U.S. patent application number 10/992209 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for scrubbing pad.
Invention is credited to Po-Chang Chen.
Application Number | 20060107481 10/992209 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459581 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060107481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Po-Chang |
May 25, 2006 |
Scrubbing pad
Abstract
A scrubbing pad formed of porous curled nylon strands. Portion
of the strands are stitched transversely to form weft and the
remaining strands are stitched longitudinally to form warp. In one
embodiment in the warp two adjacent strands are formed as a unit,
two units are separated by longitudinal strands, and a distance
therebetween allows another unit opposite the sandwiched single
strand to stitch. An uneven texture on one surface of the scrubbing
pad is adapted to increase bubble creation capability. Further, a
wavy texture on the other surface is adapted to increase rubbing
capability. The scrubbing pad has advantages of decreasing the
amount of dishwashing liquid being used, effectively removing dirt
adhered on kitchenware, preventing microorganism from growing, and
being not subject to decomposition.
Inventors: |
Chen; Po-Chang; (Ershuei
Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
36459581 |
Appl. No.: |
10/992209 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/229.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D03D 15/56 20210101;
D10B 2331/02 20130101; D04B 1/10 20130101; D04B 1/14 20130101; D03D
1/0017 20130101; D10B 2401/063 20130101; D10B 2401/061 20130101;
D10B 2403/02 20130101; D10B 2503/00 20130101; D03D 15/497 20210101;
A47L 17/08 20130101; D10B 2401/10 20130101; D03D 15/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/229.11 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20060101
A47L013/16 |
Claims
1. A scrubbing pad comprising a plurality of nylon strands formed
by curling so as to be porous, the scrubbing pad having a top
surface and a bottom surface, a portion of the strands being
stitched transversely to form weft and the remaining strands being
stitched longitudinally across the weft to form warp wherein in the
warp a plurality of adjacent strands are formed as a unit, two
units are separated by at least one longitudinal strand, and a
distance therebetween is provided with another unit opposite a
sandwiched single strand being stitched such that a stitch pattern
is formed wherein a first texture on the top surface of the
scrubbing pad is uneven for increasing bubble creation capability,
and a second texture on the bottom surface thereof is wavy for
increasing rubbing capability.
2. The scrubbing pad of claim 1, wherein the wavy surface is
folded, and the scrubbing pad having four sides, at least three
sides of which are sewed together.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to kitchenware cleaning
devices and more particularly to a scrubbing pad formed of strands
of nylon with wavy texture and being adapted to have a desired
porosity and roughness.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional scrubbing pad for cleaning kitchenware is
shown in FIG. 1. The scrubbing pad is formed of layers of hard
glass fiber and has a sufficient thickness. The scrubbing pad is
adapted to clean kitchenware when absorbing water mixed with
dishwashing liquid. Initially, the scrubbing pad is somewhat tough,
less elastic, and not porous. As such, fewer bubbles are created by
rubbing the scrubbing pad in the water. That is, a user has to pour
more dishwashing liquid into water for using the scrubbing pad to
clean bowls or the like. This is quite time consuming. Moreover,
dishwashing liquid may remain on the clean kitchenware if
sufficient water is not used to wash it. Also, scrape may be
created on a stainless pot, pan, or the like when it is rubbed by
the scrubbing pad. Further, a ceramic may lose its brightness after
subjecting to such rubbing for a relatively long period of time. In
addition, the scrubbing pad tends to become soft and lose its
roughness after a relatively long period of time of use. As a
result, the scrubbing pad gradually loses its cleaning capability
as time passes. To the worse, it may decompose to leave its debris
in the kitchenware after cleaning. This is not hygienic since the
debris may mix with food put into a dish, pot, or the like.
[0003] Another prior scrubbing pad for cleaning kitchenware is
shown in FIG. 2. The scrubbing pad is formed of sponge and thus has
a sufficient softness and is adapted to easily create bubbles. Such
scrubbing pad is able to preserve smoothness and brightness of a
ceramic, dish, pot, or the like being cleaned. However, it tends to
quick decompose and thus may rapidly grow microorganism therein
since sponge is subject to absorb water and tends to break.
