MULTI-USE CLEANING GLOVE

Abstract

A multi-use cleaning glove with at least two cleaning materials including a first cleaning material such as a scouring pad and a second cleaning material such as a sponge and mesh material for household surfaces. The first cleaning material is located on a palm side of said glove while the second cleaning material is located on the back side of the glove. A water proof material that is attached to the first and second cleaning materials is configured to encapsulate a user's hand from water or other cleaning liquids. A user can also employ gloves for each of the right and left hand, each glove having the first and the second cleaning material. The two cleaning materials are located on alternate sides on both hands.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to gloves and more specifically to gloves used for household chores such as dish washing, bathroom cleaning and the like.

Cleaning liquids and/or detergents are usually used for performing household chores. For example, dish washing liquids for dish washing and tile cleansers for bathroom cleaning are readily available. These cleaning liquids and cleansers can be detrimental to users with dry or sensitive skin. The cleansers' chemical content may cause rashes, skin dryness or other skin conditions. Even routine contact with water caused by regular dish washing can cause dry skin. It is for this reason gloves are worn when such household chores are performed.

Although traditional gloves can protect the hands, they cannot provide the cleaning functionality that is often required. For example, if scouring or dish wiping is required, traditional gloves cannot provide these functions. Users must still employ scouring pads, sponges, cleaners and the like for effective cleaning to be achieved. Even if traditional gloves did provide additional cleaning functionality, such functionality is usually limited. It is within the aforementioned context that the need for the present invention has arisen.

There is a need to address one or more of the aforementioned problems and the present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of a multi-use glove can be found in exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Unlike traditional gloves, this multi-use glove can be used for scouring and for wiping depending on the cleaning materials incorporated therein.

In a first embodiment, a glove with a central flexible body is disclosed. Preferably, this central flexible body is made of a resilient and waterproof material such as rubber or other comparable or polymer-type materials. The central flexible body has a palm side, a back side and a glove opening for receiving a user's hand.

Attached to the palm and back sides of the central flexible body are two congruent cleaning materials. Two cleaning materials are congruent if they coincide with one another when superimposed. Here, the first cleaning material may be a scouring material, for example. This scouring material is then attached to the palm side of the central flexible body. Although a substantial portion of the palm side's surface is covered by the scouring material, certain areas remain uncovered. Specifically, side areas between the palm side and back side as well as areas below the wrist of the central flexible body remain uncovered.

The second congruent cleaning material might be a sponge and mesh material that is essentially different from the first cleaning material. By essentially different, it is meant that the cleaning materials are made of dissimilar materials or that they accomplish cleaning in very distinct ways. Here, this sponge and mesh material can be attached to the back side of the central flexible body. Although a substantial portion of the back side's surface is covered by the sponge and mesh material, certain portions noted above of the central flexible body remain uncovered.

In this manner and unlike traditional gloves, a glove having a waterproof and central flexible body with two different cleaning materials attached on either side is thus provided. An advantage of the present invention has now become apparent. The waterproof and resilient central flexible body can protect a user from water, cleaning liquids and other cleansers that are detrimental to users with dry or sensitive skin. Not only can the glove of the present invention protect users' hands, it can also provide cleaning functionality without the need for separate cleaning pads. Further yet, the glove has dual cleaning surfaces providing for multiple cleaning functions such as scouring and wiping function with a single cleaning glove.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a multi-use glove cleaning system. This multi-use glove cleaning system includes a right hand glove and a left hand glove. By so doing, users can wear both gloves simultaneously for two separate tasks. The right hand glove is such that the scouring material (first cleaning material) is located on the palm side and the sponge and mesh material (second cleaning material) is located on the back side as earlier described.

On the left hand glove, however, the cleaning materials are located on sides opposite their location on the right hand glove. Specifically, the scouring material is located on the back side of the left hand glove while the sponge and mesh material is located on the palm side so that the left hand glove and the right hand glove have the same cleaning materials but on alternate sides. Note that both cleaning materials are configured to clean household surfaces and that a water proof material configured to encapsulate a user's hand from water or other cleaning liquids is also incorporated into both the left and right hand gloves.

Another advantage of the present invention has now become apparent. Users need not be limited to using a single hand for scouring and for wiping. Here, users can utilize both hands simultaneously for performing two separate tasks, i.e. using the right for scouring and simultaneously or contemporaneously using the left hand for wiping.

