US2977625A

US2977625A - Washing implement

Info

Publication number: US2977625A
Application number: US797747A
Authority: US
Inventors: Evan L Hopkins
Original assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1959-03-06
Filing date: 1959-03-06
Publication date: 1961-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-04

Description

April 4, 1961 E. L.-HO'PK|NS WASHING IMPLEMENT Filed March 6, 1959 INVENTOR EVAN L. HOPKINS 2,977,625 WASHING IMPLEMENT Evan L. Hopkins, Emporia, Kans., assignor to Hopkins ManufacturingCorporation, Emporia, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Filed Mar. '6, 1959, Ser. No. 797,747 4 Claims. c1. 15-567) This invention relates 'to washing implements and more particularly to portable, hand-operated washing implements which dispense a stream of washing fluid onto the surface of the article to be washed.

The washing of all exposed surfaces of automobiles and similar large, irregularly shaped structures is attended by considerable difliculty. In an attempt to alleviate this difficulty, various washing irnplements have heretofore been developed, some of which have embodied means to supply a stream of washing fluid to the surface to be washed. In general, the heretoforeknown implemen'ts have been Characterized by one or 'more'disadvantag es such as undue complexity,-excessive Weight and ex-' pense of manufacture, ditfieulty of operation, in accessibilityto certain parts of the work, inadequate control of thelfluid supply thereby wasting water and causing the operator and bystanders to-be hit by spray, and failure to supply water to all areas Where needed.

To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable, handoperated washing implement which is inexpensive to manufacture, highly effective, small in size, light in weight, simple to operate, and capable of supplying a controlled flow of washing fluid to relatively inaccessible parts o'fthe article to be washed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an implement which includes a soft, fluid permeableresilient Washing head, substantially all of the outer surface of which is exposed and through which surface washing fluid mm I able washing head comprising a resilient sponge; Means are provided to conduct fluid into the sponge, such means including a valve body embedded in the sponge and an inlet extending through a small opening in the rear face of the washing head for connection to a-source of wash ing fluid under pressure. The valve body is provided with .a fluid outlet into the interior of the sponge and an inwardly facingvalve seat associated with such outlet A valve is provided which is cooperable with the valve seat to control the flow otfluid through the outlet into the sponge. Connected to the valve and extending through the outlet is a valve stem which is movable longitudinally and tiltably in the outlet to unseat the valve by inward longitudinal movement or tilting of the valve stem. At the outer end of the valve stem is an acuating portion which is also embedded in the sponge at a location spaced outwardly from the valve body. The sponge closely grips the embedded valve body and actuating portion with the actuating portion being normally retained in extended position with the valve closed. The rear surface of the 2371,25 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 ICC washing head is substantially larger than the opening through which the fluid conducting means extends and the entire outer surface of the Washing head outside of such opening is soft, compressible and exposed so that the surface of the washing head may be pressed against an object to be Washed from any direction to distort the sponge and move the actuating portion to open the valve,

The invention having been generally described, a pre- 'ferred specific embodiment will now be set forth in'detail with vreference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a washing implement according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the details ofconstruction of the washing head and the valve body; and' I 'Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Shown in perspective in Figure 1 is a portable, handoperated, washing implement designated generally by the synthetic spongemade of rubber, plastic material or the like which is charatcerized by the general properties of natural sponge.

