GB2458928A - Portable vehicle washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable apparatus 1 for washing an article, preferably a vehicle. The apparatus 1 consists of a housing 2 having a water reservoir 7, a low pressure pump 13 to deliver water from the reservoir 7 to an inlet of a hose 9. The hose 9 is at least partially located or locatable within the housing 7. Power connection means, e.g. a plug, to power the pump is also provided. Preferably the pump 13 is one which will operate upon connection to a low power source, e.g. a 12V car battery. The hose 9 may be provided with a nozzle or lance and a trigger. The hose 9 may be provided with retraction means to urge it into a retracted condition within the housing 2. The housing 2 may be a holdall bag (fig 5 ref 21). The reservoir 7 may have a first compartment 7a filled with a water detergent, and a second compartment 7b filled with clean water.

Description

WASHING 2458928 The present invention relates to washing and, in particular to portable washing apparatus, for example such apparatus which may be used to wash a vehicle.

It is well known that people wish to use hoses to wash articles. For example, a homeowner may plumb a hose into a tap to wash their vehicle, drive, windows and so on.

It is also known that hoses can be cumbersome to manoeuvre and that some people may not have a suitable tap or other outlet to deliver water to the hose. Moreover, mains supplied water is not always available.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide portable washing apparatus which can, preferably, be moved easily and which can deliver water to a site of use. There is a further need to provide washing apparatus which is readily storable.

In order to ensure that the apparatus satisfies the requirements for portability and ease of movement it is preferred that the apparatus is usable without mains electricity and without connection to an external source of water for use. 2.

In order to ensure that the apparatus is readily storable it may have onboard facilities to store hoses and electrical connections inboard whilst being light enough to be lifted to an elevated position.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides apparatus for washing an article, the apparatus comprising a housing having a water reservoir, a low pressure pump to deliver water from the reservoir to an inlet of a hose, which hose being at least partially located or locatable within the housing and power connection means to power the pump.

Preferably, the pump is one which will operate upon connection to a 12V source of electricity, for example an automobile battery.

The hose may be provided, at a distal end with a nozzle or lance. The nozzle or lance may comprise a trigger to allow egress of water from the end of the hose.

The power connection means may be at least partially located or locatable within the housing.

The hose and/or power connection means may each be provided with retraction means to encourage or be able to cause, e.g. to urge or be able to urge, the hose and/or power connection means into a retracted condition within the housing.

The or each retraction means may comprise a handle for manual retraction of the hose and/or power connection means.

The or each retraction means may comprise a spring and additionally or alternatively may comprise a core about which the hose and/or power connection means may coil or otherwise extend when in an at least partially retracted condition.

The housing may be mounted on wheels.

The reservoir may be removable from the housing.

The reservoir may have a plurality of separate compartments. The hose may be arranged to pass water from any of the compartments. The apparatus may be provided with a valve, switch or other means to facilitate selective delivery from the or any one of the plurality of compartments.

The housing may take the form of a holdall or other container.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of washing an article, the method comprising at least partially filling a reservoir located or locatable within a housing with water, connecting a low pressure pump located within the housing to a power source and propelling water from the reservoir out of a hose using the low pressure pump.

The method may comprise the initial step of at least partially filling the reservoir with water and placing the reservoir within or on the housing.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in an alternative configuration; Figure 5 is a perspective view of components of a further embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic of part of the apparatus of Figure 5.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown apparatus 1 according to the invention.

The apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2 mounted for movement on a pair of wheels 3 at either end of an axle 4 (see Figure 2). The axle 4 is located across the rear of the housing 2 at or towards the base 5 thereof.

Extending from the top 6 of the housing 2, above the wheels 4, is a handle 6 for manoeuvring the apparatus 1.

S

The housing 2 is of rectangular, e.g. square, form and has an open top in which is located a reservoir 7, having two compartments 7a, 7b divided by a wall 7c, extending parallel to the axle 4, i.e. running in a direction from one side of the housing 2 to the other.

Located within the housing 2 is a core 8 connected to which, and wound about which, is a hose 9 which terminates, at a distal end, in a nozzle 10.

The core 8 is mounted at either end to the internal surface of the housing 2 for rotation about its principal axis. Extending from one side of the housing 2 is a turn handle 11 which is operably connected to the core 8 such that turning the handle 11 causes the core 8 to rotate and thereby causes rotation of the hose 9.

The nozzle 10 is retained in place on the housing 2 by a pair of resilient members 12 which grasp the nozzle 10.

Referring now also to Figure 3, there is further located within the housing 2 a low pressure pump 13. The pump 13 is operably connected to an outlet (not shown) in the base of the reservoir 7 via conduits 14 and a valve 15 which is operable to facilitate connection between one or other of the compartments 7a, 7b. The pump 13 is provided with a power lead 16 which terminates in a jack 17 for connection to a cigarette lighter of an automobile (not shown). The power lead 16 may be would around a mandrel 18 provided on the handle 6 for storage purposes.

In use, the reservoir 7 is removed from the housing 2 and filled with water. In a preferred embodiment, one compartment 7a will be filled with a water/detergent mix and the other compartment 7b will be filled with clean water. The reservoir 7 is then located within the housing 2. The apparatus 1 is then moved to a site of use using the handle 6 to manoeuvre the housing 2 on the wheels 3. The compartments may have a combined volume of up to 10 gallons, although other volumes are envisaged.

The valve 15 is configured so as to connect the first compartment 7a to the pump 13, so as to allow water/detergent to egress from the nozzle 10.

The jack 17 is connected to the cigarette lighter of a vehicle to energise the pump 13 and force water through the hose 9 and from the nozzle 10.

The hose 9 will have been wound from the core 8 and the lead 16 will have been wound from the mandrel 18 so as to allow the user to manoeuvre the apparatus 1, and especially the nozzle 10 of the hose 9 to the desired location.

Once the first compartment 7a has been exhausted the pump 13 may automatically stop, or the valve 15 may automatically switch to the second compartment 7b. An audible or visible alarm may indicate the change of status.

In either case, connection of the pump 13 to the second compartment 7b (which may also be changed manually) will allow the user to rinse the article being washed of water/detergent mix.

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Once washing has finished, the jack 17 may be removed from the cigarette lighter and the lead 16 re-wound on to the mandrel 18. The handle 11 may be turned to cause rotation of the core 8 and retraction fo the hose 9. The nozzle may be located within the pair of resilient members 12 for storage purposes. The apparatus 1 may then be wheeled using the handle 6 and wheels 3 to a storage location.

Because, the pump 13 is a low pressure (and preferably low voltage) variety it is light. Also, because the reservoir 7 is preferably removable, the low weight article may be moved independently of the heavy load of water. The provision of internal or on board storage of the hose 9 and lead 16 means that the apparatus 1 is tidy and there is no need to have trailing wires or hoses. The handle 6 may be demountable for ease of storage.

As there is no need for mains water or mains electricity the apparatus 1 is portable and may be moved easily and safely to a point of use. The wheels 3 located towards the rear of the housing 2 facilitate man oeuvra b i I ity.

In the disclosed embodiment the housing 2 is preferably square, thus allowing the reservoir 7 to be square. Figure 4 shows a plan view where the reservoir has been located such that the dividing wall 7c runs from front to back of the apparatus 1. The connection to the pump 13 will be flexible enough to allow either configuration.

The reservoir 7 is provided with a plug (not shown) to allow it to be filled remotely from the housing 2. Of course, it is not essential that the reservoir 7 is removable from the housing 2, it may be permanently affixed in which case it will be fillable in situ. In either case, the reservoir 7 may be provided with a lid (not shown), which may be close fitting, to prevent spills or to help to maintain the temperature of water held therewithin.

Turning now to Figure 5, there is shown apparatus 20 comprising a holdall 21 having a pair of carry handles 22. Extending from one end of the holdall 21 is a power cable 23 and from the other end is a hose 24. The hose 24 terminates in a nozzle 25, preferably having a hand grip 26 and a trigger 27.

