Portable Washing Device

This invention relates to portable washing devices carrying a pressurized supply of a washing liquid independently of a source of the washing liquid.

Traditional methods of washing articles, such as vehicles or structures, are seriously constrained by the need for a ready supply of pressurized water to be used in conjunction with soaps or detergents for washing and rinsing the article. A vehicle, for example, must be placed in proximity to a convenient tap or faucet when being washed. Permanent structures, such as sheds, statuary, houses or other edifices, require that special arrangements be made to ensure that an adequate supply of pressurized water is available at the site. This could involve extensive use of hoses or other conduits to bring the water specifically to where it is needed.

Although hoses are traditionally used to supply pressurized water to a site remote from the water source, hoses pose numerous constraints and concomitant disadvantages on the user. Hoses become heavy and unwieldy when used in any significant length; the couplings tend to leak under the pressure. Hoses can snag on objects, become kinked or rupture. Hoses and their couplings, if dragged across a surface such as an automobile hood or a boat deck, can damage the finish. A common frustrating experience occurs when a hose becomes wedged beneath a wheel of an automobile being washed, requiring a special effort to dislodge the hose, maneuver a sufficient length of the hose away from the wheels and then drag the length of hose to the new position. A dangerous situation can arise, for example, if a hose is used to wash windows on the higher stories of a house or to remove detritus from gutters. A person working on a ladder or on a pitched roof would be in some jeopardy dealing with an unwieldy, water laden hose while balancing on the ladder or the roof. Clearly, improvements can be made in the washing apparatus.

Although there are devices which provide pressurized water delivery to a site, these devices generally do not address the problems enumerated above. The user must still contend with a hose coupled to some source of the water to deliver the water directly to the desired location. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,731,762 to Cramer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,985 to Maryott, U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,379 to Moore and U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,541 to Hicks all disclose dispensing, spraying or washing apparatus, but all of these disclosures lack portability and independence from the pressurized source. None of the above-mentioned patents uses the hydraulic pressure to bias an internal pressurizing means but, instead, use the hydraulic pressure directly to discharge the liquid to be sprayed.

This invention provides a portable, self-contained washing apparatus carrying its own supply of pressurized water or other washing liquid. The washing device is semi-independent of a source of water in that no hose or other line need be attached to the apparatus when in use. A supply of water is carried within the to device. Furthermore, the device does not depend on any external source for pressurization of its internal water supply. The device does require a pressurized source of water to provide an initial charge of water and to bias the internal pressurization feature to a pressurized status, but once this charging step is accomplished, the device can be used remote from and independent of the pressurized source of water until the internal supply is exhausted.

The washing apparatus according to the invention comprises a portable, elongated wand having an internal cavity comprising a reservoir. Portability of the wand is achieved by using materials such as aluminum, rubber and plastic in the construction of the apparatus to ensure a lightweight design which is easy to handle. The outer surface of the wand serves as its handle and is designed to be easily gripped by the user, allowing the wand to be conveniently carried and manipulated when performing the washing task. The elongated design of the wand allows a user to easily reach and wash hard to get at surfaces, such as the roof of a car or a van or the undercarriage of a vehicle. The elongated wand contains a relatively large volume reservoir within the handle, providing a generous water supply for all washing needs. The elongated design also has inherently good stability and balance characteristics, making the apparatus less fatiguing to use than conventional washing means.

An inlet tube is ported into the reservoir to provide a means for charging the device from the pressurized source of water which could, for example, be a conventional household tap. The inlet tube has an inlet valve which is normally biased to a closed position but is opened when the inlet tube is interengaged with a mating filling tube which is connected to the pressurized source. The filling tube projects from an independent charging stand which is connected to the water source and supports the filling tube so that the inlet tube can be conveniently mated to the inlet tube. The filling tube has a filling valve normally biased to a closed position which opens when the inlet tube is interengaged with the filling tube under sufficient force. Both inlet and filling valves have separate coupling parts interengagable in interfacing relationship which open simultaneously with the application of the force when the tubes are mated, thereby establishing a fluid flow path allowing water under pressure from the source to flow through the charging stand into the reservoir. When the reservoir is fully charged, the inlet tube is disengaged from the mating filling tube, the inlet and filling valves close under their biasing means, the filling valve cuts off the flow of water from the source and the inlet valve seals the reservoir. Upon disengagement, the portable wand is separated from the charging stand and can be conveniently carried to a remote site for use until the charge of water is exhausted, whereupon the wand can be returned to the charging stand for further charging.

