Combination cleaning tool

A combination cleaning tool for cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass surfaces such as windshields. The cleaning tool includes an elongate shaft with a head portion coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft. An elongate resiliently flexible squeegee blade is coupled to the head portion. A resiliently compressible sponge member is coupled to the head portion distal the squeegee blade. Coupled to each end of the head portion is a resiliently compressible scrubbing pad each designed for scrubbing debris off of a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to windshield cleaning tools and more 
particularly pertains to a new combination cleaning tool for cleaning 
surfaces, in particular, glass surfaces such as windshields. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of windshield cleaning tools is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, windshield cleaning tools heretofore devised and utilized 
are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,535; U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,370; 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 327,146; U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,212; U.S. Pat. No. 
913,304; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,528. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new combination 
cleaning tool. The inventive device includes an elongate shaft with a head 
portion coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft. An elongate 
resiliently flexible squeegee blade is coupled to the head portion. A 
resiliently compressible sponge member is coupled to the head portion 
distal the squeegee blade. Coupled to each end of the head portion is a 
resiliently compressible scrubbing pad each designed for scrubbing debris 
off of a surface. 
In these respects, the combination cleaning tool according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass 
surfaces such as windshields. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
windshield cleaning tools now present in the prior art, the present 
invention provides a new combination cleaning tool construction wherein 
the same can be utilized for cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass 
surfaces such as windshields. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new combination cleaning 
tool apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the 
windshield cleaning tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features 
that result in a new combination cleaning tool which is not anticipated, 
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art 
windshield cleaning tools, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongate shaft 
with a head portion coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft. An 
elongate resiliently flexible squeegee blade is coupled to the head 
portion. A resiliently compressible sponge member is coupled to the head 
portion distal the squeegee blade. Coupled to each end of the head portion 
is a resiliently compressible scrubbing pad each designed for scrubbing 
debris off of a surface. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is 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 purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or 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 invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool apparatus and method which has many of the 
advantages of the windshield cleaning tools mentioned heretofore and many 
novel features that result in a new combination cleaning tool which is not 
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the 
prior art windshield cleaning tools, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new combination 
cleaning tool which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such combination cleaning tool economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool which provides in the apparatuses and methods of 
the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool for cleaning surfaces, in particular, glass 
surfaces such as windshields. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new combination 
cleaning tool which includes an elongate shaft with a head portion coupled 
to the distal end of the elongate shaft. An elongate resiliently flexible 
squeegee blade is coupled to the head portion. A resiliently compressible 
sponge member is coupled to the head portion distal the squeegee blade. 
Coupled to each end of the head portion is a resiliently compressible 
scrubbing pad each designed for scrubbing debris off of a surface. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool that includes portions adapted for scrubbing 
debris such as bug splatters and bird guano off of a windshield more 
efficiently than traditional combination squeegee sponge tools. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
combination cleaning tool that has detachable scrubbing portions for easy 
and convenient replacement when worn. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 
thereof, a new combination cleaning tool embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the combination cleaning tool 10 
generally comprises an elongate shaft 11 with a head portion 16 coupled to 
the distal end 13 of the elongate shaft 11. An elongate resiliently 
flexible squeegee blade 19 is coupled to the head portion 16. A 
resiliently compressible sponge member 22 is coupled to the head portion 
16 distal the squeegee blade 19. Coupled to each end of the head portion 
16 is a resiliently compressible scrubbing pad 25,26 each designed for 
scrubbing debris off of a surface. 
In use, the cleaning tool 10 is designed for cleaning surfaces in 
particular glass surfaces such as a windshield. In closer detail, an 
elongate shaft 11 has opposite proximal and distal ends 12,13, and a 
longitudinal axis extending between the ends 12,13 of the elongate shaft 
11. The elongate shaft 11 has a length defined between the proximal and 
distal ends 12,13 of the elongate shaft 11 preferably greater than about 6 
inches. Ideally, the length of the elongate shaft 11 is about 24 inches. 
In the preferred embodiment, the elongate shaft 11 has a generally 
cylindrical outer configuration and a generally circular transverse cross 
section generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate 
shaft 11. 
The elongate shaft 11 has a gripping portion 14 adjacent the proximal end 
12 of the elongate shaft 11. The gripping portion 14 is designed for 
grasping by a hand of a user. In the preferred embodiment, the gripping 
portion 14 has a generally cylindrical outer configuration and a generally 
circular transverse cross section generally perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft 11. The transverse cross section 
of the gripping portion 14 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the 
transverse cross section of the elongate shaft 11. Preferably, the 
proximal end 12 of the elongate shaft 11 also has threaded bore 15 
therein. The threaded bore 15 is designed for threadably receiving a 
threaded end of an elongate extension rod designed for extending the 
overall length of the elongate shaft 11 so that the cleaning tool 10 may 
be used on more distant surfaces. Ideally, the threaded bore 15 of the 
proximal end 12 of the elongate shaft 11 has a longitudinal axis coaxial 
with the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft 11. 
