Cap Having A Removable Wiping Blade

Abstract

A cap for a fluid dispensing container having a body and flange members on the body for holding the cap adjacent a dispensing area of the container is disclosed. An elongate slot in the body removably retains a resilient blade member for wiping a liquid dispensed from the container of off the surface onto which it is dispensed. A cleat on the body carries the blade member in a storage position when the blade is not in use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning fluids for home use are often marketed in atomizing dispensing containers such as pressurized aerosol cans or pump type, non-pressurized bottles. The atomizer provides a means of dispensing a thin, relatively uniform distribution of fluid over a surface to be cleaned. In order to effectively clean glass, for example, it is necessary to wipe all of the dispensed fluid from the glass surface. Typically, a resilient blade or squeegee having a handle attached thereto is used for this purpose. The resilient squeegee blade, when pressed against the glass, conforms to the cleaning surface and effectively removes the cleaning fluid.

The present invention incorporates a squeegee blade as an element of a cap of a fluid dispensing container. The blade is removably mounted on the cap to facilitate its use in conjunction with the dispensing container, which will function as a handle, to wipe liquid from a surface to be cleaned. Because the resilient blade must be of sufficient length to act as a practical squeegee, storage or shipment of the dispensing container with the blade secured in the wiping position is impractical. According to the present invention, therefore, a cleat is provided on the side of the cap for carrying the blade adjacent the longitudinal axis of the container when the apparatus is packaged for shipment or displayed for sale or is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a cap for a fluid dispensing container having a body and flange members on the body for securing the cap adjacent a dispensing area of the container. A resilient blade member is removably mounted on the cap for use, in conjunction with the container in removing dispensed liquid from a surface to be cleaned. The blade comprises an extended resilient wiping area and a flange member which cooperates with a slotted region on the cap to maintain the blade in a wiping position. The flange member comprises a vertically extending lip connected to the resilient blade member. The slotted area in the cap lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the body and receives the flange member of the blade in a snap-on fit. A cleat is provided on the body for carrying the blade in a plane parallel to the axis of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cap of the present invention in place on a fluid dispensing container;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cap and blade of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the cap of the present invention taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the cap of the present invention with the blade in a storage position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 a cap 10 for a fluid dispensing container 11 is shown. Referring to FIG. 3, flanges 12 and 13, gripping a valve seam 14 and extending into a grooved upper shoulder 15 of the container 11, maintain the cap 10 circumjacent a fluid dispensing mechanism 16 (in this embodiment, an aerosol spray release button) of the container 11.

The cap 10 comprises a body 17 having a directional finger recess 18 and a discharge opening 19. A horizontal recess 20 lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the body 17 is formed at the top front of the cap 10. A lip 21 overlies the recess 20. A resilient squeegee blade 22 for wiping a surface to be cleaned with fluid dispensed from the container 11 is removably received within the recess 20. A vertically extending flange 23 on the blade 22 snap fits the recess 20. The flange 23 lies in a plane parallel to the axis of the body 17 in the recess 20 beneath the lip 21 thereby providing a tight gripping fit in the recess 20 for retaining the resilient blade 22 in a wiping position.

With the blade 22 positioned in the recess 20 the container 11 functions as a handle when using the wiping blade 22.

A cleat 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or 24a (FIG. 4) for slidably receiving the blade 22 is located on the center side of the cap 17. The cleat 24 or 24a retains the blade 22 in a position extending along the cap body 17 and the container 11 to facilitate packing, display and storage.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A cap for a fluid dispensing container comprising a body, means on said body for connecting said cap adjacent a fluid dispensing area of said container, a resilient blade member for wiping liquid dispensed from said container, a longitudinally extending flange connected to said blade member, a recess in said cap for mounting said blade perpendicular to the axis of said body, a lip on said cap extending over said recess for removably retaining said blade in a wiping position on said body when said flange is placed therein and means on said body for carrying said blade in a storage position when said blade is not in use.

2. A cap for a fluid dispensing container according to claim 1 wherein said blade carrying means comprises a cleat member on said body for removably carrying said blade in a direction extending parallel to the axis of said body.