US3754831A

US3754831A - Scraping and cleaning device

Info

Publication number: US3754831A
Application number: US00147478A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Hutter
Original assignee: Dow Chemical Co
Current assignee: DowBrands Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-27
Filing date: 1971-05-27
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28

Abstract

A scraping and cleaning device which, when attached to a container of cleaning fluid, facilitates removal of dirt, soil, ice, frost and like material from windows, mirrors, windshields, etc. The device has an elongated body element with a curved or arcuate shaped cross section adapted to fit snugly against the side wall of a container. The body element may include at least one pair of opposing integrally curved fingers, which body element and fingers combined preferably form an arc or curve of greater than 180* for snap-on attachment of the same to the side wall of a container. Integral, transversely elongated scraping and cleaning blade sections diverge from the body element. One section of the blade sections is provided on its outer end with a smooth beveled edge or squeegee and amother blade section of the blade sections is provided on its outer end with a coarse serrated or toothed edge.

Description

atent n 1 United States Hutter 1 SCRAPING AND CLEANING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Wayne R. IIntter, Sanford, Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company,

Midland, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 147,478

2,886,839 I 5/1959 Leopold: 15/105 X 2,946,076 7/1960 Morgan 15/236 R 3,036,322 5/1962 Jorgenson 15/236 R 2,719,316 10/1955 Hauser /236 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 909,288 10/1962 Great Britain 15/121 Aug. 28, 1973 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Griswold & Burdick, Richard G. Waterman and Arthur J. Young [5 7] ABSTRACT A scraping and cleaning device which, when attached to a container of cleaning fluid, facilitates removal of dirt, soil, ice, frost and like material from windows, mirrors, Windshields, etc. The device has an elongated body element with a curved or arcuate shaped cross section adapted to fit snugly against the side wall of a container. The body element may include at least one pair of opposing integrally curved fingers, which body element and fingers combined preferably form an are or curve of greater than for snap-on attachment of the same to the side wall of a container. Integral, transversely elongated scraping and cleaning blade sections diverge from the body element. One section of the I blade sections is provided on its outer end with a smooth beveled edge or squeegee and amother blade section of the blade sections is provided on its outer end with a coarse serrated or toothed edge.

16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,831

2 Sheets-sheaf l 48 INVENTOR. Way/2 eR. f/u/fer Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,831

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 5:50 34 'I 1 4, s? 5 M4 46 i I 40 ,/42 44 1 I E l I 6' Z 54 lb I: 54 '?r54 INVENTOR. W y e R. flu/fer BY SCRAPING AND CLEANING-DEVICE The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in scraping and cleaning devices for windows, mirrors, Windshields, etc., and more particularly to a device which can be snapped onto or otherwise attached to a bottle or container to facilitate the removal of dirt, soil, ice, frost or other material from an automobile windshield or the like.

A number of scraping and cleaning devices have been previously proposed for the general purposes herein disclosed. These prior art devices have a number of shortcomings however. Many cannot be nested or stacked. Thus, when the containers with attached cleaning and scraping devices are shipped, stored or displayed, a substantial amount of space is wasted. Other prior art devices, although providing a nesting or stacking design, do not provide a sufiicient or satisfactory cleaning or scraping contact area to facilitate rapid and effective cleaning by the user. A further disadvantage of some prior art devices is that, while they are suitable for removing dirt and soil, they are a totally unsuited for the removal of relatively hard materials such as ice. A still further disadvantage of other prior art devices is that they tend to loosen or come off the container easily during use.

In general, the scraping and cleaning device herein disclosed is adapted for rapid and easy attachment to a container of cleaning fluid, such as a deicer composition, which, when used in combination therewith, will facilitate the removal of dirt, soil, ice, frost and other material from an automobile windshield or the like. The device has an elongated body element with a curved or arcuate shaped cross section adapted to fit snugly against the wall of a container. The body element may include at least one pair of opposing integrally curved fingers, which body element and fingers combined preferably form an-arc or curve of greater than 180 for snap-on attachment of the same to the wall of a container. Integral, transversely elongated,

scraping and cleaning blade sections diverge from the body element and have a transverse width substantially that of the container wall length to provide a larger scraping and cleaning contact area. The blade sections which are preferably divergent or outwardly extending from the body element may be parallel with respect to each other or diverging away from or converging toward or otherwise disposed to each other and may have a straight or curved cross sectional shape. One blade section is provided on-its outer end of a smooth beveled edge or squeegee and another blade section is provided on its outer end with a coarse serrated or toothed edge.

