EP1961640B1 - Cleaning apparatus with trolley and cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Cleaning devices, with which, for example, a surface can be cleaned, are known in a variety of configurations. They include an electric drive, which drives a cleaning device, such as a suction unit or a high-pressure pump. Often, they also have a dirt collecting container into which dirt collected by a surface can be transferred. The cleaning devices therefore have in many cases a considerable weight, so that their transport is connected to a site for the user with a considerable burden. It is therefore often a handcart used, d. H. a hand-operated trolley, on which the cleaning device is placed and from which it can be removed if necessary.

For transport, the cleaning device can be placed on the trolley and then moved easily. Then it can be removed from the trolley. During transport, however, it must be ensured that the cleaning device can not inadvertently come loose from the trolley. On the other hand, it is desirable to be able to remove the cleaning device when needed in a simple manner from the trolley.

From the publication US 2,291,984 A a cleaning device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. The cleaning device comprises a handcart on which a vacuum cleaner is placed and from which the vacuum cleaner can be removed if necessary. On the trolley, a locking device is arranged with a locking element, which is movable against a restoring force from a locking position into a release position. The patch on the trolley vacuum cleaner is locked in the locking position of the locking element on the trolley and to remove the vacuum cleaner, the locking element is moved to its release position. The locking element is designed in the form of a toggle joint, which automatically remains in the locking position and in the release position. To set the vacuum cleaner on the trolley, the toggle joint must be manually confirmed by the user.

Object of the present invention is to develop a cleaning device of the generic type such that the cleaning device can be set in a simpler manner on the trolley and removed if necessary from this.

This object is achieved by a cleaning device having the features of patent claim 1.

By means of the locking device, the cleaning device can be set during transport in a simple manner on the trolley. For this purpose, a locking element is used, which is movable back and forth between a locking position and a release position. Starting from a locking position in which it locks the cleaning device on the handcart, it can be moved against a restoring force in a release position, so that the cleaning device can be removed from the trolley.

The moving in the release position locking element is set in positioned on the trolley cleaning device in the release position. This has the advantage that the user can first move the locking element into the release position and that he can then remove the cleaning device from the handcart, without requiring that the user manually holds the locking element in the release position until it removes the cleaning device from the handcart , Rather, the locking element automatically remains in its release position, as long as the cleaning device is positioned on the trolley. The removal of the cleaning device from the trolley is thus very easy for the user. The cleaning device is therefore characterized by a comfortable handling.

According to the invention, the locking element by placing the cleaning device on the trolley is automatically moved into its locking position. To remove the cleaning device from the trolley, the user can first move the locking element in its release position. In the release position, the locking element, as long as the cleaning device is still positioned on the trolley, set. The user can therefore remove the cleaning device from the trolley, where he can take the cleaning device, for example, with both hands. If the cleaning device subsequently, for example after a surface, preferably a floor surface has been cleaned, put back on the trolley, the locking element goes automatically into its locking position, so that the cleaning device is again fixed to the trolley.

It can be provided, for example, that the locking device comprises a return spring, which acts on the locking element with a restoring force in the direction of the locking position.

It is advantageous if the locking element in the locking position of a projection of the cleaning device can be engaged behind. This allows a structurally simple determination of the cleaning device on the trolley. The locking element may for example form a bolt, which dips into an associated receptacle of the cleaning device.

In an advantageous embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a housing having a bottom which can be brought into engagement with the locking element in the locking position. The floor may for example form a receptacle into which the locking element dips when it assumes its locking position.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one hook-like projection protrudes from the bottom of the housing of the cleaning device, which engages behind the locking element in the locking position.

Preferably stand from the bottom of the housing of the cleaning device from two projections, which engage behind the locking element in the locking position. The two projections can be arranged at a considerable distance from each other, in particular it can be provided that the two projections are diametrically opposed, so that the housing of the cleaning device is reliably held in the locking position of the locking element on the trolley and especially on the trolley can not tilt or tilt, while the cart is moved by the user.

The at least one locking element is held movably on the trolley. It may for example be mounted pivotably. It is particularly advantageous if the at least one locking element is held displaceably on the trolley. For this purpose, a guide can be arranged on the trolley, which receives the at least one locking element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention, the trolley comprises a support on which the cleaning device can be placed, and the locking element is held below the support parallel to this slidably. This allows a compact design of the trolley and the locking element can be moved in a simple manner, the risk of tilting of the movable locking element can be kept very low. The support may for example be designed as a support plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the support has at least one opening, which can be engaged by a protrusion protruding from the underside of the cleaning device, wherein the projection engages behind the locking element in the locking position.

