US20080178366A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080178366A1
Application number: US11/627,427
Authority: US
Inventors: Samir Daher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-26
Filing date: 2007-01-26
Publication date: 2008-07-31

Abstract

An example cleaning glove includes a glove having a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from the palm portion. Each of the palm portion and the finger portion has a front surface and a back surface. An abrasive layer is secured to the front surface of the palm portion, and the front surface and the back surface of the finger portion. The example cleaning glove may be used to clean many surfaces (e.g., dishes, countertops, etc.) and in many cleaning environments (e.g., public areas, restrooms, hospitals, etc.).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a cleaning glove. More particularly, this invention relates to a glove having an area incorporating an abrasive layer or surface.

Gloves are commonly worn when cleaning. Gloves protect a user's hands from exposure to harmful cleaning agents, damaging environments, or both. Some gloves protect the user's hands from water, such as gloves worn when washing dishes. If unprotected, prolonged exposure to water, other liquids, or chemicals may damage the user's hands. Additionally, the gloves protect the user's hands from injuries caused by broken dishes, other sharp edges, or other abrasive cleaning surfaces.

In some cases, wearing gloves may introduce challenges to cleaning. Grasping various items, such as soap or an abrasive sponge, may prove difficult when wearing gloves in a wet environment. That is, the water repelling glove surface protecting the user's hands from water damage also may cause slipping when trying to grasp an item. This challenge is especially relevant to the user wearing gloves while washing dishes. Slipping when washing dishes may result in broken dishes, which have sharp edges capable of injuring the user.

Another challenge of cleaning while wearing gloves is effectively cleaning in confined areas. More specifically, it is difficult to scrub or scour confined areas with a sponge, brush, or other cleaning device. Also, wearing gloves effectively increases the user's overall hand size and can prevent accessing some areas, such as the interior surfaces of a drinking glass.

Grasping a cleaning pad, (e.g., scouring pad, sponge, scrubbing pad) also complicates cleaning these areas. When grasping a cleaning pad, a clenched hand may be too large or awkward to extend within an article to be cleaned. Even if extendable within the article, the user may be unable to effectively maneuver their hand within the article to adequately scrub or scour. In some cases, the only way to access the entire interior of the article is to release the cleaning pad. This is not an effective or efficient way to clean as it eliminates the benefits of the cleaning pad. The user may utilize another type of cleaning tool, such as a long handled brush, but this approach adds time, and an additional tool, to the cleaning process. Further, the cleaning brush may not provide the detailed cleaning capable with a cleaning pad.

What is needed is a cleaning device that facilitates cleaning confined areas and combines a cleaning pad with a protective glove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In another example, a cleaning glove includes a glove having a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from the palm portion. Each of the palm portion and the finger portion has a front surface and a back surface. The abrasive material is melt bonded to the palm portion and the finger portion.

Further examples of the cleaning glove are waterproof and include antimicrobial or antifungal properties. The example glove may include gripping features, which aid in handling items and facilitate movement of the hand within the glove.

Various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a back view of an example cleaning glove.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user's hand.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the example cleaning glove.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an abrasive layer melt bonded to the example cleaning glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Anexample cleaning glove10 ofFIG. 1 includes awrist portion14, apalm portion18, and at least onefinger portion22. Thepalm portion18 connects thewrist portion14 and thefinger portions22. Theexample glove10 may be a waterproof glove such as a latex (synthetic or natural) rubber glove. Thewrist portion14 includes an opening26 providing access to the interior of theglove10.

Referring now toFIG. 2 with continuing reference toFIG. 1, a user's hand40 enters through the opening26 to put on theglove10. The interior surface of theglove10 may include aliner30 having a smooth or flocked surface, which aids in sliding theglove10 over the hand40. Theliner30 lessens contact between the hand40 and the latex portions of theglove10. Theexample liner30 may include pores, a hydrophilic material, or both, that absorb moisture, such as perspiration from the hand or wick moisture away from the user's hand40.Fingers44 and athumb46 on the user's hand40 are received into therespective finger portions22 of theglove10.

Referring now toFIG. 3, theglove10 includes anabrasive layer54 located on thepalm portion18 and thefinger portions22. Theabrasive layer54 enhances the abrasive properties of thecleaning glove10. In this example, theabrasive layer54 primarily covers the front of theglove10. More specifically, theabrasive layer54 extends across the front of thepalm portion18 to atip portion58 of thefinger portions22. Near thetip58, theabrasive layer54 wraps around the finger portions22 (FIG. 1), i.e., theabrasive layer54 covers the front and back of thefinger portions22 near thetip58.

This manner of covering the front and back of thefinger portions22 with theabrasive layer54 facilitates accessing and cleaning confined areas. For example, a user can scrub the interior surfaces of a narrow glass by extending a gloved index finger into the glass and using the entire circumference of thetips58 to scrub the surfaces.

The exampleabrasive layer54 also covers other areas of theglove10. For example, theabrasive layer54 may extend alongside portions64 of thefinger portions22 of theglove10. Of course, the exact location of theabrasive layer54 on thepalm portion18 and thefinger portions22 may reflect the particular cleaning needs. For example, a user may desire that theabrasive layer54 does not extend to thefinger portions22 corresponding to the user's thumb, but does extend to thefinger portions22 corresponding to the user's fingers. Further, theabrasive layer54 may vary in thickness. As an example, theabrasive layer54 on thefinger portions22 may be thinner than theabrasive layer54 on thepalm portion18 of theglove10.

