APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLEANING BOTH SIDES OF WINDOW GLASSES Technical Field The present invention relates to a window glass cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of window glasses at the same time, and more particularly, to an automatic window glass cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of window glasses, which can be tightly attached to both sides of a window glass under the magnetic force of magnets so that rotating plates and impellers having the magnets and brushes are rotated under the actuation of a motor inside and outside the window glass ro clean the window glass while feeding cleaning solution so as to ensure simple operation as well as prevent leakage of waste water.

Background Art As well known, because it is dangerous to clean the outside of window glasses in multi-storied buildings such as apartments and offices owning to the risk of accidents such as fall, these works are widely carried out at the present by special service providers in which workers clean the outside of window glasses as supported by ropes outside buildings.

That is, a worker supported on a lift outside a building suspended by a rope tied on the roof of the building cleans window glasses of the building with a cleaning tool and a cleaning solution basket with cleaning solution adhered to a sponge or rubber blade attached to an end of the cleaning tool while shifting the rope to the right and left. However, even specialized workers may be at risk in this situation and a window glass cleaning operation performed by a service provider may cause massive cost.

In the window glass cleaning operation as above, a worker generally cleans window glasses with a cleaner mounted with the sponge or rubber blade by using wrist force. dangerous for the worker to clean a high region of a window glass wiry this cleaner. Since the worker performs the cleaning operation on his/her wrist force, the cleaner is not - jppled with uniform force to frequently detach the sponge or rubber blade from the cleaner. Further, the sponge blade of the cleaner is to be frequently washed with water.

In order to solve the foregoing difficulties, there have been developed up to the present various forms of window cleaning apparatus which have a pair of housings including magnets and sponge members containing cleaning solution absorbed therein so that a user can clean both sides of a window glass indoors. According to these magnet-type window glass cleaners, the sponge members in the respective housings are strongly attached to the inside and outside of the window glass as opposed to each other. As the user shifts the inside housing in this position, the outside housing moves along with the inside housing under the magnetic force so that the sponge members attached to the inside and outside of the window glass can clean the inside and outside of the window glass simultaneously.

However, this type of window glass cleaners may pollute downstairs since excessive cleaning solution (or service water) fed to the window glass cleaner flows on the outside the window glass. Furthermore, since the cleaning operation is carried out by shifting the sponge members tightly attached to the inside and outside of the window glass, the window glass is not cleaned clearly until the user repeatedly moves the inside housing, thereby causing excessive labor to the user.

Disclosure of Invention Therefore the present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the conventional window cleaners us-ng magnets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic window glass cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of window glasses, which can be used simply without e :-: ^ssive labor o a user, and in which impellers are rotated under the actuation of a motor to introduce cleaning solution ar. : discharge waste water as well as to rotate rotating plates brushes to automatically clean a window glass.

According to an aspect of the invention for realizing uhe above objects, there is provided an apparatus for automatically cleaning both sides of window glasses, including : the inside and outside housings each having a predetermined inner space, a packing mounted along the periphery of an opening end of each housing so as to be in contact with the window glass, the packing having the magnets inserted therein ; shafts rotatably mounted within the inside and outside housings, respectively; impellers rotatably mounted on the shafts; a motor provided outside the inside housing for rotating the shaft in the inside housing; circular rotating plates mounted on the shafts to be rotated under the actuation of the motor, and placed adjacent to a window glass; a plurality of magnets mounted on the rotating plates; a plurality of bearings mounted on the rotating plates, each bearing having a ball rotated in tight contact with the surface of the window glass; a pair of opposed brushes mounted on the rotating plates to be in close contact with the surface of the window glass, and adapted to perform reciprocating mevement; and inlet and outlet hoses connected to the and outside housings and mounted with check valves therein for

introducing cleaning solution into the inside and outside housings therethrough and discharging waste water from the inside and outside housings therethrough.

According to the present invention, within the housings contacting the both sides of the window glass under force of the magnets, the impellers are rotated jnder che actuation of the motor to introduce cleaning sçl ;. lon into the inside and outside housings and discharge waste water from the inside and outside housings and to rotate ehe rotating plates with the brushes to automatically clean the window glass, so that the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus of the invention can be used simply without excessive labor of the user while preventing leakage of waste water.

