WO2018162129A1

WO2018162129A1 - Gutter cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2018162129A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/051221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Sauter; Gabriele SCHERER; Benjamin Asal
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2017-03-08
Filing date: 2018-01-18
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-08
Also published as: TWI744486B; EP3592915A1; TW201832714A; EP3592915B1; CN110191993A

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning gutters comprising a main body (2) with at least one cleaning portion (2.1), said cleaning portion (2.1) comprising at least one cleaning tool (3, 4), wherein the cleaning portion (2.1) comprises at least a first and a second cleaning tool (3, 4) and the first cleaning tool (3) is movably mounted at the cleaning portion (2.1) in order to be arranged at least in a first and a second position and wherein in said first position, the first cleaning tool (3) is in an active position and in said second position, the first cleaning tool (3) is in an idle position.

Description

Gutter cleaner

The present invention relates generally to the field of gutter cleaners. More specifically, the present document discloses an apparatus for cleaning gutters with multiple cleaning tools pro^¬ vided at a cleaning portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gutter cleaners for cleaning roof gutters are known. Gutter cleaners comprise a main body with a cleaning portion. Said cleaning portion is adapted to be provided in the gutter during gutter cleaning. By moving the gutter cleaner along the gutter, dirt accumulated in the gutter can be removed. Gutter cleaners may comprise a handle for enabling a cleaning of a gutter ar^¬ ranged in a certain height by a user standing on the ground.

Disadvantageously, known gutter cleaners are limited with re- spect to their field of application, respectively, with respect to their usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of the embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus for cleaning gutters (in the following also referred to as gutter cleaner) which allows an improved us^¬ ability and an extended field of application. The objectives are solved by the features of the independent claim. Preferred em- bodiments are given in the dependent claims. If not explicitly indicated otherwise, embodiments of the invention can be freely combined with each other. According to an aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning gutters. The apparatus comprises a main body with at least one cleaning portion, said cleaning portion comprising at least one cleaning tool. The cleaning portion comprises at least a first and a second cleaning tool, wherein the first cleaning tool is movably mounted at the cleaning portion in or^¬ der to be arranged at least in a first and a second position. In said first position, the first cleaning tool is in an active po^¬ sition and in said second position, the first cleaning tool is in an idle position.

Said gutter cleaner is advantageous because due to said movable cleaning tool it is possible to adapt the cleaning portion to different cleaning tasks.

According to embodiments, the first cleaning tool is movably mounted with respect to the second cleaning tool. Preferably, said second cleaning tool is fixedly arranged at the cleaning portion and by moving said first cleaning tool with respect to said cleaning portion, said first cleaning tool is also moved with respect to the second cleaning tool. In a preferred embodi^¬ ment, by moving the first cleaning tool in said idle position, the second cleaning tool is enabled and can be used for cleaning the gutter.

According to embodiments, the first cleaning tool is slidably mounted at the main body, respectively, said cleaning portion. For example, said cleaning portion provides a sliding guide for said first cleaning tool. For example, one or more sliding con- tours (e.g. rails) may be provided at the cleaning portion in order to enable a translat ional movement (e.g. along the longi^¬ tudinal axis of the cleaning portion) of the first cleaning tool. Thereby, an easy handling of the gutter cleaner is ob^¬ tained . According to embodiments, the first cleaning tool is adapted to be slided at least in a forward position and in a retracted po^¬ sition with respect to the second cleaning tool. In said forward position, the first cleaning tool is activated and the second cleaning tool is at least partially (specifically a free end portion of the second cleaning tool) deactivated. Thereby, adapting of the gutter cleaner to respective cleaning purposes is possible. According to embodiments, the first cleaning tool at least par^¬ tially surrounds the second cleaning tool. More in detail, the first cleaning tool may comprise an interior space in which the second cleaning tool is received. Thereby it is possible to ac^¬ tivate the first cleaning tool by receiving the second cleaning tool at least partially within the interior space of the first cleaning tool.

According to embodiments, the second cleaning tool is fixedly mounted at the main body. Thereby, when moving the first clean- ing tool, said first cleaning tool is moved with respect to the second cleaning tool.

According to embodiments, the first cleaning tool is a brush or a brush-like cleaning tool. By means of said brush or a brush- like cleaning tool it is possible to remove small particles of dirt .