The water supply held in the reservoir is pressurized by an internal reservoir biasing means which is "cocked" or brought to a pressurized status by the pressure of the water source as the water charges the reservoir. The charging step thus fulfills two functions--it fills the reservoir with water and biases the internal pressurizing means.

A nozzle is also connected to the reservoir for discharging the water supply, as required in the washing task. The nozzle has a discharge valve which is also normally biased to a closed position. The valve is operatively connected to a trigger or other manual control means conveniently positioned on the reservoir or the handle, and the water is dispensed selectively (under the pressure provided by the internal biasing means) by means of the trigger actuating the nozzle's discharge valve. The nozzle can be curved to discharge water at an angle to the reservoir, allowing for the ergonomically convenient or advantageous placement of the hands and arms of a user when performing a task with the invention. A brush, mop or other scrubbing means can be mounted on the distal end of the nozzle to facilitate the cleaning action of the invention, the scrubbing means having an outlet or port communicating with the nozzle to allow discharge of the water through the scrubbing means.

Two reservoir biasing means are readily employable with the invention. The first reservoir biasing means comprises an elastic bladder or tube disposed within the reservoir and connected to the inlet tube and the discharge nozzle. When the inlet tube is interengaged with the filling tube on the charging stand and sufficient force is applied, the inlet and filling valves open and water under pressure from the source floods into the elastic tube. The tube stretches elastically due to the hydraulic pressure of the source until the reservoir is filled. When the inlet and filling tubes are disengaged, the respective inlet and filling valves close and the reservoir is then pressurized by the elastic forces of the stretched tube. Pressure provided by the stretched tube forces the water within the reservoir out through the discharge nozzle on demand from the user when the nozzle discharge valve is opened by the trigger control means.

A second reservoir biasing means comprises a piston which fits tightly but slidingly within the reservoir forming a water tight seal between the reservoir wall and the piston. The piston is biased within the reservoir by means of a spring, the piston and spring being so arranged that when the reservoir is charged from the charging stand, the hydraulic pressure of the water displaces the piston within the reservoir against the biasing spring. After the reservoir is filled and the inlet and filling tubes are disengaged, the water supply within the reservoir is pressurized by the spring loaded piston acting against the water within the reservoir. As the water is discharged through the nozzle, the piston travels within the reservoir forcing the water out under the action of the spring.

It may be desirable to provide a cleaning agent, such as a soap or detergent, simultaneously with the water to provide a washing capability, as well as a rinsing function within the invention. A second reservoir is employed which is mounted on the water reservoir and filled with the cleaning agent. A tube connects the second reservoir to the nozzle. The agent can be conveyed to the nozzle by suction or siphon action caused as water flows through the nozzle, drawing the cleaning agent into the nozzle where it mixes with the water. Alternatively, a pump can be used to draw a measured amount of the cleaning agent from the second reservoir and inject the agent into the nozzle somewhere between the distal end of the nozzle and the discharge valve. The cleaning agent mixes with the water as it flows through the nozzle upon discharge from the reservoir. It may be desirable to provide a mixing chamber within the nozzle to promote the mixing of the cleaning agent with the water.

It is an object of the invention to provide a portable, self-contained washing device having its own independent pressurized supply of a washing liquid.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing device which is internally pressurized by means of the hydraulic pressure of the source of the washing liquid.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing device which can be easily, conveniently and rapidly recharged from a mating charging stand and removed from the stand to be used at a remote site without the restrictions imposed by a hose.

