Device for treating a target surface and having an ergonomically pivoting handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10232503-B2
Application number	US-201213558371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2012
Priority date	Aug 22, 2011
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A device for treating a target, such as cleaning a window. The device has a handle and head, mounted in pivotal relationship to each other. When the head is placed in sliding, contacting relationship with the target surface the handle can pivot relative to the head for the ergonomic convenience of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for treating a target surface, said target surface having a front and a back opposed thereto, said device comprising:
a handle for being held by a user; and
a head articulably joined to said handle at a radius, said radius having a center, said center of said radius being disposed at a distance from the front of the target surface, said distance from the front of the target surface to said center of said radius being less than said radius, said head having an outwardly facing contact surface for contacting the front of the target surface and treating a liquid thereon;
wherein said handle articulates about a point disposed outwardly of said outwardly facing contact surface and behind the target surface when said contact surface of said head is disposed thereon on and said device is disposed in front of said target surface.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said point is disposed outwardly of said outwardly facing contact surface a distance ranging from 1 to 10 mm.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said point is disposed outwardly of said outwardly facing contact surface a distance ranging from 2 to 4 mm.

4. A device according to claim 2 , said device having a width direction and a longitudinal direction orthogonal thereto, wherein said handle articulates about an axis disposed outwardly of said outwardly facing contact surface, said axis being oriented substantially parallel to said width direction.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said handle is a telescoping handle.

6. A device for treating a target surface, said target surface having a front and a back opposed thereto, said device having a width direction and a longitudinal direction orthogonal thereto, said device comprising:
a longitudinal handle for being held by a user;
a widthwise head articulably joined to said handle at a radius, said radius having a center, said center of said radius being disposed at a distance from the front of the target surface, said distance from the front of the target surface to said center of said radius being less than said radius, said head having an outwardly facing contact surface for contacting the front of the target surface and treating a liquid thereon;
one of said head and said handle having a longitudinally oriented elongate curved member with a convex side oriented towards said handle, and a concave side oriented towards said head, the other of said handle and said head having a complementary tracker member movable relative to said elongate member and in mating engagement therewith, whereby the engagement between said elongate member and said complementary movable member provides an articulable connection between said head and said handle, whereby articulation of said head relative to said contact surface occurs about a point disposed outwardly of said outwardly facing contact surface and behind the front of the target surface when said head is disposed thereon and said device is disposed in front of said target surface.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein one of said head and said handle has a tracker member comprising an axially rotatable pinion gear, the axis being substantially parallel said width direction, the other of said handle and head having an elongate member comprising an curved rack gear in mating engagement with said pinion gear, whereby movement of the pinion gear along the rack gear causes articulation between said handle and said head.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said rack gear has a convex side oriented towards said handle and a concave side oriented towards said head.

9. A device according to claim 8 having a rack gear disposed on said head and facing towards said handle.

10. A device according to claim 6 wherein one of said head and said handle has a tracker member comprising a slider, the other of said handle and head having an elongate member comprising a complementary track into which the slider movably fits, whereby movement of the slider within the track causes articulation between said handle and said head.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said track is disposed on said handle and has a concave opening oriented towards said head.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein said track is disposed on said head and has a concave opening oriented towards said handle.

13. A device according to claim 10 wherein said elongate curved member subtends from 150 to 210 degrees.

Assignees

• Steinhardt Mark John
• Cannon William Michael
• Rodgers Kevin Michael
• Yau Kin Wong Pierce
• Dycher David Keith
• Spooner Gregory Clegg
• Ivarsson Bengt Ivar Anders
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Steinhardt Mark John
• Cannon William Michael
• Rodgers Kevin Michael
• Yau Kin Wong Pierce
• Dycher David Keith
• Spooner Gregory Clegg
• Ivarsson Bengt Ivar Anders

Classifications

• B25G3/38

  Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints · CPC title

• A47L13/17

  containing cleaning agents (A47L13/19 takes precedence {; chemical compositions C11D17/049}) · CPC title

• A47L13/42

  Details · CPC title

• A47L1/06

  Hand implements (with built-in electric motors A47L1/05) · CPC title

• B25G3/08 Primary

  with dovetail or other groove (B25G3/12 takes precedence) · CPC title