Tool in the form of a brush for cleaning leather

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool in the shape of a brush comprised of a spongy portion made from reticulated synthetic material having a rough and relatively non-flexible surface formed by the filaments of the cells of said reticulated material, thanks to the adequately large cell size of said material.

Description: The present invention relates to a tool in the shape of a brush comprised of a spongy portion made from reticulated synthetic material having a rough and relatively non-flexible surface formed by the filaments of the cells of the said reticulated material, thanks to the adequately large cell size of the said material. Various tools for brushing leather, basically comprised of a spongy body having an essentially even, smooth surface generally impregnated with silicone oils or the like are, already known in the market. Although this type of tool is extremely useful for cleaning hairless leather, it is not suitable for cleaning pilose leather, irrespective of whether the hair is long or short, such as suede, "nubuck", "split" and the like. In fact, the oil- and wax-based impregnation of the spongy mass will, on the one hand, produce stains on the surface of the aforesaid leathers, and the smooth, non-rough nature of the said tool will, on the other hand, be unsuitable for the pilose nature of the hairy leathers, since the application thereof will produce a "flattening" of the pilose mass but it will not cause the loosening of the dust particles nor will it serve to "comb" the said surface. As it is known, for leathers of the previously mentioned type to be suitably cleaned, it is recommendable for the cleaning surface of the tools to be relatively non-flexible and rough so that the adequate orientation of the pilose mass as well as the removal of the dust and dirt particles may be achieved. Hence, brushes having more or less rigid bristles are known. However, inspite of being suitable for the alleged cleaning function, they are relatively expensive. A brush for leather is known from CH-A 272 787, which comprises a handle portion on which is fixed, on one of its sides, a crepe rubber block, whilst the opposite side is provided with a spongy rubber block with cells, said blocks setting the actual cleaning area. The materials used for said cleaning blocks do not make possible satisfactory brushing or cleaning of leather with fur, and additionally, such cleaning surfaces have no protection after use, remaning exposed to deterioration due to external agents. The object of this invention is to provide a tool in the shape of a brush of the type described above, which permits the aforesaid disadvantages to be obviated, which is easy to produce and which is inexpensive. This object is achieved in accordance with the characteristics described in the claim inasmuch as it is comprised of a handle portion including a spongy portion made from polyester polyurethane reticulated foam, the cell size of which is sufficiently large so as to form an essentially rough and relatively non-flexible cleaning portion defined by the end filaments of the cells of the aforesaid spongy material. The handle portion of the tool is provided in the form of a lid having opening lugs for a box or receptacle of the aforesiad spongy cleaning device. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a view of the cleaning tool in accordance with the invention, uncoupled from its corresponding closure element or box. Figure 2 is a partly cut, end sectional view of the brush-shaped portion of the tool of figure 1. The cleaning tool 1, preferably adopting the shape of a brush, is comprised of a handle portion 2 and a cleaning portion 3 having a spongy nature made from polyester polyurethane reticulated foam, the cell size of which is sufficiently large so as to form an essentially rough and relatively non-flexible cleaning surface thanks to the filaments of the cells of the said spongy mass 4. The adequately rough and non-flexible nature, in accordance with the invention, is essentially determined by the cell size of the reticulated synthetic material as well as by the stiffness thereof. Additionally, a receptacle 5 in the form of a box may be provided as a housing for the said spongy mass. In this case the handle portion 2 is provided as a lid for the said box including opening lugs 6. A tool as that disclosed in the aforegoing proportions a cleaning device which permits short or long-haired leather surfaces, such as suede, "nubuck", "split" and the like, to be adequately brushed, which device can be easily manufactured and is of a low cost.

Claims: A tool in the shape of a brush for cleaning leather comprising a handle portion (2) and a cleaning portion or brush itself (3) including a spongy material made from a synthetic foam material having cells characterised in that said cleaning portion is comprised of a reticulated synthetic foam material, preferably polyester polyurethane having a cell size sufficiently large so as to form a rough and relatively non-flexible cleaning surface defined by the filaments (4) of the cells of the said spongy material and in that also includes a receptacle in the shape of a box (5) for the cleaning portion (3) which is complementary to the handle portion (2) in order to determine a box with a lid, the said handle portion (2), having opening lugs (6).

Inventors: PIERSE WIM, PIERSE, WIM
Applicants: PIERSE WIM, PIERSE, WIM
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A46D1
IPC codes: A46D1, A47L23