US2538850A - Washing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1951 l.. G. SIMMS WASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 19, 1947 Jan. 23, 1951 L.. G. SIMMS WASHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1947 Patented Jan. 23, y1951 WASHING APPARATUS Leo Gr. Simms, Glendale, Calif.,

assigner to Winkitty Products, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 19, 1947, Serial No. 774,965

3 Claims.

This invention relates to washing apparatus of the type adapted to facilitate the washing of large objects such as automobiles and While in the specification it is particularly described in connection with such use, it not so limited and may be used with equal advantage for the washing of other large objects.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for washing vehicles and the like in which means for shifting from the Soaping and washing to the rinsing operation and back again is mounted on the hand of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus in which the entire apparatus is carried by the user and in which by the manipulation of the controls, permits Soaping, rinsing and drying operations to be performed at the will of the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Washing apparatus for vehicles or other large objects in which the soap or detergent Supply is carried 4by the hand of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for washing vehicles or the.

like in which the soap or detergent containing chamber and the control means therefor is detachably mounted on the back of Ythe hand of the user; leaving the hand free to grasp either a sponge or the like for the washing operation or a rag for the drying operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Washing apparatus for vehicles or the like which is so constructed and arranged that Vthe discharge of soap or detergent is into and through a Sponge or rag grasped by the user and in which the rinsing and drying operations employ a discharge outlet remote from the point of soap or detergent discharge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus carried to the back of the hand of the user which is constructed and arranged to be connected by a single flexible tube to a valve structure attached to the Waist line ofthe user, which valve structure is adapted to supply either water or compressed air or combinations thereof through said tube to the portion of the apparatus mounted on the hand of the user.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, by way of example, in the following specification and illustrated inV the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the apparatus as mounted on or carried by a user,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, inlet end view of that por- 2 tion of the apparatus carried by the hand of the user,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional, view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary, transverse, sectional end elevations taken, respectively, on the lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Fig. 3,

Figs 7 and 8 are front and rear elevations respectively, of that portion of the apparatus carried at the waistline of the user,

Fig. 9 `is an elevation of the outlet or discharge Side of that portion shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

Fig. 10 is a vertical Section taken on the line lG-HB of Fig. 9, and,

Fig. 1l is a vertical section taken on either of the lines Il ll of Fig. 10; the valve being shown in open position. Referring first to Fig. 1, the apparatus consists of a hand unit A, a unit attached to the waistline of the user, hereinafter calledy the belt unit B and la flexible tube C connecting the units A and B. The unit B is further l back of the hand as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

provided with a pair of inlet ports adapted to be connected to flexible lines 0r hoses D and E which 4at their other ends are connected respectively to supply sources of Water and compressed air.

Referring next to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, the hand unit A includes a rub-ber pad I adapted to t on the back of the hand of the user; the pad rbeing formed with an elastic strap portion 2 eX- washer l is embedded and vulcanized in place with its threaded portion `disposed concentric With the hole 3. Adjacent its rear end (See Fig.

vr6) the pad l is further provided with a counterboredhole 5 having a washer 6 embedded at thev bottom of the counterbore.

Secured to the side of the pad remote from the hand of the user is the body l of a valve and soap unit provided with a soap outlet nozzle 3 having an exteriorly threaded portion 9 engaging the threads of the washer i and having an exteriorly tapered portion l@ positioned and adapted 'to extend between the second and third fingers of the hand on which it is mounted. A screw l l having its head engaging the Washer and threaded into e. hole l2 in the body member 'I `connects the rear ends ofthe body member and the pad l. To assemble the body member tothe pad, the body member is rst screwed down into the washer as far as it will go with the holes and l2 in alignment, after which the screw Ii is inserted and tightened.

The body member 'i oi the valve and soap unit is formed of a bar or" metal of rectangular cross section somewhat shorter than the pad i and, as shown in Fig. 3, is disposed substantially centrally of the pad. At the end adjacent the wrist of the user the body member is provided with a threaded inlet port i3 adapted to `be connected to one end of the iiexible tube C. ExtendinT from the inlet port E3 to the opposite end of the body member and disposed on the same axial line as the inlet port is a bore i5 which, adjacent vthe port i3, is intersected by a transversely disposed, tapered bore i5 in which is journalled a tapered plug valve member i5. .best shown in Fig. 5, this valve member is disposed with its large vend adjacent the pad I and flush with the face of the body 'E' and at its other end is pr .ridad with a slotted extension i? in the slot of which a handle I8 is secured by a cotter pin l5. A spring washer 2e interposed between the adjacent faces of the handle S8 and the body member 'i serves tohold the valve member seated in the bore I5, and resilient ring gaskets 2l and 22 seated in peripheral grooves in each end of the valve member and engaging the wall of the bore i5 serve to prevent leakage.

