Cleaning apparatus

A window cleaning apparatus includes a handle, a paddle and a cleaning element. The paddle is removably attachable to the handle. The handle includes oppositely extending end pins which are pivotally received in receivers carried on the paddle. At least one of the receivers has a bore which receives on of the handle end pins. At least one of the receivers is formed with separable members for forming a snap-connection with one of the handle end pins. The cleaning element has side edges with elastic to draw the ends of the side edges of the body inward to form an opening smaller than the outer diameter of the paddle to releasably attach the cleaning element about the paddle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to cleaning apparatus and more specifically, to apparatus for cleaning vehicle windows.

2. Description of the Art

Various tools are available to clean the exterior surface of vehicle windows. Such tools typically include a handle and a perpendicularly oriented cleaning element, such as a wiper blade, sponge rubber pad and combinations thereof. Water or ammonia based cleaning fluid is applied to the exterior surface of the vehicle window and scraped off by the tools to remove debris. Such tools are easy to use on the exterior surface of vehicle windows since the exterior surface of the vehicle windows is easily accessible both to apply cleaning fluid to the windows and to remove the fluid and debris from the windows.

However, such tools are ineffective in cleaning the inner surface of vehicle windows. The extreme angles of the vehicle windshield and backlight with respect to the dashboard and rear seat shelf in conjunction with adjacent vehicle components, such as the rear view mirror, steering wheel and rear, center brake light housing make it difficult to get the edges of a cleaning tool close to the extreme lower edges of the windshield and backlight. In addition, applying fluid, which is typically in the form of a spray, to the inner surfaces of the windshield and backlight results in a significant amount of the spray being deposited on the underlying horizontal surfaces adjacent to the windows, such as the vehicle dashboard and the rear shelf.

Thus, the most common implements used to clean the inner surfaces of vehicle windows are sponges, rags and paper towels. Manual force is exerted through the user's hands to manually apply cleaning fluid and/or spray to the inner surface of the windows and then to manipulate the cleaning element in a back and forth or circular motion across the surface of the windows. While a user may be able with a considerable amount of effort to clean most of the inner surface of the vehicle window, it is still difficult to completely clean the edges of the window and, more importantly, the lower edges of a vehicle windshield and backlight.

A variety of tools have been devised specifically to clean the inner surfaces of vehicle windows. Such tools are typically formed of a pad which is connected to an elongated handle. A cleaning element is attached to one side of the pad by various means including clips, straps, or hook and pile fasteners. However, each of these tools is specifically devised for a single type of cleaning operation, such as scrubbing or drying, but not both.

While such tools improve the reach of the user and enable the user to clean the lower edges of vehicle windows, and in particular, the windshield and backlight, it is believed that further improvements can be made to cleaning apparatus to make the cleaning apparatus easier to use in different applications, to provide easily detachable and interchangeable mounting of different shaped pads or plates to the handle, as well as providing easy replacement of wet, soiled cleaning elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cleaning apparatus particularly suited for cleaning and drying surfaces.

In one aspect, the cleaning apparatus includes a substantially rigid paddle having first and second opposed surfaces. The paddle may have a concave bend between opposed ends. A handle is pivotally connected on one end to the first surface of the paddle. A cleaning element is removably affixed to the paddle. The cleaning element includes a first surface mountable in registry with the second surface of the paddle and side edges disposed over a peripheral portion of the paddle. Elastic means are provided on the side edges of the cleaning element for elastically securing the cleaning element about the paddle.

Hinge means are cooperatively formed on the first surface of the paddle and the one end of the handle for pivotally connecting the paddle to the handle. Preferably, the hinge means includes first and second pivot pins extending coaxially outward from opposed sides of the one end of the handle. First and second receivers are mounted on the paddle for receiving the first and second pivot pins, respectively.

At least one receiver is in the form of a snap-like receiver formed of two resilient legs extending from the paddle. The legs are biased apart by insertion of one handle pivot pin therethrough and then close around the pivot pin to pivotally hold the pivot pin in the receiver. One of the receivers has a bore formed in a solid body and pivotally receives one of the pivot pins.

