The invention relates to a device for cleaning relatively large surfaces, such as floors, windows and the like, comprising a cleaning body for moving over the surface for cleaning, an engaging part extending substantially transversely thereof, and means for metered dispensing of a cleaning agent onto the surface for cleaning in the vicinity of the cleaning body, which dispensing means comprise a primary operating member.

Such cleaning device is already manufactured by applicant and marketed by the company Leifheit, D-56377 Nassau (FRG) .

The known cleaning device consists of a flat cleaning body which is provided on its underside with velcro tape for fastening a cleaning cloth. A container for cleaning agent is accommodated in the cleaning body. An engaging part, which is manufactured integrally with the cleaning body, extends at an acute angle from the top side thereof. Means are accommodated in the engaging part for metered dispensing of the cleaning agent, in the form of a pomp connected to the container and a spray nozzle protruding from the front side of the engaging part. The pump can be operated by an operating member in the form of a trigger, which is mounted pivotally in the engaging part and protrudes from the rear side thereof.

Using the known cleaning device large surface areas, in particular windows, can be cleaned quickly, simply and thoroughly. By operating the trigger when the cleaning body is held on or close to the surface for cleaning, a measure of cleaning agent is carried by the pump at a considerable pressure out of the container to the spray nozzle and atomized thereby. The cleaning agent is thus sprayed onto the

surface for cleaning in front of the cleaning body, whereafter the cleaning body can be moved thereover in order to clean the surface. The surface is cleaned very thoroughly by the combination of the dirt-dissolving action of the cleaning agent and the mechanical action of the cleaning body with the cloth attached thereto. The dirt-dissolving action of the cleaning agent further ensures that only a small force has to be exerted on the engaging part, which is of great importance, particularly for women. The invention now has for its object to improve the known cleaning device such that it can be used in a number of ways.

According to a first aspect of the invention this is achieved by providing the cleaning device with at least one elongate handle which has on one end means for connecting thereof to the engaging part and on the opposite end has a secondary operating member which is connected to the dispensing means via operating means extending along or in the handle. By connecting the handle to the engaging part the cleaning device can also be used to clean for instance floors, wherein the user can remain standing. The cleaning of windows which are high or difficult to reach is hereby also possible in simple manner. Use can still be made here of the cleaning agent, because the dispensing means can be activated by the secondary operating member on the end of the handle.

In a preferred embodiment of the cleaning device there are even provided a number of exchangeable handles of varying lengths and/or forms, each comprising connecting means, operating means and an operating member. A suitable handle can thus be chosen for any cleaning operation.

In order to enable an optimal working posture, and still be able to store the cleaning device in simple manner the handle preferably takes a divided form.

Because the optimum angle between the cleaning body and the engaging part during use as window cleaner differs from the optimum angle for use in cleaning floors, it is recommended that the handle has a bend, and the operating means comprise a transmission at the position of the bend.

In order to allow use of the cleaning device from different positions relative to the surface for cleaning, the secondary operating member is advantageously accommodated in a handgrip which is pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the handle. The cleaning body can thus follow the surface, while the handgrip can still be held in a natural position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the cleaning device is provided with at least one scraping strip extending along an edge of the cleaning body. Through the use of such a scraping strip the used cleaning agent can be wiped together and removed together with the contaminants.

When the at least one scraping strip is manufactured from a flexible material, such as a soft plastic or rubber, the cleaning device can function as so-called squeegee with which moisture can even be wiped away from a somewhat uneven ground surface, leaving a dry surface.

When, conversely, the at least one scraping strip is manufactured from a wear-resistant material, such as a hard plastic or metal, the cleaning device can be used to prod contaminants loose that are firmly attached to a surface. The cleaning device can in this case also be used as scraper to release ice from vehicle windows.

When finally the cleaning device is provided with two scraping strips which run substantially parallel at a mutual distance and of which one is manufactured from a flexible material and the other from a wear-resistant material, it can be used as required as squeegee or as scraper.

