Fluid squeegee

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6808332
  • Patent Number
    6,808,332
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, May 22, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 26, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A fluid squeegee head for a fluid squeegee is provided which includes a mounting plate having apertures defined therein for attaching a squeegee blade thereto. The mounting plate further includes nozzles extending therethrough. Hollow brace members and a hollow shaft socket are positioned on the intake side of the mounting plate. The hollow shaft socket includes discharge ports that are aligned with the hollow brace members which extend away radially. The hollow brace members enclose the nozzles so as to create a sealed fluid passageway between the hollow shaft socket and the nozzles. The fluid squeegee further includes a hollow shaft and hollow handle which are connected between a hose and the sgueegee head such that fluids can be discharged onto a surface to be cleaned via the nozzles.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention generally relates to floor cleaning devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fluid squeegee.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Floor cleaning devices adapted for attachment to a fluid hose are well known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,248,640 Issued to Shurhay and U.S. Pat. No. 4.09,.748 issued to Anderberg at al. both describe a water sweeping device including a pair of tubular members attached by a “T” fitting. These tubular members form a handle member and a cross member respectively, the latter having spray nozzles mounted therein. During operation, fluid flows through the hollow handle into the “T” fitting where it Is distributed to the cross member and, ultimately, ejected onto a cleaning surface.




There are two major drawbacks to the inventions described above. First, the sharp comerss of the “T” fitting are prone to fatigue cracks which result from oscillating forces applied during a cleaning operation. Second, the tubular cross members are prone to excessive bending.




A need therefore exists for an improved fluid squeegee.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid squeegee which obviates or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages described above. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fluid squeegee head comprising a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; the mounting plate including mounting means for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; the mounting plate further including one or more discharge nozzles extending therethrough: a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, the intake face of the mounting plate; the hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; the hollow shaft socket having one or more discharge ports formed therein; and one or more hollow brace members; the hollow brace members corresponding In number to the number of discharge ports formed in the hollow shaft socket; the one or more hollow brace members being adjacent to and extending radially away from the one or more discharge ports and enclosing the discharge nozzles; and whereby the one or more hollow brace members form a sealed fluid passageway between the one or more discharge ports and one or more discharge nozzles.




According to another aspect of the invention a fluid squeegee head as set out above wherein said mounting plate includes a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim


1


wherein said mounting plate includes a nozzle plate aperture into which a nozzle plate is inserted and attached, said nozzles extending through said nozzle plate.




The invention is also directed to a fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as set out above further including a hollow fluid shaft having an intake end and a discharge end; whereby the intake end is adapted for sealing attachment to a hollow handle; whereby the discharge end is adapted for sealing attachment to the hollow shaft socket; and whereby the hollow shaft can accommodate fluid flow therethrough; a hollow handle adapted for sealing attachment to the intake end of the hollow shaft; the hollow handle being adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose; and the hollow handle including a valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow therethrough, and a squeegee blade attached to the mounting plate via a mounting means.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:





FIG. 1



a


presents an isometric view of a fluid squeegee in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 1



b


Illustrates an isometric view of a fluid squeegee in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2



a


presents a side elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2



b


presents a side elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2



c


presents a front elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

presents an isometric view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4



a


presents a side section view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as shown along section line A—A of

FIG. 4



b;







FIG. 4



b


presents a bottom view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5

presents an isometric view of hollow shaft socket and hollow brace member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 6

presents an exploded isometric view of a mounting plate and nozzle plate in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Having reference to

FIG. 1



a


there is shown a fluid squeegee in accordance with an embodiment of the invention described above in the summary, depicted generally by reference number


10


. Fluid squeegee


10


includes hollow fluid shaft


12


to which is attached squeegee head


14


at one end, and hollow handle


16


at the other. According to this embodiment of the invention, hollow handle


16


is adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose, such as a garden hose, via mechanical threads (not shown). Also included in handle


16


is valve


18


for controlling the flow of fluid through hollow handle


16


, shaft


12


, arid, ultimately, head


14


.





FIG. 1



b


presents an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein ends


20


of squeegee head


14


are curved inwardly towards the discharge face of head


14


. This arrangement is designed to reduce fluid flow around ends


20


during operation of squeegee


10


.




