P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Raven Products Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): Neil Raven and Russell Clark Address for Service: A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222, Mitcham, SA 5062 Invention Title: Squeegee Holder Divisional of: 2004222856 dated 27 November 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 2 Squeegee Holder This invention relates to a cleaning apparatus holding a squeegee the apparatus being suitable for cleaning windows and other flat surfaces. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Window cleaners typically comprise a rubber strip, also known as a squeegee, and a squeegee holder. The squeegee holder has a handle and an elongate squeegee supporting member that physically holds the squeegee in a working position. 10 A window is generally contacted with an outwardly facing working edge of the squeegee. The integrity of the working edge of the squeegee is critical to an unblemished finish on the cleaned surface. Impairment of the working edge may lead to streaking because, for example, a portion of the working edge does not contact the glass by reason of a chip taken 15 out or vibration of the working edge relative to the glass leads to ridges being formed. Good quality squeegees are generally not extruded but are moulded with the side forming the working edge being slit to form as true an edge as possible. It will be appreciated that squeegees formed in this manner will cost more than those made by extrusion. Squeegees 20 are a consumable for window cleaners and minor imperfections are very evident, and consequently the life of a squeegee is relatively short. It is desirable to prolong the life of the squeegee. Squeegee supporting members can be quite long, up to about 900mm, and it is desirable, in 25 order to ensure adequate control during cleaning, that these show minimal longitudinal flexibility whilst allowing some radial flex of the squeegee. Squeegee holders preferably allow for ready removal of the squeegee from the squeegee supporting member so that replacement of worn squeegees can easily be achieved. An early 30 approach to removability was to make the squeegee engaging member in two parts that 3 together form clamping jaws on opposite sides of the squeegee to hold the squeegee in place. A problem with this approach is that providing for clamps directly onto the squeegee requires a somewhat complex mechanism in that the clamping effect must be in place over most if not all the length of the squeegee and as a result of a desire to maintain some degree 5 of control over the weight of the squeegee holder there is also a tendency to longitudinal flexing. In the more modem squeegee holders the squeegee is held within a one piece channel. One example of the elongate squeegee support provides for end clips that wedge both ends of the squeegee within the channel. There is however a difficulty in removing and replacing the squeegee within the channel because there is typically a close fit within the 10 channel and the frictional forces between the rubber squeegee and the inside of the channel leads to an awkwardness of fitting as surfaces of the squeegee frictionally contact the insides of the channels. One approach to prolonging the life of a squeegee is to reverse the squeegee so that the 15 leading edge is positioned as the lagging edge and visa versa. Whilst this does provide some extension of life to the squeegee, this is somewhat limited for two reasons. Firstly, flexing of the squeegee occurs at the free end of the squeegee which impacts at the lagging edge such that resilience required for a superior cleaning edge is lost. Secondly, when pole cleaning near an upper corner it is practice for some cleaners to use the lagging edge to push toward 20 the top of the glass thereby occasioning some wear on the lagging edge. The channel either forms part of the handle or more typically is clamped within a handle. Release of the one piece squeegee support member may be desired when a different size squeegee is required and this may occur, for example, when the cleaner is working above 25 ground in a single or multistorey building. It is essential for safe working that there is full control over the release of the squeegee support member from the handle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of this invention is the result of the recognition that for squeegees held within a 30 one piece squeegee support, reversibility is possible, and more particularly where an unused 4 working edge of the squeegee is supported in a substantially non-contacting fashion inside a channel of the squeegee support. Accordingly in a broad form but not necessarily the broadest form of the first aspect, the 5 invention might be said to reside in a flat surface cleaning device comprising a squeegee holder and a squeegee, the squeegee holder comprising an elongate squeegee support member and a handle, the squeegee support member having an engaging channel for holding the squeegee, said channel being open at one elongate side of the support member through the squeegee 10 protrudes, said channel defined within inwardly facing surfaces of two opposing walls, the cross sectional dimensions of the channel and squeegee being such that the squeegee can be slid axially within the channel for insertion and removal, preferably clamp means for inhibiting said axial movement thereby retaining the squeegee within the channel, 15 dimensions of the squeegee being such that when held within the channel a first working edge at a first side of the squeegee extends past said walls for contact with the surface to be cleaned, a second working edge at a second side of the squeegee held at an innermost portion of the channel but spaced therefrom so that contact with surfaces defining the channel is avoided. 