U.S. patent application number 12/699199 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for multi-sided washcloth.
Invention is credited to Jozef Huizinga.
Application Number | 20100192318 12/699199 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40998525 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100192318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huizinga; Jozef |
August 5, 2010 |
MULTI-SIDED WASHCLOTH
Abstract
A washcloth (1) comprising at least three cloth parts (I-IV),
which cloth parts are mutually connected for forming an internal
hand receiving space (6), and wherein each cloth part provides an
external work surface (I'-IV').
Inventors: |
Huizinga; Jozef; (Wedde,
NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORSEY & WHITNEY, LLP;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
370 SEVENTEENTH STREET, SUITE 4700
DENVER
CO
80202-5647
US
|
Family ID: |
40998525 |
Appl. No.: |
12/699199 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/104.94 ;
15/210.1; 15/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/18 20130101;
A47K 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/104.94 ;
15/210.1; 15/227 |
International
Class: |
A47K 7/02 20060101
A47K007/02; A47K 7/04 20060101 A47K007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 3, 2009 |
NL |
2002488 |
Claims
1. A washcloth comprising at least three cloth parts, which cloth
parts are mutually connected for forming an internal hand receiving
space, and wherein each cloth part provides an external work
surface.
2. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein the work surface
provided by a said cloth part is approximately equal to the surface
of a flat hand receivable in the hand receiving space.
3. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein each of the cloth
parts comprises a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal
edge, and wherein for each said cloth part the first longitudinal
edge of said cloth part is connected with the second longitudinal
edge of a first neighboring cloth part; and the second longitudinal
edge of said cloth part is connected with the first longitudinal
edge of a second neighboring cloth part.
4. A washcloth according to claim 3, wherein each of the cloth
parts comprises a first transversal edge and a second transversal
edge, and wherein the first transversal edge of a said cloth part
is connected over a first length part thereof with the first
transversal edge of the first neighboring cloth part with which
said cloth part is connected at its first longitudinal edge;
wherein the first transversal edge of said cloth part is connected
over a second length part thereof with the first transversal edge
of the second neighboring cloth part with which said cloth part is
connected at its second longitudinal edge; and wherein the second
transversal edges of the cloth parts jointly define an opening to
the hand receiving space.
5. A washcloth according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a cloth part is
connected along a longitudinal edge with another cloth part, such
that the work surfaces of the two cloth parts face away from each
other at the connection.
6. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein the at least three
cloth parts are identical in shape.
7. A washcloth according to claim 6, wherein the at least three
cloth parts--laid out in a two-dimensional plane--are substantially
rectangular.
8. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
cloth parts is manufactured from a woven or a fiber cloth.
9. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
cloth parts is manufactured from paper, cotton or a synthetic
fiber.
10. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
cloth parts is at least partly manufactured from a stretch
fabric.
11. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one cloth
part is manufactured from moisture-absorbing material.
12. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein not all cloth parts
are manufactured from the same material.
13. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
cloth parts is of multi-layered design.
14. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one cloth
part is impregnated.
15. A washcloth according to claim 1, wherein at least one cloth
part is provided on an inner side with at least one finger
pocket.
16. A washcloth according to claim 3, wherein at least two cloth
parts, which are connected with each other at a respective first
and second longitudinal edge, are shaped such that they include a
thumb receiving space communicating with the hand receiving
space.
17. A washcloth according to claim 3, wherein at least two cloth
parts, which are connected with each other at a respective first
and second longitudinal edge, are shaped such that they include at
least two finger receiving spaces communicating with the hand
receiving space.
18. A washcloth according to claim 17, wherein each of the at least
three cloth parts is of five-fingered shape, and wherein each pair
of neighboring cloth parts include at least two finger receiving
spaces.