As can be seen from Figure 6, located within the holdall 21 is a reservoir 27 having a first compartment 27a, a second compartment 27b and being divided by a wall 27c. The reservoir 27 is sealed with a fluid-tight lid 27d.

Located within the reservoir 27 is a tube 28 having located therein a pump 29 and conduit means (not shown). The pump 29 is connectable to a power source via the power cable 23 and is connected to the hose 24 via a conduit.

Operation of the apparatus 20 may occur in a similar fashion to that described above in relation to inter a/ia Figure 1.

The holdall 21 may have a compartment 30 for storage of accessories, e.g. cleaning materials or other nozzles. It may be possible to open the compartment 30 and pull excess hose 24 and/or power lead 23 thereinto to ease storage and transportation.

The holdall 21 may be configured for wearing on the back such as like a rucksack.

As will be appreciated, the apparatus 1, 20 of the invention are fully portable and easily manoeuvred whilst being able to be stored easily in a tidy fashion. The apparatus 1, 20 is light and may be used at a location remote from a source of mains water or electricity. Therefore, the apparatus 1, 20 may be used, for example, to wash sports equipment before transport in a vehicle, or a pet after a walk so as to prevent dirtying of a vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the use to which the apparatus may be put are manifiold. It will be further understood that other accessories may be used with the apparatus, e.g. different nozzles or cleaning products. The apparatus 1, 20 may have ancillary fittings to allow mains power supply or mains water supply.

Whilst the apparatus has been described in relation to the dispensing of water, other fluids may be similarly dispensed. For example, the apparatus may be used to dispense disinfectants, de-icing chemicals and other liquids or solutions. Clearly, the dispensing of materials such as disinfectants may be beneficial when visiting, say farms or other potentially infected sites so as to prevent the spread or risk of spread of disease. Similarly, de-icing operations may be carried out on vehicles.

In other embodiments, the apparatus may comprise in-line mixing means so as to entrain or dissolve a second species in a fluid flow, for example a disinfectant, sunfactant or so on in a fluid such as water. 1\

Claims (20)

1. Claims 1. Apparatus for washing an article, the apparatus comprising a housing having a water reservoir, a low pressure pump to deliver water from the reservoir to an inlet of a hose, which hose being at least partially located or locatable within the housing and power connection means to power the pump.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the pump is one which will operate upon connection to a low power, e.g. 12V, source of electricity, for example an automobile battery.
3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hose is provided, at a distal end with a nozzle or lance.
4. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the nozzle or lance comprises a trigger to allow egress of water from the end of the hose.
5. 5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the power connection means is at least partially located or locatable within or on the housing.
6. 6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the power connection means is provided with retraction means to encourage or be able to cause, e.g. to urge or be able to urge, the power connection means into a retracted condition within the housing.
7. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the hose is provided with retraction means to encourage or be able to cause, e.g. to urge or be able to urge, the hose into a retracted condition within the housing.
8. 8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each retraction means comprise a handle for manual retraction of the hose and/or power connection means.
9. 9. Apparatus according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the or each retraction means comprises a spring.
10. 10.Apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the retraction means comprises a core about which the hose and/or power connection means may coil or otherwise extend when in an at least partially retracted condition.
11. 11.Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the housing is mounted on wheels.
12. 12.Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the reservoir is removable from the housing. t3
13. 13.Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the reservoir has a plurality of separate compartments.
14. 14.Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the hose is able to selectively pass water from any of the compartments.
15. 15.Apparatus according to Claim 13 or 14, comprising a valve, switch or other means to facilitate selective delivery from the or any one of the plurality of compartments.
16. 16.Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the housing is a holdall bag.
17. 17.A method of washing an article, the method comprising at least partially filling a reservoir located or locatable within a housing with water, connecting a low pressure pump located within the housing to a power source and propelling water from the reservoir out of a hose using the low pressure pump.
18. 18.A method according to Claim 17, further comprising the initial step of at least partially filling the reservoir with water and placing the reservoir within or on the housing. i4
19. 19.Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 and 6.
20. 20.A method as hereinbefore described.