20 In one form an inner portion of the channel has a localized cross-sectional enlargement adjacent the second working edge and a first and second contact surface on either side of the enlargement for contacting the squeegee adjacent the working edge. This makes it less likely for the second working edge of the squeegee, on deformation, to contact a surface of the 25 elongate support defining the channel and the consequent risk of impairment of the second working edge. The localised cross-sectional enlargement might take the form of a suitably placed protective groove in the channel at a corner of the channel at which the second working edge will be positioned. The protective groove need not be restricted to any particular cross sectional shape but will extend the length of the support. 30 5 Preferably a ridge or groove in the squeegee cooperating with a corresponding groove or ridge in the channel inhibits radial withdrawal of the squeegee. In one form the squeegee has ridges adjacent both sides, and preferably both ridges are on 5 the lagging surface of the squeegee. Preferably the squeegee support permits insertion of the squeegee in only one orientation, this may be achieved by the provision of a groove complementary to the ridge on only the lagging surface of the channel with no accommodation of the ridge at a corresponding location of the leading surface of the channel. In a preferred form the ridges expand the width of the squeegee by at least about 50% to be 10 about one and a half time the thickness of what might be an otherwise flat squeegee strip. The clamp means for restricting axial sliding of the squeegee may take the form of one or two U shaped clips, an internal leg of said clip wedging between the squeegee and an internal surface of the channel. There may be a clip retaining channel on an external surface of 15 lagging wall, an outer leg of the clip fitting over an end of the lagging wall, an internal leg of the pin bearing against the surface of the squeegee facing the lagging wall to force the squeegee into contact with the internal surface of the leading wall. An internal surface of the leading wall has two end raised portions and a central lowered 20 portion, so that on insertion of the pin the squeegee rubber contacts both raised and lowered portions, and on withdrawal contact with the lowered portion does not occur thereby reducing any frictional drag on the squeegee. A convenient configuration is that the wall is curved convexly. 25 Preferably inner surfaces of the opposing walls are splayed outwardly from an inner portion of the channel. The lagging inner surface also preferably exhibits a convexity of cross sectional profile to reduce the surface area of potential frictional contact with the squeegee on axial sliding.
6 A free end of the lagging wall in one form extends further than the leading wall so that more support extending beyond the channel is provided on use of the squeegee. Preferably the handle is reversibly attachable to the squeegee support. A groove or a ridge 5 may be formed in each of the leading and lagging walls of the squeegee support member for clamping engagement by the handle. The groove or ridge may be substituted for a protrusion or depression for localisation of the handle, however a continuous feature is preferred so that the squeegee support member can be made of indefinite length with constant cross section. In a further optional form one or both of the lagging and leading walls have two grooves or 10 ridges formed therein and positioned so that the angle at which the support member is held relative to the handle can be varied. Preferably the squeegee support member is formed from a stock of continuous length and of constant cross section such as from a metal extrusion. This provide for a cost advantage in 15 manufacture and obviates the requirement to hold squeegee support members of various length. In a second aspect the invention might reside in a squeegee holder with a handle including a hand grip and a clamping portion to clamp the squeegee support member, 20 the clamp includes a first arm with a first gripping part for engagement with a first wall of the squeegee support member and a second arm with a second gripping part for engagement with a second wall of the squeegee support member, the second gripping part being pivotable with respect to the first gripping part between an open position for release of the squeegee support member and a closed position 25 for engagement with the support member, the first and second gripping part biased to the closed position by spring means, there additionally being provided locking means to lock the gripping part to the closed position. Preferably the first and second gripping parts are elongate and are either ridges or grooved to 30 providing for engagement with elongate grooves of ridges on a respective wall of the 7 squeegee support member. Preferably a first groove is provided on the first wall of the squeegee support member to engage with a first ridge of the first gripping part of the handle, and a second groove is provided on the second wall of the squeegee support member to engage with a second ridge of the second gripping part of the handle. In one form the first 5 wall might be lagging wall of the squeegee support member described or defined herein. In preference also there is provision for varying the angle of the squeegee support member relative to the handle. Thus two