EP0655894B1

EP0655894B1 - Improvements in wiping devices

Info

Publication number: EP0655894B1
Application number: EP93912437A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacob Wilhelmus Erken
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-16
Filing date: 1993-06-16
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-16
Also published as: CA2138144A1; DE69326249T2; EP0655894A4; DE69326249D1; JPH08500493A; ES2139008T3; WO1993026148A1; EP0655894A1

Abstract

A squeegee, liquid applicator or similar device having a handle (10) pivotally attached to a head (5) whereby the head (5), containing a squeegee blade (1) and/or wiping component (6, 7), is pivotal relative to the handle (10) in a plane (3) inclined toward the top of the handle (10) when the device is in use whereby motion of the head (5) is readily controllable by rotation or twisting of the handle (10) as the handle (10) follows an "S" shaped path of motion.

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to devices for use in wiping, painting, cleaning, or similar purposes, of substantially flat surfaces such as floors, walls and windows. It has particular advantages in relation to squeegees and devices comprising the combination of a squeegee and a scrubbing or washing device such as a sponge or brush but it is not limited to such devices. The general applicability of devices comprising the present invention will be readily apparent to a skilled addressee.

Background

In order to efficiently clean a large surface area, such as a window or floor, it is advantageous to be able to clean in an "S" type side to side sweeping action. This is of a particular advantage when removing water from the surface by using a squeegee as it allows a large surface area to be covered quickly but without leaving behind any water and corresponding streaks. In an effort to obtain this sort of motion, there are known cleaning devices, including squeegees, which have a hinge within a handle so that the angle between the squeegee blade holder and handle can be set at a number of different angles. In some cases these pivots are designed to be used loose, such that the head holding the squeegee blade is free to pivot relative to the handle. However, in those known devices, especially when used with a long handle, there is little or no control of the orientation of the squeegee head which tends to revolve freely making the device practically useless.
In the field of paint application by rollers, brushes, sponges and similar surface contacting devices there are difficulties in obtaining an even finish in a minimum time. The problems of paint application are especially apparent in finishing internal corners with rollers and the need to resort to brushes to complete that task.
WO 89/10721 (AU-89 00195) discloses a device for cleaning surfaces. The device has two pivotal connections to connect a cleaning head and a handle. Both pivotal connections have axes that are parallel to the plane of the surface being cleaned.
WO 92/19142 discloses a device for cleaning automobile windows. The device comprises a member having two pivotal connections, one of which couples the member and a head and the other of which couples the member and a handle. The first pivotal connection defines a pivotal axis disposed at an angle between 0 to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. However, WO 92/19142 does not use a single pivotal connection.
DE-A-3823456 discloses a mop comprising a member having two pivotal connections for connecting a mop head and a handle. Both axes defined by the pivotal connections are always at right angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. DE-A-3823456 does not disclose any pivotal connection defining a pivotal axis disposed at an angle, other than 90 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Disclosure of Invention

In the present invention there is provided a squeegee, cleaning pad, brush, mop, paint applicator or similar article to be used on a substantially planar surface, said device having a handle pivotally connected to a head holding a cleaning, liquid applying, rubbing or scraping component, said pivot being located and orientated so as to allow ready control of orientation of hte head of the article during use.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a wiping device for use on a substantially planar surface. The wiping device has a head adapted to hold a squeegee blade, pad or brush; and a handle extending from a point substantially central of the head. The handle has a longitudinal axis, and a single pivotal connection between the handle and the head. The pivotal connection defines a pivotal axis which is disposed at an angle that is substantially greater than 0 degrees but substantially less than 90 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
The angle is preferably 52 degrees.
The head may be adapted to hold a squeegee blade.
The head may have a body adapted to hold a cleaning or wiping component positioned so that in use the component and the squeegee blade operate simultaneously on the planar surface, with the squeegee blade trailing the component in use. The component may be a brush or a pad.
It is preferable that the squeegee blade is rotatable about the single axis of the pivotal connection or is retractable relative to the planar surface, such that the component is operable without the squeegee blade contacting the planar surface.
The body may have a quadrilateral shape in plan view, having two of its sides parallel and the other two sides oppositely inclined relative to each other.
The handle may be adapted to receive a handle extension attachable to the handle in a torque transmitting arrangement.
The device preferably functions so that in use when the handle is maintained at a substantially constant angle relative to the planar surface, any change in orientation of the squeegee results in or depends on a rotation or twisting of the handle.
The squeegee blade may have its longitudinal axis at right angles to the single axis of the pivotal connection.
The body may have a length perpendicular to the pivotal axis.
The head preferably has a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction and comprises a wiping component having an engagement surface for engaging the planer surface; the pivotal connection is preferably substantially central transversely of the head. The handle portion preferably extends away from the head generally in the longitudinal direction.

