Device for Cleaning Optical Surfaces

The invention relates generally to a device and method of making a device for cleaning optical surfaces, and in particular to a device which clean wipes an optical surface.

Optical surfaces, like optically coated glass on charge coupled device (CCD) imager surfaces which are located inside the body of a camera, require periodic cleaning. These surfaces are often placed in areas which are difficult to reach. In particular, the human finger with a piece of cloth attached is sometimes unable to reach these critical optical surfaces. Typical cleaning devices are unable to adequately reach all portions of the optical surfaces requiring cleaning and provide thorough cleaning of them.

It is well known to use a knit fabric swab as a cleaning device for cleaning optical surfaces. These cleaning devices are made by attaching the knit fabric swab atop an elongated support. These types of swabs are shown in U.S.

Pat. No. 5,239,723 entitled Gelatinous Elastomer Swabs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,821 entitled Low Contamination Swab Employing Tubular Knit Fabric, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,955 entitled Applicator Swab and Method of Making the Same. It is also known to have an applicator mounted atop an elongated support for applying substances, e.g. polishes to an object. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,346,782 entitled Methods of Manufacturing Applicators or Daubers. It would be useful to have a cleaning device which is able to clean difficult to reach surfaces and to clean the surfaces thoroughly.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, the present invention is to provide a device which can clean difficult to reach optical surfaces and clean these surfaces thoroughly.

This object is achieved by having a clean wipe device comprising:

an elongated support;

an absorbent swab attached to an end of the support; and

a cleaning element secured to the end of the support so as to cover the swab and to present an elongated side as a broad cleaning surface, the elongated side extending between two acute angle end sections of the cleaning element which present two corner cleaning surfaces.

An advantage of the present invention is that the cleaning element is folded to present a broad cleaning surface.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide two angled cleaning surfaces in addition to the broad cleaning surface. These two angled cleaning surfaces are formed from the corner end sections of the folded cleaning element. These end sections provide pointed surfaces that are easy to get into difficult to clean locations.

These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the cleaning device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleaning device;

FIG. 3 illustrates the steps of making the cleaning device; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a camera unit showing the location of a cover glass of a CCD imager surface.

Beginning with FIG. 1, the cleaning device 10 for cleaning optical surfaces, such as a cover glass of a charge coupled device (CCD) imager surface shown in FIG. 4, comprises an elongated support 12, an absorbent swab 16 attached to an end of the support 12 and a cleaning element 14. The swab 16 is made of a dry, polyurethane foam. The cleaning element 14 is secured to the same end of the support as the swab 16. The cleaning element is made of a non-woven, polyester and cellulose blended material such as a Durx 670.TM. cleaning cloth available from Berkshire Corporation, Great Barrington, Mass. The cleaning element 14 is secured to the elongated support 12 by a clean rubber band 18 that causes the cleaning element 14 to taper into a triangular, or paddle shape. The elongated support 12, the cleaning element 14, the swab 16, and the clean rubber band satisfy a clean standard for electronic manufacturing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning element 14 is formed into a generally triangular shape that is attached at its apex 14' to the debris resistant elongated support (also available from Berkshire Corporation, Great Barrington, Mass.) so as to cover the swab 16, and to present an elongated side 20 arranged opposite of the apex 14' as a broad cleaning surface. The elongated side 20 extends between two acute angle end sections 22 of the cleaning element. The end sections 22 present two corner cleaning surfaces. These end sections 22 provide additional capability for cleaning of the optical surface. For example, the end sections 22 also allow the cleaning device 10 to reach areas on the optical surface which may have been otherwise unreachable. As a result, the elongated side 20, with its broad cleaning surface, and the two end sections 22 provide a thorough cleaning of the optical surface.

Referring to FIG. 3, the steps for making the cleaning device 10 are graphically shown in accordance with the present invention. Step 1 shows the unfolded cleaning element 14. Step 2 shows the folding of the first portion 24 of the cleaning element 14 towards the center of the cleaning element 14. Step 3 shows the folding of the second portion 26 of the cleaning element 14 opposite of the first portion 24, towards the center, whereby one folded portion overlaps the other folded portion and forms a layered cleaning element 28, as shown in Step 3.5 and 4. Step 5 shows the placing of the elongated support 12, having the absorbent swab 16 secured to one end of the elongated support 12, towards the center of the layered cleaning element 28 so as to form a top portion 30 above the swab 16 and a bottom portion 32 below the swab 16. Step 5 also shows the folding of the top portion 30 of the layered cleaning element 28 over the swab 16 to overlie the bottom portion 32 of the cleaning element 14. Step 6 shows the securing of the folded top and bottom portions 30 and 32 of the cleaning element 14 to the elongated support 12 with a clean rubber band 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning element 14 is a two inch by two inch square. The first and second portions are each of a size two thirds inch by two inches. The top and bottom portions are each of a size one third inch by one inch.

Referring to FIG. 4, a camera unit 34 is shown with an imager 36 having a cover glass 42 arranged over a charge coupled device (CCD) 44. Camera unit 34 includes a removable lens 46 that attaches to a lens ring 38. The CCD imager 36 is located in the back of the camera unit 34 behind the lens ring 38 in the image plane of the lens 46. An eye cup 40 is shown for a through the lens viewing system. As also shown in FIG. 4, the position of the CCD imager 36 inside the camera unit 34 can make cleaning difficult. According to the present invention, when the lens 46 is removed, the cleaning device 10 is inserted through the lens opening to contact the cover glass 42 (as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4). The present invention provides cleaning of the CCD imager surface 36 by stroking the cleaning device over the cover glass 42 once in both directions, and then using the end sections 22 to reach the edges of the cover glass 42. Preferably, the cleaning device is only used once and disposed after usage. This aids in ensuring that particles removed will not be reapplied to the optical surface.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.