US2179223A - Squeegee cleaning tool - Google Patents

Description

Nov, 7, 1939. H. sn-:MUND 2,179,223

SQUEEGEE CLEANING TOOL Filed July 10, 1937 48 lg INVENTOR Herman eman' B l i RNEY l 1 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STAG SQUEEGEE CLEANING 'liUUL Herman Siemund, Chicago, lll.,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in cleaning tools especially adapted for use in the cleaning of floors, windows and thelike, and it has particular relation to a cleaning tool of the squeegee type consisting of an elongated channel-like frame or holder having one or more wiping blades of fabric, rubber, rubber and fabric, felt, etc., removably secured therein.

The conventional devices of the character described, which are found in extensive use at the presentytime, consist of an elongated channellike holder having a flexible wiping blade made up of one or more strips of flexible wiping material tightly secured therein by means of machine bolts or other similar fastening means mounted on the holder and extending through perforations made along one edge of the iiexible wiping strips.

The conventional devices hereinabove identified have a great many disadvantages. all of which are being obviated by the present invention.V For example, the perforations in the ilexible wiping strips for receiving the `securing means actually materially weakens the strips and consequently greatly shortens the actual operating life thereof, Aconsiderable strain is placed on these flexible wiping strips when the holder is being `squeegeed over the surface being cleaned, which strain quite frequently causes the securing means to tear through the material which has been weakened bythe perforations. When this happens the flexible strips are rendered unfit for further use, and must be replaced since they can no longer be firmly secured in the holder. Another great disadvantage of these conventional devices is that the perforations prevent reversal of the flexible wiping strips when the original wiping edge becomes worn or otherwise rendered uniit for further use.

Still another disadvantage of the present conventional holders is that dealers in such devices are required to maintain extensive stocks of various sizes of measured and perforated replacement strips for replacing worn out blades of holders of various makes and/or sizes, which require diiferent types of strips and differently spaced perforations. If a dealer does not carry a supplyof ready made blades in stock, then in order to satisfy the purchasers of such devices he must carry rolls of uncut stock material from which he must personally measure, perforate and lit the required replacement strips. The ytime, trouble, patience and risk involved in making accurately spaced perforations to fit a parte Greenview Manufacturing Company, Chicago, lill., a corporation of Illinois Application .liuly l0, 1937, Serial No. 152,906

assigner ticular holder makes such replacement business highly unattractive, and especially when consideration is given to the small value of such sales.

A further objectionable feature of the conventional devices, wherein the securing means is mounted transversely and vertically of the channel-like holder, is that the position of the securing means frequently causes the latter to engage and snare the chamois skins used to clean the flexible wiping edge periodically, thereby damaging the same by tearing and materially shortening their normal and useful life.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device of a simple and inexpensive construction that will enable the owner to firmly secure one or more flexible strips of wiping material therein without necessitating the perforation of said strips to receive the fastening means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cleaning device of the character described wherein the flexible wiping strips may be reversed when the original wiping sidel has become damaged or worn, thereby greatly increasing the operating life of the wiping element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device which is adapted to receive and secure the exible wiping element without requiring any accurate measuring and/ or punching for securing the same in said holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device of the character described which has its securing means mounted in such a manner as to obviate the possibility of snaring or otherwise damaging a chamois skin when the same is being used to clean the wiping element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device wherein the number of L iiexible strips used to form the wiping element may be varied without impairing or injuring the usefulness and/or efficiency of the holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described which will permit the use of strips of flexible wiping material of various thicknesses without requiring adjustment of the securing means to compensate for such variations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a holder of the character described wherein the flexible wiping strips are rrnly clamped and locked therein by a wedging means which is mounted entirely within the elongated receiving channel of the holder, and which requires no tools for fastening or releasing the wiping element therefrom.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the detailed construction of the holder, which result in simplicity, economy and efliciency, and which will be apparent from the following description, wherein several preferred forms of embodiment of the invention are shown, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig, 1, the same being taken substantially along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the clamping or wedging bar shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View (similar to Fig. 2) of a cleaning device constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating a modiiied form of clamping or wedging bar being used in connection with the holder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view (similar to Fig. 2) of another modified form of cleaning device constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating a spring steel clamping or wedging bar requiring no separate securing means.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, there is shown an elongated metal channel-like holder or frame member I0, substantially of U-shape construction, having an outwardly and upwardly transversely extending long upper or top arm I2, an outwardly transversely extending short lower or bottom arm I4, and a connecting back portion I6, said arms I2 and I4 extending outwardly in a slightly diverging direction thereby forming a channel like opening I8 therebetween of diminishing dimensions progressively inwardly toward the back portion I6 thereof. A clamping or wedging bar 2l) and a plurality of flexible strips 22, which comprise the wiping element, are adapted to be removably mounted in the channel-like opening IE of the holder IIJ.

Mounted intermediate the ends of the top arm I2, by spot-welding or other suitable means as indicated at 24, is a handle receiving socket member 23, which is provided with a hollow tubular portion 28 having an external locking ring 3U. The hollow tubular handle portion 28 is adapted to wedgingly receive an extension handle member 32, such as a mop handle or' the like, for manipulation of the holder 5U in cleaning surfaces beyond the normal reach of the operator.