different angles might be allowed for by providing two peripherally spaced grooves or ridges running along the length of either the leading or lagging wall of the squeegee support member to give the operator the option of having the 10 squeegee held at two different angles to suit the task at hand. A third aspect of the invention might in a broad form be said to relate to a generally flat and elongate squeegee, having at least two working edges one on a first longitudinal side of the squeegee and a second on a second longitudinal side of the squeegee, the squeegee having 15 two ridges a respective one adjacent a respective working surface for engagement with a corresponding groove in a squeegee engaging channel of a squeegee holder a first when within a first orientation and a second when in a second orientation. In one form the ridges both extend from a lagging surface of the squeegee, and preferably there is a flat between the two ridges defining the said lagging surface. 20 Further aspects and forms of the invention will be apparent from the description of the illustrated embodiment set out below. For a better understanding the invention will now be described with reference to one 25 illustrated embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elongate squeegee support member of the illustrated embodiment, 30 8 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a squeegee that might be used with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a cross sectional view approximately in the axial middle of the support 5 member as through III-III of Figure 1, with the squeegee being held therein, Figure 4 is across sectional view taken close to one end of the support member as through IV-IV of Figure 1, with the squeegee being held therein by a U 10 shaped clip and showing the action of a clip in holding the squeegee in place, Figure 5 is a perspective underside view of the handle according to the illustrated embodiment, 15 Figure 6 is a perspective top side view of the handle according to the illustrated embodiment, Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the squeegee holder with handle showing a 20 hand grip in part, a clamp portion of the handle engaged with the support member with the squeegee in place, Figure 8 is a similar view as in Figure 7 with the clamp of the handle in an open position for release of the support member, 25 Figure 9 is a similar view as in Figure 7 wherein the squeegee support member is held at an angle different to that shown in Figure 7, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the squeegee holding apparatus supported on an 30 extension pole.
9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE 5 INVENTION The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a squeegee holder and squeegee for cleaning flat surfaces, such as windows. The cleaner is not necessarily only useful for cleaning windows but might also be useful for cleaning other glass surfaces, tiles and the like. 10 The cleaning device comprises a squeegee (1) and a squeegee holder (2). The squeegee holder comprises an elongate squeegee support member (3) and a handle (4). The squeegee support member having an engaging channel (10) open at one side (11), the channel is defined within inwardly facing surfaces (12, 13) of two opposed walls being a leading wall (14) and a lagging wall (15). Clamp means (16) clamps the squeegee in place in the channel 15 to inhibit axial movement in the channel. The squeegee is of dimensions that when held in the channel a first side (20) including a first working edge (21) extends beyond the two walls for contact with the surface to be cleaned. A second side (22) of the squeegee is held in an innermost part of the channel and includes a second working edge (23). The second working edge is held spaced apart from surfaces defining the channel to avoid contact therewith. 20 The squeegee takes the form of an elongate flat rubber strip, it can be seen that a leading surface (30) of the squeegee is flat and that the lagging surface (31) has two ridges (32, 33) formed adjacent the first and second side (20, 22) of the squeegee. It can be seen that the ridges form part of the retaining means to retain the squeegee within the support member 25 against radial withdrawal. One (34) of the flat faces of the ridges (34, 35) abut a complementary flat face (36) formed in a retaining groove (37) extending backwardly from the lagging surface (13) of the channel. The space between the internally facing surfaces of the leading and lagging walls is smaller than the width of the squeegee where the ridges are formed and as a consequence captures the squeegee within the channel against radial egress. 30 It can also be seen that the squeegee can be located in two orientations, but always with the 10 lagging face (31) lagging, either the first working edge being positioned at an innermost portion of the channel or the second working edge being positioned at a leading side of the innermost portion of the channel. Removal of the squeegee is achieved by axial withdrawal through the channel (10). To give an indication of relative sizes the squeegee is about 19mm 5 wide, and 2mm thick in the central flat portion, the ridges extend about 1.5mm above the flat portion. The second leading edge (23) is held spaced away from the innermost part of the channel by an enlargement of the channel in the form of a protective groove (40). The protective groove 10 is positioned at the innermost leading corner of the channel. It can be seen most particularly in figure 4 that there are provided a first contacting surface (41) and a second contacting surface (42) adjacent