>, in this example several such systems <NUM> associated each with a respective urinal <NUM>. Each cleaning system <NUM> may include a respective docking site <NUM> formed within the front wall <NUM>, where each such docking site being arranged for housing the cleaning system's cleaning head when not in use. The cleaning heads may be wall-coupled i.e. connected to power, water, drain (or the like) required for their operation during their movements along the floor. The cleaning heads may be of a self-driving type or may be urged to move via actuators (see, e.g., scissor type actuators <NUM> indicated in <FIG>).

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating the cleaning systems <NUM> of <FIG> during possible cleaning operations. While the cleaning system at the upper side of this figure is seen still housed within its docking site <NUM>, the cleaning system <NUM> below it in this view is seen performing a cleaning action in a direction away from the front wall and the cleaning system <NUM> at the bottom of this figure is seen on route back towards its docking site.

Cleaning system <NUM> may be arranged to provide support and/or guiding for flexible electrical cables and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses required for cleaning actions performed by its cleaning head (such as drainage, power and liquid supply or the like). Such support and/or guiding may also or alternatively be facilitated by a cable carrier (such as carrier <NUM> later discussed) that may be designed to extend towards the cleaning head of system <NUM> as it advances in its cleaning action.

Each cleaning system <NUM> may be arranged to operate independently from other cleaning systems <NUM> and may be suited to clean a floor region immediately beneath the urinal it is arranged to service. A possible advantage of the arrangement seen in <FIG> and <FIG> may be that during each cleaning operation only a portion of the floor beneath the urinal being serviced may be occupied by the cleaning system thus permitting use of adjacent urinals during this time span.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating a side view of a urinal <NUM> within a restroom. In this view an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> is seen including an optional sensor <NUM>, possibly an optical and/or odor sensor, which is arranged to sense the floor region immediately beneath the urinal. Sensor <NUM> in this example is seen being fitted to the lower side of the urinal, however any other location suitable for permitting sensing of the floor may be chosen. For example, such sensor may be fitted to the cleaning head (see, e.g. sensors <NUM> in <FIG>).

Upon detection of urine, movement or other substances at a certain floor region, a controller of the cleaning system (not shown) in communication with the sensor may be arranged to trigger a cleaning operation of the floor region by cleaning system <NUM> that may be generally similar to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating a bottom side of an embodiment of a cleaning head <NUM> that may be included in any one of the cleaning systems disclosed herein. It is noted that while cleaning head <NUM> here described is shown including a variety of utilities - embodiments suitable for the present disclosure may vary from the example here shown and/or may include only some of the utilities mentioned.

Cleaning head <NUM> may be arranged to include utilities such as: wheels <NUM>, sensors <NUM>, dry and/or hot air vents <NUM>, a dirt and water vacuum <NUM>, wipers <NUM>, a brush <NUM> and a secondary vacuum <NUM>. Cleaning head <NUM> may be arranged to interact with and clean the floor of a restroom beneath one or more urinals, and may be arranged to receive and/or discharge liquids and/or fluids required or removed during a cleaning operation via suitable conduits from or towards its docking site.

For example, cleaning head <NUM> may be arranged to receive flexible electrical cables and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses required for cleaning actions that it performs (such as drainage, vacuum actions, dirt removal, power and liquid supply, or the like). Such flexible electrical cables and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses may be guided via a cable carrier <NUM> that provides wall-coupling of the cleaning head and extends towards one of the walls of the urinal and/or towards the docking site where the cleaning head is designed to dock when not in use.

The cleaning head may be self-driven via e.g. a motor located within the head. A vacuum engine may be arranged to drain and suck liquids and/or dirt and the brush may also be connected to incoming liquid to enhance cleaning actions for efficient cleaning of the floor.

A controller may be provided within the cleaning head to control all cleaning actions and movements of the cleaning head, such as also sensors or communication with sensors within a cleaning system including cleaning head <NUM>. Possibly, remote control of operations and/or monitoring of cleaning actions performed by the cleaning head may be provided via wire and/or via wireless communication such as via wifi (or the like).

Progress of the cleaning head along a floor being serviced may be along the directions marked by the opposing directed arrows provided in <FIG> - or along any other suitable direction that may be required.

In at least certain embodiments: fluids, liquids, electrical power (or the like) may be provided for constant operation of the cleaning system and/or head via conduits and/or cables that extend from an upstream source, a rail and/or docking site supporting or housing the cleaning system and/or head. Via such conduits and/or cables provision of power, water, drainage (etc.) may be facilitated. Possibly, such cables may be concealed and substantially not exposed.

Such permanent connection of a cleaning system and/or head to power and water/air conduits may permit heavy duty cleaning and long lasting operation without substantial human interaction. Such permanent connection in the provided example may be provided via the schematically illustrated cable carrier <NUM>.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> exemplifying possible provision of conduits and/or cables towards an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> here via a cable carrier <NUM>. Cable carrier <NUM> may be arranged to at least partially surround and guide flexible electrical cables and hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses that are connected to the moving cleaning head <NUM> of cleaning system <NUM> during its use.

Cable carrier <NUM> is here seen optionally extending from adjacent docking site <NUM> of the cleaning system where the cleaning head may be housed when not in use (while maintained connected to power, water, drainage (or the like)), and may be arranged to permanently connect cleaning system <NUM> and/or head <NUM> to upstream supply and possible drainage sources. In certain embodiments, cable carrier <NUM> may be arranged to extend alongside a rail that guides the cleaning system and/or head during its operation. Preferably, cable carrier may be substantially concealed e.g. within a wall of the restroom as illustrated.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> for a further view of an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> generally similar to at least some of the former ones discussed herein. Here portions of a cleaning system <NUM> can be seen concealed within a wall of e.g. a restroom for guiding a cleaning head <NUM> that is "so-called" coupled to the wall - to clean a floor located below urinals <NUM> of the restroom.

