WO2003099621A1

WO2003099621A1 - A device for washing cars

Info

Publication number: WO2003099621A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000621
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank O'brien
Original assignee: Frank O'brien
Priority date: 2002-05-24
Filing date: 2003-05-22
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Also published as: AUPS255702A0

Abstract

A device includes a member (10) for contacting and wiping outside surfaces of an object to remove debris or grime therefrom, and a fluid supply means having a fluid passageway (11) that can be coupled to a water source, the fluid passageway (11) being connected to said member (10) and having an outlet (13) for discharging fluid to assist the member (10) remove debris or grime. In use, the member (10) can be held directly in the hand of a person so that pressure can be applied directly to the member (10) contacting the surface.

Description

A DEVICE FOR WASHING CARS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for washing cars and more particularly to a device that can be coupled to a water source, such as mains water, so that water can be used to assist in the removal of debris or grime from a car.

Background of the Invention

There are numerous devices presently available for washing cars that can be coupled to a water source. For example US patent 5,988,924 describes a device including an assembly of sponges and bristles mounted to a base plate, wherein the base plate provides or has attached to it a separate handle portion. The base plate also defines a fluid passageway that can be coupled to a water source. The fluid passageway is described as including one or more outlets for discharging water within the vicinity of the sponges or bristles to assist the device in cleaning debris or grime from a car.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for washing cars that is easy to use and simple in structure.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a device including: a member for contacting and wiping outside surfaces of an object, to remove debris or grime therefrom, in use the member can be held directly by a person so that pressure can be applied directly to the member contacting the surface; and a fluid supply means having a fluid passageway that can be coupled to a water source, the fluid passageway being connected to said member and having an outlet for discharging fluid to assist the member remove debris or grime.

In contrast, the device described US 5,988,924 includes an assembly of sponges and/or bristles mounted to a base plate, wherein the base plate is either configured to provide a handle or enables a handle to be attached to the base plate. As a result, the device is configured so that efficient use of the device is only possible while holding the base plate or handle portion of the device.

In use the orientation of the member can be changed in the person's hand so that: i) the surface of the member contacting the object can be altered between soiled and clean surfaces; and ii) a person using the device can apply additional finger and/or hand pressure in regions where the debris or grime is less easily removed. It is a preferred aspect of the present invention that the member include a recess for receiving a portion of, or the entire hand of a person. Irrespective of whether the recess is sized to receive a peron' s entire hand or only a portion of their hand, the recess may or may or may not be moulded so as to snuggley fit the shape of a person's hand, such as the cavity formed in the inside of a glove or mitten.

An advantage provided by the recess is that it enables a person using the device to retain the device on their hand during use without necessarily gripping the device with their fingers.

It is preferred that the recess be provided in the form of a pocket into which a person can place their entire hand. It is also possible that the recess be provided by an opening or ring in which a person can place a finger.

It is preferred that the device include a liquid resistant layer, such as liquid imperable plastic, to substantially prevent fluid from passing into the recess. The purpose of this preferred aspect of the invention is to keep the person's hand dry and comfortable during use.

Although it is possible that the outlet of the fluid passageway be located at an exterior surface of the member, it is preferred that the outlet be located at an inner region of the member. Fluid discharged from the outlet located at in inner region of the member will seep to an outside surface of the member and assist in cleaning. It is even more preferred that the fluid passageway be in the form of a length of flexible conduit in which one end of the conduit extends into an internal region of the member. It is even more preferred that a suitable garden hose fitting be connected to the opposite end of the conduit for coupling the fluid passageway to a water source .

Although the member may be made of any suitable material, it is preferred that the member be made of material selected from one or a combination of the following: sponge; fabric; cloth; lambswool; imitation lambswool; foam; low density foam; high density foam; and squeegee material .

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that use of the device is not restricted to washing the outside of a car and can be used to clean any object such as buildings, outdoor furniture, animals and vehicles per se. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of the device with internal features of the device shown in dotted lines; and Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A in Figure 1.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the device includes a deformable member 10 for wiping the outside of a car; and a flexible conduit 11 extending into an internal region of the member 10. The member 10 may be made of any suitable material such as sponge, fabric, cloth, lambswool, imitation lambswool, foam, low density foam, high density foam, and squeegee material. Imitation lambswool has been found to be particularly useful.

The flexible conduit 11 is more specifically a length of the flexible hosing such as translucent PVC tubing. Although the conduit 11 may be of any suitable length and internal diameter, it is preferred that the internal diameter of the tubing be in the range of 3 to 7 millimetres and the length of the tube be approximately 1 to 2 metres. An advantage provided by the conduit 11 is that it is lighter and more flexible than standard household garden hose which makes the device easy to handle .

Fitted to the one end of the conduit 11 is a household garden hose fitting 12 that enables the conduit to be coupled to a garden hose or tap. The conduit 11 defines a fluid passageway for conducting water and the water discharged from the conduit via an outlet 13, is located inside the member 10. Water discharged from the outlet 13 is then transferred through the member and lubricates the surface of the member contacting the object being clean, and thereby assists in cleaning. Although not illustrated in the Figures, the conduit 11 may have a plurality of outlets for discharging fluid from within the member. In addition, although not illustrated in the Figures, the conduit may have an outlet located outside the member 10 and fluid discharged from the outside outlet may project onto an outer surface of the member.

As can be seen in the Figures, the member 10 includes a recess 14 for receiving a person's hand. The recess 14 extends upwardly into the member 10 such that a person using the device can conveniently place their hand in the recess and retain the device on their hand without gripping the device with their fingers. The recess illustrated in the figures is in the form of a pocket and is not shaped to fit the contours of a person's hand. However, it is possible that the recess may be moulded for form a cavity in the shape of a person's hand, such as the inside of a glove or a mitten. It is also possible that the device may include a one or more recesses, wherein it is intended that each recess provides a ring for receiving a finger or a portion thereof.

In an alternative mode of use, the member can be held directly by a person gripping any outside surface of the member using their fingers on one or two hands.

Although not illustrated in the Figures, the recess is lined with fluid impermeable plastic that is intended to keep the person's hand as dry as possible during use. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art of the present invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and of the invention described above. For example, a flow rate valve may be fitted to the conduit to control the rate at which fluid is discharged from the outlet of the conduit.

A further example is that the fluid discharged from the outlet may be a mixture of water supplied by the water source and a soap or detergent to assist in removing debris and grime from the outside of the car.

Any reference to prior publications or prior disclosures in this specification is not to be taken as an admission that this material forms part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A device including: a member for contacting and wiping outside surfaces of an object to remove debris or grime therefrom; and a fluid supply means having a fluid passageway that can be coupled to a water source, the fluid passageway being connected to said member and having an outlet for discharging fluid to assist the member remove debris or grime; in use the member can be held by a person so that pressure can be applied directly to the member contacting the surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the member includes a recess for receiving a portion of, or the entire hand of a person, or a portion thereof so that the member can be worn on a hand of a person during use.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the recess is in the form of a pocket into which a person can place their entire hand.

4. The device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the device includes a liquid resistant layer between the recess and an outside surface of the member to prevent fluid from passing into the recess.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the recess is lined with a liquid impermeable material.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet is located in an internal region of the member between the outside surface of the member and the recess .

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid passageway is in the form of a length of flexible conduit in which one end of the conduit extends into the internal region of the member.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a suitable garden hose fitting is connected to the opposite end of the conduit for coupling the fluid passageway to a water source.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the member is made of a material selected from one or a combination of the following: sponge; fabric; cloth; lambswool; imitation lambswool; foam; low density foam; high density foam; and squeegee material.

10. A device for washing objects substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .