Bound Arrangement Of Cloth Panels For Ease Of Use And To Reduce Cross Contamination During Cleaning.

Abstract

Improvements in a cleaning or polishing device made from a minimum of two approximately hand-sized cloth panels that are rotated sequentially after becoming soiled is disclosed. Each of the panels can be visually discriminated from the others by a plurality of indicia, consisting of numbers, symbols, tabs, objects, colors, letters, further being in a recognizable sequence by the user or to indicate purpose or task orientation. The cleaning or polishing device also includes the method of using the panels by following a simple and efficient series of directions as to how to rotate the panels and using each of the panels in a preferred order of use, thus maximizing the use of the surface area of the material and eliminating waste or contamination.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/674,176 filed Jul. 20, 2012 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in a cleaning towel. More particularly, the present cleaning towel is a bound arrangement of cloth panels for ease of use and to reduce cross contamination during cleaning.

2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Cleaning towels are notorious for accumulating and spreading soils and germs. Though most users simply wad the towel during cleaning, many experts recommend folding the towel into fourths thereby creating eight quadrants and then flipping to a fresh quadrant as the surface becomes soiled to help keep the towel fresh. This “flipping and folding”□ practice helps, but it's cumbersome, and difficult to know where to start and which parts of the towel have already been used. In businesses or health care environments where prevention of cross-contamination is crucial, it is difficult to train employees on the correct practice and to enforce the practice. In homes or other business environments, users may not be trained in the “flipping and folding”□ practice and therefore, are not using towels to maximum benefit.

A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this /these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.

Published application US2009/0307858 was published on Dec. 17, 2009 to Felicia Glonet discloses a Cleaning Mitt. The cleaning mitt has a plurality of openings (four) where a person can insert a thumb into each progressive hole and rotate the cleaning mitt to sequentially use quarters of the cleaning mitt. While this invention allows for sectional use around the cleaning mitt, a user could easily rotate the mitt back into a dirty surface. The cleaning mitt only provides the outer and inner surface for cleaning.

Published application US2011/0041276 was published on Feb. 24, 2011 to Cheri E. Edwards et al., discloses a cleaning and polishing article that is essentially a glove with multiple coverings that cover the glove and can be folded over the glove to provide additional cleaning or polishing surfaces. While the glove provides multiple coverings the coverings do not extend over the entire surface of the glove, the inside of the glove is not used for cleaning and the surface do not have indicia that identifies that a surface has been used whereby allowing a person to use a soiled surface. Further, washing the glove does not clean the interior surface if the glove.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,505,409 issued Jul. 1, 1948 to O. J. Kirchner discloses a Cleaning and Polishing Mitt. The mitt is constructed with multiple layers of fabric that are loose stitched together. When a layer has been used the used layer is removed from the mitt thereby exposing an unused layer. While this mitt provides multiple cleaning surfaces the removed surface is not reused or cleaned for re-attachment to the glove.

What is needed is a cleaning rag with multiple cleaning surfaces. The multiple cleaning surfaces can be numbered to prevent confusion of the surface that has been used. The ideal cleaning rag should also allow for a user to have access to the majority of the rag for use and be re-washable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the cleaning cloth to improve user training to aid a user in the practice of “flipping and folding” a cleaning towel or rag. The “flipping and folding” practice started with a large rag that was folded into quarters to provide eight cleaning surfaces. It relied upon a person to fold and track what side had been used. In general, the visual appearance determined what side had been used. Using the cleaning cloth aids the user to use all of the eight surfaces, and use all of the eight surfaces only once.

It is an object of the cleaning cloth to have sewn edge or edges. The sewing can be along one edge, two edges, three edges, or completely along one edge and partially along one or more sides. Sewing the along more than one side allows a user to place a hand onto or into the “pouch” or “pocket” created by the sewn edges without detracting from the use of all eight cleaning surfaces.