The portions here seen within the wall include a cable carrier <NUM> here including a belt machining <NUM> that is driven by a motor <NUM>. Attached to the belt machining in this example can be seen a hub <NUM> that is arranged to be moved by the belt mechanism back and forth along the wall in opposing directions (see arrows) generally parallel to the floor of the restroom.

The hub may be attached to a group of cables <NUM> located within the wall that may include: liquid, pneumatic, water, fluid, electrical conduits (or the like) required for operation of the cleaning head <NUM> of the system. The hub may also be coupled via an opening <NUM> in the wall (e.g. a slit-like opening) - to the cleaning head for urging movement of the cleaning head along the floor and for coupling/connecting the cleaning head to the group of cables <NUM>.

In the various cleaning system embodiments disclosed herein, docking of a cleaning head of a system may be against the wall and not necessarily within a wall. In addition, docking sites and/or cleaning heads of systems may be provided with a sanitizer/cleaning liquid container for assisting in sanitizing the floor during cleaning or regions within a restroom and/or portions of the cleaning system in between cleaning operations, such as sanitizing a cleaning head of the system in between cleaning operations.

Such systems may also be robotic e.g. without a conveyor belt or actuators for supplying liquids/fluids for performing a cleaning action. Hence such a robotic system may be equipped with internal supplies/resources required for its operation, e.g. water supply, drain container (e.g. for containing used liquid during a cleaning operation), sanitizer container (and the like) - instead of receiving supply of such substance from a conveyor belt. Such robotic systems may in addition be arranged when located within a docking site - to connect to docking ports within or associated with the docking site (e.g. a water source, drainage reservoir, electrical power, etc.) At the docking site the robotic head may be filled automatically with liquids and drain the drain container possibly automatically.

In certain embodiments, cleaning of the system's cleaning head (e.g. brush) may be performed, e.g. with water/sanitizer, when at the docking site - possibly also comprising a step of the drying such cleaning head part.

In at least certain embodiments, a system's cleaning head may include a cleaning member (e.g. brush, mop, or the like) that may be arranged to move during a self-cleaning operation of the cleaning head e.g. against the floor, while being supplied with cleaning substances (e.g. water, sanitizer, etc.). Such self-cleaning of the head's cleaning member may be performed without movement of the cleaning head along the floor (as in a normal cleaning operation). Cleaning substances used during such self-cleaning sequence may be vacuumed to a drain container (or the like).

In certain cases, such self-cleaning procedure may include urging the cleaning member to move against a dedicated rough surface (e.g. with relative sharp projections) aimed for assisting in the cleaning process of the cleaning member.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> schematically illustrating an embodiment of a cleaning system <NUM> generally similar to the embodiments described herein above, however possibly tailored for restrooms within a dwelling (e.g. a place of residence, home etc.).

Such 'residential' cleaning system <NUM> may be arranged to cooperate with a docking site inside the wall or a wall mounted docking site <NUM> as shown (being e.g. parallel to the wall) where the cleaning head <NUM> of the system may be stored/parked vertically. Such parking within the docking site may be self-propelled by the cleaning head, which e.g. may self-advance to climb up into the docking site (possibly along a rail provided by the system/docking-site). In certain cases, the docking site may lower an arm member (or the like) aimed at coupling to the cleaning head and lifting same up to the docking site.

Such docking site may be connected to water/power/drain or battery and sanitizer container (or the like) - and/or system's cleaning head may be equipped with small containers that can connect and flush or refill liquids to or from ports the docking site with parked.

Such 'residential' cleaning system may accordingly include many features of system embodiments described herein, such as self-cleaning functionality of a cleaning member (e.g. brush/mop) of the cleaning head.

Attention is drawn to <FIG>. In certain embodiments (also applicable to other system embodiments), a cleaning system <NUM> may be arranged to maneuver a cleaning member <NUM> of its cleaning head <NUM>, away from the cleaning head (e.g. sideways) - to access regions where the dimensions of the cleaning head may otherwise permit access. For example, such cleaning member may be urged sideways to clean beneath a toilet cabinet, a toilet bowl (or the like).

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, "comprise" "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

Further more, while the present application or technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and non-restrictive; the technology is thus not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed technology, from a study of the drawings, the technology, and the appended claims.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures can not be used to advantage.

The present technology is also understood to encompass the exact terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc., if in here such terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc. are referred to in connection with terms such as "about, ca. , substantially, generally, at least" etc. In other words, "about <NUM>" shall also comprise "<NUM>" or "substantially perpendicular" shall also comprise "perpendicular". Any reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting the scope.

Claim 1:
A cleaning system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for cleaning a floor of a restroom and comprising a wall-coupled cleaning head (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a docking site (<NUM>) for at least partially housing the cleaning head when not in use, wherein the cleaning head being wall-coupled by being permanently connected to any one of: electrical cables, electrical power, hydraulic and/or pneumatic hoses, hydraulic and/or pneumatic sources,
characterized in that the cleaning head being arranged to communicate via conduits with ports of the docking site for receiving and discharging fluids via such ports during use, for example while moving and cleaning, and wherein the cleaning head comprising a dirt and water vacuum (<NUM>, <NUM>) for assisting in discharging liquids and/or fluids during a cleaning operation via the conduits towards the docking site