Squeegee

Abstract

The invention relates to a squeegee comprising a handle (1), a first lip holder (21) with a first lip (22), and a second lip holder (31) with a second lip (32), wherein the first and the second lip holder (21, 31) are rigidly connected to the handle (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a squeegee according to claim 1.

[0002] Squeegees are commonly used to remove dirt or liquids from flat surfaces such as glass panes or tiles, for example to dry a tiled floor or clean a shower screen. These squeegees have a rubber lip that is moved over the surface to collect dirt or liquid and wipe it off. A major disadvantage of conventional squeegees is that they can only be moved in one direction or at a certain angle to achieve the desired effect. The rubber lip is attached to the handle at a fixed angle and is only effective at an acute angle to the surface. On most squeegees, the rubber lip on the handle is arranged in such a way that the squeegee must be pulled over the surface.This is impractical, especially for cleaning vertical surfaces all the way to the floor, because a standing user can pull the squeegee from the top to approximately waist height, but then cannot push it any further down. To clean the surface all the way to the floor, they must bend down or even kneel.

[0003] Various solutions to overcome this deficiency can be found in the prior art. For example, US 2004 / 0226126 A1 presents a squeegee in which the rubber lip is pivotally and spring-connected to the handle, allowing the angle between the handle and the rubber lip to be varied. This allows the rubber lip to be guided across the surface at the appropriate acute angle, regardless of the angle at which the handle is held by the user. US 5,539,949 discloses a similar squeegee, but this time with two rubber lips that are always in contact with the surface simultaneously. The additional rubber lip guides the first rubber lip and ensures that the first rubber lip is always in contact with the surface at exactly the optimal angle. Both squeegees presented enable continuous wiping of vertical surfaces down to the floor and the removal of water by pushing.Squeegees with two lips that are immovably connected to the handle are known from US 9204776 B1 and DE 102017104744 A1. WO 2018071927 A1 discloses a squeegee in which the bending of a lip is prevented by being supported on a support bar.

[0004] A particular disadvantage of these squeegees is that they leave marks on vertical surfaces when continuously wiping them, because the smooth movement of the squeegee is interrupted when transitioning from a pulling motion to a pushing motion. Furthermore, these squeegees, with their movable joint, are complex to manufacture, and this joint requires maintenance to function properly.

[0005] The present invention now has the object of providing a squeegee which enables the removal of water by pulling and pushing and a continuous wiping of horizontal and vertical surfaces without leaving traces on the surface.

[0006] This object is achieved by a water slide according to patent claim 1. Further features and embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0007] Drawings: Figure 1: Water slide, perspective view Figure 2: Water slide, side view Figures 3a-d: Water slide in use, side view Figures 4-6: Water slide variants, side view

[0008] The figures represent possible embodiments, which are explained in the following description.

[0009] The squeegee according to the invention comprises a handle 1, a first lip holder 21 with a first lip 22 and a second lip holder 31 with a second lip 32 ( Figure 1). The first and second lips 22, 32 are suitable for wiping liquids, dust and other dirt from a flat surface. For this purpose, they are essentially shaped as flat strips and are preferably made of a flexible material such as rubber. The first lip 22 is attached to the first lip holder 21 in such a way that an elongated edge 221 of the first lip 22 can be guided unhindered over a flat surface. The same applies analogously to the second lip 32 with the second lip holder 31, so that an elongated edge 321 of the second lip 32 can be guided unhindered over a flat surface. The lip holders 21, 31 are made of rigid material and distribute the force exerted by the user on the handle 1 uniformly over the entire length of the lips 22, 32 and the elongated edges 221, 321. For use in humid environments, the lip holders 21, 31 are also ideally made of rust-proof material, such as .Aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic. In one embodiment of the squeegee, the first lip holder 21 and / or the second lip holder 31 has an extension 211, 311 that runs along one side of the first lip 22 and / or the second lip 32 and limits their bending when pressed with great force against a surface. The handle 1 is immovably attached to the first lip holder 21 and / or the second lip holder 31. In the embodiment according to Figure 1 , 2 and 3The handle 1 is attached to the first lip holder 21, and the second lip holder is attached to the first lip holder, e.g., to the extension 211. In the squeegee according to the invention, the first lip 22 and the second lip 32 are firmly connected to the first lip holder 21 and the second lip holder 31, respectively. The first and second lip holders 21, 31 are also immovably connected to the handle 1. Depending on the design of the squeegee, the lip holders 21, 31 can be firmly connected to one another or made from a single piece, and both are connected together to the handle 1.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the squeegee, the first lip 22 and the first lip holder 21 or the second lip 32 and the second lip holder 31 are each made from one piece or cast, i.e. they do not consist of two parts, whereby the nature of the material at the transition from the lip 22, 32 to the lip holder 21, 31 can vary. In a special embodiment, the entire squeegee, i.e. handle 1, lip holder 21, 31 and lips 22, 32, consists of one piece or cast, whereby the material nature of the handle 1 and the lip holder 21, 31 is rather solid or rigid and the lips 22, 32 are made of flexible or pliable material.