According to a particular embodiment, the cleaning device can be further provided with at least one sponge which is to be connected to the cleaning body and has a thickness increasing transversely of the direction of the cleaning body. When the cleaning device is used with a straight handle for the purpose of cleaning floors, an optimal working posture can hereby still be achieved because, owing to the tapering form of the sponge, the engaging part, and thereby the handle, are more vertically oriented. According to a third aspect of the invention, the cleaning device has the feature that the cleaning body is adapted to accommodate a container which can be connected releasably thereto and which has therein the cleaning agent to be dispensed, and that the dispensing means are connected to the cleaning body. Because the cleaning body will have a considerable surface area for optimum effectiveness, it provides sufficient space for receiving such a container. By moreover connecting the container releasably to the cleaning body, the container can be exchanged in simple manner when the cleaning agent runs out or another agent is required. The device can also be used thus with random commercially available cleaning agents.

When the cleaning body is at least partially hollow, and thus defines a receiving space for the container, the container can be placed in the cleaning body in simple manner. The cleaning body can herein be open on one side, wherein the dispensing means are accommodated in the cleaning body on the opposite side. The container, which will generally be elongate, can thus be readily pushed or pressed from the side into the cleaning body and be there connected to the dispensing means.

The container advantageously has a closing valve and the dispensing means are adapted to open the closing valve

when the container with the cleaning agent is connected. In this manner the device is immediately ready for use as soon as the container is connected thereto.

According to a final aspect of the invention, the cleaning device is characterized by cloths arranged on either side of the cleaning body for the purpose of spreading the cleaning agent respectively wiping off and drying the cleaned surface. After cleaning of the surface with the one cloth, the surface can thus be dried immediately with the other cloth by turning over the device, whereby rapid working is possible.

The cloths can here advantageously be formed integrally. Only a single cloth with a spreading zone and a wipe-off/drying zone thus needs to be attached to the cleaning body.

The or each cloth can further have an opening for passage of a scraping strip fixed to the cleaning body. The cleaning device can therefore once again be used as squeegee.

Finally, the invention also relates to a container, closing valve and/or cloth for use in combination with the above described cleaning device.

The invention is now elucidated on the basis of a number of embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding components are designated with reference numerals increased in each case by "100", and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention with a straight, relatively long handle, Fig. 2 shows a view corresponding with fig. 1 of a variant with a shorter handle,

Fig. 3 shows a view corresponding with fig. 1 and 2 of another embodiment of the device with a handle in divided form,

Fig. 4 shows the lower part of the handle of fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through the connection between the parts of the handle of fig. 3,

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of connecting means on a lower outer end of the handle of fig. 1-4,

Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the connection between the handle and an engaging part of the cleaning device,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a sleeve as used in the different connections,

Fig. 9 shows a view corresponding with fig. 1-3 of yet another embodiment of the device with a divided handle with bend,

Fig. 10 shows the lower part of the handle of fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the connection between the handle of fig. 9 and 10 and the engaging part of the cleaning device, wherein the container and the dispensing means can also be seen,

Fig. 12 is. a perspective view of the upper part of a handle with rotatable handgrip,

Fig. 13 shows two side views of the cleaning device with straight handle in combination with respectively a cloth and a tapering sponge,

Fig. 14 shows a cross-section through the upper end of a handle with handgrip arranged rotatably thereon,

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention with two scraping strips and without handle when used as window scraper,

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a variant of this embodiment,

Fig. 17 is a side view of the device of fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the device with a container for cleaning agent accommodated releasably in the cleaning body and a cloth arranged around this body,

Fig. 19 is a view corresponding with fig. 18 of the cleaning device with released container and without cloth,

Fig. 20 is a partly cross-sectional and cut-away perspective view of the cleaning body and the part of the dispensing means arranged therein,

Fig. 21 is a view corresponding with fig. 20 in which the container is also shown,

Fig. 22 shows a detail view as according to arrow XXII in fig. 21 with the container in mounted position, and Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the container with respectively a normal cap and a closing valve adapted for use in the cleaning device.

A cleaning device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention (fig. 1) comprises a cleaning body 2 for moving over a surface S for cleaning and an engaging part 3 which is formed integrally therewith and which extends substantially transversely of the width direction of cleaning body 2. Arranged in cleaning body 1 is a container 4 closed by a cover 9 for holding a liquid cleaning agent, while roughly at the position of the connection between engaging part 3 and cleaning body 2 are arranged means 5 for metered dispensing of the cleaning agent onto the surface S to be cleaned in the vicinity of cleaning body 2.

