Abstract:
A cleaning implement is disclosed for effectively removing not only liquid and solid food debris from plate or dish surfaces, but also dirt and other debris accumulated on other surfaces without the use of water, thereby conserving water consumption.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/168,076 filed on Apr. 9, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This application discloses and claims embodiments generally related to implements for cleaning, and more particularly, to a cleaning implement for removing debris from surfaces without the use of water. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is widely recognized that prior to washing dishes manually or placing them in a dishwasher, dishes are most often rinsed under a continuous flow of water, thereby resulting in the unnecessary waste of water. The prior art discloses many different types of implements for removing or loosening food debris stuck on dishes, such as scouring pads, brushes, and sponges. Oftentimes, food debris may comprise both liquid food debris in addition to solid debris and conventional brushes are ineffective for removing both. However, the prior art does not disclose a device for removing debris, such as food, from surfaces without the use of water. 
     Accordingly, a long felt has been realized for a cleaning implement for effectively removing not only liquid and solid food debris from plate or dish surfaces, but also dirt and other debris accumulated on other surfaces without the use of water so as to conserve water consumption. The development of the cleaning implement fulfills this need. 
     This application presents claims and embodiments that fulfill a need or needs not yet satisfied by the products, inventions and methods previously or presently available. In particular, the claims and embodiments disclosed herein describe a cleaning implement for removing debris from surfaces without the use of water, the cleaning implement comprising a first side opposing a second side; a lower blade edge from which a leading curved blade edge extends upwardly therefrom inclinationally, the leading curved blade edge terminates upwardly into a curved pinnacle edge, the curved pinnacle edge extending therefrom into an elongated curved upper edge, the elongated curved upper edge terminates into a trailing curved blade edge; a first bevel and a second bevel; and a pair of gripping sections, wherein the cleaning implement providing unanticipated and nonobvious combination of features distinguished from the products, inventions and methods preexisting in the art. The applicant is unaware of any product, method, disclosure or reference that discloses the features of the claims and embodiments disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning implement comprised of a squeegee blade adapted and configured for removing debris from surfaces without the use of water. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a squeegee blade constructed of a lightweight, resiliently flexible plastic material. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a squeegee blade having lower blade edge that when pressed against a surface the lower blade edge may change shape slightly according to a contour of the plate surface in view of the lower blade edge&#39;s inherent deformability such that the contours of the plate surface can be followed intimately by the lower blade edge, thereby providing exceptional cleaning. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a squeegee blade having a pair of gripping sections being ergonomically configured to facilitate and enhance the grip of the cleaning implement by a user. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning implement which may be manufactured in any number of desired color choices. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning implement that may be provided with ornamentation or indicia in the form of a company or corporate name, logo, wording, picture, photograph, or any other decorative, informational, promotional or advertisement indicia. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning implement is disclosed for engaging a surface to be cleaned, such as a dish surface, and for removing unwanted material having accumulated onto the surface. The cleaning implement comprises an elongated squeegee blade made of a lightweight, resiliently flexible plastic material. 
     The squeegee blade comprises a first side opposite a second side and a lower blade edge from which a leading curved blade edge extends upwardly therefrom inclinationally. The leading curved blade edge terminates upwardly into a curved pinnacle edge, the curved pinnacle edge extending therefrom into an elongated curved upper edge. The elongated curved upper edge terminates into a trailing curved blade edge. 
     The first side and the second side of the squeegee blade each comprise a first bevel and a second bevel. The first side and the second side each further comprise a gripping section ergonomically configured to facilitate and enhance the grip of the cleaning implement by user. 
     The cleaning implement is envisioned to be manufactured in any number of desired color choices. In addition, the cleaning implement may be provided with ornamentation or indicia in the form of a company or corporate name, logo, wording, picture, photograph, or any other decorative, informational, promotional or advertisement indicia. 
     An alternate embodiment is disclosed wherein the gripping sections each includes spaced recesses, some of which being vertically oriented, arcuate-shaped, and oval-shaped. 
     The use of the present invention allows debris to be removed from surfaces without the use of water in a quick, easy, and efficient manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of a cleaning implement, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side perspective view of the cleaning implement, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the cleaning implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning implement taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the cleaning implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view of the cleaning implement of  FIG. 1  illustrating uppermost edges of each the first bevel and the second bevel; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Detailed Description of the Figures 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , a cleaning implement  10  is disclosed, according to one embodiment of the present invention, for engaging a surface to be cleaned and for removing unwanted material having accumulated onto the surface. The cleaning implement  10  comprises an elongated squeegee blade  20  preferably made of a lightweight, resiliently flexible plastic material such as an elastomer, which may be a polyolefin or a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a deformable plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, or a resiliently flexible thermoplastic such as vinyl or polypropylene. 