In another aspect, the above-described cleaning apparatus forms part of a cleaning system which includes a first handle, a plurality of cleaning elements of the same or different shape, and a plurality of paddles, at least some of which have a different peripheral shape. The cleaning elements are easily mountable onto any of the paddles to enable a clean and dry cleaning element to be used when needed. In addition, each of the paddles is quickly and easily attachable and detachable from the handle for ease in using the cleaning system of the present invention.

The cleaning apparatus of the present invention affords numerous advantages over prior cleaning apparatus devised for cleaning various surfaces. The present cleaning apparatus enables a plurality of different shaped paddles and attached scrubbing and drying elements to be detachably mounted on one handle for use in practically any cleaning application. The cleaning apparatus lends itself to use as part of a cleaning system formed of one or more handles, a plurality of different shaped paddles, and releasably attachable cleaning elements. The cleaning elements are easily mountable and removable from the paddles and the paddles are easily attachable and detachable to either handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawing, and toFIGS. 1–5in particular, there is depicted a first embodiment of a cleaning apparatus10constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. It will be understood that although the following description of the use of the cleaning apparatus10in cleaning and drying the interior surfaces of vehicle windows, the cleaning apparatus10may also be applied in a variety of other cleaning applications, such as to clean and dry the exterior surface of the vehicle windows, house or building windows, mirrors, or practically any surface that requires the use of a cleaning fluid and its removable from the surface being cleaned.

In general, the cleaning apparatus10, includes a paddle12, a handle14, and a drying element16.

As shown in one aspect inFIGS. 1–3, the paddle12is formed of a generally planar plate20having one of a number of different configurations or sizes. The plate20is preferably formed of a lightweight material, with a suitable plastic material being preferred. However, other materials, such as metal, wood, composites, etc., may also be employed.

The plate20, in one example, has a generally polygonal configuration with a plurality of exterior side edges each denoted by reference number22. Rounded corners or radii are formed at the juncture of each of two side edges22.

The plate20is also formed with a first or rear surface50and a second, opposed, front surface52.

The plate20may be provided in two different sizes, such as a small size and a large size. By example only, a small size plate20may have dimensions of 5″×7″. The larger plate20may have dimensions of 7″×9″. It will be understood that the plate20may also be formed with a square configuration of equal length side edges22and with other square or rectangular dimensions as needed for a particular cleaning application.

The paddle12may also be formed in other configurations for drying different shaped windows or portions of a vehicle window. Thus, the plate may have a general oval shape with maximum dimensions of 7″×9″ for a large oval shaped plate 5″×7″ for a smaller oval shaped plate. All of the exterior surface or side edges of the paddle12are smoothly curved without any sharp projections or corners.

FIGS. 4 and 5depict plate34which may also be used to form the paddle12of the cleaning apparatus10. In this aspect, the plate34has a first flat side edge36which smoothly merges into two generally perpendicularly extending side edges38and40. The side edges38and40have an end portion42and44, respectively, which tapers inwardly toward each other thereby narrowing the width of the plate34at a second end46opposite from the side edge36. The tapered portions42and44extend to a smoothly rounded apex or second end46.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the paddle12, regardless of its plate configuration20,30or34, may have a generally planar shape. A slight concave bend may also be formed in any of the plates20or34between opposed ends36and46.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, the handle14of the cleaning apparatus10may take one of a variety of different shapes to provide a convenient gripping surface even when wet. Thus, by example, the handle14, is formed of a lightweight material, such as a somewhat rigid, although flexible and slightly bendable plastic. The handle14is formed of an elongated member56of one of at least two distinct lengths and having a first end58and an opposed second end60. The elongated member56extends generally planarly between the first and second ends58and60. Although the member56may have a constant cross-section and a constant width dimension from end to end, in order to provide a more easily grippable surface14, the member56is formed with a first enlargement62at the first end58. The opposed side edges of the member56taper inwardly from the first enlargement62to a smaller width intermediate portion64before tapering outwardly to a second enlarged portion66adjacent the second end. At least a portion of the first enlargement62and the intermediate portion64of the member56may be formed with a rough or contoured exterior surface, such as a series of serrated, spaced ridges or projections as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, to provide an easily grippable surface even when wet.

