Squeegee device and system

Abstract

A device, system and method is disclosed for removing residues from surfaces and for applying materials to surfaces. The device system and method of the instant invention utilize a squeegee configuration with a first continuous squeegee edge. Preferably, the first continues squeegee edge protrudes from a squeegee support element with squeegee walls that extend in all directions of a wiping plane. Within the boundary formed by the first continuous squeegee edge there are preferably additional cleaning elements such as bristles, sponges and/or additional squeegees. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second squeegee edge protrudes from the inner squeegee region of the first continuous squeegee edge to form a squeegee compartment. Cleaning solutions and other materials are applied to surfaces by placing the solutions or materials into the squeegee compartment and wiping the surface with the squeegee edges. Alternatively, a cleaning medium is delivered from a source the surface through a squeegee configuration apertures for facilitating the dispensing the cleaning medium on to the surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A squeegee cleaning device comprising a squeegee cleaning portion, said squeegee cleaning portion comprising: 
 a) a squeegee support member comprising a front surface, an edge surface and a back surface;    b) at least one elongated squeegee member and elongated squeegee walls extending in at least two non-parallel elongation directions, wherein said elongated squeegee walls have thickness in directions normal to said at least two non-parallel elongation directions and said at least one elongated squeegee member protrudes with a protruding squeegee edge from said squeegee support in at least one protruding direction.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning portion attached to said back surface of said squeegee support member, wherein said cleaning portion is selected from the group consisting of a squeegee portion, a brush portion, a sponge portion and a scouring pad portion.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a squeegee template portion for securing said squeegee cleaning portion and through which said at least one squeegee member is retractable and through which said at least one squeegee member is extendible.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device of  claim 3 , further comprising a cleaning section attached to said squeegee template portion, wherein said cleaning section is selected from the group consisting of a squeegee, a brush, a sponge and a scouring pad.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , further comprising a handle attached to said squeegee template portion.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said two non-parallel elongation directions are substantially orthogonal elongation directions.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning section attached to said front surface of said squeegee support member, wherein said cleaning section is selected from a squeegee section, a brush section, a sponge section and a scouring pad section.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said squeegee support member is a flexible contoured squeegee support member wherein said front surface of said squeegee support member is a convex front surface and said back surface of said squeegee support member is a concave back surface.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning device of  claim 8 , further comprising a ring member attached near said edge surface of said squeegee support member.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning device of  claim 8 , further comprising a cleaning head comprising a front surface and a back surface, wherein said contoured squeegee support member is attached to said cleaning head such that said front surface of said cleaning head and said concave back surface of said contoured squeegee support member form a cushion cavity.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein said cushion cavity is filled with a soft malleable gel material.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , further comprising a handle member attached to said cleaning head.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , further comprising a second cleaning portion attached to said back surface of said cleaning head, wherein said second cleaning portion is selected from the group consisting of a squeegee portion, a brush portion, a sponge portion and a scouring pad portion.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one squeegee member is made from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, rubber and urethane.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one elongated squeegee member is a spiraling squeegee member encircling a portion of said support member to form a spiraling squeegee channel.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , further comprising a cleaning section positioned within said spiraling squeegee channel and attached said front surface of said squeegee support member, wherein said cleaning section is selected from the group consisting of a squeegee section, a brush section, a sponge section and a scouring pad section.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one elongated squeegee member is a continues squeegee member that encircles a portion of said squeegee support member forming an inner squeegee region and an outer squeegee region.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning device of  claim 17 , further comprising a cleaning section positioned within said inner squeegee region and attached to said front surface of said squeegee support member, wherein said cleaning section is selected from the group consisting of a squeegee section, a brush section, a sponge section and a scouring pad section.  
     
     
         19 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein a said protruding edge of said at least one elongated squeegee member is contoured with raised and depressed surfaces.  
     
     
         20 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated squeegee walls of said at least one elongated squeegee member is contoured with raised and depressed surfaces.  
     
     
         21 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said squeegee portion further comprises apertures positioned substantially on said front surface of said squeegee support member through which a cleaning medium is capable of passing through.  
     
     
         22 . A squeegee cleaning device comprising a squeegee cleaning portion, said squeegee cleaning portion comprising: 
 a) a squeegee support member comprising a front surface, an edge surface and a back surface;    b) at least one elongated squeegee member with elongated squeegee walls extending in a plane of directions, wherein said elongated squeegee member has thickness in directions normal to said plane of directions and said elongated squeegee member protrudes with a protruding squeegee edge from said squeegee support in at least one protruding direction.    
     
     
         23 . The cleaning device of  claim 22 , wherein at least one elongated squeegee member is selected form the group consisting of a spiraling squeegee member and a continuos squeegee member.  
     
     
         24 . A squeegee cleaning device comprising a squeegee cleaning portion, said squeegee cleaning portion comprising: 
 a) a squeegee support member comprising a front surface, an edge surface and a back surface;    b) a set of elongated squeegee members wherein each squeegee member within said set has elongated squeegee walls extending in a plane of directions, wherein said each squeegee member has thickness in directions normal to said plane of directions and said each squeegee member protrudes with protruding squeegee edges from said squeegee support in at least one protruding direction.    
     
     
         25 . The cleaning device of  claim 24 , wherein said set of elongated squeegee members comprises at least one substantially continuos squeegee member.