U.S. patent application number 11/066544 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for multi-purpose mitt.
Invention is credited to Thomas Jay Miller, Donna M. O'Reilly.
Application Number | 20060191092 11/066544 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36930720 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191092 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Reilly; Donna M. ; et
al. |
August 31, 2006 |
Multi-purpose mitt
Abstract
A multi-purpose mitt includes microfiber loop chiffons sewn to
the front and back portions of a cotton base so that, in general,
adjacent edges of the microfiber loop chiffons are approximately
0.5 inch apart from one another. The multi-purpose mitt provides
increased microfiber loop exposure to an area to be cleaned, and
therefore greater capability for accumulating and retaining larger
quantities of dirt, dust, pollen and other contaminants. At the
same time, the multi-purpose mitt of the present invention with the
above described configuration is configured with a microfiber loop
density that provides a high degree of water absorbency.
Inventors: |
O'Reilly; Donna M.;
(Thousand Oaks, CA) ; Miller; Thomas Jay; (Castle
Rock, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David G. Posz;Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg, L.L.P.
1200 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
36930720 |
Appl. No.: |
11/066544 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/227 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/18 20060101
A47L013/18 |
Claims
1. A multi-purpose mitt, comprising: a cotton base including a
front portion and a back portion; microfiber loop chiffons sewn to
the front and back portions of the cotton base so that, in general,
adjacent edges of the microfiber loop chiffons are approximately
0.5 inch apart from one another.
2. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 1, wherein the microfiber loop
chiffons are each approximately 2 inches wide and are sewn down a
center thereof to the front and back portions of the cotton base so
that microfiber loops extend outwardly from each side thereof.
3. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 1, wherein microfiber loops on
the microfiber loop chiffons are each approximately 1 inch in
length.
4. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 3, wherein each of the
microfiber loops is formed from two twisted pieces of microfiber
yarn each being approximately 0.08 inch in diameter.
5. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 1, wherein the microfiber loop
chiffons are approximately 2 inches wide.
6. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 1, wherein the microfiber loop
chiffons comprise: a first continuous microfiber loop chiffon sewn
to the front portion of the cotton base in a generally
inwardly-spiraling pattern beginning at an outer edge of the front
portion of the cotton base and ending at a central portion thereof;
and a second continuous microfiber loop chiffon sewn to the back
portion of the cotton base in a generally inwardly-spiraling
pattern beginning at an outer edge of the back portion of the
cotton base and ending at a central portion thereof.
7. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 6, wherein adjacent chiffon
edges of both the first and second continuous microfiber loop
chiffons, except for respective first and second terminating end
portions located at the respective central portions of the front
and back portions of the cotton base, are approximately 0.5 inch
apart from one another.
8. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 7, wherein adjacent chiffon
edges of both the first and second continuous microfiber loop
chiffons, except for sewing transition portions where a direction
of chiffon stitching abruptly changes, are approximately 0.5 inch
apart from one another.
9. The multi-purpose mitt of claim 1, wherein the microfiber loop
chiffons are sewn to the front and back portions of the cotton base
to provide a microfiber loop density of about 12-16 loops per inch
of the microfiber loop chiffons.
10. A wash and cleaning apparatus, comprising: a cotton mitt
including front and back portions; a first microfiber loop chiffon
sewn to the front portion of the cotton mitt in an
inwardly-spiraling pattern to cover the front portion of the cotton
mitt in microfiber loops; and a second microfiber loop chiffon sewn
to the back portion of the cotton mitt in an inwardly-spiraling
pattern to cover the back portion of the cotton mitt in the
microfiber loops, wherein, in general, adjacent edges of the first
microfiber loop chiffon are approximately 0.5 inches apart from one
another, and, in general, adjacent edges of the second microfiber
loop chiffon are approximately 0.5 inches apart from one
another.
11. The wash and cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first
and second microfiber loop chiffons are each approximately 2 inches
wide and are respectively sewn down a center thereof to the front
and the back portions of the cotton mitt so that microfiber loops
extend outwardly from each side thereof.
12. The wash and cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein microfiber
loops on the first and second microfiber loop chiffons are each
approximately 1 inch in length.
13. The wash and cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first
and second microfiber loop chiffons are each approximately 2 inches
wide.
14. The wash and cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first
and second microfiber loop chiffons are respectively sewn to the
front and the back portions of the cotton mitt to provide a
microfiber loop density of about 12-16 loops per inch of the first
and second microfiber loop chiffons on the front and back portions
of the cotton mitt.
