The invention deals with the field of accessories for cleaning shutters.
Manual shutters are found in many houses, for example in Israel, most of them according to a uniform standard. An example of a profile (45) of a slat (40) of such a shutter can be seen in
Nowadays, anyone who cleans shutters is required to do strenuous and sometimes dangerous physical work in order to clean shutters in their home. The shutters are designed in such a way that they have slots of different heights on both sides of each stage of the shutter, so cleaning by means existing today does not clean the shutters thoroughly and does not clean the slots well. In this situation, there remains detergent, dust and dirt on various surfaces and in grooves on both sides of the slats at the same time.
Also, cleaning shutters by standard cleaning with a cleaning cloth requires physical exertion as it requires numerous wide right and left movements to clean each stage (“slat”) of the shutter and to clean the top side and the bottom side of each shutter. To avoid doubt, the term “top side”, as referred to herein, refers to surfaces (50) of the slat facing upward when the shutter slats are open Similarly, the term “lower side”, as referred to herein, refers to surfaces (60) of the slats face downward when the shutter slats are open.
Some people with various physical disabilities, including mild disabilities, permanent or temporary, for whom the activity is difficult for them and sometimes impossible.
Moreover, in many homes the shutters that are located in places that not convenient for cleaning, such as high places and places hidden in a wall or internally that are difficult to reach. In older homes there are also entire walls built of shutters (mostly homes that have undergone a physical extension of the property or enclosing of a balcony). Cleaning such shutters, involves not only the relentless physical effort rather is also very dangerous due to the high and hidden places that are difficult to reach.
Inventions known today in this field including various devices for cleaning shutters do not meet the need of housewives and house cleaners who are not interested in purchasing expensive and complicated devices, rather are interested in a simple, efficient convenient and safe cleaning means for cleaning shutters of their homes.
The invention relates to a simple safe and convenient cleaning tool, for manual cleaning, that is efficient, simple and quick for a variety of shutter slat types having a complex profile.
The invention includes various configurations of a cleaning glove and a modular system of various cleaning accessories that can be connected the glove and easily disconnected therefrom, easily, simply and conveniently. The accessories can be made of various and diverse materials and cloth. These accessories are adapted in their structure to complex profiles such as the profile of non-electric shutters.
Some of the accessories connect to the glove in order to reach high places, distant or hidden that are difficult to reach.
One such accessory, extension rod, there is a unique mechanism which allows closure of the glove for cleaning the surface through the release handles and not by pressure thereon. This mechanism allows for a wide range of people to make use of the glove with very little physical effort.
The term “elongated object” as used herein-below, refers to an object whose length is significantly greater than its width. For example: a shutter slat, pencil, broom handle, drinking straw, telephone page, etc. When referring to the length of the elongated object, the intention is to its long dimension and referring to the width of the elongated object, the intention is to its narrow dimension. The surface of the elongated object can include multiple external surfaces. For example, the shutter slat having an upper portion and a lower portion.
The object is a shutter slat, with two areas designed to clean by a slat cleaning accessory of the shutter, a top surface and a bottom surface. In these configurations, the cleaning accessory body is generally C-shaped consisting of a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion includes a bottom cleaning surface adapted to clean the top surface of the slat, the bottom includes an upper cleaning surface adapted to clean the bottom surface of the slat, the top portion and the bottom portion connected as a single unit by a connecting part, and the bottom portion and the top portion separated by a space created between them and a cross-sectional profile corresponding to the transverse profile of the slat. While cleaning the surfaces the cleaners come in contact, respectively, with the main surfaces of the slat over the entire width of the slat. The user of the cleaning accessory can clean the exterior surfaces intended for cleaning by moving the accessory on the shutter over its entire length.
In certain configurations of the invention the bottom portion. top portion and connecting portion are made from one unit.
In certain configurations of the invention, areas of the accessory that are not touching surfaces include grip points for convenient grasp by the user's hand.
In certain configurations of the invention, the gripping loops fixed on the top surface of the upper portion of the accessory and the bottom surface of the lower part of the accessory, respectively, correspond to the user's fingers, which allow a stable grip on the accessory.
In certain configurations of the invention, the gripping points are elongated recesses created generally parallel to the top surface of the upper portion and starting from the high portion of the rear surface of the connecting member, which is adapted to accommodate therein the user's fingers, and an elongated recess starting at the low portion of the rear surface of the connecting member, adapted to accommodate therein the user's thumb, which enables a stable gripping of the accessory.
In certain configurations of the invention, the cleaning accessory also includes a anchoring accessory, that is generally C-shaped, built from a bottom, top and connecting portions having elastic properties, where the bottom portion and the top portion of the anchoring accessory are separated by a space created between them and where the cut profile corresponds to the external profile of the cleaning accessory compatible with it, and when the cleaning accessory is operated the cleaning accessory is fixed to the inner portion of the anchoring accessory.
The elasticity of the connecting member enables the user to distance the top portion from the bottom portion of the anchoring accessory, and thus to distance the bottom surface at the top of cleaning accessory from the top surface at the bottom of the cleaning accessory that is fixed inside the anchoring accessory, and to wrap a selected area of the shutter slat, over the width of the shutter slat. The fixing means can be selected from the group including glue, hook and loop fastener, snaps and so on.
In certain configurations of the invention, the anchoring accessory includes loops fixed on the top surface of the top portion of the anchoring accessory and the bottom surface of the lower portion of the anchoring accessory, respectively, adapted to the user's fingers, which allow a stable grip accessory.
In certain configurations of the invention, the cleaning accessory also includes an extension arm consisting of a top portion, a bottom portion, the top portion and a rod that connects between them enabling reaching high places, with the top portion consisting of a gripping surface allowing gripping of the body of the cleaning accessory and operation, and wherein the lower portion includes a mechanism to operate the gripping surfaces. Gripping surfaces can be finger-like components that correspondingly enter the respective loops of the cleaning accessory. The gripping surfaces can also be finger-like components that correspondingly entering the respective recesses of the cleaning accessory. The gripping surfaces can be finger-like components that enter the respective loops of the anchoring accessory.
Several implementations of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. It should be noted that the details described in the figures are merely exemplary for the purpose of illustration only, without limitation to various variations. In the drawings,
It should be noted that the description below in the context of the orientation of the item /object, such as the “bottom”, “upper”, “down”, “up”, “forward”, “back”, “front”, “rear”, “lower” “higher” and the like, assume that the object is in its working position, and in the case of a shutter slat, the shutter louvers are in the open position.
In a particular configuration of the glove, the rear portion (106) of the glove that reaches the beginning of the user's arm is closed on the hand and/or seals the glove on the hand via various mechanisms or materials such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners, string, shrink fabric, rubber, two metal strips which are opened by pressing simultaneously on their edges, two wires in opposite directions wherein pulling them closes the glove, many magnet pieces which enable closing the glove on the hand but will retain flexibility so that the glove can be squeezed, or any other appropriate manner.
In another configuration of the glove, the rear portion (106) of the glove which reaches the beginning of the user's arm is made of absorbent fabric on its inside and there is an optional indicium (112) separating the portion (106) and the rest of the glove body (108). The rear portion (106) can also be stretched (106), wherein it will have a long enough length, and to wrap the glove body (108) such that the interior of the rear portion 106) is on the outside and can be cleaned or to dry the surface therewith. In such configuration the rear portion (106) is made of elastic fabric, or contains rubber at its end, wherein turning the glove inside out, the glove is closed inward and can be washed, squeezed, cleaned and dried with the glove without fear of the glove returning to its original state.
In one configuration of the glove, it is without a division for the fingers and it is constructed from two main areas: the fingers area (103) and the back of the hand area (107). The outer surfaces (104) of the fingers area (103) are connected by an external-rear surface (108) of the back of the hand area (107) which is constitutes the hinge of the glove. At the same time, the inner surfaces of the fingers area (102) of the fingers area (103) are connected by an internal-rear surface (114) of the back of the hand area (107). The outer surfaces (104) of the fingers area (103) and inner surfaces of the fingers area (102) of the fingers area (103) are connected, creating a uniform surface.
The inside surface of the fingers area (102) can be connected to various cleaning accessories, such as an accessory to clean slats of shutters (400), their structures adapted to the profiles of various surfaces that can be connected and disconnected in a simple and convenient manner, as described below with reference to
Upon closing of the glove on the slat face, one can easily clean the surfaces by sliding the glove left and right on the surfaces. The structure of the accessory (400) will bring about a very thorough cleaning of the slat, including all the various grooves.