According to embodiments, the second cleaning tool is a scraper. By means of said scraper it is possible to abrade dirt form a gutter wall portion.

According to embodiments, the second cleaning tool comprises one or more lips made of an elastically deformable material. By means of said lips, the second cleaning tool can adapt to the shape of the gutter. According to embodiments, the second cleaning tool comprises one or more lips made of a combination of a hard, i.e. not elas- tically deformable material and an elastically deformable mate- rial. Preferably there is a harder or hard inner portion or in^¬ ner component and a softer or soft outer portion or component. This has the advantage that the tool can be fitted to different shapes and sizes of the gutter and/or a better cleaning result can be obtained.

According to embodiments, in case that the first cleaning tool is in the second position, a free end of the second cleaning tool protrudes over the free end of the first cleaning tool. Thereby, the second cleaning tool is activated and can be used for cleaning the gutter whereas the first cleaning tool is deac- tivated.

According to embodiments, in case that the first cleaning tool is in the first position, the free end of the second cleaning tool is at least partially received in an interior space of the first cleaning tool. Thereby, the first cleaning tool is acti^¬ vated and can be used for cleaning the gutter whereas the second cleaning tool is deactivated.

According to embodiments, the first cleaning portion, at which the first and the second cleaning tools are arranged, is a straight cleaning portion and the first cleaning tool is slida- bly mounted at said straight cleaning portion. Thereby, the sliding movement of the first cleaning tool is improved. Preferably, a locking mechanism is provided in order to secure the first cleaning tool in a certain position.

According to embodiments, the main body comprises liquid guiding means, wherein said liquid guiding means are adapted to provide liquid, specifically water, in the area of the first and/or the second cleaning tool. Thereby, the mechanical cleaning effect achieved by the first and/or the second cleaning tool can be supported by liquid sprayed on the area to be cleaned. According to embodiments, the main body comprises an arm portion and the cleaning portion protrudes from said arm portion such that the longitudinal axis of the arm portion and the longitudi^¬ nal axis of the cleaning portion confine an angle between 90° and 180°, preferably between 120° and 150°, wherein said angle opens towards a handling portion of the main body. Thereby an improved handling of the apparatus is achieved.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" as used in the inven^¬ tion means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, prefera- bly by +/- 5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant for the function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 illustrates a lateral view of an example embodiment of a gutter cleaner with a slidably mounted cleaning tool arranged in a deactivated position;

Fig. 2 illustrates a lateral view of an example embodiment of a gutter cleaner with a slidably mounted cleaning tool arranged in an activated position;

Fig. 3 illustrates the usage of a first cleaning portion of the embodiment according to fig.l and 2 for cleaning a gutter; Fig. 4 illustrates the usage of a second cleaning portion of the embodiment according to fig.l and 2 for cleaning a gutter;

Fig. 5 illustrates a first lateral view of an example embodi ment of a gutter cleaner including liquid guiding means; and Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional lateral view of an example em^¬ bodiment of a gutter cleaner including liquid guiding means .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with ref^¬ erence to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodi^¬ ments are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Throughout the following description similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements, parts, items or features, when ap^¬ plicable .

Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate an example embodiment of an apparatus 1 for cleaning gutters, in the following referred to as gutter cleaner. The gutter cleaner comprises a main body 2 and, prefer^¬ ably a handle (not shown in Fig. 1 and 2) . Said handle may be used for handling the gutter cleaner. The handle may be directly or indirectly attached to a handling portion 2.3 provided at the main body 2.

The main body 2 further comprises a first and a second arm por^¬ tion 2a, 2b. Said first and second arm portions 2a, 2b laterally protrude at opposite sides of the main body 2. In other words, said first and second arm portions 2a, 2b form together with the handling portion 2.3 a T-shaped or essentially T-shaped main body 2. The first arm portion 2a comprises a longitudinal axis LA_AP1 and the second arm portion 2b comprises a longitudinal axis LA_AP2. Said longitudinal axes LA_AP1, LA_AP2 may be ar- ranged parallel to each other. Preferably, said longitudinal ax^¬ es LA_AP1, LA_AP2 may coincide and thus may form a common longi^¬ tudinal axis .

