U.S. patent application number 12/546212 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for cleaning article.
Invention is credited to Cheri Edwards, Sara Mao.
Application Number | 20110041276 12/546212 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43604095 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110041276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edwards; Cheri ; et
al. |
February 24, 2011 |
CLEANING ARTICLE
Abstract
A cleaning and polishing article broadly includes a body fitted
for either a left hand or a right hand, and including at least two
reversible coverings, each having opposing faces for treating a
surface, the reversible coverings being attached to the body to
form a plurality of pockets disposed on the body of the cleaning
article, the reversible coverings being configured to be
individually reversed to an opposing side of the body to expose an
opposite side of one of the other reversible coverings for treating
the surface.
Inventors: |
Edwards; Cheri; (Newman
Lake, WA) ; Mao; Sara; (Mica, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TURNER PADGET GRAHAM & LANEY, P.A.
P.O. BOX 1509
GREENVILLE
SC
29602
US
|
Family ID: |
43604095 |
Appl. No.: |
12/546212 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/227 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/10 20060101
A47L013/10 |
Claims
1. A cleaning article, comprising: a body having a first side, a
second side, a terminal end and a proximal end, the proximal end
defining an opening therein through which a hand may be inserted;
and a reversible covering assembly consisting of: at least two
reversible sheets, each including opposing faces for treating a
surface without having to change hands, the reversible sheets being
attached to the body, thereby forming a plurality of pockets
disposed on the body of the cleaning article, the reversible sheets
each configured to be reversed to an opposite side of the body to
expose one of the faces of one of the other reversible sheets for
treating the surface.
2. The article as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning article is
shaped to fit a left hand or a right hand.
3. A cleaning article, comprising: a mitten-shaped body consisting
of at least two reversible sheets disposed on the body, the
reversible sheets overlapping each other and being independently
reversible to expose, in total, at least four faces.
4. The cleaning article as in claim 3, wherein the cleaning article
further comprises a gripping cushion disposed within the body.
5. The cleaning article as in claim 3, wherein the reversible
sheets are made of a microfiber material.
6. The cleaning article as in claim 3, wherein the reversible
sheets are made of cotton.
7. The cleaning article as in claim 3, wherein the reversible
sheets are made of a non-woven material.
8. The cleaning article as in claim 3, wherein the reversible
sheets are made of a woven material.
9. A cleaning article, comprising: a universal body adapted for
either a left hand or a right hand; and means for sequentially
exposing at least six cleaning faces, the means for sequentially
exposing being attached to the universal body and configured to
move from one side of the body to another side of the body to
expose the cleaning faces without having to move the cleaning
article to another hand.
10. The cleaning article as in claim 9, wherein the six cleaning
faces are made of one of a microfiber, a non-woven material, a
woven material or combinations thereof.
11. The cleaning article as in claim 9, wherein the means for
sequentially exposing include at least three cleaning sheets, each
having opposing faces, the three cleaning sheets being attached to
the body to form pocket areas.
12. A cleaning article, shaped to fit a left hand or a right hand,
for providing multiple cleaning layers, wherein the improvement
comprises: at least three cleaning sheets stacked proximate each
other and attached by at least one common point to the cleaning
article, each of the three cleaning sheets having a first face and
a second face and being configured to be individually adjusted from
a first side of the cleaning article to a second side of the
cleaning article to expose the first face followed by the second
face without having to move the cleaning article to another hand.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] Gloves and mitts for hands are known for cleaning and
polishing furniture, automobiles and the like. These conventional
cleaning gloves suffer from various drawbacks. For instance, as
explained in U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,995, once a cleaning membrane of
the described glove is soiled, a user must switch hands to use a
fresh side of the cleaning membrane. Furthermore, once the other
side of the cleaning membrane is soiled, the cleaning glove must be
washed or replaced to continue the task at hand. If the surfaces to
be cleaned are large or numerous, the user will have to employ
numerous cleaning gloves, pausing at inconvenient intervals to
switch hands.
[0002] A cleaning article is needed in the industry which provides
users with multiple cleaning segments in order to clean and polish
large, multiple areas without having to constantly change the
cleaning article or switch hands. The prior art has failed to
provide such a cleaning article, which is economical to manufacture
and is sufficiently durable to be cleaned and reused multiple
times.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure is directed in general to a cleaning
article for use with either a left hand or a right hand. The
components of the cleaning article are simple to manufacture and
use.
[0004] As used herein, the term cleaning may mean, but is not
limited to, cleansing, scrubbing, wiping, washing, sanitizing,
dusting, polishing, waxing and like applications. Also as used
herein, the term article may mean a glove, a mitten or the like
that may be universally worn on either the left hand or the right
hand.