In a specific configuration of the glove, the inside of the glove, where the hand goes, and when wearing the glove the user's skin touches the glove, there is an additional layer (not shown in Figures), that can be made from any fabric, and with the goal of preventing slipping of the hand, stability of the hand, preventing sweating, it is possible to connect it to the glove wherein a hand in glove is smaller and thus reduce the dimension of the glove and more. In certain configurations the extra layer is impermeable to water, and protects the user hands wearing the glove from detergent or water used to clean the surface. In certain configurations, the inside of the glove is adapted to integrate with the gripping accessory, for example the rod described below in
Cleaning accessories, such as accessory (400), connected to the inner parts of the glove are modular and can connect glove or disconnect therefrom in a simple, easy and convenient by a variety of mechanisms and different materials such as glue, rubber bands, snaps, hook and loop fasteners and more.
The accessory (110) can also be replaced by another accessory, where its shape is adapted to the profile of the object, however made of a different for various uses, such as a sponge that absorbs liquids for cleaning the surface, drying the surface or a material that absorbs dust and dirt to dry clean the surface, or its shape adapted to a different profile surface.
In certain configurations of the glove (100), there are markings on the glove (100) and on the glove accessory (110), as discussed with reference to
The lower part of the arm (200) includes a mechanism (208) which consists of two gripping handles (210) intended for opening and closing of the rod as shown below. The handles can be in various forms, such as rods, bars with bumps corresponding to hands and fingers for comfortable gripping and more. The handles can be made from a variety of rigid materials such as metal, silicon, rubber, plastic and so on and can be coated with a variety of materials for comfortable gripping such as rubber, silicone, towel fabric and more.
The two parts of the arm (200), top (202) and the mechanism (208) are connected by a rigid rod 212), which can be made from any rigid material such as metal, plastic, and so on and covered by any material such as fabric, silicone and so on. The rod is modular and its length can be adjusted to its length as required. for example, telescopically (214).
To customize the length of the rod, in certain configurations of the bar, there are restraints (216) of different types on various areas on the rod, such as a tooth-shaped stopper which portions of the rod catch on them or a mechanism using glue, a spring, telescopic pole, or rubber or a stop mechanism via rotating the rod. Thus, the length of the rod can be adjusted to the desired length.
Connecting material passes through the rod between its two parts. In a particular configuration of the rod there is a mechanism in which the act of pressing the handles (210) and moving them towards each other at the bottom of the rod (208) actually leads to the opening of the plates (204) and spacing apart of the top parts of the rod (202) thus opens the glove and the reverse, releasing handles (210) at the bottom of the rod (208) closes the glove and moves the plates (204) close to each other at the top of the rod (202). Upon releasing the handles (210) plates (204) are closed by a predetermined pressure and that is a pressure strong enough to about to the surface, however not so tight in order to allow smooth and free contact of the glove on the surface to clean without great physical effort. As mentioned, the closing and bringing of the plates (204) close together is performed by light pressure on the handles (210) and bringing them close together. In a specific configuration, one can also lock the handles (210) to prevent their closing during cleaning and whereby plates (204) remain abutting without fear that the glove will open, by a locking mechanism (not depicted in the Figures) that is located at the bottom portion (208) of the arm (200). The locking mechanism also has a simple and convenient release mechanism, such as a button or projection that releases the lock.
The rod at its top (202) and its bottom (208) can revolve around the axis (220) that freely connects between the rod (212) and upper portion (202) and is locked at a desired angle for easy and convenient cleaning. Rotation can be sideways and up and down.
In certain configurations of the arm (200), the top part contains broad and flat plates having gripping means such as adhesive, to which thereto can be connected, directly, the surface cleaning accessory as described below in
In certain configurations the locking mechanism of the plates (204) is built like a spring which is located at the junction of two plates (204) at the top of the rod (203) that connects the plates to the rigid rod (212), via the axis (220). In the interior space of the rigid rod (212) passes a part connecting the upper mechanism, and the spring contained therein, to the mechanism (208) at the bottom portion. Along the bottom edge of the connecting part, the inside part is connected to the projection, which controls the opening and closing of the plates. When the projection faces downward, the plates are closed, and raising the projection raises the connecting part and raises the spring, causing the plates to open. Upon releasing the projection, and its restoration to the original downward facing state, the plates close back. Instead of a projection a button, knob, or other appropriate mechanism may be used.
