U.S. patent application number 11/519535 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for mitt for removing lint and pet hair.
Invention is credited to Robert E. Huntington.
Application Number | 20070061986 11/519535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37882587 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070061986 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huntington; Robert E. |
March 22, 2007 |
Mitt for removing lint and pet hair
Abstract
A mitt having two different working surfaces and a multi-step
process for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like
from target surfaces using the inventive mitt, are provided. The
inventive mitt is made up of a hollow flexible body having a palm
side surface coextensive with a back or rear side surface, with an
open end for insertion of a hand into the hollow flexible body. The
hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface for
gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like on a
target surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for
picking up the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the
target surface.
Inventors: |
Huntington; Robert E.;
(Monson, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOLLAND & BONZAGNI, P.C.
171 DWIGHT ROAD, SUITE 302
LONGMEADOW
MA
01106-1700
US
|
Family ID: |
37882587 |
Appl. No.: |
11/519535 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60717130 |
Sep 14, 2005 |
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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 mitt for removing lint and pet hair from target surfaces such
as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a
hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a
back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand
or fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body,
wherein the hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface
for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target
surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up
the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface.
2. The mitt of claim 1, which further comprises a wrist member
located near the open end of the hollow flexible body for
releasably securing the mitt about a user's wrist upon placement of
the user's hand into the opening defined by the hollow flexible
body.
3. The mitt of claim 2, wherein the wrist member comprises an
expandable cuff circumferentially surrounding the open end of the
hollow flexible body.
4. The mitt of claim 2, wherein the wrist member comprises:
coextensive tabs or projections that emanate from the hollow
flexible body extending beyond an outer perimeter thereof near the
open end; and releasable securing means located on an inner surface
of each tab or projection.
5. The mitt of claim 4, wherein the releasable securing means
comprises a pair of hook and loop members attached opposite one
another on the inner surfaces of the tabs or projections.
6. The mitt of claim 1, wherein the means for gripping, pulling and
collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface is selected from
the group of slip resistant materials.
7. The mitt of claim 6, wherein the slip resistant material is a
textured synthetic rubber material.
8. The mitt of claim 7, wherein the textured synthetic rubber
material is a textured neoprene material.
9. The mitt of claim 1, wherein the means for picking up the
collected lint and pet hair from the target surface is selected
from the group of cut or uncut loops of fibers.
10. The mitt of claim 9, wherein the means for picking up the
collected lint and pet hair from the target surface comprises cut
or uncut loops of nylon fibers that are orientated or tilted in one
direction.
11. A mitt for removing lint and pet hair from target surfaces such
as clothing, upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a
hollow flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a
back or rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand
or fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body,
wherein the hollow flexible body has a textured synthetic rubber
material on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and
collecting lint and pet hair on a target surface, and nylon fiber
loops that are orientated or tilted in one direction on the back or
rear side surface for picking up the collected lint and pet hair
from the target surface.
12. The mitt of claim 11, which further comprises a wrist member,
wherein the wrist member comprises: coextensive tabs or projections
that emanate from the hollow flexible body extending beyond an
outer perimeter thereof near the open end; and releasable securing
means located on an inner surface of each tab or projection.
13. A multi-step process for collecting and removing lint and pet
hair from target surfaces using a mitt which comprises a hollow
flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or
rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand or
fingers into an opening defined by the hollow flexible body,
wherein the hollow flexible body has means on the palm side surface
for gripping, pulling and collecting lint and pet hair on a target
surface, and means on the back or rear side surface for picking up
the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface, wherein
the process comprises: gripping, pulling and collecting lint and
pet hair from the target surface using the means on the palm side
surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt; and picking up or
removing the collected lint and pet hair from the target surface
using the means on the back or rear side surface of the hollow
flexible body of the mitt.
14. The method of claim 13, which further comprises lifting dust
and dander from the target surface using the means on the back or
rear side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/717,130, filed Sep. 14, 2005, which
is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention basically relates to a mitt having two
different working surfaces for collecting and removing lint, pet
hair, and the like from surfaces in a multi-step process.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Lint and pet hair may be removed from clothing, upholstery
and automobile interiors using a number of known products and
techniques.
[0004] Prior art products for removing lint and pet hair from the
noted surfaces include lint/hair brushes and lint rollers.
Lint/hair brushes are popular and do pick up pet hair fairly
efficiently. Lint rollers are also popular, but seem more suitable
for lint removal instead of pet hair, which usually requires a
stronger adhesive. Moreover, lint rollers are not cost effective
due to the need to constantly replace the rollers.
[0005] Prior art techniques for removing lint and pet hair from
these target surfaces include: [0006] (1) putting on a pair of
rubber gloves, dipping the gloves in cool water, shaking off any
excess water, and rubbing the glove over the surface in a rolling
motion; [0007] (2) wrapping tape around your hand with the sticky
side out and patting it over the surface to pick up lint and pet
hair; [0008] (3) running a damp sponge over the surface, using
downward strokes to pick up lint and pet hair; [0009] (4) running a
sponge over the surface, working in a downward motion; [0010] (5)
using a clothes-dryer-softener sheet to collect lint and pet hair;
and [0011] (6) using dry nylon bath puffs to remove lint and pet
hair from a surface. These techniques, while cost effective, are
somewhat inefficient resulting in less than optimal or complete
cleaning of the surface.
[0012] Considering the drawbacks inherent in the products and
techniques described above, there is a need for a device capable of
more thoroughly cleaning a target surface by providing for both the
collection and removal of lint and pet hair.
[0013] The present invention therefore provides a mitt for removing
lint, pet hair, and the like from target surfaces such as clothing,
upholstery and automobile interiors, which comprises a hollow
flexible body having a palm side surface coextensive with a back or
rear side surface, with an open end for insertion of a hand (or
fingers) into the hollow flexible body, wherein the hollow flexible
body has means on the palm side surface for gripping, pulling and
collecting lint, pet hair, and the like on a target surface, and
means on the back or rear side surface for picking up the collected
lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface.
