Abstract:
A window washing pole system incorporates a linear actuator that causes the washing head to move in a reciprocating manner to provide a scrubbing action for the washing of windows at a height above the operator&#39;s head. A standard extendable window washing pole system in which extensions can be added to vary the length of the apparatus, and thus the height the apparatus will reach, is adapted to be connected to the distal end of a linear actuator, or the actuator is incorporated into the proximal end of the pole system, and operable on compressed air to provide the reciprocating action for the washing head. Supply lines for delivering washing solution to the washing head can still be utilized. Controls for operating the linear actuator can be provided to enable the washing head to be operating in a scrubbing mode or in other modes, such as a squeegee operating mode.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/261,443, filed on Dec. 1, 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a hand held device for washing windows or other structure and, more particularly, to a window washing apparatus that incorporates an internal linear actuator to move the washing head of a pole system in a reciprocal manner to cause the washing head to scrub against the window without the operator exerting effort to make the washing head move vertically. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The service industry for cleaning building structure, particularly windows, that are out of reach by a worker standing on the base reference, such as the ground or the floor of a building, have utilized ladders to enable the worker to be elevated in order to reach the higher windows, or other structure being cleaned. The use of ladders requires relocation of the ladder for each window to be cleaned, and also introduces a risk factor of falling from the ladder, or the ladder failing structurally, resulting in injury to the worker utilizing the ladder. Other mechanisms have been incorporated into the building structures to lower workers from the roof of the structure to enable the workers to reach the elevated windows or other building structure. Again, a risk of falling or structural failure of the mechanism is present. 
         [0004]    For windows that are not extraordinarily high, extendable pole systems have been created to allow the worker to reach the elevated windows. Such devices incorporate a washing head having lines associated therewith to provide a source of water and cleaning solution to the washing head for application to the window as the washing head is moved to scrub against the window. Such pole systems have elongated handles that are usually manufactured in modules that can be coupled together to allow the washing head to be located as much as fifty or sixty feet above the worker&#39;s head. Adding additional handle modules to the washing device increases the weight of the washing device that has to be placed into a generally vertical orientation and then supported in that orientation by the worker to be moved manually in a vertically reciprocal manner needed to scrub the washing head against the window being cleaned. The extended pole system can have significant weight that rapidly tires the worker supporting and moving the washing device to clean elevated windows. 
         [0005]    It would be desirable to provide a window washing device in which the operator of the washing device is not required to manually move the washing head in a vertically reciprocal manner in order to provide a scrubbing action for the elevated windows. It would be further desirable to provide a window washing device in which the operator need only support in a substantially vertical orientation while standing on a base reference, such as the ground or the floor of a building structure. 
         [0006]    It would also be desirable to provide a device that can be coupled to a conventional pole system to assist in the vertically reciprocal movement of the elevated washing head, or incorporated into the pole system at the time of manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an extendable window washing device that incorporates a reciprocating linear actuator to move the washing head. 
         [0008]    It would be another object of this invention to incorporate a reciprocating linear actuator adapter onto an extendable window washing pole system that will move the washing head without requiring the worker holding the window washing apparatus to manually move the entire window washing apparatus. 
         [0009]    It would be another object of this invention to incorporate a reciprocating linear actuator into the structure of a pole system to improve the operational efficiency of the pole system in washing elevated windows. 
         [0010]    It is a feature of this invention that the person holding a window washing pole system configured to reach windows at a height above the person&#39;s head is not required to move the entire window washing pole system vertically reciprocal manner in order to wash the windows. 
         [0011]    It is an advantage of this invention that the person holding a window washing apparatus configured to reach heights above the person&#39;s head is less fatigued by the process of washing windows at a height above the person&#39;s head. 
         [0012]    It is another feature of this invention that the standard extendable window washing pole system can be connected to the end of a linear actuator adapter that is held by the operator to wash windows at heights above the operator&#39;s head. 
         [0013]    It is another advantage of this invention that the linear actuator causing the reciprocal movement of the washing head is located in the hands of the operator to maintain stability for the window washing apparatus. 
         [0014]    It is still another feature of this invention that the linear actuator can be operated with a source of compressed air to provide the power for reciprocating the window washing apparatus. 
         [0015]    It is yet another feature of this invention that the linear actuator can be either a single acting or double acting cylinder, wherein the weight of the window washing apparatus can compress the linear actuator when in the single acting configuration. 
         [0016]    It is still another advantage of this invention that an air compressor will provide the operative power for reciprocating the window washing apparatus without requiring access to the facilities of the building being cleaned. 
         [0017]    It is still another feature of this invention that a supply of cleaning solution for the window washing apparatus can be delivered to the washing head while the window washing apparatus is being operated in a reciprocating manner. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for washing windows at a height above the worker&#39;s head that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, simple and effective in use. 