19. A washcloth according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, during use,
each of the work surfaces is capable of being separately brought
into contact with a surface to be treated through pressure of a
substantially flat hand received in the hand receiving space, and
wherein the work surface to be used for treatment is selectable by
rotating the washcloth around the hand inserted in the hand
receiving space in order to position the desired work surface at
least partly in front of an inner side of the hand comprising the
palm of the hand.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Netherlands Patent
Application No. 2002488 filed on Feb. 3, 2009 and entitled
"Multi-Sided Washcloth" and is hereby incorporated by reference as
if fully disclosed herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In, for example, hospitals and nursing homes, the washing of
infirm, often bedridden persons by care providers is part of
everyday care. In a great many care institutions, washing is still
done with the aid of washbowls, water, soap, towels and normal
washcloths. Such a traditional washing not only takes relatively
much time, but is also an intensive job for both the care provider
and the care recipient. For a care provider, a traditional washing
normally means performing three or four operations: soaping,
rinsing, drying and possibly applying a skin care lotion. At the
same time, such a washing is experienced by many care recipients as
fatiguing or painful, for instance because they need to assume
specific, uncomfortable positions for a prolonged time to make
washing possible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For some years now, applicant has marketed impregnated
washcloths that are suitable for use in such a washing. With the
aid of the impregnated washcloths, the washing process is limited
to one operation instead of the above-mentioned three or four. By
many care recipients a washing with these washcloths is experienced
as pleasantly refreshing, and moreover as less of a strain. A
washing takes less long and in addition a care recipient does not
need to be turned over as often and/or lie on his or her side as
long, which is sometimes painful. Consequently, it also entails a
lesser physical strain on the care provider, who needs to lift less
and needs to make fewer movements.
[0004] A washing of the body requires multiple washcloths.
Statistically, this concerns an average 4.6 washcloths per washing.
Practically, this means for a care provider that per washing he
needs to take off a used washcloth about four times, each time to
put on a clean specimen. For a care recipient this basically means
that during the time the care provider is changing washcloths, he
needs to wait in a possibly unpleasant or straining position for
washing to be resumed. It will be clear that changing washcloths
does not promote the efficiency of the washing process, nor does it
benefit the comfort of the care recipient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a washcloth that further improves the efficiency of the washing
process.
[0006] To this end, the present invention provides a washcloth
comprising at least three cloth parts, which cloth parts are
mutually connected for forming an internal hand receiving space,
and wherein each cloth part provides an external work surface.
[0007] The washcloth according to the present invention comprises,
unlike known washcloths, not two but at least three work surfaces.
While known washcloths have only a front and a back, the washcloth
according to the present invention has at least three sides, side
surfaces or work surfaces which are capable of being separately
brought into contact with a surface to be washed/treated. The work
surfaces are situated--in use--substantially around a hand inserted
into the hand receiving space (with the hand extending in line with
the forearm, hence around a direction in which the forearm
extends). When it is desired to use another work surface, the hand,
without being taken out of the washcloth, can be rotated relative
to the washcloth in order to position the desired work surface in
front of the hand surface (i.e., the palm of the hand). The
washcloth according to the present invention hence offers more work
surfaces than known washcloths. Jointly, they provide for an
enlargement of the total work surface of the washcloth compared
with known washcloths, and this while each separate work surface
can be deployed easily and fast. Moreover, the fit of the
washcloth, compared with known washcloths, has not diminished as a
result of the surface enlargement.
[0008] Reverting to the above-described health care practice, it
may be established that in a situation where currently four known
washcloths are used per washing, it could suffice to use, for
example, two four-sided washcloths according to the present
invention. In that case, during a washing, a washcloth thus needs
to be replaced only once instead of three times. In this way, a
shortening of a complete washing can be realized, with an attendant
reduced strain on both care recipient and care provider.
[0009] It is noted that the term `washcloth` in this text, and in
particular also in the appended claims, is used as a generic
designation, i.e., as a designation of a group of objects having
common features. The term `washcloth` is not intended to mean an
aid merely suitable for use in the activity of `washing`. Besides
being used for washing the human or animal body, a washcloth
according to the present invention can also be used, for example,
in cleaning/treating vehicles, such as cars and mobile homes, and
furniture, such as couches, etc. It should also be noted that the
cloth parts of the washcloth may be manufactured jointly as one
whole, or may be separate cloths or cloth parts united into a
whole.
[0010] The cloth parts may be manufactured from numerous materials,
such as, for example, viscose, optionally supplemented, for
strengthening, with nylon or other synthetics; from (woven) cloth
of wool, linen or cotton; from (synthetic) fiber or felt cloth, or
from paper. Also, it is possible--to improve the fit--that one or
more cloth parts are wholly or partly manufactured from stretch
fabric, where the elasticity of the fabric provides for comfortable
clamping of the hand inserted into the hand receiving space.
[0011] According to a further elaboration of the invention, the
work surface provided by a cloth part (i.e., the work surface
provided by at least one of the cloth parts, and preferably the
working surface provided by each of the cloth parts) is
approximately equal to the surface of a flat hand receivable in the
hand receiving space.
[0012] For easy handling of the washcloth, a cloth part, of which
an outer surface coincides wholly or at least largely with the
associated work surface, has approximately the size of a flat hand.
