Patent Application
20070136925
There are a wide variety of cleaning devices out in the market. Some of those cleaning devices comprise cleaning mitts which may be used to clean surfaces of dirt, liquid, or other substances. Some of the existing cleaning mitts are made of materials, and/or configured in such a way, which may make it difficult for a user to clean intricate surfaces.
There is a need for cleaning mitts, and methods for their use, which will resolve one or more of the difficulties encountered with one or more of the existing cleaning mitts.
In one aspect of the invention, a mitt for cleaning comprises a microfiber material, a hand-receiving section, a separate thumb-receiving section, a separate index-finger receiving section, and a separate three-finger receiving section. The hand-receiving section is adapted to receive a hand. The separate thumb-receiving section is adapted to receive a thumb. The separate index-finger receiving section is adapted to receive an index-finger. The separate three-finger receiving section is adapted to receive a middle finger, a ring finger, and a pinky finger.
In another aspect of the invention, a mitt for cleaning comprises an elastic section, a hand-receiving section, a separate thumb-receiving section, a separate index-finger receiving section, and a separate three-finger receiving section. The elastic section is defined by an opening for insertion of a hand. The hand-receiving section is adapted to receive a hand. The separate thumb-receiving section is adapted to receive a thumb. The separate index-finger receiving section is adapted to receive an index-finger. The separate three-finger receiving section is adapted to receive a middle finger, a ring finger, and a pinky finger.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for using a mitt to clean is disclosed. A microfiber mitt is provided which comprises a hand-receiving section, a separate thumb-receiving section, a separate index-finger receiving section, and a separate three-finger receiving section. A hand is inserted into the microfiber mitt. The mitt is utilized to clean a surface.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The mitt 10 may comprise a hand-receiving section 14 adapted to receive a hand of a user. An opening 18 in the mitt 10 may allow a user to insert a hand into the hand-receiving section 14. Upon insertion of a user's hand, the user's palm may rest within the hand-receiving section 14. The opening 18 may be defined in an elastic section 22 at an end 20 of the hand-receiving section 14 of the mitt 10. Upon insertion of a hand, the elastic section 22 may aid in conforming the mitt 10 around a user's hand. In other embodiments, differing configurations and/or materials may be used to conform the mitt 10 to a user's hand. In still other embodiments, the mitt 10 may be worn loosely around a user's hand without the aid of a conforming material.
A separate thumb-receiving section 26, a separate index-finger receiving section 30, and a separate three-finger receiving section 34 may be attached to and extended from the hand-receiving section 14. In other embodiments, various configurations may be used. Upon insertion of a user's hand into the hand-receiving section 14, the separate thumb-receiving section 26 may be adapted to receive the user's thumb, the separate index-finger receiving section 30 may be adapted to receive the user's index-finger, and the separate three-finger receiving section 34 may be adapted to receive the user's middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger. Due to the flexibility of the various sections of the mitt 10, the hand-receiving section 14, the separate thumb-receiving section 26, the separate index-finger receiving section 30, and the separate three-finger receiving section 34 may be adapted to be in substantially the same plane and/or in substantially different planes when the mitt is in use.
The configuration and/or flexibility of the separate thumb-receiving section 26, separate index-finger receiving section 30, and separate three-finger receiving section 34 may allow a user to more easily and/or thoroughly clean due to the independent control the user may have over the user's thumb, index-finger, and remaining three-fingers. For instance, the configuration may allow a user to utilize an index finger to clean over, into, and/or around intricate areas of the objects being cleaned, such as over car dashboards, in vents and grates, over faucets, over CD and tape players, around knobs, between computer keyboard buttons, into vase openings, through moldings, into banister posts, and over various other objects. Moreover, due to the configuration of the mitt 10, it may be adapted to be worn on either hand of the user.
A first angle 36 between an axis 40 of the separate thumb-receiving section 26 and an axis 44 of the separate index-finger receiving section 30 may be in the range of thirty-two degrees to thirty-eight degrees. A second angle 48 between an axis 44 of the separate index-receiving receiving section 30 and an axis 52 of the separate three-finger receiving section 34 may be in the range of seven degrees to thirteen degrees. A third angle 56 between an axis 40 of the separate thumb-receiving receiving section 26 and an axis 52 of the separate three-finger receiving section 34 may be in the range of forty-two degrees to forty-eight degrees.
The length 60 of the separate thumb-receiving section 26 may range from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches, while its width 64 may range from 1.75 inches to 2.0 inches. The length 68 of the separate index-receiving section 30 may range from 3.625 inches to 3.875 inches, while its width 72 may range from 2.0 inches to 2.25 inches. The length 76 of the separate three-finger receiving section 34 may range from 3.0 inches to 3.25 inches, while its width 80 may range from 3.75 inches to 4.0 inches. In other embodiments, the first, second, and third angles 36, 48, and 56, may be a varying number of degrees. In further embodiments, the lengths 60, 68, and 76, and the widths 64, 72, and 80 may be varying dimensions.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
