Patent Grant
8007194
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns appliances for washing cars and other vehicles. More particularly, the present invention concerns appliances or devices for manually washing automobiles and similar vehicles. And even more particularly, the present invention concerns appliances or devices for manually washing cars and similar vehicles in an auto wash environment.
2. Prior Art
As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, recently there has been a proliferation of “hand wash” vehicle or automobile washing emporiums or car washes. The purpose of such hand washes or washing is to preclude the scratching of vehicles ordinarily encountered with automated car washes which utilize coarse brushes or the like. Furthermore, by hand washing the vehicle, the user is able to wash those areas of the vehicle which are not ordinarily reached or touched by the mechanical or automated devices found in conventional auto washes. The mechanical devices have a predetermined route or track which they follow and which does not account for the particular contours of each vehicle, since each vehicle has its own styling which, while following certain conventional norms, has its own unique styling characteristics. Thus, in order to effectively wash the entire vehicle, it is necessary that these particular contours be contacted with the washing device. However, in order to be effective in a car wash environment, it is essential that any manually employed devices or appliances used for the car washing operation be sufficiently impregnated with the “soap” that constant refilling or impregnation of same be eliminated.
While the art has taught soap impregnated washing appliances such as found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,048,407; 6,209,165; 3,581,447; 5,704,723; 4,456,640; 2,669,737, none of the prior art devices are directed to vehicular washing.
It has been found that using a normal or conventional car washing detergent, while effective, simply does not have sufficient concentration in order for it to be efficacious in a commercial hand washing operation. Therefore, it is necessary to find a more concentrated detergent which can effectively clean multiple cars during a “shift”.
As is subsequently detailed hereinafter, the present invention provides a car washing appliance or device which effectively achieves this.
In accordance herewith there is provided a car washing appliance which, generally, comprises:
(a) a first layer or sheet of a cotton material, the first sheet having a perimetral edge, (b) a second layer or sheet of a cotton material, the second sheet having a perimetral edge, the first and second layers being joined about the respective perimetral edges to define a cavity therebetween.
One of the sheets has an opening provided therein to enable access into the cavity.
A quantity of a detergent is disposed within the cavity. It is replenishable as it is consumed during car washing procedures.
Preferably, the detergent used herein is a dishwashing detergent or gel.
In an alternate embodiment hereof, a grid or screen-like member is disposed within the cavity and the detergent is deposited thereon and essentially fills the voids of the grid to entrap the detergent therewithin in a time-release mode.
A car washing appliance in accordance herewith, generally, comprises: A first layer of a cotton material, a second layer of a cotton material, the first and second layers being joined about the respective perimetral edges to define a cavity therebetween.
One of the sheets has an opening provided therein to enable access into the cavity.
A quantity of a detergent is disposed within the cavity. It is replenishable as it is consumed during car washing procedures.
Preferably, the detergent used herein is a dishwashing detergent or gel. Such compositions generally include at least one ionic as well as non-ionic surfactants.
In an alternate embodiment hereof, a grid or screen-like member is disposed within the cavity and the detergent is deposited thereon and essentially fills the voids of the grid to entrap the detergent therewithin in a time-release mode.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. In the drawing like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views in which:
At the outset, it should be noted, that although the ensuing discussion will be made with reference to a certain class of generic detergents, it is to be understood that car wash detergents can be used, but are not as effective.
In accordance herewith, and as shown in the drawing, and with particular reference to
It has been found that dishwashing detergents are more concentrated than conventional car washing detergents and, therefore, have a longer lasting life to enable efficacious washing of multiple vehicles.
Dishwashing detergents or gels are well known and commercially available and sold under a veritable plethora of trademarks. Dishwashing detergents are described in the prior art, such as is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,838 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,385, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Typically, dishwashing detergents contain at least one anionic surfactant and may include in addition thereto nonionic surfactants, which are generally ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide adducts of polyhydric compounds, alkanolamides, amine oxides, zwitterionic surfactants and the like as well as sequestrates, etc.
It is to be noted with respect hereto that it is not any specific detergent which is adapted for use herein, but any of the well-known and commercially available dishwashing detergents can be used. What is essential hereto is that the detergent be either a liquid or a gel.
While the present invention enjoys particular efficacy with a dishwashing detergent, this does not preclude the use of other commercially available liquid or gel-like detergent.
A suitable and replenishable quantity of this detergent is what is deposited into the cavity 20.
With more particularity, the first layer 12 comprises a sheet of a cotton material and, is, preferably, terrycloth. A second layer or sheet 14 is of the same terrycloth material.
The layers 12 and 14 are bound together along their respective perimetral edges 16 and 18 by any suitable mode, such as by sewing or the like. The sheets cooperate to define the cavity or interior 20 therebetween.
Either one of the sheets 12 or 14 may have the opening 22 formed therein to enable access into the interior or cavity 20.
Once the replenishable quantity of detergent 24 is deposited within the cavity the device or appliance 10 hereof is defined.
In use, the device is wetted with water to put the detergent into the solution to enable it to wash a car or similar vehicle.
It is to be noted with respect hereto that the terrycloth is chosen because of its ability to contact the metallic surface without scratching the paint.
As hereinabove noted, it is preferred that the detergent be a dishwashing detergent because of its high concentration and ability to wash multiple vehicles without the need to instantly replenish the quantity of detergent disposed within the cavity. However, other types of liquid or gel detergents can be used herein.
It is apparent from the preceding that there has been described herein a cleaning appliance or device particularly adapted for cleaning automobiles which is efficacious and enables an efficient disposition thereof in a hand wash business environment.
Referring now to
According to this embodiment, there is provided first and second layers or plies of terrycloth 112, 114 respectively. As with the first embodiment, the layers or plys are joined along the respective perimetral edges as at 116.
One of the layers 112 or 114 has an opening 118 formed therein.
Again, the two layers cooperate to define an interior cavity 120 therebetween. Disposed within the cavity 120 is a porous member 122, such as a porous plastic member 124 having a plurality of pores or openings 126. The pores or openings are macroscopic and are of the size to retain a quantity of liquid detergent or gel detergent attempting to pass therethrough. In other words, the detergent, because of the surface tension remains within the pores until contacted with water or other solvent.
In other words, the openings are of a dimension to retain or trap a quantity of detergent therewithin. In essence, the member 122 is analogous to a screen-like member having small macroscopic openings arrayed.
In accordance herewith, a quantity of detergent is deposited onto the screen and spread thereover. Because of the entrapment of the detergent within the openings or pores of the screen there is an effect a “time release” of detergent as the appliance is used.
It is to be appreciated from the preceding that there has been described herein a car washing appliance that precludes scratching a vehicle surface while effectively cleaning.
This application is a completion application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/818,705 filed Jul. 5, 2006 for a “Car Washing Appliance,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4457640 | Anderson | Jul 1984 | A |
| 4515703 | Haq | May 1985 | A |
| 5326610 | Moss | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5609431 | Carroll | Mar 1997 | A |
| 6926339 | Gentile | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080047594 A1 | Feb 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60818705 | Jul 2006 | US |
