Strip Curtain Cleaning System and Method

Abstract

A strip curtain cleaning system which permits an operator to easily and quickly clean both sides of hanging curtain strips in a single operation using a fabric cover disposed in sock-like covering relation to a two-armed frame defining a tortuous path gap for receipt of one or more curtain strips. The device facilitates cleaning both faces of individual strip elements simultaneously. Different covers may be used for different curtain types and environments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning system adapted to clean pliable hanging curtain strips, the cleaning system comprising:
 a frame adapted for tilting manipulation by a user, the frame comprising a base, a first elongated arm projecting away from the base to a first free distal end, and a second elongated arm projecting away from the base to a second free distal end, wherein the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm each comprise a lobed face oriented in substantially parallel spaced relation to one another to define a substantially continuous gap between a lobed face of the first elongated arm and a lobed face of the second elongated arm, the frame further comprising a connection element adapted to operatively attach the frame to an elongated handle adapted for manipulation by a user; and   a fabric cover adapted to cover the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm such that the fabric cover will define a cleaning surface disposed in covering relation to the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm and projecting towards the gap, wherein the frame is adapted to receive a hanging curtain strip within the gap with the fabric cover in place and wherein the frame may be tilted to define a tortuous sliding pathway between the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm to simultaneously clean two opposing faces of the curtain strip as the frame is moved along a length dimension of the curtain strip during a cleaning operation.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric cover is a one-piece, foldable fabric cover. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fabric cover comprises a pair of pocket openings adapted for insertion of the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the fabric cover comprises a fabric formed from woven or knitted yarns. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the yarns comprise polyester fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the yarns are microfiber yarns comprising filaments having a denier rating of less than about  1  denier per filament. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frame is metal. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frame is stainless steel. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated arm is longer than the second elongated arm. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of the first arm and a second arm are substantially planar to define flat outer surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connection element comprises a pair of opposing spring-loaded buttons adapted to engage acceptance openings in the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the gap with the fabric cover in place is in the range of about 1.2 to about 4.5 times the thickness of the curtain strip. 
     
     
         13 . A cleaning system adapted to clean pliable hanging curtain strips, the cleaning system comprising:
 a frame adapted for tilting manipulation by a user, the frame comprising a base, a first elongated arm projecting away from the base to a first free distal end, a second elongated arm projecting away from the base to a second free distal end, wherein the first elongated arm is longer than the second elongated arm and wherein the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm each comprise a lobed face oriented in substantially parallel spaced relation to one another to define a substantially continuous gap between a lobed face of the first elongated arm and a lobed face of the second elongated arm, the frame further comprising a connection element adapted to operatively attach the frame to an elongated handle adapted for manipulation by a user; and   a one-piece foldable fabric cover comprising a pair of pockets adapted for insertion of the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm such that upon insertion of the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm into the pockets, the fabric cover will define a cleaning surface disposed in covering relation to the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm and projecting towards the gap, and a portion of the fabric cover between the pockets defines a folded curved zone disposed between the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm, wherein the frame is adapted to receive a hanging curtain strip within the gap with the fabric cover in place and wherein the frame may be tilted to define a tortuous sliding pathway between the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm to simultaneously clean two opposing faces of the curtain strip as the frame is moved along a length dimension of the curtain strip during a cleaning operation.   
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the fabric cover comprises a fabric formed from woven or knitted yarns. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the yarns comprise polyester fibers. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the yarns are microfiber yarns comprising filaments having a denier rating of less than about 1 denier per filament. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the frame is metal. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein outer surfaces of the first arm and a second arm are substantially planar to define flat outer surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the gap with the fabric cover in place is in the range of about 1.2 to about 4.5 times the thickness of the curtain strip.