The connecting back portion I6 of the U- shaped frame member Ill is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures 34 adjacent the upper edge thereof and just below the juncture of the upper arm I2 for receiving the securing means.

The clamping or wedging bar 20 is of U--shape construction, having a relatively wide back portion 35 as compared to its projecting arms 38 and 4l), is adapted to be mounted within the channel-like opening I 8. It will be noted that the projecting arm 4l! of the bar 2li is shorter than the arm 38 thereof, and that the arm 4l) is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced internally threaded openings 42, the spacing of the openings 42 correspond to the spacing of the openings 34 in the back portion I6 of the frame member II! so that when the bar 20 is properly positioned in the frame member I0 the openings 34 and 42 may be brought into alignment. The securing means, which may consist of a machine screw or bolt 44 is mounted through the openings 34 of the back portion I6 of the frame member I0 from the back side thereof so that its threaded shank projects into the channel-like opening I8. Thereupon, the projecting ends of the bolts 44 may be threaded into the internally threaded openings 42 of the arm 40 of the bar 2Q to engage the same. When the clamping members 29 and 20a are in their clamping positions, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,

respectively, it will be noted that the threaded ends of the securing means or bolts 44 passes entirely through said clamping member and terminates within the channel thereof, thereby preventing these threaded projecting ends from coming into contact with and snagging the chamois skins. The width of the clamping bar 29 is less than the width of the projecting upper arm l2 of the frame member I0 against which it is adapted to slidably operate on the arms 38 and 4l) when mounted within the channel-like opening i8 by means of the bolts 44.

The flexible wiping element, which may consist of one or more strips of suitable flexible material 22, is manually positioned in the channel-like opening I8 between the outer surface of the back 36 of the clamping bar 20 and the inner surface of the lower arm I4 of the frame structure Ill with its inner side edge abutting the back portion I6 thereof, as best shown in Fig. 2. While only two strips of flexible material 22 of different widths are shown secured in the holder I@ of the drawing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of such strips to be used, the thickness of such strips, etc., may be varied at will without affecting the operation of the clamping means. Therefore, it is to be understood that the exible strips 22 may be varied at the discretion of the operator without departing from the utility of the holder or from the spirit of the invention.

While it is believed that the assembly of the holder is quite obvious from the foregoing description, the same may be briefly summarized as follows: The bolts 44 are manually positioned in the openings 34 of the back portion I6 ,of the holder I ll from the rear side thereof so that their threaded shanks will project into the channellike opening i8. The U-shaped clamping bar 20 is positioned in the channel-like opening I6 with its projecting arms 38 and 4I) engaging the underside of the top arm I2 of the holder I0, the arm 4l) having the internally threaded openings 42 being positioned adjacent the back I6 of the holder lll. While the clamping bar 20 is maintained in this position, the openings 34 and 42 being in proper alignment, the screws 44 may be partially threaded into the openings 42 until the clamping bar 2U is secured loosely within the channel-like opening I6 of the holder Ill. The flexible strips 22, comprising the wiping element or blade,A may now be positioned within the channel-like opening I8 between the back 36 of the clamping bar 2|] and the inside surface of the adjacent lower arm I4 of the holder I0, and with the inner side edge of said strips 22 contacting the back portion I6 of said holder It. In this position the screws 44 may be tightened, thereby drawing the clamping bar 20 inwardly of the channel-like opening I8 toward the back l of the holder I0. Since the outer FOI projecting arm 38 of the clamping bar 20 is longer than the inner arm 40 thereof, and since the channel-like opening I8-narrows as it approaches the back portion I6, it follows that any inward movement ofthe clamping bar 20 transversely of the channel-like opening I8 will cause the back 36 Vof `the clamping bar` 20 to approach the arm I4, thereby wedginglyor clampingly locking the flexible strips 22 therebetween.

`In the modied construction shown in Fig. 4 the elongated channel-like holder lila is of iden- `tical `construction to the holder Il] in Figs. 1 and 2, but the clamping bar 20a is of slightly differ-l ent construction. The clamping bar 2M is made of spring steel, and is of a U-shaped construction having outwardly diverging arms 46 and48 of equal length and a` connecting back portion 49 provided with longitudinally `spaced internally threaded, apertures 42`for receiving the bolts `44 which comprise the `securing means. In this modification it will be noted that the clamping bar 20a is mounted telescopically or in a nested position within the frame member Illa, and that the flexible strips 22, which comprise the wiping element, are secured in the manner heretofore described between the arms 48 and I4.