[0011] The lips 22, 32 have their desired wiping effect at an acute angle to the surface, with an angle of approximately 45° being ideal. The first lip 22 is accordingly attached to the handle in such a way that when placed on the surface to be cleaned, it forms an acute angle with the latter. In a preferred embodiment, the first plane E1, in which the first lip 22 lies, has a first angle α of at least 10°, preferably of at least 25°, ideally of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1 ( Figure 2 ). The squeegee can thus be guided at the ideal angle if the handle 1 is held approximately parallel to the surface ( Figure 3a). This often occurs, for example, with high surfaces when the user is standing on the floor and the handle 1 is extended with a handle in order to be able to clean the largest part of the surface. If the user now pulls the squeegee downwards, it is gradually rotated until the handle 1 is held at approximately waist height, more or less perpendicular to the surface, and changes from a pulling motion to a pushing motion ( Figures 3b-c ). In this position, the angle between the first lip 22 and the surface can no longer be kept acute, and the first lip 22 is gradually lifted off the surface ( Figure 3c). When transitioning from a pulling movement to a pushing movement, the unfavorable angle between the first lip 22 and the surface and the subsequent removal of the first lip 22 from the surface can leave marks. According to the invention, the second lip 32 with the desired acute angle comes into play at precisely this point in time, since it is arranged behind the first lip 22 in the direction of movement. This second lip 32 is preferably attached to the squeegee between the first plane E1 of the first lip 22 and the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1 and is oriented such that it comes into contact with the surface shortly before the first lip 22 no longer has an acute angle to the surface and is subsequently lifted off therefrom. Since the second lip 32 wipes behind the first lip 22, the second lip 32 removes any marks left by the first lip 22.

[0012] In order for the second lip 32 to have the appropriate acute angle to the surface when the squeegee is pushed further downwards by a standing user from approximately hip height ( Figure 3d ), the second plane E2, in which the second lip 32 lies, has a second angle β of at least 70°, preferably approximately 90°, to the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1 ( Figure 2). This alignment ensures that the second lip 32 has the appropriate acute angle to the surface when the squeegee is pressed downwards. The squeegee according to the invention therefore has two lips 22, 32 which are arranged at an angle α+β of at least 95° relative to one another: the first lip 22 has a first angle α of at least 25° to the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1, and the second lip 32 has a second angle β of at least 70°, wherein the lips 22, 32 are inclined in opposite directions on either side of the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1. The handle 1 can also be curved or arched, in which case the longitudinal axis A forms a tangent to the shape of the handle, which is approximately perpendicular to the surface at the time of the change from the first lip 22 to the second lip 32.

[0013] In the version according to Figure 1 , 2 and 3The second lip holder 31 is attached to the end of the extension 211 of the first lip holder 21. This arrangement has the advantage that the desired second angle β can be achieved with a second lip 32 that is identical to the first lip 22, in particular has the same length. The use of two identical lips 22, 32 reduces the number of different components and simplifies the manufacture of the squeegee according to the invention. In other embodiments of the invention, the second lip holder 31 can also be attached to other locations on the first lip holder 21 or directly on the handle 1; however, this requires an adjustment of the second angle β and the length of the second lip 32 ( Figure 5 ).

[0014] In a possible embodiment of the invention, the squeegee additionally comprises a central lip holder 41 with a central lip 42 which is similar to the first and second lips 22, 32 and is arranged between the first and second lips 22, 32 ( Figure 4 ). The central plane Em, in which the central lip 42 lies, approximately bisects the angle α+β between the first plane E1 and the second plane E2 and is thus preferably located at an angle γ of approximately 20-25° to the longitudinal axis A of the handle 1. With the additional central lip 42, the transition between the various lips 22, 32, 42 is even simpler and smoother. In other possible embodiments of the squeegee, further central lip holders 41 with central lips 42 can be provided, which are oriented at regular angular intervals between the first plane E1 and the second plane E2.

[0015] In the drawings, only squeegees with separate lips 22, 32, 42 have been shown. However, it goes without saying that the various lips 22, 32, 42 could also consist of a single piece of flexible material having at least a first and a second lip 22, 32 ( Figure 6 ).

[0016] With the squeegee presented, a surface can be cleaned from top to bottom in one go, without having to restart and without leaving marks, especially when transitioning from the pulling motion to the pushing motion. Cleaning an entire surface in one go, from top to bottom, is possible even in tight spaces, and without the need for a handle to extend the handle 1, which would hinder the work. The new squeegee is therefore very comfortable to use, as even the lower areas of a surface can be cleaned without having to bend down too far.

Claims

1. Squeegee comprising a handle (1), a first lip holder (21) with a first lip (22) and a second lip holder (31) with a second lip (32), wherein the first and second lip holders (21, 31) are immovably connected to the handle (1), characterised in that the second plane (E2) in which the second lip (32) lies has a second angle (β) of at least 70°, preferably approximately 90° to the longitudinal axis (A) of the handle (1).

2. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the first and second lips (22, 32) are inclined in opposite directions on either side of the longitudinal axis (A) of the handle (1).

3. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the first lip (22) lies in a first plane (E1), the second lip (32) lies in a second plane (E2), the first and second planes (E1, E2) having an angle of at least 95° and the second lip (32) being arranged in the acute-angled sector which is located between the first plane (E1) and the longitudinal axis (A) of the handle (1) and which faces the surface to be cleaned.

4. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the first plane (E1) in which the first lip (22) lies has a first angle (α) of at least 10°, preferably of at least 25°, ideally of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis (A) of the handle (1).

5. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the first lip 22 and the first lip holder 21 and / or the second lip 32 and the second lip holder 31 are each made from one piece or cast.

6. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle 1, lip holder 21, 31 and lips 22, 32 are made from one piece or cast.

7. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the first lip holder (21) has an extension (211) which runs along one side of the first lip (22) and limits the bending of the first lip (22) when it is pressed against a surface with great force.

8. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised in that the second lip holder (31) has an extension (311) which runs along one side of the second lip (32) and limits the bending of the second lip (32) when it is pressed against a surface with great force.

9. Squeegee according to claim 1, characterised by a middle lip (42) which is arranged between the first and the second lip (22, 32).

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