U.S. patent application number 09/774982 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-29 for hand-held glass cleaning device.
Invention is credited to Maaghul, John, Maaghul, Kirsten.
Application Number | 20010044983 09/774982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22657099 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010044983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maaghul, Kirsten ; et
al. |
November 29, 2001 |
Hand-held glass cleaning device
Abstract
A hand-held glass cleaning device is provided. Packaging for the
device provides a cleaning section including a cleaning compartment
and a drying section including a drying compartment. A wet medium
capable of retaining moisture and releasing moisture upon
application of pressure is disposed within the cleaning
compartment. A cleaning fluid is in contact with the moisture
retaining medium. A dry medium capable of absorbing and removing
moisture and drying a surface is disposed within the drying
compartment. The cleaning section and preferably the drying section
include an end portion openable to expose a portion of the
respective medium. A mid section of the device between the cleaning
compartment and the drying compartment may be bendable. The device
is particularly suitable for cleaning awkward surfaces such as
interior windshields of automobiles.
Inventors: |
Maaghul, Kirsten; (Jamaica
Plain, MA) ; Maaghul, John; (Wexford, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEINGARTEN, SCHURGIN, GAGNEBIN
& HAYES, LLP
TEN POST OFFICE SQUARE
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
22657099 |
Appl. No.: |
09/774982 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60179563 |
Feb 1, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/220.1 ;
15/104.94; 15/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 1/15 20130101; B60S
3/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/220.1 ;
15/104.94; 15/118 |
International
Class: |
A47L 001/15 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cleaning device comprising: a packaging comprising a cleaning
section including a cleaning compartment and a drying section
including a drying compartment; a wet medium capable of retaining
moisture and releasing moisture upon application of pressure
disposed within the cleaning compartment, a cleaning fluid in
contact with the moisture retaining medium; a dry medium capable of
absorbing moisture and removing moisture and cleaning liquid and
drying a surface disposed within the drying compartment; and the
cleaning section further includes a portion openable to expose a
portion of the wet medium.
2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the openable portion of
the cleaning section comprises an end portion removable from a
remainder of the packaging.
3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the end portion of the
cleaning section is replacable over the exposed portion of the wet
medium.
4. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the end portion of the
cleaning section is removable by a tear strip embedded in the
cleaning section.
5. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the openable portion of
the cleaning section is hinged to a remainder of the packaging.
6. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the drying section
further includes an end portion openable to expose a portion of the
dry medium.
7. The cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the end portion of the
drying section is removable from a remainder of the packaging.
8. The cleaning device of claim 7, wherein the end portion of the
drying section is replacable over the exposed portion of the dry
medium.
9. The cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the end portion of the
drying section is removable by a tear strip embedded in the
cleaning section.
10. The cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the end portion of the
drying section is hinged to a remainder of the packaging.
11. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises
a cover piece and a cavity piece, the cover piece and the cavity
piece sealed together about peripheries defining the cleaning
section and the drying section.
12. The cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the cavity piece is
configured to provide a first cavity to house the wet medium and a
second cavity to house the dry medium.
13. The cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the cover piece
comprises a paperboard material, and the cavity piece comprises a
plastic material.
14. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises
a plastic material or a paperboard material, or a plastic material
and a paperboard material.
15. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the packaging is sized
to be held by a user's hand.
16. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the packaging further
comprises a midsection between the cleaning compartment and the
drying compartment.
17. The cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the midsection
includes at least one bend line therein.
18. The cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the midsection is
contoured to fit a user's hand.
19. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the wet medium
comprises a sponge, foam, cloth, paper, or a nonwoven material.
20. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the wet medium includes
a stack of wet sheets.
21. The cleaning device of claim 20, wherein the wet medium further
includes barrier layers between respective sheets in the stack of
wet sheets.
22. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the dry medium
comprises cloth, foam, absorbent paper, or a nonwoven material.
23. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the dry medium includes
a stack of dry sheets.
24. The cleaning device of claim 23, wherein the dry medium further
includes barrier layers between respective sheets in the stack of
dry sheets.
25. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning fluid
comprises a glass cleaning fluid.
26. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning fluid
comprises an ammonia-based cleaning fluid or water.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/179,563, filed Feb. 1, 2000, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A clean, glare-free automobile or truck windshield is
important for the safety of the driver and any passengers in the
vehicle. The interior of a vehicle windshield is, however,
difficult to clean, because it requires awkward stretching to reach
over the dashboard and into tight corners where the windshield
meets the dashboard. Also, spray containers of cleaning fluid often
deposit a mist of cleaning fluid on the dashboard and other
surfaces rather than on the glass windshield. Additionally,
cleaning products are usually not of a convenient size to be kept
in the vehicle and are thus not readily available when they are
needed. As a result, drivers often do not clean their windshields
as frequently or thoroughly as they should.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a hand-held glass cleaning
device for cleaning interior vehicle windshields and other glass
surfaces, such as windows, glass tabletops, mirrors, electronic
monitors, and similar glass surfaces. The device is operative to
apply a cleaning fluid to the windshield or other glass surface to
clean that surface and to then dry the cleaned surface. The device
may be fabricated in a sufficiently inexpensive manner to be
disposable, or the device may also be fabricated in a manner to be
reusable and/or refillable.
[0004] More particularly, the device provides a packaging having a
cleaning section including a cleaning compartment and a drying
section including a drying compartment. A wet medium capable of
retaining moisture and releasing moisture upon application of
pressure is disposed within the cleaning compartment. A cleaning
fluid is in contact with the moisture-retaining medium. A dry
medium capable of absorbing moisture and/or removing moisture and
drying a surface is disposed within the drying compartment. The
cleaning section includes an end portion openable to expose a
portion of the wet medium. The drying section may also include an
end portion openable to expose a portion of the dry medium. A mid
section or the device between the cleaning compartment and the
drying compartment may be bendable and/or contoured for gripping.
The device is particularly suitable for cleaning awkward surfaces
such interior vehicle windshields.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a cleaning
device according to the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaning device of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a further
embodiment of a cleaning device;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a still further embodiment of
a cleaning device;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a still further embodiment of
a cleaning device; and
[0011] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a still further embodiment of
a cleaning device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS.
1-2, a glass cleaning device 10 is provided having a packaging or
housing 12. The packaging includes two sections, a cleaning section
14, and a drying section 16. Each section includes a respective
compartment therein. One compartment, a cleaning compartment 18,
stores a moisture retaining or wet medium 20 in contact with a
cleaning solution, and the other compartment, a drying compartment
22, stores a dry medium 24. Each compartment can be opened to
expose a portion of its respective medium, for example, by removing
an end portion 26, 28 from each section 14, 16 with each medium
protruding slightly from its respective compartment 18, 20. In use,
the cleaning compartment is opened first and the exposed wet medium
is wiped over the surface to be cleaned. Subsequently, the drying
compartment is opened and the dry medium is wiped over the recently
cleaned surface to remove the cleaning liquid and dry the surface.
It will be appreciated, of course, that both compartments may be
opened before the wet medium is used to clean the surface.
[0013] In the presently preferred embodiment, the packaging is
fabricated from two pieces, a cover piece 30 and a cavity piece 32.
The cover piece is generally flat in the region of the two
compartments. The cavity piece is formed to provide cavities 34, 36
for each of the two compartments and is sealed to the cover piece
around the edges 38, 40 of the compartments. The cavity piece 32 is
fabricated from any suitable material, for example, a plastic such
as PVC, which can be formed with the desired cavity shapes, for
example, by a thermo-forming process. The cover piece 30 is also
fabricated from any suitable material, for example, a plastic or a
paperboard suitably coated or treated to withstand moisture. The
cover piece and the cavity piece are sealed together around the
perimeter of the two compartments in any suitable manner, such as
by a heat-sealing process, with the respective wet and dry mediums
disposed therein. An opening 41 for hanging the device may be
provided.
[0014] The packaging 10 preferably includes tear strips 42, 44
embedded in the cover piece and the cavity piece near the ends of
each compartment. One end of the tear strip is free so that the
user can grasp it and pull the tear strip around the periphery of
the packaging, thereby ripping through the cover piece and the
cavity piece to separate the end portions 26, 28 thereof from the
rest of the packaging. The invention contemplates other ways of
opening the packaging, such as with perforations in the cover piece
and the cavity piece. The user grasps the end of the package and
tears the packaging along the perforations to remove the end piece
and expose the medium.
[0015] The packaging 10 also preferably includes at least one score
line or bend line 46, and preferably two such lines, in a mid
region 48 of the packaging to allow the packaging to be bent to
provide flexibility to the package. In this way, the user can
maximize contact with curved surfaces and tight corners when
applying pressure to the glass surface. Preferably, two score lines
or bend lines are provided, as indicated in FIGS. 1-2. The
packaging may also be folded in half along a bend line to provide a
more compact package for storage, for example, in a glove
compartment or handbag.