In the modification shown inFig. 5, the out wardly projecting top arm I2 of the elongated channel-like holder Ib is provided with a relatively short integrally formed projecting ange 5l), which extends downwardly from the top arm I2 adjacent the outer edge thereof and inwardly of the channel-like opening I8 of the holder Iilb. A U-shaped spring steel clamping bar 2th, having outwardly diverging arms 54 and 56, which are `slightly shorter than the distance between the back portion I6 of the holder Illb and the downwardly projecting ange Ell, is adapted to be used for removably` clamping or wedging the exible strips 22 within the holder Ib. In the operation of this modied form of device, the flexible strips 22, comprising the wiping element, are first positioned in the channel-like opening I8 von top of the arm I4 of the holder ilb with their back edges contacting the back portion i6 thereof. The clamping bar Zlib is now ready to be inserted in position in channel-like opening lli, and this may be manually accomplished by merely pinching the outwardly extending arms 54 and 56 together, thereby compressing the same into a form whereby it may be readily slipped i into the opening I8 between the top of the strips 22 and the underside of the top arm i2 behind the flange 5D. When the clamping bar 2th is properly positioned, the compression may be released and the arms 54 and 56 will tend to sepa-- rate and return to their normal expanded position, whereupon the arm 54 will become locked behind the flange 5l! and the flexible strips 22 will become tightly and firmly clamped by the expanding pressure of the spring steel clamping bar Zlib between the arm 55 and the arm i4 of the members Zlib and Iilb respectively. To release the flexible strips 22 from the holder Itlb, the arm 54 of the clamping bar Elib is compressed until it is below the flange bil, whereupon it may be removed from the channel-like opening It) in any suitable manner thereby releasing the wiping element.

It is obvious that in the above constructions it is possible to vary the thickness or number of strips of ilexible material 22 comprising the wiping element without diiiiculty or loss of eficiency, and that new strips may be readily prepared from a roll of stock material merely by cutting the same to length, thus the necessity of making precision measurements and punching accurately spaced holes to correspond to the spacing arrangement of the clamping bolts has,

been eliminated. It will be further apparent that, when one side `of the flexible strips 22 becomes worn through use, they may beeasily and quickly reversed in the frame structure and the opposite edge thereupon used, the worn or damaged edge having no effect on the clamping or securing means whatsoever. Manifestly, the normal and useful life of the wiping element of the present holder is doubled, thereby greatly reducingthe actual operating cost of the device. Furthermore, dealers in such devices need no longer carry large and expensive stocks of ready made wiping blades for replacement purposes, or continue the unprotable practice of making and retting new blades. It will also be noted that in the modifications shown in Figs. l to 4, in-

clusive, the securing means is mounted in the back of the frame member II), thereby removing the danger of snaring or tearing the chamoisskin when the same is used in cleaning the flexible wiping edge, and that in the form shown in Fig. 5 the securing means is mounted entirely within the channel-like opening.

Although I have only described in detail several modifications which the invention may assume, it will be readily apparent to those Skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but that various. other modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

` What I claim is:

l. In a cleaning device of the character described, an elongated wiping element, an elongated U-shaped holder therefor, an elongated U- shaped clamping member adapted to be mounted entirely within the channel of said holder, and securing means mounted in the back of said holder having a free end for engaging the clamping member and moving it transversely along one arm of said holder for wedgingly securing said wiping element therebetween, the free end of said securing means terminating within the channel of said clamping member.

2. In a cleaning device of the character described, an elongated wiping element, an elongated channel-shaped holder therefor having outwardly diverging arms of unequal length, an elongated channel-shaped clamping member adapted to be slidably mounted entirely within the channel of said holder and along the longer arm thereof, and means for engaging said holder and clamping member for wedgingly securing said wipingelement between said clamping member `and the shorter arm of said holder, said securing means having one end terminating within the channel of said clamping member.

3. In a cleaning device or the character described comprising an elongated U-shaped supporting structure having outwardly projecting arms forming a longitudinally extending receiving channel, a U-shaped clamping member having outwardly projecting arms of unequal length forming a longitudinally extending channel, and securing means engageable with the back of said holder and the shorter arm of said clamping member for securing the wiping element wedgingly therebetween when the clamping member` is moved transversely of the channel of said supporting structure. i

4. In a cleaning device of the character described comprising an elongated U shaped supporting structure having outwardly diverging arms of unequal length forming a longitudinally extending receiving channel, a U-shaped clamping member having outwardly projecting arms of unequal length forming a longitudinally extending channel, said clamping member adapted to be slidably mounted entirely within said receiving channel and along the longer arm of said supporting structure, and securing means engageable With the back of said supporting structure and the shorter arm of said clamping member for securing the wiping element wedgingly therebetween when the clamping member is moved transversely of the longer arm of said structure, said securing means having one end terminating within the channel of said clamping member.

5. In a cleaning device of the character described, an elongated wiping element, an elongated channel-shaped holder therefor, an elongated channel-shaped clamping member having outwardly extending diverging arms adaptedto be mounted entirely within the channel of said holder, and securing means projecting from the back of said holder and engaging the back of said clamping member for wedgingly securing said wiping element therebetween, said securing means having one free end which terminates within the channel of said clamping member.

6. In a cleaning device of the character described, an elongated wiping element, a U-shaped holder having a channel extending longitudinally thereof, a U-shaped clamping member having outwardly extending arms forming a channel extending longitudinally thereof, and means having one free end for securing the back of said holder and the back of said clamping member for Wedgingly securing said wiping element therebetween, the free end of said securing means terminating within the channel of said clamping member.

HERMAN SIEMUND.

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