Abstract:
Microfiber cloth is attached, with an opening in the middle to permit insertion of a finger, to a backing formed by articles of regularly worn clothing, including shirt tails, the tip of neckties, scarves, sweaters, pants or other clothing article, making the microfiber cloth more accessible and ready to use for cleaning surfaces of personal devices without risk to soiling any exposed surface of the backing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending application Ser. No. 14/566,530 filed Dec. 14, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 13/707,361 filed Dec. 6, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,931,115 issued January 13, 2015. This application also claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional Application No. 61/568,245, filed on Dec. 8, 2011, titled “Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Clothing Article and Method of Assembly,” the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to methods and apparatus for cleaning smooth surfaces of personal devices such as cell phone screens, eye glasses, electronic screens and the like. 
         [0003]    Microfiber cloth has been developed for cleaning smooth surfaces. Examples of products in which such surfaces are found include eyeglasses, cell phones, MP3 players, computers, televisions and other articles with display screens. A microfiber cloth is designed to attract dust and remove oil on contact with the glass surface. 
         [0004]    It is a common practice to use shirttails and the like clothing to casually and occasionally clean such surfaces of personal devices. However convenient this may be, this method is often unsatisfactory because the fabric of clothing is unsuitable to clean such surfaces, spreading contaminants instead of removing oil and dust. 
         [0005]    What is needed is an effective and convenient method and device for casual cleaning of glass surfaces. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the invention, a piece of microfiber cloth is attached to an article of fabric having another purpose, such as an article of regularly worn clothing. The attachment sites include a shirt tail, a necktie, pants, pockets, lapels, scarves or other clothing article that is regularly worn, making the microfiber cloth more accessible and ready to use for cleaning glass surfaces of personal devices. Microfiber cloth is attached to clothing in convenient and unobtrusive locations using an attachment medium, such as a heat-activated adhesive interlayer or iron-on cloth piece. The cloth piece is preferably shaped to fit the shape of the clothing area that serves as a support base or backing. 
         [0007]    In a particular embodiment, the microfiber cloth patch is attached to the triangular tip of a necktie, the patch shaped to conform to the tip of the necktie, the patch having a buttonhole cut in the patch with sewn edges so as to form an opening under the tip of the necktie, the opening being approximately in the middle of the patch at sufficient distance from the margins to permit its length to accommodate a person&#39;s finger with all margins sealed and preferably disposed horizontally relative to the length of the tie. This structure permits a user to insert a finger under the tip of the necktie and adjacent the inside of the patch so that the finger may stroke the surface to be cleaned through the cleaning side of the patch without soiling the tip of the necktie. 
         [0008]    The article of clothing is transformed into a cleaning cloth when the microfiber piece is attached to the article of clothing. The pocket configuration may be used in other embodiments, such as on a shirt tail. 
         [0009]    The method of attachment is preferably by means of a heat activated adhesive sheet, but the edges of the pocket opening may be attached to the underlying material, such as by thread. 
         [0010]    The invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description in connection with accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a generic structure according to the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the article prior to attachment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a magnified view of one embodiment of the invention incorporated into a shirt. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of another embodiment of the invention incorporated into a necktie, showing an opening in a margin forming a pocket. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a magnified view of another embodiment of the invention incorporated into the handle strap of a handbag. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a magnified view of another embodiment of the invention incorporated into a representative pocket such as a pant pocket forming a protective cover. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of another embodiment incorporated into a carried article that encloses the cleaning cloth. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a structure illustrating a buttonhole in the cleaning element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of a generalized embodiment of the invention  10 . Herein, a microfiber cloth  12  is attached to a fabric backing or substrate  14  of clothing by means of an interlayer of a heat activated sheet  16 , namely an iron-on cloth sheet. The invention could be provided as a kit comprising the microfiber cloth sheet  12  and the heat-activated sheet  16  both suitably pre-sized or cut to size to match a particular attachment site of a substrate. While various types of microfiber cloths are known and available, the preferred type for this purpose is a lightweight microfiber sheet that is flat woven fabric designed for leaving a streak-free finish on glass. The weave of split polyester/polyamide blend microfiber yarn is designed for absorption while leaving no lint. Split fibers create open spaces in the fiber which give absorbability. 
         [0020]    Specifications are 80% polyester/20% polyamide; denier: 0.1-0.2; weight: 200 grams per square meter. 
