Reversed Angled Squeegee

Abstract

Disclosed is a squeegee having a handle with a resilient blade and sponge located at a distal end of the handle. The squeegee blade is set at an angle of less than 90 degrees of the angle formed between the handle and the point of the blade's attachment. This configuration allows the squeegee to work with gravity by preventing the newly cleaned surface from being fouled by used cleaning solution. When used with a tilt window the squeegee pushes the cleaning solution down the tilted surface and with gravity leaving a clean dry surface behind.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/231,363 filed on Aug. 5, 2009, and is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to window cleaning devices, and more particularly to the type of cleaning devices generally referred to as squeegees wherein the present squeegee includes a blade having an angle reversed from a conventional squeegee.

BACKGROUND

Squeegee type window cleaners generally include an elongated handle and an integral, elongated head extending perpendicularly across one end thereof. The head includes an elongated channel extending longitudinally and in which a window cleaning sponge is positioned and secured by a clamping mechanism. The squeegee head further includes a second channel, smaller in width than the first, sponge channel, in which a rubber blade is securely positioned.

In use, the cleaning fluid soaked sponge is moved back and forth across a window and then the rubber blade is passed across the window to remove the cleaning fluid from the window surface.

Windows having pivotable or “tilt” sashes have become widely accepted in recent years due to improved mass production techniques, hardware and other innovations. Tilt windows can be easily cleaned from inside a dwelling. Tilt sash windows have made cleaning window and especially windows located on a second or greater story much easier.

Conventional squeegees are pulled to clear cleaning fluid using a blade angled up and away from the handle or at an angle greater than 90 degrees. Such an angle allows the blade to be dragged down and working with gravity to collect the cleaning fluid and removing it from the window surface.

Unfortunately, when cleaning tilt windows with conventional squeegees the cleaning fluid is pulled up to the top of the tilted window. The cleaning fluid collects at the top of the window and is pulled down by gravity over the newly cleaned surface. The used cleaning fluid also creates a mess for the user resulting in hands and sleeves soaked in cleaning fluid. Pulling the cleaning fluid down the window to the bottom of the sash of a tilt window as in a conventional window requires one to reach out and under the tilted window. However, this would essentially defeat the purpose of an easy to clean tilt window since reaching under the window to clean it is very difficult.

Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus capable of cleaning a tilt window without the need to draw the cleaning fluid up the window. A method and apparatus is also needed to prevent the used fluid from running down the newly cleaned window surface and from soaking a user's hands with fluid.

SUMMARY

The present invention includes a handle having both a resilient blade and sponge located at a distal end of the handle forming a squeegee. The present squeegee includes a blade having a reversed angle for use typically with a tilt window. The blade is at an angle of less than 90 degrees of that angle formed between the handle and the point of attachment for the blade to the handle.

The present squeegee works with gravity by angling the blade at an angle less than 90 degrees to push the blade down the window and collecting and engaging the cleaning fluid at the leading edge of the blade. The cleaning fluid is essentially pushed off of the window surface leaving a clean dry surface behind.

In greater detail, the squeegee assembly includes an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis. A resilient blade is mounted at the distal end of the handle. An angle is formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle, wherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°. In a further embodiment the angle is less than 85° and another less than 60° and in an additional embodiment the angle is less than 45°.

The squeegee may further include a sponge mounted to the distal end of the handle. The sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90° and greater than 5° in an embodiment relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. In a further embodiment the angle is less than 60°. The sponge may be formed from any absorbent material and in an embodiment is housed in a mesh or net material to provide containment. Additionally the net material may serve as an abrasive surface for cleaning.

The resilient blade may be constructed from such materials as a vinyl, elastomer or other thermoplastic. The handle may be formed from most any material such as metal, wood or thermoplastic. The resilient blade may be pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handle whereby the angle of the blade is adjustable. Additionally, the resilient blade may be reversible.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the present squeegee and the formed angle being less than 90 degrees relative to the handle portion of the squeegee;

FIG. 2 shows a further illustration of the present squeegee in greater detail having the blade portion angled less than 90 degrees relative to the handle portion; and

FIG. 3 illustrate the operation of the squeegee being pushed down the tilt window and working with gravity to remove the dirty water or cleaning solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a squeegee having a handle with a resilient blade and sponge located at a distal end of the handle. The squeegee has a blade at an angle of less than 90 degrees of that angle formed between the handle and the point of attachment for the blade to the handle. The squeegee works with gravity by angling the blade at an angle less than 90 degrees to push the cleaning solution down the window instead of pulling it up in a conventional configuration. As the blade is pushed down a tilt window during cleaning it collects and removes washing fluid from the window surface.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like items throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3 depict the present squeegee in the various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the angle 2 relative to the handle 4 and the blade 6. As seen, the formed angle is less than 90 degrees relative to the handle 4. In a further embodiment, the sponge 8 portion of the squeegee 1 may be off-set.

