Offset handle lint roller

Abstract

A lint roller consists of a roller body with a longitudinally extending axis. The handle comprises a connecting section and a gripping section extending from the connecting section. The gripping section has a longitudinally extending axis which is parallel to the axis of the roller body, but is located in a different transverse plane than the roller body axis. The connecting section is secured to one lateral sidewall of the roller body at an angle of less than 90° in relation to the lateral sidewall of the roller body. The handle may be made of one molded piece, which includes the gripping and connecting sections, or in two pieces, with the gripping and connecting sections secured to each other.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Lint rollers with adhesive surfaces have been used effectively for many years as simple and effective tools for removing lint, threads, hair, dust and other foreign particles and dirt from clothes and other fabric. The most common, commercially sold lint roller, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,726, employs a roller body with elongated longitudinal axis, connected to a handle which extends from the roller body along the same elongated longitudinal axis. This configuration, however, does not permit the user to gain the maximum benefit of the application of force applied to the area to be cleaned. Users of such lint rollers also are somewhat handicapped, in that the closeness to the cleaning surfaces of the gripping sections of such rollers often interfere with effective and efficient cleaning of an area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is thus the object of the present invention to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of prior lint rollers.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lint roller with a handle/roller configuration which allows for fill, efficient, and effective use of the lint roller.

[0004] It is another object of the present invention to provide a lint roller with a handle/roller configuration which does not impede its cleaning operation.

[0005] These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, consisting of a lint roller with an offset handle. The roller consists of a roller body with a longitudinally extending axis. The handle comprises a connecting section and a gripping section extending from the connecting section. The gripping section has a longitudinally extending axis which is parallel to the axis of the roller body, but is located in a different transverse plane than the roller body axis. The connecting section is secured to one lateral sidewall of the roller body at an angle of less than 90° in relation to the lateral sidewall of the roller body. The handle may be made of one molded piece, which includes the gripping and connecting sections, or in two pieces, with the gripping and connecting sections secured to each other.

[0006] Novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with the additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the lint roller of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an end view of the lint roller of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a view of the other end of the lint roller of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the lint roller of the present invention showing the relative positions of the relevant axii.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Lint roller 1 comprises roller body 2 with elongated longitudinal axis 3. Roller body 2 also has outer adhesive surface 4 and lateral sidewalls 6 and 8. Handle 10 consists of a connecting section 12 and a gripping section 14 which is to be held by the user. Gripping section 14 has longitudinal axis 11, which is parallel to but in a different transverse plane than axis 3 of roller body 2. Gripping section 14 extends from connecting section 12. Connecting section 12 is secured, by conventional means, to lateral sidewall 6, at an angle of 90° or less to the lateral sidewall. By means of, for example only, connecting section 12, shown in FIG. 1, is attached to sidewall 6 at an angle of approximately 30° to the sidewall.

[0012] Handle 10 can be manufactured as a single molded piece or fabricated as two separate pieces, with the connecting and gripping sections secured to each other.

[0013] When the user holds gripping section 14, the user's hand is well above the cleaning surface. He or she may effectively and more efficiently roll lint roller 1, with its adhesive surface 4, over a cleaning surface, without interference from elevated regions of the cleaning surface.

[0014] Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A lint roller comprising:

(a) a cylindrical roller body comprising an elongated longitudinal axis, said body having an adhesive surface and first and second lateral sidewalls;

(b) a handle comprising a connecting section and a gripping section, said connecting section being attached solely to the first lateral sidewall of the roller body and said gripping section extending outwardly from the connecting section, said gripping section comprising an elongated longitudinal axis which, at all times, is parallel to the axis of the roller body, but is located in a different transverse plane than the axis of the roller body.

2. A lint roller as in claim 1 in which the connecting section is attached to the first lateral sidewall of the roller body at an angle of less than 90° to the lateral side of the roller body.

3. The lint roller as in claim 1 wherein the handle is a one piece molded unit.

4. The lint roller as in claim 1 wherein the connecting section and the gripping section are two separately molded components attached to each other.

5. A lint roller comprising:

(a) a cylindrical roller body comprising an elongated longitudinal axis, said body having an adhesive surface and first and second lateral sidewalls;

(b) a handle comprising a connecting section and a gripping section, said connecting section being attached solely to the first lateral sidewall of the roller body and extending from the lateral sidewall of the roller body at an angle of less than 90° to the lateral sidewall, said gripping section extending outwardly from the connecting section.

6. The lint roller as in claim 6 wherein the handle is a one piece molded unit.

7. The lint roller as in claim 5 wherein the connecting section and gripping section are two separately molded components attached to each other.