Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a cleaning tool for hanging blinds. The cleaning device of the present invention provides an easier and more convenient way of cleaning vertical blinds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a cleaning tool for hanging blinds. The cleaning device  100  of the present invention provides an easier and more convenient way of cleaning vertical blinds. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows perspective view of the cleaning tool device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the cleaning tool device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the cleaning tool device. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a cross-sectional front view of the cleaning tool device. 
         FIG. 4B  shows another cross-sectional front view of the cleaning tool device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4B , the present invention features a cleaning device  100  for hanging blinds which comprises a hollow elongated base  110  having a first end  112  and a second end  114 , an upper side  116  and a lower side  118 , a front side  120  and a rear side  122 . 
     The device  100  further comprises a hollow extension bar  124  having a first end  126  and a second end  128 . In some embodiments, the first end fluidly connects to the base. An at least partially hollow handle  130  fluidly connects to the second end of the extension bar and extends outwardly from the extension bar. 
     The device further comprises an L-shaped trigger  132  pivotably disposed within the handle where the L-shaped trigger pivots about on its vertex  134 . A first end  136  of the L-shaped trigger extends into the hollow extension bar, while a plurality of squeezing mechanisms  138  are disposed within and along a length  140  of the hollow elongated base. In some embodiments, each squeezing mechanism comprises a crank  142  comprising a central attachment point  144  lying on a mid-line  146 . An upper side facing attachment point  148  lies within the region between the mid-line and the upper side of the hollow elongated base and a lower side facing attachment point  150  lies between the region between the mid-line and the lower side of the hollow elongated base. 
     The device further comprises a lower side lever  152  having a first end  154  and a second end  156 . The first end of the lower side lever pivotably attaches to the lower side facing attachment point. The second end of the lower side lever pivotably attaches to a first end  158  of a lower side pad bar  160 , wherein the lower side pad bar projects through a lower side elongated slot  162  disposed on the front side of the hollow elongated base and along the mid-line. A second end  164  of the lower side pad bar comprises a pad  166 , and an upper side lever  168  having a first end  170  and a second end  172 , wherein the pad disposed on a pad bar  196  is removable. In some embodiments, the first end of the upper side lever pivotably attaches to the upper side facing attachment point. The second end of the upper side lever pivotably attaches to a first end  174  of an upper side pad bar  176 , wherein the upper side pad bar projects frontward through an upper side elongated slot  178  disposed on the front side of the hollow elongated base and along the mid-line. In some embodiments, a second end  180  of an upper side pad bar  182  comprises a pad  184 . In some embodiments, a side-to-side pulley  186  is disposed in the region between the mid-line and the lower side of the hollow elongated base and at a juncture  188  between the hollow extension bar and the elongated base. 
     In some embodiments, a front-to-back pulley  190  is disposed at the first end of the hollow extension bar. In some embodiments, a return spring  192  attaches to and pulls onto the lower side facing attachment point of the lever directly. The return spring pulls in a direction away from the hollow extension bar and causes the lower side pad bar and the upper side pad bar to slide away from each other. The lower side pad bar and the upper side pad bar slide within the lower side slot and the upper side slot, respectively. 
     The device further comprises a taught cable  194  attaching the lower side facing attachment point of the lever to the first end of the L-shaped trigger, wherein in between the taught cable loops through the side-to side pulley and the front-to-back pulley, wherein when the L-shaped trigger is compressed toward the handle, the taught cable pulls on the lower side facing attachment point toward a direction of the hollow extension bar, whereby causing the lower side pad bar and the upper side pad bar to slide toward each other, the lower side pad bar and the upper side pad bar slide within the lower side slot and the upper side slot, respectively. Having the pads close onto the blinds ensures a more thorough cleaning. 
     In some embodiments, the cleaning tool device comprises two squeezing mechanisms disposed within the hollow extension base. In some embodiments, the cleaning tool device comprises three squeezing mechanisms disposed within the hollow extension base. In some embodiments, the cleaning tool device comprises four squeezing mechanisms disposed within the hollow extension base. Having multiple squeezing mechanisms allows for faster cleaning of the blinds. 
     In some embodiments, the device further comprises a connector  600  which has a first end  602  and a second end  604 , wherein the connector is hollow inside. The first end  602  of the connector fluidly (and pivotably) connects with the second end of the extension bar, and the second end  604  of the connector fluidly connects with the extension base. The taught cable  194  can travel as before, but when there is a connector  600  in place between the extension bar and the elongated base, the taught cable  194  travels from the extension bar through the connector and then to the elongated base. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. 
     The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.