Window cleaning devices and systems and methods of using same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides window cleaning devices and methods for using same to clean a window, for example an exterior surface of a window.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A window cleaning system for cleaning a window comprising:
 an interior utensil configured to be held against an interior surface of the window and moved along the interior surface by a user; and   an external utensil configured to be drawn toward an exterior surface of the window by the interior utensil with the window between the external and internal utensils, and moveable along the exterior surface of the window my moving the interior utensil relative to the interior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior utensil and the external utensil each comprise at least one magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The window cleaning system of  claim 2 , wherein the interior utensil and the external utensil each include the same number of magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The window cleaning system of  claim 3 , wherein the exterior utensil includes two magnets separated by a distance D, and wherein the interior component includes two magnets separated by the distance D. 
     
     
         5 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior utensil is sized and/or shaped to be grasped and moved relative to the interior surface by a user's hand. 
     
     
         6 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the external utensil is configured to releasably retain a cleaning cloth and to force the cleaning cloth against the exterior surface of the window. 
     
     
         7 . The window cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein the external utensil comprises at least one attachment structure configured to releasably retain the cleaning cloth. 
     
     
         8 . The window cleaning system of  claim 7 , wherein the external utensil comprises two attachment structures. 
     
     
         9 . The window cleaning system of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment structures are disposed on a distal portion of the exterior utensil. 
     
     
         10 . The window cleaning system of  claim 6 , wherein a proximal surface of the exterior utensil comprises a texture. 
     
     
         11 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil comprises a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion configured to mate with the proximal housing portion. 
     
     
         12 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil includes an inner cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil is formed of a single piece of material, and wherein the material includes one or more recesses and/or channels. 
     
     
         14 . The window cleaning system of  claim 2 , wherein the magnet(s) of the interior component and/or of the exterior utensil are removable. 
     
     
         15 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a proximal surface of the exterior utensil comprises a magnetic material. 
     
     
         16 . The window cleaning system of  claim 15 , wherein the proximal surface of the exterior utensil is formed of a magnetic material. 
     
     
         17 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil further comprises a tether configured to be secured to prevent loss of the exterior utensil to gravity. 
     
     
         18 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil is sized to fit between an inner window pane of a first window sash and an outer window pane of a second window sash. 
     
     
         19 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior utensil includes one or more magnets spatially offset from one or more attachment structures. 
     
     
         20 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior component further comprises at least one attachment structure for releasably retaining a cleaning cloth. 
     
     
         21 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a distal surface of the interior component comprises a magnetic material. 
     
     
         22 . The window cleaning system of  claim 15 , wherein the distal surface of the interior component is formed of a magnetic material. 
     
     
         23 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior component includes one or more magnets spatially offset from one or more attachment structures. 
     
     
         24 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior component comprises a proximal housing portion and a distal housing portion configured to mate with the proximal housing portion. 
     
     
         25 . The window cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior component comprises a tether. 
     
     
         26 . A device for cleaning the exterior of a window, the device comprising:
 a proximal housing portion including a textured surface and a magnet;   a distal housing portion including an attachment structure and configured to mate with the proximal housing portion; and   a cleaning cloth removably retained by the attachment structure and disposed in contact with the textured surface,   
       wherein the device is configured to be slidably movable against an exterior of a window by subjecting the device to a moving magnetic field generated from an interior of the window. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the device is sized to fit between an inner window pane of a first window sash and an outer window pane of a second window sash. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the magnet and the attachment structure are spatially offset. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the magnet is removable. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the device includes two magnets and two attachment structures. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion define an interior cavity when mated. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising a tether attached to the proximal housing portion and/or to the distal housing portion. 
     
     
         33 . A method of cleaning an exterior surface of a window having opposing first and second surfaces, the method comprising:
 providing a cleaning cloth;   providing a window cleaning device comprising:
 a proximal housing portion including a textured surface and a magnet, and 
 a distal housing portion including an attachment structure and configured to mate with the proximal housing portion; 
   removably securing the cleaning cloth to the window cleaning device via the attachment structure, wherein the cleaning cloth is disposed in contact with the textured surface; and   slidably moving the window cleaning device across the first window surface by applying and moving a magnetic field to the window cleaning device.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetic field is applied from the second window surface. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising providing a magnetic field inducer. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the magnetic field is applied by placing the magnetic field inducer adjacent to the second window surface, and wherein the magnetic field is moved by moving the magnetic field inducer along the second window surface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising removing the cleaning cloth from the window cleaning device after the step of slidably removing the window cleaning device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising discarding the cleaning cloth after the step of removing the cleaning cloth from the window cleaning device.