A smaller cloth part/work surface can render handling of the
washcloth more difficult because the flat hand cannot be brought
wholly behind the work surface, which may be uncomfortable as well,
whereas a larger work surface without supplemental measures may be
difficult to control. This is because the cloth part/work surface
is not rigid, so that, on the one hand, it can easily follow the
contours of an object to be treated, but, on the other hand, needs
to be pushed against the surface of that object at several points
to make sufficient contact. A flat hand may be understood to mean,
depending on the design and intended use of the washcloth, both a
stretched hand with fingers and thumb spread and a stretched hand
with fingers and thumb held together. The surface of the flat hand
may be approximated by the surface of a circumscribed rectangle
matching the hand. For a hand with fingers held together, this
approximation basically corresponds to the actual hand surface,
whereas for a hand with fingers spread, also the space between the
spread fingers of a hand may be regarded as part of the surface of
the hand. For determining the manageable work surface of a cloth
part, this is a useful approximation, since a hand with fingers
spread can cover a cloth part with a larger surface than the actual
hand surface, and can use it in a controlled manner.
[0013] According to a further elaboration of the invention, each of
the cloth parts comprises a first longitudinal edge and a second
longitudinal edge, and for each cloth part the first longitudinal
edge of the cloth part is connected with the second longitudinal
edge of a first neighboring cloth part, while the second
longitudinal edge of the cloth part is connected with the first
longitudinal edge of a second neighboring cloth part. According to
a further aspect, each of the cloth parts comprises furthermore a
first transversal edge and a second transversal edge, wherein the
first transversal edge of a cloth part is connected over a first
length part thereof with the first transversal edge of the first
neighboring cloth part with which the cloth part is connected at
its first longitudinal edge, wherein the first transversal edge of
the cloth part is connected over a second length part thereof with
the first transversal edge of the second neighboring cloth part
with which the cloth part is connected at its second longitudinal
edge; and wherein the second transversal edges of the cloth parts
jointly define an opening to the hand receiving space.
[0014] With the aid of three or more cloth parts, in a simple and
economical manner a functional washcloth can be created. Starting
from, for example, three separate, identical cloth parts I, II, and
III, this can be illustrated as follows. Let us assume that the
cloth parts are at least approximately rectangular, so that two
opposite edges of each cloth part can be regarded as a first and a
second longitudinal edge, respectively. By presently connecting the
first longitudinal edge of cloth part I with the second
longitudinal edge of cloth part II, and connecting the first
longitudinal edge of cloth part II with the second longitudinal
edge of cloth part III, while the first longitudinal edge of cloth
part III is connected with the still free second longitudinal edge
of cloth part I, a sleeve is obtained. The sleeve is preferably
closed at one end for user convenience of the washcloth, and for
preventing unnecessary direct contact between a hand inserted into
the washcloth and the surface of an object to be treated. The other
end of the sleeve will serve as opening to the hand receiving
space. The sleeve end to be closed off can be closed off by
connecting a first transversal edge of cloth part I over
approximately a half of the length thereof with, on the one hand,
the first transversal edge of cloth part II, and, on the other
hand, the first transversal edge of cloth part III. Further, also
the first transversal edge of cloth part II needs to be similarly
connected with the first transversal edge of cloth part III.
[0015] It will be clear that although the mutual connection of
cloth parts has been described above by way of example in relation
to a three-sided washcloth with identical, rectangular cloth parts,
it equally applies (by analogy) to washcloths having more than
three sides and/or non-identical, rectangular or non-rectangular
cloth parts. When use is made of non-rectangular cloth parts, the
longitudinal and transversal edges may not be straight but curved.
Consequently, the longitudinal edge of a cloth part can then merge
without an acute angle into a transversal edge, or vice versa. The
edges or edge parts of such cloth parts are to be named by analogy
with the rectangular cloth part.
[0016] According to a further elaboration of the invention, a cloth
part is connected along a longitudinal edge with another cloth part
in such a way that the work surfaces of the two cloth parts face
away from each other at the location of the connection.
[0017] As the work surfaces can fulfill distinguishable functions,
the washcloth is preferably so manufactured that each of the work
surfaces can simply be brought exclusively into contact with the
surface of an object to be treated. To this end, the cloth parts
may be connected along their longitudinal edges with each other on
the inner or back side, so that the respective work surfaces at the
location of the connection face away from each other. According to
a further aspect of the invention, the longitudinal connections
between different cloth parts may furthermore be strengthened
and/or stiffened, for example, by means of a woven-in flexible
frame or with the aid of fiber-reinforced seams, in order to ensure
that the work surfaces of the cloth parts preserve their mutual
back-sided orientation during use.