The combination of the container and body element functions as a handle for the device with the body element including integral elongated ridges for improved handgripping. The position of the blade sections allows containers with attached scraping and cleaning devices to be nested and/or stacked for shipment, storage and display. I

The device can be produced by any known means from materials such as wood, metal or plastic resins, but is preferably produced by extrusion or injection molding of polystyrene or other like-thermoplastic synthetic organic resinous material.

As previously noted, the curved body element ma include fingers which together preferably form an are or curve of greater than 180 for snap-on attachment to a container. More preferably however, the body element and fingers define an are or curve of 200 or more so that they will embrace and firmly clasp a container to which the device is attached. However, integral curve fingers, although preferred, need not be formed with the body element. An adhesive may be used to bond the device onto a container and/or circumferential bonds may be placed around the container and securely fixed to the body element or fingers, if included.

The invention herein described is directed toward but not limited to, a scraping and cleaning device for a pressurized cylindrical aerosol container adapted for dispensing a spray deicer composition onto the windows or windshield of an automobile. Pressurized aerosol containers are commonly employed for dispensing a spray deicer composition onto the windows or windshield of an automobile in order to remove frost and thin ice formations therefrom. With presently known deicer compositions it is generally difficult to quickly remove relatively thick ice formations from the surfaces of the automobile windows or Windshields and consequently a separate scraping device must be employed to supplement and aid the action of a deicer composition to remove such thick ice formations. Thus, it will be evident that, in order to properly operate a conventional aerosol container, a definite procedure must ordinarily be followed which may involve a number of steps, especially when a separate scrapingdevice is employed to remove relatively thick ice formations as hereinabove described.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a scraping and cleaning device for attachment to a container adapted for dispensing a cleaning fluid, preferably a deicer composition, onto the windows or windshield of an automobile or the like.

' Another object is to provide a scraping and cleaning device for breaking away relatively thick ice formations while being used in' conjunction with a deicer composition.

Yet another object of the present invention is to providea container of cleaning fluid with a cleaning device of the character herein described which will readily facilitate nesting and/or stacking of the container and device during shipment, storage and display.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention are even more apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding material and parts throughout the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a cylindrical aerosol container and an attached scraping and cleaning device constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken: from the right side of FIG. l which further illustrates the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the cleaning and scraping device of FIG. 2 taken along reference line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. I only with a cleaning and scraping device having a modified cross section;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken from the right side of the FIG. 4 which further illustrates the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the cleaning and scraping device of FIG. 5 taken along reference line 6-6 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a relatively simple embodiment showing a rubber squeegee which may be used in conjunction with the cleaning and scraping devices illustrated in FIGS. l-6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the nesting characteristics of cylindrical containers and attached cleaning and scraping devices illustrated in FIGS. 13; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the nesting characteristics of cylindrical containers and attached cleaning and scraping devices illustrated in FIGS. 4-6.

The following description illustrates the manner in which the principles of the invention are applied but are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a cleaning and scraping device, generally designated 10, attached to a pressurized aerosol container 26 of conventional construction. The container 26 is usually cylindrical in shape and is provided with lower and upper

annular beads

25 and 27, respectively. The cleaning and scraping device 10 includes an elongated curved body element 12 with an arcuate shaped cross section and two pair of integral curved fingers 14. The body element 12 and the fingers 14 combined to form an arc of 200 for firmly clasping or attaching the device 10 to container 26. The body element 12 also has integral, transversely elongated, scraping and

cleaning blades

16 and 18, respectively, diverging therefrom. The

blades

16 and 18 which diverge outwardly from said body element 12 are parallel with respect to each other and have a straight cross sectional shape. Blade 16 is provided on its outer end with a serrated or toothed scraping edge 20. Blade 18 is provided on its outer edge with a beveled scraping edge 22. The beveled scraping edge 22 has a radius of about mils or more since it has been found that a beveled edge of this type is more effective for cleaning away hard materials such as ice than is a sharp edge having a radius of substantially less than 5 mils. Also included in device are integrally formed webs 28 which provides structural support between body element 12 and

blades

16 and 18, respectively, and integrally formed elongated ridges 24 for better hand-gripping of device 10.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. As there shown, the snap-on cleaning and scraping device 30 is similar to the cleaning and scraping device 10 illustrated in FIGS.