The cleaning apparatus10also includes means for mounting any of the plates20and34, one at a time, to the handle14. The mounting means includes means for detachably mounting the plates20and34to the handle14. Means are provided for pivotally and detachably mounting the plates20and34to the handle14.

According to one aspect shown more clearly inFIG. 2, the mounting means includes a pivot pin72mounted or unitarily formed on the first side edge68of the member56. The opposite or second side edge70is has a pivot pin88mounted or unitarily formed thereon.

As shown inFIG. 2, the pins72and88are co-axially aligned and form part of hinge means which are rotatably mountable in opposed hinge member or receivers102and104. Each of the hinge members or receivers102and104are preferably unitarily formed as part of the first or rear surface50of the paddle12. Since the paddle12is preferably formed of a plastic, the hinge members102and104may be unitarily molded as part of the paddle12.

Each of the receivers102and104are in the form of solid bodies which are unitarily formed as part of the plate20and project upwardly from the first rear surface50of the plate20. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, each of the receivers102and104is formed with an inner face opposing the inner face of the opposed receiver and in a smoothly curved or arcuate shaped outer surface. Alternately, the receivers102and104may be simple flanges projecting perpendicularly from the first rear surface50of the plate20. Each receiver102and104has an aperture106and108for receiving the pivot pins72and88, respectively.

Thus, the internal bores or apertures106and108, respectively, receive the pivot pins88and72, respectively, on the handle14to pivotally couple any of the plates20and34to the handle14and enable substantially 180° pivotal movement of the handle14relative to the plates20and34.

Referring now toFIGS. 6–9, another aspect of a cleaning apparatus200is depicted. In this aspect, the cleaning apparatus200includes a handle202having a mounting hangar204at a first end206. A hand grip portion208extends from the first end206and is formed or covered with a high friction, easily grippable material.

The handle202continues from the hand grip portion208through a solid portion210to a T-shaped second end. Mounting pins214and216, which may be integrally molded as part of the end212or fixedly mounted in the end212, project oppositely from the end212.

A paddle220has a generally triangular shape formed of a base222, opposed angled or gently curved sides224and226and an apex228opposite the base222. The center portion of the sides224and226may be raised slightly from a plane extending between the ends222and228along a longitudinal axis of the paddle220to form at least the bottom surface of the paddle220in a concave shape. The entire paddle220may have the same concave shape. Alternately, the central portion of the paddle220may have a greater thickness than the end portions222and228.

Receivers230and232are integrally or separately fixed to one surface of the paddle220. The receiver230is in the form of a body having an arcuate outer shape, for example. A bore234extends through at least one side of the first receiver230and opens toward the opposite receiver232.

In this aspect, the receiver232forms a snap connection with the pin214on the handle202. The receiver232, shown in greater detail inFIGS. 7–9, is formed of first and second resiliently movable, spring legs240and242. The legs240and242project from the top surface of the paddle220to an outer end244and246, respectively. The inner surfaces of the legs240and242have a generally arcuate shape248and250, sized to pivotally receive and capture the pin214on the handle202, as clearly shown inFIG. 9. The inner space or distance between the ends244and246of the legs240and242, respectively, is less than the outer diameter of the pin214.

In use, the pin214is forced through the opening between the ends244and246of the legs240and242bending the legs240and242outward until the entire pin214passes through the ends244and246. At this time, the legs240and242snap back to a normal position rotatably capturing the pin214therein.

If it is desirable to separate the handle202from the paddle220, a reverse operation is employed in which the pin214is forcibly pulled through the opening between the ends244and246of the legs240and242.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, an aperture252may be formed at a bottom portion of the legs240and242to facilitate resilient movement or bending of the legs240and242as described above.

It will be understood that the snap-connection provided by the receiver232can also be repeated for the receiver230by forming the receiver230in the same manner as the receiver232.

