Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE AND COMPOSITION FOR CLEANING OPTICAL SURFACES
This invention relates to cleaning devices, particularly to
devices for cleaning optical surfaces and more specifically to
devices for cleaning camera lenses and optical surfaces of variety
of optical instruments. Furthermore, it relates to cleaning
substances used for cleaning optical surfaces and particularly to
dry substances used for cleaning optical surfaces.
Various articles and instruments having any kind of optical
surface like: cameras, lenses, binoculars, telescopes, viewfinders,
magnifiers, teodolites and the like, are subject to become dirty in
the course of their use. In order to maintain a good performance of
these articles, their optical surfaces have to be free from
fingerprints, acumulated dust, oily deposits, and greasy or rain
water residues. For this purpose said optical surfaces should be
thoroughly cleaned by using a proper cleaning methode, which would
be effective, efficient, and safe, particularly when it is applied
to clean more delicate, plastic or coated surfaces. In case of some
residues such as acids left by fingerprints on coated optical
surfaces an immediate cleaning is necessary in order to prevent a
permanent damage to the antireflection coatings.
The user of optical instruments and the like faces rather
limited choice of methodes and devices that can be used for cleaning
thair optical surfaces. Commonly used articles for cleaning these
optical surfaces are brush or blower. However, only dust, sand,or
other loose particles can be fairly effe~tively removed when using
these articles, thus limiting their function to preliminary
cleaning. The most widely used methode for cleaning optical surfaces
is apparently wiping methode applying various types of wiping means
like soft cloth, chamois, or tissue paper.
Variety of articles have been developed to hold or support
these wiping means like those described and illustrated in United
States Patent No. 2,055,314, dated Sept. 22, 1936, granted to
Seburger for an "Eyeglass Cleaner" or United States Patent No.
2,g58,015, dated Jan. 4, 1949, granted to McDonald for "Eyeglass
Wiping Device" or another United States Patent No. 2,880,441, dated
April 7, i959, granted to Rushing, Jr for "Cleaner For Optical
Lenses And The Like. n Also another United States Patent No.
4,480,352 dated Nov. 6, 1984, granted to Eggett for ~Apparatus For
Cleaning Lenses, Mirrors And The Like" and United States Patent No.
~,546,517 dated Oct. 15, 1985, granted to Caniglia for ~Wiping
Device. n
The means, for merely wiping off optical surfaces, have the
disadvantage of not quickly or effectively removing greasy residues
from the optical surface and furthermore are susceptible to
spreading oily spots ~over the cleaned surface causing flare and
diffusion of the image.
In some cases it may be helpful to ligtly breath on the
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surface causing fine condensation of moisture on it and than wipe it
off, but yet not satisfactory enough.
Of generally known methodes, apparently the most effective
are the ones that use various solvants in addition to using the
wiping means. When using these methodes, a solvant is first applied
on the surface being cleaned in order to disolve the residues, and
then it is absorbed by wiping means, during cleaning process.
These methodes, although more effective than the other ones
are more inconvenient and cumbersome since one has to handle several
articles simultaneously, like: wiping means, an article to be
cleaned and a bottle containing solvant. The bottle has to be
opened, the solvant has to be applied and wiped dry with wiping
means, than the bottle has to be tightly closed and the wiping means
is usually discarded. Also, the addition of solvants to the cleaning
procedure poses a risk of spillage spreading to unwanted places.
In the light of the above it seems that the consumer has to
choose between more convenient but less effective products like -
brush, blower or merely wiping means and less convenient but more
effective ones like combinations of solvants and wiping means.
In the liqht of recent environment protection awarness it
has to be stressed that most of the means used for cleaning optical
surfaces, whlch are currently available on the market, are usually
discarded after the use and contribute to environment pollutlon.
Considering the field of methodes and devices for cleaning optical
surfaces, it is desirable to have a product that will incorporate
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conveniency, effectiveness, and efficiency and at the same time will
be environmentally safe. It is essential, also, that it will be safe
for the user.
Our invention embodies products and a methode that better
meet these desirable features.