[0005] In general, the cleaning article may be formed of a
microfiber material, and more specifically, may be non-woven,
woven, spunbond, synthetic or natural material. These materials may
be relatively soft and smooth for polishing applications, or the
materials may be stiffer and textured for scrubbing and heavier
cleaning applications.
[0006] The cleaning article broadly includes more than one
reversible layer or covering. At least two of these reversible
layers are attached to a mitten-like body of the cleaning article,
except that the reversible layers will be unattached at one point
on the cleaning article in order to be reversed to expose
additional layers, as explained in detail herein.
[0007] More particularly, in one aspect of the disclosure, a
cleaning article includes a body having a first side, a second
side, a terminal end and a proximal end. The proximal end has an
opening through which a hand may be inserted. The cleaning article
also includes a reversible covering assembly, which consists of at
least two reversible sheets. Each reversible sheet includes
opposing faces for treating a surface without having to change
hands. The reversible sheets are attached to the body to form
pockets on the body of the cleaning article. The reversible sheets
are reversable to an opposite side of the body to expose one of the
faces of one of the other reversible sheets for treating the
surface. In this example, the cleaning article is shaped to fit a
left hand or a right hand.
[0008] In another embodiment, a cleaning article includes a
mitten-shaped body, which consists of at least two reversible
sheets disposed on the body. The reversible sheets overlap each
other and are independently reversible to expose, in total, at
least four faces.
[0009] In a further embodiment, a cleaning article includes a
universal body adapted for either a left hand or a right hand, and
includes means for sequentially exposing at least six cleaning
faces. The means for sequentially exposing are attached to the
universal body and may be moved from one side of the body to
another side of the body to expose the cleaning faces without
having to move the cleaning article to another hand. The means for
sequentially exposing may include at least three cleaning sheets,
each having opposing faces, in which the three cleaning sheets are
attached to the body to form pocket areas.
[0010] In yet another embodiment, a cleaning article is shaped to
fit a left hand or a right hand and for provides multiple cleaning
layers. In this example, at least three cleaning sheets are stacked
proximate each other and attached by at least one common point to
the cleaning article. Each of the three cleaning sheets have a
first face and a second face and are configured to be individually
adjusted from a first side of the cleaning article to a second side
of the cleaning article to expose the first face followed by the
second face without having to move the cleaning article to another
hand.
[0011] The various embodiments of the cleaning article, and
equivalents thereof, may also includes a gripping cushion disposed
within the body, such removably in a pocket in the body, or sewn or
permanently attached therein.
[0012] The reversible sheets of the various embodiments may be made
of a microfiber material, cotton, a non-woven material, a woven
material and combinations of these and other materials having a
variety of textured surfaces; e.g., relatively smooth for dusting
and polishing, or stiffer and more abrasive for tougher cleaning
jobs
[0013] Other advantages of various embodiments of the cleaning
article will be apparent from the following description and the
attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A full and enabling disclosure, including the best mode
thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly
in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the
accompanying figures, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a cleaning article
according to an aspect of the disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning article as
shown in FIG. 1, particularly showing a cushion in phantom within
the cleaning article according to an aspect of the disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the cleaning article as in
FIG. 1, particularly showing the article in an intended use
according to an aspect of the disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning article shown
in intended use;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a user reversing a covering
of the cleaning article according to an aspect of the disclosure;
and
[0020] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the cleaning article
similar to FIG. 3, but showing a fresh reversible covering of the
cleaning article according to an aspect of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0021] Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which
examples of the present disclosure are shown. The detailed
description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to
features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the
drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar
parts of the disclosure.
[0022] The drawings and detailed description provide a full and
written description of examples of the disclosure, and of the
manner and process of making and using these examples, so as to
enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as
well as the best mode of carrying out the disclosure. The examples
set forth in the drawings and detailed description are provided by
way of explanation only, and are not meant as limitations of the
disclosure. The present disclosure thus includes any modifications
and variations of the following examples as come within the scope
of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0023] The figures that are about to be described in detail
generally show a cleaning article that broadly includes a
mitten-like body having multiple reversible coverings attached
thereto in layers. The mitten-like body is generally soft and
flexible for manipulation by a user when the user's hand is
inserted in the body. The multiple reversible coverings generally
are of a soft, microfiber or cotton-like material and/or a textured
and stiffer material for robust cleaning of surfaces such as wood
and metal surfaces. Due to the mitten-like body and multiple
reversible coverings, the cleaning article may be used on either
left hand or right hand for multiple cleaning and/or polishing
tasks without having to change cleaning or polishing materials or
hands. These and other advantages and benefits of the disclosure
will be better understood from the following description and
exemplary methods of operation.
[0024] Turning to FIG. 1, according to an aspect of the present
disclosure, a cleaning article is designated in general by the
element number 10 and generally includes a body 12 with a proximal
or wrist end 14 and a distal or terminal end 16. As shown in FIG.