15. A wash and cleaning apparatus, comprising: a cotton mitt
including front and back portions; and a microfiber loop chiffon
sewn to one of the front and back portions of the cotton mitt in an
inwardly-spiraling pattern to cover the one of the front and back
portions of the cotton mitt in microfiber loops, wherein in
general, adjacent edges of the microfiber loop chiffon are
approximately 0.5 inches apart from one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to wash and cleaning mitts,
and specifically to a multi-purpose mitt covered with microfiber
loops in a manner that maximizes the number of microfiber loops
that can be exposed for contact with a surface to be cleaned, and
in a manner that also maximizes the absorbency of the mitt.
[0002] Wash mitts are commonly used for cleaning exterior surfaces
such as the bodies of cars and trucks. A user can dip such a wash
mitt into a soapy solution so that the mitt absorbs some of the
solution, and can then apply the solution via the mitt to portions
of a surface to be cleaned. However, conventional wash mitts are
made of material, such as terry cloth or cotton, that limits the
mitts in both their durability and absorbency.
[0003] Cleaning mitts for cleaning, polishing and/or dusting dry
surfaces may also be made from the above mentioned materials.
However, if the material on the outer surface of such a mitt is too
dense, the amount of the material that comes into contact with the
surface area being cleaned is limited. To the contrary, if the
material is not dense enough, the mitt is limited in the amount of
contaminants that it can remove from the surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention overcomes the above limitations by
providing a multi-purpose mitt including a cotton base and
microfiber loop chiffons sewn to the front and back of the cotton
base so that, in general, adjacent edges of the microfiber loop
chiffons are approximately 0.5 inch apart from one another.
[0005] More specifically, the microfiber loop chiffons are each
approximately 2 inches wide and are sewn down a center thereof to
the front and the back of the cotton base so that microfiber loops
extend outwardly from each side thereof, and the microfiber loops,
which are formed from two pieces of twisted microfiber yarn, are
each approximately 1 inch in length.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
microfiber loop chiffons include a first continuous microfiber loop
chiffon sewn to the front of the cotton base in a generally
inwardly-spiraling pattern beginning at an outer edge of the front
of the cotton base and ending at a central portion thereof, and a
second continuous microfiber loop chiffon sewn to the back of the
cotton base in a generally inwardly-spiraling pattern beginning at
an outer edge of the back panel and ending at a central portion
thereof. Regarding spacing, adjacent chiffon edges of both the
first and second continuous microfiber loop chiffons, except for
respective first and second terminating end portions located at the
respective central portions of the front and back of the cotton
base, and for sewing transition portions of the mitt where the
direction of the chiffon stitching abruptly changes, are
approximately 0.5 inch apart from one another.
[0007] The multi-purpose mitt of the present invention with the
above described configuration provides increased microfiber loop
exposure to an area to be cleaned, and therefore greater capability
for accumulating and retaining larger quantities of dirt, dust,
pollen and other contaminants. At the same time, the multi-purpose
mitt of the present invention with the above described
configuration is configured with a microfiber loop density that
provides a high degree of water absorbency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views and which, together with the detailed description
below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification,
serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain
various principles and advantages all in accordance with the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a multi-purpose mitt
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a portion of exemplary microfiber yarn of the
type used to form the loops on the multi-purpose mitt in FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows two pieces of twisted microfiber yarn such as
the microfiber yarn shown in FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a chiffon of microfiber loops for attachment to
the multi-purpose mitt shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an inside-out elevation view of the multi-purpose
mitt of FIG. 1 showing the stitching pattern used to attach the
chiffon of microfiber loops shown in FIG. 4 to the multi-purpose
mitt.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The present invention will now be described in detail in
accordance with the drawings. Illustration and description of
components are omitted where not necessary for one skilled in the
art to understand the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a multi-purpose mitt (mitt) 10 according to one
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The mitt 10 includes
a cotton base 12 (FIG. 5) including a front portion 14 and a back
portion (not shown). The mitt 10 also includes a hand insertion
collar 16, and is covered on both of its front and back portions by
microfiber loops 18, which are each part of a microfiber loop
chiffon (chiffon), such as the chiffon 20 in FIG. 4, that is sewn
onto the front portion 14 and the back portion (not shown). It
should be understood that only the front portion 14 of the mitt 10
is shown for ease of illustration, and that the back portion, while
not shown, is essentially a mirror image of the front portion 14,
and includes a microfiber loop chiffon sewn thereto just as the
chiffon 20 is sewn to the front portion 14.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the chiffon 20 is formed by first
weaving two individual strands of microfiber yarn, such as the yarn
22 shown in FIG. 2, into a chenille thread, such as the chenille
thread 24 shown in FIG. 3. Each strand, which is approximately 0.2
cm, or approximately 0.08 inch, in diameter, is a blend of
polyidimide and polyester fibers. When the yarn strands are woven
into the chenille thread 24, gaps (not shown) are created within
the chenille thread 24 that provide the strands of yarn 22 with
greater water absorption capability than they would otherwise
normally have. The chenille thread 24 is input into a chiffon
machine (not shown) of the type well known in the art and is
stitched together in a known manner to produce the chiffon 20. As
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, while some of the
stitching performed by the chiffon machine must be cut to open the
microfiber loops 18, such manufacturing details are not relevant to
the scope of the present application and therefore will not be
discussed.
