Ships – Implements – Hull cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2001-07-24
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Implements
Hull cleaning
C015S001700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263821
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cleaning means. In particular, a preferred form of the invention relates to a tool for cleaning hulls of water craft or the like.
A problem in the field of water craft is that a layer of slime may form on the hull of a boat or ship below the water line. The presence of slime often leads to crustaceans attaching themselves to the hull, and the weight of the crustaceans can become quite significant over time. Indeed with large ocean going water craft the weight of crustaceans attached to the hull may be several tonnes, and this can undesirably effect the fuel efficiency of the craft. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one form of the invention there is provided cleaning means, having buoyancy control means, handle means, and a cleaning portion, the cleaning means being formed such that when it is in use a person can be positioned adjacent a water craft above a waterline and move the handle means such that movement of the handle means causes the cleaning portion to move across a hull of the water craft below the waterline to substantially clean the hull while the buoyancy control means remains below the waterline and encourages the cleaning portion against the hull, or prevents the cleaning portion from sinking below the hull, to facilitate cleaning of the hull, the buoyancy control means having a container which can be at least partially filled with water or some other liquid to regulate buoyancy of the buoyancy control means.
Optionally, the buoyancy control means may be of a substantially hexagonal or of a substantially octagonal shape.
Preferably the container has an opening and a lid, wherein the lid can be moved directly by hand such that the water or other liquid can be at least partially filled into the container and the lid then moved again to close the container.
Preferably the lid can be screwed onto the rest of the container to close the container.
Preferably the handle means has a joint or joints which enable the handle means to at least partially fold.
Preferably the handle means has a substantially rod shaped handle.
Preferably the cleaning portion has a scrubbing brush, and/or a scourer, and/or a squeegee.
Preferably the buoyancy control means has a channel and an outlet for a jet of water such that the jet of water can emerge from the buoyancy control means to contact the hull of the water craft below the waterline to facilitate cleaning of the hull.
Preferably the cleaning means has a fitting for holding a hose pipe or a hose pipe nozzle adjacent the buoyancy control means such that the hose pipe or hose pipe nozzle can direct a jet of water to contact the hull of the water craft below the waterline to facilitate cleaning of the hull.
Preferably the cleaning portion and the handle are detachable from the buoyancy control means.
Preferably the cleaning means has an outwards projection arranged to resist hooking of the buoyancy control means on the hull.
According to another form of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning, involving obtaining a cleaning means as mentioned above, at least partially filling the container with water or some other fluid to give the buoyancy control means a desired buoyancy, submerging the container and the cleaning portion below a waterline and manipulating the handle means from above the waterline so that the cleaning portion moves across a hull of a water craft below the waterline to substantially clean the hull while the container remains below the waterline and encourages the cleaning portion against the hull, or prevents the cleaning portion from sinking below the hull, to facilitate cleaning of the hull.
Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3707737 (1973-01-01), Brower
patent: 4102290 (1978-07-01), Weiss
patent: 4407213 (1983-10-01), Evans
Klauber & Jackson
Sotelo Jesus D.
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