EP1120077B1 - Mop with a debit regulator of floor cleaning and treating products - Google Patents

Abstract

A broom provided with a improved regulator for controlling the flow of floor cleaning and treatment products. This broom has a tubular appendage (29) provided on the bottom of a reservoir (3) for the discharge of liquid and has a removably coupler detachable (31) that is inserted between the tubular appendage (29) and the small flexible tube (5) that transports the liquid to the floor. All these elements are easily cleanable of incrustations and deposits that result from the use of dense or semi-dense fluids, such as floor waxes.

Description

The present invention relates to a broom provided with a product flow regulator for cleaning and soil treatment.

For the cleaning of the floors one used directly, in the past, mops that one passed on the floor by hand. The sequence of interventions included, in order, washing, drying and buffing. The materials used were detergent liquids, pure water without additives and emulsified waxes.

When the surfaces concerned were large enough, the mop was associated with the mop. The original association of the mop and the broom was perfected successively to lead to real brooms composed of a handle and a support provided with a handle-holder and equipped, at its lower part, anchored mops in a proper way. The required quantities of the liquids at the beginning or the wax at the end were poured by the operator directly onto the floor, from different containers, and they were then spread on the floor using mops and brooms or by successive brushes provided with a handle and a support with an underlying soft element.

In view of the difficulty of making easy and regular spreading of detergent or polishing products on the floors, brooms equipped with a bottle holder or their own reservoirs connected either to the bottle holder or to associated reservoirs containing devices have appeared. particular for regulating the flow of fluid products (liquids, waxes, etc.) contained in these tanks.

In the series of these brushes enter the brushes appeared on the market which are provided with a tank mounted coaxially with the handle and connected to the lower part of the tank, a small flexible tube that descends to the ground after crossing, at a certain distance from the ground, the structure of the handle.

In brooms present on the market, the closing and the regulation of the flow of the fluids contained in the reservoir, through the small tube, are a function of the size of the crushing of the small tube caused, by appropriate means, on a section determined from this tube.

The control of the crushing of the small tube is achieved by acting on a knob located at the top of the handle and which by means of a wire (by traction) or a rod (by pushing) will counterbalance the action of a spring which, during the period of non-use of the broom, keeps the small tube crushed.

Brushes comprising a reservoir mounted on the handle, existing on the market and with which the regulation of the flow of liquid from their reservoir, is achieved by crushing a section of the small tube of flexible material connected to the lower part of the tank, are made as follows.

• d'un réservoir configuré avec une embouchure ouverte, monté coaxialement sur le manche et dont la paroi externe, prolongeant son fond, s'élève dans la partie centrale en formant un tube entourant le manche ;
• d'un petit tube en matière souple qui est relié à un appendice tubulaire du fond du réservoir et qui descend vers le sol en traversant le manche du balai ;
• d'un manche qui soutient un réservoir et qui est relié, par l'intermédiaire d'une rotule, à une planche de base équipée d'un tissu ;
• d'un pommeau qui est disposé au sommet de la poignée du manche et qui est relié au dispositif permettant de comprimer le petit tube flexible à l'endroit de sa traversée du manche (ou d'un prolongement du manche) ;
• d'un dispositif actionné par un ressort et qui, à l'état de repos, maintient totalement écrasé le petit tube flexible provenant du réservoir, à l'endroit de sa traversée du manche (ou d'un prolongement du manche) ;
• d'un couvercle en forme de tasse renversée et pourvu d'une cavité tubulaire centrale coulissant le long du manche.

These brooms are composed of:

• a reservoir configured with an open mouthpiece, mounted coaxially on the handle and whose outer wall, extending its bottom, rises in the central part forming a tube surrounding the handle;
• a small tube of flexible material which is connected to a tubular appendage of the bottom of the tank and which descends towards the ground through the handle of the broom;
• a handle that supports a reservoir and which is connected, via a ball joint, to a base board equipped with a fabric;
• a knob which is disposed at the top of the handle of the handle and which is connected to the device for compressing the small flexible tube at the point where it passes through the handle (or an extension of the handle);
• a device actuated by a spring and which, in the state of rest, keeps completely crushed the small flexible tube from the tank, at the point of its crossing of the handle (or an extension of the handle);
• an inverted cup-shaped lid with a central tubular cavity sliding along the handle.

Inside the lid is provided a border intended to come into contact with the corresponding outer edge of the tank.

On the outer upper part and near the handle, the cover is provided with a skirt.

