Vehicle cleaning element

Abstract

A vehicle cleaning element of a substantially flat configuration having a first cleaning surface provided by a portion of the flat surface and a second cleaning surface provided by radially projecting prongs or tines for reaching into and pulling out dirt and debris from seams, openings and crevices on a vehicle. The first cleaning surface and second cleaning surface may be divided by water and dirt channeling grooves and utilize stiffeners and means for varying the radial forces on the prongs or tines for reaching into and cleaning openings, seams and crevices. The novel vehicle cleaning element may be employed to retrofit existing automatic car washing devices or in equipment of a new design. The vehicle cleaning element can be configured for application to mitter cleaning elements and rotatable cleaning elements in automatic vehicle cleaning operations.

1 . A cleaning element comprising: 
 (a) a substantially flat resilient elongated surface having a first end and a second end and at least one cleaning surface;    (b) a resilient prong radially projecting from said substantially flat resilient elongated surface intermediate said first end and said second end; and    (c) means for attaching said substantially flat elongated surface to an automatic car washing device.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  further comprising a water channeling groove disposed intermediate the ends of said substantially flat resilient elongated surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  further comprising a stiffener.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning element of  claim 1  further comprising means for modifying the resiliency of said resilient prong.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning element of  claim 4  wherein said means for modifying the resiliency of said resilient prong is a plurality of slits.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning element of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of slits provide for a partial retraction of said resilient prong into the body of said cleaning element.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning element of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of slits are disposed at said second end of said substantially flat resilient elongated surface and said resilient prong is a plurality of radially projecting prongs.  
   
   
       8 . A rotatable cleaning pad comprising: 
 (a) a substantially flat planar element having a first end and a second end and a flat cleaning surface disposed at said first end parallel to the longitudinal axis of said substantially flat planar element;    (b) a resilient prong radially projecting at an angle to said longitudinal axis to form an angled cleaning surface disposed radially to said flat cleaning surface; and    (c) means for attaching said substantially flat planar element to a rotatable cleaning element.    
   
   
       9 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 8  further comprising a second flat cleaning surface disposed opposite said flat cleaning surface and a second resilient prong radially projecting at an angle to said longitudinal axis to form a second angled cleaning surface radially projecting at an angle to said second flat cleaning surface.  
   
   
       10 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 8  further comprising a stiffener disposed opposite said first cleaning surface.  
   
   
       11 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 8  further comprising means for modifying the resiliency of said resilient prong.  
   
   
       12 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 11  wherein said means for modifying the resiliency of said resilient prong is a plurality of longitudinal slits parallel to said longitudinal axis of said substantially flat planar element.  
   
   
       13 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 12  wherein said plurality of longitudinal slits divide said resilient prong into a plurality of resilient radially projecting prongs.  
   
   
       14 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 11  wherein said means for modifying the resiliency of said resilient prong is a stiffener.  
   
   
       15 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 1  wherein said means for attaching said substantially flat planar element is disposed intermediate said first end and said second end and said substantially flat planar element has a second resilient prong radially projecting at an angle to said longitudinal axis to form a second angled cleaning surface at said second end of said substantially flat planar element.  
   
   
       16 . The rotatable cleaning pad of  claim 1  wherein said substantially flat planar element is formed from a felt cloth material.  
   
   
       17 . A mitter cleaning element comprising: 
 (a) a substantially flat elongated element having a first end and a second end and a substantially flat cleaning surface disposed therebetween;    (b) a plurality of resilient prongs radially projecting from said substantially flat cleaning surface to form an angled cleaning surface radially projecting said substantially flat cleaning surface; and    (c) means for attaching said second end to an automatic car washing device.    
   
   
       18 . The mitter cleaning element of  claim 17  further comprising means for modifying the resiliency of said plurality of resilient prongs.  
   
   
       19 . The mitter cleaning element of  claim 17  further comprising a water channeling groove disposed intermediate the ends of said substantially flat elongated element.  
   
   
       20 . The mitter cleaning element of  claim 17  wherein said substantially flat elongated element is comprised of a high density polyolefin closed cell foam.