초록 ▼

A stowable device for ejecting fluids onto the underside and wheel regions of a vehicle includes a base member joined at one end to a handle member such that the angle between the members can be controllably varied and retained at a desired angle. A source of fluid is coupled through flexible tubing

A stowable device for ejecting fluids onto the underside and wheel regions of a vehicle includes a base member joined at one end to a handle member such that the angle between the members can be controllably varied and retained at a desired angle. A source of fluid is coupled through flexible tubing terminating in a fluid jet disposed adjacent the base member distal end. The desired angle is determined by a length of cord extending from base to handle member. The exposed cord length is user-controllable by lockably spooling excess cord length into a rotatable spool reservoir attached to the handle member. User-adjustment of the desired angle also determined handle height above ground. Alternatively, the desired angle (and handle height above ground) is user-determined by adjusting effective length of a rigid rod.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A stowable device to subject the underside of a vehicle to a pressurized flow of fluid coupleable to a handle portion of the device, comprising: a hollow base member having a first distal end and a second distal end; a fluid jet disposed adjacent said first distal end of said

What is claimed is: 1. A stowable device to subject the underside of a vehicle to a pressurized flow of fluid coupleable to a handle portion of the device, comprising: a hollow base member having a first distal end and a second distal end; a fluid jet disposed adjacent said first distal end of said base member and defining an outlet orifice through which said fluid may be forced; a hollow handle member having a first distal end, and having a second distal end rotatably coupled to said second distal end of said hollow base member to define a user-adjustable angle φ therebetween, said hollow handle member defining a length L between said first distal end and said second distal end of said hollow handle member, said hollow base member and said hollow handle member being in fluid communication with each other such that a source of pressurized fluid coupled to said first distal end of said hollow handle member causes said fluid to exit said fluid jet; a spoolable reservoir attached to said hollow handle member; and a cord having a first end attached to said spoolable reservoir, a second end secured to an attachment on said hollow base member, and a total cord length therebetween equal to a first length plus a second length, said first length of said cord residing within said spoolable reservoir and said second length of said cord extending from said spoolable reservoir to said attachment on said hollow base member; said second length of cord defining a user-variable longest side of a triangle whose other sides are a fixed length of said hollow member from said second distal end of said hollow member to location of said spoolable reservoir on said hollow member, and a fixed length of said hollow base member from said second distal end of said hollow base member to attachment of said second end of said cord to said hollow base member; wherein rotation of said spoolable reservoir changes said second length of said triangle to set a maximum value of said angle φ>90° to set height E of said first distal end of said hollow handle member relative to said second distal end of said hollow handle member, where E is proportional to L−sin(φ). 2. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said spoolable reservoir is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow handle member. 3. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said spoolable reservoir has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said spoolable reservoir has a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said hollow handle member, (b) said spoolable reservoir is mounted on said hollow handle member for coaxial rotation thereabout, and (c) said spoolable reservoir includes a mechanism to lockably retain said first length of said cord within said spoolable reservoir. 4. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said spoolable reservoir includes a perimeter surface defining at least one cord-retaining sized castellation; wherein said second length of said cord exits said spoolable reservoir through a one said castellation. 5. The stowable device of claim 4, wherein one said castellation defines a circular-shaped distal region sized to pass a diameter of said cord. 6. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said cord is a spoolable material selected from a group consisting of nylon cord, cotton cord, plastic cord, chain, and wire. 7. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said fluid jet has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said fluid jet is user-removable, (b) said fluid jot is user-adjustable to vary size of said outlet orifice, (c) said fluid jet is user-adjustable to vary exit shape of said outlet orifice, (d) said fluid jet includes a rotatable switch enabling selection of a desired outlet orifice, and (e) said fluid jet includes a slide switch enabling selection of a desired outlet orifice. 8. The stowable device of claim 1, wherein said second distal end of said hollow handle member and said second distal end of said hollow base member are flexibly joined to each other with a lateral (side-to-side) offset. 9. The stowable device of claim 8, wherein a lower region of said hollow handle member is defined with a bend such that said first distal end of said hollow handle member has substantially zero lateral offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said base member. 10. The stowable device of claim 1, further including at least one wheel attached to said hollow base member in a manner selected from a group consisting of (a) said wheel is attached without a lateral (side-to-side) offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, (b) said wheel is attached with a lateral (side-to-side) offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, and (c) attachment of said wheel includes means for protecting said wheel from intrusion by debris. 11. A stowable device to subject the underside of a vehicle to a pressurized flow of fluid coupleable to a handle portion of the device, comprising: a hollow base member having a first distal end and a second distal end; a fluid jet disposed adjacent said first distal end of said hollow base member and defining an outlet orifice through which said fluid may be forced; a hollow handle member having a first distal end, and having a second distal end, and a length L therebetween, said second distal end rotatably coupled to said second distal end of said hollow base member to define an adjustable angle φ therebetween, said hollow base member and said hollow handle member being in fluid communication with each other such that a source of pressurized fluid coupled to said second distal end of said hollow handle member causes said fluid to exit said fluid jet; means for adjusting at least said adjustable angle φ, said means for adjusting disposed between a location intermediate said first distal end and said second distal end of said hollow base member to define a first fixed length, and between a location intermediate said first distal end and said second distal end of said hollow handle member to define a second fixed length, said means for adjusting defining a physical triangle having a fixed first side comprising said first fixed length, having a fixed second side comprising said second fixed length, and having a longest flexible side, opposite said angle φ, defining a user-adjustable length third side; wherein adjustment of said means for adjusting sets a maximum magnitude of said adjustable angle φ>90° and distributes forces stably between said hollow base member and said hollow handle member. 12. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting includes a mechanism to lockably fix an adjusted magnitude of said angle φ. 13. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting includes as said longest adjustable side an adjustable length of cord, an effective length of said cord altering magnitude of said angle φ. 14. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting includes a spoolable reservoir containing a length of cord, an effective length of said cord defining said longest adjustable side and altering magnitude of said angle φ. 15. The stowable device of claim 14, wherein said spoolable reservoir has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said spoolable reservoir is rotatable so as to alter said effective length of said cord, (b) said spoolable reservoir is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow handle member, (c) said spoolable reservoir is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, (d) said spoolable reservoir has a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said hollow handle member, (e) said spoolable reservoir has a rotation axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, (f) said spoolable reservoir is mounted on said hollow handle member for coaxial rotation thereabout, and (g) said spoolable reservoir is mounted on said hollow base member for coaxial rotation thereabout. 16. The stowable device of claim 14, wherein said spoolable reservoir includes a perimeter surface defining at least one cord-retaining sized castellation; wherein an adjusted effective length of said cord exits said spoolable reservoir through one said castellation. 17. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein said cord is a spoolable material selected from a group consisting of nylon cord, cotton cord, plastic cord, chain, and wire. 18. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein said fluid jet has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said fluid jet is user-removable, (b) said fluid jet is user-adjustable to vary size of said outlet orifice, (c) said fluid Jet is user-adjustable to vary exit shape of said outlet orifice, (d) said fluid jet includes a rotatable switch enabling selection of a desired outlet orifice, and (e) said fluid jet includes a slide switch enabling selection of a desired outlet orifice. 19. The stowable device of claim 11, wherein configuration of said stowable device has at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of (a) said second distal end of said hollow handle member and said second distal end of said hollow base member are flexibly joined to each other with a lateral (side-to-side) offset, and (b) a region of said hollow handle member is defined with a bend such that said first distal end of said hollow handle member has substantially zero lateral offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said base member. 20. The stowable device of claim 11, further including at least one wheel attached to said hollow base member in a manner selected from a group consisting of (a) said wheel is attached without a lateral (side-to-side) offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, (b) said wheel is attached with a lateral (side-to-side) offset relative to a longitudinal axis of said hollow base member, and (c) attachment of said wheel includes means for protecting said wheel from intrusion by debris.