US20100306947A1

US20100306947A1 - Hand held devices for clearing off or cleaning the surface of a windshield, window or the like

Info

Publication number: US20100306947A1
Application number: US12/792,948
Authority: US
Inventors: Christian White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-03
Filing date: 2010-06-03
Publication date: 2010-12-09
Also published as: WO2010141732A1

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.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION (PRIORITY CLAIM)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/183,925, filed Jun. 3, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to hand held devices for clearing off or cleaning the surface of a windshield, window or the like, such as ice scrapers and squeegees, and more specifically relates to a hand held device which is ergonomic, designed to provide for improved leverage during use, and easy to use.
Generally speaking, ice scrapers are conventional and typically include a handle at one end and a scraper blade at the other. In use, a user holds the handle of the ice scraper and drives the scraper blade across a surface from which the user wants to remove ice, such as from the windshield of a vehicle. Conventional ice scrapers are generally relatively difficult to use due to the fact that their design provides for a lack of leverage as well as an awkward positioning of the user's hand during operation. As a result, a user is forced to expend much effort and downward force, and is required to work a long time, in order to scrape ice away. Similar is the action to use a conventional squeegee to remove grime and/or bugs from a windshield, window or the like.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hand held device which is ergonomic.
Another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hand held device which provides for increased leverage during use.
Yet another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hand held device which is easy to use.
Briefly, a specific embodiment of the present invention provides a hand held device which comprises a blade, a forearm brace, and a handle disposed between the blade and the forearm brace. The hand held device may include additional features such as one or more brushes, or one or more foam or sponge wipers, and may take the form of varying shapes, sizes and constructions depending on the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice scraper which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the ice scraper shown in FIG. 1, but shows an arm and hand of a user engaged with the ice scraper;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the ice scraper shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4-6 are perspective views of ice scraper alternative embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a squeegee which is in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a squeegee or scraper which is in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view of an end surface of the device shown in FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10-12 provide three cross-sections; variants of the handle.

DESCRIPTION

The invention disclosed herein is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms. However, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings and described in detail hereinbelow. The present disclosure is to be considered an example of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments which are illustrated and described herein.
Embodiments of the present invention preferably provide a hand held device for clearing off or cleaning the surface of a windshield, window or the like, where the hand held device is ergonomic, designed to provide for improved leverage during use, and easy to use. The invention may take many forms, some of which are shown in the Figures. For example, while FIGS. 1-6 illustrate ice scrapers, FIG. 7 illustrates a squeegee. Still other forms are possible.
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an ice scraper 10 which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the ice scraper 10 includes a scraper blade 12 at one end 14, and a forearm brace 16 at the opposite end 18. Disposed between the scraper blade 12 and the forearm brace 16 is a handle 20. Preferably the handle 20 is generally parallel with a front edge 22 of the scraper blade 12 which engages and scrapes away ice. This design provides for increased leverage and provides that basically the entire palm of the user 24 can be used to apply effective force to the ice scraper 10 in order to facilitate the scraping away of ice.
The forearm brace 16 includes a forearm-engaging portion 26 and may or may not include an opening 28 as well as walls 30 which extend generally from the handle 20 to the forearm-engaging portion 26. As shown in FIG. 2, the forearm-engaging portion 26 of the ice scraper 10 is configured to contactably engage the forearm 32 of a user 24 during use, thereby providing enhanced leverage while the ice scraper 10 is being used to scrape ice. More specifically, during use, the forearm 32 of a user 24 fits underneath the forearm-engaging portion 26 while the hand 34 of the user 24 grips the handle 20. The handle 20 may be round as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, however anti-rotation variants are depicted in FIGS. 11-13. FIG. 11 illustrates a finger grip oval hold 69; FIG. 12 illustrates a secondary bar 70 for opposing thumb and FIG. 13 illustrates an opposing thumb tab 71. Regardless, preferably the ice scraper 10 is designed such that the palm of the user's hand 34 is the fulcrum point, generating a large mechanical advantage at the point of the scraping action. Due to the leverage this design creates, the ice scraper 10 is easy to use and can be used to quickly and efficiently scrape away ice.
Preferably, the entire ice scraper is formed of plastic and is injection-molded. The ice scraper may be made of, for example, nylon, polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) blend, and/or a bio-friendly (i.e., green) plastic. The forearm brace 16 and handle 20 may be injection molded from a lower flex higher impact plastic, forming the foundation of the design. Softer plastic, rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer can be assembled or over-molded onto the handle 20 and/or forearm brace 16 to provide for enhanced feel and ergonomic appeal. Similarly, the scraper blade 12 can be manufactured from a hard plastic (i.e., polycarbonate, nylon or a similar hard ductile plastic blend) or metal, per size and ice-scraping ability. The entire ice scraper 10 (i.e., the scarper blade 12, handle 20 and forearm brace 16) may be formed as a single piece, preferably an injection-molded plastic. Alternatively, the ice scraper 10 may comprise an assembly of a plurality of pieces, such as a plurality of plastic pieces having an over-molded construction. Still further, the forearm-engaging portion 16 of the ice scraper 10 may comprise a rubber strap which is molded into, or otherwise secured to, walls 30 of the forearm brace 16.
FIG. 3 indicates various possible dimensions for the maximum number of human interfaces of the ice scraper 10. Specifically, dimension a may be 3 inches, dimension b may be 14 inches, dimension c may be 1.5 inches, dimension d may be 20 inches, dimension e may be 8 inches, and dimension f may be 21 inches. Of course, the ice scraper may be dimensioned and/or shaped much differently, yet still remain fully within the scope of the present invention. For example, the ice scraper can be provided as being much shorter as shown in FIG. 4 using reference numeral 10 a, such that it easily fits into a glove compartment, in which case (referencing FIG. 3) the dimensions of ice scraper 10 a can be provided as follows: dimension a may be provided as being 3 inches, dimension b may be 9 inches, dimension c may be 1.5 inches, dimension d may be 7 inches, and dimension e may be 8 inches, and dimension f may be 17 inches. Preferably, even if the ice scraper is provided as being short such that it fits within a glove compartment, preferably the scraper blade 12 a is still provided as being wide such that much ice is engaged with the ice scraper during use.
Regardless of the specific construction and size selected, the ice scraper provides for a significant increase in leverage and scraping power, as well as enhanced mechanical advantage, during use. As such, the ice scraper is easy to use and can be used to quickly and easily scrape away ice.
Alternative embodiments are entirely possible while still remaining fully within the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one or more brushes 50 can be provided on the ice scraper for brushing away ice and/or snow. Each brush 50 can be provided as being a separate, pre-constructed shape which is press-fit into the forearm brace 16. Alternatively, each brush 50 can be secured via over-molding or be molded directly into the ice scraper. FIG. 6 illustrates an ice scraper 10 b much like those which have already been described, but with a shortened scraper blade 12 b, an elongated forearm brace 16 b and dual brushes 50 b.
FIG. 7 illustrates a squeegee 10 c which is in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the squeegee 10 c is much like the ice scrapers previously described and includes a blade 12 c, a forearm brace 16 c, and a handle 20 c between the blade 12 c and the forearm brace 16 c. The forearm brace 16 c includes a forearm-engaging portion 26 c and may or may not include an opening 28 c as well as walls 30 c which extend generally from the handle 20 c to the forearm-engaging portion 26 c. As shown in FIG. 7, the forearm-engaging portion 26 c of the squeegee 10 c is configured to contactably engage the forearm 32 of a user 24 during use, thereby providing enhanced leverage while the squeegee 10 c is being used to clean a windshield, window or the like. More specifically, during use, the forearm 32 of a user 24 fits underneath the forearm-engaging portion 26 c while the hand 34 of the user 24 grips the handle 20 c. Preferably, the squeegee 10 c is designed such that the palm of the user's hand 34 is the fulcrum point, generating a large mechanical advantage at the point of the squeegee action. Due to the leverage this design creates, the squeegee 10 c is easy to use and can be used to quickly and efficiently clean a windshield, window or the like. Preferably, an elastomeric member 60 c is provided at a front edge 22 c of the blade 12 c to provided for squeegee action during use. As shown in FIG. 7, the squeegee 10 c may also be provided with an elongated mid-section 62 c having wipers 64 c thereon, such as foam or sponge wipers.
FIG. 8 illustrates a hand held device 10 d similar to those previously described, but where the forearm brace 16 d and handle 20 d of the device 10 d are symmetric, thereby providing that the hand held device 10 d is effectively reversible meaning that the device 10 d is designed such that a user can gain full mechanical advantage from either side (17 d or 19 d) of the device 10 d. The device may take the form of, for example, an ice scraper or squeegee. FIG. 8 depicts a specific embodiment where the device 10 d is provided as being a squeegee. As shown, preferably the device 10 d includes a wiper blade 12 d at its leading end 22 d on one side 17 d of the device 10 d, and a sponge or foam member 15 d proximate the wiper blade 12 d on the opposite side 19 d of the device 10 d. FIG. 9 illustrates the rear surface 21 d of the device. 10 d. As shown, preferably the device has blended, opposing radii 23 d that accommodate the forearm brace 16 d. The rear surface 21 d of the device 10 d is shown as being symmetric, however, it may take other asymmetric shapes based on environment conditions and human-mechanical interface requirements.
While specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

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.