A first drying element aspect of the cleaning element which is removably mountable on the paddle12is shown inFIG. 3. In this embodiment, the drying element is in the form of a pliable body110sized to releasably mount about the plate20of the first embodiment of the paddle12. Thus, the body110has a first major surface112which is disposable adjacent a second front surface52of the plate20, a continuous side edge114extending from the first major surface112, and a peripheral edge116surrounding an open end opposite the first surface112. The peripheral edge116may be stitched to prevent unraveling or separation of the fibers forming in the body110. Preferably, the body110is formed of an absorbent material, such as cotton, etc.

Elastic means118in the form of an elastic band is stitched or otherwise attached to the peripheral edge116of the body110to provide an elastic force for closing the peripheral edge116to a small open diameter to thereby securely, yet releasably mount the body110about the paddle12. At the same time, the elastic means118allows the body11to be easily removed from the paddle12and replaced with a clean, dry body110when necessary.

It will be understood that the body110may be provided in different sizes to conform to the shape and size of the large or small plates20described above.

Yet another body130, shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, may be used as the cleaning element16for the plate34. Like the other bodies110, the body130is formed of a first, generally planar surface132, a side edge134which terminates in continuous peripheral edge136surrounding an opening, and elastic means138secured to the peripheral edge136. The peripheral edge136and the side edge134are preferably formed in the shape of the plate34to enable the body130to be removably mounted about and to conform to the shape of the plate34. As shown inFIG. 5, an absorbent layer or pad140of substantially the same shape as the plate34is interposed between a major surface of the plate34and the first major surface132of the body130to provide fluid absorbent features. The pad140can be loosely interposed between the plate34and the body130or fixed on the plate34by adhesive or other suitable means. The body130, in this embodiment, is preferably formed of a mesh or rough material to act as a scrubbing surface in conjunction with a fluid filled absorbent layer140which dispenses fluid during the scrubbing operation. Thus, the body130and absorbent layer140function as a scrubbing element to apply cleaning fluid to a window and, with suitable scrubbing movement, to simultaneously loosen dirt and other debris from the window.

The various drying and cleaning bodies110and130shown inFIGS. 3–5may be used to perform a variety of cleaning or drying tasks. Any of the bodies110may be used merely as a dusting cloth to remove dust from a vehicle window or other interior vehicle surface. Further, the body130shown inFIG. 4and its associated plate34with the rounded end46and interior absorbent layer140is ideally suited to act as a sponge and scrubbing surface in applying cleaning fluid or water to the interior surface of a vehicle window and scrubbing or removing debris stuck on a window.

Once the absorbent layer140is wetted with the cleaning fluid, the handle14of the cleaning apparatus10is grasped by one hand of the user and then moved adjacent to the window until the body130, contacts the interior surface of the window. The cleaning element10is then moved in any motion, such as back and forth, sideways, circular or combinations thereof to apply the cleaning fluid to the entire interior surface of the window and to remove any debris stuck on the window. The body130and plate34are then removed from the handle14by simply reversing the insertion operation as described above to detach the plate34from the handle14. One of the other bodies110and its associated plate20, respectively, can then attach to the handle14as described above. The body110is then brought into engagement with the window and again moved in any fashion across the entire surface of the window to dry the previously applied cleaning fluid and remove any loose debris from the window.

If, at any time, the body110becomes saturated with cleaning fluid or accumulates a significant amount of dirt or other debris, the user may simply remove the body110from the associated paddle12and then mount a clean, dry body110on the paddle12to continue with the cleaning operation.

Thus, there has been disclosed a unique cleaning apparatus and cleaning system for cleaning and drying the interior surfaces of windows and, particularly, vehicle windows which is easy to use, is capable of scrubbing and drying all of the window surfaces, including the lower edges adjacent the vehicle dash board and rear shelf, has easily detachably mounted paddles and scrubbing and drying elements enabling different shaped paddles and fresh, dry cleaning elements to be easily attached to the handle for scrubbing and drying various portions of or different shaped windows as well as enabling the cleaning elements to be easily removed when wet or soiled and a new element applied to the paddle.