Embedded in the sponge 12 is a valve body 13, the rear end of which extends through a small opening 14 in the rear surface of the Washing head 12. Atfixed to the protruding portion of the valve body 13, as by a threaded connection, is an elongated rigid handle 15. The handle 15 comprises a metal tube 16 of aluminum or other suitable material encased in a flexible, exterior sheet 17 preferably of rubber or plastic material. A fitting 18 is fixed 'tothe end of the handle 15 opposite the washing head to facilitate connection of the implement to a source of Water .or other washing fluid under pressure by means of hose 19. The washing fluid is conducted through the hollow handle 15 intothe valve body 13 and subsequently through the sponge as hereinafter described. The fitting 18 includes --a bracket 21 by which the implement may be hung from a suitable connection for purposes of storage. The end of the valve body 13 which is embedded in the sponge is reduced indiameter to form an outlet 22 which connects the interior of the valve body with the interior of the sponge. At the juncture of the reduced diameter outlet 22 with the main portion of the valve body 13 is a shoulder which provides an inwardly facing, annular valve seat 23 surrounding the outlet 22. Cooperable With the valve seat 23 is a valve 24 which is operable to selectively open and close the outlet 22 thereby controlling the flow of fluid from the valve body into the sponge. Connected to the valve 24 is a valve stem 25 which extends through the outlet 22. The stem 25 is substantially smaller in diameter than the outlet 22 and thus is longitudinally movable and tiltable therein. Any tilting or inward longitudinal movement of the stem 25 results in the opening of the valve.

At the juncture of the valve 24 and the stem 25 is an annular shoulder 26 which extends into the outlet 22 when the valve is closed and is tapered radially inwardly from the valve toward the outer end of the valve stem. The purpose of the tapered shoulder 26 is to form a flow control means in the outlet whereby the rate of fluid flow past the shoulder through the outlet is relatively 'small when the valve is barely open and is increased as the valve stem is moved inwardly to ope'nthe valve to a greater degree. r

Connected to the outer end of the valve stem 25 is an actuating member '27 which may be a simple bar, as

shown in the drawings, extending in diametrically opposite directions laterally outwardly from the stem 25. Alternatively, a plurality of bars may be provided extending in various radial directions from the valve stem. Still further, a disc could be substituted for the bar 27. A plurality of bars or a disc would be especially advantageous where a relatively wide sponge is employed. It can be seen that the sponge 12, shown in the drawings, is relatively long and narrow, thereby facilitating the use of a single bar 27.

The bar 27 is embedded in the sponge at a location space'd outwardly from the valve body 13. The spacing between the bar 27 and the valve body 13 preferably should be not materially greater than the spacing necessary to prevent material interference by the valve body 13 with the tilting of the bar 27 in order that a substantial tilting of the valve 24 is effected when the bar 27 is tilted.

The sponge closely grips the valve body and the actuating member 27 and tends to urge the bar toward extended position to retain the valve in closed position.

- Further, the valve is normally retained in closed position by the pressure of the washing fluid in the valve body. Accordingly, no springs or other devices are necessary to urge the valve toward closed position. It can be seen that any tilting or inward movement of the actuating member 27 against the force of the washing fluid results in a corresponding tilting or inward movement of the valve stem to unseat the valve thereby releasing washing fluid from the interior of the valve body into the interior of the sponge. Since the sponge is fluid permeable, such fluid will be emitted from all of the exposed sponge surfaces.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the back surface 28 of the washing head 12 is substantially larger in area than the opening 14, and is substantially entirely exposed to the atmosphere. Moreover, the entire outer surface of the washing head, including the back surface 28 outside of the opening 14, is soft, compressible and exposed so that any portion of the washing head surface may-be pressed against the object to be washed from any direction to distort the sponge and move the actuating portion thereby opening the valve. Whether the washing head is pressed against the surface to be washed from the front, from the side or from the rear, the distortion of the spbnge will cause movement of the actuating portion 27 thereby opening the valve to release the washing fluid.

The valve body 13, the valve 24, the stem 25 and the actuating member 27 may be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably are formed of an organic polymeric material. Examples of satisfactory materials are polymers of ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylene, methylene, propylene, styrene, methylmethacrylate, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile, phenol formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde.

The valve assembly and sponge may be fabricated in various ways. Where a molded, synthetic sponge is employed the sponge may be molded directly around the valve assembly. Alternatively, the sponge may be molded apart from the valve assembly with appropriate recesses being formed in the sponge to accommodate the valve assembly. A narrow slit 29 is also formed in the sponge to extend from the front face 31 to the valve assembly recess. When the sponge has hardened, the slit 29 is spread to permit insertion of the valve body. After the latter is properly positioned in the sponge, the

walls

33 and 34 of the slit are cemented together.