The present invention provides a device which is held by one
hand and driven in a quick wiping motion, conveniently and more
effectively cleaning an optical surface. Further, it provides a
special cleaning composition to be comprised and used with the
device. Along with the above, the use of the invention does not
leave waste materials to be discarded after the use and in this
aspect contributes to cleaner environment.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
cleaning composition for cleaning optical surfaces, comprising soot,
for the use with the device of the invention. In the same aspect, it
may further comprise hemihydrate of calcium sulphate to improve
cleaning capability of the composition. The ratio by weight of soot
to calcium sulphate may be 5~ to 95~ respectively. Still in the same
aspect, the composition of soot and calcium sulphate mixed together
may be aggregated by adding water to it and allowing it to set.
According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a device comprisinq a cleaning pad made of chamois, soft
cloth or the like, ~n elongated support body, and an adhesive
means. At least one end of the support body has a surface, and the
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cleaning pad is attached to this surface with adhesive means. The
support body may be made of rigid ~aterial and may have
predetermined concave configuration of the surface. In the same
aspect it may further comprise a handle for holding the support body
and a cap for protecting the cleaning pad and the support body. In
yet the same aspect the cleaning composition may be applied onto the
cleaning pad.
According to an additional aspect of the invention there is
provided a device comprising a cleaning pad made of chamois, soft
cloth or the like, an elongated support body made of resielent
material, and an adhesive means. At least one end of the support
body has a surface. The surface may have a concave configuration.
The pad is attached to the surface with adhesive means. The adhesive
means may be a pliable glue. In the same aspect the support body may
be cone shaped. The end portion of the support body, adjacent to the
surface, may be shaped like a bell. In still the same aspect, the
device may further comprise a handle for holding the support body.
The handle may be made of rigid material and may have a cylindrical
shape. The handle may have a conical bore
along its axis in one of its ends for attaching the support body to
the handle. The handle may have a cylindrical bore along its
axis in the end oposing the end having the conical bore. The
wall defining the cylindrical bore may have a slot extending
lengthwise. The handle may have a brush placed inside the
cylindrlcal bore. The brush may have a member attached to it. The
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member may protrude through the slot and may be used to slide the
brush out of the handle or into the handle. Further in the same
aspect of the invention, the device further comprises a cap for
protecting the cleaning pad and the support body. The cap may be a
hollow cylindrical body. One end of the cylindrical body is open and
the other one is closed, being the bottom of the cap. The aggregated
cleaning composition may be placed on the bottom of the cap.
Accordinq to a further aspect, the cap may be a hollow
cylindrical body. One end of the cylindrical body is open and the
other one is closed, being the bottom of the cap. The cap may
further comprise a biasing means placed on the bottom of the cap.
The biasing means may be a soft resilent material like urethane
foam. The cap may also comprise a cup shaped body made of rigid
material. It may be placed on the biasing means. The cavity of the
cup shaped body is facing the open end of the cap. The cup shaped
body contains the aggregated cleaning composition. Adhesive means
may be used to attach the biasing means to the bottom of the cap and
the cup shaped body to the biasing means.
The invention, as exemplified by preferred embodiment, is
described with reference to the drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device
of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the suuport body and the
cleaning pad of the device of the invention shown in
FIGURE 1.
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FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the device of the invention
shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is an exploded, sectional view of the cap of the
device of the invention shown in FIGURE l and in FIGURE 3;
and
FIGURE 5 is the exploded, top view of the brush of the
invention shown in FIGURE 1 and in FIGURE 3.
In the reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of
the invention illustrated, a device 10 comprises a handle 11,
support body 12, a cleaning pad 19, a cap 20, and a brush 30. The
handle 11 has cylindrical shape. One end of the handle 11 has a
conical bore along its axis and is forming a receptacle holding the
support body 12 which is attached to the handle 11 by inserting the
vertex portion of the support body 12 into the conical bore of the
handle 11 as it is shown in FIG.3. The opposite end of the handle 11
has a cylindrical bore 17 extending axially and forming a tubular
duct for the brush 30 as seen in FIG. 3. The wall 19 defining the
cylindrical bore 17 has a slot 16 to allow the member 33, attached
to the base portlon 31, to protrude outside the wall 19 and to
move along the slot 16, driving the brush 30 in and out of
the handle 11 as shown In FIG. 3 and in FIG. 1. The end
portlon of the handle 11, defininq the conical bore, is
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externally narrower forming a neck 15 in order to allow the
engagement of the handle 11 with the cap 20. The length and diameter
of the neck lS and the length and diameter of the engaging, interior
portion of the cap 20 are such that a reasonable amount of force is
required to mount the cap on the neck 15 of the handle 11 in order
to prevent the cap from accidently sliding off the neck 15. The edge
50, limiting the neck 15, and the edge 51 of the open end of the cap
are definite as seen in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4. This being done
so that the cap 20 may be stopped at exactly desired position
enabllng the necessary, predetermined contact between the
aggregated cleaning composition 24 and the cleaning pad 14. The
end portion of the handle 11, defining the cylindrical bore 17 is
narrower, forming a neck 18 in order to enable the cap 20 to be
fitted on the neck 18 when the device 10 is being used. The handle
11 may be made of rigid material like plastic, metal or the like.
The support body 12 has a conical shape and its base portion is
shaped like a bell as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3. The base
of the support body 12 has a concave configuration as seen in FIG.
2 and FIG. 3. The cleaning pad 19 is attached to the base of the
support body 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3. The means for
attaching the pad 14 to the support body 12 is a pliable glue 13 as
seen in FIG. 2. The~support body 12 is made of resilent material
like urethane, rubber or other suitable material. The cap 20
comprises a hollow cylindrical body 21, biaslng means 22, a cup
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shaped body 23 and aggregated cleaning composition 24 as seen in
FIG.3 and in FIG. 4. One end of the hollow cylindrical body 21 is
closed defining the bottom of the cap 20 as shown in FIG. 3 and in
FIG. 4. The biasing means 22 may have a cylindrical shape and is
placed on the bottom of the hollow cylindrical body 21. It is made
of a very soft resilent material like poliurethane foam or similar
material, and it is permanently attached to the bottom of the hollow
cylindrical body 21 with adhesive means. The cup shaped body 23 is
placed inside the hollow cylindrical body 21 on top of the biasing
means 22, and it is attached to the biasing means 22 with adhesive
means in such a position that the cavity 26 faces the open end of
the hollow cylindrical body 21 as seen in FIG. 3. The hollow
cylindrical body 21 and the cup shaped body 23 is made of rigid
material like plastic, metal or other suitable material. The outer
diameter of the cup shaped body 23 is slightly smaller than the
inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical body 21 as seen in FIG. 3,
allowing the cup shaped body 23 to slide axially inside the cap 20.
The aggregated cleaning composition 29 is placed inside the cup
shaped body 23 as seen in FIG. 3. The outer surface 25 of the
aggregated cleaning composition 24 ls convex shaped as seen in FIG.
3 and 9, in order to face the concave surface of the support body 12
as shown in FIG. 3. When the cap 20 is placed on the neck 15, the
aggregated cleaning composition 29 is contigueous to the cleaning
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pad 14 as seen in FIG. 3. The biasing means 22 exerts a slight
pressure on the cup shaped body 23 containing aggregated cleaning
composition 24. The contiguous contact between the aggregated
cleaning composition 24 and the cleaning pad 14 enables a small
amount of the cleaning composition 24 to be transfered onto the
cleaning pad 14. The brush 30 comprises a base portion 31, bristle
32 and a member 33. The base portion 31 of the brush 30 is
cylindrical. It has a bore which is vertical to the axis of the
brush 30 and is located in the proximity of the centre of the base
portion 31 as it is shown in FIG 3. The bore extends to such a depth
that the member 33 may be inserted and securly attached to the base
portion 31 as seen in FIG. 3. Adhesive means may be used to ensure
a permanent attachement. The bristle 32 is permanently fixed to the
base portion 31 of the brush 30. Also, the base portion 31 has
at least two grooves 34 positioned symetrically as it is shown in
FIG. 5. Leaf springs 35 are placed in the grooves 34 in order to
increase the friction between the inner surface of the wall 19
defining cylindrical bore 17 and the base portion 31 of the
brush 30. The widths of the grooves 34 are slightly longer
than the leaf springs 35 to allow them to spread lengthwise when
compressed. The springs 35 prevent the brush 30 from uncontrolled
sliding movement lnside the cylindrical bore 17.