1, the body has a first side 18 and an opposing or second side 20.
Attached to the body 12 are multiple reversible coverings, layers
or sheets; i.e., a reversible covering assembly 22. In this
example, the body 12 includes three reversible sheets 22A, 22B, and
22C. As shown, each of the sheets 22A, 22B, 22C are attached about
the body 12 in a layered fashion relative to each other but are
unattached at one area, generally designated as unattached pocket
area 23. Briefly, unattached pocket area 23 permits the user to
reverse the sheets 22A, 22B, 22C, i.e., to move them to an opposing
side of the body 12, to expose fresh sides of the coverings 22A,
22B, and 22C, as explained in greater detail below.
[0025] FIG. 1 further shows that the reversible sheet 22A includes
a first layer or face 26 and an opposing or second layer or face
28. The other coverings 22B,C have similar opposing faces. As
explained below, the multiple faces of the multiple sheets may be
reversed for continuous cleaning and polishing of underlying
surfaces without having to constantly substitute the cleaning
article 10.
[0026] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a strap or loop 30 which the user
may employ to help ease pulling or sliding the wrist end 14 over
the user's hand. As shown in this example, the wrist end 14 is
sleeve-like and may have elastomeric material sewn, embedded or
weaved into a cloth-like material such that the cloth-like material
projects about a user's wrist to protect the user's hand and wrist
from irritation. The elastomeric material also gathers or urges the
wrist end 14 about the user's wrist so that the cleaning article 10
fits comfortably without sliding off the user's hand.
[0027] With reference now to both FIGS. 1 and 2, a cushion 24 may
be attached or insertable within the body 12, as indicated by a
bold directional arrow in FIG. 1. The cushion 24 may provide
additional structure for a user to grip while using the cleaning
article 10 and/or the cushion 24 may serve as additional structure
such that the cleaning article 10 has a greater point bearing
surface area for cleaning an intended object (not shown). The
cushion 24 may therefore be a sponge-like material or it may be
less flexible material such as a hard rubber item, depending on the
desired application. In this example, the cushion 24 is circular in
shape to complement the generally circularly shaped cleaning
article 10. However, the cushion 24 may be a variety of shapes to
suit a variety of shapes that the cleaning article 10 may be.
[0028] More particularly, in the example shown in FIG. 3, a user's
hand H is inserted through an opening 32 in the wrist end 14 of the
cleaning article 10, using the loop 30 as shown in FIG. 2 to pull
the cleaning article 10 onto the hand H. As clearly shown in FIG.
3, the first face 26 of the reversible sheet 22A is now positioned
for cleaning or polishing a surface.
[0029] Turning to FIG. 4, after the first face 26 of reversible
sheet 22A has become soiled, or the user decides that one of the
other reversible sheets 22B,C--which may be made of a different
material or textured differently--may be needed, the user may then
grip the cleaning article 10 internally by bending fingers of the
hand H in a direction indicated by the bold directional arrow and
as shown. In this example, the bent fingers of the hand H
temporarily secure the cleaning article 10 to provide leverage to
reverse the reversible sheet 22A as described in detail below with
respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows that the user has gripped the reversible sheet
22A at the unattached pocket area 23 and is pulling the reversible
sheet 22A in a direction indicated by a directional arrow. Here, an
end of the reversible sheet 22A at the pocket area 23 is brought
towards and over the terminal end 16. Thus in this example, the
soiled face 26 of the covering 22A is placed against the body 12
and the fresh face 28 is exposed. Also shown, the clean reversible
sheet 22B is also exposed, and as shown in FIG. 6, either a face of
the sheet 22B or the face 28 of sheet 22A may be used for
additional cleaning, polishing, or other applications, depending
upon the type of material from which covering 22B is made. For
instance, the cleaning article 10 may be rotated about the hand H
to employ the face 28 of sheet 22A, as shown by the directional
arrow, after which the article 10 may again be rotated to use the
face of the sheet 22B. Alternatively, each first face of each of
the sheets 22A, 22B, and 22C may be used, flipped sequentially as
described above until all are first faces are used, then the second
faces of each of the sheets 22A, 22B, and 22C may be utilized in
turn. Those skilled in the art will instantly appreciate that the
number of sheets are not limited to three sheets having a total of
six faces. For instance, a fourth sheet or additional sheets may be
added to the article 10 to provide, e.g., eight or more faces.
[0031] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described,
those skilled in the art will recognize that other changes and
modifications may be made to the foregoing examples without
departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For
instance, various durable materials can be used for the various
components of the cleaning article described herein, additional
sheets or coverings (more than three) may be employed, and the
cleaning article may be formed in a variety of shapes such as
oblong, circular, star, or rectangular. It is intended to claim all
such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *