Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a fluid-powered automobile cleaning and detailing apparatus that utilizes a fluid, such as water from a garden hose, to generate a highly pressurized stream that forcibly rotates an array of turbine blades within a head assembly communicating with an output shaft that projects outside of the head assembly to rotatably power an attached cleaning or detailing implement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application seeks priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/583,278 filed on Jan. 5, 2012 entitled “Water-Powered Automobile Cleaning Apparatus and Related Methods,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of automobile maintenance. More particularly, the present invention pertains to the field of automotive car washing apparatuses and methods. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Automotive cleaning and maintenance is a common pastime for those individuals wishing to keep their cars in an aesthetically pleasing state of cleanliness. Unfortunately, this typically equates to either costly expenditures on laborers who clean cars by hand or, alternatively, back-breaking manual labor by the owner. Other portions of the car wash process, such as cleaning the tiny nooks and crevasses are tediously slow processes, taking large amounts of time to complete. Another issue that often arises when washing a car is the difficulty reaching the roof or other elevated portions of a vehicle or trailer. 
         [0004]    Long-handled brushes can help reach difficult portions of a vehicle or trailer, but the manual nature of such apparatuses does not eliminate the need for a large exertion of manual labor. In fact, the mechanical disadvantage of wielding a long brush can actually lead to a greater physical exertion than would otherwise be necessary using short-handled brushes. 
         [0005]    Another notable disadvantage to washing cars manually, using sponges, manual brushes, chamois, and rags, is the constant need to re-wet the washing implement. This inefficiently causes unnecessary breaks, further increasing the time needed for the car washing process. 
         [0006]    Additionally, there are a number of separate beautification operations that an owner of a vehicle may wish to employ. These can include rinsing, washing, scrubbing, drying, and buffing, for example, and no single apparatus is capable of being used for all operations. 
         [0007]    To solve many of these issues, cleaning apparatuses have been devised that can overcome some of these problems. For example, small brushes are used to manually clean in small spaces, and electric buffers are used to wax or buff a vehicle, but there is no single apparatus that can address all of these issues. 
         [0008]    There is a need for an effective, cheaply produced, and convenient-to-use apparatus that reduces the amount of manual labor expended while washing a car, can reach far away vehicle regions, can clean within small spaces, does not need to be constantly re-wet, and can be used for all common car cleaning operations, including buffing and waxing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention addresses the aforementioned issues related to car washing. The invention is directed to a powered automobile cleaning apparatus utilizing water, such as water from a garden hose, or other fluids which travels through an elongated handle, through a pressure nozzle in a head assembly, creating a highly pressurized stream of water or other fluid that forcibly rotates an array of turbine blades within the head assembly communicating with an output shaft that projects outside of the head assembly. The output shaft is adaptable for holding brushes, scrubbing pads, buffing pads, waxing pads, and auto detailing implements. The head assembly also comprises an articulable water, or other fluid, exit nozzle that provides water, or other fluid, for the area of the automobile being washed. The exit nozzle can be turned off and the fluid redirected so that operations such as waxing or buffing can commence without fluid being deposited on the surface being waxed or buffed. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment, the cleaning apparatus comprises a head assembly including an inlet for receiving pressurized fluid, a turbine assembly mounted to a shaft projecting outwardly from the head assembly, and an exit conduit for channeling fluid from the head assembly proximate the head assembly. The turbine assembly is contained within the head assembly and structured to rotate the shaft extending from the head assembly as pressurized liquid passes through the head assembly. The apparatus further includes an implement removably attached to the shaft extending from the head assembly. The apparatus also includes a handle containing a first end and a second end operatively connected by a central conduit. The first end is structured to attach to a pressurized fluid source and the second end is in sealed communication with the head assembly to supply pressurized fluid to the head assembly via its inlet. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a cleaning apparatus, as previously mentioned, that further includes a return conduit and a selection valve. The return conduit diverts fluid away from the apparatus. The selection valve is structured to selectively channel fluid into one of the return conduit or exit conduit, depending on the desired use of the apparatus. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view inside the head assembly of an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present invention will now be described more fully in the description provided herein. It is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure may be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    The present invention is directed to a type of car-washing and beautification apparatus that is adaptable to perform a number of different related tasks, such as washing, rinsing, scrubbing, buffing, and waxing, while minimizing the exertion of manual labor normally associated with performing such operations by hand. 
         [0018]    Throughout the specification, water is described as the fluid utilized by the present invention. It would be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous types of fluids may be utilized with the present invention to accomplish the same result. As such, the present invention is meant to utilize any type of flowable fluid. 