The locking element is favorably designed plate-like and has at least one opening, which is in the locking position of a projecting from the bottom side of the cleaning device protrusively behind. The locking element can be positioned in the release position such that a projection protruding from the cleaning device on the underside can penetrate the opening. If the locking element is moved into its locking position, the position of the aperture changes in such a way that that the projection engages behind the edge of the opening. This has the consequence that the cleaning device is fixed to the trolley. If the cleaning device to be removed again from the trolley, so this only the locking element must be re-offset so far that the breakthrough is aligned with the projection of the cleaning device and this can then be removed from the trolley.

As already explained, the locking element can be determined in the release position when positioned on the trolley cleaning device. For this purpose, the locking element comprises in a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one holding element which is engageable with the cleaning device in the release position of the locking element, preferably with the cleaning device can be latched. If the locking element is moved into its release position, then the holding element arranged on the locking element engages with the cleaning device, so that the locking element can not readily return to its locking position, it is rather held in the release position as long as the cleaning device positioned on the trolley is. Only when the cleaning device is removed from the trolley, it can be provided that the locking element is moved back into the locking position due to the acting restoring force.

It may be provided, for example, that the cleaning device carries at least one latching projection on the underside, which can be latched to the holding element. The latching projection may be designed in the form of a latching nose, which is aligned substantially perpendicular to a bottom of the housing of the cleaning device.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the holding element in the release position of the locking element in the cleaning device removed from the trolley with a support of the trolley engageable, preferably latched to the support. On the support, the cleaning device can be placed to move the cleaning device by means of the trolley. The support may for example be designed as a support plate. If the cleaning device to be removed from the trolley, the locking element can be moved to its release position, wherein it is held by the holding element in the release position, for example, characterized in that the holding element engages with a protruding from the cleaner side projection into engagement. If the cleaning device is removed from the trolley, then the holding element engages with the support, for example by locking it with this, so that even when removed from the trolley cleaning device, the at least one locking element remains in its release position. Subsequently, the retaining element can be released from the support, so that the locking element is moved due to the acting restoring force in its locking position.

It can be provided, for example, that the support of the trolley carries at least one latching projection on the underside, which can be latched to the holding element.

It is advantageous if the retaining element releases the support when placing the cleaning device on the support. As a result, the locking element can easily pass into the locking position as soon as the cleaning device is placed on the support, since then the holding element releases the support.

To move the locking element comprises the locking device in a preferred embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention a lever mechanism. The lever mechanism can be operated by the user. For example, the lever mechanism may include a footswitch that may be pressed by the user to move the at least one detent member from the detent position to the release position.

In order to keep the risk particularly low, that dissolves the cleaning device during transport from the trolley, it is advantageous if the trolley comprises a receptacle into which the cleaning device is positively inserted. The cleaning device may, for example, have a cylindrical housing lower part, which can be inserted into the receptacle, which has an annular rim which surrounds the housing lower part in the circumferential direction. The cleaning device is thus positively held in the receptacle and is additionally determined by means of the locking device on the trolley.

In order to be able to park the cleaning device, for example, on a floor surface, it has in an advantageous embodiment on the underside several support feet. It is advantageous if the inclusion of the trolley comprises a plurality of openings or depressions, each receiving a support leg. As a result, the risk of unintentional detachment of the cleaning device from the trolley is additionally reduced, because each in one Opening or recess of the recording dipping support feet give the positioned on the trolley cleaning device additional support.

The cleaning device can be configured, for example, in the form of a high-pressure cleaning device. By means of the trolley, the high-pressure cleaner can be moved easily.

It can also be provided that the cleaning device is designed as a spray extraction device, with the aid of a surface to be cleaned, preferably a bottom surface, with a cleaning agent, such as water, can be sprayed, which can then be sucked off the surface again.

It is particularly advantageous if the cleaning device is designed as a vacuum cleaner. This can be moved by means of the trolley and to empty the dirt collector of the vacuum cleaner, this can be easily removed from the trolley.

Figur 1:

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungseinrichtung mit einem Handwagen und einem Reinigungsgerät;

Figur 2:

eine perspektivische Teilschnittdarstellung der Reinigungseinrichtung aus Figur 1 im Bereich des Handwagens;

Figur 3:

eine Teilschnittansicht der Reinigungseinrichtung aus Figur 1, wobei ein Arretierungselement zum Arretieren des Reinigungsgerätes seine Arretierungsstellung einnimmt;

Figur 4:

eine Teilschnittansicht entsprechend Figur 3, wobei das Arretierungselement seine Freigabestellung einnimmt und

Figur 5:

eine Teilschnittansicht entsprechend Figur 3, wobei das Arretierungselement seine Freigabestellung einnimmt und das Reinigungsgerät angehoben wird.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a schematic side view of a cleaning device according to the invention with a handcart and a cleaning device;

FIG. 2:

a partial perspective sectional view of the cleaning device FIG. 1 in the area of the trolley;

FIG. 3:

a partial sectional view of the cleaning device FIG. 1 wherein a locking element for locking the cleaning device assumes its locking position;

FIG. 4:

a partial sectional view corresponding FIG. 3 , wherein the locking element assumes its release position and

FIG. 5:

a partial sectional view corresponding FIG. 3 , wherein the locking element assumes its release position and the cleaning device is raised.

