Claims:CLAIMS
We Claim:
1. A surface cleaning apparatus (100) comprising:
a sliding member (106) mounted on a portion of a handle (102), to be moved in a direction selected from an upward direction or a downward direction by using a screw (108);
linkage bars (110a-110b) attached to corresponding sides of the sliding member (106), to be extended and/or retracted back from and/or to respective pre-defined positions based on a movement of the sliding member (106); and
sliding blades (114a-114b) housed inside a blade frame (112), to be extended and/or retracted back in an outward direction and/or an inward direction to adjust a length of the sliding blades (114a-114b).
2. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle (102) is provided to hold components of the surface cleaning apparatus (100).
3. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the handle (102) is having an expandable length.
4. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cap (104) attached to a proximal end of the handle (102), to be gripped by a user.
5. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cap (104) is provided with a hanging hole (116) to enable the user to hang the surface cleaning apparatus (100) onto a wall.
6. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screw (108) is wrapped over the sliding member (106), to be loosened and/or tightened by the user to lock and/or unlock the sliding member (106).
7. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linkage bars (110a-110b) are attached to the corresponding sides of the sliding member (106) through joints (118a-118b).
8. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding blades (114a-114b) are retracted back to decrease the length of the sliding blades (114a-114b).
9. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding blades (114a-114b) are extended to increase the length of the sliding blades (114a-114b).
10. The surface cleaning apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade frame (112) is attached to a distal end of the handle (102).

Date: May 31, 2021
Place: Noida
Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant (IN/PA-1529)

, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: CHITKARA INNOVATION INCUBATOR FOUNDATION
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: SCO: 160-161, SECTOR – 9C, MADHYA MARG, CHANDIGARH – 160009, INDIA

