Magnetic window cleaning apparatus with improved cleaning material and locator

Claim 2

The combination of claim 2 wherein the sheet of cleaning material comprises a layer of absorbent paper having chips of polyethylene on the window-facing side of the paper; the polyethylene chips rising above the surface of the paper a distance approximating the thickness of the paper, and the polyethylene chips being about twice the weight of the paper alone but covering substantially less than the entire surface of the paper so that the paper still serves its absorption function.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 3 wherein the window-facing side of each unit is at least partly rubber to provide a high-friction surface and so that the cleaning material will having a higher coefficient between the paper and rubber surface than between the polyethylene and glass, whereby the cleaning material will adhere to the rubber surface without additional fastening means as the unit is moved over the window.

Claim 4

A locator for use with a magnetic window cleaning apparatus of the type having a pair of units adapted to be positioned on either side of a window opposite each other, the locator adapted for holding one unit against the window in the absence of the other unit, and comprising: a flat body of ferromagnetic material adapted to be positioned contiguous to the window; an extension at one side of the body and spaced laterally therefrom so that it is spaced from the window when the body is contiguous to the window; and means on the window-facing side of the extension for temporarily attaching to the window to mount the locator on the window; whereby when the locator is attached to one side of the window, one unit can be positioned opposite the locator and held in position by magnetically attracting the locator body.

Claim 5

A locator as set forth in claim 5 wherein the attaching means is a suction cup, and including reinforcing means on the extension to stiffen the extension and inhibit bending thereof when the suction cup is detached from the window.

Claim 6

A locator as set forth in claim 6 including a plurality of ribs on the body, extending outwardly at the side of the locator opposite the window to prevent the other unit from contacting the locator body.

Claim 7

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus of the type having a pair of units adapted to be positioned on either side of a window opposite each other, each unit having a window-facing side and magnet means for attracting the opposite unit, one unit being a master unit adapted to be moved over one side of the window and the other unit being a slave unit adapted to follow the master unit, and a sheet of cleaning material overlying the window-facing side of each unit, wherein the improvement comprises; the window-facing side of each unit being substantially flat over its entire area, the window-facing side being formed at least partly of rubber to provide a high-friction surface for engaging the cleaning material so that the cleaning material will adhere to the rubber surface without additional fastening means as the unit is moved over the window, and the magnet means of at least one unit being formed of rubber impregnated magnetic material to thereby provide the rubber at the window-facing side.

Claim 8

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the rubber at the window-facing side of the other unit is provided by a thin layer of rubber overlying the magnet means.

Claim 9

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the sheet of cleaning material comprises a layer of absorbent paper having plastic material on the window-facing side of the paper, the plastic material being discontinuous so that areas of the paper are exposed for its absorption function, and the plastic material providing a reduced friction between the cleaning material and the window.

Claim 10

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the discontinuous layer of plastic material is formed from polyethylene chips.

Claim 11

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the polyethylene chips rise above the surface of the paper a distance approximating the thickness of the paper, and the polyethylene chips being about twice the weight of the paper alone but covering substantially less than the entire surface of the paper so that the paper still serves its absorption function.

Claim 12

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the discontinuous layer of plastic material is formed from plastic chips of about a 35 mesh size.

Claim 13

A magnetic window cleaning apparatus of the type having a pair of units adapted to be positioned on either side of a window opposite each other, each unit having a window-facing side and magnet means for attracting the opposite unit, one unit being a master unit adapted to be moved over one side of the window and the other unit being a slave unit adapted to follow the master unit, and a sheet of cleaning material overlying the window-facing side of at least the slave unit, wherein the improvement comprises: a locator comprising a plate of ferromagnetic material adapted to be positIoned on one side of the window opposite the slave unit to be magnetically attracted by the slave unit and to hold it in position against the window in the absence of the master unit; the locator being removable after the master unit has been brought into juxta-position so that its magnet means attracts the slave unit and holds it in position against the window; whereby the locator can be used to position the slave unit and then removed when the master unit is brought into juxtaposition so that the units can be used for remote-control cleaning of the slave unit side of the window; the locator having a flat body and a plurality of ribs on the body; and the ribs extending outwardly at the side of the locator opposite the window to prevent the master unit from contacting the body.