In the drawing, a cleaning device 10 is shown schematically with a handcart 11, d. H. a hand-movable trolley, and with a cleaner in the form of a vacuum cleaner 12, which is positioned on the trolley 11 and can be removed if necessary from this.

The handcart comprises a support member 14 on which two wheels rotatably mounted about a common horizontal axis of rotation 15 are rotatably mounted, wherein in the drawing, only one impeller 16 is shown. In addition, two castors are held on the underside of the support member 14, wherein only a steering roller 17 is shown in the drawing. The castors 17 are freely rotatable as usual about horizontally oriented axes of rotation 18 and can be used to steer the Hand cart 11 additionally pivoted about vertically oriented pivot axes 19.

The support member 14 forms an annular support ring 21 which surrounds a support in the form of a circular support plate 22 in the circumferential direction. The support ring 21 and the support plate 22 define a receptacle 23, in which the vacuum cleaner 12 can be used with a housing lower part 25. The lower housing part 25 forms a dirt collecting container 26, which can be acted upon by a suction unit, which is arranged in an upper housing part 27 of the vacuum cleaner 12, with negative pressure. At a suction port 28 of the dirt collecting 26 can be arranged in the usual manner, not shown in the drawing suction hose, which carries a suction nozzle at its free end. For raising and lowering the vacuum cleaner 12, this has a handle 29.

The handcart 11 comprises in addition to the support member 14, a push bar 31 which is fixed to the support member 14 and can be grasped by the user.

The lower housing part 25 has a housing bottom 33, this is in particular from the Figures 2 and 5 clear. With the housing bottom 33 of the vacuum cleaner 12 can be placed on the support plate 22. On the underside of the housing bottom 33 are two diametrically opposite, hook-like projections 34, 35 from which pass through when placing the vacuum cleaner 12 on the support plate 22 each have a support plate opening 37 and 38 respectively.

To set the vacuum cleaner 12 on the trolley 11, this includes a locking device 40 with a plate-like locking member 41 which is slidably held below the support plate 22 parallel to this, and with a lever mechanism in the form of a foot button 43, the support member 14 to a Swivel axle 44 is pivotally mounted. The foot button 43 has a lever arm 45 which is connected at its free end via a pin 46 with the locking element 41. By pressing the foot button 43, the lever arm 45 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 44. Thereby, the locking element 41 between a locking position, the in FIG. 3 is shown, and a release position, in the FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown to be moved.

The locking element 41 has two openings 48, 49, which are arranged in the release position of the locking element 41 in alignment with the support plate openings 37 and 38, respectively. In the locking position of the locking element 41, however, the apertures 48 and 49 are arranged offset to the support plate openings 37 and 38 in such a way that in each case one of the pin 46 facing edge region of the openings 48 and 49, which forms a respective bolt 51 and 52, is engaged behind by a projection 34 and 35 of the housing bottom 33. This is especially true FIG. 3 clear. If the locking element 41 is displaced by pressing the foot button 43 in the direction away from the pin 46, the bars 51 and 52 release the respective projections 34 and 35, respectively, so that the vacuum cleaner 12 can be raised, as can be seen from FIG FIG. 5 becomes clear.

In addition to the projections 34 and 35 are from the housing bottom 33 two locking lugs 55, 56 down from, which sized the correspondingly large Support plate openings 37 and 38 also pass through, wherein they are each immediately adjacent to a downwardly facing, ie the housing bottom 23 facing away from the edge portion 58 and 59 of the support plate openings 37 and 38 are arranged. The edge portions 58 and 59 each form a downwardly facing latching projection.

In the amount of locking lugs 55 and 56 of the housing bottom 33, the locking element 41 each comprises a resiliently biased in a locking position latching hooks 61 and 62. The two latching hooks 61, 62 each form a holding element, with the help of the locking element 41, the one of in the drawing, not shown restoring spring is acted upon by a restoring force in the direction of the locking position, in which in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown release position can be kept. For this purpose, the latching hooks 61 and 62 engage behind the latching lugs 55 and 56 protruding from the bottom of the housing 33 on the underside FIG. 4 clear.

If the vacuum cleaner 12 is slightly raised by the support plate 22, then give the locking lugs 55 and 56, the latching hooks 61 and 62 of the locking element 41 free. However, these then come directly to the edge portions 58 and 59 of the support plate openings 37 and 38 to the system, as is made FIG. 5 becomes clear. This has the consequence that the locking element 41 is held in its release position even when the vacuum cleaner 12 is raised.

