Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Fabric
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-10-23
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Fabric
C015S104940, C015S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305044
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to double-sided cleaning mitts having both a cleaning surface and an absorbent drying surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various attempts have been made to provide cleaning pads in the form of mitts which can be worn upon the hand.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,881 of Murray describes a cleaning mitt having a hand compartment to accommodate the hand of the user through an opening. The mitt includes a cleaning pad mounted on the front face of the mitt and a peel off removable sealing cover over the cleaning pad, and an outer pocket which accommodates the pad sealing cover after removal of the cover from its position covering the cleaning pad. However, Murray '881 does not also have an absorbent, drying pad.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,789 of Oster describes a disposable pad for cleaning a toilet seat. The cleaning pad has a wet cleaning agent absorbed therein. A flap opens to expose the cleaning pad. When the flap is folded back after use, the now exposed folded surface can be used as a drying surface. However, the user's hands must manually grasp a pull-tab, which may be contaminated by the surface being cleaned. In addition, the folded flap does not fully cover the drying surface of the mitt, so there is an exposed portion of the contaminated surface which is not covered by the flap, making for a contaminated and unsightly drying surface.
Other related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,081 of Sutton, which describes a cleaning pad with a handle rod to hold during use. While Sutton '081 includes a pad, which is wet on one side and dry on the other side, it does not provide a mitt for the user's hand to be inserted into.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,081 of Leny discloses a disposable wet cleaning pad within a sealed package, wherein a dry absorbent pad is also included. However, Levy '081 does not describe a cleaning mitt for insertion of the hand of the user therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,357 of Nakamura describes a sealed, tear-openable package with a wet cleaning pad and a dry absorbent pad. However, Nakamura '357 does not also function as a mitt.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,733 of Lerner discloses a cleaning mitt with a wet cleaning surface, but not with a drying surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,921 of Jury discloses a grease-absorbing mitt without an opposite drying surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,934 of Morin describes a sealed package with two airtight compartments; one with a sponge moistened with cleaning fluid and a separate drying pad. However, Morin '934 does not describe a mitt.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,068 of Raines discloses a cylindrical sealed meat package with a tear-off cover.
However, none of the aforesaid patents provide a convenient cleaning mitt having a wet cleaning surface on one side and a dry absorbent drying surface on the other side, wherein the wet and dry surfaces are isolated from each other by a sealed pouch enclosing the mitt.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a convenient cleaning mitt having a wet cleaning surface on one side and a dry absorbent drying surface on the other side, wherein the wet and dry surfaces are isolated from each other by a sealed pouch enclosing the mitt.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a disposable cleaning mitt and packaging system.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a flexible cleaning mitt having a pouch compartment formed therein which is proportioned for receiving the hand of a user.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt having a pull-ribbon extending therewithin for finger-grasp pulling of the cleaning mitt inside out.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt with a flat moisture-proof perimeter.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt which is flexible yet strong, and impervious to liquids, gases and caustic cleaning solutions.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt, which has structural integrity when a peel-off cover is tom off to expose the pouch portion of the cleaning mitt.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt with a pair of faces, including a wetting face and a drying face.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning mitt with a wetting pad being pre-soaked with a cleaning fluid for wipe-on application to a surface to be cleaned, together with a drying face having a drying pad mounted thereon.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide leak-proof thermoplastic seals for a pouch enclosing a combination cleaning and drying mitt.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sealed pouch for a cleaning mitt wherein the pouch is substantially flat and moisture-proof.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a sealed cover for a cleaning mitt.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a convenient, disposable cleaning mitt which also functions as a drying mitt when reversed in position upon the hand of a user.
It is yet another object of the present invention to improve over the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In keeping with these objects and others, which may become apparent, the present invention includes a disposable, flexible cleaning and drying mitt that fits over the user's hand. The mitt has one or more covers and it has respective pads attached to each of the two outer surfaces of an inner pouch portion of the mitt.
One pad is saturated with a variety of possible solutions for window cleaning, polishing, dusting, buffing, skin applications, etc.
The other pad is kept dry for drying, wiping or absorbing the excess solution after completion of the application.
The two pads are covered by the covers, such as peel-off plastic covers, that contain the cleaning solution within the mitt and protect the two pads until use.
There is an optional plastic film ribbon formed into the fingertip area seal of the mitt in the form of a pull-ring that facilitates turning the mitt inside out after use.
One of the advantages of the present invention is that it is a two-sided cleaning mitt for a portable kit for cleaning a hard-to-reach surface, such as the inside windshield of an automobile. The cleaning and drying mitt also cleans the inside windows of an automobile and is disposable, and easily portable. It may be packaged in a multi-pack which is flexible enough to fit into a glove box or pocket, and which is temperature-stable.
The appropriate materials for the cleaning and drying mitt include plastic films that are:
1. flexible and strong enough to be used as the structural components of a cleaning mitt;
2. impervious to liquids, gases, and a list of possible cleaning and caustic solutions;
3. able to be economically bonded together, and,
4. most importantly: able to be peeled apart without ripping, distorting, or disrupting the integrity or functionality of the mitt.
The preferred embodiment, at present, is to fashion the hollow pouch portion of the cleaning and drying mitt itself from a thermoplastic material, such as a polymer, excluding a non-thermoplastic polyester. Such thermoplastic materials include heat sealable polymers, such as, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene, among others. These materials bind properly, but non thermosplastic polyesters do not.
Preferably, the pouch portion of the mitt has two sides, where each side is about 5 mil in thickness. Although size may be varied to accommodate different sizes of human hands, the size is preferably 7 inches wide by 9 inches long.
The peel away covers that enclose the hollow pouch portions, which contains the cleaning solution-saturated pad and the dry drying pad, are preferably made using a 1.8-2.0 mil co-extrusion of aluminized MYLAR, polyester film—polyethylene laminate film. The lower polyethylene layer of each polyester film/polyethylene laminate cover is thermally bonded
James Glenn P.
James Teresa
Dilworth & Barrese
Till Terrence R.
LandOfFree
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