The device 10 may be carried by the user when the cap 20 is
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placed on the neck 15 of the handle 11. In this position the cap 20
coveres the support body 12 and the cleaning pad 14 in order to
protect them from getting damaged and from getting dirty. This
position also enables the cleaning pad 14 to be contiguous with the
aggregated cleaning composition 24, in order to enable small amount
of the cleaning composition to be transfered onto the cleaning pad
14 each time the cap 20 is put on the neck 15. The brush 30 may be
positioned inside the cylindrical bore 1~ in order to protect it and
keep it clean. When an optical surface is to be cleaned the user may
slide the brush 30 out of the handle 11 using the member 33, brush
away dust and bigger particles such as sand, and then slide the
brush 30 back into the handle 11. Next, the user takes the cap 20
off the handle 11 uncovering the support body 12 and the cleaning
pad 14. The cap 20 may be placed on the neck 18 of the handle 11 for
convenience. Further, the user grips the device 10 as if gripping a
pen, places the cleaning pad 14 on an optical surface to be cleaned
and applies circular motion to the device 10, for wiping this
optical surface. Using the device in this manner will clean
fingerprint marks, water or greasy residues etc., off the optical
surface. Then, the cap 20 is placed back on the neck 15 of the
handle 11.
The support body of the device is capable to adapt its shape
to the shape of a convex or flat surface being cleaned. This self-
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adaptation capability is achieved by using resilent material to make
the support body o~, and by shaping its end portion like a bell,
wherein the base of this bell shaped support body has a concave
configuration. When the base of the support body is placed on a
convex nr flat surface, the edge of the base may lift up, matching
the surface of the support body to the suface being cleaned. Thus,
the cleaning pad attached to the base of the support body covers
nearly the same area when applied on different convex or flat
surfaces.
After a prolonged use, the cleaning capability of the
cleaning composition may decrease and the user may restore the
effectiveness of cleaning by rotating the cap 20, when placed on the
neck 15, against the handle 11 causing that more cleaning
composition is transfered onto the cleaning pad 14.
The cleaning composition 24 comprises essentially soot, that we
believe, has a new use of being a suitable material for cleanig
optical surfaces. Further, we believe that soot is actively
participating in cleaning greasy residues through the process of
adsorbtion. In practice such residues may be left by fingerprints,
rainwater, or air pollution. The cleaning composition may further
comprise hemihydrate of calcium sulphate 2CaSO~ H20. The addition
of hemihydrate of calcium sulphate to the cleaning composition
enables the mlxture of powdered ingredients to be aggregated into a
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lump. In this form, the aggregated cleaning composition can be
located in a specific place inside the cap. Also, the lump form of
the cleaning composition enables the cleaning pad to retain a
predetermined shape and to collect only a small portion of the
cleaning composition from the surface of the lump, each time the
cleaning pad gets in touch with the aggregated cleaning composition.
The addition of hemihydrate of calclum sulphate to the cleaning
compositlon also improves its cleaning capabilities. The aggregated
form of the cleaning composition is achieved by adding water to a
mixture of soot and hemihydrate of calcium sulphate, mixing it, and
allowing it to set.
The preffered ratio by weight of soot to hemihydrate of
calcium sulphate in the cleaning composition is about 5~ to 95
respectively. This amount of soot in the composition is sufficient
to perform the cleaning by adsorbtion. The amount of 95~ of
hemihydrate of calcium sulphate in the cleaning composition is
needed in order to maintain a solid lump of the cleaning
composition, which will retain its predetermined shape and will not
fall apart.
Both ingredients of the cleaning composition are very soft
materials and they have value between 1 and 2 according to the Mohs
scale of hardness. Essentially, these ingredients will not scratch
any harder material that has higher than 2 value of hardness on the
Mohs scale. To the best of our knowledge all optical elements and
optical coatings have higher than 2 value of hardness. For example
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one of commonly used antireflection coatings consists of magnesium
fluoride MgFz which has value of hardness on the Mohs scalP between
5 and 6.
In addition, both substances used in the cleaning composition
are non-reactive and will not chemically damage the surface being
cleaned. Along with that, these substances are non-toxic and
non-corrosive and are safe for the user.
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