Abstract:
A fluid squeegee head for a fluid squeegee is provided which includes a mounting plate having apertures defined therein for attaching a squeegee blade thereto. The mounting plate further includes nozzles extending therethrough. Hollow brace members and a hollow shaft socket are positioned on the intake side of the mounting plate. The hollow shaft socket includes discharge ports that are aligned with the hollow brace members which extend away radially. The hollow brace members enclose the nozzles so as to create a sealed fluid passageway between the hollow shaft socket and the nozzles. The fluid squeegee further includes a hollow shaft and hollow handle which are connected between a hose and the sgueegee head such that fluids can be discharged onto a surface to be cleaned via the nozzles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to floor cleaning devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fluid squeegee. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Floor cleaning devices adapted for attachment to a fluid hose are well known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,248,640 Issued to Shurhay and U.S. Pat. No. 4.09,.748 issued to Anderberg at al. both describe a water sweeping device including a pair of tubular members attached by a “T” fitting. These tubular members form a handle member and a cross member respectively, the latter having spray nozzles mounted therein. During operation, fluid flows through the hollow handle into the “T” fitting where it Is distributed to the cross member and, ultimately, ejected onto a cleaning surface. 
     There are two major drawbacks to the inventions described above. First, the sharp comerss of the “T” fitting are prone to fatigue cracks which result from oscillating forces applied during a cleaning operation. Second, the tubular cross members are prone to excessive bending. 
     A need therefore exists for an improved fluid squeegee. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid squeegee which obviates or mitigates at least one of the disadvantages described above. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fluid squeegee head comprising a mounting plate defining a discharge face and an intake face; the mounting plate including mounting means for attaching a squeegee blade thereto; the mounting plate further including one or more discharge nozzles extending therethrough: a hollow shaft socket adjacent to, and extending away from, the intake face of the mounting plate; the hollow shaft socket adapted for attachment to a hollow fluid shaft; the hollow shaft socket having one or more discharge ports formed therein; and one or more hollow brace members; the hollow brace members corresponding In number to the number of discharge ports formed in the hollow shaft socket; the one or more hollow brace members being adjacent to and extending radially away from the one or more discharge ports and enclosing the discharge nozzles; and whereby the one or more hollow brace members form a sealed fluid passageway between the one or more discharge ports and one or more discharge nozzles. 
     According to another aspect of the invention a fluid squeegee head as set out above wherein said mounting plate includes a fluid squeegee head as claimed in claim  1  wherein said mounting plate includes a nozzle plate aperture into which a nozzle plate is inserted and attached, said nozzles extending through said nozzle plate. 
     The invention is also directed to a fluid squeegee comprising a fluid squeegee head as set out above further including a hollow fluid shaft having an intake end and a discharge end; whereby the intake end is adapted for sealing attachment to a hollow handle; whereby the discharge end is adapted for sealing attachment to the hollow shaft socket; and whereby the hollow shaft can accommodate fluid flow therethrough; a hollow handle adapted for sealing attachment to the intake end of the hollow shaft; the hollow handle being adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose; and the hollow handle including a valve mechanism for controlling fluid flow therethrough, and a squeegee blade attached to the mounting plate via a mounting means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  presents an isometric view of a fluid squeegee in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1 b  Illustrates an isometric view of a fluid squeegee in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  presents a side elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 b  presents a side elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 c  presents a front elevation of a hollow shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 presents an isometric view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  presents a side section view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as shown along section line A—A of FIG. 4 b;    
     FIG. 4 b  presents a bottom view of a squeegee head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 presents an isometric view of hollow shaft socket and hollow brace member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 presents an exploded isometric view of a mounting plate and nozzle plate in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Having reference to FIG. 1 a  there is shown a fluid squeegee in accordance with an embodiment of the invention described above in the summary, depicted generally by reference number  10 . Fluid squeegee  10  includes hollow fluid shaft  12  to which is attached squeegee head  14  at one end, and hollow handle  16  at the other. According to this embodiment of the invention, hollow handle  16  is adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose, such as a garden hose, via mechanical threads (not shown). Also included in handle  16  is valve  18  for controlling the flow of fluid through hollow handle  16 , shaft  12 , arid, ultimately, head  14 . 
     FIG. 1 b  presents an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein ends  20  of squeegee head  14  are curved inwardly towards the discharge face of head  14 . This arrangement is designed to reduce fluid flow around ends  20  during operation of squeegee  10 . 
     A close-up side view of hollow fluid shaft  12  is shown in FIG. 2 a . Hollow fluid shaft  12  includes an intake end  22  and a discharge end  24 . Intake end  22  is adapted for sealing attachment to a fluid hose or alternatively, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, hollow handle  16 . To facilitate such attachment intake end  22  includes female receptacle  26 , which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is designed to accept a standard ¾ hose thread. Similarly, discharge end  24  is adapted for sealing attachment to squeegee head  14 . To facilitate this connection, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes male protrusion  28  into which are formed standard broom threads (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 2 b  and  2   c , hollow fluid shaft  12  may also include angle  29  to minimize flex and improve operator comfort. 
     Although female and male attachment members are described for attaching shaft  12  to head  14  and handle  16  respectively, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that this arrangement could be inverted without affecting the operation of the invention described above in the summary. The only requirement is that the piece to which a respective end attaches must have the corresponding male or female member formed therein. A person skilled in the art will recognize, however, that mechanical threads are not essential and could, for example, be replaced by a snap fit arrangement or any other means known in the art. 
     A detailed isometric view of squeegee head  14  is shown in FIG. 3 as having hollow fluid shaft  12  attached thereto. Squeegee head  14  includes mounting plate  30  which plate includes an intake face  32  and a discharge face  34 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, mounting plate  30  is channel shaped thus defining web  36 , upper flange  37  and lower flange  38 . As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, flanges  37  and  38  restrict the bending of mounting plate  30  that would otherwise occur If plate  30  was merely flat. Extending through flange  38  are mounting apertures  40  into which fasteners  46  are inserted to mount squeegee blade  42 , and blade mounting sleeve  44 , thereto. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, mounting apertures  40  are not essential to the invention described in the summary. For example, flange  38  could itself define a channel (not shown) into which blade  42  could be slid. Blade  42  could then be secured within said channel using any means known in the art, including, but not limited to, placing a fastener through both ends of flange  38 . 
     To reduce bending stresses which occur between hollow fluid shaft  12  and squeegee head  14  support members  52  are mounted therebetween. To facilitate attachment of support members  52  to squeegee head  14 , mounting eyelets  48  are positioned at ends  20  of intake face  32 . Mounting eyelets  48  are adapted to receive fastener  54 , which fastener is also adapted to pass through an aperture (not shown) in support member  52 . The other end of support member  52  is similarly attached to attachment sleeve  50  via fastener  54 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, sleeve  50  includes two semicircular members  51  having lateral mounting flanges  53  extending therefrom, the inside diameter of members  51  being slightly larger in size than the outside diameter of shaft  12 . 
     As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, support members  52  provide greater structural support to shaft  12  thereby impeding the formation of fatigue cracks between shaft  12  and head  14 . 
     To facilitate attachment of hollow fluid shaft  12  to squeegee head  14 , hollow shaft socket  56  is situated adjacent to intake face  32  of squeegee head  14  and extends outwardly therefrom. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, hollow shaft socket  66  includes mechanical threads (not shown) corresponding to those on male protrusion  24  of hollow fluid shaft  12 . 
     Extending radially from hollow shaft socket  56  along intake face  32  are two hollow brace members  58 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, brace members  58  are semi-conical in shape and taper in size as they extend away from socket  56 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4 a , a side section of squeegee head  14  is shown along cutting line A—A of FIG. 4 b . As shown therein, hollow shaft socket  56  has discharge port  60  formed in its side. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, discharge port  60  is semi-circular in cross section having a radius corresponding to that of hollow brace members  68  at their intake ends  59 . As will be apparent to one skilled in the art of fluid mechanics, smooth transitions between various parts of a fluid passageway are beneficial for minimizing fluid pressure loss. 
     As shown in FIG. 4 b , hollow brace members  58  enclose discharge nozzles  62 , which nozzles extend through mounting plate  30 . Hollow brace members  58  therefore create a sealed fluid passageway between hollow discharge socket  56  and nozzles  62 . 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, hollow shaft socket  56  and hollow brace members  58  form a single piece as shown in FIG.  5 . As this piece is viewed from its hollow side, discharge opening  64  can be seen extending through hollow shaft socket  56 . Also shown is support member  66  which member is adapted for attachment to intake face  32  of mounting plate  30  as shown in FIG.  3 . Also shown in FIG. 3, is gusset  68 , which also provides structural support to hollow shaft socket  56 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 6, mounting plate  30  includes nozzle plate  70  which includes that portion of mounting plate  30  that is enclosed by hollow brace members  58  and hollow shaft socket  56 . To mount nozzle plate  70  to mounting plate  30 , a corresponding nozzle aperture  72  is formed in the latter. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, a water tight seal between nozzle plate  70  and mounting plate  30  can be achieved through use of a gasket, silicone, or any other means known in the art. 
     By manufacturing nozzle plate  70  separately from mounting plate  30 , detailed nozzle work can be performed, without having to use the entire mounting plate  30  as a workpiece. Furthermore, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art of plastic injection moulding, nozzle plate  70  enables hollow brace members  58 , hollow shaft socket  56  and mounting plate  30  to be one piece thus minimizing the number of pieces to be attached. This is beneficial in that there is less assembly required and fewer attachments (e.g. welds) which tend to be structurally weak. 
     The way in which brace members are formed, however, is not essential to the invention described in the summary and could, for example, include forming a hollow semi-circular tube which is later sealed by end caps (not shown). 
     Having set out all of the structural components, the operation of fluid squeegee  10  will now be described. Upon attachment of a fluid hose to hollow handle  16 , fluid can be introduced into squeegee  10  via valve  18 . As fluid flows through hollow fluid shaft  12 , it enters hollow shaft socket  56  where it is then distributed to hollow brace members  58 . Fluid flowing through hollow brace members  58  is then ejected onto a cleaning surface via nozzles  62 . By releasing valve member  18  fluid flow through squeegee  10  can be terminated. The squeegee operator can then whisk away the ejected fluids, utilizing squeegee blade  42 . 
     The embodiments of the present invention described above are beneficial over the prior art in that greater structural integrity is achieved between squeegee head  14  and hollow fluid shaft  12 . 
     Although the hollow brace members in the preferred embodiment of the invention are semi-conical in shape, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of these members will not affect the invention described above in the summary. For example, similar structural support could be achieved using tubular or rectangular shaped members. Similarly, the invention described above in the summary is not limited to two hollow brace members. In fact, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, the greater the number of hollow brace members employed, the greater the structural integrity achieved. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is clear that changes and modifications may be made to such embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.