In another configuration of the glove, the place for the fingers intended for the pinky and forefinger has the same length, so that use can be made of the glove for both hands.
To internal part (304) of the glove (300), on the fingers (302), there can also be easily connected various cleaning accessories (310), as described below with reference to
In certain configurations of the glove (300), there are various markings on the glove (300) and also on the accessories (310), as discussed below with reference to
Also in this configuration of the glove (300), accessories can be attached thereto that are built in wide parts, as described below with reference to
For exemplary purpose,
In a specific configuration of the accessory (400), the bottom portion (401), the top portion (403) and connecting portion (405) are made from one unit.
In certain configurations of the accessory (400), the bottom portion (401) and the upper portion (403) are connected there-between by glue, or any other manner, at one end (406) thereof in order that the distance between the two parts of the accessory will be accurate and permanent, and by connection to the glove (100, 300) the two parts (402, 404) of the accessory (400) guided and accurately and stably closed on the shutter. The connector (406) between the two parts of the accessory (402, 404) may be of any material such as glue, rubber, wire, silicone wire and so on.
In a specific configuration of the accessory (400), attached to the top surface (409) of the top portion (403), are loops/arcs (410) designed to accommodate therein the user's fingers, with reference to
In a specific configuration of the accessory (400), created generally parallel to the top surface (409) of the top portion (403) are elongated recesses (420) beginning on the high part of the rear surface (408) of the connector (405), that are adapted to accommodate the user's fingers, with reference to
A firm grip of the cleaning accessory (400) by the user, allows him to press and abut the upper portion (403) and the bottom portion (401) of the cleaning accessory (400) to the slat (40) there-within.
In certain configurations of the arm (200), the top portion consists of finger-like gripping items used as a gripping means of the surface cleaning accessory (400) as shown below in
With reference to
Anchoring accessory (500) has, generally, a C-shaped form constructed from a lower portion (501), an upper portion (503) and connector (505), which has elastic properties. Lower portion (501) and upper portion (503) are separated by a space (507) between them and the cross-section of its profile is adapted to the outer profile of the cleaning accessory (400) corresponding to it, with reference to
In a preferred configuration of the anchoring accessory (500), fixed to the face of the upper outer surface (509) of the top portion (503) are arcs/loops (510) adapted to accommodate therein the user's fingers, with reference to
When cleaning accessory (400) rests within the interval (507) in anchoring accessory (500) it is connected by at least one attachment means such as glue, hook and loop fasteners, snaps and so on. It is noted that when an accessory such as cleaning accessory 400 is used with an anchoring accessory (500), cleaning accessory 400 is not connected on the top surface (409) of the upper portion (403) loops (410) or other devices, rather, if necessary, means to abut the inner surfaces of the top portions (503) and/or the bottom portion (501) of the anchoring accessory (500), such as hook and loop fasteners 555, with reference to
Thus one can easily clean the outer surfaces of the slat (40) by sliding the cleaning accessory (400) to the left and right on its surfaces. The structure of the cleaning accessory (400) will result in a very thorough cleaning of surfaces, including all the different grooves.
Fixing the cleaning accessory (400) in a anchoring accessory (500) is usually temporary. This allows the replacement of the cleaning accessory (400) in the anchoring accessory (500) when cleaning accessory 400) is wears out or when there is a need for a cleaning accessory corresponding to an elongated object different from the profile of slat (40).
These accessories (400) can also be formed as single units, as described with reference to
In certain configurations, the cleaning accessories are adapted to a profile of complex surfaces provided separately from the glove and contain various grip points for connecting to the glove, for suitable grip surfaces, or to a rod or for direct gripping by the user's hand without a glove or rod. For example, in certain configurations the accessory for cleaning shutter tracks is manufactured separately from the glove with gripping points for connecting to the glove such as hook and loop fasteners or gripping points for gripping directly to the user's hand such as recesses designed for the fingers, either on the back of the accessory (400) or on the side of the accessory, for example in order to hold the accessory with the thumb.
