Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Squeegee
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-13
2004-09-28
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Squeegee
C015S143100, CD32S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06796000
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of car-wash accessories and pertains more particularly to hand-held devices used for removing standing water from, and applying spray-on wax to automobiles and other vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the largest and most lucrative product markets in the United States involves cosmetic accessories for automobiles and light trucks. There are literally thousands of products available that are dedicated to enhancing the cosmetic appearance of a consumer's pride and joy, namely, his automobile. From products that add luster to an expensive paint job, to products that add sparkle to chrome, all one has to do is visit a local parts store to see discover a broad range of such innovative products.
One category of products possibly containing the least variety from which to choose is car-wash products. Car-wash accessories known in the art include special towels for removing water and drying automobile finishes after a car-wash, or chamois cloths for absorption of excess water and the like. Other products in this category include automated hot-air blowers for quick drying the automobile finish, or various hand-held cloth or synthetic pads for rubbing excess water off of an automobiles finish.
Bottled solutions or treatments are sometimes employed as aids to reducing spotting or staining of automobiles finish often resulting from standing water. The type of water used in washing a car plays a part in possible spotting or staining that may be present on an automobiles finish after a wash. For example, if the water is very hard (has a lot of dissolved minerals) minerals, resultant spotting can be extreme; whereas, if the water is softer, spotting may be lessened. These bottled solutions or pastes are designed to reduce spotting via their interaction with the water itself
Further to the above, many professional detailers offer full-service hand washing and regular wash programs. One of the advantages of this type of service for the customer is that the vehicle is cleaned with a detailer's touch, which tends to be much more thorough than a standard car wash. One of the most useful products used by a professional detailer is a chemical/liquid spray-on wax product. Such multi-purpose products may be used for adding extra gloss to the finish of a vehicle after a full-service wash, for example, or for touching up the finish of the vehicle after an exterior detail job, showroom wiping and dry-washing.
Spray-on waxes were originally developed for the show vehicle industry, allowing technicians to quickly wipe dust and fingerprints off of the vehicles on display or in long-term storage. If the vehicle is never exposed to any substantial amount of direct sunlight, then the protection provided by occasional spray waxing is often sufficient. Spray waxes also provide the consumer with many similar advantages, one of which is providing a quick way to accomplish light surface cleaning of the vehicle's finish, such as removing dust and fingerprints, and so on.
Most spray waxes also have a high silicone content which helps to hide minor surface imperfections such as micro-scratches and the typical method of application, simply spraying on and wiping off, allows detailers and consumers alike to do all of this very quickly. The protective wax or silicone elements in typical spray-on products are solid in nature and are suspended in the water-based or chemical-based solution after thorough mixing of the product, and in general, the more solids to spray-on wax contains, the more cleaning and protective power to product will have. Higher solid content, however, also means that the spray-on wax will be more difficult to buff off using the conventional means of application and wiping off with a cloth or chamois.
An advantage for consumers in using such spray-on wax products is that the vehicle receives a protective coating that lasts typically one to two weeks, and the consumer is not required to pay the substantial cost of a complete exterior detail job. Properly applied, the application of spray-on wax products provides a finish on the vehicle which appears much shinier, with less visible micro-scratches, then it would if it was simply washed and dried.
Most spray-on cleaning and waxing products on the market today are simply water-based chemicals with a mild cleaning ability providing one to two weeks of protective value for the paint of the vehicle. Others are solvent-based and thus provide slightly more cleaning and protective abilities. Many manufacturers now carry a liquid spray wax designed just for cleaning the surface finish of the vehicle without water, the idea being that if the vehicle is not extensively dirty or muddy, a detailer can spray the dry-wash liquid directly onto the vehicle surface and wipe it off with a cloth or chamois, removing both the cleaner and any dirt that is on the surface. Such dry-washing products are usually the most effective cleaners and provide the longest protective durability, often lasting up to several months. Many dry-wash products also contain stronger protective elements, when compared to standard spray-on wax/cleaning products, some even containing an added liquefied polymer sealant, providing a protective durability that can range from several weeks to several months.
At the time of this patent application the most successful (least damaging) method known in the art for removing standing water from an automobile finish, and evenly distributing and wiping spray-on wax/cleaning products is likely the time-tested chamois. The chamois is a highly flexible section of treated animal skin that has a large absorption capability. The chamois is typically used just after the automobile has been rinsed. It is laid out on the surface and pulled in the direction of the user for removing standing water, and, in the case of spreading and buffing of sprayed-on wax, or similar spray-on products, is wiped in a back and forth or circular pattern in alternating directions.
Although the chamois cloth is widely accepted as a viable method for removing standing water and wiping sprayed-on wax products as described above, there are some inherent problems and limitations associated with its use. Because of the chamois cloth's persistent adhesion to a wet surface, moving the chamois from side to side, or at directions away from the user, such as when wiping sprayed-on wax products, is relatively difficult. The chamois cloth has a tendency to fold or roll under itself if it is not being pulled directly toward the user. This drawback limits accessibility to areas that may need to be wiped. Another problem is that, while a chamois is very successful in absorbing standing water and spreading spray-on wax, the chamois must be wrung out when it is loaded with water and/or spray-on wax products, and such cloths are difficult to wring.
Because of these difficulties several chamois cloths must often be used to completely remove standing water or other liquid materials from a vehicle finish. Although the chamois is very soft and generally harmless to a paint job or finish, it is possible that unseen dirt or particles left over from the car-wash process get lodged in the chamois and can cause scratches when the chamois is pulled across, or otherwise wiped across the surface of an automobile This can be particularly disturbing for those who own expensive show cars that support special auto paints that may be susceptible to scratching.
Moreover, if a spray-on wax is applied to the wet surfaces of the vehicle just after washing, or is applied to a dry just-washed surface, a first cloth or chamois (or set thereof) is required for spreading the sprayed-on wax product, which may be mixed with the standing water (or not, in the case of dry-washing/waxing), and a second set of cloths/chamois is required to finally wipe and buff the waxed finish to a shine.
It is well-known in the art that a typical painted surface of a vehicle, although it may appear perfectly smooth to the naked eye, is actually quite porous, contai
Boys Donald R.
Central Coast Patent Agency Inc.
One Pass LLC
Spisich Mark
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