The main body 2 may further comprise a middle axis MA which may form the longitudinal axis of the handling portion 2.3. Said longitudinal axes LA_AP1, LA_AP2 may be arranged vertically or essentially vertically with respect to said middle axis MA.

Said first arm portion 2a comprises a first cleaning portion 2.1 and the second arm portion 2b comprises a second cleaning por^¬ tion 2.2. Said first and second cleaning portions 2.1, 2.2 pro^¬ trude from their respective arm portion 2a, 2b at an outer por^¬ tion of said arm portions 2a, 2b, i.e. at a portion located at a distance to said middle axis MA.

Said first cleaning portion 2.1 builds or includes a straight cleaning portion 2.1 which is arranged in an angled manner with respect to the longitudinal axis LA_AP1 of the first arm portion 2a. Said first cleaning portion 2.1 may comprise a longitudinal axis LA_CP1 which is slanted with respect to the longitudinal axis LA_AP1 of the first arm portion 2a. Said longitudinal axes LA_CP1 and LA_AP1 may span a plane which coincides with the fig^¬ ure planes of Fig. 1 and 2. Said plane may also include said middle axis MA.

As mentioned before, the first cleaning portion 2.1 is slanted with respect to the first arm portion. More in detail, the lon^¬ gitudinal axis LA_CP1 and the longitudinal axis LA_AP1 may con^¬ fine an angle a which opens towards the middle axis MA, respec- tively, the handling portion 2.3. Said angle a may be in the range of 90° and 180°, preferably between 120° and 150°, more preferably in the range of 125° and 135°, specifically 130° or essentially 130°. Thereby, an improved inserting of the first cleaning portion 2.1 in the gutter is achieved.

Said first cleaning portion 2.1 comprises at least two cleaning tools, in the present embodiment a first cleaning tool 3 and a second cleaning tool 4. The first cleaning tool 3 may be, for example, a brush or a brush-like tool and the second cleaning tool 4 may be, for example, a scraper. It is worth mentioning, that said tool configuration is only an example, i.e. in other embodiments, other cleaning tool configurations can be used.

In order to be able to activate one of the cleaning tools 3, 4 and deactivate the other one, the first cleaning tool 3 is move- ably mounted at the first cleaning portion 2.1. By moving the first cleaning tool 3, said cleaning tool can be positioned in an active position (shown in Fig. 2) in which said first clean^¬ ing tool 3 can be used for cleaning the gutter and an idle posi- tion (shown in Fig. 1) in which said first cleaning tool 3 is deactivated .

In the present embodiment, the first cleaning tool 3 is slidably mounted at the first cleaning portion 2.1. Thereby it is possi- ble that the first cleaning tool 3 can be slided in a forward position (active position) (shown in Fig. 2) and in a retracted position (inactive position) (shown in Fig. 1) . Said first cleaning tool 3 may comprise a brush base portion 3.1 at which a plurality of bristles 3.2 are arranged. Said brush base portion 3.1 may comprise an annular shape surrounding the first cleaning portion 2.1 in a form-fit manner. In addition, the first clean^¬ ing tool 3 may comprise a locking mechanism 3.3 in order to lock the first cleaning tool 3 in the active, respectively, inactive position . It is worth mentioning that said movability of the first clean^¬ ing tool 3 can be also archived using other moving means, for example a first cleaning tool 3 which is screwable guided at the first cleaning portion 2.1 or a hinged arrangement of the first cleaning tool 3 at the first cleaning portion 2.1.

As shown in Fig. 1 and 2, said first cleaning tool 3 is also moveable with respect to the second cleaning tool 4. Said second cleaning tool 4 may form the free end of the first cleaning por- tion 2.1. Thereby, by retracting the first cleaning tool 3 in the position according to Fig. 1, at least a portion of the sec^¬ ond cleaning tool 4 protrudes over the first cleaning tool 3. More in detail, a free end portion of the second cleaning tool 4 may protrude over the free ends of the bristles 3.2 of the first cleaning tool 3. Thereby, the gutter can be cleaned using the second cleaning tool 4 instead of the first cleaning tool 3. On the other hand, in case that the first cleaning tool 3 is moved in a forward position, the bristles 3.2 of the first cleaning tool 3 protrude over the free end portion of the second cleaning tool 4 thereby activating the first cleaning tool 3 for cleaning the gutter.