Particularly, its roughness is not sufficient to effectively clean
dirt firmly adhered on a pot, dish, or the like. This is not
desired. Hence, a need for improvement exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
scrubbing pad comprising a plurality of nylon strands formed by
curling so as to be porous and elastic wherein a first texture on a
surface of the scrubbing pad is uneven for increasing bubble
creation capability and thus decreasing the amount of dishwashing
liquid being used in one cleaning.
[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
scrubbing pad having a wavy texture on the surface so as to
effectively remove dirt adhered on kitchenware. Moreover nylon is
not a water absorbing material for preventing microorganism from
growing in the scrubbing pad. This can prolong the useful life of
the scrubbing pad. Also, the scrubbing pad does not tend to
decompose to leave its debris in the kitchenware after
cleaning.
[0006] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional scrubbing pad
formed of hard glass fiber;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional
scrubbing pad formed of sponge;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of a preferred
embodiment of scrubbing pad according to the invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG.
3;
[0011] FIG. 5 a top plan view for schematically depicting a stitch
pattern of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically depicting the stitch
pattern shown in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the scrubbing
pad shown in FIG. 3; and
[0014] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the scrubbing pad shown in
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, there is shown a scrubbing pad 10
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The scrubbing pad 10 is comprised of a plurality of
nylon strands 11 formed by curling so that the strand 11 can have a
desired porosity and elasticity. About one half of the strands 11
are then stitched transversely to form weft 13 and the remaining
strands 11 are stitched longitudinally across the weft 13 to form
warp 12 in which in the warp 12 two adjacent strands 11 are formed
as a unit, two units are separated by a longitudinal strand 11, and
a distance therebetween is adapted to allow another unit opposite
the sandwiched single strand 11 to stitch (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This
forms a stitch pattern of the scrubbing pad 10 having an uneven
texture 14 on its top surface similar to the surface of a pineapple
(see FIG. 4) and a wavy texture 15 on its bottom surface (see FIG.
7). The surface having the wavy, three-dimensional, rough texture
15 is further folded. Then three open sides thereof are sewed to
form the scrubbing pad 10 of the invention (see FIG. 8).
[0016] Alternatively, a cylindrical member is formed by folding the
above half-finished product. Next, sew both open ends of the
cylinder to form a scrubbing member. Still alternatively, the
strands 11 in the weft 13 are across the strands 11 in the warp 12
to form a wavy stitch pattern. As such, the formed scrubbing pad
has a more obvious texture 14 on its top surface and a wavy texture
15 on its bottom surface with increased roughness. Still
alternatively, a stitch pattern different from the above is made
possible depending on applications as long as a sufficient
roughness of the scrubbing pad is made.
[0017] The benefits of the invention include:
[0018] (a) The scrubbing pad 10 is comprised of a plurality of
nylon strands 11 formed by curling so that the scrubbing pad 10 can
have a desired porosity and elasticity. This enables the scrubbing
pad 10 to create many bubbles once being submerged in water mixed
with dishwashing liquid. As a result, the number of kitchenware can
be cleaned in one cleaning is increased.
[0019] (b) The wavy texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad
10 is an excellent rubbing surface due to its sufficient roughness.
The scrubbing pad 10 is subject to rot due to the durability of
nylon. That is, the scrubbing pad 10 does not tend to decompose to
leave its debris in the kitchenware after cleaning. Moreover, nylon
is not a water absorbing material. As a result, it is difficult for
microorganism to grow in the scrubbing pad 10 as long as the
scrubbing pad 10 is placed at a well ventilated area after
cleaning.
[0020] (c) The surface roughness of the scrubbing pad 10 can be
altered depending on its stitch pattern. For example, the wavy
texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad 10 can be made less
obvious (i.e., more soft) by suitably arranging the stitch pattern
formed by warp 12 and weft 13 if the pad 10 is used as one for
cleaning the body (i.e., avoiding hurting the skin). In another
application of using the scrubbing pad 10 as a kitchenware cleaning
device, the wavy texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad 10
cab be made more obvious (i.e., more rough) by suitably arranging
the stitch pattern formed by warp 12 and weft 13. Moreover, there
is no need to worry that the rough scrubbing pad 10 may scrape a
ceramic kitchenware or metal pot since nylon is full of elasticity.
As an end, smoothness and brightness of the kitchenware cleaned by
the scrubbing pad 10 still can be preserved.
[0021] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *