GB2412058A

GB2412058A - Cleaning apparatus for high windows, frames, facias etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2412058A
Application number: GB0406025A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Don Joseph Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-17
Filing date: 2004-03-17
Publication date: 2005-09-21
Also published as: GB0406025D0

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus (2) comprising a pole (4), a cleaning head (6) positioned at one end (8) of the pole (4), and a conduit (10) which extends through the pole (4) and which is for conveying a continuous supply of water (12) to the cleaning head (6) during use of the cleaning apparatus (2), and the cleaning head (6) being such that it comprises a sponge (14) and a support (16) for the sponge (14), the sponge (14) being a rectilinear sponge (14) having a front face (18) for engaging flat surfaces during cleaning, a rear face (20) opposite the front face (18), and a slot (22) extending through the sponge (14) from the rear face (20) to the front face (18), the support (16) for the sponge (14) having a generally flat support part (16A) which locates in the slot (22), the support (16) being such that it has at least one passage (24) for enabling the water (12) to pass from the conduit (10) and along the passage (24) towards the front face (18) of the sponge (14), and the generally flat support part (16A) being such that it extends from the rear face (20) of the sponge (14) towards the front face (18) of the sponge (14) for a distance which is firstly sufficient for the support (16) to provide required support (16) for the front face (18) of the sponge (14) during the cleaning, and which is secondly sufficient to dispense the water (12) sufficiently close to the front face (18) of the sponge (14) that the front face of the sponge (14) has a continual supply of the water (12) during the cleaning.

Description

24 1 2058

CLEANING APPARATUS

This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to cleaning apparatus which is especially useful for cleaning exterior parts of buildings such for example as homes, offices and shops.

Windows in buildings are cleaned regularly. However, the only part of the windows that is usually cleaned is the window glass. The window frames and window sills are usually ignored. Other parts of buildings such for example as doors, door frames and wall cladding are also usually ignored. There is a need for cleaning apparatus which is able to clean many different exterior parts of buildings, and it is an aim of the present invention to provide such cleaning apparatus.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided cleaning apparatus comprising a pole, a cleaning head positioned at one end of the pole, and a conduit which extends through the pole and which is for conveying a continuous supply of water to the cleaning head during use of the cleaning apparatus, and the cleaning head being such that it comprises a sponge and a support for the sponge, the sponge being a rectilinear sponge having a front face for engaging flat surfaces during cleaning, a rear face opposite the front face, and a slot extending through the sponge from the rear face to the front face, the support for the sponge having a generally flat support part which locates in the slot, the support being such that it has at least one passage for enabling the water to pass from the conduit and along the passage towards the front face of the sponge, and the generally flat support part being such that it extends from the rear face of the sponge towards the front face of the sponge for a distance which is firstly sufficient for the support to provide required support for the front face of the sponge during the cleaning, and which is secondly sufficient to dispense the water sufficiently close to the front face of the sponge that the front face of the sponge has a continual supply of the water during the cleaning.

The cleaning apparatus of the present invention is especially useful for cleaning window glass, window frames, window sills, wall claddings, doors, door frames, garage doors and painted walls. The cleaning apparatus of the present invention can be used with substantially equal ease for cleaning many different parts of the outside of buildings. The cleaning apparatus of the present invention is able to replace conventional combersome window cleaning tools, which are often not only large and cumbersome but are also not designed to clean window sills and window frames. The cleaning apparatus does away with the need to carry a bucket of water because it is able to provide a continuous supply of water, for example from an outside tap. The continuous supply of water ensures a cleaner finish on all parts being cleaned than would normally be the case with conventional cleaning apparatus. The presence of the pole may advantageously avoid the need for ladder in many circumstances, thereby ensuring more safety during cleaning. The sponge can easily be cleaned and washed after use.

The cleaning apparatus may be one in which the support extends from the rear face of the sponge and terminates close to the front face of the sponge.

The cleaning apparatus may be one in which the passage in the support is a single passage which extends across substantially the entire width of the support.

The slot may be a closed slot which is provided inside the sponge between top and bottom faces of the sponge. Alternatively, the slot may be an open slot which is provided in a top face of the sponge.

Preferably, the sponge is rectangular in plan view and in side view.

Other shapes for the sponge may be employed so that, for example, the sponge could be square in plan view and in side view.

The sponge may be made of any suitable and appropriate material or materials. Thus, for example, the sponge may be made from plastics materials, natural rubber or synthetic rubber. The sponge may be constructed from sections of different materials having different degrees of hardness.

The pole may be a rigid pole or a telescopic pole. Advantageously, the pole is in sections, with the pole being increased in length by increasing the number of sections in the pole. Where the pole is a telescopic pole or a pole which is in sections, water-tight joints will normally be employed as appropriate in order to ensure that water does not leak from the joints during use of the cleaning apparatus. The pole may be in the form of a hollow tube, with the conduit being formed by the bore of the tube. Altematively, the pole may be in the form of a hollow tube with a separate pipe extending through the bore of the tube and, in this case, the bore of the pipe will be the conduit.

