A spring-biased pivoting squeegee 10 provides a head 12 pivotally attached to a handle 16. The head 12 is movable between a rest position, in which the head 12 is angularly displaced from the handle 16, and a biased position in which the head 12, handle 16, and wiping blade 14 are in linear relation. In the biased position, the wiping blade is maintained at an optimum angle for cleaning a glass surface even with the handle 16 held generally perpendicular to the glass. A spring 60 is fully contained in the head 12 and biases the head toward the rest position. A tension adjustment knob 80 in the head 12 permits adjustment of the spring 60 to a tension level according to the ergonomic requirements of a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to squeegees and in particular to a squeegee having a head, handle and wiping blade which can be moved into general linear relation for cleaning glass surfaces, even surfaces located in recessed corners.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Squeegees are widely used to clean windows quickly and effectively. Generally the cleaning process begins with wetting the window surface with water or a cleaning solution. The squeegee is then used to wipe off the water or cleaning solution and any accumulated dirt or dust leaving the window surface clean. When performed expertly, a movement sometimes known as the “butterfly stroke” is used in which the squeegee's wiping blade is initially placed along the edge of one corner of the window; then the entire surface of the window is wiped off in a continuous back-and-forth swirling motion from the top to the bottom of the window without removing the wiping blade from the surface, finishing the motion by drawing the blade to the edge of another corner. With practice, this motion can be performed with considerable efficiency. When numerous windows are to be cleaned at one time, such as all the windows in a large office building or, increasingly, in many residential applications, proficient cleaning of each window becomes important.

With long experience it has been found that the wiping blade will most effectively wipe a surface clean if it is maintained within a relatively narrow range of acute angles relative to the surface. Failure to swipe the surface at an optimal angle within that range will lead to streaking and visibly unsatisfactory results. In order to comfortably handle the squeegee and maintain the wiping blade at an optimal angle, squeegees are typically constructed with the blade mounted at an angle relative to the handle of the squeegee, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,123,638, issued to Ettore Steccone in 1938. More precisely, the blade is mounted on a head which is generally in planar alignment with the blade, and the head is angularly displaced relative to the handle. However, this conventional construction creates a problem when cleaning recessed windows.

A common architectural feature calls for windows to be recessed into a window frame or to be set immediately adjacent to a perpendicular wall. If the window is recessed more than a few inches, or set next to a wall, wiping off the entire window in a continuous stroke as described above may not be possible, because the handle will butt against the adjacent window frame or wall. When this happens, the conventional practice is to wipe the small section of window clean with a cloth. Alternatively, the window cleaner may remove the squeegee from the window, wipe the blade clean, reposition the squeegee so that the blade may be applied again to the window edge adjacent the frame or wall, and then finish wiping the window clean with a second stroke. Either alternative is less efficient than wiping a window clean in a single continuous motion and may produce streaking.

A variation of the problem arises when cleaning windows using a squeegee mounted on a pole. Poles are used whenever the height of the window is great enough that it cannot be reached easily without a pole. Typically cleaning a tall window with a squeegee mounted on a pole involves performing several vertical strokes starting from the top of the window moving down to the bottom. If the bottom of the window is near ground level, the angle of the squeegee to the handle makes it impossible to hold the wiping blade at an optimal cleaning angle relative to the window surface. Therefore, the squeegee must be removed from the window and the window cleaner must move to a new position which permits the squeegee to be reapplied at a proper angle to the window, or the bottom of the window must be finished with close-up work using a hand-held squeegee.