According to an embodiment, the second cleaning tool 4 may be a scraper which comprises lips 4.1, 4.2 for cleaning the gutter. A first lip 4.1 may be arranged at the free end (lower portion) of the second cleaning tool 4. In other words, the first lip 4.1 may be arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal axes LA_CP1. In addition, the second cleaning tool 4 may com^¬ prise further lips 4.2 arranged at lateral sides of the second cleaning tool 4, i.e. said lips 4.2 may be spaced apart from each other and may run in the direction of the longitudinal axes LA_CP1. According to embodiments, said lips 4.1, 4.2 may be flexible. Said lips 4.1, 4.2 may be made of an elastically de- formable material, e.g. an elastic polymer. Alternatively or in addition, said lips 4.1, 4.2 may be made of a combination of a hard and a soft component. Preferably there is a harder or hard inner portion or inner component and a softer or soft outer por^¬ tion or component. This has the advantage that the tool can be fitted to different shapes and sizes of the gutter and/or a bet- ter cleaning result can be obtained.

The first cleaning tool 3, specifically the brush head compris^¬ ing the bristles 3.2 may be split in two portions, wherein said two cleaning tool or brush head portions are arranged at differ- ent sides of the second cleaning tool 4. In other words, the first cleaning tool 3 is adapted to at least partially surround the second cleaning tool 4 in the retracted (inactive) position. In yet other words, the first cleaning tool 3 may comprise an interior space in which at least a portion of the second clean- ing tool 4 is received in the retracted (inactive) position.

As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the gutter cleaner further com^¬ prises a second cleaning portion 2.2 which is arranged at the free end of the second arm portion 2b. At said second cleaning portion 2.2, at least one further cleaning tool 5 is provided. Said further cleaning tool 5 is, for example, a fork-like or rake-like cleaning tool, specifically is formed by a fork or rake. More in detail, said further cleaning tool 5 may comprise multiple tooths which are protruding at the free end of the sec- ond cleaning portion 2.2 thereby forming said further cleaning tool 5.

In order to enhance the usability of the gutter cleaner, the second cleaning portion 2.2 is oriented in a different direction and in a different plane than the first cleaning portion 2.1. More in detail, according to a first example, the longitudinal axis LA-CP2 of the second cleaning portion 2.2 and longitudinal axis LA-AP2 of the second arm portion 2b may coincide or may be arranged in parallel to each other. In other words, the second cleaning portion 2.2 may be attached or integrally formed at the second arm portion 2b without any tilt.

According to another embodiment, the longitudinal axis LA-CP2 of the second cleaning portion 2.2 and the longitudinal axis LA-AP2 of the second arm portion 2b may be tilted with respect to each other. However, the tilt, specifically the direction of tilt of the second cleaning portion 2.2 may be different to the

tilt /direction of tilt of the first cleaning portion 2.1. More in detail, as mentioned before, the longitudinal axis LA_CP1 of the first cleaning portion and the longitudinal axis LA_AP1 of the first arm portion may span a first plane which coincides with the figure planes of Fig. 1 and 2. The longitudinal axis LA-CP2 of the second cleaning portion 2.2 and the longitudinal axis LA-AP2 of the second arm portion 2b may span a second plane which is different to said first plane. As shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the second cleaning portion 2.2 is directed out of the first plane (figure plane) wherein the first cleaning portion 2.1 ex^¬ tends in said first plane (figure plane) . According to an embod- iment, said first and second planes may confine an acute angle which opens to a side opposite to the handling portion 2.3, re^¬ spectively opposite to the middle axis MA.