The valve member i5 is provided with a transverse bore 23 of the same diameter as the bore iii and in line therewith and with a smaller bore disposed at right angles to and intersecting one side of the bore 23, The body member l is further provided with a soap chamber 25 comprising a relatively large bore extending parallel to the bore Iii from the same end as the inlet port I3 and terminating adjacent the other end of the body member in a slightly smaller', coaxial bore 25; the juncture of the bores forming a shoulder 2l on which a screen 2S carried by collar 25 closely fitting within the bore 26 seated. The entrance end of the soap chamthreaded to engage a closure plug 3c havdat sided extension 3i adapted to be ena wrench and having a groove 32 in member ffcap chamber and the end oi the body member. The cody member l is further provided with an angularly disposed bore 35 connecting the open *end of the soap chamber with the valve bore i5 at a point at right angles to the axis of the bore iii whereby, as will oe later xplained, water may be directed into the soap ci amber, At the other end of the soap chamber, the body member l is provided with a threaded hole which extends from the side of the body member adjacent the pad i into the side ci the bore 25 into which threaded hole the threaded .end 3l of the soap discharge nozzle is screwed prior to assembly with the pad I.

Thus when the valve i5 is in the position shown in Fig. 4l, water entering through the inlet port i3 will be directed through the bores Eil. 23 and 35 into the soap chamber 25 and thence through the screen 23 and bore 25 out the soap discharge nozzle 8. In this connection it is to be noted that the jet of water passing through the bore t5 is directed toward the rear or plug end of the soap chamber, thus insuring that all or the soap placed therein will be used up. When the valve I5 is turned a quarter turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the bores 2s and t5 will be cut c-i and the bore 23 will be in line with the 4 bore I4, permitting the discharge of a stream of rinsing water or of a blast of air through the .bore I4 out of the end of the body member "I as will be later explained in more detail.

Referring now to the belt unit B shown in Figs. 7 to l1, inclusive, the unit comprises a body member 38 having a water inlet port 39, an air inlet port 4B and an outlet port lli; all of which are threaded for connection with hoses D and E and the flexible tube C respectively. Extending inwardly from and vcoaxially of the inlet ports 35 and 4B respectively are parallel bores 2 and 43 which 'at their inner ends, as shown in Fig. 10, are intersected by a bore fili extending inwardly from and coaxially of the outlet port fil. Intermediate their ends, the bores 52 and 43 are intersected by tapered valve bores IE5 and 45 respectively in which are seated 'taper plug valve members il and `4S having transverse bores t9 and 5d adapted to be brought into and out of registry with the bores i2 and i3 respectively. As best shown in Fig. 1'1, these valve members are arranged with their large ends flush with one side of the body member SS and at their other ends are provided with slotted extensions 5I and 52 in which handles 53 and 56 are secured by cotter pins 55 and 55. Spring washers 5l and 58 disposed between the handles and the body member 38 serve to hold the valve members seated in their bores and resilient gasket members 55 and Ell near each end of each of the valve members and engaging the walls of the valve bores d5 and 55 serve to prevent leakage.

It will be seen that by opening the valve t1 and closing the valve Vt8 a stream of water will be delivered through the lexible tube C, and that by closing the valve 41 and opening the valve 48 a blast of air will be delivered in the same manner. Additionally, in cleaning mud and the like from the underside o'f fenders and other parts of a vehicle where additional velocity is desired both valves may be opened to the desired degree to produce a blast of combined air and water.

The belt vunit B is provided with a spring clip 6I which is vattached by screws 62-52 to the upper face of the vbody member 38 and thence extends downwardly along the side face of the body member opposite the valve 'handles and 5o and terminates in an .outwardly turned lip portion 63. This spring clip permits the belt unit to be quickly attached to the belt of the user and to be as quickly detached. Positioned at the side of the'user as shown in Fig. l, the valve handles 53 and 54 are locatedso as not to interfere with the use of the apparatus and at the same time are easily reached for such adjustment and manipulation as the use of the apparatus may require.

Apparatusof this character lis particularly useful in service stations and the capability of quick attaching and dota-ching of the apparatus makes it desirable in that the attendant may quickly stop washing a car-and serve a customer and as quickly re-attach the apparatus and continue the washing operation. The mounting of the unit Bon the belt of the user is desirable in thatvonly a short light weight single hose or tube needrextend to the .hand unit thus relieving the hand of the necessity of dragging the weight of the air and water -hoses if they were attached directly to the .hand and .contributing to the ease of manipulation of the hand unit. Additionally the .danger of marring the surface by dragging a heavy hose across it is eliminated.