Brief Description of Drawings The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent. from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an operating position of the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views illustrating installation positions of the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention ;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating a rotating plate of the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is cross sectional view illustrating an impeller of the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to ' ; he preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross sectional views illustrating positiois of brushes of the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view illustrating an installation position of unwoven cloths of an automatic window glass cleaning apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings 1 to 9.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically cleaning both sides of window glasses, which has a pair of inside and outside housings mounted with magnets and sponges, in which magnetic force allows the inside and outside housings to be in tight contact with both sides of the window glass so that the outside housing moves along with the inside housing co clean the both sides of the window. In the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus, each of the inside and outside housings 10 and l0a has a predetermined inner space, a packing 12 which is mounted along the periphery of an opening end of Cfich housing to be in tinht contact with the window glass and has the magnets 11 inserted therein.

The automatic window glass cleaning apparatus also has shafts 21 rotatably provided within the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a, respectively, impellers 20 rotatably mounted on the shafts 21, a motor 30 provided outside the inside housing 10 for rotating the shaft 21 in the inside housing 10, circular rotating plates 40 mounted on the shafts ~ eo be rotated under the actuation of the motor 30, and ciaced adjacent to a window glass 1, a plurality of magnets 41 mounted on the rotating plates 40, a plurality of bearings 42 mounted on the rotating plates 40, and each bearing having a ball 42a rotated in tight contact with the surface of the window glass 1, a pair of opposed brushes 50 mounted on the rotating plates 40 to be in close contact with the surface of the window glass 1, and adapted to perform reciprocating movement, and inlet and outlet hoses 60 and 61 connected to the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a and mounted with check valves therein, for introducing cleaning solution into the inside and outside housings therethrough and discharging waste water from the inside and outside housings therethrough.

The pair of inside and outside housings 10 and 10a are tightly contacted with the window glass 1 under the magnetic force of the magnets 11. The inside and outside housings 10 and 10a positioned inside and outside the window glass 1 are preferably circular shaped and made of light plastic. Each of the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a has a predetermined inner space, the packing 12 mounted along the periphery of the opening and the magnet 11 inserted into the packing 12.

The magnets 11 installed within the packings 12 of the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a are selected from those : ; ypes of strong magnetic force, and the packings 12 are made soft material such as synthetic resin for example urethane and tightly contacted to the surface of the window glass 1. As

consequence, when the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a are attached to the both sides of the window glass 1 under the magnetic force of the magnets 11, the packings 12 are tightly contacted to both surface of the window glass 1 so that inside spaces of the housings 10 and 10a are hermetically sealed.

The shafts 21 are mounted within the inside and outside housings 10 and lOa adjacent to inside central portions and -e windoii glass 1, and freely rotatable via bearings. The impellers 20 are mounted radially on the axes of the shafts 21 the housings 10 and 10a.

The motor 30 is mounted on the inside housing 10, which placed indoor, to rotate the shaft 21 mounted on the inside housing 10. The motor 30 is energized via AC power or DC power.

The circular rotating plates 40 are arranged on terminals of the shafts 21 on the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a adjacent to the window glass 1, mounted with the magnets 41, the bearings 42 and the brushes 50, and rotated under the actuation of the motor 30.

The rotating plates 40 are placed adjacent to the window glass 1, whereas the magnets 41 mounted on the rotating plates 40 are circular or rectangular shaped, selected from those types of strong magnetic force, and mounted symmetrically around the centers of the rotating plates 40 in positions adjacent to the window glass 1.

The bearings 42 in the rotating plates 40 having the global balls 42a mounted therein, which tightly contact the both sides of the window glass 1 and smoothly rotate thereon, so that the rotating plates 40 can be freely rotated and supported on the window glass 1 by the bearings 42.

The brushes 50 for cleaning the window glass 1 are mounted on the rotating plates 40 that are placed adjacent to the window glass 1 within the inside/outside housings 10 and

10a. The plurality of brushes 50 are mounted symmetrically on the respective rotating plates 40 and attached to rectangular base plates 51 which are placed between opposed brackets 52 projected from the rotating plates 40. A fastening piece 54 is formed on every pair of the brackets 52 and coupled with a fastening bolt 53, and a ball 53a formed at a terminal of the fastening bolt 53 is rotatably coupled with a corresponding base plate 51.

