CLAIM OF PRIORITY The present application for patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/648,265 entitled “Glass Drying Device” filed May 17, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND Field The present invention relates to the field of drying instruments and more specifically to handheld drying instruments for glasses, cups and other containers.
Background Due to their shapes and sizes, some glasses (such as wine glasses) or other types of cups are particularly difficult to clean and dry. Various types of instruments have been devised in order to overcome the hassle of cleaning the hard to reach bottoms of the glasses or cups.
Prior art examples include US Patent Application Nos. 2003/0210947 (Calendrille et al.) 2004/0064907 (Blaustein et al.), 2004/0177864 (Segalla), 2007/0119011 (Ho et al.) and 2008/0230246 (Dollar-Wright). All of these devices include a handheld instrument, some motorized and others not motorized, which contain an apparatus at one extremity with a washing capability. Ho, Blaustein, Segalla and Dollar-Wright teach bristles at one extremity of the handheld device in order to wash glasses and cups. Some of these are motorized and rotate along their own axis in order to provide constant washing within the glass or cup. Calendrille discloses a similar handheld device but having a different type of bristle-less head utilized to rotate and clean the inside of glasses and cups.
Meanwhile, U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,869 (Knopow) discloses a flexible cleaning tool with a replaceable non-woven pad. This handheld device is used to dust various articles and has a flexible head in order to reach awkward and other hard-to-reach places.
Unfortunately, these devices all have similar problems. First, they are cleaning products that are utilized to clean cups, glasses or other similarly shaped instruments. They are not intended to dry the containers. Second, the shapes of their heads are designed in such a way that they cannot be molded to the shape of the container. Indeed, they have bristles but the bristles cannot exert adequate pressure on the edges of the containers to properly clean harder to reach areas in the containers, such as crevasses.
As such, there is a need for a device that can overcome the drawbacks described above. The present device is a perfect solution to these problems. Its head is moldable and meant to clean and dry the crevasses of various types of glasses. Once wet or dirty, the present device's absorbent cloth can be thrown out, washed or dried and re-used. The solutions that the device provides are outlined in greater detail below.
SUMMARY The present invention provides a glass drying device, comprising a handle, a cleaning member and an absorbent cloth wherein the absorbent cloth is fastened onto the cleaning member.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a glass drying device, comprising: a handle, a cleaning member operatively connected to the handle, at least one finger at one end of the cleaning member; and an absorbent cloth operatively fitted on the cleaning member, wherein the absorbent cloth is used to dry the interior of a glass.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a glass drying device, comprising: a handle, petals operatively connected to the handle and an absorbent cloth operatively fitted over the petals wherein the absorbent cloth can be used to dry the interior of a glass.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will now be convenient to describe the invention with particular reference to one embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the drawings relate to one embodiment of the present invention only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glass drying device, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2a is a front view of inner and outer petals in their position at rest, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2b is a front view of inner and outer petals in their position in exertion, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3a is a front view of a glass drying device with an absorbent cloth fastened onto it, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional front view of a glass drying device with an absorbent cloth not fastened onto it, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4a is a front view of a glass drying device at rest within a wine glass, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4b is a front view of a glass drying device in exertion within a cup, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cleaning member of the glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional side view of a first finger at rest of the glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional side view of a first finger of the glass drying device in a first position, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7c is a cross-sectional side view of a first finger of the glass drying device in a second position, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7d is a cross-sectional side view of a first finger of the glass drying device in a third position, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8a is a second perspective view of a cleaning member of the glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8b is a perspective view of the upper portion of a handle of the glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is another perspective view of a glass drying device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cleaning member of a glass drying device, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning member and handle of a glass drying device, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12a is a front view of a glass drying device in exertion within a cup, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12b is a front view of a glass drying device at rest within a wine glass, according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 12c is a front view of a glass drying device in exertion within a flute glass, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown.
No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes or apparatuses that are not described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention.
The terms “coupled” and “connected”, along with their derivatives, may be used herein. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. “Coupled” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in either direct or indirect (with other intervening elements between them) physical contact with each other, or that the two or more elements co-operate or interact with each other (e.g. as in a cause and effect relationship).
With reference to FIG. 1, a glass drying device 10 is shown. The glass drying device is primarily comprised of a handle 15, outer petals 20 operatively coupled to the handle 15, a compressible inner shaft 25 also operatively connected to the handle 15 and outer petals 20 and an absorbent cloth 30. The absorbent cloth 30 is shaped in such a way as to fit snugly over the inner shaft 25 and outer petals 20. In order to clean a glass, cup, or other similar type of container, the absorbent cloth 30 must be fitted around the outer petals 20. Pressure is applied from the handle 15 toward the bottom of the container, and the shaft 25 compresses onto itself, forcing the inner petals (not shown) and outer petals 20 outward to allow contact with the inner recesses of the container. This process is described in further detail below. In this embodiment, the outer petals 20 and inner petals (not shown) are made of silicone, but a worker skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the outer petals 20 and inner petals (not shown) could be made of other similar types of material, provided that the material can be bent or can conform to various shapes and curves.
With reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, outer petals 20, inner petals 35 and the shaft 25 are shown in greater detail. The arrow in FIG. 2a represents force being applied onto the shaft 25, pushing it in a downward motion. Once the shaft 25 has been compressed; its wide circumferential edge 27 is forced downward, forcing the inner petals 35 to flatten outwards, which is represented by the arrows in FIG. 2b. The wide circumferential edge 27 of the shaft 25 also changes the shape of the outer petals 20 when it is compressed, so as to force the outer petals 20 outwards as well. Once fully compressed, the inner petals 35 are completely flush against the surface that the glass drying device 10 is drying, and are thus perfectly able to reach the crevasses of various containers. Meanwhile, the outer petals 20 are not completely flush, but are in an arcuate position with respect to the position of the outer petals 20 at rest. This allows for additional contact on surfaces and thus facilitates the drying process. The direction of the inner petals 35 allows for the glass drying device 10 to properly clean the recesses and crevasses of various containers. A worker skilled in the art could appreciate a glass drying device 10 where there could be more than four outer and inner petals. Indeed, a worker skilled in the relevant art could appreciate a variety of sizes, shapes and number of petals in order to accommodate various containers in such a way that they would not depart from the scope of the present device.
With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the glass drying device 10 is shown with and without the absorbent cloth 30 fitted around the outer petals 20. With specific reference to FIG. 3a, the glass drying device 10 is shown with the absorbent cloth 30 fitted onto and around the outer petals 20. Once fitted, the glass drying device 10 can be utilized within a container and the absorbent cloth 30 can be utilized to dry the container. The absorbent cloth is operatively fitted over the petals. With specific reference to FIG. 3b, the absorbent cloth 30 is shown removed from the glass drying device 10. Outer and inner petals 20, 35 and shaft 25 are also shown, their combined shape in a generally similar shape as the absorbent cloth 30.
With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the glass drying device 10 is shown within a wine glass 40 and a cup 45, respectively. When fitted within the wine glass 40, little to no pressure is exerted upon the glass drying device 10 such that the outer and inner petals 20, 35 are at rest and in their original positions. When fitted in the cup 45, the glass drying device 10 is shown, pressure being exerted in a downward motion, which is represented by the arrow pointing in a downward motion. As such, the outer and inner petals 20, 35 have collapsed in such a way that the bottom of the cup 45 can easily be dried and stored.
With reference to FIG. 5 and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a glass drying device 110 is comprised of a handle 115 and a removable cleaning member 120. The cleaning member 120 is principally comprised of first and second fingers 125, 127, which are utilized to clean the inside edges of a glass and are generally arcuate in shape. The handle 115 of the glass drying device 110 also has a loop 122 located at the edge of the handle 115 in order for the glass drying device 110 to be hung where appropriate and convenient. The glass drying device 110 is also comprised of an absorbent cloth (not shown) which, as was the case in the first embodiment, is fitted over the cleaning member 120. The absorbent cloth (not shown) is shaped in such a way so as to fit snugly over the cleaning member 120 and can be easily removed for cleaning and/or drying purposes. The absorbent cloth is also operatively fitted to the cleaning member allowing a glass of various shapes to be dried.
With reference to FIGS. 6, 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning member 120 and first and second fingers 125, 127 are shown in greater detail. Specifically, the first and second fingers 125, 127 are each comprised of ribs 130, 132, 134 and recesses 140, 142, 144 in such a way that rib 130 corresponds to recess 140, while rib 132 corresponds to recess 142 and rib 134 corresponds to recess 144. The ribs 130, 132, 134 and recesses 140, 142, 144 on the second finger 127 are identical and mirrored on the first finger 125. Ribs 130, 132, 134 are made of an elastic material in order to bend and pivot at any of the recesses 140, 142, 144.
With particular reference to FIG. 7a, the finger 125 is shown separately with ribs 130, 132, 134 and recesses 140, 142, 144 for clarity.
With particular reference to FIGS. 7b, when pressure is exerted onto the cleaning member (not shown), the pressure forces ribs 130, 132, 134 of first finger 125 to pivot around the recess 144 until a maximal point when the exterior 145 of the ribs 130, 132, 134 is nearly flat and creates a first corner 147 on the outside of the recess 140. The same applies to wider glasses having narrow angles, such as the case in FIG. 7b.