It is an object of the invention to provide a washing device which can be easily and conveniently handled and manipulated during a washing task.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the portable washing apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the portable washing apparatus being disengaged from the independent charging stand;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the nozzle end of the washing apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the trigger end of the washing apparatus;

FIG. 5 shows a detailed cross-sectional top view on an enlarged scale of the nozzle end of the washing apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows a detailed, cut away view of a portion of the washing apparatus engaging a portion of the charging stand;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the washing apparatus taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away side view of the portable washing apparatus according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the washing apparatus 2 according to the invention comprising a portable wand 4 having an internal cavity comprising a first, preferred form of an expandable reservoir 6, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Reservoir 6 receives and holds a supply of washing liquid dispensed from a pressurized source, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The outer surface 8 of wand 4 is designed to provide an elongated handle means to facilitate manual gripping and manipulation of the apparatus 2.

An inlet tube 10 projects clear of wand 4 and is ported into a manifold 12 by means of inlet aperture 14, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Manifold 12 is mounted on one end of wand 4 and communicates with reservoir 6 through manifold port 16, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Inlet tube 10 has a shroud 18 mounted on the tube's distal end. Inlet tube 10 also houses an inlet valve 20, seen in FIG. 6, comprising valve seat 22, biasing spring 24, spring retaining spider 26 and valve element 28, which is normally biased to a closed position against seat 22 by spring 24. A valve rod 30 extends outwardly from valve element 28 into shroud 18. Inlet valve 20 is opened by applying a predetermined compression force to valve rod 30, thereby moving valve element 28 away from seat 22 against biasing spring 24.

A nozzle 32 is also mounted on manifold 12, as seen in FIG. 1 and shown partly cut away in FIG. 6. A nozzle port 34 in manifold 12 allows nozzle 32 to communicate with manifold 12 and consequently with reservoir 6 through manifold port 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Associated with nozzle 32 is a discharge valve 36 which is normally biased to a closed position by discharge valve biasing spring 38, closing off reservoir 6 from nozzle 32 by sealing nozzle port 34. A trigger 40, shown in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 4, is mounted conveniently on wand 4 and is operatively connected to discharge valve 36 by means of pawl 42 and lever assembly 46, as shown in FIG. 6. An operator squeezing trigger 40 opens discharge valve 36 against its biasing spring 38 to selectively release washing liquid from the supply held in reservoir 6. A scrubbing means 48, shown in FIG. 1, comprising typically a mop head, a brush or any other scrubbing or applicating device is mounted on the distal end of nozzle 32. Scrubbing means 48 has a discharge port 50, shown in phantom line, communicating with nozzle 32 and allowing the washing fluid flowing through the nozzle to be applied to the surface being washed through the scrubbing means 48. Nozzle 32 is angled, as shown in FIG. 1, to promote non-fatiguing ergonomically advantageous use of the wand 4 and scrubbing means 48 as a washing device.

Internal to wand 4 is a reservoir biasing means for applying a predetermined pressure on the supply of washing liquid held in the reservoir 6. The biasing means provides apparatus 2 with an independent source of pressure for discharging the washing liquid through nozzle 32. One biasing means is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and comprises an elastic tube or bladder 52. Elastic tube 52 communicates with both inlet tube 10 and nozzle 32 through manifold 12, as seen in FIG. 6. Clamp 53 sealingly secures one end of elastic tube 52 to manifold port 16. Another clamp, shown at 55 in FIG. 4, secures and seals the other end of elastic tube 52 to a projection 57 located at an end 59 of wand 4 opposite manifold 12. Tube 52 is substantially smaller than the cavity within wand 4, allowing tube 52 to expand freely over its elastic range within the cavity to a biasing position for applying a predetermined biasing pressure to the washing liquid held in the reservoir, as will be subsequently explained in detail.

Elastic tube 52 is charged with the washing liquid by means of an independent charging stand 54, seen in FIG. 2. Charging stand 54 has a coupling 56 connecting stand 54 to a hose 58 which is in turn connected to a pressurized source of a washing liquid, typically a household water tap or faucet (not shown). Stand 54 has a filling tube 60 projecting away from the stand. Filling tube 60 communicates with the pressurized source of water through a conduit or fluid connection 62, shown in phantom line. A filling valve 64, shown in FIG. 6, is located within filling tube 60 and comprises a valve seat 66, a biasing spring 68, a spring retaining spider 70 and a valve element 72. Valve element 72 is normally biased to a closed position against seat 66 by spring 68, thereby sealing filling tube 60. A valve rod 74 extends outwardly from valve element 72 toward the distal end of filling tube 60. Filling valve 64 is similar to inlet valve 20 in that valve 64 will open when a predetermined compressive force is applied to valve rod 74 sufficient to move valve element 72 away from seat 66 against the biasing action of spring 68 and the hydraulic pressure of the source of the washing liquid.

