U.S. patent application number 10/200996 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-29 for portable apparatus for cleaning articles.
Invention is credited to Ayala, Joe.
Application Number | 20040016071 10/200996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30769591 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040016071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ayala, Joe |
January 29, 2004 |
Portable apparatus for cleaning articles
Abstract
A portable apparatus for cleaning articles comprises a flexible
waterproof pouch with a flexible absorbent lining and a watertight
closure. A workpiece article to be cleaned is inserted into the
pouch. External manipulation of the pouch causes the lining to
abrade the workpiece, thus cleaning it. Soap solution, detergent
solution, or cleaning fluid poured onto and absorbed by the
absorbent lining enhances cleaning. The absorbent lining may have
an abrasive surface which further enhances cleaning. The apparatus
when not in use is flat and flexible and may be conveniently
carried in a user's pocket. The watertight closure prevents escape
of the liquid absorbed in the absorbent lining onto the user's
clothing or person.
Inventors: |
Ayala, Joe; (Hasbroock Hts.,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GERALD J. CHCHONY
285 AYCRIGG AVE.
16E
PASSAIC
NJ
07055
US
|
Family ID: |
30769591 |
Appl. No.: |
10/200996 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/104.93 ;
15/210.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 47/04 20130101;
A63B 57/60 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/104.93 ;
15/210.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/17 |
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for cleaning a workpiece, comprising a flexible
waterproof pouch having: an openable watertight closure; and an
absorbent lining arranged to form a pouchlike cavity for receiving
a workpiece through the openable watertight closure, whereby
inserting a workpiece through the openable watertight closure into
the pouchlike cavity and externally manipulating the waterproof
pouch causes abrasion of the workpiece by the flexible lining,
whereby cleaning of the workpiece is effected.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a liquid contained
by absorption in the absorbent lining.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the liquid is at
least one of water, soap, detergent, soap solution, detergent
solution, and solvent.
4. The flexible waterproof pouch according to claim 1 wherein the
absorbent lining includes a permeable layer of abrasive material
disposed on a surface adjoining the pouchlike cavity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to apparatus for
cleaning articles, and, more specifically, to a highly portable,
pocketable apparatus for cleaning articles.
[0002] A person on an itinerary away from his home may often have
need to clean articles that he is using while on his itinerary. For
example, a person who wears eyeglasses may have the need arise to
clean them. A golfer often has the need to remove grass stains,
scuff marks, mud, clumps of earth, and the like from a golf ball
during his round.
[0003] It is a simple matter to carry tissues or a cloth which may,
to a limited extent, be used to clean articles. A person who wears
eyeglasses may carry commercial lens tissues for cleaning them. A
golfer may keep a cloth rag in his golf bag for cleaning golf
balls. Many people carry handkerchiefs which are often pressed into
service for cleaning articles.
[0004] However, the cleaning of articles is often better
accomplished with the use of soaps, detergents, cleaning fluids, or
at least with water. It is infeasible or inconvenient to carry a
tissue or rag impregnated with such liquids. If a rag is
impregnated with such a liquid at the time of use, it is infeasible
or inconvenient to retain the rag after that in its wet
condition.
[0005] Apparatus is known in the art for containing a wet cleaning
means while not permitting wetness to escape. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,829,086 to Billek teaches a golf-ball cleaner in which
the ball is placed in a permeable container which in turn is placed
in a rigid container of fluid. The rigid container is then closed
and shaken, causing the golf ball to abrade against the inside of
the permeable container. This abrasion in the presence of the fluid
effects cleaning of the ball. The closed container may be
transported without escape of wetness.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,386 to McDonald teaches a pair of
joinable hemispheres lined with absorbent material having a central
void in which a golf ball may be accommodated. The absorbent
material is wetted with a fluid, a golf ball is inserted, and the
hemispheres are joined. Rotation of one hemisphere relative to the
other results in abrasion of the wet absorbent material against the
ball surface, which effects cleaning of the ball. The joined
spheres may be transported without escape of wetness.
[0007] Unfortunately, the past methods and apparatus, while
transportable in luggage such as a golf bag, are somewhat bulky and
thus not conveniently transportable on a user's person. And, the
past methods and apparatus are limited in the range of articles
they can clean.
