Window Cleaning Implement

Abstract

A portable implement for cleaning a smooth surface such as a vehicle windshield. An absorbent member is folded upon itself and the folded portion is clamped to a supporting frame. An abrasive sheet is folded inside the absorbent member. When pressed against a smooth surface, the absorbent member spreads out to subject the surface to the combined washing and abrading action of the abrasive sheet and the absorbent member.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Most cleaning implements of the type used by gas station attendants do not thoroughly clean the windshield. While they wash away dust they do not remove bugs and other solid particles.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved implement for cleaning a smooth surface, such as a vehicle windshield, which simultaneously washes and abrades to thoroughly clean the surface. While particularly intended for use in the cleaning of car windshields, the implement of this invention is obviously useful in the cleaning of any smooth surface which may be of glass, formica or linoleum, for example.

Another object is to provide a portable cleaning implement which is simple and inexpensive to make, and which will stand up well under long and continued use.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a supporting frame having an elongated channel-shaped clamping portion defining an open generally U-shaped recess, and a washing and abrading unit including an absorbent member and an abrasive sheet. The washing and abrading unit is preferably formed by placing the abrasive sheet upon the absorbent member, folding or doubling the two so that the abrasive sheet is on the inside, and clamping the folded portions in the recess of the frame. The absorbent member projects from the frame in two elements, and the abrasive sheet projects from the frame in two strips along the opposed or inner surfaces of the absorbent elements. Accordingly, when the absorbent elements are pressed against a smooth surface to be cleaned, they will spread apart and subject the surface to a combined washing and abrading action.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a rod is disposed within the folded portion of the abrasive sheet and absorbent member which increases the thickness of the folded portion, to more firmly anchor the washing and abrading unit within the clamping portion of the frame.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable implement constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of the implement prior to assembly with the frame.

FIG. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing the washing and abrading unit of the implement pressed against a windshield or other smooth surface to be cleaned.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 3 but showing the absorbent elements and abrasive strips in their natural or free state condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the portable implement is generally designated 10 and comprises a frame 12, a handle 14, a washing and abrading unit 16 and a rubber blade or squeegee 18.

The frame may be made of metal or plastic or any other suitable relatively rigid material. In the present instance, it is shown as being made of two pieces 20 and 21 which are rigidly connected together. The frame piece 20 has a socket portion 22 in which the end of the handle 14 is secured as by glue or simply by having the socket portion 22 transversely split and gripped tightly thereabout or by any other suitable means. The frame piece 20 also has the mounting part 24 which extends from the socket portion 22 and terminates in the bendable tabs 26 by means of which it may be secured to the frame piece 21.

The frame piece 21 may be a one-piece extrusion having the elongated main body or plate portion 28 and the integral clamping portions 30 and 32 along the opposite longitudinal edge thereof. The plate portion 28 has apertures through which the tabs 26 extend and are bent over to secure the frame pieces 20 and 21 together.

The clamping portion 30 is in the form of an elongated open-ended channel defining an elongated circular or arcuate recess 34. The rubber blade or squeegee 18 may have an integrally molded circular enlargement 36 along one longitudinal edge which is received and securely clamped in the recess 34. The marginal edges of the channel 30 terminate in parallel outwardly extending flanges 36 and 38 along opposite surfaces of the blade or squeegee 18 to support it when it is used to dry a windshield or other smooth surface.

The washing and abrading unit 16 is securely anchored in the clamping portion 32. The clamping portion 32 is in the form of an elongated open-ended channel of arcuate or circular form defining an elongated arcuate or circular open recess 40. The channel and recess are of somewhat more than 180.degree. in circumferential extent and terminate in enlarged rounded beads 42 defining the edges of the open recess 40.

The washing and abrading unit 16 is composed of an absorbent member 44 and an abrasive sheet 46. The absorbent member 44 is preferably in the form of an elongated rectangular block or pad of sponge or sponge-like material. The length of the pad or block of material corresponds to the length of the frame piece 21 and its thickness is preferably substantially less than its width. The abrasive sheet 46 is preferably rectangular and of the same length and width as the absorbent member 44.

The abrasive sheet is a somewhat stiff although readily bendable sheet which may be of a synthetic fiber mesh netting or screen. In any event, it is formed of a reticulated material which is sufficiently abrasive, in the presence of water, to remove bugs, dirt and other solid material from a glass or other smooth surface. Although sufficiently coarse or abrasive in its action, it is nevertheless soft enough not to scratch glass or other smooth surfaces such as a windshield or a painted surface of an automobile.