Filling tube 60 and shroud 18 are designed to be sealingly interengagable, as shown in FIG. 6. When shroud 18 on inlet tube 10 is forcibly interengaged with filling tube 60 by holding the wand with the inlet tube pointing downwardly and pressing it against the filling tube. The shroud 18 seals the tubes together opening the valves 20 and 64 to establish a fluid flow path from filling tube 60 through inlet tube 10, through inlet port 14, into manifold 12, through manifold port 16 and finally into elastic tube 52 in reservoir 6. More particularly, valve rod 30 of inlet valve 20 interengages valve rod 74 of filling valve 64 in interfacing relationship, as seen in FIG. 6. The mutual compressive force on the respective valve rods 30 and 74 move respective valve elements 28 and 72 away from their respective seats 22 and 66, simultaneously opening both inlet valve 20 and filling valve 64. Water is thereby permitted to flow under the hydraulic pressure from the source through hose 58, through conduit 62 into filling tube 60, through inlet tube 10, into manifold 12 and finally into elastic tube 52 in reservoir 6. The water under hydraulic pressure stretches the elastic tube 52 to a biasing position, the tube 52 expanding to substantially fill the cavity comprising the reservoir 6, as shown in phantom at 52a in FIG. 5. Once reservoir 6 is filled, inlet tube 10 is disengaged from filling tube 60 by separating wand 4 from stand 54, as seen in FIG. 2. Valve rods 30 and 74 are disengaged from interfacing relationship relieving the mutual compressive force and respective biasing springs 24 and 68 of inlet valve 20 and filling valve 64 close those valves. The filling valve 64 cuts off the flow of water from the source, and the inlet valve 20 seals the manifold 12 to prevent leakage back out through inlet tube 10. The elastic tube, shown in FIG. 5 in both full lines 52 in the unstretched condition and in phantom lines 52a in the stretched condition, has been stretched by the hydraulic pressure of the source into a biasing position, wherein elastic forces within tube try to return it to its original tubular shape and dimensions, as shown in full lines 52. These elastic forces squeeze the water within reservoir 6, thereby applying a predetermined pressure to the supply of washing liquid held within the reservoir. Wand 4, now separated from charging stand 54, can be carried away from the stand to be used in a washing task. The predetermined pressure provided by the elastic forces of tube 52a is sufficient to expel the water from reservoir 6 when discharge valve 36 is opened by squeezing trigger 40. However, the reservoir internal pressure due to the elastic bladder forces is necessarily less than the hydraulic forces of the source which charged the tube to its pressurized state.

An alternative reservoir pressurizing means can be seen in FIG. 8. A piston 76 slidingly interfits within the cavity comprising reservoir 6 in wand 4, the cavity now forming a piston chamber 6a between piston 76 and wand end 61. Piston 76 is dimensioned relatively to internal reservoir wall 78 such that a substantially water-tight seal is formed between the piston 76 and wall 78. A biasing spring 80 located between piston 76 and end 59 of wand 4 biases piston 76 toward the inlet and nozzle end of the wand 4 denoted as end 61 in FIG. 8. Water flowing into reservoir 6 through inlet tube 10 from filling tube 60 during the filling procedure, as described above, encounters piston 76 in its biased position, and the hydraulic pressure of the source displaces piston 76 against biasing spring 80, biasing piston 76 to a pressurized state and expanding the piston chamber 6a. When the inlet tube 10 and filling tube 60 are disengaged, inlet valve 20 and filling valve 64 close, as described above. Piston 76, under the force of the now compressed biasing spring 80, exerts a predetermined pressure on the supply of water held in piston chamber 6a. The predetermined pressure is sufficient to expel the water through discharge valve 36 and nozzle 32 when trigger 40 is squeezed to open discharge valve 36. As the water is discharged, piston 76 moves under the force of biasing spring 80 back towards end 61 of wand 4.