         [0019]    These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a window washing pole system that incorporates a linear actuator to cause the washing head to move in a reciprocating manner and provide a scrubbing action for the washing of windows at a height above the operator&#39;s head. A standard extendable window washing pole system in which extensions can be added to vary the length of the apparatus, and thus the height the apparatus will reach, is adapted to be connected to the distal end of a linear actuator, or the actuator is incorporated into the proximal end of the pole system, and operable on compressed air to provide the reciprocating action for the washing head. Supply lines for delivering washing solution to the washing head can still be utilized. Controls for operating the linear actuator can be provided to enable the washing head to be operating in a scrubbing mode or in other modes, such as a squeegee operating mode. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a window washing device incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the washing head being a brush mounted on the distal end of a handle with the actuator member connected to the proximal end of the handle; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the window washing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the window washing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the actuator member connected to the proximal end of the handle of the washing device, corresponding to lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , the linear actuator being shown in a retracted position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the actuator member similar to that of  FIG. 4 , except that the linear actuator has been extended to the extended position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the adapter fitting at the distal end of the actuator member, corresponding to circle  6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a central portion of the actuator member corresponding to circle  7  to show the distal fitting for the linear actuator within the actuator member; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the proximal end of the actuator member corresponding to circle  8  to show the base fitting for the linear actuator within the actuator member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Referring now to drawings, a window washing pole system incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The window washing pole system  10  includes a washing head  15  mounted on the distal end of a telescopic handle  13  to position the washing head  15  at a location that is typically elevated beyond the normal reach of the operator using the window washing pole system  10 . The washing head  15  is depicted as a brush, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the washing head  15  can take one of several different configurations, including a squeegee or a cloth member, so long as the purpose of engaging the surface of the window to clean the window can be accomplished. Furthermore, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the drawings can reflect a first configuration of the instant invention where the linear actuator is a separate adapter that can be coupled onto the proximal end of the conventional pole system, or another configuration in which the linear actuator is incorporated into the proximal end of the structure of the pole system at the time of original manufacture. 
         [0030]    Typically, the window washing pole system  10  is provided with supply lines  17  that deliver water and/or a cleaning solution to the washing head  15  for application to the surface of the window in conjunction with the engagement of the washing head  15  to scrub and clean the surface of the window. Exemplary supply lines  17  are depicted in the  FIGS. 1-3  as being carried internally of the telescopic handle  13  with a pair of delivery lines  18  delivering water and/or cleaning solution directly to the washing head  15 , and the supply line exiting the proximal end of the telescopic handle  13  to connect to a supply of water and/or cleaning solution on the ground. One skilled in the art will further recognize that these supply lines could be carried externally of the handle  13  so long as sufficient slack is provided for the extension of the telescopic handle. 
         [0031]    The washing head  15 , supply lines  17 ,  18  and the telescopic handle  13  are commercially available components that can be purchased from a number of suppliers for which the handles  13  can be provided in a number of different configurations. For the purposes of the instant invention, any of these commercially available washing heads  15  and handles  13  can be utilized in association with the actuator member  20 , which would form an adapter to the conventional pole system, according to the principles of the instant invention. The primary differences in utilizing the adapter actuator member  20  will lie in the manner in which the handle  13  is connected to the actuator member  20 . Some handles  13  are telescopic, others are in modular form and the proximal ends thereof can be configured with threads to screw into a second handle, or in the instant invention to the actuator member  20 . The number of handles  13  connected to one another and, ultimately, to the washing head  15 , depends on the height of the window (or other appropriate building structure) to be cleaned. As an alternative, the actuator member  20  can be built into the structure of the pole system  10  at the time of manufacture to provide an integral actuator member  20 , operable in the same manner as described below with respect to the adapter configuration. 
         [0032]    The actuator member  20  is best seen in cross-section in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The actuator member  20  includes an internal linear actuator  22 , which is preferably in the form of a pneumatic cylinder. One skilled in the art will recognize that the linear actuator  22  could take other forms, including a hydraulic cylinder, operated with fluid rather than air, or an electric screw device. The pneumatic cylinder  22  is preferable because of the lightweight configuration thereof. Hydraulic cylinders would be significantly heavier than a pneumatic cylinder and carries a risk of leaking hydraulic fluid, which could be heated through the operation of the hydraulic cylinder and cause injury to the operator. Electrically powered screw actuators are also heavier than pneumatic cylinders and require an electrical connection for operation. 
         [0033]    The pneumatic cylinder  22  is located at the proximal end of the actuator member  20 , which is typically where the operator would be grasping the window washing device  10  for support thereof. The pneumatic cylinder  22  has an inlet port  23  at the proximal end thereof, best seen in  FIG. 8 , for the introduction of compressed air into the pneumatic cylinder  22 . Internally of the pneumatic cylinder  22  is the extendable rod  25  that has a base  26  that rests against the proximal fitting  24  housing the inlet port  23  at the proximal end of the pneumatic cylinder  22 . The base  26  is sealed against the interior walls of the hollow actuator member  20  so that when compressed air is introduced into the inlet port  23 , the base  26  slides through the hollow actuator member  20  to extend the rod  25  through the distal fitting  29  at the distal end of the pneumatic cylinder  22  until the base engages the distal fitting  29 . 