One attempt to solve this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,902 to Samuelsson, which discloses a squeegee device including a squeegee blade mount which is pivotally attached to and disposed between the distal ends of a pair of laterally spaced apart fingers extending from a distal end of a fitting. A handle is attached to the other end of the fitting. A U-shaped kicker arm is carried on the back side of the mount. A squeegee blade is held on the front side of the mount. The mount is biased to a normal position by a pair of springs extending between the kicker arm and the pair of fingers. When the squeegee blade is drawn along the surface of a window, as it approaches an abutting wall, window frame or window ledge, the kicker arm engages the abutment and orbits the mount, consequently driving the blade through an arc relative to the handle and thereby accelerating movement of the wiper blade to complete the stroke in the direction of the abutment. Samuelsson reorients the wiper blade with respect to the handle, but this device appears to be workable only on windows that are not deeply recessed. This device also changes the orientation of the blade to the handle, which may cause an undesirable reduction in the cleaning effectiveness of the squeegee blade as it passes through the accelerating movement. Another practical difficulty is that the kicker arm, mount, and dual fingers project from the otherwise generally contained outline of the squeegee and may interfere with or become tangled up in other equipment. Finally, the device is not contained within the body of a standard squeegee; it is a separate device that must be specially mounted to the head of a squeegee and adds another item to the inventory of equipment that a window washer must carry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A spring-biased pivoting squeegee provides a wiping blade transversely mounted on the forward portion of the head of a squeegee. A handle is pivotally attached to a back portion of the head about a pivot pin which forms an axis parallel to the wiping blade. The head is movable relative to the handle about the pivot pin between a rest position and a biased position. In the rest position the head is angularly displaced relative to the handle at an angle which positions the head and wiping blade at an angle conventionally found in prior art squeegees. In the biased position the head is in linear disposition with the handle thus positioning the wiping blade, head, and handle in general planar relation.

A spring having dual coils, both of which are looped around the pivot pin which joins the handle and head, is fully contained inside the head of the squeegee. Rearward projections of the spring are biased against an internal wall of the handle, and a U-shaped projection extending forward from the pivot pin into the head biases the head toward the rest position. The spring is set at a tension such that, under normal usage, the head and, hence, the wiping blade, are maintained at an angle relative to the handle; however, the tension is low enough such that, without ever removing the blade from contact with the glass surface, the head and wiping blade may be moved to the biased position by pressing down on the handle. The handle and head are prevented from over-pivoting beyond planar configuration by abutting surfaces which are brought into mutual contact when the head is moved into the biased position.

A recessed locking lever is pivotally attached to the squeegee head. The locking lever is movable about an axis generally perpendicular to the squeegee head between a locking position and an unlocked position. In the locking position, the lever is in abutting disposition with a stop on the handle. Pressure from the spring urges the lever and stop together, effectively locking the head and handle in the biased position. The pressure may be relieved by bringing slight backwards pressure against the head whereupon the lever may be rotated into the unlocked position where it is free of any obstructions, thus permitting the head to pivot back to the rest position.

A tension adjustment mechanism permits the spring tension to be adjusted to different pressure levels. A tension adjustment knob is provided on the upper surface of the squeegee head. The tension adjustment knob has a barrel fitting which sits in a well in the head to retain a knurled top portion above the upper surface of the head for manipulation by hand. A linear projection extends from the barrel fitting into the head and is in threaded engagement with a square tension adjustment nut disposed in a rectangular internal shaft in the head. As the knob is turned the nut is prevented from rotating by the walls of the rectangular shaft. Therefore, rotation of the knob moves the nut up and down in the shaft. The U-shaped projection of the spring is disposed around the linear projection and interposed between the tension adjustment knob and the tension adjustment nut. Thus, by rotating the tension adjustment knob, the U-shaped projection of the spring is lowered or raised in the head by the tension adjustment nut which adjusts the spring to a tension level suited to the ergonomic requirements of the user.

A spring-biased pivoting squeegee according to the invention can be used in the same manner as a prior art squeegee would be used in most situations. Improved performance is realized when cleaning recessed windows. As the squeegee is drawn across the window toward an abutting wall or window frame, the window washer may cause the head to move into the biased position by simultaneously pressing down on the wiping blade and forward on the handle, never removing the wiping blade from the surface of the glass. Since the wiping blade, head, and handle are all in planar disposition, the wiping motion can be continued toward the abutting wall or frame member to the edge of the glass, rather than having to remove the wiping blade from and then reapply it to the glass. Thus, an entire recessed window may be cleaned in a single continuous motion with a high degree of proficiency, leading to substantial time savings in the cleaning project, eliminating the need to use additional cleaning implements, and reducing fatigue.

