Hand held devices for clearing off or cleaning the surface of a windshield, window or the like

Abstract

A hand held device for clearing off or cleaning the surface of a windshield, window or the like. The hand held device includes a blade, a forearm brace, and a handle which is disposed between the blade and the forearm brace. The blade preferably includes a front edge, and preferably the handle is parallel to the front edge. The forearm brace includes a forearm-engaging portion which is configured to contactably engage a forearm of a user during use. The forearm brace may comprise walls which extend generally from the handle to the forearm-engaging portion, as well as an opening which is disposed generally between the handle and the forearm-engaging portion. Preferably, the palm of a user's hand is the fulcrum point during use of the hand held device. The device may also be reversible to gain maximum mechanical advantage of for example, a two-bladed scraper or squeegee.

1 . A hand held device for clearing off or cleaning a surface such as a windshield, window or the like, said hand held device comprising: a blade configured to engage the surface; a forearm brace; and a handle disposed between the blade and the forearm brace. 
     
     
         2 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a front edge, and the handle is parallel to the front edge of the blade. 
     
     
         3 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the forearm brace comprises a forearm-engaging portion which is configured to contactably engage a forearm of a user during use. 
     
     
         4 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the forearm brace comprises walls which extend generally from the handle to the forearm-engaging portion. 
     
     
         5 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the forearm brace comprises an opening which is disposed generally between the handle and the forearm-engaging portion. 
     
     
         6 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the handle and the forearm-engaging portion are configured to provide that a palm of a user's hand is the fulcrum point during use of the hand held device. 
     
     
         7 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         8 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device is injection-molded. 
     
     
         9 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device is formed of at least one of nylon, an Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) blend and metal. 
     
     
         10 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device further comprises at least one brush. 
     
     
         11 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device further comprises at least one brush on the forearm brace. 
     
     
         12 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device comprises an ice scraper. 
     
     
         13 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device comprises a squeegee. 
     
     
         14 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the blade comprises a front edge, further comprising an elastomeric member provided at the front edge of the blade. 
     
     
         15 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one wiper on the squeegee. 
     
     
         16 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one wiper is comprised of at least one of foam and sponge. 
     
     
         17 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hand held device is reversible. 
     
     
         18 . A hand held device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the forearm brace is symmetric.