         [0021]    It is conventional wisdom that a microfiber cloth cannot be ironed because of the risk of fusing and thus clogging the split fibers. To address and overcome this problem, the iron-on sheet  16  and the substrate  14  are placed between the heat source (hot iron) and the microfiber cloth  12 , the assembly is placed on a cold heat sink, and the heat source is applied at the lowest effective heat setting for the shortest effective time. Alternatively, heat is applied only to the margins of the cloth sheet  12  and its heat-sensitive backing  16 , leaving the untreated center area of the cloth sheet of sufficient size for the cleaning function, and providing a space forming a pocket where an opening  17  between adjoining sides of the cloth  12  provides access to the interior of the pocket. The untreated center area can be protected by a layer of heat-insulative material (not shown) that is smaller than the extent of the side margins of the iron-on attachment cloth  12 . While sewing is an alternative, the preferred embodiment is as an iron-on attachment cloth  12 . Loops  13 ,  15  of thread sewing the corners of the pocket opening  17  to the underlying backing  14  may provide extra strength against separation, and a void  19  in the iron-on sheet  16  may provide an assured void adjacent the pocket opening  17 . The pocket opening  17  may be a chord with endpoints at between about one-half to about one-third of the distance from opposite corners of a square patch of the cloth  12 . If the endpoint is more than about one-half along the length of the margin, then there is little room for a finger or fingers to be inserted. It it is less than one-third, bonding strength of the backing is sacrificed. However, if the bonding strength is adequate, endpoints may be at the opposite corners of the cloth  12  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2A  is an example of the microfiber cloth  12  with the adhesive sheet  16  or layer pre-attached. In the example of  FIG. 2B , the attachment site of the microfiber cloth  12  is the tail  18  of a shirt  20  or like blouse or sweater. There is provided an optional pocket opening  17  optionally secured at its corners by thread loops  13  and  15 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates the example of a necktie  22  wherein a shaped piece of microfiber cloth  12  according to the invention is attached to the end  24  of the necktie  22 , hidden but readily accessible to a user and having a pocket opening  17  with optional thread attachments  13 ,  15  adjacent the ends of opening  17 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is an example of a microfiber cloth  12  incorporated into the shoulder strap  26  of a handbag  28 , including a computer bag or the like. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a microfiber cloth  12  attached to a pocket  30  of a pant  32  in which it is cut to the shape of the pocket  30 . The pocket, when closed, thus covers and protects the microfiber cloth  12 . A pocket-sized-device, such as a cell phone, may have its screen cleaned merely by placing it in the pocket  30  with the screen facing the cloth and then rubbing the screen against the sheet, backed by the body of the wearer. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  depicts a portable article  34  planar in shape with a front cover  36  and a back cover  38  that can be opened along margins  40  and  42  to expose a microfiber cloth  12  adhering to one of the cover  36 ,  38 . The article  34  with protective covers may have a hole  44  that is used to hold the article closed by means of a strap  46  looped through the hole  44 . Releasing the strap  46  opens the article  34 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing the microfiber cloth patch as it would be attached to the triangular tip of a necktie, the patch shaped to conform to the tip of the necktie, the patch having a buttonhole cut in the patch with sewn edges so as to form an opening under the tip of the necktie, the opening being approximately in the middle of the patch at sufficient distance from the margins to permit its length to accommodate a person&#39;s finger with all margins sealed and preferably disposed horizontally relative to the length of the tie. This structure permits a user to insert a finger under the tip of the necktie and adjacent the inside of the patch so that the finger may stroke the surface to be cleaned through the cleaning side of the patch without soiling the tip of the necktie. 
         [0028]    Articles to which a microfiber sheet  12  may be attached flush to provide a cleaning medium for screens and the like include shirt tails, scarves, sweaters, pants, ties, gloves, purses, lapels, bags or other articles and clothing that are regularly worn or carried, making the microfiber cloth more accessible and ready to use. 
         [0029]    Adhesives and attachment media that could be used include, but are not limited to: Iron-on adhesive tape, liquid iron-on adhesive, superglue, hot glue, epoxy, liquid cement, sewn thread, etc. It is preferred and has been determined that the iron-on adhesive tape is preferred for convenience and longevity. 
         [0030]    The invention has been explained with reference to specific embodiments. The claims are incorporated into the description of the invention. Other embodiments will be evident to those of skill in the art. It is therefore not intended that the invention be limited, except as indicated by the appended claims.