DEVICE FOR REMOVING FIBRES, FLUFF AND/OR PARTICLES

Abstract

In a device for removing fibres, fluff and/or particles from a surface, having an adhesive layer (5) on at least one peripheral surface (3, 4) of an envelope (10), wherein the envelope (10) consists of at least two flexible, complementary partial surfaces (1, 2), one of the two partial surfaces (1, 2) is intended to form an overhang (11).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for removing fibres, lints and/or particles.

To remove fibres, lints and/or particles on a surface, especially a smooth or rough textile surface, devices such as clothes or lint rollers as well as appropriate brushes or special cloths have been used so far.

Such devices for textile surfaces, described as examples in the DE 94 02 146, the DE 94 02 147 or the DE 94 21 303, are known as so-called clothes or lint brushes. They are designed in such a way that after repeated removal of fibres, lints and/or particles, the device itself has to be cleaned, in case of brushes by washing out. This type of clothes brushes classically have a certain number of brush hairs or bristles, preferably natural hair bristles. These natural hair bristles, especially horsehair or pig bristles, tend to develop an unpleasant odour when combined with water. Modern brushes therefore have so-called microfiber inserts, which can absorb less fibres, lints and/or particles and therefore need to be cleaned more often, but do not develop any inherent odour.

The application principle of microfibers is also known for the removal of fibres, lints and/or particles from smooth surfaces, not only in the form of cloths or rags, but also as specially designed devices, as described as an example in the DE 20 2009 000 870. The principle of mechanical friction on the surface when removing fibres, lints and/or particles occasionally leads to surface damage, for example in the form of scratches.

Other devices, such as clothes rollers, take advantage of the property of a cylinder rolling on the surface contaminated with fibres, lints and/or particles, the surface of which is itself covered with a finite number of turns of adhesive tape. As soon as the topmost turn of adhesive tape is covered with fibres, lints and/or particles, the process has to be stopped and this turn of adhesive tape has to be removed. Such devices are usually voluminous disposable items, since they include roll holders and the roll cylinder itself, so that after the last turn of adhesive tape is used up, this type of device must be disposed of. Such a device is described in detail in the DE 1 908 307.

Other designs, so-called lint or clothes rollers, are based on adhesive roller supports made of technical, partly macro- or micro-structured silicone- or rubber-like surface layers, whose purely physical-mechanical adhesion force for fibres, lints and/or particles is inferior to the chemical adhesion forces of adhesive layers due to the principle of action. More frequent cleaning of such devices is necessary, as well as a new purchase after a certain period of use due to wear or curing of the silicones or rubber parts.

In summary, the solutions known from the prior art show central disadvantages in universal handling for textile and non-textile surfaces under intensive resource expenditure, regarding the subsequent cleaning of the device itself or its replacement.

The DE 296 10 859 describes a device for removing dirt particles such as lints, fibres, dust, crumbs, scales, hair or the like, which consists of a flexible carrier web which is covered on one side with an adhesive coating, whereby a large number of such adhesive carrier webs are laid on top of each other in a block-like manner. The block-like superposition of the carrier webs, coated with an adhesive layer, results in a rigid block-shaped volume body. This superimposition also results in a loss of flexibility of the device itself and thus has the disadvantage of being able to adapt to any substrate to be cleaned of dirt particles.

In the DE 20 2013 104 323.0 U, a device for removing fibres, lints and/or particles from a surface is revealed, which is characterized by an adhesive layer on at least one circumferential surface of a cover. This adhesive layer is covered by a protective paper before use.

However, this device has the disadvantage that the overall handling of the cover and protective paper is not easy. In addition, the protective paper is not easy to remove from the adhesive layer. Furthermore, the adhesive used for the adhesive layer cannot be used for all textiles and is also not adapted to the quality of the cover material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a device shall be provided which can be used easily and quickly and in particular in a resource- and surface-saving manner for the removal of fibres, lints and/or particles on all, smooth and/or rough, surfaces, especially textile surfaces, by simple handling and flexible adaptation to such a surface of any geometry, without scratching or similarly damaging it.

The features disclosed herein lead to the achievement of the object.

Two flexible, complementary partial surfaces made of resource-conserving material are connected to each other in such a way that they form a hand or finger supporting cover. Of course, it should also be considered to manufacture the cover from a tube or to assemble the cover from non-complementary partial surfaces. This would have the advantage that there is no seam.

One of the two partial surfaces is on the opening side, i.e. in the direction of an opening of the cover, longer than the other partial surface, i.e. one of the two partial surfaces forms an extended partial surface or protrusion. In this way, the two partial surfaces can be detached more easily from each other during use in order to be able to hold a hand and/or one or more individual fingers between them.

The cover can have any geometric contour that serves the intended purpose, preferably that of a glove—with or without finger parts.

One or both, or even only areas of the circumferential surfaces of the two parts of the cover are coated with an adhesive layer so that they have a sticky surface. This means that the adhesive layer preferably does not take up the entire circumferential surface. Instead, a non-adhesive area remains on at least one of the circumferential surfaces, which is of course preferably located in an edge area of this circumferential non-surface.

This adhesive layer may, for handling reasons, be protected by a protective film or paper or the like in such a way that numerous devices of this type can be stored individually removable in, for example, a dispenser device similar to a paper towel dispenser.

The protective film is similar in shape and size to the partial area whose adhesive layer it is intended to cover. Thus, the protective film also covers the non-adhesive area in an edge area of the circumferential surface, which should enable better gripping and removal of the protective film.