         [0019]    In an overview of one embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  comprises a handle  12  to aid in reaching difficult to reach places, such as car roofs, while washing a car. As such, the handle  12  may be telescoping. The handle  12  is attached to a head assembly  14  (may be referred to solely as “head” or “the head”). The handle  12  is hollow and attachable to a garden hose or other source of water, or other fluid, under pressure. Water from the garden hose travels through the handle  12  and into the head  14  via an inlet  15 . The water passes via the inlet  15  through a pressure nozzle  16 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , as it enters the head  14 . The pressure nozzle  16  may be structured to concentrate a fluid spray pattern and increase the pressure of fluid entering the head assembly  14 . 
         [0020]    The head  14  further contains a turbine assembly  18  within that is mounted to a rotatable shaft  20  that projects through and outwardly from the head  14  and is rotatably propelled by a jet of water created by the water flowing through the pressure nozzle  16  into the head  14 . The turbine  18 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is structured to rotatably attach to the shaft  20 , which extends through and exits the head  14 , where a plurality of interchangeable implements  22 , each designed for a particular task such as scrubbing or buffing, may be removably attached to the shaft  20 . When water actuates the turbine  18 , the shaft  20  turns, thereby turning the implement  22  attached to the shaft  20 . 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, after the water turns the turbine  18 , it exits the head assembly  14  to a spray-head  24  in communication with the head assembly  14  via an exit conduit  32 . This water is used to wash or rinse the vehicle; therefore, the exit conduit  32  may be structured to channel and release fluid proximal to the head assembly  14  via, e.g., a spray-head  24 . 
         [0022]    The handle  12  of this apparatus  10  is a hollow tube or conduit, and water passes from a first end of the handle  12   a  to a second end of the handle  12   b  through the interior hollow cavity, or central conduit  12   c , operatively connecting each end of the handle. The handle  12  is made from at least one of metal, plastic, PVC, and any other material as would be understood by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the handle  12  comprises a telescoping handle that extends to increase the length of the handle  12 . The junction that allows the telescoping action is such that the joint is water-tight so that water does not leak from the inside of the hollow handle  12  to the exterior of the handle  12 . 
         [0023]    The first end of the handle  12   a  is structured to include a connection point  19  adaptable to accept a water source or pressurized fluid source. In one embodiment, this is a thread adaptable to accept a common residential garden hose. A seal, such as a rubber grommet, nitrile o-ring, or any seal known in the art is used to prevent the leaking of fluid from the hose-to-handle junction. In another embodiment, a metal or plastic quick disconnect fitting is used to sealedly secure the hose to the handle. 
         [0024]    Proximate the first end  12   a  of the handle  12  is a first valve  26  that is structured to control the flow of water or other pressurized fluid into the handle  12 . The valve type may be that of a compression valve, cartridge valve, disc valve, ball vale, or any valve known in the art. Proximate the first end of the handle  12  is a gripping surface  28  molded to promote a secure hand grip on the handle. This gripping surface  28  may be made from plastic, rubber, metal, PVC, neoprene, or any other material known in the art. 
         [0025]    The second end of the handle  12   b  sealedly communicates with a head assembly  14  to supply pressurized fluid to the head assembly  14  via the inlet  15 . In one embodiment, this junction can pivot to accommodate varying head angles. Communicating with the second end of the handle  12   b  is the pressure nozzle  16  (see  FIG. 2 ) designed to increase the pressure of the water entering the head  14  and concentrate a water spray pattern. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the head assembly  14  has a top wall  14   a , a bottom wall  14   b , and a side wall  14   c  that connects the top  14   a  and bottom  14   b  wall. The turbine assembly  18  is housed within the head assembly  14 . The turbine assembly  18  is comprised of a shaft mount  30  attached to the top wall  14   a  of the head assembly  14 . The shaft mount  30  is a pillow block, plummer block, bracket, plate, or any means of mounting a rotatable shaft known in the art. The shaft mount  30  comprises at least one of a bearing, bushing, and seal. A shaft  20 , having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion is rotatably engaged to the shaft mount  30 . The first end of the shaft projects within the head assembly, and the second end of the shaft projects outwardly towards the exterior of the head assembly  14  passing through a hole in the top wall  14   a  of the head assembly. The hole in the top wall  14   a  comprises a seal that allows the shaft  20  to project through the hole, yet prevents water from leaking out of the head through the hole. In one embodiment, the second end of the shaft does not project outside the top wall of the head assembly, but is rather substantially flush with the plane of the top wall. 
