Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Squeegee
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-22
2003-12-30
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Squeegee
C015S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668418
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general field of training equipments and is particularly concerned with squeegee implement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art is replete with various types of tools for cleaning windows and other types of relatively smooth surfaces. A particularly common cleaning tool for such purpose is the tool commonly referred to as a squeegee. The typical squeegee has a generally elongated handle and a transverse head. The head is typically provided with a sponge-like pad along one edge thereof and a relatively flexible squeegee blade along an opposed edge thereof. Cleaning fluid is applied to the exterior surface about to be cleaned. The liquid is typically applied by immersing the pad in the cleaning liquid and drawing the latter across the surface to be cleaned. Subsequently, the squeegee blade is wiped across the wetted surface to remove dust, debris and the like along with the cleaning liquid.
The conventional squeegee-type tools are relatively efficient in certain settings such as when used on the relatively flat exterior surface readily accessible both to apply the cleaning liquid thereto and to remove the fluid and debris therefrom. However, conventional squeegee-type tools are relatively ineffective and provide relatively unsatisfactory results. In other settings such as for example when the surface to be cleaned is curved or located in a relatively restricted area.
In such settings, the unsatisfactory results of conventional squeegee-type devices include incomplete wiping and/or streaks due to the unmatched configuration of the blade and surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the incompletely wiped cleaning liquid often drips onto adjacent surfaces creating a messy situation.
One particularly common example of a setting in which conventional squeegee-type tools are ineffective is the cleaning of the inner surfaces of vehicle windshields, inside house windows and the like. The concave configuration of the windshields in conjunction with the relatively restricted space adjacent to the windshield borders render the cleaning operation difficult. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid is often not satisfactorily wiped-off the inner surface of the windshield resulting in the presence of unwanted streaks on the windshield and in the dripping of cleaning liquid onto the dashboard and other adjacent surfaces.
One of the possible reasons for the hereinabove mentioned unsatisfactory results in certain settings is that as the conventional squeegee blade wipes a surface, the cleaning liquid swept up by the blade sequentially transfers from the lower or wiping edge portion of the blade to the upper end portion thereof. It is gathered at that location before being transferred or recovered at the edge of the surface being cleaned or into a suitable container. However, in difficult settings, the recovery percentage of the cleaning liquid is poor.
Problems associated with the poor percentage of cleaning liquid recovery with conventional squeegee-type tools have been recognized in the prior art. Various solutions have been proposed. One particular type of solution is to use a vacuum-assisted squeegee attachment along with conventional squeegee-type tools. An example of such a solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,372 naming Gerard R Mache as inventor and issued Feb. 9, 1993. The squeegee attachment tools are designed for attachment to a vacuum cleaner. Such tools are typically provided with a housing connectable to a vacuum source at one end, with an oblong suction head fitted with a narrow intake port for increasing suction pressure at the other end and a resilient squeegee-type blade in proximity to the intake port. In operation, such tools are wiped across the surface to be cleaned which has been previously wetted with a cleaning solution drawing liquid and foreign debris towards the intake port as the vacuum source aspirates the material.
Although theoretically appealing, this type of solution is associated with various drawbacks. Typically, this type of structure is relatively adequate for bulk removal of liquids but falls short of the intended purpose and leave a considerable quantity of liquid, debris and cleaning solution on or adjacent of the surface they are intended to clean. Furthermore, they are relatively large and bulky and are relatively difficult to operate. Also, some known devices retain liquid on the squeegee blades and drips it back onto cleaned areas when lifted from the cleaning surface. These prior art devices also require the purchasing and maintenance of vacuum-providing devices. In view of the inadequacies related to prior art devices there still exists a need for an improved squeegee and/or squeegee implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved squeegee and/or squeegee implement.
An advantage of the present invention includes that the proposed squeegee and/or squeegee implement allows for cleaning of glass and other relatively smooth surfaces with reduced risks of creating streaks thereon. Also, the proposed tool allows for the cleaning of various types of surfaces including curved surfaces, angled surfaces and the like with reduced risks of having cleaning liquid dripped onto adjacent surfaces.
Furthermore, the proposed tool allows an intended user to wipe cleaning liquid off a window to be cleaned while moving the tool wiping blade in various angular relationships relative to the surface being cleaned, such as up-side-down on greenhouse internal surfaces, without increase risks of creating streaks or having liquid dripped onto adjacent surfaces. Still further, the proposed tool allows for cleaning of surfaces through a set of easy and ergonomical steps.
Furthermore, the proposed tool allows for absorption of the cleaning liquid thus not only reducing the risks of having cleaning liquid dropped onto adjacent surfaces but also reducing the number of operational steps required for cleaning a given surface. The proposed tool thus allows for a reduction in the required cleaning time for cleaning a given surface as compared with the time required for cleaning the same surface with a conventional cleaning tool.
Still furthermore, the proposed tool allows for absorption of the cleaning liquid from the wiped surface and from the wiping blade in predetermined absorbent components that can be readily replaced without requiring special tooling or manual dexterity through a set of easy and ergonomical steps.
The proposed tool may be built integrally as a new type of squeegee structure or, in the case wherein it is provided as a squeegee implement may be easily retrofitted onto conventional squeegee structures.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an implement for attachment to a squeegee, the squeegee including a squeegee handle and a wiping blade attached to the handle, the squeegee allowing a liquid to be wiped-off a surface, the squeegee implement comprising: an absorbing means for absorbing at least a portion of the liquid having being wiped from the surface by the wiping blade; an attachment means for attaching the absorbing means to the squeegee adjacent the wiping blade so as to allow the absorbing means to absorb the liquid; and a guiding means in fluid communication with both the wiping blade and the absorbing means for guiding the liquid from the wiping blade to the absorbing means.
Preferably, the attachment means is a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the absorbing means to the squeegee. Conveniently, the absorbing means includes an absorbent component made of an absorbent material. Preferably, the absorbent material is a spongious material. Conveniently, the absorbing component defines an absorbent component outer surface and wherein a generally liquid impervious shell is attached to a section of the absorbing component outer surface. Preferably, the shell is made out of a substantially rigid material.
Conveniently, the attachment means includes a retaining structure attached to the squeegee
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