[0017] The resulting chiffon 20 is approximately 2 inches in width
or, according to one preferred embodiment, 2.08 inches in width,
with microfiber loops of approximately 1 inch or, according to the
aforementioned embodiment, 1.04 inches, extending from either side
of the chiffon 20 to define the chiffon width.
[0018] Chiffons such as the chiffon 20 are sewn to the front and
back portions of the cotton base 12 so that, in general, adjacent
chiffon edges on the front portion 14 of the mitt 10 are
approximately 0.5 inch apart from one another and adjacent chiffon
edges on the back portion (not shown) of the mitt 10 are
approximately 0.5 inch apart from one another. The chiffons are
each sewn down a center thereof in a double-stitching pattern to
the front and back portions of the cotton base 12 so that the
microfiber loops 18 extend outwardly from two sides thereof. The
approximately 0.5 inch spacing provides the mitt 10 with about 6-8
loops per side per inch of the chiffon, thereby resulting in a
microfiber loop density of between about 12-16 loops per inch of
the chiffon 20.
[0019] More specifically, the double-stitch stitching pattern 26 by
which the chiffons are sewn to the cotton base 12 are shown in the
inside-out view of the mitt 10 in FIG. 5, as well as the single
stitch stitching pattern 28 used to assemble the front and back
portions of the cotton base 12. Regarding the double-stitch
stitching pattern 26, a first continuous chiffon is sewn to the
front portion 14 of the cotton base 12 in a generally
inwardly-spiraling pattern beginning at an outer edge of the front
of the cotton base and ending at a central portion thereof.
Identically, a second continuous chiffon (not shown) is sewn to the
back portion (not shown) of the cotton base 12 in a generally
inwardly-spiraling pattern beginning at an outer edge of the back
portion (not shown) of the cotton base 12 and ending at a central
portion thereof.
[0020] As shown by the stitching pattern 26 on the front portion 14
in FIG. 5, adjacent chiffon edges of both the first and second
continuous chiffons are, in general, approximately 0.5 inch apart
from one another. The adjacent chiffon edges are defined as being
"in general" approximately 0.5 inch apart, as such spacing holds
true generally except for at terminating end portions, such as the
terminating end portion 30 in FIG. 5, of the chiffons that are
located near the respective centers of the front and back portions
of the cotton base 12, and for sewing transition portions, such as
the sewing transition portions 32 in FIG. 5, where the direction of
the stitching pattern 26 abruptly changes.
[0021] The approximately 0.5 inch spacing between adjacent chiffon
edges enables the multi-purpose mitt 10 to provide increased
microfiber loop exposure to an area to be cleaned, and therefore
greater capability for accumulating and retaining larger quantities
of dirt, dust, pollen and other contaminants. At the same time, the
multi-purpose mitt of the present invention with the above
described configuration is configured with a microfiber loop
density that provides a high degree of water absorbency. These
characteristics result because the chiffon spacing provides the
correct balance between microfiber loop density and microfiber loop
exposure to a surface to be cleaned.
[0022] It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that
certain aspects of the multi-purpose mitt of the present invention
may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, chiffon widths and spacing between adjacent chiffon
edges when chiffons are sewn onto the mitt may vary slightly
depending upon the skill of the sewing machine operator and the
quality/condition of the sewing machine itself. Also, the chiffons
on the front and back portions of the mitt need not be single
continuous chiffons, and may also be sewn onto the mitt in any
manner that enables the above discussed spacing and loop density to
be achieved. In addition, a chiffon or chiffons may alternatively
only be sewn onto one side of the multi-purpose mitt.
[0023] The disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use
various embodiments in accordance with the invention and is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light
of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described
to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention
and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill
in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, and
which fall within the scope of the invention as determined by the
appended claims, and all equivalents thereof, when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and
equitably entitled.
* * * * *