As a consequence, each brush 50 is moved toward or away from the window glass 1 by screwing/unscrewing the fastening belt 53 coupled with the fastening piece of the opposed brackets 52. That is, when the fastening bolt 53 is screwed ino or unscrewed from the fastening piece 54 formed in the brackets 52, the ball 53a formed in the terminal of the fastening bolt 53 rotates on the base plate 51 to pull or push the base plate 51 from/toward the window glass 1 to shift the brush 50 forward/backward. This as a result-shifts the brush 50 toward the window glass according to the worn condition of the brush 50 so that the brush 50 can effectively clean the window glass 1.

The inlet hoses 60 for introducing cleaning solution into the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a therethrough and the outlet hoses 61 discharging waste water from the inside and outside housings therethrough are connected to the inside and outside housings 10 and 10a. The inlet and outlet hoses 60 and 61 are mounted with check valves, and connected to cleaning solution containers and waste water containers, respectively. The inlet and outlet houses 60 and 61 are selected from those of light weight and small diameter.

The impellers 20 rotated under the actuation of the motor e : e !-t suction and discharge pressure into the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a so that cleaning solution

is introduced through the inlet hoses 60 and waste water is ciischarged through the outlet hoses 61. On the bottoms of the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a, diaphragms 62 are mounted vertically adjacent to the impellers 20, in which the outrez hoses 61 are mounted in a rotation direction of the impellers '0 about the diaphragms 62 and the inlet hoses 60 are in r. he opposite position.

In his arrangement, the diaphragms 62 block air, solution and waste water which are carried in the direction of the impellers 20 within the -oside housings 10 and 10a to drop the pressure in Lhose regions adjacent to the inlet hoses 60 about the diaphragms 62 creating suction pressure while enhancing the pressure in those regions adjacent to the outlet hoses 61 creating discharge pressure so that cleaning solution is introduced through the inlet hoses 60 and waste water is discharged through the outlet hoses 61.

Hereinafter the operation of the embodiment of the invention of the above structure will be described.

When the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a are attached to both sides of a window glass 1 under the magnetic force of the magnets, and then the motor 30 is powered, the impellers 20 and the rotating plates 40 installed in the inside housing 10 are rotated along with the rotation of the shafts 21 of the inside housing 10. At this time, the magnets 41 mounted on the rotating plates 40 of the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a are stuck together on the window glass 1 so that the rotating power of the rotating plate 40 in the inside housing 10 is transferred to the rotating plate 40 in the outside housing Oa thereby rotating the rotating plate 40, the shaft 21 and irripcll. ei-- 20 in the outside housing 1. 0a along with those in the inside housing 10.

The rotation of the impellers 20 under the actuation of -he motor 30 exert suction and discharge pressures into the ns de/outside housings 10 and 10a about the diaphragms 62 so that the inlet hoses 60 are opened to introduce cleaning solution into the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a and-he outlet hoses 61 are opened to discharge waste water. case, che packings 12 of the inside/outside housings 10 and lOa are tightly contacted to the window glass 1 to prevent - eakage of cleaning solution and waste water.

The rotating plates 40 with the brushes 50 are rotated according to the inflow of cleaning solution -ns cle/outside housings 10 and 10a so that the brushes 50 clean the window glass 1. When the inside housing 10 is moved slowly during the cleaning operation, the outside housing l0a is shifted along with the inside housing 10 under the magnetic force of the magnets 11 to clean the window glass 1. At this time, the packings 12 seai the inner spaces of the inside/outside housings 10 and 10a to prevent leakage of cleaning solution and waste water.

Referring to FIG. 9 illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention, unwoven cloths 50a are attached to base plates 51 mounted on the rotating plates 40 in replacement of the brushes 50. This embodiment has a drawback that the unwoven cloths 50a are replaced more frequently but an advantage that window glasses can be cleaned more clearly.

Industrial Applicability In Lhe present invention as set forth above, the impellers 20 are rotated under the actuation of the motor 30 to introduce cleaning solution into the inside and outside : i0usings and discharge waste water from the insidn and outside housings while rotating the rotating plates 40 with the

brushes 50 to automatically clean the window glass 1. In the meantime, a user slowly can move the inside housing 10 during the cleaning operation without excessive labor.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments and accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited thereto bur. wil] be defined by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can substitute, change or modify the embodiments into various forms without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In the present invention, the impellers are rotated under the actuation of the motor to introduce cleaning solution into the inside and outside housings and discharge waste water from the inside and outside housings while rotating the rotating plates with the brushes to automatically clean the window glass, so that the automatic window glass cleaning apparatus of the invention can be used simply. In the meantime, the user can slowly move the inside housing during the cleaning operation without excessive labor.