the position of the second working edge (23) within the protective groove. In figure 4 these are shown immediately adjacent the protective groove (40). The position of these two contact surfaces mean that the capacity of the squeegee to be deformed 15 in a manner leasing to contact by the second working edge with the inside of the channel is severely limited and thus acts as a means of enhancing the protection of the second working surface. The relative cross sectional dimensions of the channel and the squeegee are such as to 20 facilitate axial sliding within the channel. Figure 3 best shows the fit of the squeegee within the channel. It can be seen that the channel does not present flat surfaces for frictional contact with the squeegee rubber, which would otherwise inhibit axial sliding. Instead the two opposing surfaces splay somewhat from an inner portion of the channel, starting perhaps from the retaining (37) and protective (40) grooves. Additionally generally both surfaces 25 (12, 13) have a general convexity of cross sectional shape in the splayed portion with a central expanded part and a constricted part adjacent the open side and the inner part of the channel. That means that on axial sliding the rubber of the squeegee only contacts a small surface area of the channel to minimise frictional drag. The leading surface (12) can be seen as being curved convexly. 30 11 Clamping means in the form of U shaped clips (16) clamp ends of the squeegee in place. The function of the pins can best be seen in figures 4 and 10. An overall view of the illustrated embodiment of clip can be seen in figure 10. The clip comprises an outer flat (51) portion and an inner flat portion (52). The inner flat portion has a protrusion (53) for better 5 engagement against the squeegee. The clip fits over an end of the squeegee support member. A clip retaining channel (54) is formed in the outer surface of the lagging leg of wall of the support member. Two overhangs (55, 56) extend inwardly over the clip retaining channel. The outer flat can be slid into the clip retaining channel and is captured therein by the overhangs. The inner flat (52) is positioned against the lagging inner surface (13) of the 10 channel and exerts pressure against the squeegee (11) urging it against the leading inner surface (12) of the channel as best seen in figure 4. The protrusion grips against the squeegee to minimise the risk of an accidental axial slippage of the clip from the channel. The clip can be made from metal preferably steel, and the urging pressure is applied by reason of the dimension of the joiner part (57) between the inner and outer flats. The joiner 15 part is somewhat oversize relative to that part of the lagging wall that is straddled, and only fits into the channel with the squeegee present if the squeegee is compressed against the leading wall. A convenient way to remove the squeegee is to pull the ends of the squeegee away from the squeegee support member thereby stretching the squeegee and carrying with it the clips, which can then be removed manually. This is done on both ends to remove both 20 clips and then the squeegee can be taken out by sliding it along the channel. When fitting the squeegee, some tension can be imparted on the squeegee so that a relatively straight surface is presented for cleaning purposes. An operator using the squeegee holder can impart a desired tension on the exposed working edge in accordance with their personal preference. 25 It can be seen that with the clips fitted there is minimal or no axial movement of the squeegee within the channel. It is evident from the figures that the free side of the squeegee does have a degree of freedom of movement. On cleaning however the squeegee bears against the surface being cleaned with the lagging edge which consequently tends to form a relatively straight edge. Any tendency of the free side of the squeegee to buckle over is to 30 some extent inhibited by a stiffening effect imparted on the free side by the ridge (32).
12 Additionally the provision of ridges adjacent the edges of the squeegee provides the capacity to manufacture the squeegee support member (3) in thinner profile thereby using less material in its manufacture whilst at the same time allowing for reversibility to give 5 prolonged squeegee life. The thinness is made possible because the squeegee can be captured closer to an edge of the squeegee held at the innermost part of the channel rather than a ridge close to the centre of the squeegee. The desired lateral flexibility of the squeegee can be provided from the ridge adjacent the inner part of the channel rather than from a ridge approximately in the axial centre of the squeegee as is present in some prior art 10 squeegees. It can be seen that the provision of the protective channel and adjacent contacting surfaces minimises any abrasion that might be caused by removal and replacement of the squeegee within the channel. Additionally the protective channel inhibits lateral abrasion caused by 15 lateral movement of the squeegee within the channel during normal use. An overall view of the squeegee holder can be seen in figures 5 and 6 and the manner or interaction of the squeegee support member (3) with the handle (4) can be seen in figures 7, 8 and 9. 