GB2233217A

GB2233217A - Window cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2233217A
Application number: GB8912139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Moslin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-26
Filing date: 1989-05-26
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Also published as: GB8912139D0

Abstract

A portable hand-held cleaning device particularly for cleaning windows comprises a container (10) in which cleaning liquid is stored, a nozzle (14) for emitting the liquid, an actuator (15) for controlling the emission of liquid, and a wiper blade (16, 17) disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle (14). <IMAGE>

Description

CLEANING DEVICE The present invention relates to a portable handheld cleaning device which combines the functions of applying a cleansing liquid to a surface and of wiping the surface clean. The device is particularly intended for use in cleaning windows.

Normally to clean windows a user needs a variety of utensils and an object of the invention is to provide a device which will enable windows to be cleaned more efficiently.

According to the invention a portable hand-held cleaning device comprises a container for storing cleaning fluid, a nozzle for emitting such fluid, an actuator for controlling the emission of the fluid and a wiping blade disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle.

Preferably the blade has a replaceable rubber or plastics strip to effect the wiping action. The blade is best disposed above and forward of the nozzle in relation to the orientation of the device during use.

The invention may be understood more readily with reference to the following description.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, a device constructed in accordance with the invention is composed of a container 10 with an upper portion 11 shaped to be held in the hand of a user. The upper end of the container 10 has a screw-threaded region which mates with a cap 12 carrying an upper body 13. The cap 12 can be removed with the body 13 to enable the container 10 to be charged with cleansing liquid such as a mixture of soap and water.

The body 13 can be a hollow noulding and a detachable screw-threaded nozzle 14 on the body 13 serves for discharging the liquid as a spray or stream from the container 10. A pivotably mounted spring-loaded actuator or trigger 15 carried by the body 13 serves to control the liquid discharge. In its simplest form as illustrated the trigger 15 displaces a piston in the body 13 to pump liquid from the container 10 via a tube to the nozzle 14 and the user would repeatedly squeeze the trigger to pump jets of liquid from the nozzle 14. In an alternative arrangement a piston and cylinder pump with a one-way valve (not shown) can be used to subject the liquid in the container 10 to above-atmospheric pressure and the operation of the trigger 15 selectively permits the pressurised liquid to be emitted from the nozzle 14.

The upper part of the body 13 takes the form of an integral blade 16 projecting above and forwards of the nozzle 14. A replaceable resilient strip 17 made from rubber or plastics is fitted to the blade 16.

During use, a user would spray a small amount of liquid onto a surface, such as a window or the like, to be cleaned and the device would be moved downwardly in the direction of arrow D in Figure 1 to wipe the surface clean with the strip 17 of the blade 16.

Claims

1. A portable hand-held unitary cleaning device comprising a container for storing cleaning fluid, a nozzle for emitting said fluid, an actuator for controlling the emission of said fluid from the nozzle and a wiping blade disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container has an upper portion shaped to be held in the hand.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container has a detachable cap with a body carrying the nozzle, the actuator and the wiping blade.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the blade is integral with the body and extends laterally of the container at a position above and forwardly of the nozzle relative to the container and the outflowing fluid.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuator is a portable spring-loaded trigger which serves to pump fluid through a tube from the container to the nozzle.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and further comprising a piston and cylinder pump for subjecting the fluid in the container to excess pressure relative to the atmosphere and wherein the actuator opens a one-way valve to permit the fluid to pass to the nozzle.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the nozzle is screw-threaded and detachable.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade has a replaceable flexible strip made from rubber or plastics.

9. A portable unitary cleaning device comprising a container shaped to be held in the hand for containing cleaning liquid, a removable screw-threaded cap for closing the container at the upper and, an integral body carried by the cap, a nozzle on the body for dispensing the cleaning liquid, a trigger on the body for causing the liquid to be dispensed by the nozzle and a wiper blade with a replaceable flexible strip on the body extending laterally of the nozzle and in the vicinity of the nozzle.

10. A device substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.