The cleaning apparatus may include a tap positioned along the length of the pole, the tap being for turning the supply of water on and off as desired during use. This may avoid the need for a person using the cleaning apparatus to have to return to an outside building tap in order to turn the supply of water on and off.

The cleaning apparatus may include connector means for connecting the pole to a source of the water. The connector means may be a hose connector for connection to a hose. The hose connector may be a push fit hose connector or a screw fit hose connector.

The cleaning apparatus may include a container for containing a washing liquid for use with the water. The container may be positioned on a top part of the pole adjacent the cleaning head. Altematively, if desired, the container may be positioned remote from the cleaning head.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows cleaning apparatus in use; Figure 2 is a side view showing how the cleaning apparatus shown in Figure 1 may be used; s Figure 3 is a top plan view showing how the cleaning apparatus shown in Figure 1 may be used; Figure 4 is an exploded view of a cleaning head forming part of the cleaning apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of the cleaning head; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sponge forming part of the cleaning head; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a support forming part of the cleaning head; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second cleaning head; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the sponge using in the cleaning head shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a section on the line A-A shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a section on the line B-B shown in Figure 8; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a third cleaning head; Figure 13 is a section on the line C-C shown in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a section on the line D-D shown in Figure 12; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the support used in the cleaning head shown in Figure 12; Figure 16 is a perspective view of the sponge used in the cleaning head shown in Figure 12; Figure 17 is a perspective view like Figure 15 and shows a support of a fourth cleaning head; Figure 18 is a perspective view like Figure 6 and shows an alternative way of forming the sponge.

Figure 19 is a side view showing the cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 provided with an extra section for the pole, with this extra section of the pole being connected to a hose; and Figure 20 shows a preferred method of connecting sections of the pole together.

Referring to Figures 1 - 7, there is shown cleaning apparatus 2 in use. The cleaning apparatus 2 comprises a pole 4, and a cleaning head 6 positioned at one end 8 of the pole 6. A conduit 10 extends through the pole 4. The conduit 10 is for conveying a continuous supply of water to the cleaning head 6 during use of the cleaning apparatus 2. The continuous supply of water is indicated by arrows 12.

The cleaning head 6 is such that it comprises a sponge 14 and a support 16 for the sponge 14.

The sponge 14 is a rectilinear sponge, having a front face 18 for engaging flat surfaces during cleaning. The sponge 14 also has a rear face opposite the front face. The sponge 14 still further has a slot 22 extending through the sponge 14 from the rear face 20 to the front face 18.

The support 16 for the sponge 14 has a generally flat support part16A and a body part 16B. The support 16 locates in the slot 22 in the sponge 14. The support 16 is such that it has at least one passage 24 for enabling the water to pass from the conduit 10 and along the passage 24 towards the front face 18 of the sponge 14.

The generally flat support part 16A is such that it extends from the rear face 20 of the sponge 14 towards the front face 18 of the sponge 14 for a distance which is firstly sufficient for the support 16 to provide required support for the front face 18 of the sponge 14 during the cleaning. The distance is secondly sufficiently to dispense the water sufficiently close to the front face 18 of the sponge 14 that the front face 18 of the sponge 14 has a continual supply of the water during cleaning. This continual supply of the water enables flat surfaces to be cleaned to a high standard.

As shown in Figure 1, the flat surface being cleaned is window glass 26 of a window 28 in a wall 30 of a building 32. Figure 2 shows the cleaning head 6 in different positions. In the top position shown in Figure 2, the sponge 14 is cleaning an inside face 34 of a top part 36 of a window frame 38 forming part of the window 28. In the middle position of the cleaning head 6 as shown in Figure 2, the sponge 14 is cleaning the window glass 26. In the bottom position of the cleaning head 6 shown in Figure 2, the sponge 14 is cleaning a window sill 40 forming part of the window frame 38.

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the cleaning head 3 in three further different positions. In the uppermost position as shown in Figure 3, the sponge 14 is being used to clean an inside face 42 of the window frame 38. In the middle position of the cleaning head 6 as shown in Figure 3, the sponge 16 is being used to clean an outside face 44 of the window sill 40.

In the bottom position of the cleaning head 6 as shown in Figure 3, the sponge 14 is being shown cleaning a front face 46 of the window frame 38.

As can be seen from both Figures 2 and 3, the window glass 26 is in the form of double glazing having the window glass 26 being positioned outwardly, and window glass 48 being positioned inwardly.

As best shown in Figure 5, the support 16 extends from the rear face of the sponge 14 and terminates close to the front face 18 of the sponge 14. As can be appreciated from Figures 5 and 7, the passage 24 in the support 16 is a single passage 24 which extends across substantially the entire width of the support 16.

As best seen from Figure 6, the slot 22 in the sponge 14 is a closed slot 22 which is provided inside the sponge 14 between a top face 50 and a bottom face 52 of the sponge 14.

Referring now to Figures 8 - 11, there is shown a second cleaning head 54. The cleaning head 54 comprises a sponge 56 and a support 58.