     The squeegee blade  20  comprises a first side  22  opposite a second side  24  and a lower blade edge  30  from which a leading curved blade edge  36  extends upwardly therefrom inclinationally at an angle of approximately 72°. More specifically, the lower blade edge  30  defines a forward curved blade edge  32  opposing a rear curved blade edge  34 , and from the forward curved blade edge  32  upwardly extends the leading curved blade edge  36  inclinationally therefrom at an angle of approximately 72°. The leading curved blade edge  36  terminates upwardly into a curved pinnacle edge  37 , the curved pinnacle edge  37  extending therefrom into an elongated curved upper edge  38 . The elongated curved upper edge  38  terminates along a lower end  38   a  thereof into a trailing curved blade edge  39  which integrally joins rear curved blade edge  34 . 
     The first side  22  and the second side  24  each comprise a first bevel  26  extending longitudinally and adjacent the leading curved blade edge  36  and a second bevel  27  extending horizontally above the lower blade edge  30 . An uppermost edge of the first bevel  26 , represented by longitudinal axis Y in FIG.  6 ., and the uppermost edge of the second bevel  27 , represented by horizontal axis X in  FIG. 6 , terminate integrally into a syncline planar section  40 ,  42  formed on the first side  22  and the second side  24 , respectively. 
     The first side  22  and the second side  24  each further comprise a gripping section  50  ergonomically configured to facilitate and enhance the grip of cleaning implement  10  by user. The gripping section  50  comprises a first gripping portion  52  formed integral with the first side  22  between the elongated curved upper edge  38  and the syncline planar section  40  of the first side  22 . The first gripping portion  52  defines a curvilinear configuration extending from proximal the curved pinnacle edge  37  to the subordinate curved blade edge  39 . The first gripping portion  52  includes a forward-area  53  from which a prolate-shaped bulbous region  54  integrally protrudes outwardly therefrom. The bulbous region  54  provides a gripping means around which user&#39;s fingers may firmly grasp, thereby enhancing user&#39;s grip of the cleaning implement  10 . 
     The first gripping portion  52  further defines a plurality of spaced recesses  55  formed along a surface thereof, wherein the spaced recesses  55  each being vertically oriented. The spaced recesses  55  are adapted and configured to further enhance user&#39;s grip of the cleaning implement  10 . 
     The gripping section  50  further comprises a second gripping portion  56  formed integral with the second side  24  between the elongated curved upper edge  38  and the syncline planar section  42  of the second side  24 . The second gripping portion  56  defines a curvilinear configuration extending from proximal the curved pinnacle edge  37  to the subordinate curved blade edge  39 . The second gripping portion  56  includes a forward area  57  from which a prolate-shaped bulbous region  58  integrally protrudes outwardly therefrom. The bulbous region  58  provides a gripping means around which user&#39;s fingers may firmly grasp, thereby enhancing user&#39;s grip of the cleaning implement  10 . 
     The second gripping portion  56  further defines a plurality of spaced recesses  59  formed along a surface thereof, wherein the spaced recesses  59  each being vertically oriented. The spaced recesses  59  are adapted and configured to further enhance user&#39;s grip of the cleaning implement  10 . 
     The first gripping portion  52  and the second gripping portion  56  may each be made of a resiliently flexible plastic material such as an elastomer, which may be a polyolefin or a flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a deformable plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, foam materials including elastomeric or other deformable polymeric foams, or a resiliently flexible thermoplastic such as vinyl or polypropylene. 
     In use of the present invention, according to one embodiment thereof, as the lower blade edge  30  of the squeegee blade  20  is pressed against a surface, such as a plate or dish surface (not shown), the lower blade edge  30  may change shape slightly according to a contour of the plate surface in view of the lower blade edge&#39;s  30  inherent deformability such that the contours of the plate surface can be followed intimately by the lower blade edge  30  to provide exceptional cleaning. 
     The cleaning implement  10  is envisioned to be manufactured in any number of desired color choices. In addition, the cleaning implement  10  may be provided with ornamentation or indicia  60  in the form of a company or corporate name, logo  62 , wording, picture, photograph, or any other decorative, informational, promotional or advertisement indicia.  FIG. 3  illustrates a logo  62  disposed along the syncline planar section  40  of the first side  22  of the squeegee blade  20 . 
     Finally,  FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate alternate embodiments of the present invention, wherein the first gripping portion  52  includes spaced recesses  55   a , some of which being vertically oriented  55   b , arcuate-shaped  55   c , and oval-shaped  55   d.  While not shown, this particular embodiment is intended to include the second gripping portion  56  provided on the second side  24  of squeegee blade  20  with spaced recesses  55   a  corresponding in mirror-like fashion to spaced recesses  55   a,    55   b ,  55   c , and  55   d  as shown formed in the first gripping portion  52  of  FIGS. 7A-7B . 
     The use of the present invention allows debris to be removed from surfaces without the use of water in a quick, easy, and efficient manner. 
     It is envisioned that the various embodiments, as separately disclosed, are interchangeable in various aspects, so that elements of one embodiment may be incorporated into one or more of the other embodiments, and that specific. positioning of individual elements may necessitate other arrangements not specifically disclosed to accommodate performance requirements or spatial considerations. 
     It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims. 
     Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions. 
     Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     Therefore, the foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. As one can envision, an individual skilled in the relevant art, in conjunction with the present teachings, would be capable of incorporating many minor modifications that are anticipated within this disclosure. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be broadly limited only by the following Claims.