20 It can be seen that the illustrated embodiment shows a reversibly connectable handle. The handle (4) includes a hand grip portion (60) which is shaped to be held in the hand of a cleaner, and a clamping portion (61). The hand grip portion and the clamping portion are pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis (62) defined with pin (63). The relative 25 pivoting enables the angle of the squeegee to be adjusted, which is particularly useful where the squeegee is held on an extension pole and corners of, for example, a window are to be cleaned. The clamping portion includes a fixed first arm (65) and a pivotable second arm (66) spaced 30 apart therefrom. The spacing of the pivotable arm from the fixed arm is defined by two 13 holding screws (67, 68) and a wire spring (not shown) urges the pivotable arm away from the first in particular at a handle proximal end (69). Heads of the holding screws together define the pivot axis of the pivotable arm. The action of the spring is thus to bias the pivotable second arm to a closed position as perhaps best seen in figure 7, although it will be 5 appreciated that the squeegee support member limits the extent of closure of the pivotable arm in that illustration. The pivotable arm is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, the latter can be seen in figure 8. In the closed position the squeegee support member is captured between the fixed and pivotable arm, and in the open position the squeegee support member can be removed therefrom. 10 A free end (70) of the pivotable arm has an elongate ridge (71) formed therein for engagement with an elongate groove (72) formed in the outside face the leading wall of the squeegee support member. Similarly a free end (75) of the fixed arm has an elongate ridge formed thereon for engagement with an elongate groove (76) formed in the outside face of 15 the lagging wall of the squeegee support member. A second elongate groove (73) is formed in the outside face of the leading wall of the squeegee support member as an alternative to the first groove (72) for placement of the elongate ridge (71) of the pivotable arm. It can be seen when comparing figures 7 and 9 that this provides for two different angles at which the squeegee support member can be held relative to the handle. 20 The elongate contact between the clamping portion of the handle and the squeegee support member enhances the stability of connection therebetween. This is especially important where longer support members of up to about 1 metre are used, use of which exert considerable pressure on the clamping mechanism. 25 A pivotable locking member (80) is pivotable about pin (81) between a locking position shown in figures 6, 7 and 9 and an release position shown in figure 8. The locking member comprises a finger actuable portion (82) which is positioned generally in line with the surface of the fixed clamping arm (65) and a leg (83). In the locking position the leg is 30 positioned to contact with an inside surface of the pivotable clamping arm (66) adjacent the 14 handle proximal end (69). The length of the leg is such that in the locked position it urges the elongate ridge harder into the groove (72) to thereby exert a clamping pressure on the squeegee support member supported on an opposite side by the fixed arm (65). Moving the locking member to the release position releases the clamp action so that the squeegee support 5 member can be slid relative to the handle if desired by the cleaner. Additionally it allows the cleaner to manually depress the handle proximal portion of the pivotable arm (66) of the clamping portion against the spring member to thereby to pivot it to the open position for removal of the squeegee support member. 10 As can be seen from figure 10, and as will be understood from normal practice a squeegee and squeegee holder device will typically be configured to fit onto an extension pole (90). An extension pole typically comes in two parts a first part (91) and a second part (92) the first part has a larger diameter and is hollow to allow the second part to slide thereinto, to provide for the extendability of the pole. A release and clamping fastener (93) is provided at 15 the internal end of the first pole. The clamping fastener is formed in two parts a clamping collar (94) is fixed to the first part of the pole and includes a collar portion for encircling the first part, and a plurality of clamping arms contact grooves or ridges of the second part (92) of the pole and upper part of the clamping arms is tapered from top to bottom of the pole, and the collar portion is threaded for screw threaded engagement with the securing collar 20 (95). An upper portion of the securing collar is tapered inside in a manner complementary to the taper of the clamping arms, so that when the securing collar is screwed onto the clamping collar the clamping arms are forced against the second part of the pole to clamp it thereonto, and secure the relative position of the first and second part of the pole. 25 An uppermost portion of the second part of the pole includes a connector (100) for connection with the handle. A circlip (101) with a central pin is fitted over a circumferential groove in the connector the pin passing through aligned apertures in the connector and the second part of the pole to fasten the connector thereto. The connector is tapered towards its fee end (102) and has a sprung button (103) proximal the free end of the connector. The 30 connector is fitted inside the handle until the button is aligned with a connector button 15 receiving aperture (104) whereupon the button engages with the aperture (104) and is locked into place. The button has a taper towards its free end and that together with the taper of the connector enables the connector to be fitted inside a handle that has no button receiving aperture. 5 Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is not limited thereto and can include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 10