The sponge 56 has a slot 60 which is an open slot 60 as best shown in Figure 9. The open slot 60 is provided in a top face 62 of the sponge 56.

The slot 60 is bridged by two bars 64 which may be made of metal or a plastics material. These bars 64 are glued or otherwise secured to the top face 62 of the sponge 56. The bars 64 hold the generally flat support part 16A of the support 16 in the slot 60.

Referring now to Figures 12 - 16, there is shown a third cleaning head 66 comprising a sponge 68 and a support 70. The support 70 has a passage 72 for the water shown by the arrows 12. The passage 72 is formed on top of the support 70. The support 70 has a pair of inwardly directed flanges 74 for locating in grooves 76 in side faces 78, 80 of the sponge 68. The sponge 68 has a slot 82 which is an open slot 82 formed in a top face 84 of the sponge 68. The slot 82 becomes a closed slot in use because it is closed by the support 70 as best shown in Figured 12 and 13.

Figure 17 shows a support 86 forming part of a fourth cleaning head.

The support 86 is similar to the support 70 shown in Figure 15. The support 86 has the passage 72 formed on an inside face 88 of the support 86 instead of on an outside face 90 of the support 70 as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 18 shows a sponge 92 which is like the sponge 14 shown in Figure 6 but which has been formed in two parts 94, 96. The slot 22 is fommed in the upper face of the lower part 96 as shown.

Figure 19 shows the cleaning apparatus 2 of Figure 1 but provided with a pole 4 formed of three sections 98 instead of the two sections 98 just shown in Figure 1. In Figure 19, the lowermost section 98 is shown connected to a hose 100. The sections 98 are connected together by connectors 102. Any suitable and appropriate connectors 102 may be employed. The connectors 102 that are employed should be such that they give a water-tight connection in order to prevent water leaking at the connectors 102.

Figure 20 shows a preferred connector 104 which may be used for the connectors 102. The connector 104 shown in Figure 20 comprises a sleeve 106 which fits over two sections 98 and which abut together at position 108 as shown. The sleeve 106 is bonded to the lower section 98 in a watertight manner. A tube 110 extends over the sleeve 106 for a distance 112 as shown. The tube 110 is held in position by a hose clip 114 as shown. The tube 110 is a flexible tube which is a tight fit on the sleeve 106. The tube 110 may also be bonded to the section 106 using a suitable adhesive if required. The hose clip 114 is tightened by a Anger and thumb grip 116 to secure the tube 110 in a water-tight manner to the upper section 98 as shown in Figure 20.

It will be seen from the drawings that the first, second and third cleaning heads 6, 54, 66 are such that the supports 16, 58, 70 all have the generally flat support part 16A. This generally flat support part 16A extends from the body part 16B which abuts against the rear face 20 of the sponge 14, 56, 68. The body part 16B receives one end 118 of the uppermost section 98 of the pole 4 as shown in Figures 5, 11 and 14.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the sponges and the supports may be of different shapes to those shown.

Claims

1. Cleaning apparatus comprising a pole, a cleaning head positioned at one end of the pole, and a conduit which extends through the pole and which is for conveying a continuous supply of water to the cleaning head during use of the cleaning apparatus, and the cleaning head being such that it comprises a sponge and a support for the sponge, the sponge being a rectilinear sponge having a front face for engaging flat surfaces during cleaning, a rear face opposite the front face, and a slot extending through the sponge from the rear face to the front face, the support for the sponge having a generally flat support port which locates in the slot, the support being such that it has at least one passage for enabling the water to pass from the conduit and along the passage towards the front face of the sponge, and the generally flat support part being such that it extends from the rear face of the sponge towards the front face of the sponge for a distance which is firstly sufficient for the support to provide required support for the front face of the sponge during the cleaning, and which is secondly sufficient to dispense the water sufficiently close to the front face of the sponge that the front face of the sponge has a continual supply of the water during the cleaning.

2. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support extends from the rear face of the sponge and terminates close to the front face of the sponge.

3. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the passage in the support is a single passage which extends across substantially the entire width of the support.

4. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the slot is a closed slot which is provided inside the sponge between top and bottom faces of the sponge.

5. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 3 in which the slot is an open slot which is provided in a top face of the sponge.

6. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sponge is rectangular in plan view and in side view.

7. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pole is a rigid pole.

8. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the pole is a telescopic pole.

9. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the pole is in sections, and in which the pole is increased in length by increasing the number of sections in the pole.

10. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pole is a hollow tube, with the conduit being formed by the bore of the tube.

11. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 9 in which the pole is a hollow tube with a separate pipe extending through the bore of the tube, the bore of the pipe being the conduit.

12. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a tap positioned along the length of the pole, the tap being for turning the supply of water on and off as desired during use.

13. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including connector means for connecting the pole to a source of the water.

14. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 in which the connector means is a hose connector for connection to a hose.

15. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 14 in which the hose connector is a push fit hose connector or a screw fit hose connector.

16. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a container for containing a washing liquid for use with the water.

17. Cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 in which the container is positioned on a part of the pole adjacent the cleaning head.

18. Cleaning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.