Flexible, Finger-Mounted Cleaning Device

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a finger-mounted, detail cleaning apparatus and system for cleaning small, angled or contoured surfaces that are difficult to clean. The finger-mounted apparatus is specially contoured with an internal cavity in which a user places one of his or her fingers. The internal cavity is tapered with a wider cavity at the entry point and a narrower cavity toward the tip to accommodate users having a wide range of finger sizes. A disposable or reusable cleaning cover may be placed over the tip of the finger-mounted apparatus, and secured by any means known in the art.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/160,568 filed on Mar. 16, 2009.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of tools for thoroughly cleaning contoured surfaces and objects, and more specifically to a flexible, finger-mounted apparatus for cleaning edges, crevices, contours and apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible, finger-mounted cleaning device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible, finger-mounted cleaning device with a cleaning cover.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible, finger-mounted cleaning device.

GLOSSARY

As used herein, the term “contoured” means having an irregular shape.

As used herein, the term “crevice” or “defined crevice” refers to an opening having fixed boundaries.

As used herein, the term “elongated” means having a greater length than width.

As used herein, the term “gripping contour” refers to holes, a textured portion, a raised portion or ridges adapted for gripping, positioning or removing an object.

As used herein, the term “internal cavity” refers to a hollow space which extends from the exterior of a component into its interior.

As used herein, the term “outer entry point” refers to an opening on the exterior of a component which leads into an internal cavity.

As used herein, the term “point” means a shape resembling the vertex of an angle (e.g., a tapered tip). A point may include, but is not limited to an apex, a rounded structure resembling an apex, a flattened structure where an apex would appear or any other structure which is tapered at one end.

As used herein, the term “selectively attachable” refers to an object that can be secured to and removed from another object as desired.

As used herein, the term “tapered tip” refers to apex that gradually diminishes in width or thickness.

As used herein, the term “tubular” refers to any structure which may be adapted to form a housing including, but not limited to rounded, rectangular, tapered, oval, irregularly shaped, semi-circular, angular and crescent-shaped structures.

BACKGROUND

Detail cleaning tools and implements are well known in the art and are used for electronic, automotive, aviation, household and institutional components and surfaces. However, such tools are difficult to grasp and manipulate, and may not thoroughly clean crevices, contours and other hard to reach areas because they do not have a surface area to which pressure can be effectively and evenly applied.

There are many examples of hand-held, detail cleaning tools known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,823 teaches a flexible device that is designed for cleaning dust and dirt from laptops, keyboards, and monitors. The device has a large number of incisions that run crossways to create flexible fins that trap dust and debris. This device, however, is difficult to grasp and maneuver along hard to reach and/or small surfaces, such as cracks and crevices.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,666 (Kalbow '666) teaches a device designed for cleaning, scouring, or scrubbing. The device consists of a soft and flexible foam pad with a scrubbing surface that is composed of sharper and more rigid plastic protuberances. This pad taught by Kalbow '666 is abrasive and limited to applications where an abrasive texture is needed, and cannot be used for cleaning sensitive items and surfaces, such as computer screens.

Another example of a hand-held, detail cleaning tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,809 (Prost '809). Prost '809 teaches a hand-held tool that affixes a cleaning swab at the tip of the device. This cleaning swab can then be used to clean hard to reach interior components of machinery, electronic devices and the like through narrow passages; however, it is difficult to grasp and maneuver.

It is desirable to have a detail cleaning device which can be easily grasped and maneuvered.

It is further desirable to have a detail cleaning device which is flexible and anthropometrically designed to be manipulated with maximum dexterity.

It is further desirable to have a detail cleaning device which is angled to allow for added dexterity when cleaning areas that are difficult to reach.

It is further desirable to have a detail cleaning device that can be used in conjunction with a single use or reusable cleaning pad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein is a finger-mounted, detail cleaning apparatus and system for cleaning small, angled or contoured surfaces that are difficult to reach. The finger-mounted apparatus is specially contoured with an internal cavity for the user's index finger. The internal cavity is tapered with a wider cavity at the entry point and a narrower cavity toward the tip to accommodate users having a wide range of finger sizes. A disposable or reusable cleaning cover may be placed over the tip of the finger-mounted apparatus, and secured by any means known in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text to exemplary embodiments of a flexible, finger-mounted detail cleaning device, only some of which are described herein. It should be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are intended by describing these exemplary embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that there may be modifications to the dimensions of a flexible, finger-mounted detail cleaning device, and that alternate, but functionally similar material(s) and configurations may be used to make a flexible, finger-mounted detail cleaning device. The inclusion of additional elements may be deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Specific elements disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of finger-mounted apparatus 100 designed to facilitate the cleaning of small, angled or contoured surfaces that are difficult to reach and require the use of specialized cleaning tools.

In various embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 is constructed of a flexible or semi-rigid material such as natural rubber, urethane rubber, silicone or other flexible, resin, plastic, synthetic material, recycled material or foam. In various embodiments, the hardness of finger-mounted apparatus 100 may range from 20 A to 70 A on the Shore durometer scale.

In the embodiment shown, finger-mounted apparatus 100 is a generally tubular structure constructed of urethane rubber and is approximately 1 to 5 inches in length. Finger-mounted apparatus 100 includes internal cavity 50 for a user to insert his or her index finger. Internal cavity 50 is internally tapered, and is wider at outer entry point 55 and narrower toward tapered tip 60. The inner contours of internal cavity 50 resemble a series of concentric diameters (FIG. 3), decreasing in size toward tapered tip 60 so that a user can position their finger securely within the contours of internal cavity 50. The contours within internal cavity 50 operate to grip a user's finger through the combination of the deformable and/or semi-rigid nature of the material used and the tapered design of the contours.

Finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be used on the tip of any finger (typically the index finger) and may be rotated 360 degrees to achieve a more precise angle for a specific cleaning application. For example, finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be positioned so that tapered tip 60 points upward or downward.

In addition, finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be gripped by the adjacent finger and thumb for added support. In the embodiment shown, gripping ridges 81 and 82 provide additional support for gripping, additional structural support, and increased rigidity and durability of finger-mounted apparatus 100. In other embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 may have more or fewer gripping ridges or another gripping contour (e.g., a textured portion).

Tapered tip 60 is adapted for cleaning crevices, contours, apertures, flat surfaces, curved surfaces and other surfaces that may typically be cleaned using brushes, swabs, aerosol sprays, air brushes or any other tool used for cleaning confined or difficult-to-reach spaces. For example, tapered tip 60 of finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be used for cleaning cracks and crevices while the flat and curved portions of finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be used to clean flat and curved surfaces.

In alternate embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be of alternate shapes, such as triangular, square tubular, or irregularly shaped. Finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be constructed of a durable material for repeated use, or of a material which renders the unit disposable. In other embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be flexible, semi-flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, porous, non-porous or absorbent.

Finger-mounted apparatus 100 (and the finger-mounted system components discussed herein) may be used for cleaning electronic devices, furniture, automotive components, aviation components, household and institutional furnishings, medical equipment and industrial equipment.

In various embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 is adapted for use in both sterile and non-sterile environments, and may be worn over latex gloves, and/or chemically treated with a sterile substance. Finger-mounted apparatus 100 may be washed with a soapy or sterile solution, or be machine-washed.

In the embodiment shown, finger-mounted apparatus 100 is equipped with hook and loop pad 93 (e.g., Velcro™), which is used to secure cleaning cover 200 (not shown).

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of finger-mounted apparatus 100 with cleaning cover 200. Cleaning cover 200 may be constructed of resilient washable fabric, paper or other disposable materials. In the embodiment shown, cleaning cover 200 is constructed to fit securely over finger-mounted apparatus 100 and tapered tip 60.

In the embodiment shown, cleaning cover 200 has hook and loop pad 96 attached to the interior surface. Hook and loop pad 96 of cleaning cover 200 corresponds to hook and loop pad 93 of finger-mounted apparatus 100 and secures cleaning cover 200 to finger-mounted apparatus 100. In alternate embodiments, other means of attachment, such as adhesive, may be used for securing cleaning cover 200 to finger-mounted apparatus 100.

In other embodiments, cleaning cover 200 may be secured to finger-mounted apparatus 100 using another means, such as adhesive, magnets, or snaps.

In the embodiment shown, cleaning cover 200 is a formed material that is shaped to the contours of finger-mounted apparatus 100, and may be manufactured using any non-abrasive, abrasive, and/or absorbent materials known in the art (e.g., microfibers and absorbent paper), which are suitable for a particular cleaning application. In other embodiments, finger-mounted apparatus 100 and/or cleaning cover 200 may be treated with another substance, such as a sterile substance or a substance which attracts dust and/or a user May apply a cleaning solution prior to use.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a finger-mounted apparatus 100 showing the tapering and contouring of internal cavity 50. Internal cavity 50 is internally tapered at outer entry point 55 and inner contours 57 of internal cavity 50 resemble a series of concentric diameters, decreasing in size from outer entry point 55 to tapered tip 60. The wider cavity at outer entry point 55 combined with inner contours 57 of internal cavity 50 enables finger-mounted apparatus 100 to securely accommodate varying hand and finger sizes and a wide range of anthropometric proportions.

In other embodiments, inner contours 57 may be of another shape and/or design. For examples, inner contours 57 may be angled, smooth or rounded.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprised of:

a housing which has a tapered tip joined to said housing at a first housing end, said housing further including a contoured internal cavity at a second housing end, said contoured internal cavity adapted to securely position said housing on an index finger so that said housing is not dislodged when pressure is applied to said tapered tip;

said tapered tip further including a pointed end adapted for insertion into a crevice.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is tubular.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of natural rubbers, urethane rubbers, silicones, resins, plastics, synthetic materials, recycled materials, fabric, paper and foam.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is 1 to 5 inches in length.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said internal cavity is tapered.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said internal cavity includes a series of concentric diameters decreasing in diameter from an outer entry point to said tapered tip.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes at least one gripping contour.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tapered tip is tapered at an angle of ten to forty-five degrees.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes at least one selectively attachable cleaning cover constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of microfibers, cotton fibers, synthetic fibers, polymer fibers, natural fibers, a coating layer, a protective layer, a sprdy coating, a sterile coating, a disinfecting coating, a static-inducing coating, a conductive coating, a heat-resistant coating and combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cleaning cover is secured to said housing a securing component selected from a group consisting of hook and eye fabric, permanent adhesive, magnets, snaps, straps, and protuberances.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cleaning cover is disposable.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tapered tip is pointed and has a thickness of 0.1 millimeter to 10 millimeters.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tapered tip is contoured to clean a defined crevice.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is disposable.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is singly molded.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is heat-resistant.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is non-porous.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tapered tip is detachable.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes an additional hand securing component.

20. A digitally manipulated cleaning system comprised of:

a singly molded finger-mounted housing which includes an internal cavity adapted to receive an index finger, said singly molded finger-mounted housing further includes an outer entry point, a tapered tip, at least one gripping contour, at least one attachment component, and a contoured internal cavity decreasing in size from said outer entry point to said tapered tip; and

a selectively attachable cleaning cover for said finger-mounted housing.