These dispensing means 5 here comprise a pump 6, which can be activated by means of a primary operating member 7 in the form of a hinged trigger, and a spray nozzle 8 arranged on the front side of engaging part 3 for atomising the cleaning agent transported from container 4 and brought

under pressure by pump 6. Pump 6 comprises a cylinder 10 in which a piston 11 is reciprocally movable and which is connected to container 4 (fig. 11) by a suction conduit 12 having a non-return valve 13 therein. Pump 6 is further connected via a pressure conduit 14 to spray nozzle 8. Trigger 7 is pivotable about an axis A and has a lever 15 which engages round cylinder 10 and an end part 16 of which engages on piston 11. This end part 16 further functions as stop for a control arm 17 mounted slidably in engaging part 3, as will be elucidated below. Trigger 7 is biased toward its rest position by a spring (not shown here) .

In the shown embodiment cleaning body 2 is further provided on the front edge with a scraping strip 18 of a flexible material, such as a soft plastic or rubber. On its underside 19 directed toward the surface S for cleaning the cleaning body 2 is here provided with fastening means, for example velcro tape, whereby a cleaning cloth 20 or sponge 21 can be connected to cleaning body 2 (fig. 13) . Further formed in conventional manner on the top side of cleaning body 2 are sawtooth-shaped clamping slots 22 into which can be inserted corners of a cleaning cloth to be wrapped round cleaning body 2.

In order to also enable use of cleaning device 1 in upright position for the purpose of cleaning for instance floors, or for cleaning surfaces which are difficult to reach such as higher or highly placed windows, cleaning device 1 according to the invention is provided with an elongate handle 23, which has on one end means 24 for connecting thereof to engaging part 3 and on the opposite end a secondary operating member 25. This secondary operating member 25, here also in the form of a pivotable trigger, is connected to dispensing means 5 via operating means 26 which in the shown embodiment extend in handle 23.

Connecting means 24 here comprise two protrusions 27 on the outer ends of resilient tongues 28 which form part of a sleeve 29 clamped in the end of handle 23. These tongues 28 are pressed in when the end of handle 23 is pushed into the engaging part until protrusions 27 are received in corresponding apertures 30 in engaging part 3.

Trigger 25 is mounted pivotally about a shaft 31 in a handgrip 32 arranged on the upper outer end of handle 23. In the shown embodiment the handgrip 32 is rotatable around the longitudinal axis L of handle 23 (fig. 12) . For this purpose a bearing bush 33 is clamped in the end of handle 23 and has on the outside a peripheral groove 34 (fig. 14). Handgrip 32 is provided on the inner side with a rib 35 which is received in groove 34. By rotating handgrip 32 relative to handle 23, which is connected non-rotatably to cleaning body 2, this cleaning body 2 can be brought into any desired position. Here also formed in handgrip 32 is another opening 36 with which cleaning device 1 can be suspended from a hook. In the shown embodiment the operating means 26 comprise a tube 37 which is mounted slidably in handle 23. A lever (not shown here) connected to the secondary operating member 25 engages on the upper outer end of tube 37, whereby this latter is displaced inward when the secondary operating member 25 is pressed in. Clamped in the lower outer end of tube 37 is a pressing member 38 which engages on control arm 17 of pump 6. This control arm 17 has a C-shaped upper part 39 and a straight part 40 connected thereto. The C-shaped upper part 39 is arranged around a stop member 41 which protrudes through engaging part 3 such that the stroke of control arm 17, and thereby of pump 6, is limited. As stated, control arm 17 does not engage directly on pump 6 but on the end part 16 of lever 15 which is connected to the trigger

(primary operating member) 7 and which protrudes into the open rear side of piston 11 of pump 6.

In the shown embodiment the cleaning device 1 is provided with a number of exchangeable handles 23, 23' of differing length which are each provided with connecting means, operating means, a handgrip 32, 32' and a secondary operating member 25, 25'. The handle 23 shown in fig. 1 here has a length of about 1 metre, while a shorter handle is shown in fig. 2 with a length of about 50 cm. Modifying the length of the handle to the conditions is important in creating an optimal working posture, mindful of the fact that operation of the dispensing means takes place from the handgrip on the end of the handle. The shown short variant of handle 23' is for instance suitable for cleaning windows of large motor vehicles, such as trucks and buses, while the longer handle 23 is, as stated, suitable for cleaning high or highly placed windows, particularly in the household.