However, if the vacuum cleaner 12 is set down again, the latching lugs 55 and 56 arranged on the underside of the housing bottom 33 press against the latching hooks 61 and 62 of the locking element 41, so that the latching hooks 61, 62 release the edge portions 58 and 59, respectively. This has the consequence that the locking element 41 due to the force acting on the locking element 41 restoring force of the return spring, not shown in the drawing automatically in his in FIG. 3 illustrated locking position passes. In the locking position of the vacuum cleaner 12 is then fixed by means of the locking element 41 due to the bolt 51 and 52 and the hook-like projections 34, 35 reliably on the trolley 11.

If the vacuum cleaner 12 fixed to the trolley 11 is to be removed again, the user makes the foot switch 43 for this purpose, so that the locking element 41 is displaced into its release position, in which it is held reliably by means of the latching hooks 61 and 62. The user can then remove the vacuum cleaner 12 from the trolley 11, for example, to empty the dirt collector 26. If the user puts the vacuum cleaner 12 back in the receptacle 23 of the support ring 21, the locking element 41 automatically goes into its locking position and the vacuum cleaner 12 is again fixed to the trolley 11.

The handling of the cleaning device 10 when placing and removing the vacuum cleaner 12 from the trolley 11 is thus very simple, it being ensured by means of the locking device 40 that the vacuum cleaner 12 can be reliably fixed, for example, for transport purposes on the trolley 11.

In addition to the hook-like projections 34, 35 and the detents 55, 56 are from the housing bottom 33 a plurality of support legs 65 down from, with which the vacuum cleaner 12 on a footprint, for example, a bottom surface can be set up. The receptacle 23 of the trolley 11 has depressions 66 which receive a support foot 65 when the vacuum cleaner 12 is placed on the trolley 11. This gives the vacuum cleaner 12 on the trolley 11 an additional stability.

Claims (20)

1. Cleaning apparatus having a hand cart (11) and a cleaning device (12) mountable on and removable from the hand cart (11), wherein the hand cart (11) has arranged thereat a locking device (40) having a locking element (41) that is movable against a restoring force from a locking position to a release position, wherein the cleaning device (12) mounted on the hand cart (11) is locked to the hand cart (11) in the locking position of the locking element (41) and is removable from the hand cart (11) in the release position and wherein, with the cleaning device (12) positioned on the hand cart (11), the locking element (41) moved to the release position is fixed in place in the release position, characterized in that the locking element (41) is automatically movable to its locking position by mounting the cleaning device (12) on the hand cart (11).
2. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (40) comprises a restoring spring which applies a restoring force in the direction of the locking position to the locking element (41).
3. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the locking position, the locking element (41) is engageable from behind with at least one projection (34, 35) of the cleaning device (12).
4. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (12) comprises a housing (25, 27) having a bottom (33) which is engageable with the locking element (41) in the locking position.
5. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that projecting from the bottom (33) is at least one hook-like projection (34, 35) which engages behind the locking element (41) in the locking position.
6. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that projecting from the bottom (33) are two projections (34, 35) which engage behind the locking element (41) in the locking position.
7. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (41) is held for displacement on the hand cart (11).
8. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the hand cart (11) comprises a support (22) on which the cleaning device (12) is mountable and in that the locking element (41) is held below the support (22) for parallel displacement relative thereto.
9. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the support (22) has at least one opening (37, 38) through which a projection (34, 35) projecting from the underside of the cleaning device (12) is extendable, wherein the projection (34, 35) engages behind the locking element (41) in the locking position.
10. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (41) is of plate-like configuration and has at least one through-hole (48, 49) which in the locking position is engageable from behind with a projection (34, 35) projecting from the underside of the cleaning device (12).
11. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (41) comprises at least one holding element (61, 62) which in the release position of the locking element (41) is engageable with the cleaning device (12).
12. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the cleaning device (12) carries on its underside at least one snap projection (55, 56) which is capable of being snapped together with the holding element (61, 62).
13. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the release position of the locking element (41), with the cleaning device (12) removed from the hand cart (11), the at least one holding element (61, 62) is engageable with a support (22) of the hand cart (11).
14. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that the support (22) carries on its underside at least one snap projection (58, 59) which is capable of being snapped together with the holding element (61, 62).
15. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one holding element (61, 62) releases the support (22) when mounting the cleaning device (12) on the support (22).
16. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (40) comprises a lever mechanism for moving the locking element (41).
17. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the lever mechanism has a foot button (43).
18. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hand cart (11) comprises a receiving portion (23) into which the cleaning device (12) is insertable in a form-locked manner.
19. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that arranged on the underside of the cleaning device (12) are a plurality of support legs and in that the receiving portion (23) comprises a plurality of openings or depressions, each of which receives a support leg.
20. Cleaning apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device is configured as a vacuum cleaner (12).

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