US3584965A

US3584965A - Device for cleaning glass or like surfaces

Info

Publication number: US3584965A
Application number: US847635A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger Chastanier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-06
Filing date: 1969-08-05
Publication date: 1971-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-15
Also published as: DE1939967A1; CH507030A; BE736796A; MC788A1

Abstract

The handle of a window cleaning device has a opening through which a squeeze bottle for water protrudes. A vaporizing chamber is partially embedded in a heat conductive core associated with one or more heating elements and forms at one end a dispensing nozzle continuously open to ambient atmosphere. The squeeze bottle is adapted to dispense cleaning fluid such as water into the vaporizing chamber wherein it is vaporized and subsequently discharged as a high velocity vapor through the nozzle. A wiper blade is attached to the device adjacent the discharge nozzle to strike off the condensed vapor formed on a window or like surface for cleaning purposes.

Description

United States Patent 1,767,079 6/1930 Kenyon Inventor Roger Chastanier 11 bis rue Rouget de l'lsle, Asnleres, Hauts de Selne, France Appl. No. 847,635 Filed Aug. 5, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 Priority Aug. 6, 1968, Mar. 24, 1969 France 162.007 and 69.08544 DEVICE FOR CLEANING GLASS OR LIKE SURFACES Primary ExaminerLawrence Charles Attorney-Imirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: The handle of a window cleaning device has a opening through which a squeeze bottle for water protrudes. A vaporizing chamber is partially embedded in a heat conductive core associated with one or more heating elements and forms at one end a dispensing nozzle continuously open to ambient atmosphere. The squeeze bottle is adapted to dispense cleaning fluid such as water into the vaporizing chamber wherein it is vaporized and subsequently discharged as a high velocity vapor through the nozzle. A wiper blade is attached to the device adjacent the discharge nozzle to strike off the condensed vapor formed on a window or like surface for cleaning purposes.

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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION .The present invention is directed to a cleaning device for windows and like surfaces which is of economical, lightweight construction and which does not require the presence of a high-pressure medium for effecting the niistlike application of a hot cleaning fluid against the surface to be cleaned.

Essentially, the present invention is concerned with a device of the nature above described in which a vaporizing chamber is connected to a reservoir from which the cleaning fluid may bedispensed and the vaporizing chamber is provided with a heating element so that as the fluid is introduced into-the vaporizing chambenthe cleaning fluid will be vaporized and expelled from the open end of the vaporizing chamber which forms the applicator nozzle. The body of the device is further provided with a resilient blade or the like for the purpose of scraping off or removing the condensed vapor which has been applied to the surface to be cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a vertical section taken through an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in the FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken substantially along the plane of section lV-lV in FIG. 2 and showing certain internal details of construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, reference character 1 indicates a body or casing which maybe formed in two halves which are separated along a vertical plane and which are joined together by

suitable screws

16 and 17. The body includes a depending handle portion In in the form of a pistol grip and having, on its forward side, an opening 2 through which the portion 3a of a squeeze bottle 3 or reservoir for the cleaning liquid protrudes. The upper end of the squeeze bottle 3 is provided with an apertured sealing cap 11 by means of which sealing connection is made for the tube projecting outwardly therefrom and which, as shown, extends downwardly within the confines of the squeeze bottle 3. The rear side of the handle or grip la is provided with a switch 14 which is adapted to control the supply of electrical current to the device. To this end, the switch 14 controls the flow of current from the suitable conductor 13a which extends to a source of electrical power and which is adapted, when the switch 14 is closed, to energize the heating element 6 to which the electrical conductors 13 are connected.

The heating assembly of the device includes the aforementioned heating a 6 which is of cylindrical nature and which surrounds a centrally disposed core 7 and, surrounding and encapsulating the heating element and core is the insulating and protecting encapsulating coating or wall 5.

Imbedded within the core 7 is the inner end of a vaporizing chamber 8 which, as shown, is in the form of a shell having a tapered opposite end portion terminating in an opening defining a nozzle 8a at the head portion end of the body 1 where at a resilient scraper blade 15 is also located, it being appreciated that the scraper blade 15 is of the requisite length or width to achieve the proper wiping or scraping action upon a windowpane or like surface.

Surrounding the heating assembly is the thermal insulating layer 12 and the rearward end of the body 1 may be provided with ventilating holes 18 to vent the interior of the body.