[0016] The wet or moisture-retaining medium 20 comprises a sponge
foam, cloth, paper toweling, a nonwoven material, or other suitable
material that is capable of retaining moisture and releasing
moisture upon the application of pressure. A cleaning fluid is
introduced into the wet medium in any suitable manner. For example,
the medium may be presoaked with the cleaning fluid before
installation into the packaging. Also, the medium may be maintained
in a moist condition by replenishment of the cleaning fluid from a
source, such as a pad or roll, contained within the packaging.
Additionally, the cleaning fluid may be contained within the medium
initially in a sealed container that is subsequently broken by
pressure on the medium during initial use, thereby causing the
cleaning fluid to permeate the medium.
[0017] In a reusable embodiment of the device, the wet or
moisture-retaining medium may also be in the form of a stack of wet
sheets that are retained in the cleaning compartment of the
packaging. After use, a soiled outer sheet in removed and
discarded, exposing a fresh sheet for subsequent use. The stack of
wet sheets may include barrier layers between the wet sheets in the
stack to prevent migration of dirt to underlying sheets.
[0018] The cleaning fluid may be any fluid suitable for cleaning
glass, such as an ammonia-based solution. If another type of
surface is intended to be cleaned, a cleaning fluid appropriate for
that surface may be used. Water may be used, although other fluids
suitable for cleaning glass or another intended surface are often
preferable to remove soil from the surface and prevent streaks and
residue.
[0019] The dry medium 24 comprises a cloth, absorbent paper,
nonwoven, foam, or other suitable material that is capable of
absorbing moisture and drying a surface. The dry medium may also be
in the form of a stack of sheets that are retained in the drying
compartment of the packaging.
[0020] The packaging is of a size to be conveniently held in the
user's hand. In use, the user grasps the packing between the thumb
on one side and the two outer fingers on the other side. The index
and middle fingers are used to apply pressure to the surface to be
cleaned and dried. The housing may be sufficiently small to fit
into the user's pocket or handbag or into the glove compartment of
a car or truck. Alternatively, the packaging may be attached to a
handle, which may be extendible to provide access to tall windows
and other surfaces that are difficult to reach. The device may be
fabricated to be disposable after a single use or to be used
multiple times.
[0021] In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning section may
include a cover that fits over the exposed end of the wet medium,
so that moisture and cleaning fluid may be retained in the wet
medium when the device is stored. The cover also prevents dirt and
other material from contaminating the exposed end of the wet medium
when the device is stored. The cover may be attached to the
packaging to be movable between an open position and a closed
position by a suitable mechanism, such as hinge pins or an integral
plastic hinge formed in the cover piece or the cavity piece.
Alternatively, the cover may be a separate element attachable to
the wet end of the packaging.
[0022] The drying section of the packaging may also include a cover
that fits over the exposed end of the dry medium to prevent dirt
and other material from contaminating the exposed end of the dry
medium when the device is stored. The cover may also be attached to
the packaging to be movable between an open position and a closed
position by a suitable mechanism, such as hinge pins or an integral
plastic hinge formed in the cover piece or the cavity piece.
Alternatively, the cover may be a separate element attachable to
the dry and of the packaging.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device
incorporating a replaceable cover for the cleaning section. The
device comprises a one-piece housing 112 fabricated from, for
example, a plastic material. A wet medium 120 and a dry medium 124
are disposed in their respective cleaning and drying compartments
118, 122 with a portion exposed. A cover 125, also formed of a
plastic material, fits over the end of the cleaning section,
covering the exposed end of the wet medium.
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the cleaning
device showing a further configuration of a packaging 212 and
providing two bend lines 246 in a mid section 248. FIG. 5
illustrates a further embodiment of a packaging 312 showing a
single bend line 346. FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of a
packaging 412 with contoured portions 449 in the mid section 448 to
provide a better grip for the user.
[0025] Although the present glass cleaning device is particularly
suitable for cleaning the inner surface of vehicle windshields, the
device may be used to clean other glass surfaces, such as the outer
surface of windshields, windows, glass tabletops, mirrors,
electronic monitors, and similar glass surfaces. The device may
also be adapted to clean other types of surfaces, for example,
laminate or solid surface countertops.
[0026] The invention is not to be limited by what has been
particularly shown and described except as indicated by the
appended claims.
* * * * *