Pulling or slipping the device over a hand or one or more fingers and pulling off the protective film serve as preparatory measures for the removal of fibres, lints and/or particles. The removal step is now represented by any movement such as full or partial dabbing, wiping, grinding, rubbing with the device on any surface to remove fibres, lints and/or particles.

The sticky surface binds the fibres, lints and/or particles and thus cleans any textile or non-textile surface gently. These include, for example, clothing, upholstered furniture, car seats and the like.

The device can be used several times. A single use is also conceivable, as the resource-saving material means that the device can be fed directly after use into the dual system for recycling, together with the fibres, lints and/or particles permanently adhering to it. Since a solvent-free adhesive is preferred for the adhesive layer, the device is 100% recyclable.

In most cases, the devices are intended for use with LDPE (low-density polyethylene) quality. However, LDPE post-consumer recycling quality, PP (polypropylene) and natron paper are also available, each with protective paper. The adhesive used for the adhesive layer is then adapted to the individual qualities.

However, the adhesive used for the adhesive layer should not only be adapted to the individual qualities mentioned above, but should also be suitable for natural and synthetic fibres.

It is also conceivable to provide one or both surfaces of the device and/or the protective film with advertising.

An advantage of the present device is that it can be used flexibly. Due to its design, it fits in every pocket and can be taken everywhere. In addition, it is easy to handle and fibres, lints and/or particles and the like are removed quickly and reliably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred embodiment and from the drawing; these show in

FIG. 1 a perspective cross-section of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1 while removing a protective film; and

FIG. 3 a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 1 in the position of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, a device P made of resource-saving material preferably has two flexible and preferably complementary partial surfaces 1 and 2, which are connected to each other in a superimposed manner in such a way that they form a hand- or finger-receiving cover 10. One of the two partial surfaces 1 or 2 is thereby formed longer on the opening side, i.e. in the direction of an opening 7 of the cover This makes it easier to separate the two partial surfaces 1 and 2 from each other during use in order to accommodate a hand 8 and/or one or more individual fingers between them.

FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment in which one or both of the circumferential surfaces 3 and 4 of the partial surfaces 1 and 2 of the cover 10 are coated with an adhesive layer 5 so that they have a sticky surface. Of course, it is also possible that only areas of one or the other or both circumferential surfaces 3 and 4 are coated with an adhesive layer 5. The adhesive layer 5 does not take up the entire circumferential surface 3 and/or 4. Instead, an non-adhesive area 12 remains on the circumferential surface 3 and/or 4, which is of course preferably located in an edge area of the circumferential surface 3 and/or 4 in order to be able to grip the protective film 6 described below.

The adhesive layer 5 is covered with the said protective film 6 or paper or the like in order to simplify handling and to prevent sticking in case of several devices to each other. The protective film 6 is similar in shape and size to the partial surface 1 or 2 whose adhesive layer 5 it is to cover. Thus, the protective film 6 also covers the non-adhesive area 12 in an edge area of the circumferential surface 3 and/or 4, which should enable a better gripping and removal of the protective film 6.

According to FIGS. 1-3, the functioning of the device P according to the invention is described as follows:

The device P is slipped over the hand 8 and/or individual fingers. The hand 8 moves into the opening 7 of the device P between the two partial surfaces 1 and 2, which is considerably simplified compared to the past by the projection 11.

According to FIG. 2, the protective film 6 is then peeled off the adhesive layer 5 underneath, preferably in the direction of the finder tips. This can be done simply by reaching under the protective film 6 in the area of the non-adhesive area 12 and then grasping and pulling off the protective film 6.

The device P is now ready for use. It can now be used, as shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with arrows 9 or by any movement in all directions in all dimensions, by whole or partial dabbing, wiping, grinding, rubbing, to remove fibres, lints and/or particles from a surface not shown in detail. The adhesive layer 5 binds the fibres, lints and/or particles and thus cleans any textile or non-textile surface.

Although only one or a few preferred embodiment(s) of the invention has been described and presented it is obvious that the skilled person can add numerous modifications without leaving the essence and scope of the invention.

Reference symbol list
1  partial surfaces
2  partial surfaces
3  circumferential surfaces
4  circumferential surfaces
5  adhesive layer
6  protective film
7  opening
8  hand
9  arrow
10 cover
11 extended partial surface/protrusion
12 non-adhesive area
P  device

Claims

1. Device for removing fibres, lints and/or particles from a surface, having an adhesive layer (5) on at least one circumferential surface (3, 4) of a cover (10), whereby the cover (10) is composed of at least two flexible, complementary partial surfaces (1, 2),

wherein one of the two partial surfaces (1, 2) forms a protrusion (11).

2. Device for removing fibres, lints and/or particles from a surface, having an adhesive layer (5) on at least one circumferential surface (3, 4) of a cover (10), wherein the cover (10) is composed of at least two flexible, complementary partial surfaces (1, 2), and wherein the circumferential surface (3) and/or the circumferential surface (4) has an non-adhesive area (12).

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the non-adhesive area (12) is located in an edge area of the circumferential surface (3, 4).

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion (11) is arranged in the region of an opening (7) of the cover (10).

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer (5) is provided with a protective film (6).

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the protective film (6) is similar in shape and extent to the partial surface (1, 2) whose adhesive layer (5) it is to cover.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein the protective film (6) covers the non-adhesive area (12) in the edge region of the circumferential surface (3, 4).

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cover (10) can be guided over a hand (8), one or more fingers or the like.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the casing (10) consists of resource-saving and/or recyclable material.