[0008] As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that can
clean a wide variety of articles and that is conveniently
transportable on a user's person, such as in a user's pocket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides apparatus for cleaning a
workpiece, comprising a flexible waterproof pouch having an
openable watertight closure and an absorbent lining arranged to
form a pouchlike cavity for receiving a workpiece through the
openable watertight closure whereby inserting a workpiece through
the openable watertight closure into the pouchlike cavity and
externally manipulating the waterproof pouch causes abrasion of the
workpiece by the flexible lining, whereby cleaning of the workpiece
is effected.
[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of an apparatus according to the
present invention while it is in a closed condition;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of an apparatus according to the
present invention while it is in an open condition;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according
to the present invention while it is in an open condition, along
the section A-A identified in FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 5 depicts typical use of the apparatus according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0017] The present invention provides an apparatus into which
articles may be inserted for wet cleaning, the apparatus being
externally dry, and conveniently portable, even easily pocketable.
Referring to FIG. 1, cleaning apparatus 10 may comprise a pouch
100. Pouch 100 may be of a flexible waterproof material, such as
vinyl. Integral to pouch 100 may be closure 110. Closure 110 may be
any of the flexible watertight openable closures known in the art,
such as a ZipLoc.TM. closure.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of cleaning apparatus 10 with pouch
100 and closure 110 in their closed positions. Pouch 100 may be
relatively flat to minimize the space it occupies while not in use,
thus enhancing its portability.
[0019] FIG. 3 is another side view of cleaning apparatus 10. Since
pouch 100 and closure 110 may be flexible, cleaning apparatus 10
may be opened to accommodate the insertion of a workpiece article
to be cleaned, and is depicted in FIG. 3 in such opened position.
FIG. 4 depicts cleaning apparatus 10 from the same viewpoint as in
FIG. 3, and in cross-section along section line AA identified in
FIG. 1. The watertight closure 110 employed in the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 4 comprises raised land 114 which fits into groove
112, although those skilled in the art realize that this is but one
of many types of watertight closure that are available. FIG. 4
shows absorbent material 120. Absorbent material 120 may be
flexible, so that the entire cleaning apparatus 10 is flexible and
may thus comfortably be carried on a user's person, such as in his
pocket. If convenient, cleaning apparatus 10 may be folded to fit
better in a pocket.
[0020] Absorbent material 120 is arranged within pouch 100 so as to
form a pouchlike cavity 130 open to closure 110 for containing an
article to be cleaned. A liquid (not shown) to aid in cleaning may
be poured onto absorbent lining 120, and may be any of soap
solution, detergent solution, solvent, alcohol, or plain water.
While closure 110 is in closed position the liquid may not escape
and thus may not wet the hands or clothing of a user transporting
apparatus 10.
[0021] When an article is to be cleaned, closure 110 may be opened
and the article may be inserted within pouch 100 and within cavity
130 formed in absorbent lining 120, and closure 110 may be closed.
Pouch 100 may then be externally manipulated by the user's hands as
illustrated in FIG. 5 to abrade the inner surface 122 of absorbent
lining 120 against surfaces of the article, which effects cleaning
of the article, particularly in the presence of liquid which may be
contained in absorbent material 120. Manipulation may also effect
positioning of the article within pouch 100 so that all portions of
the article are cleaned.
[0022] In alternative embodiments of the invention, inner surface
122 may be of an abrasive material, such as ScotchBrite.TM., bonded
to absorbent material 120. Such abrasive material enhances cleaning
of the article. In other alternative embodiments, a separate sheet
of abrasive material (not shown in the drawings) may be inserted
within cavity 130 formed in absorbent material 120, and may be
arranged to form a pouchlike cavity for containing the workpiece.
The separate sheet may be permeable so as to pass liquid contained
in absorbent lining 120.
[0023] The present invention generally provides a highly portable
apparatus for cleaning articles. As can be appreciated by those
skilled in the art, the present invention provides an improved
apparatus that can clean a wide variety of articles and that is
conveniently transportable on a user's person, such as in a user's
pocket. It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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