Cleaning implements for watercraft

Abstract

An implement ( 10 ) for cleaning at least partially submerged parts of watercraft, the cleaning implement comprising a cleaning head ( 1 ) connectable to an elongate support ( 40 ), wherein the cleaning head has a greater tran/sverse dimension than the elongate support. The cleaning implement is provided with a deflection surface extending between the cleaning head and the elongate support, such that impingement of an obstacle on the deflection surface, during longitudinal movement of the cleaning head, in use, would cause the cleaning head to be deflected transversely until clear of the obstacle. The cleaning head may have at least one air chamber ( 11 ), the air chamber having an open lower end and being adapted to be submerged, in use, such that air is retained within the at least one air chamber to provide buoyancy during use.

1 . An implement for cleaning at least partially submerged parts of watercraft, the cleaning implement comprising:
 a cleaning head connectable to an elongate support, the cleaning head having a greater transverse dimension than the elongate support;   a deflection surface extending between the cleaning head and the elongate support, such that impingement of an obstacle on the deflection surface, during longitudinal movement of the cleaning head, in use, would cause the cleaning head to be deflected transversely until clear of the obstacle.   
     
     
         2 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head has one or more air chambers to provide buoyancy that urges the cleaning head against submerged parts of the watercraft. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head includes one or more air chambers having an open lower end and configured to be submerged, such that air is retained within the at least one air chamber to provide buoyancy. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface extends between an upper surface of the elongate support and an upwardly facing surface of the cleaning head so as to define a surface of the cleaning head that faces upwardly during use. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the upwardly facing deflection surface extends substantially to an end of the cleaning implement defined by the cleaning head. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning implement as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface is a side surface of the cleaning head and extends from a surface of the elongate support to a transverse extremity of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the deflection surface is provided on both sides of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cleaning head has buoyancy, and the side deflection surface extends as close to the transverse extremity of the cleaning implement as is necessary for the cleaning head to be clear of the obstacle, in a transverse direction, when the deflection surface disengages the obstacle during use. 
     
     
         15 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface is at least partially curved and includes a concave portion, at least adjacent a surface of the elongate support. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each curved portion of the deflection surface has a radius of curvature that is greater than a thickness of the elongate support in a plane of curvature. 
     
     
         19 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface is defined by an entire face of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         20 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the deflection surface is defined, at least partially, by one or more ridges that are raised from a surface of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         21 . A cleaning implement according to  claim 1  comprising:
 a water permeable cleaning member depending outwardly from the cleaning head, the cleaning member comprising an upper cleaning surface and a front cleaning surface each being angled so as to meet at an intermediate edge, wherein the front cleaning surface is curved in a convex manner in a rearward direction. 
 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the front cleaning surface is curved through a swept angle of between 60 and 120°. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An implement for cleaning submerged parts of a watercraft comprising:
 a cleaning head having at least one air chamber, the air chamber having an open lower end and configured to be submerged such that air is retained within the at least one air chamber to provide buoyancy during use.   
     
     
         26 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the cleaning head is configured to be submerged in a first orientation in which air is retained within the at least one air chamber to provide buoyancy during use, and a second orientation in which less air is retained within the at least one air chamber, and wherein the cleaning head is arranged with the open lower end of the at least one air chamber being orientated substantially horizontally in the first orientation, such that air is retained within the at least one air chamber when the cleaning head is submerged, and being orientated at a sufficient angle to horizontal, in the second orientation, such that less air is retained within the at least one air chamber when the cleaning head is submerged. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one air chamber is defined by a recess in a lower surface of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the at least one air chamber has a depth that is at least 60% of a length or a width of the at least one air chamber. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the cleaning head includes a plurality of air chambers. 
     
     
         33 . A cleaning implement as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of air chambers are arranged such that a greater quantity of air is retained at an end of the cleaning head at which a cleaning surface is provided, relative to an end of the cleaning head that is connected to a support. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)