With the valve assembly embedded in the sponge in the manner described, a relatively small portion of the fluid conducting means protrudes through the rear of the sponge, thereby leaving substantially all of the back surface of the sponge soft, compressible and exposed. Accordingly, the sponge can be pressed against the surface to be washed from the rear and sides as well as from the front to release the washing fluid. Further, with the valve body embedded in the sponge, the spacing between the bar 27 and the valve 24 may be maintained relatively small thereby permitting the valve to be tilted by a relatively small tilting of the bar 27. Moreover, with this construction, the natural resilience of the sponge tends to urge the actuating member to extended position to retain the valve closed thereby preventing leakage when the water is first connected to the implement.

There has been illustrated and described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that many modifications may be persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable, hand-operated washing implement which comprises a fluid permeable washing head comprising a resilient sponge, means to conduct fluid into said sponge including a valve body embedded in said sponge, said means extending through a small opening in the rear face of said washing head for connection to a source of washing fluid under pressure, said valve body having a fluid outlet into the interior of said sponge and an inwardly facing valve seat associated with said outlet, a valve cooperable with said valve seat to control the flow of fluid through said outlet, and means including a valve stem connected to said valve and extending through said outlet, said valve stem being movable longitudinally and tiltably in said outlet to unseat said valve by inward longitudinal movement or tilting of said valve stem, said last named means including an actuating portion secured to said valve stem and embedded in said sponge at a location spaced outwardly from said valve body, said actuating portion extending in a plurality of directions laterally outwardly from said valve stem, said sponge closely gripping the embedded valve body and actuating portion with said actuating portion being normally retained in extended position with the valve closed, the rear surface of said washing head being susbtantially larger than the opening through which said fluid conducting means extends, and the entire outer surface of said washing head including said rear surface outside of said opening being soft, compressible and exposed so that any portion of said surface of said washing head may be pressed against an object to be washed from any direction to distort said sponge and move said actuating portion to open the valve.

2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein a shoulder is provided at the juncture of said valve and valve stem, said shoulder extending into said outlet when the valve is closed and being tapered radially inwardly from said valve toward the outer end of said valve stem whereby the rate of fluid flow past said shoulder through said outlet is increased as the valve stem is moved inwardly.

3. A portable, hand-operated washing implement which comprises a fluid permeable washing head comprising a resilient sponge, means to conduct fluid into said sponge including a valve body embedded in said sponge, said means extending through a small opening in the rear face of said washing head, an elongated tubular rigid handle member to connect said fluid conducting means to a source of washing fluid under pressure, said valve body having a fluid outlet into the interior of said sponge and an inwardly facing valve seat associated with said outlet, a valve cooperable with said valve seat to control the flow of fluid through said outlet, a valve stem connected to said valve and extending through said outlet, said valve stem being movable longitudinally and tiltably in said outlet to unseat said valve by inward longitudinal movement or tilting of said valve stem, and an actuating member connected to the outer end of said valve stem and extending laterally therefrom in a plurality of directions, said sponge closely gripping the embedded valve body and actuating member with said actuating member being normally retained in extended position with the valve closed solely by said sponge and by fluid pressure acting against said valve, the rear surface of said washing head being, substantially larger than the diameter of said handle and the opening through which said fluid conducting means extends, and the entire outer surface of said washing head including said rear surface outside of said opening being soft, compressible and exposed so that any portion of said washing head surface may be pressed against an object to be washed from any direction to distort said sponge and move said actuating member to open the valve.

4. An implement according to claim 3 wherein a shoulder is provided at the juncture of said valve and valve stem, said shoulder extending into said outlet when the valve is closed and being tapered radially inwardly from said valve toward the outer end of said valve stem Whereby the rate of fluid fiow past said shoulder through said outlet is increased as the valve stem is moved inwardly.

References Cited in the fiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,407,030 Heine Feb. 21, 1922 1,829,287 -Lovett Oct. 27, 1931 2,180,506 Burbig Nov. 21, 1939 2,373,050 Penick Apr. 3, 1945 2,814,817

Ducker Dec. 3, 1957