The material of the abrasive sheet may, for example, be of a reticulated plastic or wire in the form of a netting or screen. Suitable synthetic fibers from which the sheet may be made are nylon, a polyester such as Dacron, or an acrylic such as Orlon which have regularly spaced and alternating strands with interstices between the strands.

In assembling the washing and abrading unit 16 with the frame, the abrasive sheet 46 is laid over the surface of the absorbent member 44 so that its side and end edges lie substantially flush with those of the absorbent member. It need not be glued or in any manner secured to the absorbent member. An elongated cylindrical rod 50, of the same length as the abrasive member 44 and sheet 46 is preferably employed to more firmly anchor the washing and abrading unit to the frame. As will be understood from FIG. 2, the rod 50 is placed upon the sheet-covered absorbent member along the longitudinal center line of the two. The absorbent member 44 and sheet 46 are then folded over upon themselves about the rod 50. The rod with the central longitudinal portions of the absorbent member 44 and sheet 46 folded about it is then inserted into the recess 40 through the space between the terminal beads 42 of the channel 32. The material of which frame piece 21 is formed may be sufficiently flexible to permit the channel 32 to be opened slightly to spread the beads 42 and thereby facilitate the insertion of the folded portions of the absorbent member 44 and sheet 46, after which the channel 32 may be closed to the position of FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the beads 42 are drawn closer together. In the final assembled condition of FIGS. 3 and 4, the space between the beads 42 may be slightly less than the diameter of the rod 40 to maintain the assembly, although even if the space between the beads is greater than the diameter of the rod, the presence of the rod serves to more securely anchor the washing and abrading unit 16.

In the assembled condition of the parts shown both in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the absorbent member 44 projects away from the frame in two elongated, parallel parts, referred to as absorbent elements designated 52 and 54, and the abrasive sheet 46 projects away from the frame also in two elongated parallel parts, referred to as abrasive strips designated 56 and 58 which extend along the inner or opposing surfaces of the absorbent elements 52 and 54. The width of the strips 56, 58, that is the distance they project from the frame, is substantially the same as that of the absorbent elements 52,54. Hence only the inner surfaces of the absorbent elements are overlain by the strips, the remaining surfaces thereof being exposed.

FIG. 4 shows the parts of the washing and cleaning unit 16 in the natural or free state condition thereof in which the absorbent members 44 are side by side and the strips overlie the opposed surfaces of the absorbent members. However, when pressed against a windshield or other smooth surface W to be cleaned, the absorbent elements 52 and 54 spread apart and subject the surface to the combined washing and abrading action of the elements 52,54 and the abrasive strips 56, 58. The strips 56, 58 are preferably not attached to the absorbent elements 52, 54 and therefore such strips may sometimes bend in the same direction, that is both may cover only one of the absorbent elements 52, 54 when the unit is pressed against a smooth surface. In either event, that is whether the strips fold in both directions as in FIG. 3, or in the same direction, the surface is subjected simultaneously both to the washing action of the absorbent elements and to the abrading action of the strips. The unit 16 is first of course dipped in water so that the absorbent elements 52 and 54 will spread a film of water over the surface to loosen and soften the solid material which is thereupon completely removed and scraped away by the abrasive strips.

The implement may be turned readily in the hand for use of the squeegee 18 to dry the surface after it has been thoroughly cleaned.

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A portable implement for cleaning a smooth surface, such as a windshield, comprising a frame having means providing a clamping portion in the form of an elongated channel defining an open, generally U-shaped recess, said recess being arcuate in cross-section and extending throughout an angle greater than 180.degree., a washing and abrading unit including an elongated rectangular absorbent member of spongelike material, said absorbent member being folded along its longitudinal center line, said absorbent member having its folded portion received and held in said recess and having its remaining portions projecting from said recess in two elongated parallel absorbent elements disposed in side-by-side relation, said washing and abrading unit also including a rectangular abrasive sheet of reticulated material of substantially the same length and width as said absorbent member, said abrasive sheet being folded along its longitudinal center line, said abrasive sheet having its folded portion received and held within the longitudinally folded portion of said absorbent member and having its remaining portions extending in two strips along the confronting surfaces of said absorbent elements and leaving the rest of the surface area of said absorbent elements exposed, and an elongated rod disposed lengthwise in said recess within the longitudinally folded portion of said sheet and around which the longitudinally folded portions of said sheet and said absorbent member extend so as to be firmly anchored within said recess, said absorbent elements when pressed against a smooth surface to be cleaned being adapted to spread apart to subject such smooth surface to the combined washing and abrading action of said absorbent elements and said abrasive strips.