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
BACKGROUND
[001] Field
[002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cleaning equipment and particularly to a surface cleaning apparatus such as, a wiper having adjustable blades.
[003] Description of Related Art
[004] Surface cleaning apparatus such as a wiper is a floor and/or a window cleaning apparatus including a cleaning element that contacts a floor surface and/or a window surface to absorb a liquid. The liquid remaining on the floor surface can be hazardous and can also reduce an attained cleanliness of the floor surface. As a result, various surface cleaning apparatus have been designed to dry the floor surface and/or the window surface.
[005] Conventionally, the surface cleaning apparatus such as wipers have been configured with a fixed size blade to cover or clean a given area. However, such fixed size blade limits a use of such wipers to clean only a fixed area. Moreover, the fixed size blade of the wipers increases an expenditure of users by enforcing the users to purchase the wipers of different sizes for cleaning different areas efficiently. Also, the multiple wipers require an extra handling and a lot of storage, that also increases the expenditure of the users.
[006] There is thus a need for an advanced and more-effective surface cleaning apparatus that can administer the drawbacks faced by conventional surface cleaning apparatus.
SUMMARY
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a sliding member mounted on a portion of a handle, to be moved in a direction selected from an upward direction or a downward direction by using a screw. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprising: linkage bars attached to corresponding sides of the sliding member, to be extended and/or retracted back from and/or to respective pre-defined positions based on a movement of the sliding member. The surface cleaning apparatus further comprising: sliding blades housed within a blade frame, to be extended and/or retracted back in an outward direction and/or an inward direction to adjust a length of the sliding blades.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a surface cleaning apparatus that is provided with expandable sliding blades to cover and clean a wide area of any surface, thereby reduces a cost that may be involved in purchasing multiple surface cleaning apparatus.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a surface cleaning apparatus that provides a handle that is having an expandable length.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a surface cleaning apparatus that is expanded to any position between a maximum position and a minimum position for cleaning surfaces, thereby eliminates a cost of handling multiple surface cleaning apparatus to clean different areas.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates an isometric view of a surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1B illustrates a left-side view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1D illustrates a right-side view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 1E illustrates a front view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 1F illustrates a back view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 1G illustrates a bottom view of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 1H illustrates an extended position of sliding blades of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 1I illustrates a pre-determined maximum extended position of the sliding blades of the surface cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method of operating the surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a wider area of a surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating the surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a small area of the surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0026] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0027] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0028] FIG. 1A illustrates an isometric view of a surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be a wiper. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be provided with expandable sliding blades 114a-114b (hereinafter referred to as the sliding blades 114) that may cover and clean a wide area of a surface, thereby reduces a cost that may be involved in purchasing multiple surface cleaning apparatus 100. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be designed for cleaning the surface of floors, glass windows, and so forth, in an embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the surface. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be designed to be used at various places such as, but not limited to, homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and so forth for cleaning purposes. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the places. According to embodiments of the present invention, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may comprise components such as, a handle 102, a cap 104, a sliding member 106, a screw 108, linkage bars 110a-110b (hereinafter referred to as the linkage bars 110), a blade frame 112, the sliding blades 114 and a hanging hole 116.
[0029] FIG. 1B illustrates a left-side view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The handle 102 may be having a proximal end and a distal end, in an embodiment of the present invention. The handle 102 may be designed to hold other components such as, the cap 104 (as shown in the FIG.1A), the sliding member 106 (as shown in the FIG.1A), and so forth of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. The handle 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a plastic, a stainless steel, a wood, an iron and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the handle 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 102 may be having an expandable length. In an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 102 may be an external rod that may be capable to accommodate an internal rod having a diameter lesser than the external rod to increase and/or decrease the length of the handle 102. The handle 102 may comprise a locking mechanism that may comprise a locking member for locking the internal rod relative to the external rod in place. The locking mechanism may be, but not limited to, a cam lock, a clutch lock, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the locking mechanism, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may comprise a telescopic ring (not shown) that may be arranged over the handle 102 to increase and/or decrease the length of the handle 102 based on a requirement. In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the handle 102 may be adjusted by twisting off the telescopic ring that may further enable a user to pull out the internal rod that may be inside the handle 102 to increase the length of the handle 102.
[0031] FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may comprise the cap 104 that may be attached to the proximal end of the handle 102 (as shown in the FIG. 1A). The cap 104 may be provided to be gripped by the user while cleaning the surface. The cap 104 may be made up of a plastic material such as, but not limited to, a polypropylene plastic, a polystyrene plastic, a polyvinyl chloride, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the plastic material for the cap 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hanging hole 116 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) may be provided on the cap 104, to enable the user to hang the surface cleaning apparatus 100 onto a wall. The hanging hole 116 may accept a fastener (not shown) fixedly installed on the wall for securely hanging the surface cleaning apparatus 100 onto the wall, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 1D illustrates a right-side view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sliding member 106 may be mounted on a portion of the handle 102 near the distal end of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The sliding member 106 may be slid in an upward direction and/or a downward direction to adjust a length of the sliding blades 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) by using the screw 108 (as shown in the FIG. 1A). The sliding member 106 may be of any shape such as, but not limited to, a ring-shaped structure, a cylindrical shaped structure, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the shape of the sliding member 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the screw 108 may be wrapped over the sliding member 106, to be loosened and/or tightened by the user to lock and/or unlock the sliding member 106. The screw 108 may be provided to enable a position of the sliding member 106 to be in place with the portion of the handle 102. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the screw 108 may be loosened by the user to slid the sliding member 106 in the upward direction and/or the downward direction, which in turn slid the sliding blades 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) in an inward and/or an outward direction. The screw 108 may be tightened by the user to lock the position of the sliding member 106 in place with respect to the handle 102, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 1E illustrates a front view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The linkage bars 110 may be fixedly attached to, such as, at a proximal end of, the sliding member 106 through joints 118a-118b (hereinafter referred to as the joints 118), in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the linkage bars 110 may be removably attached to the sliding member 106 through the joints 118. The joints 118 may be, but not limited to, Constant Velocity (CV) joints, cross and a roller joints, pin joints, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the joints 118, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, a first end of each of the linkage bars 110 may be attached to corresponding sides of the sliding member 106 and a second end of each of the linkage bars 110 may be attached to the sliding blades 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) of the blade frame 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, a movement of the sliding member 106 in the downward direction may enable an extension of the linkage bars 110 from respective pre-defined positions to corresponding extreme positions on the blade frame 112. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the sliding member 106 in the upward direction may enable the linkage bars 110 to retract back to the respective pre-defined positions on the blade frame 112. The linkage bars 110 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a metal, a steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the linkage bars 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] FIG. 1F illustrates a back view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the extension of the linkage bars 110 may enable an extension of the sliding blades 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) to the outward direction to increase the length of the sliding blades 114. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the retraction of the linkage bars 110 may enable the sliding blades 114 to retract back into the blade frame 112 to decrease the length of the sliding blades 114.
[0035] FIG. 1G illustrates a bottom view of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may comprise the blade frame 112 that may be fixedly attached to the distal end of the handle 102 (as shown in the FIG. 1A), in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the blade frame 112 may be removably attached to the distal end of the handle 102. The distal end of the handle 102 may be inserted into an opening area of the blade frame 112 to attach the handle 102 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 to the blade frame 112, in an embodiment of the present invention. The blade frame 112 may be provided with a central slot to accommodate the sliding blades 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1A) on each sides of the blade frame 112. The sliding blades 114 may be adjusted to cover and clean the wider area of the surface. The blade frame 112 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, an aluminum, the steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the blade frame 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] FIG. 1H illustrates an extended position of the sliding blades 114 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding blades 114 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be extended from a pre-determined minimum position to a pre-determined maximum position and vice-versa by using the screw 108 that may be wrapped around the sliding member 106 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
[0037] FIG. 1I illustrates the pre-determined maximum extended position of the sliding blades 114, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the extension of the linkages 110 may enable the sliding blades 114 to move in the corresponding outward directions to attain the pre-determined maximum extended position. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sliding blades 114 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a synthetic polyisoprene, a butadiene, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, a neoprene, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the sliding blades 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0038] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 of operating the surface cleaning apparatus 100 for cleaning a wider area of a surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] At step 202, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the user to loosen the screw 108 for moving the sliding member 106 in the downward direction.
[0040] At step 204, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the extension of the linkage bars 110 from the respective pre-defined positions to the corresponding extreme positions based on the movement of the sliding member 106.
[0041] At step 206, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the extension of the sliding blades 114 in the outward direction based on the extension of the linkage bars 110 to increase the length of the sliding blades 114 for cleaning the wider area of the surface.
[0042] At step 208, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the user to tighten the screw 108 to lock the sliding member 106 upon extended the sliding blades 114 in the outward direction.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 of operating the surface cleaning apparatus 100 for cleaning a small area of the surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] At step 302, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the user to loosen the screw 108 for moving the sliding member 106 in the upward direction.
[0045] At step 304, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the retraction of the linkage bars 110 in the respective pre-defined positions from the position selected from the minimum extended position, the maximum extended position, and so forth based on the movement of the sliding member 106.
[0046] At step 306, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the retraction of the sliding blades 114 in the inward direction based on the retraction of the linkage bars 110 to decrease the length of the sliding blades 114 for cleaning the small area of the surface.
[0047] At step 308, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may enable the user to tighten the screw 108 to lock the sliding member 106 upon retraction of the sliding blades 114 in the inward direction.
[0048] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.