Scouring Article

Abstract

A scouring article with a window provided in its sponge-like surface for placement of an abrasive material. The abrasive material is made to protrude from the window in the sponge-like pad by exerting finger pressure behind the abrasive member. A pocket is also rovided within the pad for holding and emitting soap, detergent, or other cleansing compositions.

Description

The invention relates to scouring articles; more particularly to a scouring pad having a duality of scouring surfaces. provided

A scouring pad generally made of sponge, sponge-like, or soft plastic material, and containing a window with an abrasive material recessed therein is provided. The abrasive material is generally a steel wool or hard fiber-like plastic material. When pressure is exerted on the back of the pad as by pressing with one's finger, the abrasive material is made to protrude past the body of the pad. Thus, stubborn, hard sticking dirt particles can be removed from a dish or other eating utensil in the course of wiping over the surface with the mild scouring pad.

The duality of the scouring surfaces in the same pad creates a versatile and convenient way for cleaning cooking utensiles.

The pad is also provided with a pocket for containing soap or detergent. Thus, soap may be supplied directly to the cleaning area from within the pad.

PRIOR ART

It is well known in the scouring art to have a cleaning article with a pocket containing soap or detergent. Devices showing this feature can be seen in U. S. Pat. Nos. 1,209,763; 1,748,406; 1,912,224; 2,054,198; 2,588,773; 3,428,405; and 3,581,447.

Of the aforementioned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,428,405 and 3,581,447 depict scouring articles having dual scouring surfaces, i.e., both mild and abrasive.

The present invention differs from the prior art in that the abrasive surface is made recessed to the mild scouring surface, and does not protrude unless purposely made to do so. This is advantageous since one cannot accidentally use the abrasive surface on utensils that are easily scratched or marred.

With the articles of the prior art, one could accidentally brush the abrasive material across the cooking utensils thereby causing scratches. Where the pad features a mild side, and an opposite abrasive side, one could inadvertently use the wrong side upon the dishes resulting in damage.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a scouring article with a recessed abrasive that can be projected outward to clean stubborn and hard to remove dirt particles from cookware.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scouring article, having a duality of scouring surfaces, both mild and abrasive.

Another object further still is to provide a cleaning article with self-containing soap or detergent.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hand holding the scouring article of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hand and scouring article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the scouring article of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the scouring article of this invention showing the abrasive material recessed in the window of the pad.

Generally speaking, the invention is a scouring article having a sponge-like body with a mild scouring surface. A window is disposed in the body, and an abrasive material is disposed within the window. The abrasive lies immediately below the surface of the sponge-like body, but can be made to protrude beyond the mild scouring surface by exerting finger pressure on a finger-engaging surface of the scouring article. The finger engaging surface is positioned opposite the window.

Thus, the scouring article provides a choice of either abrasive or mild scouring surfaces depending upon whether or not pressure is supplied to the finger engaging surface.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hand 1 is shown holding a scouring pad 2 by means of passing one or more fingers 3 through strap 4 which is attached to the pad.

The pad 2 has a mild scouring surface 9 with a window 8 formed therein (FIG. 4). Recessed inside the window 8 is an abrasive pad 7.

When finger 3 is forced downward upon the top of the pad, as depicted by arrow 10, the abrasive member 7 is forced to protrude beyond surface 9. Thus, the pad may be used to remove hard stubborn particles of dirt without detaching the pad from one's hand.

The pad 2 contains within a pocket 17, (FIG. 2) a bar of soap 5. When the pad is wetted, the soap is made to soak through the pad and deposit itself on the back surface 9 generally in the area of window 8.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pad is illustrated in an exploded view to show its basic construction. It is to be understood, however, that other constructions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the present scheme is shown only as one means of describing the invention. The pad is made in three layers 12, 16, and 15, respectively. Layer 15, the bottom layer, is made of sponge-like material, and has a window 8 cut therein. The window 8 may have a square, rectangular, circular, or elliptical shape, although any shape can be conceivably used. The layer 15 has a pocket 14 cut therein for containing an abrasive member 7. Layer 16 is secured (glued) upon layer 15, and layer 12 is secured (glued) upon layer 16. A pocket area 17 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed between layers 16 and 12 for containing soap 5 or detergent material. The soap 5 is sealed within the pad by means of releasable flap 6 which is folded over layer 12. The flap 6 is releasably secured by means of a "Velcro" backing material, a portion 11 being secured to layer 12 and a portion 11' being secured to flap 6. The flap may also be secured by a mechanical snap, or by tucking back into pocket 17.

Strap 4 is secured to layer 12 for holding the fingers 3 to the pad. Strap 4 may be an elastic material that is glued or heat sealed to layer 12.

Another embodiment may have layer 12 having the strap cut into the layer itself.

Still another embodiment may have the pad being formed like a glove or being part of a glove which can be slipped over the entire hand.

Naturally many modifications are possible within the purview of this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Such changes are deemed to be part of this invention as presented by the appended claims.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A scouring article, comprising:

a sponge-like body having a mild scouring surface with a window disposed therein, and a finger-engaging surface opposite said window;

an abrasive scouring member disposed within said window of the sponge-like body and normally received therein so as to lie immediately below the mild scouring surface when no pressure is brought to bear upon said finger-engaging surface of the sponge-like body, but which will protrude beyond said mild scouring surface when finger pressure is exerted on said finger-engaging surface, whereby a choice of either mild or abrasive scouring can be obtained with said scouring article by means of either supplying or not supplying pressure to said finger-engaging surface.

2. The scouring article of claim 1, further comprising a pocket disposed in said sponge-like body for receiving and containing a soap-like material.

3. The scouring article of claim 2, wherein said pocket is disposed in said sponge-like body between said abrasive member and said finger-engaging surface.

4. The scouring article of claim 3, further comprising a flap which folds over said pocket for the purpose of closing said pocket with said soap-like material therein.

5. The scouring article of claim 4, further comprising means for securing said sponge-like member to one's hand.

6. The scouring article of claim 5, wherein said securing means comprises an elastic strap which fits over the finger portion of said hand.