In one example, theabrasive layer54 includes a plurality of non-woven fibers having a random orientation, which are melt bonded to thecleaning glove10. The example fibers are polymer, metal, or both. Melt bonding techniques are known. Alternatively various adhesion techniques may secure theabrasive layer54 to thepalm portion18 and thefinger portions22 of the cleaningglove10, such as anadhesive layer52, spray bonding, heat staking, etc. Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art may be able to develop additional suitable techniques for securing theabrasive layer54.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view through a portion of theglove10 including theabrasive layer54. In this example, theabrasive layer54 includes a plurality of loosely assembledfibers56 melt bonded to theglove10. Thefibers56 do not contact the user's hand40 when the user wears theglove10. Melt bonding theabrasive layer54 to theglove10 embeds portions of thefibers56 within theglove10. Thus thefibers56 are mechanically interlocked with theglove10.

In this example, thefibers56 of theabrasive layer54 are loosely assembled. Thus when gripping a dish or similar object, theabrasive layer54 compresses, which may cause the dish to slip from the user's grasp, as the user is unable to judge the actual position of the dish due to the compressing abrasive layer. That is, the user's perceived position of the dish within their grasp may not be the actual position of the dish.

In addition to cleaning dishes, theglove10 can be used to clean in various other environments. Janitors may use theglove10 to clean bathroom fixtures (e.g., tubs and sinks). A user could additionally clean countertops or sanitize various areas, such as frequently cleaned areas within a hospital.

Optionally, theglove10 includes antimicrobial properties, such as incorporating an antimicrobial agent into theabrasive layer54, the material of theglove10, or both. Antifungal properties may be similarly incorporated. Techniques of incorporating antibacterial properties and antifungal properties in a glove are known. As theexample glove10 is typically worn in environments that are conducive to fungal growth, such as moist environments, incorporating antifungal properties into theglove10 discourages fungal formation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,782 to Hourihan discloses an example technique for incorporating antimicrobial properties in latex based gloves. The technique of Hourihan incorporates an antimicrobial agent, such as diiodomethyl-p-tolylsulfone, into layers of material forming the glove.

Optionally, theglove10 includesgripping features50 to aid the user in judging the position of the dish (FIG. 3). Theexample gripping features50 are raised ridges of thefinger portions22 orpalm portion18. The gripping features50 are thicker than other areas of theglove10. In another example, thegripping feature50 is an area of the cleaningglove10 void ofabrasive layer54. The gripping features50 provide a substantially direct path from the user's hand40 through theglove10 to the dish, which enhances the tactile properties of the glove. In so doing, the grippingfeatures50 help to match the user's perceived position of the dish with the actual position. The gripping features50 may further include a textured pattern on the surface.

Thefingers44 andthumb46 of the user's hand40 include several joints having hinge points48 such as knuckles. In one example, the grippingfeatures50 generally align with the hinge points48 of the user's hand40. Eliminating theabrasive layer54 from areas of the cleaningglove10 adjacent to thehinge point48 facilitate movement of the user's hand40 and, more specifically, the user'sfingers44 andthumb46.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Various modifications to the disclosed examples can be apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning glove, comprising:

a glove including a palm portion and at least one finger portion extending from said palm portion, each of said palm portion and said at least one finger portion having a front surface and a back surface;

an abrasive layer secured to said front surface of said palm portion, and said front surface and said back surface of said at least one finger portion, said abrasive layer having an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, or both; and

at least one gripping feature located on said palm portion, said at least one finger portion, or both.

2. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, wherein said glove is waterproof.

3. (canceled)

4. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, wherein said abrasive layer is further secured to a side, a tip, or both, of said at least one finger portion.

5. The cleaning glove ofclaim 4, wherein said abrasive layer extends on the back surface from said tip to an area of said at least one finger portion corresponding in location to a knuckle of a user's hand.

6. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, wherein said abrasive layer is further secured to a side of said palm portion.

7. (canceled)

8. The cleaning glove ofclaim 7, wherein said gripping feature is a ridge of said glove portion, an area of said glove without said abrasive layer, or both.

9. The cleaning glove ofclaim 7, including a texture pattern on a surface of said at least one gripping feature.

10. The cleaning glove ofclaim 7, wherein said gripping feature generally corresponds in location on said at least one finger portion to a knuckle of a user's hand.

11. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, wherein said glove comprises a moisture absorbent liner.

12. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, wherein a surface portion of said glove is mechanically interlocked with fibers of said abrasive layer such that said surface portion at least partially surrounds said fibers to secure said abrasive layer and said glove together.

13. The cleaning glove ofclaim 1, including an adhesive layer between said abrasive layer and said glove, said adhesive layer securing said abrasive layer to said glove.

14-20. (canceled)

21. A cleaning glove, comprising:

at least one gripping feature located on said at least one finger portion, said at least one gripping feature located to generally correspond with the position of a knuckle of a user's hand.

22. The cleaning glove ofclaim 21, wherein said gripping feature includes a ridge.

23. The cleaning glove ofclaim 21, wherein said gripping feature is an area without said abrasive layer.

24. The cleaning glove ofclaim 21, including a textured pattern on a surface of said at least one gripping feature.

25. The cleaning glove ofclaim 21, wherein said at least one gripping feature is thicker than an adjacent area of said glove.

26. The cleaning glove ofclaim 21, wherein said at least one gripping feature includes a multiple of gripping features.

27. The cleaning glove ofclaim 26, wherein each of said multiple of gripping features define a ridge which generally correspond to the position of a knuckle of a user's hand.