Squeegee having at least one tapered end

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a squeegee comprises a flexible blade having at least one cleaning edge and at least one handle edge, wherein at least one end of the blade is tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a squeegee comprises a flexible blade having at least one cleaning edge and at least one handle edge, wherein at least one end of the blade is tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge, and the cleaning edge of the blade is curved so that the middle portion thereof is higher than at least one end portion thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A squeegee comprising a flexible blade having at least one cleaning edge and at least one handle edge, wherein at least one end of the blade is tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge.  
     
     
         2 . The squeegee of  claim 1  further comprising a handle, wherein the at least one handle edge of the flexible blade is attached via an attachment means to the handle.  
     
     
         3 . The squeegee of  claim 2  wherein the attachment means for attaching the at least one handle edge of the flexible to the handle is selected from an adhesive; one or more screws, bolts or rivets; an interlocking system; a clamping system; or a combination of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The squeegee of  claim 1  further comprising a handle having a female channel for receiving a corresponding male flange on the at least one handle edge of the flexible blade.  
     
     
         5 . The squeegee of  claim 1  wherein the angle of the taper of the at least one tapered end of the flexible blade is from about 10 to about 75 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of the taper.  
     
     
         6 . The squeegee of  claim 1  wherein the angle of the taper of the at least one tapered end of the flexible blade is from about 30 to about 60 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of the taper.  
     
     
         7 . The squeegee of  claim 1  wherein both ends of the flexible blade are tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge.  
     
     
         8 . The squeegee of  claim 7  wherein the angles of the tapers of the two tapered ends of the flexible blade are independently from about 10 to about 75 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of each of the tapers.  
     
     
         9 . The squeegee of  claim 7  wherein the angles of the tapers of the two tapered ends of the flexible blade are independently from about 30 to about 60 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of each of the tapers.  
     
     
         10 . The squeegee of  claim 2  wherein the handle and the flexible blade are integrally formed.  
     
     
         11 . A squeegee comprising a flexible blade having at least one cleaning edge and at least one handle edge, wherein at least one end of the blade is tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge, and the cleaning edge of the blade is curved so that the middle portion thereof is higher than at least one end portion thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The squeegee of  claim 11  further comprising a handle, wherein the at least one handle edge of the flexible blade is attached via an attachment means to the handle.  
     
     
         13 . The squeegee of  claim 12  wherein the attachment means for attaching the at least one handle edge of the flexible to the handle is selected from an adhesive; one or more screws, bolts or rivets; an interlocking system; a clamping system; or a combination of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The squeegee of  claim 11  further comprising a handle having a female channel for receiving a corresponding male flange on the at least one handle edge of the flexible blade.  
     
     
         15 . The squeegee of  claim 11  wherein the angle of the taper of the at least one tapered end of the flexible blade is from about 10 to about 75 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of the taper.  
     
     
         16 . The squeegee of  claim 11  wherein the angle of the taper of the at least one tapered end of the flexible blade is from about 30 to about 60 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of the taper.  
     
     
         17 . The squeegee of  claim 11  wherein both ends of the flexible blade are tapered outwardly from the handle edge to the cleaning edge.  
     
     
         18 . The squeegee of  claim 17  wherein the angles of the tapers of the two tapered ends of the flexible blade are independently from about 10 to about 75 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of each of the tapers.  
     
     
         19 . The squeegee of  claim 17  wherein the angles of the tapers of the two tapered ends of the flexible blade are independently from about 30 to about 60 degrees when the angle is measured from the cleaning edge to the edge of each of the tapers.  
     
     
         20 . The squeegee of  claim 12  wherein the handle and the flexible blade are integrally formed.