An added benefit of the invention relates to the angle of the wiping blade to the glass. By maintaining the wiping blade of a squeegee at a slight angle to the perpendicular relative to the glass, the cleaning performance of the blade is superior. Therefore, the best squeegees include a slight curvature in the wiping blade mount which maintains the blade at an optimum cleaning angle. Generally, when cleaning a glass surface with a squeegee, an effort is made to hold the squeegee so that the wiping blade is retained at the optimum cleaning angle. The present invention enables the optimum cleaning angle to be retained as the squeegee is moved toward the abutting wall or frame of a recessed window, because the angle of the squeegee head to the window can be maintained by easily altering the angle of the head to the handle. The ease in adjusting the angle allows improved performance through a range of positions and provides ergonomic benefits to the user. Even at the extreme edge of a recessed window or in difficult to reach positions, the invention preserves the optimum cleaning angle and the safety of the window washer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

A spring-biased pivoting squeegee10is now described in relation to the illustrations according to the invention. A spring-biased pivoting squeegee10comprises a head12to which is mounted a wiping blade14and a handle16. The head12has a generally planar geometry, a back portion18, and a forward portion20. The wiping blade14is mounted on the forward portion20generally transversely to the head. The wiping blade has a forward edge portion15.

The front part of the handle16is provided with generally hemispherical forward projecting outer plates30each having a center aperture32, best seen in FIG.2C. The back portion of the head is provided with generally hemispherical rear projecting inner plates34disposed generally perpendicular to the head, each having a center opening36. When the invention is fully assembled, the inner plates34on the head12fit cooperatively within and in concentric alignment with the outer plates30of the handle such that the center apertures32and center openings36are in axial alignment. A barrel nut38and screw40, when assembled and inserted in the center apertures32and center openings36, form a hinge for pivotal attachment of the handle16and head12around an axis42which is parallel to the wiping blade. So assembled, the forward edge portion15of the wiping blade14is disposed in planar alignment with axis42. SeeFIGS. 1A and 6A.

The pivoting head12of the squeegee is movable about the axis42between a rest position and a biased position in relation to the handle16, as seen inFIGS. 3B and 3A, respectively. The rest position displaces the head12, and thus the wiping blade14, at an angle relative to the handle so that the wiping blade14may easily be held at an optimum angle to the glass for cleaning effectiveness. In the art the optimum angle is generally known to be about forty degrees, but this could vary by perhaps ten degrees. In the rest position, the head12is prevented from over-pivoting to a greater angle by abutment of collar44with the bottom edge46of one of the outer plates30on the handle16as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2Band by direct abutment of face48with shelf112, as best seen by referring toFIGS. 2A,2C,5A, and5B. Pivoting the head to the biased position seen inFIG. 3Apositions the head in linear alignment with the handle, thus putting the wiping blade, head, and handle in overall planar alignment. The head12is prevented from over-pivoting beyond linear relation with the handle by juxtaposition of abutting wall50on the handle and the rear edge52of the top of the head12, as shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B.

Reference toFIGS. 2A,2C,4A,4B,5A, and5B show spring60fully contained inside the head12of the squeegee and biased toward the rest position. The spring60preferably comprises dual coils62which are looped around barrel nut38effectively capturing the spring at the axis of rotation42. A U-shaped projection64extends forward from coils62into head12. Rearward projections66extend up generally perpendicular to the U-shaped projection64and are held in tension against and in close proximity to dual backstops68of handle16. Preferably each backstop68has a concave forward face70against which projections66are seated to restrict lateral movement. The U-shaped forward projection64is held in place in the head12by a tension adjustment mechanism described below.