The outer top of the lid is configured such that once the lid is lifted upwards, it is engaged elastically on the lower part of the handle of the handle so as to be maintained. This allows the operator to have both hands without having to keep the cover during the interventions to be made with the mouth of the open tank.

To cause the flow of liquid from the tank and down, it acts on the knob located at the top of the handle of the handle, lowering this knob. As a result of this actuation of the knob down, it causes the compression of the rod which connects the knob to the device that compresses the small flexible tube at the location of its crossing the handle (or an extension of the handle). By varying the amplitude of the lowering of the pommel, the size of the compression of the rod is varied, which is proportionally opposed to the action of the spring of the crimping device of the small flexible tube.

The commercially available liquid spread broom which has been described above, has some disadvantages that arise after a brief initial period of use, disadvantages that make the broom itself unusable or that require rather expensive interventions for the recovery of the regularity of the original services.

These disadvantages result from the fact that the products that must be spread on the ground are not mere liquids but consist of emulsions of wax which, in certain parts of their containers or along the pathways necessary to reach the place of sol, lose their own solvent, or that, as a result of polymerization problems, become dense to the point of forming colloidal deposits or compact incrustations. This causes obstruction of the small holes and bonding of the coupled parts which must be functionally separated.

With regard to the orifices, it is necessary to intervene with small rods to unclog the passage and for the coupled parts that must be separated, the screwing between male and female elements requires intervention appropriate tools because the force to overcome is much greater than the intervention force that an operator is able to exert manually.

These interventions of deblocking or detachment or unblocking not only require more or less long periods of time and associated costs but also involve the risk of a rupture of the coupled parts themselves, also causing the decommissioning of the set of broom.

A known broom of this type is described in the document US-A-4,119,386 . This document US-A-4,119,386 discloses a broom provided with a product flow controller for cleaning and soil treatment according to the preamble of claim 1.

An object of the present invention is to provide a blade provided with a reservoir with a liquid flow regulator contained in this reservoir, in particular a wax made fluid, which eliminates all the disadvantages encountered with the brushes provided with a tank with a liquid flow regulator that exists on the market, innovating the functional and structural concepts and further reducing production and handling costs.

These and other objects are achieved, according to the invention, by a new broom provided with a product flow controller for cleaning and soil treatment, having the characteristics of the characterizing part of claim 1.

The innovations introduced in the context of the patent eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks by significant solutions.

The first innovation concerns discharge port provided on the bottom of the tank. It is made, in continuity with the molding of the tank, by means of a robust tubular appendix provided with a hole large enough.

This makes it possible to intervene, in the case of any incrustations tending to obstruct the hole, in an easy and safe manner, avoiding the risk of a rupture of the tubular appendix which would cause the tank to be taken out of service. -even. For attachment of the small flexible tube which brings the liquid down to the ground, there is provided a small tubular fitting which is fitted, but removably, on the end of the tubular appendage of the reservoir. The possible cleaning of the tubular section of this small connection is facilitated either because it is possible to introduce a small unclogging rod from both ends of the tubular section, or because of the short length of this tubular section. In the case where the tubular appendage of the small coupling would break, this would not pose a problem for the broom because this small fitting is a spare part at a reduced cost and for safety a second copy can be provided in addition with the supply of the broom.

The second innovation concerns the mounting of the tank lid.

Currently, the lid which is provided with a central tubular cavity sliding along the handle of the blade, fits on the tank by means of a coupling by screwing. According to the innovation of this patent, the cover does not mate more by screwing but by support under adequate force, with appropriate means. In this way, for the separation of the lid, even if any incrustations must be formed which cause it to stick to the tank, there is no longer to overcome sliding friction and it must intervene with forces that are at the scope of any operator.

The appropriate means provided for closing the upper mouth of the reservoir, with the cover not screwed, may be fastening elements consisting of articulated arms rotationally (elastically), for example, on appendices of the cover and which have a hook-shaped end to grip on associated appendages present on the outer surface of the tank.

Another innovation relates to the attachment mode of the knob, intended for controlling the regulation of the crushing of the small flexible tube, on the upper end of the rod.

Currently on the brushes present on the market, the attachment between the knob and the upper end of the rod is achieved by means of a screw engaged in the plastic of the knob, this screw acting superficially on the rod threaded axially in the knob , pressing it against the wall of the hole. In this way, the fixation is achieved by taking advantage of the only adhesion that exists between the wall of the pommel hole and the surface of the rod.