The head portion 16 is coupled to the distal end 13 of the elongate shaft 
11. Preferably, the head portion 16 is generally cylindrical in 
configuration and has a pair of opposite ends 17,18, and a longitudinal 
axis extending between the ends 17,18 of the head portion 16. The head 
portion 16 is ideally generally cylindrical in configuration and has a 
generally circular transverse cross section perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the head portion 16. The transverse cross section of 
the head portion 16 defines a diameter and a circumference. The 
longitudinal axis of the head portion 16 is extended generally 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft 11. The head 
portion 16 has a length defined between the ends 17,18 of the head portion 
16. Preferably, the length of the head portion 16 is more than about 
one-quarter the length of the elongate shaft 11. Even more preferably, the 
length of the head portion 16 is about one-half the length of the elongate 
shaft 11. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the head portion 16 is 
greater than about 6 inches to permit cleaning of an adequate amount of a 
windshield in a single pass. In an ideal embodiment, the length of the 
head portion 16 is about 12 inches. 
The elongate resiliently flexible squeegee blade 19 is coupled to the head 
portion 16. In use, the squeegee blade 19 is designed for drawing across a 
surface to remove water from the surface. The squeegee blade 19 ideally 
comprises a resiliently flexible rubber or plastic material. The squeegee 
blade 19 has a pair of opposite ends 20,21 and a length defined between 
the ends 20,21 of the squeegee blade 19. The squeegee blade 19 has a 
generally triangular cross section transverse the length of the squeegee 
blade 19. The length of the squeegee blade 19 extends between the ends 
17,18 of the head portion 16. Preferably, the length of the squeegee blade 
19 is extended generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the 
elongate shaft 11 and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the 
head portion 16. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the squeegee 
blade 19 extends across more than one-half of the length of the head 
portion 16. Ideally, the length of the squeegee blade 19 extends across 
essentially the entire length of the head portion 16. 
The resiliently compressible sponge member 22 is coupled to the head 
portion 16 distal the squeegee blade 19. The sponge member 22 is designed 
for absorbing fluid therein. The sponge member 22 has an exterior face 23 
and a length extending between the ends 17,18 of the head portion 16. The 
length of the sponge member 22 extends generally across the entire length 
of the head portion 16. Preferably, the sponge member 22 has a generally 
semi-circular transverse cross section generally perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the head portion 16. The transverse cross section of 
the sponge member 22 preferably extends across about one-half of the 
circumference of the head portion 16. Preferably, the sponge member 22 has 
a fabric material mesh netting 24 over the exterior face 23 of the sponge 
member adapted for aiding scrubbing off of debris from a windshield when 
using the sponge member on the windshield. 
The tool 10 includes a pair of resiliently compressible scrubbing pads 
25,26. Each of the scrubbing pads 25,26 comprises an aggregation of 
resiliently flexible filaments 27 (typically plastic filaments) forming an 
abrasive surface designed for scrubbing debris such as insects and guano 
off of a glass surface without scratching the glass surface. One of the 
scrubbing pads is detachably coupled to one of the ends of the head 
portion while another of the scrubbing pads is detachably coupled to 
another of the ends of the head portion. Each of the scrubbing pads 25,26 
has a generally disk-shaped outer configuration with a center axis which 
are preferably generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the head 
portion 16. 
In a preferred embodiment, each of the ends 17,18 of the head portion 16 
has a generally circular hole 28 therein. Each of the ends 17,18 of the 
head portion 16 also has an annular ridge 29 extending radially inwards 
into the associated hole 28 of the head portion 16. The holes 28 of the 
head portion 16 are generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the 
head portion 16. Each of the scrubbing pads 25,26 has a generally circular 
rigid base portion 30 coupled thereto. The base portions 30 of the 
scrubbing pads 25,26 each has plurality of resiliently deflectable tangs 
31 outwardly extending therefrom. Ideally, as illustrated in FIG. 5, each 
associated pair of scrubbing pads and base portions has diameters 
generally equal to one another. The tangs 31 of each base portion 30 are 
arranged in a generally ring shaped configuration on the respective base 
portion 30, each of the tangs 31 has terminating at an outwardly radiating 
ridge 32. The tangs 31 of each of the scrubbing pads 25,26 are inserted 
into the hole 28 of the adjacent associated end of the head portion 16 
past the respective annular ridge 29 of the associated hole 28. The tangs 
31 are biased radially outwards from the holes 28 of the ends 17,18 of the 
head portion 16 to releasably hold the scrubbing pads 25,26 to the ends 
17,18 of the head portion 16. 
In use, the sponge member 22 is soaked in a cleaning fluid such as water 
mixed with a soap detergent or windshield wiper fluid and then run over 
the windshield to wet the windshield. One of the scrubbing pads 25,26 is 
then rubbed over debris on the windshield to loosen and remove the debris 
from the windshield. Finally, the squeegee blade 19 is then run over the 
windshield to remove the fluid and loosed debris from the windshield. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.