Cleaning implement

Abstract

A cleaning implement wherein a mono-fabric material is woven into a structure that provides a plurality of holes throughout the body of the cleaning implement such that the flow of water or other cleaning fluid is easily facilitated throughout the body of the cleaning implement thus removing both foreign contaminants and any added cleaning agent more efficiently saving natural resources while not scratching the surface of the item being cleaned.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional patent application bearing the title “SCRUNGE” filed on Feb. 17, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement, and more in particularly a cleaning implement that utilizes a method of weaving the mono-fabric into the manufacturing of the cleaning implement such that the cleaning implement contains a plurality of holes throughout the mono-fabric such that the invention can be utilized to remove various types of dirt, grease, and grime without scratching the surface of the item being cleaned.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are numerous cleaning implements that utilize a mono-fabric of nylon-like material. When the user utilizes the cleaning implement, the implement is saturated with a cleaning fluid, typically water, but the cleaning fluid could be a commonly utilized multi-cleanser fluid, e.g. 409® that is available on the market. In addition to the cleaning fluid, the user can also add to the cleaning implement an additional cleaning agent, such as common dish soap. The cleaning implement, now saturated with the cleaning fluid and/or added cleaning agent, is then utilized to remove foreign contaminants, e.g. dirt, grease, grime, and stains, from various surfaces. The problems that are encountered out in the field with current cleaning implements are several-fold. First, due to the structure of current mono-fabric cleaning implements, the cleaning implement holds into the body of the cleaning implement the foreign contaminants that are removed from the vessel or surface being cleaned. Because of the tendency of the foreign contaminants to become trapped into the cleaning implement and the associated difficulty of removing these foreign contaminants from the cleaning implement, a cleaning implement that incorporates a method of weaving the mono-fabric into the manufacturing of the cleaning implement improves the sanitary condition of the cleaning implement by drying quicker and being rinsed more thoroughly thus not allowing bacterial cultures to grow inside the corpus of the cleaning implement. The second major problem is that the user has to incorporate a large volume of cleaning fluid in order to adequately rinse the cleaning implement out and remove not only the cleaning agent that may have been added, but also to remove the foreign contaminants that were absorbed by the cleaning implement. This contributes to the wasting of natural resources. A third major problem with existing cleaning implements is that they are prone to scratch the surfaces in which they are being used to remove containments.

What is needed in the art is a mono-fabric cleaning implement that incorporates a method of weaving the mono-fabric that results in a plurality of through holes throughout the cleaning implement to make the implement more sanitary, doesn't contribute to the wasting of natural resources, and doesn't scratch the surface being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mono-fabric cleaning implement that is easy to clean and keep sanitary, helps to conserve natural resources, and doesn't scratch the surface being cleaned.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a weaved mono-fabric cleaning implement, that due to the implementation of the weaving pattern into the invention, incorporates a plurality of holes throughout the body of the invention. The body of the cleaning implement also incorporates a plurality of ridge peaks and valleys along the surfaces and sides of the cleaning implement that are used to improve the efficacy of removing foreign contaminants from the vessel or surface to be cleaned, while not causing damage to the surface being cleaned. One advantage of the present invention is that the incorporation of a plurality of the holes provided by the weaving method throughout the body of the cleaning implement allows greater air-flow throughout the cleaning implement thus drying the cleaning implement at a much improved rate, which helps to inhibit the growth of any bacterial cultures that could affect the sanitary condition of the cleaning implement. Another advantage of the present invention is that the incorporation of the plurality of holes provided by the weaving method throughout the body of the cleaning implement allows the cleaning fluid to more efficiently cleanse the cleaning implement of both foreign containments and any cleaning agent that may have been added out of the body of the cleaning implement. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the presence of the plurality of holes provided by the weaving method throughout the body of the cleaning implement allows the user to utilize less water when rinsing both the foreign contaminants and the cleaning agent out of the cleaning implement, thus saving resources. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the incorporation of the weaving method into the manufacturing of the invention allows the invention to be made into a plurality of different shapes and sizes while still providing a wide-range of benefits. Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that the method of weaving incorporated into the manufacturing of the present invention that provides the benefits described previously also allows the invention to be manufactured at low-cost and from a variety of different material types and colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a top-view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an end-view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the method of weaving incorporated into the body of the cleaning implement.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cleaning implement 2 that comprises an at least one filleted corner 4 situated about a height axis ZZ that is perpendicular to both a longer axis XX of the present invention and a shorter axis YY of the present invention. It is envisioned that the cleaning implement 2 can be manufactured in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, and the preferred embodiment of the present invention is envisioned to be substantially square in shape and made substantially out of a material commonly known in the industry as nylon, but can be manufactured out of a plurality man-made and natural materials.

Now additionally referring to FIG. 2, this perspective shows a top view of the present invention situated in a plane formed by the longer axis XX and the shorter axis YY. This perspective shows the ridges formed along the sides of the invention because of the incorporation of weaved mono-fabric into the body of the cleaning implement 2. More particularly, cleaning implement 2 comprises a plurality of a side ridge peak 8 and a plurality of a side ridge valley 10 along the perimeter of cleaning implement 2. The utilization of a plurality of the side ridge peak 8 and the side ridge valley 10 provides numerous benefits. Namely, the ridges and valleys along the perimeter of the cleaning implement 2, allows the cleaning implement 2 to better engage and remove foreign contaminants from the surface or vessel being cleaned. Secondly, the plurality of the side ridge peak 8 and the plurality of the side ridge valley 10 into the perimeter of cleaning implement 2 allows the user a method of improved engagement while holding the cleaning implement 2. It is envisioned that a second embodiment of the cleaning implement 2 could also comprise an at least one substantially right-angled corner 6 that is also situated about the height axis ZZ. The at least one substantially right-angled corner 6, combined with the utilization of the at least one filleted corner 4 provides another benefit in that the cleaning implement 2 can better engage the vessel walls and surfaces that are being cleaned.