The movement transmitted from the pommel to the rod, for more or less long periods of time, compromises the mutual fixation given the precariousness of the screwing of the transverse screw in the plastic of the pommel. The impossibility of securing the fastener in a safe manner, avoiding at all costs possible sliding of the rod with respect to the screw exerting the pressure, compromises the efficiency of the regulation of the flow through the small flexible tube, being given that the crushing of the tube depends on a setting in perfect position of the rod. The solution of this problem was obtained by making a transverse cavity in the pommel, which cavity intersects and opens into the axial hole present in the pommel and in which is threaded the rod. In this cavity is inserted a locking element (preferably prismatic section), having a transverse hole corresponding to the cross section of the rod and a threaded axial hole in which is screwed a screw.

When the rod is threaded into the pommel, it enters and exceeds the transverse hole housing the locking element. Once the rod is placed in the correct position, the rod is tightened with the axial screw of the locking element so that this element becomes secured to the rod.

The coupling thus formed between the knob and the rod is guaranteed by the fact that with the locking element mounted on the end of the rod is carried out a sort of expansion which distributes the axial forces of the rod on the surface of the rod. seat of the pommel in which is housed the locking element.

This innovation facilitates the assembly of the various parts of the broom under construction and allows to release the rod of the control knob placed at the top of the handle each time the cleaning of the blade becomes necessary or in the case of possible interventions on the broom without compromising the quality of the coupling.

Another innovation concerns the way in which the crushing of the small tube is achieved so that the total blockage of the liquids of the tank is always guaranteed, when it is necessary, without any possibility of undesirable leakage which would be revealed. detrimental during the use of the broom and which could cause the emptying of the tank when the broom is not used.

For this purpose, it is intended to make the small nose with the right radius of curvature related to the type of flexible tube to be crushed, and ensuring that the small nose crushes the flexible tube in the middle, without causing dissymmetry.

The required centering of the small nose on the flexible tube is obtained by making a prismatic coupling between the piston bearing the small nose and the sleeve in which the piston slides or by widening the base of the rib, the top of which constitutes the small nose, of such that in the close position of crushing, this base provides self-centering, bearing on the edges of the opening of the sleeve in which the piston slides.