It is another object of the cleaning cloth to have indicia that identifies the multiple surfaces of the cleaning cloth. The indicia allow a user to sequentially know what surfaces have been used and what surfaces have not been used. The markings can be numbers, letters or symbols that provide a clue to a user a sequential pattern. A user starts at a particular beginning number, letter or symbol and the increments or decrements by “flipping and folding” the cleaning cloth until all eight cleaning surfaces have been utilized.

It is still another object of the cleaning cloth to have multiple cleaning surfaces. The multiple cleaning surfaces are created by joining four or more sheets of cleaning materials together. Along one or more sides. This bonds the multiple cleaning surfaces into finite controllable elements or quadrants. The cleaning surfaces are constructed in a size that makes then manageable and allows for use of nearly the entire surface. While the description may be identified as joining four sheets, there may be as few as two joined sheet that are joined on a folded side, or many more than four sheets.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred finished embodiment. The panels are stacked and attached on one side by a seam or other bonding means.

FIG. 2 is the back view of the preferred finished embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred finished embodiment with the first panel folded up to show the numbering on the back side of the first panel.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred finished embodiment with the first panel folded over and placed under the other panels.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present cleaning and polishing cloth indicating and showing the relative size of the cleaning and polishing cloth and its size relationship to that of the hand of an average adult.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein small partial seams are made at the top of the sides of the panels in addition to the seam at the top of the panels.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein two sides of the panels are attached by full seams.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein three sides of the panels are attached by full seams.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth in a flat orientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There are many different clothes being used for cleaning, but clothes that are larger than the typical human hand cause wadding of the cloth, resulting in portions of the cloth that are not used before the cloth is too soiled and must be replaced. Additionally, clothes that are larger than the human hand can increase cross contamination by having uncontrolled portions of the cloth coming in contact with other unintended surface areas. Further, it is common to see the middle of a microfiber towel worn out while the edges look almost new due to uneven hand pressure being applied throughout the cloth. The practice of “flipping and folding” reduces these problems, but it is difficult to learn and almost impossible to enforce in business and health care environments. It is very simple during this practice to lose track of which parts have already been used or for the towel to become unfolded during use, resulting in frustration, abandonment of the “flipping and folding”□ procedure or replacement of the towel before it has been fully utilized. In an environment where cross-contamination must be prevented, the problem is worsened because an improperly folded or used towel can spread contaminants.

The multiple cleaning surfaces are created by joining four or more sheets of cleaning materials together. Along one or more full or partial sides. This bonds the multiple cleaning surfaces into finite controllable elements or quadrants. The cleaning surfaces are constructed in a size that makes then manageable and allows for use of nearly the entire surface. While the description may be identified as joining four sheets, there may be as few as two joined sheet that are joined on a folded side, or many more than four sheets. In the preferred embodiment there are two or four joined sheet to create eight cleaning surfaces.

The cleaning and polishing product disclosed in this document solves all of these problems by being easily rotated to the next clean panel to be used, by being hand-sized and bound and by allowing markings to maintain sequential use or to indicate task or purpose orientation. The cleaning and polishing cloth is simple to use with little to no training. The user can easily keep track of which panel is to be used next and does not need to know and practice the complicated and frustrating “flipping and folding”□ procedure.

The size of the cleaning and polishing product has panels of a length of between 0.5″□ to 60″, but more preferably a size that can be covered under a hand with a length of between 4″ to 10″.

The cleaning and polishing cloth differs and is an improvement on what currently exists.

The cleaning and polishing cloth consists of multiple bound cloth panels that may be numbered, color coded or otherwise marked to indicate the order in which they are to be used or the task or purpose of use. The panels are then rotated when soiled and the next panel is ready for use. The most effective cleaning will occur in those areas of the cloth where the downward force of the users hand is at its maximum. The panels are approximately hand-sized to ensure that the maximum surface area of the cloth is used. The cloth can be made of any flexible material including but not limited to the following: woven fibers such as microfiber, cotton, terrycloth; animal skins, chamois, sponge and various synthetic materials selected for their utilitarian desirable properties as will be known by those skilled in the art. In one preferred embodiment, the material is a soft and absorbent material such as microfiber. The cloth advantageously may have the properties of being hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and abrasive or any other property desirable in a hand held device with a surface for application to the maintenance of an object or surface. The cloth surface may also have an impregnated such as an anti-tarnish chemical formulation or other surface modification means.

