Patent Publication Number: US-6990705-B1

Title: Multifunctional cleaning device having a collapsible handle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to cleaning implements and, more specifically, to a multifunctional device having a collapsible handle that permits use of the device as a brush, scraper, squeegee or sponge. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Cleaning implements for window have been developed for a variety of tasks. During winter condition, rigid scrapers and snow brushes may be used to clear snow, sleet, and ice from glass surfaces, such as automobile windows. Typically, separate implements for scraping ice and brushing snow are needed as ice scrapers require more control, while snow brushed require length and leverage. Convention attempt to overcome this problem place an ice scraper at one end of an elongated snow brush handle. While a combination device can perform both tasks, the design of the device is not well suited to performing either task as efficiently as separate devices. 
     In warmer times, squeegees are the preferred cleaning implement for cleaning windows and windshields. Squeegees typically include a flexible member which conforms to a surface and gently removes water that has accumulated and a sponge for scrubbing debris, such as insert remains, that may have adhered to the glass. 
     During summer months, ice scrapers and snow brushes are unnecessary. Similarly, squeegees are impractical in winter months as they are unable to remove frozen materials. In certain times of the year, climatic conditions may require the use of a scraper on one day and a squeegee the next, if not on the same day. It is therefore necessary for automobile owners to carry an entire arsenal of implements to safely maintain visibility. As a result, the interior of the automobile may become cluttered with various cleaning devices. Even in more moderate climates, automobile owners must swap out winter implements from summer implements when the weather has improved for the long term. 
     3. Objects and Advantages 
     It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning implement that may be used throughout the year. 
     It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to reduce the number of cleaning implements that are needed. 
     It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide an implement can be used for cleaning in close proximity to the use or over extended distances. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention comprises an automobile cleaning device having a collapsible handle interconnected to a head assembly having various cleaning implements attached thereto. The head assembly includes front and back panels which interlock with or are integrally formed with cleaning implements, such as a squeegee, a brush, a sponge, and/or an ice scraper. The handle is pivotally interconnected to a channel in the head assembly so that it may be collapsed into a stored position within in the head assembly, or extended from the head assembly and pivoted into an open position perpendicular to the head assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a device according to the present invention in the collapsed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a removable implement for a device according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A–C  are perspective views illustrating the conversion of a device according to the present invention between the collapsed and extended positions. 
         FIGS. 7A–C  are cross-sectional views of a feature of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a feature of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9A–C  are perspective views of the operation of a telescoping handle of a device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1  a cleaning device  10  according to the present invention. Device  10  comprises a head assembly  12  that extending longitudinally along axis X-X from a first end  16  to a second end  18 . Head assembly  12  includes a front panel  20  and a rear panel  22  that interconnected along their respective edges  24  and  26  and that defines a chamber there between. Rear panel  22  further includes a handle channel  30  formed therein that includes a narrow portion  32  extending along axis X-X from first end  16  to a wide portion  34  in the central region of head assembly  12 . Channel  30  communicates with a handle cavity  36  formed within chamber that extends along axis X-X to second end  18  of head assembly. 
     Device  10  further includes a telescoping handle  38  having a main shaft  40 , a ball  42  positioned at one end of shaft  40 , and bushing  44  around shaft  40  and abutting ball  40 . Ball  42  and bushing  44  are dimensioned to be retained within cavity  36  and wide portion  34  of channel  30 . An upper lip  46  formed in wide portion  34  of channel  30  retains ball  42  and bushing  44  within channel  30 . Narrow portion  32  of channel is sized to accept handle shaft  40  but not ball  42  and bushing  44 . When ball  42  and bushing  44  are positioned in wide portion  34 , handle  38  is free to pivot between a closed, stored position where handle shaft  40  extends along axis X-X and is retained in narrow portion  32  of channel  30  and an open, extended position where handle shaft extends outward from head assembly  12  and perpendicularly to axis X-X. 
     Head assembly  12  further comprises one or more conventional cleaning implements, such as a brush  48 , an ice scraper  50 , and a squeegee blade  52  that are interconnected to front panel  20  and rear panel  22 . Brush  48  includes a base  54  having a brush channel  56  formed therein for engaging front edge  24  and rear edge  26  when front panel  20  and rear panel  22  are interconnected to form head assembly  12 . Scraper  50  having rigid support members  58  may also includes a mounting channel  60  formed therein for engaging front edge  24  and rear edge  26 . Squeegee  52  may include a similar means for attachment to head assembly  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, brush base  54  and ice scraper  50  may be integrally formed as a single unit for attachment between front panel  20  and rear panel  22 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the present invention includes ice scraper blade  50  integrally formed with or mounted directly to rear panel  22  of head assembly  12 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , a sponge  62  may be included in lieu of brush  48  or squeegee blade  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , movement of handle  38  between the closed or collapsed position and the open or extended position begins by sliding handle  38  axially along axis X-X toward end  16 . When ball  42  and bushing  44  clear cavity  36 , they are retained in wide portion  34  of channel  30  by narrow portion  32 , as seen in  FIG. 6B . Referring to  FIG. 6C , handle  38  may pivoted until perpendicular with axis X-X, at which position it is locked, as described hereinafter. 
     Handle  38  is secured in the open or extended position by a resilient member  64  integrally formed into base of wide portion  34  of channel  30  that biases ball  42  and bushing  44  outwardly from rear panel  22 . Referring to  FIGS. 7–8 , bushing  44  engages upper lip  46  of wide portion  34 , and tabs included on opposing sides of ball  42  engage slots formed longitudinally along the inside of channel  30 . When resilient member  64  biases ball  42  outwardly, bushing  44  and tabs frictionally retain handle  38  in the open position by engaging upper lip  46  and slots, respectively. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 9A–C , handle  38  may comprise an outer housing  70  and an inner shaft  72  which are telescopically engaged to allow longitudinal extension or retraction of handle  38 . An outwardly biased release button  74  may be included on inner shaft  72  to selectively maintain handle  38  in an extended position. When handle  38  is in the fully extended position, and outer housing  70  is fully telescoped over inner shaft  72 , button  74  is biased outwardly through a port  76  in outer housing  70 , thereby preventing inadvertent retraction or over-extension of handle  38 . To retract handle  38 , button  74  is depressed inwardly so that it may slide along the inside of outer housing  70 , thereby freeing outer housing  70  to telescope over inner shaft  72  and move handle  38  into the retracted position. When handle  38  is re-extended, button  74  slides along the inside of outer housing  70  until it reaches port  76  and is biased outwardly, thereby locking handle  38  in the extended position.