U.S. patent application number 12/067626 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for storage system for cleaning cloths.
This patent application is currently assigned to Carl Freuenberg KG. Invention is credited to Jens Deerberg, Andreas Eisenhut, Jurgen Huckele, Falk Lindner.
Application Number | 20080185940 12/067626 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37575944 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080185940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindner; Falk ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
Storage System for Cleaning Cloths
Abstract
A storage system (1) for cleaning cloths (2) is provided that
comprises at least one container (3) and two rails (5) that can be
attached to the cleaning cart (4), with the container (3) being
slidably supported in the rails (5), and with the rails (5) and the
container (3) comprising a fixture (6), by means of which the
container (3) can be locked at least into one position.
Inventors: |
Lindner; Falk; (Hemsbach,
DE) ; Eisenhut; Andreas; (Heidelberg, DE) ;
Huckele; Jurgen; (Birkenau, DE) ; Deerberg; Jens;
(Essen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900, 180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6731
US
|
Assignee: |
Carl Freuenberg KG
Weinheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
37575944 |
Appl. No.: |
12/067626 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
July 29, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2006/007539 |
371 Date: |
March 20, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/201 ;
312/334.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 2202/50 20130101;
B62B 3/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/201 ;
312/334.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00; A47B 88/00 20060101 A47B088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 20, 2005 |
DE |
102005044983.2 |
Claims
1. A storage system for cleaning cloths, comprising at least one
container and two rails that can be attached to the cleaning cart,
with the container being slidably supported in the rails, and with
the rails and the container comprising a fixture for locking the
container at least into one position.
2. The storage system as in claim 1, wherein the container is
closeable with a lid.
3. The storage system as in claim, 1 wherein the rails have a first
stop position which corresponds to a transport position and have a
second stop position which corresponds to a working position.
4. The storage system as in claim 1, wherein the rails have a
groove in which the container can be slidably supported.
5. The storage system as in claim 4, wherein the fixture is formed
by stop lugs which are disposed in the groove and which can engage
in the recesses that are disposed on the container.
6. The storage system as in claim 3, wherein the container is
inclined when in the second stop position.
7. The storage system as in claim 2, wherein the lid can be
separately held on the rails.
8. The storage system as in claim 4, wherein the container, with a
lid closing it, can be inserted into the groove of the rail.
9. The storage system as in claim 1, wherein the container can be
inserted from both ends of the rails.
10. The storage system as in claim 1, wherein two containers can be
inserted into the rails.
11. The storage system as in claim 2, wherein the lid is designed
so as to comprise two parts, with the two parts being connected to
each other by means of a hinge.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a storage system for
cleaning cloths, comprising at least one container and two rails
that can be attached to a cleaning cart.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During commercial cleaning operations, in particular in
areas with special hygiene requirements, such as hospitals, wiping
systems with premoistened wiping covers or cloths are often used
for wet cleaning. These cleaning cloths are pretreated with a
cleaning fluid and stored in containers. The cleaning cloths are
subsequently clamped on a wiping tool and after a short time of
use, replaced with an unused pretreated wiping cover. For more
extensive cleaning operations, a large number of pretreated wiping
covers are therefore required, which wiping covers must be
transported in a manner so as to be easily accessible.
[0003] DE 200 80 287 U1 discloses a container for storing cleaning
cloths, which container comprises a lid which is hinged to the
container. The lid is designed to ensure that several containers
can be stacked one on top of the other. In addition, the container
can be placed onto a cleaning cart.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make
available a storage system for cleaning cloths, which system makes
it possible to transport a large number of cleaning cloths while
ensuring that the cleaning cloths are easily accessible.
[0005] The problem is solved by a storage system for cleaning
cloths, comprising at least one container and two rails that can be
attached to a cleaning cart, with the container being slidably
supported in the rails and with the rails and the container
comprising a fixture, by means of which the container can be
snapped into at least one position. Containers can be movably
suspended from and moved along the rails so as to reach various
working positions. The rails can be flexibly attached in various
mobile systems. Due to the stop fixture, it is possible to lock the
container into various working positions. In the container, a
plurality of folded cleaning cloths, in particular wiping covers,
can be disposed parallel to one another. The storage system can be
disposed in a cleaning cart.
[0006] The container can be closed by a lid. The lid prevents a
premature escape of the cleaning fluid contained in the wiping
covers. In addition, containers with lids can be more readily
stacked.
[0007] The rails may have a first stop position which corresponds
to a transport position and may have a second stop position which
corresponds to a working position. In the transport position, the
containers are disposed in a space-saving manner so as to be easily
maneuverable. In the working position, the containers are disposed
so as to make to make it possible to easily access and remove the
wiper covers.
[0008] The rails may have a groove in which the container is
movably supported. Because of the groove, the containers are
especially securely guided so that the containers are protected
from being lost during transport.
[0009] The fixture can be formed by stop lugs which are disposed in
the groove and which can be engaged in recesses that are disposed
on the container. Stop lugs can be especially easily manufactured
and ensure secure support. The containers can be easily removed
from the stop position simply by lifting them while using slight
force.