Now additionally referring to FIG. 3, this perspective shows an end view of the present invention situated in a plane formed by the longer axis XX and the height axis ZZ that is perpendicular to both the longer axis XX and the shorter axis YY. The cleaning implement 2 comprises two ends, a top end 22 and a bottom end 24 with the top end 22 located above the bottom end 24. This view shows the cleaning implement 2 comprising an at least one rounded cleaning edge 12 that traverses along the perimeter of the cleaning implement 2. The at least one rounded cleaning edge 12 is formed by the utilization of the weaving of the mono-fabric into the body of the cleaning implement 2. The at least one rounded cleaning edge 12 provides a plurality of benefits. It allows the cleaning implement 2 to better engage the vessel and surfaces to be cleaned and also allows the user to better engage the cleaning implement 2 while performing the cleaning operation. In addition, cleaning implement 2 comprises a plurality of a top ridge peak 14 and a plurality of a top ridge valley 16 located on the top end 22 of the cleaning implement 2. Further, cleaning implement 2 comprises a plurality of a bottom ridge peak 18 and a plurality of a bottom ridge valley 20 located on the bottom end 24 of the cleaning implement 2. The plurality of the top ridge peak 14 on the top end 22 is substantially located directly over the plurality of the bottom ridge valley 20 located on the bottom end 24. Likewise, the plurality of the top ridge valley 16 on the top end 22 is substantially located directly over the plurality of the bottom ridge peak 18 located on the bottom end 24. It is envisioned that a third embodiment of the invention could be such that, dependent upon which method of weaving is utilized in the manufacturing of the invention, the plurality of the top ridge peak 14 on the top end 22 can lie directly over the plurality of the bottom ridge peak 18 located on the bottom end 24. Likewise, the plurality of the top ridge valley 16 on the top end 22 can lie directly over the plurality of the bottom ridge valley 20 located on the bottom end 24. The plurality of peaks and valleys located on the top end 22 and the bottom end 24 provides numerous benefits. Namely, the peaks and valleys better engage and aid in the removal of foreign contaminants from the surface or vessel being cleaned. The peaks and valleys also allow the user to better engage and grip the cleaning implement 2. Finally, the peaks and valleys allow the cleaning implement 2 to be more flexible and better engage the surfaces of the vessel being cleaned.

Now additionally referring to FIG. 4, this perspective shows a close-up view of the method of weaving the mono-fabric that is incorporated into the body of the cleaning implement 2. The cleaning implement 2 comprises a plurality of weave holes 26 throughout the body of the cleaning implement 2 that are formed by a weave pattern 28. The top ridge peak 14 lies at the top of the weave pattern 28 and the top ridge valley 16 lies between each row of the weave pattern 28 on top end 22. Conversely, on bottom end 24, the bottom ridge peak 18 lies at the bottom of the weave pattern 28 and the bottom ridge valley 20 lies between each row of the weave pattern 28. It is envisioned that the weaving method being utilized will be what is commonly known in the industry as “linen stitch,” but could realistically be any method of weaving that is commonly known in the industry. There are a plurality of weaving methods that can be utilized, but the “linen stitch” method provides the highest plurality of weave holes 26 throughout the body of the cleaning implement 2 that are necessary to achieve the benefits described herein.

While this invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains, and to which the claims are directed.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising: a weaved mono-fabric material; anda top end; anda bottom end; anda plurality of top ridge peaks; anda plurality of top ridge valleys; anda plurality of bottom ridge peaks; anda plurality of bottom ridge valleys; anda plurality of rounded cleaning edges; anda plurality of weave holes.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the weaved mono-fabric material comprising nylon.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the weaved mono-fabric material is woven from a weaving method comprising linen stitch.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of top ridge peaks and the plurality of top ridge valleys are located on the top end.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bottom ridge peaks and the bottom ridge valleys are located on the bottom end.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of top ridge peaks are located substantially over the plurality of the bottom ridge valleys.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of top ridge valleys are located substantially over the plurality of the bottom ridge peaks.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rounded cleaning edges are located substantially outwardly.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of weave holes are located throughout the weaved mono-fabric material.

10. An apparatus for delivering a cleaning agent, the apparatus comprising: a weaved mono-fabric material; anda top end; anda bottom end; anda plurality of top ridge peaks; anda plurality of top ridge valleys; anda plurality of bottom ridge peaks; anda plurality of bottom ridge valleys; anda plurality of rounded cleaning edges; anda plurality of weave holes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the weaved mono-fabric material is made from a material comprising nylon.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the weaved mono-fabric material is woven from a weaving method comprising linen stitch.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of top ridge peaks and the plurality of top ridge valleys are located on the top end.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of bottom ridge peaks and the bottom ridge valleys are located on the bottom end.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of top ridge peaks are located substantially over the plurality of the bottom ridge valleys.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of top ridge valleys are located substantially over the plurality of the bottom ridge peaks.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of rounded cleaning edges are located substantially outwardly.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of weave holes are located throughout the weaved mono-fabric material.

19. A device for efficiently removing a foreign contaminant, the device comprising: a weaved mono-fabric material; anda top end; anda bottom end; anda plurality of top ridge peaks; anda plurality of top ridge valleys; anda plurality of bottom ridge peaks; anda plurality of bottom ridge valleys; anda plurality of rounded cleaning edges; anda plurality of weave holes.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the foreign contaminant comprise dirt, soil, grease, food residue, and grime.