[0018] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the
invention will be elucidated in the following on the basis of a few
exemplary embodiments and drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary
embodiment of a washcloth according to the present invention, in
which the washcloth is composed of three cloth parts;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second exemplary
embodiment of a washcloth according to the present invention, in
which the washcloth is composed of four cloth parts; and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a third exemplary
embodiment of a washcloth according to the present invention, in
which the washcloth composed of three cloth parts comprises a thumb
receiving space supplemental to a hand receiving space.
[0022] In the drawing figures, corresponding or comparable parts
are designated with the same reference characters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows, in perspective view, a first exemplary
embodiment of a washcloth 1 according to the present invention. The
washcloth 1 is composed of three cloth parts I, II and III.
[0024] In the orientation of the washcloth 1 as shown, the work
surface I' provided by the first cloth part I is visible in its
entirety. Of the work surface II', provided by the second cloth
part II, a portion can be seen, and the work surface III' of the
third cloth part III--like the third cloth part III itself--is not
visible in the figure because in the view shown it is situated on
the rear side of he washcloth 1. In the first exemplary embodiment
of FIG. 1, the cloth parts I, II, III are identical, and the
washcloth 1 as a whole may possibly have triple rotational symmetry
around the axis A. The following explanation on cloth part I
therefore applies mutatis mutandis also to the cloth parts II and
III. Cloth part I comprises a first longitudinal edge 2a (the
left-hand side edge), a second longitudinal edge 2b (the right-hand
side edge), a first transversal edge 4a (the upper edge) and a
second transversal edge 4b (the lower edge). As can be derived from
FIG. 1, the second longitudinal edge 2b of cloth part I is
connected with the first longitudinal edge of cloth part II, the
second longitudinal edge of cloth part II is connected with the
first longitudinal edge of cloth part III, and the second
longitudinal edge of cloth part III is connected with the first
longitudinal edge 2a of cloth part I. Also, the first transversal
edge 4a of cloth part I is connected over approximately a half of
the length of the edge with the first transversal edge of
neighboring cloth part III (on the left in FIG. 1), with which
cloth part I is connected over the first longitudinal 2a edge. The
other half of the first transversal edge 4a of cloth part I is
connected with the first transversal edge of neighboring cloth part
II (on the right in FIG. 1), with which cloth part I is connected
along the second longitudinal edge 2b. Thus connected, the cloth
parts I, II and III include a hand receiving space 6. The second
transversal edges of the cloth parts I, II, III jointly define an
opening to this hand receiving space 6.
[0025] The connections between the edges of the cloth parts I, II,
III can be effected in different manners, for example, by means of
gluing, welding, or with the aid of a stitching 8 as shown in FIG.
1. In the case where the cloth parts I, II, III are jointly
manufactured in one whole, the connection between the longitudinal
edges may already exist. Nonetheless, it may even then be desirable
for the longitudinal edges of adjacent cloth parts to be connected
such that the work surfaces of adjacent cloth parts at the location
of the connection face away from each other. What is thus
accomplished is that a work surface can exclusively be brought into
contact with a surface to be treated, hence without an adjacent
work surface, at least partly, unintentionally making also contact
with this surface as a result of the fact that the angle between
the two work surfaces at the location of the longitudinal
connection is not acute, but obtuse. Additionally, the cloth parts
I, II and III can be made of somewhat more rugged and/or thicker
design at the connection between the longitudinal edges, in order
to strengthen the structure of the separation between adjacent
cloth parts. This can also help prevent unintended contact between
two work surfaces of adjacent cloth parts on the one hand and a
surface to be treated on the other.
[0026] The cloth parts I, II, III may be manufactured of the same
material, such as, for example, cotton or paper, but this is not
requisite. The cloth parts may furthermore consist of multiple
layers, with the different layers possibly fulfilling a different
function. Thus, it may be desirable, for example, that a hand to be
received in the hand receiving space 6 be screened from contact
with dirt to be taken up in the work surface of a cloth part. To
this end, the respective cloth part may then be, for example, of
two-layered design, where behind a layer providing the (external)
work surface a more inward layer, impermeable to the dirt, is
provided. This layer may be manufactured, for example, from a
polyamide plastic, or consist of a layer of another base material
that has been plasticized. The cloth parts I, II, III may be of the
same shape--for example, rectangular, when unfolded in the
two-dimensional plane--so that the washcloth 1 is manufactured from
three substantially identical cloth parts. The advantage of such a
washcloth is that the number of different parts to be manufactured
for the production of the washcloth is very limited. Moreover,
rectangular cloth parts are simple to manufacture. As a result,
production of the washcloth can take place economically.
