CHANNEL GUARD PROTECTOR FOR A SQUEEGEE

Abstract

A squeegee includes a squeegee handle coupled to a squeegee blade holder, wherein the squeegee blade holder holds a squeegee blade. The squeegee includes a channel guard protector which extends along the length of the squeegee blade holder. The channel guard protector holds the squeegee blade in the squeegee blade holder to reduce the likelihood that the squeegee blade will become bunched up. Further, the channel guard protector reduces the likelihood that the squeegee blade holder will undesirably scratch a surface engaged by the squeegee blade.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/081,880, filed on Jul. 18, 2008 by the same inventor, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to protection for tools or parts such as tools for cleaning windows.

2. Description of the Related Art

A squeegee is a tool edged with a blade which is capable of removing water from a window. There are many different types of squeegees which are made by many different manufacturers. Several types of squeegees are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 911,194, 948,631, 1,628,783, 1,706,053 1,840,023, 2,103,198, 2,207,651, 2,261,475, 2,307,460, 2,440,099, 3,013,290, 3,787,921, 3,950,813, 4,611,363, 4,716,616, 5,175,902, 5,321,868, 5,381,581, 5,611,108, 5,628,086, 5,630,246, 5,809,605, 5,930,863, 5,946,762, as well as U.S. Design Pat. No. D388,568, the contents of all of which are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. Manufacturers that make squeegees include Unger International, Inc. of Bridgeport, Conn., Sorbo Products of Palm Desert, Calif. and Ettore Products Company of Alameda, Calif.

One problem with squeegees, however, is that they have a tendency to undesirably scratch the window, or the film or tint on the window. Another problem with squeegees is that the blade can undesirably bunch up, which makes it less useful to remove water from the window. Another problem with squeegees is they require the use of tension clips, which are very small and easy to lose, difficult to install, cause the blade to bunch up, and they do not hold the blade in place during use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a squeegee or any such tool or device with extruded or long form. The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a top view of a squeegee, which includes a squeegee handle and squeegee blade holder for holding a squeegee blade holder.

FIG. 1b is an end view of the blade holder of FIG. 1a taken in a direction indicated in FIG. 1a.

FIG. 1c is an end view of the blade holder of FIG. 1a taken in the direction indicated in FIG. 1a.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are end and perspective views, respectively, of one embodiment of a channel guard protector which can be carried by the squeegee blade holder of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the channel guard protector of FIGS. 2a and 2b being carried by the squeegee blade holder of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the squeegee of FIG. 1a being used to clean a window, which is supported by a ledge/frame.

FIGS. 5a and 5b are end views of other embodiments of a channel guard protector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1a is a top view of a squeegee 100. In this embodiment, squeegee 100 includes a handle 101 coupled to a blade holder 102. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, handle 101 and blade holder 102 are a single integral piece and, in other embodiments, handle 101 is repeatably moveable between coupled and decoupled positions with blade holder 102. An example in which handle 101 and blade holder 102 are a single integral piece is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,363 and an example in which handle 101 is repeatably moveable between coupled and decoupled positions with blade holder 102 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,863.

FIG. 1b is an end view of blade holder 102 taken in a direction 104, which is shown in FIG. 1a, and FIG. 1c is a perspective view of blade holder 102 taken in direction 104. In this embodiment, blade holder 102 includes a squeegee blade holder body 113 which includes a holder base body 110, distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112. Holder base body 110 includes a squeegee holder base front surface 120 and squeegee holder base back surface 121.

Distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112 are connected to holder base body 110 proximate to squeegee holder base front surface 120 and squeegee holder base back surface 121, respectively. Distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112 extend away from squeegee holder base front surface 120 and squeegee holder base back surface 121, respectively.

Distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112 are spaced apart from each other to form a squeegee blade holder channel 115. Squeegee blade holder channel 115 extends between holder base body 110 and a squeegee blade holder channel opening 116, as well as between distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112. Distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112 include a distal arm corrugation 117 and proximal arm corrugation 118, respectively, which face each other as well as squeegee blade holder channel 115. Proximal holder body arm 112 includes a handle groove 114 for coupling blade holder 102 and squeegee handle 101 together. Handle groove 114 is positioned on a surface of proximal holder body arm 112 opposed to proximal arm corrugation 118.

Distal holder body arm 111 includes a distal holder body arm outer surface 122 which extends along a surface of distal holder body arm 111 opposed to squeegee blade holder channel 115. Distal holder body arm outer surface 122 includes an outer angled surface 123 and outer angled surface 124, which extend at a non-parallel angle relative to each other. Squeegee holder base back surface 121 extends between handle groove 114 and squeegee holder base front surface 120. Squeegee holder base front surface 120 extends between squeegee holder base back surface 121 and distal holder body arm outer surface 122. Outer angled surface 124 extends between squeegee blade holder channel opening 116 and outer angled surface 123.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, holder base body 110, distal holder body arm 111, proximal holder body arm 112, squeegee blade holder body 113, handle groove 114, squeegee blade holder channel 115, squeegee blade holder channel opening 116, distal arm corrugation 117, proximal arm corrugation 118, squeegee holder base front surface 120, squeegee holder base back surface 121, distal holder body arm outer surface 122, outer angled surface 123 and outer angled surface 124 extend along length L of squeegee blade holder 102, which is shown in FIG. 1a.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are end and perspective views, respectively, of one embodiment of a channel guard protector 130. In this embodiment, channel guard protector 130 includes a channel guard protector body 131 and channel guard protector arm 132. Channel guard protector body 131 is shaped to conform to distal holder body arm outer surface 122. In particular, channel guard protector body 131 is shaped to conform to outer angled surface 123 and outer angled surface 124. Channel guard protector body 131 includes an outer channel guard protector surface 133 and inner channel guard protector surface 134. Channel guard protector 130 is carried by squeegee blade holder 102, as will be discussed in more detail presently.

FIG. 3 is an end view of channel guard protector 130 being carried by squeegee blade holder 102, as seen in direction 104 of FIG. 1a. In this embodiment, a squeegee blade 103 extends through squeegee blade holder channel opening 116 and squeegee blade holder channel 115 towards holder base body 110. Squeegee blade 103 is engaged by distal arm corrugation 117 and proximal arm corrugation 118 so that it is held between distal holder body arm 111 and proximal holder body arm 112. It should be noted that squeegee blade 103 extends along length L of squeegee blade holder 102, wherein length L is shown in FIG. 1a.

Channel guard protector 130 can be carried by squeegee blade holder 102 in many different ways. In this embodiment, channel guard protector 130 is carried by distal holder body arm 111. In particular, channel guard protector 130 extends along distal holder body arm outer surface 122 and length L of squeegee blade holder 102. Channel guard protector 130 extends along outer angled surfaces 123 and 124. Inner channel guard protector surface 134 engages outer angled surfaces 123 and 124, and outer channel guard protector surface 133 faces away from outer angled surfaces 123 and 124.

Channel guard protector arm 132 extends between distal holder body arm 111 and squeegee blade 103. Channel guard protector arm 132 extends through squeegee blade holder channel opening 116. Further, channel guard protector arm 132 extends through squeegee blade holder channel 115. Squeegee blade 103 extends between channel guard protector 130 and proximal holder body arm 112. Further, squeegee blade 103 extends between channel guard protector arm 132 and proximal holder body arm 112. Squeegee blade 103 extends between handle groove 114 and channel guard protector 130. Further, squeegee blade 103 extends between handle groove 114 and channel guard protector arm 132.

FIG. 4 is a side view of squeegee 100 being used to clean a window 105, which is supported by a ledge/frame 107. In operation, squeegee blade 103 engages window 106 and squeegee 100 is moved downwardly towards window/frame 107. Channel guard protector 130 is carried by squeegee blade holder 102 to reduce the likelihood of squeegee blade holder body 113 damaging window 106 and ledge/frame 107.