Referring toFIGS. 2C,5A and5B, it is seen that the tension adjustment mechanism comprises a tension adjustment knob80and tension adjustment nut82. The tension adjustment knob80has a knurled top84to facilitate turning of the knob. A barrel fitting86extends from the knurled top84and is seated in recess88in the top surface90of head12. The recess88is set at a depth appropriate to capture it in the head12against lateral movement, but sufficiently shallow that the knurled top84is retained at an accessible level above the top surface90of the head12. A linear projection92extends from the barrel fitting86through head12and is in threaded engagement with the tension adjustment nut82. The U-shaped projection64of the spring60passes around the linear projection92between the tension adjustment knob80and the tension adjustment nut82and is biased toward the tension adjustment nut82so that the tension adjustment knob80is retained in place in the head12. The tension adjustment nut82is freely disposed in a rectangularly shaped internal shaft94in the head12with the squared edges96of the nut82in sufficient proximity to the walls of shaft94that, when the tension adjustment knob80is turned, nut82is prevented from turning but travels longitudinally in shaft94. Accordingly, as shown by the shaded lines inFIG. 5B, as nut82is moved up or down by clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of knob80, the U-shaped projection64of the spring60moves up or down within head12to adjust the tension of the spring to a level appropriate to working conditions. Thus the invention provides a squeegee having the head12angularly displaced from the handle16in a rest position and held in the rest position by spring tension. The head is movable to a biased position by pressure bearing against the spring when needed. The head pivots back to the rest position when the pressure is released.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the dual coiled spring60described above, alternative embodiments of the invention could provide a single coil spring or a plurality of coiled springs. In other embodiments, leaf or helical springs could be adapted to use.

Referring now toFIGS. 2C,4A,6A and6B, a locking lever100is attached to head12but is recessed such that the lever100is generally flush with the lower surface102of the head. Screw104is threaded through retention ring106of lever100into aperture108in head12for pivoting movement of the lever100about an axis perpendicular to head12. Wave washer110is provided between the head of screw104and ring106so that, when screw104is backed off slightly from a fully tightened configuration, lever100is rotatable between a locking position and an unlocked position, but is held in limited tension sufficient to retain the lever100in the last position to which it was moved. When the head12is moved into the biased position relative to the handle16, the locking lever100can be moved into the locking position seen best in4A. In the locking position the rear face116of the locking lever100is in abutment with the forward-facing surface120of cutout122in outer plate30. The rear face116and forward-facing surface120are in compressed abutment resulting from the bias of the head12toward the rest position. The locking lever100is retained in place by head-to-head abutment with forward-facing surface120and lateral abutment with collar44. However, with slight back pressure on head12, the lever100can be pivoted from the locking position to the unlocked position shown inFIG. 4B. Anotch118is provided in handle16through which the lever passes as head12pivots to the rest position shown in FIG.6B.

In normal operation and in most circumstances the invention should be used like a conventional squeegee. After wetting the window surface with water or a cleaning solution, the squeegee is applied to the surface at an edge of the window generally with one end of the squeegee blade disposed in a corner of the window. The squeegee's wiping blade is then swept across all parts of the window surface where an optimal cleaning angle can be sustained with the head in the rest position. However, when cleaning recessed windows, as the squeegee blade is being drawn to a corner or edge adjacent an abutting wall, deep window frame or window ledge, forward pressure on the handle combined with continuing downward pressure on the wiping blade will pivot the head of the squeegee from the rest position into the biased position. When the head is in the biased position, the wiping blade of the squeegee can be maintained at an optimum cleaning angle to the glass surface even if the handle, head, and wiping blade are all in linear disposition and the handle is perpendicular to the window. Therefore, recessed windows can be wiped clean with the invention in a single continuous stroke rather than by the inefficient methods of removing the squeegee from the window and starting a new stroke or by hand wiping the remaining uncleaned portion of the window. In situations where windows reachable only with poles are also recessed, the invention eliminates the need to retract the pole, wipe the blade, then re-extend the pole for a second stroke. Similarly, when tall ground level windows are being cleaned using pole-mounted squeegees, the locking lever may set the head in the biased position such that the squeegee may be drawn down the entire height of the window to ground level in a single stroke while retaining the wiping blade at an optimal angle to the window surface.

There have thus been described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of a spring-biased pivoting squeegee according to the invention. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.