Squeegee

Abstract

A squeegee including an elongated squeegee blade having a substantially rigid upper portion and a lower flexible wiper portion. The squeegee further includes a generally T-shaped extension centered above and axially parallel with the squeegee blade. The T-shaped extension has a substantially rigid flange, operably connectable to the squeegee handle; and a flexible leg extending downward from the rigid flange and connected there-below to the rigid upper portion of the squeegee blade.

Claims

1. A squeegee for use in combination with a squeegee handle to which the squeegee is operably connectable, the squeegee comprising: an elongated squeegee blade having: a substantially rigid upper portion, and a lower flexible wiper; wherein the squeegee further comprises a generally T-shaped extension centered above the squeegee blade, the T-shaped extension comprising: a substantially rigid flange operably connectable to the squeegee handle; and a flexible leg extending downward from the rigid flange and connected there-below to the rigid upper portion of the squeegee blade, the T-shaped extension being between and the length of the wiper, whereby upon using the squeegee, a wiping force on the squeegee flexes the flexible leg and thereby produces a non-aligned state between the squeegee handle and the flexible wiper.

2. The squeegee of claim 1, made of a material selected from natural or synthetic rubber, silicone, polymers or a mixture thereof.

3. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the rigid upper portion of the squeegee blade is reinforced to provide rigidity.

4. The squeegee of claim 3, wherein the rigid upper portion of the squeegee blade is reinforced via a rod disposed therein.

5. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein a plate extends substantially throughout the entire length of the flange of the T-shaped extension.

6. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the squeegee blade and T-shaped extension are molded as a single piece.

7. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the T-shaped extension comprises means for attaching a handle socket thereto.

8. The squeegee of claim 7, wherein the socket is mounted on the T-shaped extension.

9. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the flange of the T-shaped extension is reinforced to provide rigidity.

10. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the flange of the T-shaped extension is reinforced via a reinforcement bar disposed there-within.

11. A method of manufacturing a squeegee as in claim 1 comprising forming the squeegee in one piece of a rubbery material by molding the squeegee, including the squeegee blade and the T-shaped extension, with reinforcements, in a single operation.

12. The squeegee of claim 1, wherein the squeegee is attachable to a squeegee handle via a squeegee handle socket and said socket and squeegee are integrally formed in a one piece unit.

13. The squeegee of claim 12, wherein said one piece unit includes a pair of reinforcement wings, each wing attached to and flanking the handle socket and attached to a portion of the rigid upper portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a squeegee in accordance with the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of the squeegee of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the squeegee of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is a view as in FIG. 3 with the squeegee blade tilted;

(5) FIG. 5A (PRIOR-ART) illustrates a squeegee available nowadays held by a user away from his body;

(6) FIG. 5B (PRIOR-ART) illustrates a squeegee available nowadays held by a user close to his body;

(7) FIG. 6A illustrates the squeegee of the present invention held by a user close to his body;

(8) FIG. 6B illustrates the squeegee of the present invention held and pressed very lightly by the user; and

(9) FIG. 7 is a front view of another embodiment of the squeegee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.

(11) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a squeegee 100 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The squeegee 100 has an elongated squeegee blade 102, in some embodiments made in one piece from natural or synthetic rubber or silicone, polymers or a mixture thereof by molding. Squeegee blade 102 includes a rigid upper blade portion 104, a flexible wiper 106, and a T-shaped extension 108 having a horizontal, substantially rigid flange 110 and a flexible leg 112.

(12) Flange 110 may include threaded grooves for attachment to a socket 118 that holds a stick or handle 120 (see FIGS. 6A-B). The socket 118 can be a fixed socket or a swivel socket that can be locked in position, as is known in the art.

(13) T-shaped extension 108 extends from the surface of rigid upper blade portion 104 of squeegee blade 102 and is typically centered and about to the length of the blade.

(14) The rigid upper blade portion 104 is typically reinforced internally by a plate or rod 122, which preferably extends essentially or substantially the entire length of the rigid upper blade portion 104 of blade 102. The rod 122 may be made of metal, polymers and the like.

(15) Similarly, flange 110 of the T-shaped extension 108 preferably has an internal reinforcing rod or plate 124, which may be made of metal, polymers and the like.

(16) The inner reinforcement rod 122 of rigid upper blade portion 104 and the flange 110 provides the squeegee with stiffness while leg 112 gives the squeegee flexibility, enabling blade 102 and its wiper 106 to be operated with minimum effort.

(17) In some preferred embodiments, extension 108 is shorter than squeegee blade 102, whereby leg 112 is relatively short, thereby aiding in its flexibility while allowing the leg to still be thick enough to withstand wear and tear. In some embodiments, the length of the T-shaped extension 108 is between and the length of blade 102.

(18) As seen in FIG. 3, squeegee blade 102 may taper from the bottom of rigid upper blade portion 104 toward a thin elongated free end of wiper 106.

(19) FIG. 4 shows squeegee blade 102 in a tilted orientation where handle 120 is not aligned therewith, nor with flexible wiper 106, rather an angle is formed between handle 120 and blade 102, due to flexing of leg 112. Leg 112 is typically relatively thin compared to rigid upper blade portion 104 of squeegee blade 102 thereby facilitating the squeegee blade to be angled with respect to the floor 302 so that the blade, and especially flexible wiper 106, engages a larger surface to be wiped. This is important, as otherwise, when squeegee 100 is drawn towards the user, the angle of blade 102 with the floor 302 would typically be greater than the preferred 40 to 45 degree angle, e.g. typically at an angle of about 65 degrees. However, when the user presses very lightly, thin leg 112 permits the angle of the blade 102 and flexible wiper 106 to more or less remain at a preferred angle of about 40-45 with the floor 302, due to the continued, and typically increasing (during operation), flexing of leg 112.

(20) FIG. 5A (PRIOR-ART) illustrates a squeegee available nowadays held by a user away from his body. As seen in the figure, the user holds the squeegee away from his body, and the blade is at an angle, , relative to the floor, which is about 40.

(21) FIG. 5B (PRIOR-ART) illustrates a squeegee available nowadays held by a user close to his body. When the user brings the squeegee closer to his body, as shown, the blade bends relative to the floor, to an angle, , which is about 65.

(22) FIG. 6A illustrates the squeegee 100 of the present invention held by a user close to his body, and FIG. 6B illustrates the squeegee 100 pressed lightly by the user. As seen in FIG. 6A, the angle of approach of squeegee blade 102 with the floor, , is greater than 65.

(23) However, during use (FIG. 6B), when the squeegee 100 is brought closer to the user, even without applying significant pressure on the squeegee, leg 112 flexes so that there is an angle of approach of the squeegee with the floor, angle , of about 40 or so, which is less than 65, and is a more preferred angle for wiping the floor.

(24) FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of squeegee 100 wherein the blade 102; upper blade portion 104, including wiper 106; T-shaped extension 108; flange 110; flexible leg 112; and handle socket 118 are constituted by a one-piece unit (i.e. integrally formed), typically of rubber or other elastomeric material, optionally, with suitable internal reinforcement. In some embodiments and as illustrated, squeegee 100 includes a pair of reinforcement wings 130, each wing attached to and flanking the handle socket 118 as well as attached to a portion of upper blade portion 104 so as to span and connect between the socket and the upper blade portion. Reinforcement wings 130 provide strength to the unit and limit right/left flexing.