A further exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a multi-use cleaning glove. Here, two cleaning materials such as the scouring material and the sponge and mesh material are attached their edges. Specifically, in one aspect, the materials are attached around the palm and finger edges so that a glove opening, a palm side and a back side are formed. In another aspect, the materials are attached around the palm and finger tips to form a mitten. As a result, the palm side consists of the scouring material. And the back side consists of the sponge and mesh material. Conveniently, a water proof material forming an inner lining is incorporated into the glove. A further advantage of the present invention is that additional cleaning material surfaces for manipulation by a user's fingers is provided.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a glove for performing household cleaning functions according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional diagram of the glove of FIG. 1A when viewed from line A-A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a glove for household cleaning according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows gloves for two-handed household cleaning according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known aspects have not been described in detail as not to obscure aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates glove 100 for performing household cleaning functions according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1A, user 101 can wear glove 100 on either hand. Glove 100 includes at least two essentially congruent materials namely scouring material 102 and sponge and mesh material 104. Two cleaning materials are congruent if they coincide with one another when superimposed. In this example, scouring material 102 may be any material with sufficient strength and durability for scouring pots and pans and other surfaces that can be abrasively cleaned. Scouring material 102 can be made of synthetic fibers woven or non-woven, some or all of which may be crimped.

Sponge and mesh material 104 may be a sponge and mesh material for wiping and washing more delicate surfaces and items such as glassware, plates, bathtubs, etc. Sponge and mesh material 104 can be made from any suitable material such as polyester foam, cellulose, absorbent arrays of synthetic fibers, etc. or any combination thereof. Although the thickness of sponge and mesh material 104 may vary, a 4 mm thickness is preferable. This thickness is accounted for mostly by the sponge material portion with a thin resilient surface mesh material for holding the more delicate sponge material in place.

Scouring material 102 and sponge and mesh material 104 are bonded along their lateral edges and along the finger edges by stitching 108. Although not shown, other fastening methods consistent with scope and spirit of the present invention may be used. By bonding the cleaning materials along the edges, receptacle 103 and glove opening 110 for receiving the user's hand are formed. Glove palm side 112 is also formed. As shown, glove palm side 112 is formed by scouring material 102. Scouring material 102 runs transversely between little finger side 114 and thumb side 116 and also runs longitudinally between distal end 118 and proximal end 120. As used herein, the terms proximal and distal are defined relative to user 101's position when glove 100 is in normal use.

Glove back side 122 is also formed when the cleaning materials are bonded along the edges. As shown, glove back side 122 is formed by sponge and mesh material 104. Sponge and mesh material 104 runs transversely across glove back side 122 from little finger side 114 to thumb side 116. Sponge and mesh material 104 also runs longitudinally between distal end 118 and proximal end 120.

In FIG. 1A, glove 100 also incorporates interior lining 124 for receiving the user's hand (user 101). Interior lining 124 is a water proof material for encapsulating the user's hand when inserted within the glove 100 interior. In this manner, user 101's hand can remain dry when dishwashing and other household cleaning operations are performed.

In operation, user 101 can employ glove 100 for any number of household cleaning functions. For example, user 101 may wish to scrub heavily soiled pots and pans employed for cooking dinner. User 101 begins by inserting a hand into glove 100. Specifically, user 101 inserts the right hand through glove opening 110, through which the glove interior is encapsulated by interior lining 124. After the right hand is fully inserted, scouring material 102 is now located on the glove's palm side. Note that sponge and mesh material 104 (not used for current task) is located on the glove backside. User 101 can then begin to utilize scouring material 102 for cleaning.

Specifically, user 101 uses a to and fro motion for scouring the heavily soiled pots and pan in a regular manner. This cleaning process is continued until the task is accomplished. Conveniently, the scouring material is incorporated with glove 100. This is an advantage of the present invention in that a separate scouring pad as in the conventional arts need not be employed. Not only can the glove of the present invention protect users' hands, it can also provide cleaning functionality without the need for separate cleaning pads.

If delicate items i.e., wine glasses and the like are slated for cleaning, sponge and mesh material 104 would be needed. Here, glove 100 is simply switched from one hand to the other. As previously noted, because glove 100 is configured for either hand, user 101 simply switches glove 100 to the left hand. By so doing, the location of sponge and mesh material 104 is changed to the palm. User 101 can now use sponge and mesh material 104 for cleaning the glassware until the task is completed.