In one embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth the panels are attached on one side, either full or partial on one edge of the panels. In another embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth, the panels are attached on two sides with either full or partial seams. In a further embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth, the panels are attached on three sides with either full or partial seams. In yet another embodiment, the panels are attached on more than 3 sides with either partial or full seams.

Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples of the present cleaning and polishing cloth is shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the cleaning and polishing cloth.

FIG. 1 illustrates the top view of the cleaning and polishing cloth, a bound arrangement of panels for ease of use and to reduce cross contamination during cleaning, having a surface material appropriate for manual, contact maintenance, such as a cloth 21. It is preferred that the edges of the cloth are treated or sewn to form a hem 22 to prevent unraveling of the cloth, but it is further contemplated that the edges can be unfinished based upon the material construction. In its preferred embodiment, the cloth is of such a size that it is approximately hand-sized. The preferred size of the cloth is approximately 8 inches wide by 8 inches long. The cleaning and polishing cloth of such a hand-sized collection of panels is considered a highly novel and cleaning and polishing cloth feature of the cleaning and polishing cloth. A wide variety of different quantities, shapes and arrangements of such panels defined from various sized cloths can be imagined which would not deviate from the scope of this cleaning and polishing cloth. In this embodiment, each of the panels has been uniquely identified by numbers 24. FIG. 1 shows the panels are attached by a fastening means 23. The fastening means is preferably thread stitching that is sewn along the joined edges of the cloth to attach them. Other joining or fastening methods include but are not limited to tape, sealant, fabric, cloth, sewn, seams, snaps, buttons, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, fusion, zip ties, rings, wire and staples.

However, other shapes, configurations and means of fastening are possible without deviating from the scope of this cleaning and polishing cloth, including but not limited to square, rectangle, round, oval, triangular, animals, sports equipment, kitchen utensils, anatomical and vehicles.

FIG. 2 shows the back side of the cleaning and polishing cloth, with unique identifications 24 on the panels.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred finished embodiment with the first panel folded up showing the number on the back side of the first panel.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred finished embodiment with the first panel folded over 27.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present cleaning and polishing cloth indicating and showing the relative size of the cleaning and polishing cloth and its size relationship to that of the hand of an adult.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein small partial seams 25 are made at the top of the sides of the panels in addition to the seam at the top of the panels 23.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein one additional side of the panel is attached by a full seam 26 including the seam at the top of the panels 23.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth wherein three sides of the panels are attached by full seams 23 and 26.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of the cleaning and polishing cloth in a flat orientation.

While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the cleaning and polishing cloth. For instance, various durable materials can be used for the various components of the cleaning article described herein, additional sheets or coverings (more than four) may be employed, and the cleaning article may be formed in a variety of shapes such as oblong, circular, star, or rectangular. It is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

How The cleaning and polishing cloth Works:

This cleaning or polishing device is made from a minimum of two approximately hand-sized cloth panels that are rotated sequentially after becoming soiled. Each of the panels can be visually discriminated from the others by a plurality of indicia, consisting of numbers, symbols, tabs, objects, colors, letters, tabs, buttons, further being in a recognizable sequence by the user or to indicate purpose or task orientation.

The cleaning and polishing cloth also includes the method of using the panels by following a simple and efficient series of directions as to how to rotate the panels and using each of the panels in a preferred order of use, thus maximizing the use of the surface area of the material and eliminating waste or contamination.

