Combination squeegee and radiator-fill apparatus

• US 6,250,831 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis L. Craven
• Original Assignee: Curtis L. Craven
• Inventors: Craven, Curtis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richard, Dana
• Application Number:
  US09/004,698
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 401/22, 401/23, 401/25, 401/26, 401/27, 401/136, 401/137, 401/139, 401/146, 401/149, 401/261, 138/127, 138/174
• US Class Current: 401/139
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/08 with provision for supplying liquids, e.g. cleaning agents A47L1/095, A47L1/13, A47L1/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/047 using liquid or gas distributing means B60S3/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/0204 Filling

Abstract

The apparatus has an elongate, rigid, tubular body with a universal-type swivel coupling to a water hose at its proximal end, and a transverse head bar disposed at the distal end, the head bar having a scrubbing sponge and wiping blade projecting therefrom in opposite directions. A flexible, distally-projecting, selectively-directable, fluid-emitting nozzle is in fluid communication with the water hose and can be used for wetting a dirty window or for filling a radiator. The distal, fluid-emitting nozzle is constructed of multiple segments which can be swiveled and set in a stable position with respect to one another; a flexible, resilient sheath covers the segments. The scrubbing sponge is covered with a layer of slightly abrasive, foraminous material, and is impregnated with a concentrated, water-soluble, cleaning-enhancing compound.

Claims

1. Combination squeegee and radiator-fill apparatus, comprising:

a. an elongate, rigid body having proximal and distal ends;

b. means associated with said body for delivering fluid from said proximal end of said body to said distal end of said body;

c. means at said proximal end of said body adapted for engaging said fluid delivering means with a conduit to a pressurized fluid source;

d. a resilient wiping blade disposed at said distal end of said body; and

,

f. a flexible, self-supporting, fluid-emitting nozzele projecting from said distal end of said body, said nozzle being in fluid communication with said fluid delivering means and adapted to be selectively-directed to any one position with respect to said elongated body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including means for modulating fluid flow through said fluid delivering means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid flow modulating means comprises a hand-grip valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a coupling at said proximal end of said body, a proximal end of said coupling being adapted for engagement with said conduit to a pressurized fluid source, a distal end of said coupling being securely, but swivelably, engaged with, and in fluid communication with, said fluid delivering means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid delivering means comprises a channel through said elongate body, said channel being in fluid communication with a swivelable coupling.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said fluid-emitting nozzle is in fluid communication with said channel through said elongate body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid-emitting nozzle includes a tip portion able to be selectively positioned so as to direct fluid emitted therefrom in a direction at least 45 degrees away from an elongate axis of said body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid-emitting nozzle is comprised of a plurality of substantially identical segments, each being able to be swiveled and set in a stable position with respect to, and each being in fluid communication with, a more proximal segment.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each segment of said fluid-emitting nozzle is comprised of a generally conical, proximal portion and an integral, generally spherical, distal portion, said conical, proximal portion of each having a generally spherical interior adapted for secure receipt of said spherical portion of another segment.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said fluid-emitting nozzle is covered with a flexible sleeve.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including resilient means for scrubbing a surface, said scrubbing means being disposed at said distal end of said body.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said resilient scrubbing means comprises an open-celled sponge.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including a layer of slightly abrasive, foraminous material over said sponge.

14. Combination squeegee and radiator-fill apparatus, comprising:

a. an elongate, rigid body having proximal and distal ends;

b. means associated with said body for delivering fluid from said proximal end of said body to said distal end of said body;

c. a coupling at said proximal end of said body, a proximal end of said coupling being adapted for engagement with a conduit to a pressurized fluid source, a distal end of said coupling being securely, but swivelably, engaged with, and in fluid communication with, said fluid delivering means;

d. a resilient wiping blade disposed at said distal end of said body;

e. resilient means for scrubbing a surface, said scrubbing means being disposed at said distal end of said body; and

,

f. a flexible, self-supporting, fluid-emitting nozzle projecting from said distal end of said body, said nozzle being in fluid communication with said fluid delivering means and adapted to be selectively-directed to any one position with respect to said elongated body.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said resilient scrubbing means is elongate and oriented generally perpendicular to said body.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said resilient wiping blade is elongate and oriented generally perpendicular to said body.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said resilient scrubbing means and said resilient wiping blade are each elongate, of substantially similar length and oriented parallel to one another.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said resilient scrubbing means has an outer, scrubbing surface, and wherein said resilient wiping blade has an outer, wiping edge, said scrubbing means and said wiping blade being mounted at said distal end of said body such that said scrubbing surface of said scrubbing means and said wiping edge of said wiping blade are each disposed outwardly in opposite directions from one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said conduit to said pressurized fluid source comprises a flexible hose with a reinforcing, sever-resistant mesh incorporated therewith.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said scrubbing means is impregnated with concentrated, water-soluble, cleaning-enhancing means.