Compact system and method for cleaning a window or another smooth surface

A cleaning system for cleaning window glass or another smooth surface with a liquid medium, said system comprising:

• a first reservoir for containing a liquid medium for cleaning a surface;
• a second reservoir for holding spent liquid medium collected from the surface being cleaned;
• a first conduit network joined in flow communication to the first reservoir through which the liquid medium is conducted from the first reservoir and dispensed onto the surface to be cleaned;
• a second conduit network joined in flow communication with the second reservoir through which the spent liquid medium is conducted from the surface to the second reservoir for collection;
• a battery-operated delivery pump connected in-line with the first conduit network for pumping the liquid medium from the first reservoir to the surface to be cleaned;
• a battery-operated vacuum pump connected in-line with the second conduit network for effecting the draw of the spent liquid medium from the surface and the transport of the spent liquid medium to the second reservoir;
• a wand adapted to be held by a hand of a user and having a head portion provided with a first face through which the liquid medium is dispensed from the first reservoir onto the surface to be cleaned and a second face through which the spent liquid medium is drawn from the surface;
• control means including at least one switch associated with the wand to permit the user to control the operation of the delivery pump for dispensing the liquid medium through the first face of the wand head portion onto the surface to be cleaned or to control the operation of the vacuum pump for drawing the spent liquid medium from the surface;
• and
• a backpack frame upon which the first reservoir, the second reservoir, the delivery pump, and the vacuum pump are mounted so that the reservoirs and pumps can be carried upon the back of a user during a cleaning operation performed with the system.

A method for cleaning window glass or another smooth surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a system comprising:
• a) a first reservoir for containing a liquid medium for cleaning a surface;
• b) a second reservoir for holding spent liquid medium drawn from the surface being cleaned;
• c) a first conduit network joined in flow communication to the first reservoir through which liquid medium is dispensed from the first reservoir onto a surface to be cleaned;
• d) a second conduit network joined in flow communication with the second reservoir through which spent liquid medium is conducted to the second reservoir for collection;
• e) means connected to the first conduit network and to the second conduit network for dispensing liquid medium from the first reservoir onto the surface to be cleaned and for drawing spent liquid medium from the surface for delivery to the second reservoir;
• f) a wand adapted to be held by a hand of a user and having a head portion provided with a first face through which the liquid medium is dispensed onto the surface to be cleaned and a second face through which the spent liquid medium is drawn from the surface;
• and
• h) control means including at least one switch associated with the wand to permit the user to initiate the dispensing of the liquid medium through the first face of the wand head portion onto the surface to be cleaned or the drawing of spent liquid medium from the surface;
• positioning the first face of the wand adjacent the surface to be cleaned;
• dispensing an amount of the liquid medium from the first reservoir through the first face onto the surface to be cleaned;
• positioning the second face of the wand adjacent the surface;
• and
• drawing spent liquid medium from the surface and conducting the spent liquid medium to the second reservoir for collection.