In greater detail FIG. 1 shows the squeegee assembly 1 having an elongated handle 4 with a longitudinal axis 5. A resilient blade 6 is mounted at the distal end 7 of the handle 4. An angle 2 is formed between the longitudinal axis 7 and the resilient blade 6 extending out from the distal end 7 of the handle wherein the angle 2 is less 90° and greater than 5°. In a further embodiment the angle 2 is less than 60° and in an additional embodiment the angle 2 is less than 45°. Additionally, it is contemplate the angle may be less than 5° and the term “about” as used herein as a modifier would include angles of degrees of about one degree less in an embodiment. In the unmodified, 5° would be the limit.

The squeegee 2 may further include a sponge 8 mounted to the distal end 7 of the handle 2. The term “sponge” as used herein is to be inclusive of all liquid absorbing materials. The sponge 8 is elongated and may form an angle 10 of less than 90° and greater than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis 5 of the handle 4. In a further embodiment the angle 10 is less than 60°. The sponge 8 may be formed from any absorbent material and in an embodiment is housed in a mesh or net material to provide containment. Additionally, the net material may serve as an abrasive surface for cleaning.

The resilient blade 6 may be constructed from such materials as a vinyl, elastomer or other thermoplastic. The handle 4 may be formed from most any material such as metal, wood or thermoplastic. The resilient blade 6 may be pivotively mounted to the distal end 7 of the handle 4 whereby the angle of the blade may be adjustable. The pivot mount may be any conventional means as known in the art. Additionally, the resilient blade 6 may be reversible such that the cleaning edges can be reversed to extend the life of the squeegee 1. For example, the blade 6 may be slot fitted to the distal end 7 so that it can be slid out and reversed.

Both the sponge 8 and blade 6 may be fitted and attached to the distal end 7 of the handle 4 using any known means in the art. Furthermore, it is contemplated the distal end 7 of the handle covers a portion of the handle 4 extending down from the top and not just the tip. Thus the sponge 8 and blade 6 may be attached to the handle in and around a distal portion of the handle when referring to the distal end 7 in the present application.

FIG. 2 is a further illustration of the squeegee 1 showing the various parts including the elongated handle 4, the angle 2 between the handle 2 and the blade 6. Additionally shown is one example attachment mechanism securing the blade 6 at an angle 2 and the sponge 8 to the distal end 7 of the handle 4.

FIG. 3 illustrate the operation of the squeegee 1 being pushed down the tilt window 17 and working with gravity to remove the dirty water or cleaning solution The blade 6 is set at a reversed angle from the norm to push the water down the window 17 to prevent streaks and dirty water from fouling a clean window 17. The sponge 8 can be used to wet the window 17 in the conventional manner and the blade 6 can then remove the aqueous cleaning solution from the surface of the window.

While Applicant has set forth embodiments as illustrated and described above, it is recognized that variations may be made with respect to disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the invention has been disclosed in various forms only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many additions, deletions and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and no undue limits should be imposed except as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A squeegee assembly comprising:

an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis;

a resilient blade mounted at the distal end of the handle; and

an angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle wherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°.

2. The squeegee of claim 1, further including a sponge mounted to the distal end of the handle.

3. The squeegee of claim 2. wherein the sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90° and greater than about 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

4. The squeegee of claim 3, wherein the elongate sponge forms an angle of less than 60° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

5. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle is less 60°.

6. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle is less than 45°.

7. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the resilient blade is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of vinyl, elastomer, thermoplastic and combinations thereof.

8. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the resilient blade is pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handle whereby the angle of the blade is adjustable.

9. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the resilient blade is reversible.

10. A squeegee assembly comprising:

an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis;

a resilient blade mounted at the distal end of the handle;

a sponge mounted to the distal end of the handle; and

an angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle and wherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°.

11. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle is less 60°.

12. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle is less than 45°.

13. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the resilient blade is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of vinyl, elastomer, thermoplastic and combinations thereof.

14. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90° and greater than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

15. The squeegee of claim 14, wherein the elongate sponge forms an angle of less than 60° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

16. The squeegee of claim 10, wherein the elongated handle is formed from a molded thermoplastic.

17. A squeegee assembly comprising:

an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis;

a resilient blade detachably mounted at the distal end of the handle wherein the blade is reversible;

a sponge mounted to the distal end of the handle; and

an angle formed between the longitudinal axis and the resilient blade extending out from the distal end of the handle and wherein the angle is less 90° and greater than about 5°.

18. The squeegee of claim 17, wherein the resilient blade is pivotively mounted to the distal end of the handle whereby the angle of the blade is adjustable.

19. The squeegee of claim 17, wherein the sponge is elongated and forms an angle of less than 90° and greater than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

20. The squeegee of claim 17, wherein the resilient blade is reversible.