A close-up side view of hollow fluid shaft


12


is shown in

FIG. 2



a


. Hollow fluid shaft


12


includes an intake end


22


and a discharge end


24


. Intake end


22


is adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose or alternatively, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, hollow handle


16


. To facilitate such attachment intake end


22


includes female receptacle


26


, which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is designed to accept a standard ¾ hose thread. Similarly, discharge end


24


is adapted for sealing attachment to squeegee head


14


. To facilitate this connection, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes male protrusion


28


into which are formed standard broom threads (not shown). As shown in

FIGS. 2



b


and


2




c


, hollow fluid shaft


12


may also include angle


29


to minimize flex and improve operator comfort.




Although female and male attachment members are described for attaching shaft


12


to head


14


and handle


16


respectively, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that this arrangement could be inverted without affecting the operation of the invention described above in the summary. The only requirement is that the piece to which a respective end attaches must have the corresponding male or female member formed therein. A person skilled in the art will recognize, however, that mechanical threads are not essential and could, for example, be replaced by a snap fit arrangement or any other means known in the art.




A detailed isometric view of squeegee head


14


is shown in

FIG. 3

as having hollow fluid shaft


12


attached thereto. Squeegee head


14


includes mounting plate


30


which plate includes an intake face


32


and a discharge face


34


. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, mounting plate


30


is channel shaped thus defining web


36


, upper flange


37


and lower flange


38


. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, flanges


37


and


38


restrict the bending of mounting plate


30


that would otherwise occur If plate


30


was merely flat. Extending through flange


38


are mounting apertures


40


into which fasteners


46


are inserted to mount squeegee blade


42


, and blade mounting sleeve


44


, thereto. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, mounting apertures


40


are not essential to the invention described in the summary. For example, flange


38


could itself define a channel (not shown) into which blade


42


could be slid. Blade


42


could then be secured within said channel using any means known in the art, including, but not limited to, placing a fastener through both ends of flange


38


.




To reduce bending stresses which occur between hollow fluid shaft


12


and squeegee head


14


support members


52


are mounted therebetween. To facilitate attachment of support members


52


to squeegee head


14


, mounting eyelets


48


are positioned at ends


20


of intake face


32


. Mounting eyelets


48


are adapted to receive fastener


54


, which fastener is also adapted to pass through an aperture (not shown) in support member


52


. The other end of support member


52


is similarly attached to attachment sleeve


50


via fastener


54


. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, sleeve


50


includes two semicircular members


51


having lateral mounting flanges


53


extending therefrom, the inside diameter of members


51


being slightly larger in size than the outside diameter of shaft


12


.




As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, support members


52


provide greater structural support to shaft


12


thereby impeding the formation of fatigue cracks between shaft


12


and head


14


.




To facilitate attachment of hollow fluid shaft


12


to squeegee head


14


, hollow shaft socket


56


is situated adjacent to intake face


32


of squeegee head


14


and extends outwardly therefrom. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, hollow shaft socket


66


includes mechanical threads (not shown) corresponding to those on male protrusion


24


of hollow fluid shaft


12


.




Extending radially from hollow shaft socket


56


along intake face


32


are two hollow brace members


58


. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, brace members


58


are semi-conical in shape and taper in size as they extend away from socket


56


.




Referring to

FIG. 4



a


, a side section of squeegee head


14


is shown along cutting line A—A of

FIG. 4



b


. As shown therein, hollow shaft socket


56


has discharge port


60


formed in its side. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, discharge port


60


is semi-circular in cross section having a radius corresponding to that of hollow brace members


68


at their intake ends


59


. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art of fluid mechanics, smooth transitions between various parts of a fluid passageway are beneficial for minimizing fluid pressure loss.




As shown in

FIG. 4



b


, hollow brace members


58


enclose discharge nozzles


62


, which nozzles extend through mounting plate


30


. Hollow brace members


58


therefore create a sealed fluid passageway between hollow discharge socket


56


and nozzles


62


.




In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, hollow shaft socket


56


and hollow brace members


58


form a single piece as shown in FIG.


5


. As this piece is viewed from its hollow side, discharge opening


64


can be seen extending through hollow shaft socket


56


. Also shown is support member


66


which member is adapted for attachment to intake face


32


of mounting plate


30


as shown in FIG.


3


. Also shown in

FIG. 3

, is gusset


68


, which also provides structural support to hollow shaft socket


56


.




In an alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in

FIG. 6

, mounting plate


30


includes nozzle plate


70


which includes that portion of mounting plate


30


that is enclosed by hollow brace members


58


and hollow shaft socket


56


. To mount nozzle plate


70


to mounting plate


30


, a corresponding nozzle aperture


72


is formed in the latter. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, a water tight seal between nozzle plate


70


and mounting plate


30


can be achieved through use of a gasket, silicone, or any other means known in the art.