Instead of a number of separate handles 23, 23' each having their own handgrip 32, 32' and the like, use can also be made of a handle 23" which takes a divided form (fig. 3) . In this case the upper part 23A of handle 23" which carries the secondary operating member 25" is provided with a sleeve 42 with resiliently compressible protrusions 43. The lower handle part 23B (fig. 4) has on its upper side a widened collar 44 which is clamped therein and which accommodates sleeve 42 and has two openings 45 for receiving these protrusions 43.

Operating means 26" will of course then also take a divided form. In the divided embodiment of operating means 26" there are two tubes 37A, 37B present, the upper 37A of which is provided on its bottom end with a pressing member 46 which is clamped therein and which engages on the upper outer end of the lower tube 37B. Just as in the undivided

embodiment, the lower tube is then provided on its lower outer end with a pressing member 38" which is clamped therein and which engages on control arm 17 of pump 6.

This variant of cleaning device 1 can also be used with only the upper part 23A of the two-part handle 23". In the shown embodiment each handle part 23A, 23B has a length in the order of about 50 cm, so that cleaning device 1 can once again be used as required with a handle of about 1 m or one of 50 cm. The long handle is suitable for use of cleaning device 1 to clean floors. However, because the angle Oi between engaging part 3 and the bottom surface 19 of cleaning body 2 is optimized for the use of cleaning body 2 on its own, so without handle, and for the use of cleaning device 1 with handle for cleaning vertical surfaces, particularly windows, it is less suitable for cleaning horizontal surfaces, thus floors. Owing to the small angle α the handle 23 would lie too flat, whereby the end with handgrip 32 would end too low above the floor to enable comfortable working (fig. 13, on the left) . Cleaning device 1 can therefore be provided with a sponge 21 whose thickness increases transversely of the direction of cleaning body 2. By attaching such a tapering sponge 21 to the underside 19 of cleaning body 2 the angle γ between engaging part 3 and handle 23 on the one hand and the surface S for cleaning, particularly the floor, on the other is increased by the apex angle β of sponge 21 (γ = α + β), whereby the cleaning device can be used comfortably (fig. 13, on the right) .

A similar effect can be achieved when handle 23 has a bend 47 (fig. 9) . In this case the operating means 26 must comprise a transmission 48 at the position of bend 47. In the shown embodiment this transmission 48 is formed by a transmission member 49 which, using two arms 50, is

accommodated slidably in guide grooves 51 in the bent part 47 of handle 23 (fig. 11) . The transmission member 49 has a rounded upper part 52 with which pressing member 38 on the underside of tube 37 comes into engagement and moves over as the transmission member 49 is pressed further inward.

Transmission member 49 presses with its underside 53 against the control arm 17 of pump 6. Handle 23 here also takes a divided form. As upper part 23A can be used the same part as in the embodiment of fig. 3. Only the lower handle part 23B then has to be exchanged.

In the embodiments shown up to this point the cleaning body 2 is provided on one side with a scraping strip 18 of flexible material. In an alternative embodiment of cleaning device 101 (fig. 15-17) cleaning body 102 is provided with two scraping strips 118, 154 which run substantially parallel each other. The one scraping strip 118 is herein manufactured from flexible material, whereby cleaning body 102 can be used as squeegee for drying of for instance washed windows, while the other scraping strip 154 is manufactured from a wear-resistant material, such as a metal, a hard type of plastic or a ceramic material. This wear-resistant scraping strip 154 serves as scraper, whereby very firmly adhered dirt can be removed, but whereby cleaning body 102 can also be used as ice scraper. In this case the combination with container 104 and dispensing means 105 is also advantageous, because an antifreeze can of course then be dispensed instead of a cleaning agent. This embodiment of cleaning device 101 can also be used without handle, particularly in the case of windows of passenger vehicles. Engaging part 103 can then be closed at the end, while pump 106 would then be directly operated by trigger 107 alone and does not have to have a connection for operation from a handle. On the other hand however it is possible to provide

this embodiment with a handle, particularly when it is used to clean truck windows.

In yet another embodiment cleaning device 201 is suitable for use with exchangeable containers 204 (fig. 18- 23) . This has the advantage that a fixed container 4 no longer has to be replenished through an opening closed with a cover 9 when the cleaning agent is finished. Instead the empty container 204 can simply be released and replaced by a full one. It is thus also possible to work with different cleaning agents at the same time, for instance a special glass cleaner for cleaning windows and a floor cleaner for cleaning floors.