[0027] The work surfaces I', II', III' of the respective cloth
parts I, II, and III can have distinguishable functions. These
distinguishable functions can be prepared during the production of
the washcloth 1, for example, through the choice of the materials
from which the cloth parts I, II, III are manufactured, or by
giving the several work surfaces I', II', III' a different
pretreatment. Thus, the cloth part I may be manufactured, for
example, from a relatively coarse fabric, so that the work surface
I' obtains a scrub function, or from a layer of moisture-absorbing
material in order to impart a drying function to the work surface
I'. In another embodiment, the cloth parts I and II, or at least
the work surfaces I', II' thereof, may, for example, be impregnated
with a particular fluid, such as, for example, a cleaning lotion,
while the third cloth part III, or at least the work surface III'
thereof, may be of dry design. In the latter case, the washcloth
would thus have two cleaning surfaces I', II' and one drying
surface III'.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows in a schematic perspective view a second
exemplary embodiment of the washcloth according to the present
invention. The washcloth in FIG. 2, in contrast to the first
exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, comprises not three but four cloth
parts I-IV, and as many external work surfaces I'-IV'. The
construction of the washcloth in terms of longitudinal and
transversal edges is mutatis mutandis the same as that of the
washcloth from FIG. 1.
[0029] In clarification, FIG. 2 shows a hand 10 received in the
hand receiving space 6. In order to improve control of the hand 10
received in the hand receiving space 6 over the work surface I',
the associated cloth part I is provided on an inner side with a
number of finger pockets 12. These are understood to be pockets,
small straps, etc., provided on the inner surface of the cloth part
I for taking up one or more fingers or--as in FIG. 2--fingertips.
In the presence of multiple finger pockets, they are preferably
provided relative to each other at points matching the geometry of
a hand. By inserting the fingers or fingertips in these pockets, or
between the inner surface of the respective cloth part and the
straps, respectively, the fingers are fixed with respect to the
cloth part I. As a result, the cloth part/work surface I, I' cannot
easily shift relative to the hand when, for instance, between the
work surface I' and an object to be treated friction occurs that is
greater than the friction between the surface of the hand 10 and
the inner surface of the cloth part I.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows for a washcloth 1 with three work surfaces
I'-III' how the last-mentioned effect can be accomplished in an
alternative manner. In the third exemplary embodiment of the
washcloth 1 shown in FIG. 3, each cloth part I-III is shaped such
that upon connection of the longitudinal edges 2a, 2b of the
different cloth parts, supplemental to the hand receiving space 6,
a thumb receiving space 14 is formed. As with a mitten, here too,
the thumb receiving space 14 projects outwards. It is to be noted
that the work surfaces I'-III' of the washcloth 1 from FIG.
3--unlike those of known two-sides washcloths having only one thumb
receiving space--can all be brought opposite the hand surface of
both a left and a right hand inserted into the hand receiving space
6. In contrast with known washcloths of this kind, it is therefore
not necessary, when it is wished to use another work surface, to
change the washcloth from one hand to the other.
[0031] It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited
to washcloths having only one thumb receiving space, as shown in
FIG. 3. Washcloths similar to a glove, with three or more sides and
separate receiving spaces for the fingers of a hand, are equally
possible. To be considered here are, for example, a three-sided
washcloth, whose cloth parts are each of five-fingered design. Each
two neighboring cloth parts then define, for example, two finger
receiving spaces, while a receiving space for the middle finger is
formed by the three cloth parts jointly. For the sake of clarity,
it is to be mentioned that the first transversal edge of each cloth
part in such a design is not rectilinear but curved, and extends
along the finger-shaped contours of a respective cloth part.
[0032] Although the present invention has been elucidated in the
foregoing on the basis of a few exemplary embodiments, it is to be
noted that the invention is not limited to these exemplary
embodiments. By a skilled person, different adaptations and
modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed,
without thereby departing from the spirit and the scope of the
invention as laid down in the appended claims. In particular,
different above-described exemplary embodiments, or features
thereof, may be combined into new embodiments.
* * * * *