By manufacturing nozzle plate


70


separately from mounting plate


30


, detailed nozzle work can be performed, without having to use the entire mounting plate


30


as a workpiece. Furthermore, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art of plastic injection moulding, nozzle plate


70


enables hollow brace members


58


, hollow shaft socket


56


and mounting plate


30


to be one piece thus minimizing the number of pieces to be attached. This is beneficial in that there is less assembly required and fewer attachments (e.g. welds) which tend to be structurally weak.




The way in which brace members are formed, however, is not essential to the invention described in the summary and could, for example, include forming a hollow semi-circular tube which is later sealed by end caps (not shown).




Having set out all of the structural components, the operation of fluid squeegee


10


will now be described. Upon attachment of a fluid hose to hollow handle


16


, fluid can be introduced into squeegee


10


via valve


18


. As fluid flows through hollow fluid shaft


12


, it enters hollow shaft socket


56


where it is then distributed to hollow brace members


58


. Fluid flowing through hollow brace members


58


is then ejected onto a cleaning surface via nozzles


62


. By releasing valve member


18


fluid flow through squeegee


10


can be terminated. The squeegee operator can then whisk away the ejected fluids, utilizing squeegee blade


42


.




The embodiments of the present invention described above are beneficial over the prior art in that greater structural integrity is achieved between squeegee head


14


and hollow fluid shaft


12


.




Although the hollow brace members in the preferred embodiment of the invention are semi-conical in shape, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of these members will not affect the invention described above in the summary. For example, similar structural support could be achieved using tubular or rectangular shaped members. Similarly, the invention described above in the summary is not limited to two hollow brace members. In fact, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, the greater the number of hollow brace members employed, the greater the structural integrity achieved.




