Squeegee blades for removing cleaning solutions from flat surfaces by manual and motorized cleaning equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel and highly effective design for the squeegee blades used to remove and collect used cleaning solution and other liquids from substantially flat surfaces in manual and motorized cleaning tools. In comparison to the prior art, the present invention provides the squeegee blade with controlled flexibility so that the blade contacts the surface to be cleaned with a wiping lip area that does not change with the applied pressure. As a result of the constant wiping area provided by this invention, the new squeegee blades can operate efficiently on uneven surfaces with reduced wear. Further, the constant contact area between squeegee blade and the surface to be cleaned provides an excellent sealing action, which in turn, leads to more effective removal of the used cleaning solution from the surface and minimizes losses in vacuum that removes the liquid.

I claim  
     
         1  A new and improved squeegee blade for the removal of liquids from flat and semi flat surfaces with the blade cross section bent to a contour in which the ratio of the thickness of the blade to the radius of curvature at zero stress is greater than one third, and preferably greater than one half and in which the area of contact between the blade lip and the surface to be wiped remains constant irrespective of the downward force applied to the blade, due to flexing of the curved area section of the blade just above the lip.  
     
     
         2  A leading squeegee blade, for use in powered cleaning machines that provide vacuum for collecting liquid wiped from a substantially flat surface, comprising an area above the lip with increased flexibility, due to a series of concavities along the blade, so that the negative pressure within the squeegee assembly tends to lift the leading blade as liquid is pulled into the cavity between the leading and trailing squeegee blades lip with only minimal air entrainment resulting in minimal loss of vacuum and improved liquid removal.  
     
     
         3  A leading, two-layer, laminated squeegee blade, for use in powered cleaning machines that provide vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from the flat surface, comprising one non porous layer and a second porous layer that extends up to about 1 cm below the non porous layer so that only the porous layer contacts the flat surface to be cleaned and allows liquids and some entrained air to be vacuumed under the porous extension of the blade and through pores of the porous extension.  
     
     
         4  A leading squeegee blade, for use in powered cleaning machines that provide vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from the flat surface, with a bend into the direction of travel.  
     
     
         5  The use of the squeegee blade of  claim 1 , mounted in the trailing position with the bent section facing in the direction of travel on the squeegee support bar of a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from the flat surface, to collect used cleaning solution from a flat surface to be extracted by vacuum.  
     
     
         6  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising a leading and a trailing blade mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which the leading blade is designed as  claim 1  and mounted with the cavities on the inside and in which the trailing blade is designed as  claim 2  with the bend in the direction of travel.  
     
     
         7  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising leading and trailing squeegee blades mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which the leading blade is designed as  claim 1 , with the porous layer in the direction of travel and in which the trailing blade is designed as  claim 3  with the bend in the direction of travel.  
     
     
         8  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising leading and trailing squeegee blades mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which both the leading blade and trailing blades are designed as in claims  1  and  4 , and both are mounted with their bends in the direction of travel.  
     
     
         9  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising leading and trailing squeegee blades mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which both the leading and trailing blades are made by laminating a blade according to  claim 1  with a blade according to  claim 2 , and both blades are mounted with their bends facing the inside of the inverted “U” support bar.  
     
     
         10  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising leading and trailing squeegee blades mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which both the leading and trailing blades are made by laminating a blade according to  claim 1  with a blade according to  claim 3 , and both blades are mounted with their bends facing the inside and the porous layers to the outside of the inverted “U” support bar.  
     
     
         11  A squeegee blade set, for use on a powered cleaning machine that provides vacuum for collecting liquids wiped from a flat surface, comprising leading and trailing squeegee blades mounted on an inverted “U” support bar in which both the leading and trailing blades are made by laminating a blade according to  claim 1  with a blade according to  claim 4 , and both blades are mounted the layer based on  claim 1  facing to the inside of the inverted “U” support bar.  
     
     
         12  A squeegee blade comprising two blades as in  claim 1 , laminated together back to back with the bent sections to the outside.  
     
     
         13  A squeegee blade comprising a blade as in  claim 1  but with flexibility near the lip increased by the addition of a series of cavities on one side of the blade near the lip that contacts the surface to be cleaned.