Device Having Dual Renewable Blades For Treating a Target Surface and Replaceable Cartridge Therefor

• US 20120266399A1
• Filed: 04/21/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Steinhardt, Mark John, Cannon, William Michael, Policicchio, Nicola John, Liu, Kuang-Kai, Miller, Christopher Miles, Rodgers, Kevin Michael, Soll, Patricia R., Dycher, David Keith, Spooner, Gergory Clegg, Ivarsson, Bengt Ivar Anders, Jones, William Fraser Gwynfor, Chan, Stanley Yuk Ming
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/104.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/06 Hand implements with built-in electric motors A47L1/05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/08 with provision for supplying liquids, e.g. cleaning agents A47L1/095, A47L1/13, A47L1/15 take precedence

Abstract

A device for treating a target surface, such as occurs when cleaning a window. The device has a squeegee blade or other member to apply pressure to the target surface. A sheet movably covers the blade, to present a fresh covering to the target surface with each use. The fresh surface provides for improved removal of the liquid from, or improved treatment of the liquid on, the target surface. Additionally a sheet may comprise a prewetted substrate to apply the liquid to the target surface. One or both of the sheets may be disposed in a cartridge insertable to and removable from the device.

Claims

1. A device for applying a liquid to a target surface to and treating said liquid while on said target surface, said device being movable along said target surface when held by a user and comprising:

a housing for holding a prewetted substrate suitable for applying a liquid to a target surface and for holding a sheet, said sheet to be applied to the target surface trailing the prewetted substrate when said device is moved along the target surface by a user;

a sheet pressure applying member, said sheet pressure applying member having a primary orientation extending in a widthwise direction, said sheet pressure applying member projecting from a proximal end juxtaposed with said housing to a distal end suitable for pressing the sheet against the target surface, said sheet pressure applying member having an opposed first side and second side intermediate and connecting said proximal end and said distal end;

a prewetted substrate pressure applying member, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member having a primary orientation extending in a widthwise direction, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member projecting from a proximal end juxtaposed with a housing towards a distal end suitable for pressing the prewetted substrate against the target surface, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member having an opposed first side and second side intermediate and connecting said proximal end and said distal end;

a sheet advance mechanism for longitudinally advancing the sheet, when said sheet is loaded into said housing, said sheet being longitudinally advanced across the distal end of said sheet pressure applying member;

a prewetted substrate advance mechanism for longitudinally advancing the prewetted substrate, when loaded into said housing, across the distal end of said prewetted substrate pressure applying member; and

a manually activatable mechanism for causing longitudinal advance of a sheet and of a prewetted substrate when the sheet and the prewetted substrate are loaded into said device.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein a sheet and a prewetted substrate are simultaneously longitudinally advanced by user activation of a single advance mechanism.

3. A device according to claim 2 further comprising a handle joined to said housing wherein said manually activatable mechanism comprises comprises an articulable trigger disposed on said handle and operatively connected to said advance mechanism, whereby said manual activation of said trigger causes longitudinal advance of both the sheet and the prewetted substrate.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said advance mechanism comprises a sheet draw roll and a prewetted substrate draw roll, said sheet draw roll and said prewetted substrate draw roll being geared together, so that both said rolls are rotated by articulation of said trigger by a user.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein articulation of said trigger causes unequal rotation of said sheet draw roll and said prewetted substrate draw roll.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein rotation of said sheet draw roll is greater than the rotation prewetted substrate draw roll in response to a single articulation of said trigger.

7. A device according to claim 6 loaded with a prewetted substrate, said prewetted substrate having a surface tension greater than 35 dynes per centimeter.

8. A device for applying a liquid to a target surface to and treating said liquid while on said target surface, said device comprising:

a housing holding a prewetted substrate suitable for applying a liquid to a target surface and holding a sheet, said sheet to be applied to the target surface trailing the prewetted substrate;

a handle pivotably connected to said housing in floating relationship therewith;

a sheet pressure applying member, said sheet pressure applying member having a primary orientation extending in a widthwise direction, said sheet pressure applying member projecting in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end juxtaposed with a housing towards a distal end suitable for pressing said sheet against the target surface, said sheet pressure applying member having opposed first and second sides intermediate and connecting said proximal end and said distal end;

a prewetted substrate pressure applying member, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member having a primary orientation extending in a widthwise direction, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member projecting in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end juxtaposed with a housing towards a distal end suitable for contacting a film against the target surface, said prewetted substrate pressure applying member having opposed first and second sides intermediate and connecting said proximal end and said distal end; and

an advance mechanism for longitudinally advancing said sheet across the distal end of said sheet pressure applying member and for concurrently longitudinally advancing said prewetted substrate across the distal end of said prewetted substrate pressure applying member in response to a single activation of said advance mechanism by a user.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said manually activatable mechanism comprises a trigger operatively connected to said handle.

10. A device according to claim 9 comprising a predetermined quantity of sheet material disposed on an axially rotatable sheet material supply roll and a predetermined quantity of prewetted substrate disposed on a prewetted substrate supply roll, said prewetted substrate further comprising a liquid having a surface energy at least 5 dynes per centimeter greater than the surface energy of said sheet material.

11. A device according to claim 10 further comprising a sheet material draw roll for receiving sheet material therearound and a prewetted substrate draw roll for receiving prewetted substrate therearound, wherein said trigger is articulable and articulation thereof causes rotation of said sheet material draw roll and rotation of said prewetted substrate draw roll, said sheet having a surface energy less than 25 dynes per centimeter.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined quantity of sheet material and said predetermined quantity of prewetted substrate are disposed in a cartridge removably insertable into said housing.

13. A cartridge insertable into and removable from a device for treating a liquid on a target surface, said cartridge comprising:

an axially rotatable supply roll;

an axially rotatable take-up roll, said take-up roll being operably connectable to a sheet advance mechanism disposed in said device, whereby actuation of said sheet advance mechanism causes rotation of said take-up roll; and

a sheet material wound on said supply roll and joined in a longitudinal path to said take-up roll whereby said sheet material can travel from said supply roll to said take-up roll.

14. A cartridge according to claim 13 wherein said sheet material comprises a polymeric film.

15. A cartridge according to claim 14 further comprising a complaint blade, said blade terminating at a distal end projecting from said cartridge and suitable for pressing said sheet against a target surface.

16. A cartridge according to claim 15 further comprising a second axially rotatable roll, said second axially rotatable roll comprising a prewetted substrate wound therearound.

17. A cartridge according to claim 14 comprising a gear train operably connecting said supply roll and said take-up roll, whereby said supply roll and said take-up roll rotate in opposite directions in response to manual actuation of said device by a user when said cartridge is inserted therein.

18. A cartridge according to claim 17 wherein said supply roll and said take-up roll are directly geared together without an intermediate gear therebetween.

19. A cartridge according to claim 13 wherein said sheet material has a surface energy less than 25 dynes per centimeter.

20. A cartridge according to claim 15 wherein said blade has a surface energy less than 20 dynes per centimeter.