Hard floor cleaner

Abstract

A hard floor cleaner is provided and includes a sweeper element and a mop element mounted for rotation about a respective axis. The sweeper element and the mop element are arranged so that they sweep and mop the floor respectively in use. The sweeper element is located in front of the mop element with respect to a first direction of travel of the hard floor cleaner.

1 . A hard floor cleaner comprising:
 a sweeper element and a mop element each being mounted for rotation about a respective axis,   wherein the sweeper element and the mop element are arranged such that a lowermost portion of the sweeper element and a lowermost portion of the mop element contact a surface to be cleaned in use, and   wherein the sweeper element is located in front of the mop element with respect to a first direction of travel of the hard floor cleaner in use.   
     
     
         2 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sweeper element has a shape which tapers from a first end of the sweeper element towards a second end of the sweeper element, and wherein the sweeper element is arranged such that when the hard floor cleaner is in use, the position of the axis of rotation of the sweeper element at the second end of the sweeper element is closer to the surface to be cleaned than the position of said axis of rotation at the first end of the sweeper element. 
     
     
         3 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a second sweeper element mounted for rotation about an axis, wherein the second sweeper element has a shape which tapers from a first end of the second sweeper element towards a second end of the second sweeper element, wherein the second sweeper element is arranged such that when the hard floor cleaner is in use, the position of the axis of rotation of the second sweeper element at the second end of the second sweeper element is closer to the surface to be cleaned than the position of said axis of rotation at the first end of the second sweeper element. 
     
     
         4 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a hub portion, wherein the sweeper element and the second sweeper element are attached to opposing sides of the hub portion, and wherein the hub portion is operable to rotate the sweeper element and the second sweeper element about their respective axes when in use. 
     
     
         5 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the sweeper element and the second sweeper element are attached to opposing sides of the hub portion at their respective first ends, or at their respective second ends. 
     
     
         6 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the lowermost portion of the sweeper element and the lowermost portion of the second sweeper element are positioned substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned when in use. 
     
     
         7 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an external surface of the sweeper element and an external surface of the second sweeper element comprise helical strips of upstanding bristles. 
     
     
         8 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mop element is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mop element comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         10 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a bin for collecting debris swept from the floor in use by the sweeper element. 
     
     
         11 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a container for holding liquid collected from the mop element when in use. 
     
     
         12 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bin is located between the sweeping element and the mop element. 
     
     
         13 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the container is located between the sweeping element and the mop element. 
     
     
         14 . The hard floor cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mop element is located between the sweeper element and an additional sweeper element, and wherein the additional sweeper element is located on the opposite side of the mop element to the sweeper element.