The use of windshield cleaning tools is known in the prior art. More specifically, windshield cleaning tools heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Some examples of known cleaning tools include those found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,535; U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,370; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 327,146; U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,212; U.S. Pat. No. 913,304; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,528.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new combination cleaning tool. The inventive device includes a handle with a head portion coupled to the proximal end of the handle. An elongate resiliently flexible squeegee blade is coupled to the head portion. A resiliently compressible sponge member is coupled to the head portion distal the squeegee blade. Coupled to each end of the head portion is a resiliently compressible scrubbing pad each designed for scrubbing debris off of a surface.
In these respects, the combination cleaning tool according to invention described herein departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass surfaces such as windshields which typically include corners that cannot be cleaned by the aforementioned cleaning tools. The invention described herein is also configured to clean other surfaces, such as floors and walls that include corner portions.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of windshield cleaning tools now present in the prior art, the invention herein provides a new combination cleaning tool construction wherein the same can be utilized for cleaning surfaces, especially glass surfaces such as windshields. In particular the invention described herein provides a new combination cleaning tool construction wherein the same can be utilized for cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass surfaces such as windshields or the like, with corner portions.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood in view of the detailed description and referred drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
Referring now to
It should also be appreciated that handle 25 may include a telescopic portion to allow cleaning tool 20 to extend the length of handle 25. In these example embodiments the telescoping function may be initiated by any number of known means. In one exemplary embodiment, fastening ring disposed on the outer circumference of handle 25 may be loosened, thereby extending handle 25. Once the handle portion is released to a sufficient length, fastening ring may be tightened to secure the extended handle while the cleaning tool is in use. In other related embodiments, a telescoping handle assembly includes an inner and outer telescoping handle sections. The inner section has an outer surface positioned along a substantial portion of the inner surface of outer section. The outer section may optionally include locking teeth that are fixed axially in position along the length of the outer section and that are resiliently movable between a locked condition disposed in one of the grooves on the inner section and an unlocked condition.
In other related embodiments, handle assembly includes a locking sleeve movable in a first rotational direction to apply inwardly directed force to prevent telescopic movement of the inner section relative to the outer section. The locking sleeve is movable in a second rotational direction, opposite the first direction, to enable the telescopic movement of the inner section relative to the outer section.
Referring again to
Resilient cleaning tool 20 may also include a spray pump 45 which generally includes a reservoir 50 and a nozzle 55 in fluid communication with a conduit tubing 60.
As shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
The length of the sponge member 14 is substantially similar to the length of head portion 22. In other related embodiments, sponge member 14 is at most about equal in length to elongate member in use. In other embodiments, the length of sponge member 14 is about one-half the length of the handle 25. In another exemplary embodiment, the length of the head portion 22 is greater than about 4 inches to permit cleaning of an adequate amount of a windshield corner to be cleaned without the need for multiple passes.
The resilient cleaning tool 20 may optionally include a squeegee blade which is connected to the head portion 22. In use, the squeegee blade is designed for drawing across a surface to remove water from the surface. The squeegee blade ideally comprises a resiliently flexible rubber or plastic material. The squeegee blade has a pair of opposite ends and a length defined between the ends of the squeegee blade. The squeegee blade has a generally triangular cross section transverse the length of the squeegee blade. The length of the squeegee blade extends between the ends of the head portion. Preferably, the length of the squeegee blade is extended generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 25 and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 22.
In at least the embodiments described herein, the length of the optional squeegee blade extends across more than one-half of the length of the head portion 22. It should be appreciated that in order to support the squeegee action of removing water along a surface enough rigidity must be provided. In embodiments where a squeegee is desired, a head bracket 80 may also be used to provide a base structure for squeegee blade to be attached thereto. In at least these example embodiments, head bracket 80 is in mechanical communication with at least the proximal end 30 and/or head portion 22. In other related embodiments, squeegee blade is attached directly to head portion 22. The length of the squeegee blade extends across essentially the entire length of the head portion 22 or head bracket 80 depending on the desired configuration.
Sponge member 14 is coupled to the head portion 22 and is manufactured for absorbing fluid therein. The sponge member 14 has an exterior surface extending around the lateral ends of the head portion 22. The length of the sponge member 14 extends generally across the entire length of the head portion 22. The sponge member 14, as shown in
Referring now to
In use, the cleaning tool 20 is designed for cleaning surfaces, in particular glass surfaces such as a windshield, and also clean portions of these glass surfaces that may also include corners or bends that an inflexible head portion 12 cannot readily clean. Additional surfaces are also contemplated, such as floors, walls and mirrors.
In use, the sponge member 14 is soaked in a cleaning fluid such as water mixed with a soap detergent or windshield wiper fluid and then run over the windshield to wet the windshield. Sponge member 14, which is shown with a scrubbing fabric material covering sponge member 14 outer surface, is then rubbed over debris on the windshield to loosen and remove the debris from the windshield. Finally, the squeegee blade 75 is then run over the windshield to remove the fluid and loosen debris from the windshield.
In another exemplary use, resilient cleaning tool 20 will include a spray pump 45 that will spray a sufficient amount of cleaning solution onto (or into) sponge member 14 to allow for the cleaning of a surface. When a user desires to spray cleaning solution from nozzle 55, the user will activate spray pump 45 using a switch 90, as shown in
As previously mentioned, nozzle 55 may be positioned in a manner that will allow nozzle to be directed toward an area above (or below) head portion 22 which will allow the cleaning solution to be directly sprayed on a surface needing to be cleaned. Head portion 22 is passed along surface and may also be pressed into corners and difficult to reach areas of a surface where the head portion 22 and sponge member 14 can clean the window, or surface, adjacent a frame structure.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.