Hence, squeegee 100 includes squeegee handle 101 coupled to squeegee blade holder 102, wherein squeegee blade holder 102 holds squeegee blade 103. Squeegee 100 includes channel guard protector 130 which extends along length L of squeegee blade holder 102. Channel guard protector 130 holds squeegee blade 103 in squeegee blade holder 102 to reduce the likelihood that squeegee blade 103 will become bunched up. Further, channel guard protector 130 reduces the likelihood that squeegee blade holder 102 will undesirably scratch a surface engaged by squeegee blade 103.

FIG. 5a is an end view of a channel guard protector 130a being carried by squeegee blade holder 102, as seen in direction 104 of FIG. 1a. In this embodiment, channel guard protector 130a extends along squeegee holder base front surface 120, squeegee holder base back surface 121 and distal holder body arm outer surface 122. In particular, channel guard protector 130a extends along outer angled surface 123, outer angled surface 124, squeegee holder base front surface 120 and squeegee holder base back surface 121. Channel guard protector 130a extends along distal holder body arm 111 and holder base body 110 and between squeegee blade holder channel opening 116 and handle groove 114.

FIG. 5b is an end view of a channel guard protector 130b being carried by squeegee blade holder 102, as seen in direction 104 of FIG. 1a. In this embodiment, channel guard protector 130b extends along squeegee holder base front surface 120. In particular, channel guard protector 130a extends along outer angled surfaces 123 and 124.

In this embodiment, channel guard protector 130b includes two layers of material. In particular, channel guard protector 130b includes a hard resilient material layer 135 positioned adjacent to outer angled surfaces 123 and 124 and a soft resilient material layer 136 positioned on hard resilient material layer 135. In one embodiment, the material of layers 135 and 136 is more resilient than the material of squeegee blade holder body 113. In this embodiment, the material of layer 136 is softer than the material of layer 135. The material of layers 135 and 136 can be of many different types. In one embodiment, hard resilient material layer 135 includes vinyl plastic and soft resilient material layer 136 includes soft rubber.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A squeegee, comprising:

a squeegee blade holder, with a distal holder body arm and squeegee blade holder channel; and

a channel guard protector carried by the squeegee blade holder, wherein the distal holder body arm extends between the channel guard protector and squeegee blade holder channel.

2. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the squeegee blade holder includes a holder base body and proximal holder body arm, and the channel guard protector extends along the distal holder body arm, holder base body and proximal holder body arm.

3. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the squeegee includes a squeegee blade, and the channel guard protector includes a channel guard protector arm which extends between the squeegee blade and distal holder body arm.

4. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the channel guard protector includes a hard resilient material layer and soft resilient material layer.

5. The squeegee of claim 4, wherein the hard resilient material layer is adjacent to the distal holder body arm, and the soft resilient material layer extends along the hard resilient material layer.

6. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the distal holder body arm includes outer angled surfaces, and the channel guard protector extends along the outer angled surfaces.

7. A squeegee, comprising:

a squeegee handle;

a squeegee blade holder coupled to the squeegee handle, wherein the squeegee blade holder includes a holder base body, and a proximal holder body arm and distal holder body arm spaced from each other to form a squeegee blade holder channel;

a squeegee blade which extends through the squeegee blade holder channel; and

a channel guard protector carried by the squeegee blade holder, wherein the squeegee blade extends between the channel guard protector and proximal holder body arm.

8. The squeegee of claim 7, wherein the channel guard protector extends along the distal holder body arm, holder base body and proximal holder body arm.

9. The squeegee of claim 7, wherein the distal holder body arm extends between the squeegee blade and channel guard protector.

10. The squeegee of claim 7, wherein the channel guard protector includes a hard resilient material layer and soft resilient material layer.

11. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the hard resilient material layer is adjacent to the distal holder body arm, and the soft resilient material layer extends along the hard resilient material layer.

12. The squeegee of claim 7, wherein the distal holder body arm includes outer angled surfaces, and the channel guard protector extends along the outer angled surfaces.