• La figure 1 représente le balai vu de côté.
• La figure 2 représente le balai vu de l'avant.
• La figure 3 représente le balai vu en perspective.
• La figure 4 est la même représentation que celle de la figure 3 mais avec l'embouchure du réservoir ouverte et le couvercle soulevé vers le haut et en prise avec la partie inférieure de la poignée.
• La figure 5 est une vue en coupe axiale de l'ensemble du dispositif d'écrasement du petit tube flexible qui descend à partir du fond du réservoir et qui s'étend jusqu'à proximité du sol, en avant du support de la serpillière. Sur cette figure est également représenté le tronçon inférieur du manche équipé d'un manchon dans lequel peut se déplacer un piston pourvu d'un petit nez. Au repos ce piston est repoussé vers le haut par un ressort et pendant le fonctionnement il peut être repoussé vers le bas, à l'encontre de l'action du ressort, au moyen d'une tige logée à l'intérieur du manche et commandée par un pommeau situé au sommet du manche. L'ensemble du dispositif constitué du manchon, du piston à petit nez et du ressort est contenu à l'intérieur du porte-manche au moyen d'un embout de serrage et de deux vis transversales. Comme on peut le voir le porte-manche, le manchon solidaire du manche et le piston à petit nez sont pourvus d'ouvertures correspondantes qui permettent le passage du petit tube flexible à travers elles. L'écrasement du petit tube flexible est provoqué par le petit nez du piston qui, lorsque celui-ci est repoussé vers le haut, le comprime contre le bord de la paroi du manchon dans lequel coulisse le piston.
• La figure 6 est une vue en coupe des éléments, démontés, hors service, à l'extérieur du porte-manche et sous une forme éclatée, qui constituent le dispositif d'écrasement du petit tube flexible et plus particulièrement le manchon fixé à la partie inférieure du manche, le piston pourvu du petit nez qui est relié à la tige de manoeuvre, le ressort repoussant le piston vers le haut, et une portion du petit tube flexible destinée à traverser les ouvertures du porte-manche, du manchon et du piston à petit nez.
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe axiale du porte-manche pourvu de l'embout de serrage, et de deux passages pour les vis transversales assurant la fixation du manchon relié au manche. A sa partie inférieure le porte-manche présente la forme d'une fourche et il est relié au support de serpillière sous-jacent au moyen d'un axe qui permet l'articulation de ce support.
• La figure 8 est une vue en coupe des divers éléments constituant la partie supérieure du balai et plus particulièrement le couvercle du réservoir retenu par la poignée du manche. On peut voir sur cette figure le manche, la poignée appliquée sur le manche, le manchon à collerette externe, enfilé dans l'extrémité supérieure du manche, le pommeau dont le moyeu coulisse à l'intérieur du manchon à collerette et la tige de manoeuvre fixée au pommeau. On voit également, sur la partie interne du couvercle, les éléments de rencontre qui viennent en appui sur des parties du sommet du réservoir et les filets pour l'accouplement avec les filets correspondants prévus sur la surface supérieure externe du réservoir. Dans sa partie centrale le couvercle présente une cavité tubulaire dont la paroi est pratiquement adhérente au manche. Dans sa partie supérieure externe et à proximité du manche le couvercle est pourvu d'un appendice tubulaire à jupe qui assure son engagement élastique sur la partie inférieure de la poignée.
• La figure 9 représente le couvercle détaché de la poignée du manche et situé à proximité de l'embouchure du réservoir. On peut voir sur cette figure les filets qui sont prévus sur la surface supérieure externe du réservoir pour son accouplement avec le couvercle.
• La figure 10 est une vue en coupe du réservoir, d'une portion du manche, d'un petit raccord qui est interposé entre le petit tube flexible et l'appendice tubulaire qui fait corps avec le fond du réservoir, et d'une coiffe de protection pour le petit raccord et l'appendice tubulaire. La coiffe de protection est montée en dessous du réservoir et elle entoure le manche. On peut noter que le réservoir est réalisé d'une seule pièce et que sa paroi tubulaire externe et la paroi tubulaire de sa cavité interne sont reliées au fond sans solution de continuité.
• La figure 11 représente l'élément de blocage disposé sur l'extrémité supérieure de la tige de commande pour l'écrasement du petit tube flexible et qui est contenu à l'intérieur du pommeau qui surmonte la poignée du manche.
• Les figures 12, 13 et 14 représentent, respectivement en coupe, en vue de côté et en vue de dessus, l'élément de blocage monté sur l'extrémité supérieure de la tige, hors de sa position de fonctionnement, c'est-à-dire à l'extérieur du pommeau.
• La figure 15 représente le pommeau qui est placé sur le sommet du manche et qui est pourvu de la tige de manoeuvre pour commander l'écrasement du petit tube flexible débitant le liquide.
• La figure 16 représente le manchon à collerette externe qui est enfilé dans l'extrémité supérieure du manche et dans lequel coulisse le moyeu du pommeau connecté à la tige de manoeuvre.
• La figure 17 représente, avec une partie arrachée partiellement, le pommeau de la figure 15 et elle met en évidence la partie élargie réalisée dans la partie supérieure du creux présent sur le moyeu.
• La figure 18 représente, avec un arrachement partiel, le manchon de la figure 16 et elle met en évidence la clavette qui s'engage dans le creux du moyeu du pommeau.
• La figure 19 est une vue de dessous du pommeau représenté sur la figure 15 et elle fait apparaître le creux présent sur le moyeu du pommeau.
• La figure 20 est une vue de dessous du manchon représenté sur la figure 16 et elle met en évidence la présence de la clavette.
• La figure 21 représente, à plus grande échelle et en coupe, la zone inférieure du réservoir avec son appendice tubulaire et son petit raccord tubulaire devant être appliqués sur l'appendice, le petit raccord étant pourvu de l'embout permettant l'attache du petit tube flexible. On peut voir aussi sur cette figure l'aile percée d'un trou qui s'étend à partir de l'appendice tubulaire du réservoir et des ailettes élastiques, percées de trous, du petit raccord tubulaire permettant de réaliser un accouplement solidaire du petit raccord avec l'appendice tubulaire.
• La figure 22 est la représentation correspondant à la figure 21 vu de l'extérieur.
• La figure 23 est la représentation correspondant à la figure 22 après rotation de 90°.
• La figure 24 est la représentation de trois parties rapprochées et plus particulièrement de la partie supérieure d'un réservoir normal, d'un élément annulaire et d'un type de couvercle dépourvu de filets. L'ensemble de ces trois parties permet d'enlever le couvercle assurant la fermeture de l'embouchure du réservoir, sans avoir à effectuer un dévissage, lorsque les liquides employés peuvent provoquer des collages et des incrustations. Sur le sommet du réservoir s'applique l'élément annulaire pourvu, à l'intérieur, de filets et, à l'extérieur, d'appendices ou d'une bordure d'accrochage présentant une contre-dépouille inférieure. Le couvercle est dépourvu d'un filetage interne et il comporte, sur sa surface externe, au moins deux leviers articulés élastiquement sur cette surface et dont les bras inférieurs ont des extrémités en forme de crochets. L'accouplement entre le couvercle et l'élément annulaire ne nécessite pas des rotations réciproques mais il est obtenu par une translation du couvercle qui, une fois pressé fortement contre le sommet de l'élément annulaire, demeure solidement agrippé sur les appendices de l'élément annulaire au moyen des petits bras en forme de crochets des leviers dont il est équipé. Pour le détachement du couvercle, on agit sur les bras supérieurs des leviers en les faisant tourner dans le sens opposé au sens du serrage précédent, les bras supérieurs faisant alors s'éloigner les bras inférieurs afin de les dégager des appendices de l'élément annulaire.
• La figure 25 représente le couvercle et l'élément annulaire de la figure 24 dans la position d'accouplement.
• La figure 26 représente, vu de face, le petit nez prévu pour l'écrasement du petit tube flexible (non représenté sur cette figure) qui sort de l'ouverture présente à l'extrémité inférieure du manchon solidaire du manche. On voit sur cette figure que ladite ouverture présente, dans sa partie la plus haute, un profil semi-circulaire correspondant au diamètre externe du petit tube flexible qui, comme il a été dit précédemment, n'est pas représenté, et qui après un premier tronçon s'élargit vers le bas avec des bords présentant une allure curviligne. On voit également, à la base de la nervure qui constitue, à sa partie supérieure, le petit nez, le sabot dont les flancs, lors du mouvement vers le haut, viennent en appui contre les bords de l'ouverture du manchon, en imposant le centrage du petit nez par rapport au profil semi-circulaire qui définit le sommet de l'ouverture du manchon. La réalisation, sous cette forme, de l'ouverture du manchon et l'adoption du sabot à la base de la nervure constituant le petit nez permettent de faire tourner le pommeau se trouvant au sommet du manche (quant on veut l'engager avec la partie élargie de son creux dans la clavette de son manchon respectif) sans appliquer une torsion excessive à la tige qui est solidaire, à sa partie inférieure, du piston pourvu du petit nez.
• La figure 27 montre comment a lieu l'écrasement du petit tube flexible comprimé par le petit nez contre le bord situé au sommet de l'ouverture du manchon solidaire du manche lorsque le petit nez se trouve en position centrée. On voit que la paroi interne du petit tube flexible s'applique sur elle-même d'une manière uniforme, ce qui permet d'obtenir une fermeture totale.
  La figure 28 montre comment a lieu l'écrasement du petit tube flexible, comprimé par le petit nez contre le bord situé au sommet de l'ouverture du manchon solidaire du manche, lorsque le petit nez ne se trouve pas dans la position centrée. On voit sur cette figure la dissymétrie de la déformation du petit tube flexible. La paroi interne du petit tube flexible ne se replie pas totalement sur elle-même, en laissant une légère ouverture. Une telle ouverture, même si elle est très petite, permet une fuite du liquide qui descend à partir du réservoir en provoquant des problèmes évidents de fonctionnement, y compris le vidage indésirable du réservoir lorsque le balai n'est pas utilisé et qu'il peut être stocké dans le dépôt des accessoires.