Brief Description of Drawings

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention in the form of a squeegee device will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is the same view as Fig. 1 with the squeegee holder and blade reversed;
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 1 with the cleaning component omitted;
Fig. 4 is the section view IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is the section view V-V of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6a is the section view VI-VI of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6b is the section view VI-VI of Fig. 3 with the squeegee blade reversed;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the handle of the device of Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is an underside view of the handle of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the handle of Figs. 7 and 8; and
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the body of the device of Fig. 1.

Best Mode

A squeegee blade 1 includes an enlarged end 2 and contacts surface 16 at line 3 when at rest. The enlarged end 2 can be fitted into, and retained in, a complementary channel 4 which is an integral part of head 5.
Attachable to an underside of a portion of the brush holder body 6 is a cleaning element or component 7 which is preferably constructed in a similar way to a carpet material in that it comprises a large number of soft filaments extending out perpendicularly from a base material.
A flange 8 extends generally upwardly from a top portion of the body 6 proximate the channel 4 and includes a through hole 9. The through hole 9 is substantially at right angles to the contact line 3.
A handle 10 is provided in order to control the movement of the squeegee device during use, or to accept a handle extension inserted telescopically into opening 11 of the handle 10.
One end of the handle 10 includes a nose piece 12 and a bolt 13 passes through the handle 10 to pivotally attach handle 10 to the body 6 via the flange 8. In this embodiment the bolt 13 is at an angle of 52° relative to the longitudinal axis 14 of the handle 10 which angle is substantially greater than 0° but substantially less than 90°. Because of the angle of the bolt 13 (pivot axis) relative to the longitudinal axis 14 of the handle 10, a change in any one of the orientation of the contact line 3 with the plane of the surface 16 being cleaned, the angle of the longitudinal axis 14 relative to the plane of the surface 16 being cleaned, and the angular orientation or yaw and roll motion 15 of the handle 10 will likely be accompanied by a change in at least one other of those three parameters. Thus, even with a handle extension fitted to handle 10, side to side "S" like sweeping actions can be made and controlled so that the squeegee 1 always remains generally at right angles to the direction of its movement across surface 16 being swept. The motion of the squeegee blade 1 relative to handle 10 can be likened to that of a castoring wheel in allowing sweeping arc like movements of handle 10 while squeegee blade 1 remains in wiping contact with surface 16.
The contact between handle 12 and flange 8 when handle 12 is pivoted to an extreme limit relative to flange 8 about bolt 13 enables handle 8 to impart a yawing moment to blade 1. In this way pivoting of handle 12 causes body 6 and blade 1 to yaw in relation to the longitudinal axis of handle 12.
From Fig. 10 it can be seen that the plan view of body 6 of the device is of a general deltoid or trapezium shape with two parallel sides and two oppositely inclined ends. The inclined ends being inwardly inclined towards the axis of handle 10 when in its central position to facilitate use of the body 6 by enabling the body 6 to be more easily worked into the corner of a window or surface to be swept.
As depicted in Fig. 2 the blade holder body of head 5 has been reversed by rotating about bolt 13 so that squeegee blade 1 is removed from contact to enable brush or pad 7 to clean the surface without the associated squeegee action. The pad 7 is preferably formed from a piece of carpet or similar material but it may be a brush or piece of sponge or another suitable material.

Claims

A wiping device for use on a substantially planar surface (16), having a head (5) adapted to hold a squeegee blade, pad, brush or the like; a handle (10) extending from a point substantially central of the head (5), the handle (10) having a longitudinal axis, and a single pivotal connection (13) between the handle (10) and the head (5), characterised in that the pivotal connection (13) defines a pivotal axis which is disposed at an angle that is substantially greater than 0 degrees but substantially less than 90 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle (10).
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle is 52 degrees.
A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the head (5) is adapted to hold a squeegee blade (1).
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the head (5) has a body (6) adapted to hold a cleaning or wiping component (7) positioned so that in use the component (7) and the squeegee blade (1) operate simultaneously on the planar surface (16), with the squeegee blade (1) trailing the component (7) in use.
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the component (7) is a brush or a pad.
A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the squeegee blade (1) is rotatable about the single axis of the pivotal connection (13) or is retractable relative to the planar surface (16), such that the component (7) is operable without the squeegee blade (1) contacting the planar surface (16).
A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the body (6) has a quadrilateral shape in plan view, having two of its sides parallel and the other two sides oppositely inclined relative to each other.
A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle (10) is adapted to receive a handle extension attachable to the handle (10) in a torque transmitting arrangement.
A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 which functions so that in use when the handle (10) is maintained at a substantially constant angle relative to the planar surface (16), any change in orientation of the squeegee (1) results in or depends on a rotation or twisting of the handle (10).
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the squeegee blade (1) has its longitudinal axis at right angles to the single axis of the pivotal connection (13).
A device as claimed in claim 4 or in any of claims 5 to 9 as dependant from claim 4, wherein the body (6) has a length perpendicular to the pivotal axis.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head (5) has a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction and comprises a wiping component (7) having an engagement surface for engaging the planar surface, the pivotal connection (13) is substantially central transversely of the head (5), and the handle portion (10) extends away from the head (5) generally in the longitudinal direction.