It is often desirable to combine the application of a soap or a detergent with the water to the surface being washed. The invention is equipped with an auxiliary or second reservoir 82 which can be loaded with a supply of a cleaning agent such as a liquid soap or detergent. Auxiliary reservoir 82 is mounted on wand 4, as seen in FIG. 1, and is connected to nozzle 32 by means of a connecting tube 84 which conducts the cleaning agent to nozzle 32 where it mixes with the water or other washing liquid as the water is discharged through nozzle 32. The natural flow of water through the nozzle 32 will tend to draw the cleaning agent from auxiliary reservoir 82 through connecting tube 84 by a siphon action. To facilitate rinsing, it may be preferable to inject a measured dosage of cleaning agent into nozzle 32 from auxiliary reservoir 82 on demand, in which case a pump 86 is mounted on auxiliary reservoir 82, as best seen in FIG. 3. Pump 86 is manually operated via plunger 88 and draws a measured amount of the cleaning agent from auxiliary reservoir 82 with each stroke of the plunger, the agent being injected into nozzle 32. It may also be desirable to facilitate the mixing of the cleaning agent with the washing liquid, therefore, a mixing chamber 90 is provided in nozzle 32. Mixing chamber 90 allows more time for the cleaning agent and the washing liquid to combine before the mixture is discharged from nozzle 32 onto the surface to be washed. A manually operable valve 91 may be provided between the reservoir 82 and mixing chamber 90 to prevent the flow of cleaning agent to the mixing chamber when the wand is used to rinse a previously washed surface.

In operation, wand 4 is first charged with a supply of the washing liquid, in this example, water, by engaging inlet tube 10 with filling tube 60 on charging stand 54 as seen in FIG. 6. Charging stand 54 is connected to a pressurized source of water, for example, a household tap via hose 58. When the inlet tube 10 and filling tube 60 are forcibly engaged, inlet valve 20 and filling valve 64 open and water under pressure flows into the reservoir 6 in wand 4. The hydraulic pressure from the source causes the water to fill reservoir 6 and displace the internal pressurizing means to a biasing position, for example, stretching tube 52 against the elastic forces of the tube, as seen in FIG. 5, or sliding piston 76 within piston chamber 6a against biasing spring 80, as seen in FIG. 8. The biasing means is then ready to apply a predetermined pressure to the water in the reservoir. Once wand 4 is charged with the pressurized supply of water, inlet tube 10 is disengaged from filling tube 60 as seen in FIG. 2. The inlet valve 20 and filling valve 64 close under their respective biasing means. Wand 4 is then separated from charging stand 54 and can be carried to the remote site to perform the washing and rinsing task. Valve 91 is opened and a cleaning agent, such as soap or detergent, is drawn from the auxiliary reservoir 82 by pump 86 and conveyed to nozzle 32 where the agent is injected into the mixing chamber 90. A squeeze of trigger 40 opens discharge valve 36 which allows water from reservoir 6 under a predetermined pressure from the reservoir biasing means to flow into the mixing chamber 90 and combine with the cleaning agent before being expelled through nozzle 32 and scrubbing means 48 onto the work surface. The portable wand 4 makes it easy and convenient for an operator to direct the stream of soapy water exactly where it is needed and nozzle 32 is curved to provide for ergonomically efficient use of the apparatus. Scrubbing means 48 comprising a mop or brush provides for convenient distribution of the soapy water to the work surface and allows the user to scrub down the surface, dislodging surface dirt and grime. After the application of the soap and the scrubbing of the work surface, a further squeeze of the trigger 40 discharges water from reservoir 6 (either valve 91 having been closed or all of the soap in mixing chamber 90 having been mixed and discharged previously) to rinse the work surface of the soap and the entrained dirt and grime. The operator is able to repeat these functions remote from the water source without heavy and unwieldy hoses constraining his movement, becoming wedged on an obstruction, becoming kinked or leaking.