According to embodiments, the second arm portion 2b may comprise a pair of second cleaning portions 2.2. Said second cleaning portions 2.2 may protrude at opposite sides of the second arm portion 2b. More in detail and referring to fig. 1 and 2, a first one of said second cleaning portions 2.2 may protrude up^¬ wardly out of the first plane (figure plane of fig. 1 and 2) and the second one of said second cleaning portions 2.2 may protrude downwardly out of said first plane (figure plane of fig. 1 and 2) . At each second cleaning portion 2.2, a fork-like or rake^¬ like cleaning tool may be provided. Also other tool configura^¬ tions are possible, including the same cleaning tools at both second cleaning portions 2.2 or different cleaning tools at said second cleaning portions 2.2. By providing a pair of second cleaning portions 2.2 protruding at opposite sides of the second arm portion 2b, it is possible to use the cleaning tool provided at the second cleaning portion 2.2 in both directions, i.e. when moving the gutter cleaner in a forward and a backward direction.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the apparatus 1 may further comprise adjusting means 6 for adjusting the angle of inclination of the main body 2, specifically the first and second arm portions 2a, 2b with respect to a handle 7 or a handle fixing portion 7.1. Said adjusting means 6 may be, for example, a hinge. Upper- mentioned handling portion 2.3 may be used for connecting the main body 2 with a handle 7 or a handle fixing portion 7.1. At said handling portion 2.3, a hinge point may be provided in or- der to be able to tilt the main body 2 with respect to the han^¬ dle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1. Said adjusting means 6 may be adapted to position the main body 2 such that the angle be^¬ tween the longitudinal axis LA_AP1 of the first arm portion 2a and the longitudinal axis of the handle 7 or handle fixing 7.1 portion is greater than 90° and the angle between the longitudi^¬ nal axis LA_AP2 of the second arm portion 2b and the longitudi^¬ nal axis of the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1 is smaller than 90°. In other words, the main body 2 may be arranged by said adjusting means 6 such that the further cleaning tool 5 is tilted towards the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1.

In addition, said adjusting means 6 may comprise a locking mech^¬ anism 6.1, specifically a quick-locking-mechanism. Said locking mechanism 6.1 may be adapted to enable an angular adjustment of the main body 2 with respect to the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1 in a released state and a fixing of a certain angu^¬ lar position of the main body 2 with respect to the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1 in a fixed state. Thereby it is possi^¬ ble to adapt the apparatus 1 to specific requirements for clean- ing the gutter. The advantages of different orientation of the first and second cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2 are explained in detail based on Fig. 3 and 4. Due to the tilted arrangement of the main body 2 with respect to the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1, the first cleaning portion 2.1 (comprising first and second cleaning tools 3, 4) and the second cleaning portion 2.2 (comprising said fur^¬ ther cleaning tool 6) can be easily inserted in the gutter with^¬ out changing the angular position of the main body 2 with re- spect to the handle 7 or handle fixing portion 7.1, respective^¬ ly, without changing the spatial orientation of the handle 7. The cleaning tool can be chosen, respectively, changed by rotat^¬ ing (as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3) the handle 7 around its longitudinal axis by 180° or essentially 180° thereby disen- gaging the first/second cleaning tool 3, 4 and using said fur^¬ ther cleaning tool 6 for gutter cleaning.

In order to enhance the cleaning effect of the gutter cleaner, the apparatus 1 comprises liquid guiding means 10 for providing liquid towards the first or second cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2. Said liquid guiding means 10 may comprise liquid channels 10.1, 10.2 which are integrally formed in the main body 2, i.e. inte^¬ grally formed within the arm portions 2a, 2b and cleaning por^¬ tions 2.1, 2.2 of the main body 2. According to other embodi- ments, said liquid guiding means 10 are not integrally formed within the main body 2 but only arranged at said main body 2. Furthermore, a coupling portion 11 may be provided at the main body 2. Said coupling portion 11 may be adapted to receive a quick coupler of a water hose. The coupling portion 11 may be fluidly coupled with said liquid guiding means 10, specifically with said liquid channels 10.1, 10.2 in order to guide liquid provided by the water hose into said liquid channels 10.1, 10.2. So, by means of said liquid channels 10.1, 10.2, the liquid is provided to the respective cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2. As shown in Fig. 5 and 6, a liquid nozzle 12, 13 is provided at the free end of the liquid channel 10.1, 10.2. By means of said liquid nozzles 12, 13, liquid can be poured out at the respec^¬ tive cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2.

In order to be able to selectively provide liquid into one of said liquid channels 10.1, 10.2, respectively, to one of said liquid nozzles 12, 13, the apparatus 1 may comprise control means 14 for selectively controlling the liquid flow to the first or second cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2. For example, said control means 14 comprises a liquid valve. Said valve may com^¬ prise a valve housing and a valve body (also referred to as plug) which is movable with respect to the valve housing. Said valve housing may be integrally formed within the main body 2. Said liquid valve may be, for example, a plug valve. Said selec^¬ tively controlling of the liquid flow towards the first or sec^¬ ond cleaning portion 2.1, 2.2 may be obtained by an appropriate positioning the valve body. For example, a rotatable control knob may be provided at the main body for controlling the liquid valve .