.In use, the soap chamber is rst lled with soap; the soap preferably being in a solid or semisolid cake in the form of a cylinder of such size that it will loosely fit the soap chamber, the plugr is then inserted and tightened after which the belt and hand units are attached to the belt and hand of the user. Then the user grasps a sponge or rag with the hand on which the hand unit is mounted and opens the valve 41 and adjusts the Valve l E to deliver water through the soap chamber with resultant discharge of soapy water out of the nozzle onto and through the sponge or rag and onto the surface being washed. The user then proceeds to wash an area of the car or other object being washed and after a suflicient area has been washed, the valve I6 is adjusted to cut oil the soap chamber and to project a stream of rinsing water on the washed area after which the valve 41 is closed and the valve 48 is opened to deliver a blast of air through the tube C and the bore I4 of the hand unit to blow off surplus water and to dislodge water from crevices and from behind trim strips preparatory to nal drying and polishing of the surface. paratus may be turned oi completely and the sponge exchanged for a polishing cloth to complete the cleaning of that area.

The foregoing description of the operation is the usual sequence of procedure, but in practice it may be necessary, for example, to wash oi an accumulationof mud or other dirt from the surface to be cleaned by the use of the water alone or by the combination of water and air before proceeding with the use of soap. Whatever the requirements of a particular surface may be, the user of the apparatus has fingertip command of the necessary elements to do the job. In the foregoing specication reference has constantly been made to soap and soap chamber but it will be understood that these terms are intended to include detergent compounds other than soap.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a Washing apparatus for cleaning vehicles and the like, a unit adapted to be attached to the hand of the user and having an inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of water supply; said unit comprising a pad element formed to lie on the back of the hand, a strap portion connected to said pad and adapted to extend across the palm of the hand and operative to hold said pad on the back of the hand of the user, body member fixed to said pad at the side thereof opposite the side in contact with the hand and having an inlet port at one end adapted to be connected to a source of water supply, a bore extending from said inlet port to the opposite end of said body member, a three way valve in said bore, a soap chamber in said body member, a discharge nozzle extending from said soap chamber through said pad, a removable ller plug closing one end of said soap chamber, and a fluid passage connecting said soap chamber with said valve said valve being manually operable to direct fluid received from said inlet port to said bore or to said soap chamber through said passage or to shut off the flow of uid.

2. In a washing apparatus for cleaning vehicles and the like, a unit adapted to be attached to the hand of the user and having an inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of water supply; said *unit comprising a pad element formed to lie on the back of the hand, a strap portion connected tosaid pad and adapted to extend across the palm of the hand and operative to hold said pad on the back of the hand of the user, a body member xed to said pad at the side thereof opposite the side in contact with the hand and having an inlet port at one end adapted to be connected to a source of water supply, a bore extending from said inlet port to the opposite end of said body member, a three way valve in said bore, a soap chamber in said body member, a discharge nozzle extending from said soap chamber through said pad, a removable filler plug closing one end of said soap chamber, and a fluid passage connecting said soap chamber with Said valve; said valve comprising a rotatable frustoconical plug seated in a frusta-conical bore and having a series of transverse interconnecting ports disposed in a plane containing said inlet port, bore, and the fluid passage leading to the soap chamber and arranged that in one position of said valve water entering said inlet port will be directed through said passage into said soap chamber and thence out of said discharge nozzle, and when in another position, water entering said inlet port will be directed through said bore and out of the end of the body member.

3. In an apparatus for washing vehicles and the like, a unit adapted to be attached to the back of the hand of the user and having an inlet port at one end adapted to be connected to a source of water supply, a rinsing water nozzle at the other end of said unit, arranged to direct a stream of water in the direction of the outstretched fingers of the hand to which the unit is attached, a soap chamber in said unit extending from said inlet port end to a point adjacent the other end of said unit, a soap solution discharge nozzle communicating with said soap chamber at said other end of said unit and extending outwardly therefrom at right angles to said rst nozzle and terminating between two of the fingers of the hand on which the unit is mounted and manually operable valve means adjacent said inlet port constructed and arranged to direct the flow of water from either said inlet port through said rinsing water nozzle or through said soap chamber and said soap solution dis charge nozzle.

LEO G. SIMMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,463 Dawson Aug. 20, 1912 1,242,905 Atkinson Oct. 16, 1917 1,343,490 Albertson June 15, 1920 1,344,364 Vis June 22, 1920 1,434,695 Gordon Nov. 7, 1922 1,587,873 Stone June 8, 1926 1,620,698 Stone Mar. 15, 1927 1,655,585 Wagner Jan. 10, 1928 2,209,861 Torbert July 30, 1940 2,301,691 Ellinger et al. Nov. 10, 1942

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