         [0034]    As best seen in  FIGS. 4-6 , the rod  25  is connected to the base  27  of an extendable tube  28  which is telescopically received within the hollow actuator member  20 . Thus, whenever the rod  25  is extended, the extendable tube projects upwardly through the end adapter  32 . With the handle  13  connected to the remote end of the extendable tube  28 , the entire washing head  15  will move vertically upward corresponding to the stroke of the pneumatic cylinder  22 . 
         [0035]    To permit the rod  25 , as well as the extendable tube  28  and the washing head  15 , to retract, the source of compressed air connected to the inlet port  23  will be operated to reduce the pressure applied to the base  26  allowing the weight of the washing head  15  and handle  13  to push the base member  26  downwardly through the pneumatic cylinder  22  to the proximal fitting  24 . Alternatively, the pneumatic cylinder could be configured to be double-acting, whereupon the distal fitting  29  would have an outlet port  31  through which air between the movable base  26  and the distal fitting  29  would escape when the base  26  moves toward the distal fitting  29 . Then for retraction of the rod  25 , the pressure would be reversed such that compressed air would be delivered to the distal fitting  29  and the air trapped between the base  26  and the proximal fitting  24  could escape through the lower fitting  23 . 
         [0036]    A repeated cycling of the extension and contraction of the pneumatic cylinder  22  will result in a vertical scrubbing movement of the washing head  15  when placed against the surface of the window to be cleaned. Preferably, the exterior surface of the pneumatic actuator  22  would have a control  35  mounted thereon for convenient access by the operator to control the movement of the air into and out of the pneumatic cylinder  22 , and thereby control the scrubbing action of the washing head  15 . The control mechanism  35  will also permit the operator to select different modes of operation, including, for example, the length of stroke of the washing head  15  during a scrubbing configuration, or the utilization of a squeegee device (not shown) that would provide an operative down stroke for the squeegee device. 
         [0037]    In operation, the operator will connect the extendable tube  28  to the near end of the handle  13  with the washing head  15  positioned remotely therefrom. The length of the handle  13 , or the number of modules connected together to form the handle  13 , will depend on the height of the window to be cleaned. The operator will connect the supply line  17  to the supply of water, preferably pure water (deionized) which provides the best cleaning of remotely located windows, and to a supply of a cleaning solution that will be added to the water supply as needed for proper cleaning of the windows. 
         [0038]    The inlet port  23  of the actuator member  20 , and if a double acting cylinder is being utilized also the outlet port  31  at the distal end of the pneumatic cylinder  22 , will be connected to a source of compressed air (not shown), preferably an air compressor that will provide a continuous supply of compressed air. The operator will control a switch (not shown) that will either operatively connect the inlet port  23  to the source of compressed air, and then disconnect the inlet port  23  from the source of compressed air, so that the single-acting pneumatic cylinder  22  will extend upwardly to an extended position and then retract downwardly into a retracted position due to the weight of the handle  13  and washing head  15  moving the rod  25  toward the inlet port  23 . In this manner, the movement of the rod  25  between the retracted and extended positions creates a scrubbing motion for the washing head  15  against the surface of the window being washed. The preferably length of movement of the rod  25  between the retracted and extended positions is about two feet. 
         [0039]    Preferably, the controller  35  will be provided that automatically controls the movement of compressed air into and out of the pneumatic cylinder  22  in a cyclical manner. In this configuration, the operator will need to turn a switch to activate the controller  35  to move the washing head  15  up and down in a reciprocal manner to provide the scrubbing action to the washing head  15  until the operator disengages the switch. Such a controller  35  would be operable with either the single-acting or double-acting pneumatic cylinder. For the double-acting pneumatic cylinder  22 , the controller  35  would need, as an example, to operate a valve that switches the supply of compressed air between the inlet port  23  and the outlet port  31 . In a squeegee operating mode, the controller  35  can be utilized to start the selected down stroke to move the properly placed squeegee downwardly along the window, and perhaps an automatic repositioning of the squeegee head before positioning for a subsequent down stroke operation. Such an operation to move a squeegee head can be accomplished with either the single-acting or double-acting air cylinder. 
         [0040]    Once assembled and operating, the operator can move the washing head  15  from one window to the next while the washing head continues to cycle movement vertically against the surface of the window being cleaned. Once the job is completed, the supply of compressed air is deactivated, and the handle  13  is disconnected from the actuator member  20  and the entire washing device  10  can be disassembled and stored for transport to the next job site. 
         [0041]    It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.