[0010] In the working position, the container may be inclined. The
inclination improves the accessibility of the wiping covers and
thus makes the storage system more ergonomic.
[0011] The lid can be separately supported on the rails. This makes
it possible to move the container back and forth in the rails while
the lid remains in a stationary position. Thus, in the transport
position, for example, the container can be covered with the lid,
but as the container is moved into working position, the lid
remains in the transport position, and the wiping covers can be
easily removed from the container. If, however, the container is
inserted into the grooves and the lid is placed onto the rails, a
slight space between the lid and the container is created, and a
small gap results.
[0012] The container, with the lid covering it, can be inserted
into the grooves of the rails. In this case, the container is
tightly closed, which is especially useful if the transporting
distances are relatively long or if the cleaning operation is
interrupted.
[0013] The container can be inserted from both ends of the rails.
In this manner, the container can also be removed from both ends. A
plurality of containers can be inserted from one end, which is
especially useful when loading the cleaning cart in narrow spaces
since in this case, the cleaning cart can be completely filled and
accessed from one end.
[0014] It is possible to insert two containers into the rails. This
increases the number of the transportable containers and the
quantity of the transportable wiping covers.
[0015] A color code element can be attached to the containers. The
color code elements make it possible to identify the wiping covers
which in turn identify certain cleaning tasks. In combination with
a color-coded wiping tool, all tools of a wiping system are
color-coded, and the risk of erroneous use is reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] A few practical examples of the storage system according to
the present invention will be explained in greater detail below
based on the figures. As can be seen, these figures are
diagrammatic sketches:
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a storage system
disposed in a cleaning cart;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of a storage system with two
containers in the transport position: and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of a storage system with one container
in the working position.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a storage system 1 for cleaning cloths 2, which
in this case are wiping covers, said storage system being attached
to a cleaning cart 4. The storage system 1 comprises a plurality of
containers 3; this specific embodiment comprises two containers.
The containers 3 are slidably supported in rails 5, with said rails
5 being attached to the cleaning cart 4 in a friction-loaded and
form-fitting manner. The rails 5 and the container 3 comprise a
fixture 6 by means of which the container 3 can be snapped into two
positions. The container 3 can be locked into a first stop position
which corresponds to a transport position and can be locked into a
second stop position 9 which corresponds to a working position. The
rails 5 have a groove 10 in which the container 3 can be slidably
supported. The fixture 6 is formed by stop lugs 11 which are
disposed in the groove 10 and which can engage in the recesses 12
that are disposed on the container 3. The rails 5 are disposed so
as to be symmetrical so that the container 3 can be inserted and
removed from both ends 3. This makes it possible to load the
container 3 and load a cleaning cart 4 that is standing against a
wall. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rails 5 are designed so
as to be able to receive two containers 3. The container 3 can be
closed with a lid 7, with the possibility of separately retaining
said lid 7 in a first position on the rails 5. The rails 5 may
comprise a second groove into which the lid 7 can be inserted, with
the lid being additionally guided in the second groove, which leads
to a reduction of noise during transport. In a second position, the
lid 7 is disposed on the container 3, and the container 3, with the
lid 7 covering it, can be inserted into the groove 10 of the rail
5. The lid 7 can be designed so as to consist of two parts, with
the two lid parts being hinged to each other, for example, by a
swiveling link or a film hinge, so that the container 3 can be
opened without the need to completely remove the lid 7. To move the
containers 3, they are lifted so that the stop lug 11 no longer
engages in recess 12. The containers 3 have a preferred end 14 to
which a defined handle 15 is attached on which a color-coding
element 13 is disposed.
[0021] In larger cleaning carts, rails 5 can be disposed in
parallel and directly adjacent to each other in order to enlarge
the holding capacity. In other embodiments, a back cover reduces
the risk of injury, for example, by means of attachment elements.
Between the rails 5 or between the rail 5 and the back cover, an
enclosure for the cleaning cart 4 can be disposed. As an
alternative, a spacer can be provided to bridge the gap. As an
alternative, open tubs can be disposed in the rails 5, and the tubs
or containers 3 can hold the capacity. The rails 5 are preferably
attached in a friction-loaded and/or form-fitting manner to the
cleaning cart 4. To this end, reinforcing fins can be disposed on
the cleaning cart 4, on which reinforcing fins the rails 5 are
form-fittingly retained. The connection can be braced by means of a
clamping connection in which two rails or one rail and a back cover
enclose a section of the cleaning cart 4; for example, a tube. If
this type of connection is used, the cleaning cart 4 does not
require any boreholes, which facilitates the cleaning of the
cleaning cart 4 and reduces the risk of corrosion.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a storage system 1 as seen in FIG. 1. Disposed
in the rails 5 are two containers 3 and the lids 7 of said
containers are disposed on the rails 5, with a gap being formed
between the container 3 and the lid 7.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a storage system 1 as seen in FIG. 1, with the
container 3 positioned in the second stop position which
corresponds to the working position. All references, including
publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are
hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each
reference were individually and specifically indicated to be
incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety
herein.
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