Various accessories are made of materials that allow wringing out and washing of the accessories and/or of the glove without disconnecting the accessory from the glove, even with one hand. Also, it is possible to wring out or wash the accessory on the glove when it is still worn on the hand, there is no need to remove it in order to hand washing and wringing it out. It is also possible to wring out the accessory with one hand together with the glove.
The accessories that can come in different configurations with a tongue or any other mechanism which will allow quick and easy detachment of the accessory from the glove.
The invention described above by the description of several implementations and examples, and it will be clear to a skilled person in the field that there may be different variations of these implementations and examples. These variations do not deviate from the spirit of the invention described above, and they are self-evident to a professional person in the field of the invention.
The Many and Varied Benefits of the Invention:
The glove (100, 300) can be easily and conveniently washed, wringed out and dried in a bucket of water or tap water.
The glove (100, 300) and also the accessories (such as 400) can be rigid or soft, allowing for washing and wringing out easily, flexible, dirt absorbent and so on. All the accessories are modular and can attach to the glove (100, 300) and detach therefrom easily, simply, quickly, efficiently, and conveniently, however they are also stable and strongly reinforced and stable during cleaning.
The invention enables quick, thorough and effective of a wide variety of surfaces, having a complex profile or a straight profile, such as walls, sinks, pots, marble, bottles, windows, cabinets, plates, shutters, shutter tracks, showcases and more. The invention enables fast, thorough and effective cleaning of a wide variety of surfaces at low cost. The invention allows for one-handed cleaning and cleaning using either the right hand or left (for those who are left-handed).
The inner layer (not shown in a figure) of the glove (100, 300) which comes in contact with the hand is modular, can be easily attached and detached, creates a glove (100, 300) that is pleasant to the touch, prevents contact between the hand and detergents, has the possibility of matching the size of the hand, prevents slippage of the hand or rod (212), and enhances the stability of the hand in the glove (100, 300).
The closure that closes the glove on the hand (106), allows closure and sealing of the glove (100, 300) on hand in a strong, stable and secure manner, and in a manner that seals the glove (100, 300) to prevent the penetration of detergents to the hand.
The various markings on the glove (100, 300), gripping points of the glove (100, 300) and attachment and detachment materials of the accessories to the glove, allow convenient, easy, simple, effective and accurate attachment of a variety of cleaning accessories to the glove and thus effective, accurate, simple and convenient cleaning to a wide range of surfaces.
The possibility to add and arm (200) to the glove (100, 300) that is connected thereto (or to the accessory without the glove), allows safely reaching high or hidden places without the need for a ladder or chair.
The mechanism of the arm (200), which leads to the closure and locking of the accessory or glove (100) by releasing the handles (210) and the reverse, allows people with disabilities or people who find it hard to perform the pressing of the handles (210) to make use of the invention and easily and effectively a variety of surfaces. This mechanism also prevents a situation in which parts of the glove (100) are not closed tight enough on the surface because of the pressing on the handles (210) is not strong or unintentional release of the handles (210). The arm can also allow cleaning surfaces with a smooth profile, such as walls or display cases.
The division of the fingers (302) a specific configuration of the glove (300) allows cleaning of narrow areas where only one finger (302) can enter such as cleaning of children's bottles or cups. The part of the glove (300) intended for the thumb (306) and its flexible attachment (304) to the center of the glove (300) allows equal use of the glove (300) with either hand.
The system is modular and allows attaching and detaching a wide variety of accessories (such as 400) to the glove (100, 300) adapted to various surfaces that are different in surface structure, materials from which they are made, their location and their width.
The variety of materials from which the various accessories (such as 400) are made enables efficient and thorough cleaning of a wide variety of types of dirt, such as for example cleaning pots, allows accessory attachment made from tiny metal wires for cleaning difficult to remove dirt.
The flexible structure of the glove (100, 300) allows cleaning of surfaces that are straight, curved, and narrow.
A variety of widths of cleaning accessories (such as 400) can be manufactured for manual use, without attachment to the glove, adapted to surfaces that have different in their structure, materials from which they are produced, in their location and their width.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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233380 | Jun 2014 | IL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IL15/50634 | 6/23/2015 | WO | 00 |