Patent Publication Number: US-6986186-B1

Title: Window washing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to window washing devices and more particularly pertains to a new window washing device for selectively washing the outer surface of a window in an automated manner. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of window washing devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that provides the user of the device a way in which to operate the device from within a dwelling. This should not only include the movement of a cleaning assembly across a window, but also to fill up a reservoir with cleaning fluid that may be applied to the window. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by comprising a system for selectively cleaning a window mounted in a dwelling wall and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The system includes a window squeegee assembly that is attached to the outer surface. The assembly includes a pair of supports that are each elongated and attached to the outer surface of the dwelling in a vertical orientation. The supports are positioned on either side of the window. An elongated elastomeric blade is attached to and extends between the supports. The blade has a contacting edge abutting an outer surface of the window. A driving assembly is mechanically coupled to the pair of supports for selectively moving the blade upwardly or downwardly. A liquid dispenser for selectively dispensing liquid on the window is attached to the outer surface of the dwelling wall adjacent to an upper edge of the window. The liquid dispenser includes a horizontally orientated tubular member has a plurality of outlets directed toward the window. A reservoir is fluidly coupled to the dispenser by a conduit. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a window washing system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the present invention . 
       FIG. 4  is an electrical schematic view of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new window washing device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the window washing system  10  generally comprises a system for selectively cleaning a window  6  of a dwelling. The window  6  being conventional and which is mounted in a dwelling wall  7  having an inner surface  8  and an outer surface  9 . 
   The system includes a window squeegee assembly that is attached to the outer surface  9 . The assembly includes a pair of supports  12 . Each of the supports  12  is elongated and is attached to the outer surface  9  of the dwelling in a vertical orientation. The supports  12  are positioned on either side of the window  6 . Each of the supports  12  includes an upper pulley  14 , a lower pulley  16  and a cable  18  that forms a loop and extends around the upper  14  and lower  16  pulleys. Alternatively, a chain may replace the cable  18  and the pulleys  14 ,  16  replaced with gears having teeth for engaging the chain. An elongated blade  20  comprising an elastomeric material is attached to and extends between the supports  12 . The blade  20  has a first end  22  attached to a first of the cables  18  and a second end  24  attached to a second of the cables  18 . The blade  20  has a contacting edge  26  abutting an outer surface of the window  6 . The contacting edge  26  is preferably pointed and angled downward with respect to the window  6 . The blade  20  is ideally comprised of a resiliently elastic elastomeric material and a tension spring  28  may be mounted on the blade  20  to ensure that the blade  20  remains abutted against the window  6  in a downward orientation. A driving assembly is mechanically coupled to the pair of supports  12  for selectively moving the blade  20  upwardly or downwardly. The driving assembly preferably includes a pair of motors  30  each mechanically coupled to one of the upper pulleys  14  and an actuator  32  for selectively causing the motors  30  to simultaneously rotate the upper pulleys  14  in a first direction or a second direction. The actuator  32  is mounted on the inner surface  8  of the dwelling wall  7 . The actuator  32  may be hardwired into the dwelling&#39;s electrical system or it may include a conventional power plug for providing power to the motors  30 . 
   A liquid dispenser  34  for selectively dispensing liquid on the window  6  is attached to the outer surface  9  of the dwelling wall  7  adjacent to, and preferably abutted against, an upper edge of the window  6 . The liquid dispenser  34  includes a horizontally orientated tubular member extending along a length of the window  6  and has a plurality of outlets  36  directed toward the window  6  that extend along a length of the tubular member. A reservoir  38  is fluidly coupled to the dispenser  34  by a conduit  40 . A valve  42  is fluidly coupled to the conduit  40  for selectively opening or closing the conduit  40 . The reservoir  38  is mounted on the inner surface  8  of the dwelling wall  7  and above the window  6 . The valve  42  is preferably mounted adjacent to the reservoir so that it located within the dwelling. The reservoir  38  includes an opening  44  and is selectively filled with a cleaning solution that is dispensed by gravitational force through the conduit  40 , into the liquid dispenser  34  and outwardly through the outlets  36 . It is preferred that the outlets  36  are adjacent to the window  6  so that pumps are not required. 
   A covering  46  is removably attached to the outer surface  9  of the dwelling wall  7  for covering each of the pair of supports  12  and the liquid dispenser  34 . The covering preferably includes an upper portion and two side portions for easy fitting. This allows for a cleaner appearance and color coordinating of the system  10  with an exterior of the dwelling. A trough  48  is removably attached to the outer surface  9  of the dwelling wall  7  and positioned below the window  6 . The trough  48  has an open upper side  50  for retaining water released by the liquid dispenser  34  where it may evaporate instead of traveling down the side of the dwelling. 
   In use, the system  10  is mounted on the dwelling as indicated above. The user releases cleaning fluid onto the window  6  and selectively moves the blade  20  upwardly and downwardly on the window  6  until the window is clean. By keeping the actuator  32  and reservoir  38  is the dwelling, the user need not open the window  6  or go outside to clean the windows  6 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.