Abstract:
A hand held CRT screen cleaning tool has a body with a bottom cleaning portion secured to a top gripping portion. A brush or cleaning element is secured to the bottom portion for cleaning and removing static charge from a CRT screen by pressing the brush against, and dragging the brush a multiple of times across the CRT screen.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Document Disclosure No. 424972, dated Oct. 1, 1997, and No. 425983, dated Oct. 14, 1997.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and more particularly, to a novel device for both cleaning and removing static charge from cathode ray tube (CRT) screens.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Cleaning aids and devices, such as brushes, squeegees, ice and snow scrapers are known. These devices are widely used to clean windows and other areas in all types of buildings, and to clean and/or scrape windshields and other windows in vehicles.  
           [0006]    However, these known devices are not capable of, and cannot be adapted for, cleaning and/or removing static charge from CRT screens. CRT screens are contained, for example, in computer monitors, television sets, and other video display devices. As the public becomes more familiar with and uses video display devices, such as in desk top monitors, portable computers, TV sets, etc., the need for cleaning the screens of such devices increases. Furthermore, such devices for cleaning such screens should be capable of quickly and easily cleaning the screens, and at the same time removing static charge therefrom. There, therefore, exists a need in the art for an inexpensive, easy to manufacture and use device for cleaning and removing static charge from video display device screens.  
           [0007]    Known prior art devices for cleaning windows and the like are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 763,888 to Hayden, 1,555,417 to Johnston, 2,154,373 to Bulleigh, 2,526,468 to Frye, 2,977,127 to Mertes, 2,958,886 to Taylor, 3,965,520 to Maier, 4,075,730 to Siemund, 4,317,250 to Shutts, 4,430,769 to Bergstrom, 4,495,668 to Adams, 5,140,717 to Castaliola, 5,321,868 and 5,528,793 to Schbot.  
           [0008]    Additionally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,289,236 to Salka and 3,333,289 to Maughan show, respectively, a painter&#39;s edging tool having a paint applying element  26 ,  26   a  and an oval shaped cleaning brush having conical shaped bristles for cleaning in corners.  
           [0009]    While the foregoing mentioned prior art devices provide improvements in the cleaning art, there still remains the need in the art for an easy to use, low-cost device for use in cleaning and/or removing static charge from CRT screens. The novel and simplified device of the present invention allows a user to easily and quickly clean a CRT screen by drawing or moving the device back and forth across a screen face with a cleaning brush thereof in contact with the screen. None of the prior art devices discussed above are applicable to cleaning a CRT screen nor could they be used to remove static charge from a CRT screen.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved cleaning device. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a squeegee like cleaning tool for cleaning computer screens and the like. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide a hand held CRT screen cleaning device which is moved over the screen a multiple of times to clean the screen and remove static charge therefrom. And, it is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide a hand held CRT screen cleaning device having an elongated brush mounted on a body, which body is easily gripped between the thumb and one or more fingers of a single hand of a user for rubbing over a CRT screen to clean the screen and remove static charge therefrom.  
           [0011]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand held CRT screen cleaning tool having a body with an elongated bottom portion secured to a top gripping portion. An elongated brush or cleaning element is secured to the elongated bottom portion for placement on and cleaning of a CRT screen by dragging the elongated brush a multiple of times across the CRT screen.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a computer monitor showing a hand of a user holding a screen cleaning device of the present invention against the screen and then dragging it across the screen of the monitor during cleaning; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the screen cleaning device of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide for a novel and improved hand held screen cleaning device, generally indicated by numeral  10 .  
         [0016]    Although the hand held screen cleaning device  10  may take any desired shape, and be made from any available or desired material, it is preferably formed from a single piece of plastic or other similar material, in the form of a squeegee-type device. The hand held cleaning device  10  is comprised of a body  11  having a smaller first or upper gripping portion or section  12 , a second or lower elongated cleaning portion or section  14 , and a connecting or neck portion  15 . The elongated cleaning portion  14  is preferably formed in a generally rectangular shape having contoured corners and connected to the neck portion  15  centrally thereof. An elongated brush or cleaning element  16  is secured to a first or rear side  18 , as by means of a holding element  17  captured in an elongated opening  21 , formed along an angled edge  20  of the elongated lower portion  14  (see FIG. 2). The angle of the edge  20 , to which the holding element  17  of brush  16  is bonded or secured, as by an adhesive or the like, is chosen so that bristles  22  of the cleaning brush  16  extend at a selected angle to the hand held cleaning device  10  while the device is gripped by a hand  24  of a user during cleaning a CRT screen  26  of a computer monitor or the like  28  (see FIG. 1). The angle of the edge  20  may vary depending on the size of the hand held device  10 , the brush  16  and the length of the bristles  22 . That is, the hand held device  10  and brush  16  are sized and dimensioned so that the angle of the edge and the length of the brush are sufficient when handled or manipulated by the single hand  24  to be easily and quickly drawn across the screen  26  to clean and remove the static charge from an area  30 .  
         [0017]    The rear face or side  18  of the hand held cleaning device  10  preferably includes a raised portion or bead  32  along its outer edge to add strength thereto, while a front face or surface  19  thereof is preferably be flat. In this manner the front face  19  may contain advertising, a design, printing, or the like, or may be contoured or otherwise decorated to allow it to be used as an advertising specialty or promotional device.  
         [0018]    As shown in FIG. 1, the hand held cleaning device  10  is used to clean and remove static charge from the CRT screen  26 . This is accomplished by the user grasping the gripping portion  12  in hand  24 , between the thumb and one or more fingers thereof. The hand  24  easily presses the bristles  22  of brush  16  against the CRT screen  26  and moves the hand held cleaning device  10  from a first edge  34  of the monitor  28  over area  30  until the cleaning device reaches a second edge  36  of monitor  28 . The cleaning device  10  is then moved back and forth across the screen  26 , in the same type of swiping motion to clean and remove static charge from the remainder of the screen.  
         [0019]    It is obvious that a user of the hand held cleaning device  10 , will have to move the device over the screen with the bristles  22  in contact therewith a number of times, depending on the size of the device  10  and the size and shape of the screen  26 . As discussed above, the cleaning device  10  and brush  16  are sized and dimensioned so that the device may be easily gripped by the hand  24  with the bristles  22  pressed against and capable of following any curvature of the screen over which it is being drawn. The bristles  22  and brush  16  are preferably formed from a resilient material, such as Nylon, to allow static charge to be removed, and with the bristles being of sufficient length to clean and conform to a curved screen surface for more efficient and thorough cleaning thereof.  
         [0020]    When not in use, the hand held cleaning device  10  may be stored out of the way, as by being removably secured to a corner of the computer monitor  28 , by a removable securing means  38 , such as a loop and fastener system referred to by the trademark VELCRO. This securing means  38  may be secured to the rear surface  18  of the cleaning device, as best shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0021]    It therefore can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and easy to manufacture and use hand held cleaning device for cleaning and removing static charge from a screen of a computer monitor or other video display device. It is particularly useful by one hand of a user to be dragged or drawn multiple times over a CRT screen for efficient and quick cleaning thereof. Furthermore, the device may take any shape so as to be compatible with its surroundings and may have advertising, a design, or other materials, such as a logo applied to an outer side thereof to increase the aesthetics thereof.  
         [0022]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.