The following will be described by way of non-limiting examples, various embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• The figure 1 represents the broom seen from the side.
• The figure 2 represents the broom seen from the front.
• The figure 3 represents the broom seen in perspective.
• The figure 4 is the same representation as that of the figure 3 but with the mouth of the reservoir open and the lid raised upward and engaged with the lower part of the handle.
• The figure 5 is an axial sectional view of the entire crushing device of the small flexible tube which descends from the bottom of the tank and which extends to near the ground, in front of the support of the mop. In this figure is also shown the lower section of the handle equipped with a sleeve in which can move a piston provided with a small nose. At rest this piston is pushed upwards by a spring and during operation it can be pushed down, against the action of the spring, by means of a rod housed inside the handle and ordered by a pommel at the top of the handle. The entire device consisting of the sleeve, the small nose piston and the spring is contained inside the sleeve holder by means of a clamping endpiece and two transverse screws. As can be seen the sleeve holder, the sleeve integral with the handle and the small nose piston are provided corresponding openings that allow the passage of the small flexible tube through them. The crushing of the small flexible tube is caused by the small nose of the piston which, when it is pushed upward, compresses it against the edge of the wall of the sleeve in which the piston slides.
• The figure 6 is a sectional view of the elements, disassembled, out of order, outside the sleeve holder and in exploded form, which constitute the device for crushing the small flexible tube and more particularly the sleeve attached to the lower part of the handle , the piston provided with the small nose which is connected to the operating rod, the spring pushing the piston upwards, and a portion of the small flexible tube intended to pass through the openings of the sleeve holder, the sleeve and the small nose piston .
• The figure 7 is an axial sectional view of the handle holder provided with the clamping end, and two passages for the transverse screws for fixing the sleeve connected to the handle. At its lower part the sleeve holder has the shape of a fork and is connected to the underlying mop support by means of an axis that allows the articulation of this support.
• The figure 8 is a sectional view of the various elements constituting the upper part of the brush and more particularly the tank lid retained by the handle of the handle. It can be seen in this figure the handle, the handle applied to the handle, the sleeve with external collar, threaded into the upper end of the handle, the knob whose hub slides inside the collar sleeve and the operating rod attached to the pommel. We also see, on the inner part of the lid, the meeting elements which bear on portions of the top of the tank and the threads for coupling with the corresponding threads provided on the outer upper surface of the tank. In its central part the lid has a tubular cavity whose wall is substantially adherent to the handle. In its upper outer part and near the handle the cover is provided with a tubular skirt appendix which ensures its elastic engagement on the lower part of the handle.
• The figure 9 represents the detached cover of the handle of the handle and located near the mouth of the reservoir. We can see on this figure the nets that are provided on the outer upper surface of the tank for coupling with the lid.
• The figure 10 is a sectional view of the reservoir, a portion of the handle, a small connector which is interposed between the small flexible tube and the tubular appendage which is integral with the bottom of the reservoir, and a protective cap for the small connection and the tubular appendage. The protective cap is mounted below the tank and surrounds the handle. It may be noted that the reservoir is made in one piece and that its outer tubular wall and the tubular wall of its internal cavity are connected to the bottom without a solution of continuity.
• The figure 11 represents the locking element disposed on the upper end of the control rod for crushing the small flexible tube and which is contained inside the knob which overcomes the handle of the handle.
• The Figures 12, 13 and 14 are, respectively in section, in side view and in top view, the locking element mounted on the upper end of the rod, out of its operating position, that is to say outside the knob.
• The figure 15 represents the pommel which is placed on the top of the handle and which is provided with the operating rod to control the crushing of the small flexible tube delivering the liquid.
• The figure 16 represents the outer collar sleeve which is threaded into the upper end of the handle and in which slides the hub of the knob connected to the operating rod.
• The figure 17 represents, with a partially torn off part, the pommel of the figure 15 and it highlights the enlarged portion made in the upper part of the hollow on the hub.
• The figure 18 represents, with partial tearing, the sleeve of the figure 16 and it highlights the key that engages in the hollow of the hub of the pommel.
• The figure 19 is a view from below of the pommel shown on the figure 15 and it shows the hollow present on the hub of the knob.
• The figure 20 is a bottom view of the sleeve shown on the figure 16 and it highlights the presence of the key.
• The figure 21 represents, on a larger scale and in section, the lower zone of the tank with its tubular appendage and its small tubular connection to be applied on the appendage, the small connector being provided with the end piece allowing the attachment of the small flexible tube. It can also be seen in this figure the wing pierced with a hole which extends from the tubular appendix of the reservoir and the elastic fins pierced with holes, the small tubular connection for making a coupling integral with the small connector with the tubular appendix.
• The figure 22 is the representation corresponding to the figure 21 seen from the outside.
• The figure 23 is the representation corresponding to the figure 22 after 90 ° rotation.
• The figure 24 is the representation of three close parts and more particularly of the upper part of a normal tank, an annular element and a type of cover without nets. All of these three parts allows to remove the lid ensuring the closing of the mouth of the tank, without having to unscrew, when the liquids used can cause collages and encrustations. On the top of the tank is applied the annular element provided internally with threads and, externally, with appendages or with a fastening edge having a lower undercut. The lid has no internal thread and has on its outer surface at least two levers hinged elastically on this surface and whose lower arms have ends shaped hooks. The coupling between the lid and the annular element does not require reciprocal rotations but is obtained by a translation of the lid which, when pressed strongly against the top of the annular element, remains firmly gripped on the appendages of the annular element by means of the small hook-shaped arms of the levers which it is equipped. For the detachment of the lid, it acts on the upper arms of the levers by rotating them in the opposite direction to the previous tightening direction, the upper arms then moving away the lower arms in order to disengage the appendages of the annular element .
• The figure 25 represents the lid and the ring element of the figure 24 in the coupling position.
• The figure 26 represents, seen from the front, the small nose provided for crushing the small flexible tube (not shown in this figure) which comes out of the opening at the lower end of the sleeve integral with the handle. It can be seen in this figure that said opening has, in its highest part, a semicircular profile corresponding to the external diameter of the small flexible tube which, as has been said previously, is not shown, and which after a first stretch widens downwards with curvilinear edges. We also see, at the base of the rib which constitutes, at its upper part, the small nose, the hoof whose flanks, during the upward movement, bear against the edges of the opening of the sleeve, imposing the centering of the small nose with respect to the semicircular profile which defines the apex of the opening of the sleeve. The realization, in this form, of the opening of the sleeve and the adoption of the shoe at the base of the rib constituting the small nose can rotate the knob at the top of the handle (as we want to engage with the widened part of its hollow in the key of its respective sleeve) without applying excessive torsion to the rod which is secured, at its lower part, the piston provided with the small nose.
• The figure 27 shows how crushing of the small flexible tube compressed by the small nose against the edge at the top of the opening of the sleeve integral with the handle when the small nose is in the centered position. It can be seen that the inner wall of the small flexible tube applies to itself in a uniform manner, which makes it possible to obtain a total closure.
  The figure 28 shows how the crushing of the small flexible tube, compressed by the small nose against the edge located at the top of the opening of the sleeve integral with the handle, when the small nose is not in the centered position. This figure shows the dissymmetry of the deformation of the small flexible tube. The inner wall of the small flexible tube does not fold completely on itself, leaving a slight opening. Such an opening, even if it is very small, allows leakage of the liquid coming down from the tank causing obvious problems of operation, including undesirable emptying of the tank when the broom is not in use and can be stored in the depot of accessories.

