Implement for manual washing of floors or flat surfaces in general

Abstract

An implement for manual washing of floors or flat surfaces in general, comprising a frame composed of at least one first plate-like element which defines with one of its faces, designed to be directed toward the surface to be washed, a first application region for a first cleaning fringe. The frame comprises a second plate-like element which is laterally adjacent to the first plate-like element and defines, with its face designed to be directed toward the surface to be washed, a second application region for a second cleaning fringe. The second plate-like element can move with respect to the first plate-like element in order to pass from an active position to an inactive position.

1 . An implement for manual washing of floors or flat surfaces in general, comprising a frame composed of at least one first plate-like element which forms with one of its faces, designed to be directed toward a surface to be washed, a first application region for a first cleaning fringe, said frame being connected to a connecting element which can be associated with a handle, wherein said frame comprises a second plate-like element which is laterally adjacent to said first plate-like element and forms, with its face designed to be directed toward the surface to be washed, a second application region for a second cleaning fringe; said second plate-like element being movable with respect to said first plate-like element in order to pass from an active position, in which it is substantially coplanar and laterally adjacent to said first plate-like element, to an inactive position, in which it is spaced from the plane of arrangement of said first plate-like element on the opposite side with respect to the face of said first plate-like element that is designed to be directed toward the surface to be washed, and vice versa. 
   
   
       2 . The implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said first plate-like element is pivoted to said connecting element about a first pivoting axis which is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of said first plate-like element. 
   
   
       3 . The implement according to  claim 2 , wherein said second plate-like element is hinged to said first plate-like element about a second pivoting axis, which is substantially parallel to the plane of arrangement of said second plate-like element and is substantially perpendicular to the direction of side-by-side arrangement of said two plate-like elements; said second plate-like element being able to rotate about said second pivoting axis with respect to said first plate-like element in order to pass from said active position to said inactive position and vice versa. 
   
   
       4 . The implement according to  claim 3 , wherein said second pivoting axis is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to said first pivoting axis. 
   
   
       5 . The implement according to  claim 3 , wherein said first plate-like element is connected to said second plate-like element by means of a central element which is fixed to said second plate-like element and is hinged to said first plate-like element about said second pivoting axis; said connecting element being hinged to said central element about said first pivoting axis which is substantially parallel to said second pivoting axis, said pivoting axes being oriented transversely to the direction along which said two plate-like elements are dragged along the surface to be washed. 
   
   
       6 . The implement according to  claim 5 , further comprising means for retaining said second plate-like element in said inactive position. 
   
   
       7 . The implement according to  claim 6 , wherein said retention means are interposed between said central element and said connecting element. 
   
   
       8 . The implement according to  claim 6 , wherein said retention means comprise engagement means which are associated with said central element and can engage detachably said connecting element. 
   
   
       9 . The implement according to  claim 8 , wherein said engagement means comprise an elastically flexible wing, which is connected to said central element and can engage by snap action an abutment provided on said connecting element. 
   
   
       10 . The implement according to  claim 6 , wherein said retention means comprise friction means which are interposed between said central element and said first plate-like element in order to contrast by friction the rotation of said central element together with said second plate-like element with respect to said first plate-like element about said second pivoting axis. 
   
   
       11 . The implement according to  claim 5 , wherein said central element is inserted, with one of its portions, between a pair of mutually parallel wings which are elastically flexible toward or away from each other and are fixed to the face of said first plate-like element that lies opposite the face intended to be directed toward the surface to be washed; said central element being hinged to said pair of wings about said second pivoting axis and said friction means comprising means for fastening said pair of wings against the portion of said central element that is inserted therebetween. 
   
   
       12 . The implement according to  claim 11 , wherein said fastening means comprise a bolt, which provides the pivoting of said central element to said pair of wings, and a pair of springs, which are arranged around the screw of said bolt and are interposed respectively between the outer side of one wing and the head of the screw of said bolt and between the outer side of the other wing and the nut of said bolt; the nut of said bolt being tightenable along said screw in order to increase the elastic load of said springs. 
   
   
       13 . The implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second plate-like elements are provided with means for retaining said cleaning fringes on the face of said first and second plate-like elements which is meant to be directed toward the surface to be washed. 
   
   
       14 . The implement according to  claim 13 , wherein said retention means of said cleaning fringes comprise hook-and-loop strips which can engage complementary hook-and-loop strips provided on said cleaning fringes. 
   
   
       15 . The implement according to  claim 3 , wherein said connecting element is composed of at least two parts which are mutually pivoted about a third pivoting axis which is substantially perpendicular to said first pivoting axis. 
   
   
       16 . The implement according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second plate-like elements are substantially rectangular and are mutually arranged side-by-side at one of their two longer sides. 
   
   
       17 . The implement according to  claim 3 , wherein said first pivoting axis and said second pivoting axis are substantially parallel to longer sides of said first and second plate-like elements.