Thus, another advantage of the present invention is now apparent. Not only is a first material (scouring material 102) incorporated on to glove 100, a second material (sponge and mesh material 104) is incorporated as well. With two cleaning surfaces incorporated, user 101 can conveniently complete different tasks while protecting the user's hands from harsh chemical detergents. The user need not utilize separate two-sided pads for cleaning as might be known in the prior art.

Note that the configuration of glove 100 is not limited to the FIG. 1A illustration. Thus, scouring material 102 may be located on glove back side 122 while sponge and mesh material may be on glove palm side 112. In fact, cleaning materials different from those illustrated may be located on either side. For example, glove back side 112 may have an electrostatic cloth for dusting while glove palm side 112 might have a microfiber cloth for smudges.

Moreover, although not shown, in an alternate embodiment, glove 100 need not incorporate interior lining 124. In this case, glove 100 is used with a conventional latex glove, for example. Here, user 101 wearing the latex glove simply slips glove 100 over the latex glove, which can then provide waterproof protection for the hands. After usage, user 101 can separately remove glove 100 and the latex glove. I

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional diagram of glove 100 when viewed from line A-A of FIG. 1A.

In FIG. 1B, palm side 112 formed by scouring material 102 is shown. Glove back side 122 formed by sponge and mesh material 104 is also shown. Both materials are bonded at their edges by stitching 108 as can be seen.

FIG. 2 illustrates glove 200 for household cleaning according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, user 201 can also wear glove 200 on either hand as in FIG. 1a. Unlike FIG. 1A, however, glove 200 comprises glove body 224 forming the main portion of glove 200 to which other components are attached. Glove body 224 is preferably made of a flexible, waterproof and resilient material such as rubber or other comparable or polymer-type materials. Glove body 224 might also incorporate a breathable and stretchable material and is tapered at the wrist. As shown, glove body 224 encapsulates user 201's fingers, palms and extends well below the wrist.

In FIG. 2, glove 200 includes scouring material 202 and sponge and mesh material 204 similar to corresponding materials described with reference to FIG. 1A. Unlike FIG. 1A, however, wherein the cleaning materials are bonded along their edges, scouring material 202 and sponge and mesh material 204 are bonded to the surface of glove body 224. Specifically, scouring material 202 is bonded to palm side 212 and sponge and mesh material 204 is bonded to back side 222 of glove body 224. Bonding may be either fixed or detachable. When detachable, a detachable fastener sold under the trademarked name Velcro can be utilized. This allows for worn-out materials to be easily replaced.

In FIG. 2, scouring material 202 covers palm side 212 as described with reference to FIG. 1A except as shown herein wherein lateral areas of the palm and fingers as well as finger tips remain uncovered. Areas on glove 200 corresponding to laugh lines and finger creases (not shown) can be pre-creased for flexibility such that the palm and fingers can be easily clenched. Glove 200 of FIG. 2 also includes elastic band 205, running transversely around the proximal or wrist portion of glove 200. Elastic band 205 is configured to form a water tight seal around user 201's wrist. Although not shown, glove body

In operation, user 201 can employ glove 200 for any number of household cleaning functions as described with reference to FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 shows gloves 300 and 300A for two-handed household cleaning according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, gloves 300 and 300A have the same cleaning materials on alternating sides. Specifically, scouring material 302 of glove 300 is located on palm side 312 while the corresponding scouring material 302A of glove 300A is located on glove back side 322A. Similarly, sponge and mesh material 304 of glove 300 is located on back side 322 while the corresponding sponge and mesh material 304A of glove 300A is located on palm side 312A.

Although not shown, gloves 300 and 300A can be configured as shown in FIG. 1A, with each glove having alternating materials on both sides. Note also that the glove 200 (FIG. 2) and gloves 300 and 300A are similar except that the cleaning materials of glove 200 and glove 300A are on opposite sides. For example, scouring material 202 of glove 200 is on the palm side while scouring material 302A of glove 300A is on the glove back side.

In operation, user 301 can simultaneously wear both glove 300 and glove 300A to perform two separate tasks. User 301 might for example desire to clean a counter top with hardened food crumbs located thereon. User 301 initiates this cleaning process by using the right hand and scouring material 302 to scour the countertop surface; this is immediately followed by the left hand having sponge and mesh material 304A to wipe the countertop surface.