[0014] The present invention further provides a multi-step process
for collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from
target surfaces such as clothing, upholstery and automobile
interiors, which comprises using the inventive mitt described
hereinabove for: [0015] gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet
hair, and the like from the target surface using the means on the
palm side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt; and
[0016] picking up or removing the collected lint, pet hair, and the
like from the target surface using the means on the back or rear
side surface of the hollow flexible body of the mitt.
[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent to one of ordinary skill from the following detailed
description. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific
terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by
one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
All publications, patent applications, patents and other references
mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In case of conflict, the present specification, including
definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and
examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Particular features of the disclosed invention are
illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one side of a preferred
embodiment of the mitt of the present invention showing the means
for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair and the like
from a target surface; and
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opposing side of the mitt
shown in FIG. 1 showing the means for picking up or removing the
collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0021] The mitt of the present invention has two different working
surfaces located on opposing sides of the mitt thereby offering not
only ease of manipulability and control by virtue of its ability to
be worn on a user's hand (or fingers) but also increased
functionality. Using the inventive mitt, lint, pet hair, and the
like contained on a surface can be both collected and removed
thereby achieving a cleaner surface. As will be readily
appreciated, collections or clusters of lint and pet hair (as
compared to individual particles or hair strands) are far more
easily and effectively removed from a surface.
[0022] Referring to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment
of the present inventive mitt is designated generally by the
reference numeral 10. Mitt 10 basically comprises a hollow flexible
body 12 defining an opening and having a palm side 14, a
coextensive back or rear side 16, and an open end 18 for insertion
of a hand into the opening defined by the hollow flexible body 12.
Mitt 10 may further comprise a wrist member (not shown) for
releasably securing the mitt 10 about the wrist of a user upon
placement of the user's hand into the opening defined by the hollow
flexible body 12. In one embodiment, the wrist member is an
expandable cuff that circumferentially surrounds the open end 18 of
the hollow flexible body 12. In another embodiment, the wrist
member comprises: coextensive tabs or projections that each emanate
from the hollow flexible body 12 extending beyond an outer
perimeter thereof near the open end 18, for assisting the user in
turning the mitt about the user's wrist; and releasable securing
means located on an inner surface or underside of each tab or
projection for releasably securing the mitt 10 about the wrist of
the user. Preferably, the releasable securing means in this
embodiment is of the well known VELCRO hook-and-loop adhesive type
variety. In one construction, the hook component is sewn to the
underside of one tab or projection, while the loop component is
sewn to the underside of the other tab or projection so as to join
together when the tabs or projections contact each other.
[0023] As best shown in FIG. 1, mitt 10 has means 20 on the palm
side 14 for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and
the like on a target surface while, as best shown in FIG. 2, mitt
10 has means 22 on the back or rear side 16 for picking up or
removing the collected lint, pet hair, and the like from the target
surface. Means 22 is also effective for lifting dust, dander and
other fine debris from surfaces such as upholstered furniture and
clothing.
[0024] Means 20 for gripping, pulling and collecting lint, pet hair
and the like from a surface may be selected from the group of slip
resistant materials. A preferred slip resistant material is a
rubber material, while a more preferred slip resistant material is
a textured rubber or synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene)
material.
[0025] Means 22 for picking up or removing the collected lint, pet
hair and the like from a surface may be a so-called "lint-removing"
material selected from the group of cut or uncut loops of fibers,
such as natural fibers, synthetic fibers, glass fibers, thread or
wool. Preferably, the fibers are nylon fibers. A majority of the
fibers are preferably orientated or tilted in one direction.
Examples of such materials are well known in the art, such as pile
and brush materials, with a preferred material being an engineered
nylon material sold by Dalian Corporation, Dalian, China, under the
product designation DE-LINT fabric material.
[0026] In a more preferred embodiment, the gripping, pulling and
collecting means 20 of mitt 10 is a textured synthetic rubber
material, and the picking up or removing means 22 is an engineered
nylon material having fibers orientated or tilted in one
direction.
[0027] The hollow flexible body 12 may be constructed as a separate
structure having means 20 and 22 affixed to opposing surfaces
thereof. Alternatively, palm side 14 and back or rear side 16 of
hollow flexible body 12 may be formed using the slip resistant and
lint-removing materials of means 20 and 22, respectively.
[0028] As noted above, the inventive multi-step process for
collecting and removing lint, pet hair, and the like from target
surfaces, comprises using the inventive mitt for: [0029] gripping,
pulling and collecting lint, pet hair, and the like from the target
surface using the means on the palm side surface of the hollow
flexible body of the mitt; and [0030] picking up the collected
lint, pet hair, and the like from the target surface using the
means on the back or rear side surface of the hollow flexible body
of the mitt.
[0031] In a preferred embodiment, picking up or removing means 22
of mitt 10 is an engineered nylon material having fibers orientated
or tilted in one direction, and the inventive multi-step process
further comprises the step of removing lint, pet hair, and the like
from the back or rear side surface of the hollow flexible body of
mitt 10 by wiping the surface in a direction opposite to the
direction of the fibers of the engineered nylon material.
[0032] As noted above, picking up and removing means 22 may also be
used for lifting dust, dander and other fine debris from target
surfaces. When means 22 is an engineered nylon material having
fibers orientated or tilted in one direction, collected dust,
dander and other fine debris may be removed from the surface of
this material by wiping the surface with a damp cloth or sponge in
a direction opposite to the direction of the fibers of the
engineered nylon material.
[0033] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail
thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the claimed invention.
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