The figures of the drawings show the handle 1, the handle 2 mounted on the handle, the liquid reservoir 3 mounted on the handle, its cover 4, the small flexible tube 5 which is connected to the reservoir 3 and which goes down, after having through the sleeve holder 8, towards the ground, the mop holder 6, the sleeve 9 of the clamping sleeve 8, the knob 10 disposed at the top of the handle and connected to the operating rod 12, the rod 12 which connects the upper knob 10 to the piston 13 and whose lowering reduces or reduces the crushing of the small flexible tube 5, against the upward thrust exerted by the spring 16, the sleeve 14 attached to the lower end of the 1 and in which slides the piston 13 provided with the small nose 20, the opposite openings 15 and 15 'formed in the wall of the handle holder 8, the opening 17 formed in the sleeve 14, the shaped opening 18 formed in the sleeve 14 and which is opposed to the opening 17, the opening 19 formed of in the piston 13 having the small nose 20, the small nose 20 of the piston 13 which, as a result of the upward thrust, by the spring 16, on the piston 13, is pressed against the top of the edge 18 of the shaped opening of the sleeve 14. If the small flexible tube 5 is introduced to Through the openings 17 and 19, it is crushed, in the state of rest, by the small nose 20 of the piston 13, against the top of the edge 18 of the wall of the sleeve 14.

Also shown in the drawings a projection 21 which stands on the bottom, inside the sleeve holder, and which guides the lower part of the spring 16, two diametrically opposed passages 22 and 22 'for insertion of screws which serve, together with the sleeve 9, for fixing the sleeve 14 to the handle holder 8, two external projections 23 and 24 extending circumferentially on the handle holder 8, for the application of the elastic sleeve 56 providing a protection against the entry of dirt through openings 15 and 15 '.

Also shown in the drawings the skirt 25 has on the upper outer portion of the tank cover, near the handle, the thread portions 26 present on the inner lower surface of the cover, for coupling with the sections of nets present on the the outer upper surface of the tank, the retaining lining 28 applied to the outside, near the upper edge of the tank, the tubular appendix 29 located on the outside of the bottom of the tank 3 and intended to be capped with a small tubular connector 31 provided with the appendix 32 for attaching the small flexible tube 5, the fin 30, pierced with a hole, which extends laterally from the tubular appendage 29 and which is intended to engage, being compressed and retained by a screw, between the two elastic fins 33 which extend laterally from the small connector 31, the protective cap 34 of the tubular appendix 29 and the small connector 31, a With its associated appendage 32, and supporting the initial part of the small flexible tube 5, the O-ring 35 applied to the outside, near the upper edge, of the annular element 45, the sleeve 36 with an external collar threaded on the top of the handle 1, the hub 39 of the knob 10 which slides in the sleeve 36, the key 42 of the sleeve 36, which engages in the recess 40 of the hub 39 of the knob 10, the widened portion 41 of the recess 40 in which can enter, by a rotation of the knob 10, the key 42, to maintain the knob 10 in its lowered position reached.

