Device for Cleaning Floors and Similar Surfaces

Abstract

A device for cleaning floors and similar surfaces, comprising a stick, connected, at a terminal portion thereof, by way of kinematic connection means, to a supporting means, which is associable with cleaning means, the supporting device comprising at least two arms, which lie along respective main longitudinal directions and are mounted so that they can rotate with respect to said stick about a respective articulation axis in order to pass, upon insertion of said supporting means in a wringing basket associated with a water containment bucket, from an extended condition, in which the respective main longitudinal directions define a working surface, to a retracted condition, in which the respective longitudinal directions of said at least two arms are angularly spaced from the working surface, return means being further provided which are adapted to return said supporting means to the extended condition as a consequence of disengagement from said wringing basket.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A device for cleaning floors and similar surfaces, comprising a stick, which is connected, at a terminal portion thereof, by way of kinematic connection means, to a supporting means, which is associable with cleaning means, wherein said supporting device comprises at least two arms, which lie along respective main longitudinal directions and are mounted so that they can rotate with respect to said stick about a respective articulation axis in order to pass, upon insertion of said supporting means in a wringing basket associated with a water containment bucket, from an active or extended condition, in which the respective main longitudinal directions define a working surface, to a wringing or retracted condition, in which the respective longitudinal directions of said at least two arms are angularly spaced from said working surface, return means being further provided which are adapted to return said supporting means to the active or extended condition as a consequence of disengagement from said wringing basket.  
   
   
       15 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least two arms comprise each a respective active face, which during use is arranged so as to face at least partially a portion of said cleaning means, the respective active faces of said at least two arms being arranged on said working surface in said active condition.  
   
   
       16 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 15 , wherein said wringing basket comprises at least two walls having a plurality of draining openings, that converge toward the bottom of said containment bucket, and form engagement walls for a respective portion of said cleaning means that is associated with a respective active face.  
   
   
       17 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said supporting means comprises two opposite arms, at least one of said two arms being fitted so that it can rotate, with respect to a fixed part, about an articulation axis that is substantially perpendicular to said respective main longitudinal directions of said two arms.  
   
   
       18 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 16 , wherein said containment bucket is associated with a collection receptacle, which during use is arranged below said wringing basket and is adapted to collect the liquid that passes through said plurality of draining openings.  
   
   
       19 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 14 , wherein said return means comprises at least one spring, which acts between said fixed part and at least one of said at least two arms or between said two arms, in order to keep said supporting means in said active or extended condition.  
   
   
       20 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 15 , wherein said cleaning means comprises a cloth.  
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein said cloth comprises at least one continuous longitudinal portion, which is arranged outside a respective longitudinal edge of said two arms, and a substantially transverse cut, which is arranged at said articulation axis.  
   
   
       22 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 21 , wherein said cloth comprises two continuous longitudinal portions, which are arranged outside the longitudinal edges of said two arms, and a substantially U-shaped cut, which has two parallel portions arranged at said longitudinal edges and a portion for connecting said two parallel portions, which is arranged at said articulation axis.  
   
   
       23 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 20 , wherein said cloth is a cloth made of microfiber.  
   
   
       24 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 20 , wherein said active faces comprise means for retaining said cloth.  
   
   
       25 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 24 , wherein said retention means comprises a plurality of pins that protrude from said active faces and have an enlarged head.  
   
   
       26 . The floor cleaning device according to  claim 17 , wherein said kinematic connection means comprises at least one articulation element for connection between a cup-shaped element that can be coupled to the end of the stick and said fixed part.