l, 2 and 3, except that the

blade

36 and 38, which are counter parts of

blades

16 and 18, respectively, diverge away from each other and have an arcuate shaped cross section. Other elements of the device 30 such as the curved body element 32, fingers 34, serrated or toothed edge 40, beveled edge 42 and elongated ridges 44 are essentially the same as those shown in device 10 at I2, 14, 20, 22, and 24, respectively. As previously noted in device 10, the body element 32 and the finger 34 form an arc of about 200 to facilitate the firm clasping or attachment of the device 30 to container 46. Container 46 is usually cylindrical in shape and has lower and upper

annular beads

45 and 47, respectively. Since. the body element 32 and finger 34 formed an arc of about 200, it is desirable that the

blades

36 and 38 form an arc of about l60, thus defining the complete circumference of a circle which facilitates nesting of the containers 46 and attached cleaning and scraping devices 30.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a modified outer edge attachment to blade 18, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is illustrated. The blade 18, shown in FIG. 7, has fixed on its outer edge a rubber squeegee 48. The rubber squeegee 48 may be attached to blade 18 with an adhesive or other known means. The squeegee 48 may also be attached in like manner to blade 38 illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the nesting or stacking characteristics of

containers

26 and 46, and attached cleaning and

scraping devices

10 and 30, respectively, are illustrated.

The

devices

10 and 30 of the invention may be used as follows: By gripping the cylindrical portion of the

aerosol containers

26 and 46 and the

body elements

12 and 32 in one hand, either the scraping or cleaning edges of

blades

16 or 18 and 36 or 38 may be engaged with the dirt, soil, ice, frost or like materials on the surface of windows, mirrors, Windshields and the like. Using the index finger on the hand which grips the

containers

26 or 46, the valve actuator button, not shown in the drawings, is pressed to release the cleaning or deicer fluid onto the surface to be cleaned. After the fluid contacts the surface, the hand manipulated action of the cleaning and scraping blades will supplement, assist and aid the action of the fluid dispensed, thus removing the foreign matter from the surface.

As previously pointed out, the invention herein disclosed is directed toward, but not limited to, a pressurized cylindrical aerosol container of a deicer composition. By modifying the ends of the blades on the scraping and cleaning devices with the rubber squeegee shown in FIG. 7 or other like elements and employing different cleaning fluids, the devices may be used for other cleaning purposes such as cleaning windows in buildings. Also, the devices are not limited by their attacment to the side wall of cylindrical containers, as shown in the preferred embodiments, in that the body element and/or fingers, if included, may be modified as to cross sectional shape to firmly embrace containers having other cross sectional configurations such as an oval shape.

While certain representative embodiments in detail have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A scraping and cleaning device adapted for attachment to a container of cleaning fluid comprising, an elongated body element with a curved shaped cross section adapted to fit snugly against a wall of said container and integral, transversely elongated, scraping and cleaning blade sections extending outwardly from said body element, one section of said blade sections provided on its outer end with a smooth beveled edge and another blade section of said blade sections provided on its outer end with a coarse edge.

2. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said body element includes at least one pair of opposing integrally curved fingers.

3. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 2 wherein said body element and fingers combine to form an arc'or curve of greater than 180 for snap-on attachment of the same to the wall of said container.

4. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said body element is bonded to said container with an adhesive.

5. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said blade sections have a transverse width substantially that of said container wall length to provide a large scraping and cleaning contact area.

6. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said smooth beveled edge is arcuate and has a radius of about 5 mils or more.

7. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said one section of said blade sections has a squeegee fixed on its outer end.

8. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said device is injection molded from thermoplastic synthetic organic resinous material.

9. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said thermoplastic synthetic organic resinous material is polystyrene.

10. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said device is attached to said container of cleaning fluid and said container is a pressurized cylindrical aerosol container adapted for dispensing a spray of deicer composition onto the windows or windshield of an automobile.

11. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said blade sections are two separate parallel blades having a straight cross sectional shape.

12. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said blade sections are two blades which diverge away from each other and have an arcuate cross sectional shape. 7

13. The scraping and cleaning device of claim I wherein said blades are spaced apart sufficiently to allow said container and attached device to be nested with another like container and device between said blades.

14. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said coarse edge is a serrated edge.

15. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said coarse edge is a toothed edge.

16. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said wall of the container is a side wall.

Claims

1. A scraping and cleaning device adapted for attachment to a container of cleaning fluid comprising, an elongated body element with a curved shaped cross section adapted to fit snugly against a wall of said container and integral, transversely elongated, scraping and cleaning blade sections extending outwardly from said body element, one section of said blade sections provided on its outer end with a smooth beveled edge and another blade section of said blade sections provided on its outer end with a coarse edge.

3. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 2 wherein said body element and fingers combine to form an arc or curve of greater than 180* for snap-on attachment of the same to the wall of said container.

12. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said blade sections are two blades which diverge away from each other and have an arcuate cross sectional shape.

13. The scraping and cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said blades are spaced apart sufficiently to allow said container and attached device to be nested with another like container and device between said blades.