With particular reference to FIGS. 7c and 7d, when pressure is exerted onto the cleaning member (not shown) into a narrower-type glass, the pivot points of the recesses 140, 142, 144 will be generally affected. In FIG. 7c, the exterior 145 of the rib 130 and corner 147 is created by a pivot at recess 140, while in FIG. 7d, the exterior 145 is created by pivots at both recesses 140 and 144, resulting in two corners 147, 148. A worker skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the various pivots points, flat surfaces and corners will depend on the size, width and general shape of the glass to dry, as well as on the level of pressure exerted onto the cleaning member (not shown). A worker skilled in the relevant art would also appreciate that when cleaning types of glasses with curved bottoms (such as flute glasses or most types of wine glasses), the natural bent curvature of first and second fingers 125, 127 will suffice to properly clean the glasses without any need of additional pressure being exerted upon the glass drying device as described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning member is comprised of a single finger with or without ribs and with or without recesses. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning member is comprised of at least one or more fingers with or without ribs and recesses.
With reference to FIGS. 8a and 8b and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning member 120 is comprised of a square aperture 150 and flat surface 155 in order to secure the handle 115. Indeed, the handle 115 is comprised of two latches 160, 162 that are inserted within the aperture 150 of the cleaning member 120. The latches 160, 162 are further comprised of respective hooks 164, 166 which hook onto the flat surface 155 of the cleaning member 120.
With reference to FIG. 9 and according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the glass drying device 110 is shown with its handle 115 fastened onto the cleaning member 120. The hooks 164, 166 are shown secured into the aperture (not shown) and the handle 115 cannot be removed from the cleaning member 120 as the hooks 164, 166 are restrained in place by means of the flat surface 155. A worker skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the handle 115 could also be molded directly onto the cleaning member 120 and thus be one piece as opposed to two separate pieces.
With reference to FIG. 10 and according to a third embodiment of the present invention, an alternative type of cleaning member 220 is shown. In this third embodiment, the cleaning member 220 is comprised of four fingers 225, 227, 229, 231. The fingers 225, 227, 229, 231 are shaped identically to fingers 125, 127 (not shown in FIG. 10), with identical ribs and recesses. Further, a flat surface and aperture (not shown) are present in order to facilitate the removal of the cleaning member 220 from the handle (not shown). A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar with a multitude of fingers that would be utilized in order to clean glasses of various shapes and sizes. An absorbent cloth (not shown) is also utilized in this third embodiment in order to fit snugly over the cleaning member 220 and is utilized to dry various types of glasses. A worker skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the absorbent cloth could be made of various materials, provided that they can fit properly over any type of cleaning member and provided that it can properly dry various types of glasses.
With reference to FIGS. 11, 12a, 12b and 12c, and according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning member 220 and handle 115 are shown by themselves or within various types of glasses. Indeed, the various arrows 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256 represent force applied to the fingers 225, 227 for various types of glasses.
With specific reference to FIGS. 11 and 12a, a force is first applied as shown via arrow 250 to represent the flat bottom of a cup 45. In turn, this causes the upper section of fingers 225, 227 to flex inward at arrows 251, 252. As the upper section of the fingers 225, 227 flexes inwards, the middle section of the fingers 225, 227 is forced outwards at the arrows 253, 254 to conform to the flat surface of the side of the cup 45 for easy drying.
With specific reference to FIGS. 11 and 12b, force is applied via the arrow 250 to represent the curved shape of a wine glass 40. This causes the upper section of the fingers 225, 227 to flex inwards at arrows 251, 252 and conform to the curved shape of the cup 45 for easy drying.
With specific reference to FIGS. 11 and 12c, force is only applied at arrows 255, 256 given the narrow width of the flute glass 47, which will in turn force the tip of the fingers 225, 227 towards the same point, or tip, for easy cleaning of both the base of the flute glass 47 and the sides.
With particular reference to FIGS. 12a, 12b and 12c, the glass drying device 210 is shown in a wine glass 40, a cup 45 and a flute glass 47. As was the case for the first embodiment, little to no pressure is exerted upon the glass drying device 210 when it is utilized to clean the wine glass 40. Meanwhile, the narrow width of the flute glass 47 causes the fingers (not shown) of the glass drying device 210 to compress and thus better clean the sides and bottom of the flute glass 47. Finally, when pressure is exerted upon the glass drying device for the cup 45, the fingers (not shown) bend inward and create corners (not shown) as was explained previously in order to properly clean the cup 45 and its narrow angle edges.
Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Moreover, with respect to the above description, it should be noted that the optimal dimensional relationships for the component members of the present invention may include variations in size, material, shape, form, funding and manner of operation.