While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is clear that changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A fluid squeegee head comprising:a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face: said mounting plate including a mounting portion for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; and said mounting plate further including a nozzle plate aperture into which a nozzle plate is inserted and attached, said nozzle plate having nozzles extending therethrough; a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, said intake face of said mounting plate, said hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; and said hollow shaft socket having one or more discharge ports formed therein; and one or more hollow brace members; said hollow brace members corresponding in number to the number of discharge ports formed in said hollow shaft socket; and said one or more hollow brace members being adjacent to and extending radially away from said one or more discharge ports and enclosing said discharge nozzles; and whereby said one or more hollow brace members form a sealed fluid passageway between said one or more discharge ports and said one or more discharge nozzles.
  • 2. A fluid squeegee head comprising:a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; said mounting plate including a mounting portion for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; and one or more discharge nozzles located within said mounting plate and extending therethrough; a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, said intake face of said mounting plate; said hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; and said hollow shaft socket having one or more discharge ports formed therein; and one or more hollow brace members; said hollow brace members corresponding in number to the number of discharge ports formed in said hollow shaft socket; said one or more hollow brace members being adjacent to and extending radially away from said one or more discharge ports and enclosing said discharge nozzles; and said hollow brace members are semi-conical in shape with tapered ends furthest from said socket; and whereby said one or more hollow brace members form a sealed fluid passageway between said one or more discharge ports and said one or more discharge nozzles.
  • 3. A fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting plate is angled so as to define a web portion and a flange portion;wherein said mounting portion comprises said flange portion with a plurality of mounting apertures extending therethrough; wherein said nozzles extend through said web portion; and wherein said socket and said hollow brace members are adjacent to said web portion.
  • 4. A fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 1 further including:at least one mounting eyelet positioned on said intake face of said mounting plate; an attachment sleeve for fitting over a hollow fluid shaft; and at least one support member attached between said mounting eyelet and said attachment sleeve.
  • 5. A fluid squeegee head comprising:a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; said mounting plate being channel shaped thereby further defining a web portion, a lower flange portion and an upper flange portion; said mounting plate further including a plurality of mounting apertures extending through said lower flange portion for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; and said mounting plate further including one or more discharge nozzles extending through said web portion; at least one mounting eyelet positioned on said intake face of said mounting plate; an attachment sleeve for fitting over a hollow shaft; at least one support member attached between said mounting eyelet and said attachment sleeve; a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, said intake face of said mounting plate; said hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; said hollow shaft socket having one or more discharge ports formed therein; and one or more hollow brace members; said of hollow brace members corresponding in number to the number of discharge ports formed in said hollow shaft socket; said one or more hollow brace members being adjacent to and extending radially away from said one or more discharge ports and enclosing said discharge nobles; and said hollow brace members being semi-conical in shape, with the tapered ends being furthest from said socket; said hollow shaft socket and said hollow brace members are adjacent to said web portion; and whereby said one or more hollow brace members form a sealed fluid passageway between said one or more discharge ports and said one or more discharge nozzles.
  • 6. A fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 5 further including:a hollow fluid shaft having an intake end and a discharge end; whereby said intake end is adapted for sealing attachment to a hollow handle; whereby said discharge end is adapted for sealing attachment to said hollow shaft socket; and whereby said hollow fluid shaft can accommodate fluid flow therethrough; a hollow handle adapted for sealing attachment to said intake end of said hollow fluid shaft; said hollow handle being adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose; and said hollow handle including a valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow therethrough; and a squeegee blade attached to said mounting plate via said mounting apertures.
  • 7. A fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 5 wherein said mounting plate has ends, which ends are curved inwardly toward said discharge face.
  • 8. A fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 7 further including:a hollow fluid shaft having an intake end and a discharge end; whereby said intake end is adapted for sealing attachment to a hollow handle; whereby said discharge end is adapted for sealing attachment to said hollow shaft socket; and whereby said hollow fluid shaft can accommodate fluid flow therethrough; a hollow handle adapted for sealing attachment to said intake end of said hollow fluid shaft; said hollow handle being adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose; and said hollow handle including a valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow therethrough; and a squeegee blade attached to said mounting plate via said mounting apertures.
  • 9. A fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 1 further including:a hollow fluid shaft having an intake end and a discharge end; whereby said intake end is adapted for sealing attachment to a hollow handle; whereby said discharge end is adapted for sealing attachment to said hollow shaft socket; and whereby said hollow shaft can accommodate fluid flow therethrough; a hollow handle adapted for sealing attachment to said intake end of said hollow shaft; said hollow handle being adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose; and said hollow handle including a valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow therethrough; and a squeegee blade attached to said mounting plate via said mounting means.
  • 10. A fluid squeegee as defined in claim 9 wherein said mounting plate includes a nozzle plate aperture into which a nozzle plate is inserted and attached, said nozzles extending through said nozzle plate.
  • 11. A fluid squeegee as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hollow brace members are semi-conical in shape, and wherein the tapered ends of said semi-conical braces are furthest from said socket.
  • 12. A fluid squeegee head comprising:a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; said mounting plate including a mounting portion for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; and said mounting plate further including a nozzle plate aperture into which a nozzle plate is inserted and attached, said nozzle plate having nozzles extending therethrough; and a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, said intake face of said mounting plate; said hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; and said hollow shaft socket having two discharge ports formed therein: and two hollow brace members on said intake face of said mounting plate, one hollow brace member being adjacent to and extending radially away from each of said discharge ports and enclosing at least one discharge nozzle; and whereby the hollow brace members form sealed fluid passageways between the discharge ports and the discharge nozzles.
  • 13. A fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 12 wherein said hollow brace members are semi conical in shape with tapered ends furthest from said socket.
  • 14. A fluid squeegee head comprising:a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; said mounting plate having ends curved inwardly toward said discharge face said mounting plate being channel shaped thereby defining a web portion, a lower flange portion and an tipper flange portion; said lower flange portion being adapted for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; and one or more discharge nozzles located within said web portion of said mounting plate and extending therethrough; a hollow shaft socket adjacent to and extending away from the web portion of said intake fare of said mounting plate; said hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; said hollow shaft socket having tow discharge ports formed therein: and two hollow brace members on said web portion of the mounting plate, one hollow brace member being adjacent to and extending radially away from each of said discharge ports and enclosing at least one discharge nozzle; and whereby said hollow brace members form sealed fluid passageways between said discharge ports and said discharge nozzles.
  • 15. A fluid squeegee as defined in claim 14 wherein said mounting plate includes a nozzle plate aperture for receiving a nozzle plate, said nozzles being located in said nozzle plate.
  • 16. A fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 14 wherein said hollow brace members are semi-conical in shape with tapered ends furthest from said socket.
  • 17. A fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim 14 and further including:a handle comprising: a hollow fluid shaft having a discharge end adapted for sealing attachment to said hollow shaft socket and an intake end for sealing attachment to a source of fluid; and a valve mechanism in the hollow fluid shaft for controlling fluid flow therethrough; and a squeegee blade attached to said lower flange portion of said mounting plate.
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Number Date Country
WO 9424920 Nov 1994 WO