         [0027]    A propeller element  18   a  is attached to the first end of the shaft  20 . In one embodiment, the propeller element  18   a  comprises a plurality of vanes  18   b  that are mounted in a radial pattern. The vanes  18   b  are flat, curved, twisted, cupped or any other shape used on propellers known in the art, and spaced in a manner known in the art to promote the rotation of the propeller element when a jet of water contacts the propeller vanes  18   b . The pressure nozzle  16  is mounted proximate the side wall of the head assembly  14   c , and is aimed at the vanes  18   b  of the propeller element  18   a  at an angle, depending on the particular configuration of the propeller element  18   a , such that a jet of water projects from the pressure nozzle  16  and contacts the propeller vanes  18   b , causing the propeller  18   a  to rotate, which in turn causes the shaft  20  attached to the propeller  18   a  to rotate. 
         [0028]    The second end of the shaft is capable of accepting an implement  22 , such as a scrubbing brush that rotates when the shaft rotates. The second end of the shaft accepts the implement  22  by screw thread, bolt, clamp, dowel, quick disconnect, pin, friction, taper, hook and loop, or any other attachment means known in the art. 
         [0029]    The head assembly  14  further comprises an exit conduit  32  for the water utilized to rotate the propeller element  18 . The exit conduit  32  prevents water from accumulating in the head assembly  14  by providing a route for the water used to rotate the propeller element  18   a  to escape and also be used for car washing purposes. The exit conduit  32  extends outwardly from the head assembly  14  and communicates with a spray head  24 . The spray head  24  changes the shape of what would otherwise be bulk water flow to a spray appropriate for washing, scrubbing, and rinsing an automobile. The spray head  24  pivots to be aimed in a range of 300° simultaneously in two axes. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, the second end  12   b  of the handle  12  in sealed communication with the head assembly  14  may be pivotable to accommodate varying head assembly  14  angles relative to the handle  12 . 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, a second valve  34  that is structured to control the flow of water or other fluid into the spray head  24  is proximate the spray head  24 . The valve type is selected from a group consisting of a compression valve, cartridge valve, disc valve, ball valve, and any valve known in the art. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, there is a return conduit  33  that provides an exit route for fluid to be evacuated away from the head assembly  14  and diverts fluid from exiting the exit conduit  32  and spray head  24 . This is so an implement  22  such as a buffing or waxing pad can be used to buff or polish a vehicle without water being deposited on the vehicle. The return conduit  33  is a length that provides fluid to escape the apparatus  10  without wetting the surface. The return conduit may optionally be anchored to the handle of the apparatus  10 . Furthermore, such embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , utilize a selection valve  35  that is structured to selectively channel fluid into one of the return conduit  33  or exit conduit  32 . Typically, the selection valve  35  includes a handle that a user can position to select the route of fluid through either the return conduit  33  or exit conduit  32  depending on the intended use of the apparatus  10  at the time. 
         [0033]    Some embodiments of the present invention utilize the return conduit  33  to return fluid to the source of the pressurized fluid (e.g., a water reservoir of a fluid pump). As such, the return conduit  33  may be structured to channel fluid to the source of the pressurized fluid such that the fluid is recycled. 
         [0034]    The implements  22  attached to the second end of the shaft rotate due to the propeller element-mediated rotation of the shaft  20 . A plurality of different implements  22  provides numerous functionalities to the apparatus. The implements  22  are brushes (see  FIG. 3 ), chamois, wool pads, micro-fiber pads, sponges, scrubbing pads, buffing pads, dusters, and any other cleaning or detailing implement  22  known in the art. In one embodiment, the implement  22  attaches to the second end of the shaft which may comprise a substantially flat disc with a surface that is a first side of a hook and loop fastener. The implements  22  comprise the complimentary second side of a hook and look attachment designed to attach to the surface of the flat disc. A plurality of different implements  22  provides numerous functionalities to the apparatus. The implements  22  may include brushes, chamois, wool pads, micro-fiber pads, sponges, scrubbing pads, buffing pads, dusters, and any other car cleaning implement  22  known in the art. 
         [0035]    This invention is not limited to a car-washing tool, for the second end of the shaft  20  is capable of engaging a generator head for the production of electrical energy from the rotational energy actuated by the hydraulic forces acting on the propeller element  18   a . This can be scaled from a hand-held apparatus to a larger apparatus capable of municipal power production. 
         [0036]    Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
         [0037]    Now that the invention has been described,