Also shown in the drawings the locking element 37 prismatic section, pierced with a transverse hole for the passage of the rod 12 and a threaded axial hole for the insertion of the screw 38 which determines the blockage of the rod 12, the seal 44 inserted in the groove associated with the interior of the small connector 31, the annular element 45 intended to be applied on the top of the reservoir 3 in order to perform a coupling by pressure, instead of a screw coupling, with the cover 48 , the thread sections 46 present on the inner surface of the annular element 45, intended to engage with the corresponding thread sections 17 present on the upper outer surface of the reservoir 3, a circular projection 47, beveled superiorly and against lower dewawle, forming part of the structure of the annular element 45, the levers 49 articulated elastically on the outer surface of the cover 48, levers whose small lower arm ends in the form of a hook to engage the edge against -dépouille the annular element 45, while the small upper arm is used to suppress the attachment of the small lower arm.

The cover 48 is closed by snap-fitting by pressing the cover against the annular element 45 while to remove the cover, it is necessary to act on the small upper arms of the levers 49 and to apply a lifting force to the cover 48.

We also see in the drawings the profiled edges 50 of the opening 18 present in the lower zone of the sleeve 14, the enlarged shoe 51 from which rises the rib which constitutes, at its upper part, the small nose 20, residual opening 52 of the internal passage of the small flexible tube 5 when the latter is squeezed in an asymmetrical manner.

From the foregoing description is apparent the validity of the innovation which characterizes the present patent which is to be understood as describing and representing only an example of the invention according to a preferred solution. This patent does not leave out variants and improvements that those skilled in the art can achieve by using the teachings derived from the inventive concept of this patent.

Claims (5)

1. Mop equipped with a product-flow regulator for cleaning and treating floors, comprising a tank (3) for containing liquid, a cylindrical appendage (29) at the bottom of the tank (3) for liquid outflow, and a small pliable tube (5) for the outflow of liquid contained in the tank (3); the cylindrical appendage is proportioned with a large enough hole, adapted for easy removal of any encrustations or deposits resulting from dense or semi-dense liquids such as floor wax, the mop is characterized by the fact the cylindrical appendage (29) is integrated into the base of the tank's (3) structure without interruption, in order to resist stresses resulting from any scraping of the cylindrical section, it is also characterized by a small connector (31) mounted on the cylindrical appendage (29), the small connector (31) being detachable from the cylindrical appendage (29) in which it fits, and the small connector (31) being itself equipped with an appendage (32) proportioned so that it can be inserted into the small pliable tube.
2. Mop equipped with a product-flow regulator for cleaning and treating floors, as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact a nub (20), which serves to flatten the small pliable tube (5) for the regulation or stopping of liquid-flow, is designed in such a way as to become automatically centred, when close to flattening, by the edges (50) of the opening (18) of a sleeve (14) in which it moves, this design allows the small pliable tube (5) to be flattened in a symmetrical way, against the edge of the opening's (18) roof and thus avoid any leakage of liquid from the small tube (5).
3. Mop equipped with a product-flow regulator for cleaning and treating floors, as described in claim 2, characterized by the fact that, while the nub (20) is in a non-flattening phase with regard to the small pliable tube (5), it can move in a transversal direction in relation to the edges (50) of the opening (18) of the sleeve (14), this allows for small rotations of the rod (12), connected to a knob (10), when the knob (10) is positioned such that an enlargement (41) of a hollow recess (40) in its hub (39) faces a cotter pin (42) inside the sleeve (36) where the hub (39) is inserted.
4. Map equipped with a product-flow regulator for cleaning and treating floors, as described in claim 3, characterized by the fact that the attachment of the upper end of the rod (12) with the knob (10) is achieved by means of a blocking component with a prismatic section (37) tightened by a screw (38) inserted into the knob's (10) corresponding hollow recess.
5. Mop equipped with a product-flow regulator for cleaning and treating floors, as described in claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises an elastic sleeve (56) applied on a handle-holder (8) under the area where the small pliable tube (5) crosses the handle, this prevents dirt from entering through the openings in the handle-holder (8).

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