Cleaning body 202, which as in the foregoing embodiments is hollow and thus defines a receiving space 257 for container 204, is in this embodiment open on one side 255 (fig. 18, 19), while a portion 286 of dispensing means 205 is arranged on the opposite side. The open side 255 has two recesses 256 through which container 204 can be easily grasped. The open side is bounded by an edge 287 which guides the movement of container 204 and supports container 204 in its position fully inserted into body 202. The container 204 itself can be a bottle normally available on the market. The normal cap 259 will however have to be replaced by a closing valve 258 specially suitable for the purpose prior to use in cleaning device 201 (fig. 23) .

Closing valve 258 is formed by a jacket 260 which can be fastened onto the neck of container 204 in the same way as cap 259, for instance by screwing or snapping. This jacket 260 has an outflow opening 261 which is closed by a closing member 264 (fig. 22) . On the side opposite the outflow opening is arranged a sealing ring 262 which is held fast by a locking member 263 which is snapped fixedly with a neck 267 into jacket 260. Closing member 264 is movable in jacket 260

and is biased toward a closing position (to the right in the figure), here by a spring 265. Closing member 264 further has a sealing ring 266 which in the closing position engages on the inner wall of jacket 260. The portion 286 of dispensing means 205 which is received in cleaning body 202 is adapted to effect the connection between container 204 and pump 206. This connecting part 286 is adapted to open closing valve 258 and has for this purpose protrusions 269 which protrude from an end wall 268 of cleaning body 202. These protrusions 269 are placed and dimensioned such that they protrude into outflow opening 261 when container 204 is accommodated fully in cleaning body 202.

The connecting portion 286 further comprises a housing 271 which is clamped round an edge 270 protruding from wall 268, and which has an opening 273 into which closing valve 258 can be inserted. A slightly resilient clamping and sealing edge 274 is arranged around this opening 273. Housing 271 and end wall 268 define a liquid chamber LC which is connected by an outlet tube 272 to the suction conduit 212 of pump 206. Further formed in end wall 268 is a venting aperture 275 which debouches in an air chamber AC, which is defined by an edge 276 and a resiliently deformable venting member 277 which is clamped therein and closed by a membrane 278. This venting member 277 is held in place by an inward protruding edge 283 of housing 271.

When container 204 is thus placed in cleaning body 202, closing valve 258 is opened so that cleaning agent can flow via the outflow opening 261 into liquid chamber LC and from there via conduit 212 to pump 206. Pump 206, which in the shown embodiment is provided with a per se known pre- pressure system 279, for instance of the type described in applicant's earlier patent application WO 00/33970, finally

carries the cleaning liquid under pressure to spray nozzle 208, whereby the liquid is atomized. Owing to the pressure ratio in liquid chamber LC the venting member 277 is then deformed to some extent so that air from air chamber AC can flow along it and thus prevent the formation of an underpressure in liquid chamber LC.

Another aspect of the invention can also be seen in this embodiment of cleaning device 201; the use of different cloths 281, 282 on either side of cleaning body 202. Cloth 281 on the side where spray nozzle 208 is situated is herein intended to distribute the atomized cleaning agent over the surface S for cleaning, while cloth 282 on the other side is intended to wipe off and dry the surface after the cleaning. It is thus possible, by turning over the device 201 after cleaning of surface S with the one cloth 281, to immediately dry the surface S with the other cloth 282, whereby rapid working is possible.

In the shown embodiment the cloths 281, 282 are embodied integrally in that a spreading zone 281 and a wipe off/drying zone 282 are formed on a carrier 280. These zones 281, 282 take the form of cushions arranged on carrier cloth 280. The cloths are attached by clamping the carrier 280 with two corners into slots 222 and then wrapping the cloths round cleaning body 202, whereafter end flaps 285 are fastened on either side of engaging member 203 by means of for instance velcro tape to the already wrapped part of carrier 280. In the shown embodiment a slot-like opening 284 is also formed in the cloth to allow through the scraping strip 218.

Although the invention is described above on the basis of a number of embodiments, it will be apparent that these can be varied in many ways. In particular, all new aspects per se or in combinations other than shown here can be applied in conventional cleaning devices while retaining

the advantages associated therewith. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.