The aforementioned tube 10 projects through an opening 9 in the wall of the shell or vaporizing chamber 8 and discharges the cleaning liquid directly into the confines of the shell within that region or portion thereof which is embedded in the heat conductive core 7. Thus, in utilizing the device, the switch 14 is first closed by hand and the device allowed to warm up, whereafter manipulation of the protruding portion 3a of the squeeze bottle allows the cleaning liquid to be dispensed into the hot portion of the vaporizing chamber 8 where at it is converted to vapor which issues from the nozzle as a high velocity vaporized stream which, upon striking the surface such as a windowpane, will condense to provide a uniform and fully coating film of the cleaning fluid on the surface of the windowpane. It will be appreciated that the cleaning fluid may be simply water or water provided with suitable detergents therein or other fluids may be utilized as desired. In any event, it will be appreciated that the vaporizing chamber 8, being constantly in connection directly with the ambient atmosphere does not allow the pressure to build up to any substantial extent within the interior of the device, allowing it to be made of lightweight and economical construction.

In the embodiment of the invention as is illustrated in FIGS. 24, the body 1' of the device is once again made up of two halves which are split along the parting line 27 as shown in FIG. 4 so that the handle portion l'a of the device 1' is composed of the two body parts l'aa and 1'a2 as shown in FIG. 4 and which are adapted to be secured together by suitable screws 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The head portion of the device is integral with the handle portion and presents the two split portions l ab and laa as illustrated in FIG. 4, the former of which terminates in an overhanging nose portion 26 and the two portions of which define a channel for clamping therewithin the blade assembly 15'. The blade assembly 15 consists preferably of a clip having a protruding portion l5'a and a bright portion l5'b which defines a channel within which the beaded portion 15'd of a resilient wiper blade l5'c is disposed, with the entire assembly being removably held between the body portions of the device by means of a suitable screw or cam device 28.

Immediately behind the head portion of the device, as may be seen in FIG. 4, there is provided a heat conductive core 7' which preferably is of electrically nonconducting material and within which is embedded the coiled portion 8 of the vaporizing chamber which, in this form of the invention, is in the form of a tube having a rearward extension 10' and a forward extension which terminates in the nozzle 8'a at the underside 25 of the head of the device. I

The rearwardly extending portion 10' of the vaporizing chamber extends through the plug 24 which is externally threaded as indicated by the reference character 23 for interengagement with the internally threaded neck 22 of the container or reservoir 3'. The handle portion of the device, as is seen in FIG. 3, includes the opening 2 through which a portion of the squeeze bottle or container 3' protrudes or is accessible for squeezing action manually.

The heating assembly includes, in addition to the core 7 previously described, the centrally disposed heating element 6' and a secondary heating element encompassing and surrounding the core 7 the secondary heating element being indicated bythe reference character 19 in FIG. 4. Suitable conductors I3 extend to the two heating elements and the electrical connection is adapted to be completed through the medium of the contact portion 14'a of the switch 14', the electrical conductors 130 which extend to a suitable source of power extending through a channel 21 formed on the handle portion of the device as shown.

The extremity of the tube portion may be formed in the fashion of a needle so as to pierce a closure member in the neck 22 of the container 3', it being appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention, the container or squeeze bottle 3' is insertable through the open rear end of the body normally to protrude slightly therefrom as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

- To aid in holding the body members together, this rearward extremity of the handle portion may be surrounded by a ferrule 30.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1 A device for cleaning surfaces such as windows, comprising in combination:

a body having a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion including a vapor dispensing nozzle;

a deformable reservoir for liquid disposed within said handle portion;

a vaporizing chamber within said head leading to and terminally defining said nozzle; and

means for heating said vaporizing chamber;

said vaporizing chamber being connected to said reservoir for receiving liquid therefrom.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 including a wiper on said head portion adjacent said nozzle.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for heating comprises a heat conductive core and an electrical heating element in contact therewith; said vaporizing chamber being embedded in part in said core.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said handle portion is provided with an opening; said reservoir being in the form of a deformable container disposed within said handle portion and protruding partially through said opening.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizing chamber is in the form of an elongate hollow shell embedded at one end in said core and projecting therefrom to define a tapered nose at its other end having an opening providing said nozzle.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 including a conduit leading from said container through said shellbeyond said core and discharging into that portion of the shell which is embedded within said core.

7. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said vaporizing chamber is in the form of a tube leading from said reservoir and extending therefrom through said core to terminate at said nozzle.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said heating element extends through said core; said tube being wound around said heating element.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for heating includes a secondary heating element surrounding said core.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle portion defines an axial extension of said head portion; said container being insertable into said handle portion through that end thereof remote from said head portion and having a neck; said tube including a portion extending into said handle portion in registry with said neck for disposition within said container.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning surfaces such as windows, comprising in combination: a body having a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion including a vapor dispensing nozzle; a deformable reservoir for liquid disposed within said handle portion; a vaporizing chamber within said head leading to and terminally defining said nozzle; and means for heating said vaporizing chamber; said vaporizing chamber being connected to said reservoir for receiving liquid therefrom.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 including a conduit leading from said container through said shell beyond said core and discharging into that portion of the shell which is embedded within said core.