An advantage of the present invention is thus immediately apparent. User 301 need not be constrained by employing a single hand and a separate scouring pad for scouring and then using the same hand and a separate sponge for cleaning. Here, user 301 can use both hands simultaneously for performing two separate tasks, i.e. using the right for scouring and simultaneously or contemporaneously using the left hand for wiping.

While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific embodiments of the invention, additional embodiments are also possible. For example, although gloves 100, 200, 300 and 300A have been depicted as gloves, they may be mittens consistent with the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

Claims

1. A multi-use cleaning glove comprising:

at least two essentially congruent materials including

a first material and a second material different from said first material,

wherein said first material and said second material are bonded at least along lateral edges resulting in formation of a glove opening, and resulting in formation of a glove palm side consisting essentially of the first material running transversely from a little finger side to a thumb side of said glove and longitudinally from a distal end to at least a proximal end of said glove, and

wherein said bonding along the lateral edges also results in formation of a glove back side consisting essentially of the second material running transversely from said little finger to side to said thumb side and running longitudinally from said distal end to at least said proximal end.

2. The glove of claim 1 further comprising a water proof material forming an interior lining within said glove.

3. The glove of claim 1 wherein said first material is a scouring material.

4. The glove of claim 1 wherein said second material is a sponge and mesh material.

5. The glove of claim 1 wherein said first material is a micro-fiber cloth.

6. The glove of claim 1 wherein said second material is an electrostatic cloth.

7. The glove of claim 1 wherein said water proof material includes an elastic band at said proximal end, said elastic band configured to form a water tight seal around a user's wrist.

8. A glove having a central flexible body, said central flexible body being water proof, and said central flexible body being formed of a glove opening, a palm side and a back side, said glove comprising:

at least two essentially congruent materials including a first material and a second material that is different from the first material;

said first material being attached to a surface of said palm side of said central flexible body, said first material running transversely from a little finger side to a thumb side of said glove and running longitudinally from a tip of said glove fingers to above a wrist end of said glove, said second material being attached to a surface of said back side of said glove, said second material running transversely from said little finger side to said thumb side of said glove and running longitudinally from said tip of said glove fingers to essentially above a wrist end of said user, and

wherein lateral areas between said palm side and said back side, lateral areas of fingers remain uncovered by the first material and the second material.

9. The glove of claim 8 wherein said first material is a scouring material.

10. The glove of claim 8 wherein said second material is a sponge and mesh material.

11. The glove of claim 8 wherein said second material is a dish cloth material.

12. The glove of claim 8 wherein said first material is a micro-fiber cloth.

13. The glove of claim 8 wherein said second material is an electrostatic cloth.

14. The glove of claim 8 wherein said water proof material includes an elastic band at said proximal end, said elastic band configured to form a water tight seal around a user's wrist.

15. A multi-use cleaning glove comprising:

at least two essentially congruent materials including a first cleaning material configured to clean household surfaces, wherein said first cleaning material is located on a palm side of said glove, a second cleaning material different from said first cleaning material, wherein said second cleaning material is configured to clean household surfaces, wherein said second cleaning material is located on a back side of said glove; and

a water proof material attached to said first and second cleaning materials, said water proof material configured to encapsulate a user's hand from water or other cleaning liquids.

16. The glove of claim 15 wherein said water proof material includes an elastic band at a proximal end, said elastic band configured to form a water tight seal around a user's wrist.

17. A multi-use glove cleaning system comprising:

a right hand glove consisting of at least two essentially congruent materials including a first cleaning material configured to clean household surfaces, wherein the first cleaning material is located on a palm side of said right hand glove, and a second cleaning material, different from said first cleaning material, configured to clean household surfaces, wherein said second cleaning material is located on a back side of said right hand glove, and a right hand water proof material configured to encapsulate a user's hand from water or other cleaning liquids; and

a left hand glove having said first cleaning material located on a back side of said left hand glove so that the left hand glove and the right hand glove have said first cleaning material on different sides, wherein said second cleaning material is located on a palm side of said left hand glove so that said left hand glove and said right hand glove have the second cleaning material on different sides, and a left hand water proof material configured to encapsulate a user's hand from water or other cleaning liquids.

18. The glove of claim 17 wherein said right hand water proof material and said left hand waterproof material includes an elastic band at a proximal end, said elastic band configured to form a water tight seal around a user's wrist.

19. The glove of claim 1 wherein said second material is a dish cloth material.