Thus, specific embodiments of a cleaning and polishing cloth have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of creating a maintenance device comprising two or more panels of material which is appropriate for manual, contact maintenance comprising:

at least two panels that are attached along at least one side by a fastening method;

each of said at least two panels are stacked and attached to each other with at least one seam that extends at least partially along a linear length of said linear side of said at least two panels.

2. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein each of said at least two panels includes a unique one of a plurality of indicia, wherein said indicia is selected from a group consisting of numbers, symbols, tabs, objects, colors, letters flaps, pockets, tabs and buttons.

3. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 2 wherein said indicia is a recognizable sequence by a user to indicate purpose order or task orientation.

4. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said least two panels are made from flexible material, wherein said flexible material is selected from a group comprising of sponge, synthetic materials, paper, animal skins, chamois, woven fibers, and cloth.

5. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 4 wherein said woven fibers is selected from a group comprising of microfiber, cotton and terrycloth.

6. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said at least two panels is a different material.

7. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two panels has an impregnate of an anti-tarnish chemical formulation or an abrasive.

8. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein each linear side of said at least two panels has a length of between 0.5″□to 60″.

9. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 8 wherein each linear side of said at least two panels has a length of between 4″ to 10″.

10. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein each linear side of said at least two panels has a finished or an unfinished edge.

11. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said at least two panels are shaped in a group consisting of square, rectangle, round, oval, triangular, animals, sports equipment, kitchen utensils, anatomical and vehicles.

12. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 11 wherein all of said at least two panels are the same or different size and shape.

13. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 11 wherein said at least two panels are folded and fastened together along said fold.

14. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said least two panels wherein said fastening method is from a group comprising of tape, sealant, fabric, cloth, sewn, seams, snaps, buttons, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, fusion, zip ties, rings, wire and staples.

15. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said at least two panels further are fastened with at least one partial seam that run a partial distance along one or two sides of said at least two panels from said at least one seam that extends the entire length of said linear side.

16. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said at least two panels further are fastened with a seam that runs along one side of said at least two panels on a side adjacent to said at least one seam that extends at least partially along a linear length of said linear side.

17. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said at least two panels further are fastened with seams that run along three sides of said at least two panels.

18. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 wherein said least two panels are used for a group of uses from a group comprising of cleaning, cleansing, scrubbing, wiping, washing, sanitizing, disinfecting, dusting, polishing and waxing.

19. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 1 that includes four panels that provide eight surfaces with 8 sequentially indicia marked panels attached with at least one full seam.

20. The method of creating a maintenance device according to claim 19 that further includes a method of using said cleaning and polishing cloth for manual, contact maintenance, using the steps of:

placing said cleaning and polishing cloth on a surface to be cleaned with a panel number 1 down and placing a hand on a top or within said cleaning and polishing cloth, using said panel number 1 until said panel number 1 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

turning said cleaning and polishing cloth over such that a panel 2 is now on said surface to be cleaned, using said panel 2 until said panel 2 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

rotating said panel 1 over said at least one full seam thereby placing said panel 1 all other panels;

turned said cleaning and polishing cloth over so that a panel 3 is on said surface to be cleaned, and said panel 3 is used until said panel 3 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

turning said cleaning and polishing cloth over such that a panel 4 is now on said surface to be cleaned, using said panel 4 until said panel 4 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

rotating said panel 3 over said at least one full seam thereby placing said panel 3 all other panels;

turned said cleaning and polishing cloth over so that a panel 5 is on said surface to be cleaned, and said panel 5 is used until said panel 5 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

turning said cleaning and polishing cloth over such that a panel 6 is now on said surface to be cleaned, using said panel 6 until said panel 6 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired;

rotating said panel 5 over said at least one full seam thereby placing said panel 5 all other panels;

turned said cleaning and polishing cloth over so that a panel 7 is on said surface to be cleaned, and said panel 7 is used until said panel 7 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired, and

turning said cleaning and polishing cloth over such that a panel 8 is now on said surface to be cleaned, using said panel 8 until said panel 8 is no longer usable or a new panel is desired.