Said main body 2 (including the arm portions 2a, 2b, the han^¬ dling portion 2.3 and at least portions of the cleaning portions 2.1, 2.2) may be manufactured by injection-moulding. Thereby, the arm portions 2a, 2b, the handling portion 2.3 and at least portions of the cleaning portions 2.1, 2.2 are integrally formed as a single piece element.

It should be noted that the description and drawings merely il^¬ lustrate the principles of the proposed gutter cleaner. Those skilled in the art will be able to implement various arrange^¬ ments that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention. List of reference numerals

1 apparatus

2 main body

2a first arm portion

2b second arm portion

2.1 first cleaning portion

2.2 second cleaning portion

2.3 handling portion

3 first cleaning tool

3.1 brush base portion

3.2 bristles

3.3 locking mechanism

4 second cleaning tool

4.1 lips

4.2 lips

5 further cleaning tool

6 adjusting means

6.1 locking mechanism

7 handle

7.1 handle fixing portion

10 liquid guiding means

10.1 liquid channel

10.2 liquid channel

11 coupling portion

12 liquid nozzle

13 liquid nozzle

14 control means a angle

LA_AP1 longitudinal axis (of first arm portion)

LA_AP2 longitudinal axis (of second arm portion)

LA_CP1 longitudinal axis (of first cleaning portion)

LA_CP2 longitudinal axis (of second cleaning portion)

MA middle axis

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning gutters comprising a main body (2)

with at least one cleaning portion (2.1), said cleaning por^¬ tion (2.1) comprising at least one cleaning tool (3, 4), characterized in that the cleaning portion (2.1) comprises at least a first and a second cleaning tool (3, 4) and the first cleaning tool (3) is movably mounted at the cleaning portion (2.1) in order to be arranged at least in a first and a sec^¬ ond position, wherein in said first position, the first cleaning tool (3) is in an active position and in said second position, the first cleaning tool (3) is in an idle position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning tool (3) is movably mounted with respect to the second clean^¬ ing tool ( 4 ) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first clean^¬ ing tool (3) is slidably mounted at the main body (2) .

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first cleaning tool (3) is adapted to be slided at least in a forward posi^¬ tion and in a retracted position with respect to the second cleaning tool (4) .

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first cleaning tool (3) at least partially surrounds the second cleaning tool (4) .

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second cleaning tool (4) is fixedly mounted at the main body (2 ) .

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first cleaning tool (3) is a brush or a brush-like clean ing tool.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second cleaning tool (4) is a scraper.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second cleaning tool (4) comprises one or more lips (4.1) made of an elas^¬ tically deformable material.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second

cleaning tool (4) comprises one or more lips (4.1) made of a combination of a hard, i.e. not elastically deformable mate^¬ rial and an elastically deformable material.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in case that the first cleaning tool (3) is in the second po sition, a free end of the second cleaning tool (4) protrudes over the free end of the first cleaning tool (3) .

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in case that the first cleaning tool (3) is in the first po^¬ sition, the free end of the second cleaning tool (4) is at least partially received in an interior space of the first cleaning tool (3) .

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first cleaning portion (2.1) at which the first and the second cleaning tools (3, 4) are arranged is a straight cleaning portion and the first cleaning tool (3) is slidably mounted at said straight cleaning portion.

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main body comprises liquid guiding means (10), wherein said liquid guiding means (10) are adapted to provide liquid in the area of the first and/or the second cleaning tool (3, 4) .

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (2) comprises an arm portion (2a) and the cleaning portion (2.1) protrudes from said arm portion (2a) such that the longitudinal axis (LA_AP1) of the arm portion (2a) and the longitudinal axis (LA_CP1) of the cleaning por^¬ tion (2.1) confine an angle (a) between 90° and 180°, prefer^¬ ably between 120° and 150°, wherein said angle ( l) opens to^¬ wards a handling portion (2.3) of the main body (2) .