Abstract:
The disclosure provides a cleaning device and a method of manufacturing the same. The cleaning device is configured to be effectively used for cleaning, polishing, drying, scrubbing, and scouring. The cleaning device is constructed of a combination of materials wherein the different component materials are inherently better suited for different functions. The component materials are sized, arranged, and combined to provide a highly effective and versatile cleaning tool.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/836,800, filed Aug. 10, 2006, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus and, more particularly, to a dish cloth with an attached scrubber. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Natural sponges and synthetic sponges have been used for washing or cleaning purposes due to their ability to hold water, soap emulsions, and detergents. Synthetic sponges are more commonly used due to the limited supply of natural sponges. Synthetic sponges are commonly formed of foamed synthetic or cellulose resins, such as polyurethane foams. 
         [0004]    A common problem with sponges is that they tend to wear relatively rapidly and are easily broken or torn. Increasing the strength of synthetic sponges has been attempted by varying the foamed composition and the dimensions of the open cells. Wear problems remain, however, and even the best sponges deteriorate, especially when they are used for scrubbing or scouring. Fibrous abrasive pads, which are more effective for scrubbing or scouring but do not have the desirable sponge characteristics identified above, have been combined with sponges. Where sponge and abrasive pads are combined, the sponge portion absorbs and holds water and cleaning materials, and the fiber cloth provides an abrasive scouring pad, but each has an independently useful life. 
         [0005]    Though the sponge and scouring pad arrangement has its advantages, such combinations are not typically as effective for polishing, drying, and cleaning in crevices as hand towels. Cloth hand towels are made of a wide variety of materials. Recently, cloth hand towels made of soft materials such as microfibers have become a popular choice for cleaning, drying, and polishing (microfibers are fibers with strands thinner than one denier, making these fibers even finer than silk). 
         [0006]    There is a need in the art for a cleaning device that has the advantages of a soft towel as well as the advantages of scouring and scrubbing pads. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to a cleaning device and a method of manufacturing the same. The device according to the present disclosure is configured to be effectively used for cleaning, polishing, drying, scrubbing, and scouring. The cleaning device is constructed of a combination of materials wherein the different component materials are inherently better suited for different functions. The component materials are sized, arranged, and combined to provide a highly effective and versatile cleaning tool. 
         [0008]    Advantages associated with some embodiments of the device according to the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, the ability to effectively clean with water alone, thereby helping to eliminate the need for harmful chemical cleaners and making this an environmentally friendly hypoallergenic cleaning tool; the ability of the device to lift and trap dirt particles and moisture far faster than prior art devices; the quick drying properties (e.g., some embodiments dry 10× faster than standard scouring devices); ultra strong and soft properties (e.g., some embodiments are 2× softer than silk and 3× softer than cotton); and the super absorbent properties (e.g., some embodiments hold 7× its weight in liquid, dust or dirt). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the cleaning towel according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the cleaning towel according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the cleaning towel according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the towel  10   a  includes a cloth portion  14   a  and an abrasive portion  12   a . The cloth portion  14   a  comprises a material that is suitable for absorbing liquids (drying), cleaning, and polishing. Cloth as used herein refers generally to a pliable material usually made by weaving, felting, or knitting natural or synthetic fibers and filaments or something with like physical properties. In the depicted embodiment the cloth is of the microfiber type. The particular type of microfiber in the depicted embodiment is a blend of microscopic polyester and polyamide fiber which is split and then woven into hooks and loops to create tiny scoops that attract particles and absorb liquid. Example microfiber patents include U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,173 titled Microfiber Towel with Cotton Base; U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,455 titled Antimicrobial Ultra-microfiber Cloth; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,411 titled Cleaning Cloth, which are all herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the cloth portion  14   a  may be of another type, for example, a cotton material, an organic cotton material, bamboo, or other materials. The abrasive portion  12   a  comprises a material that is better suitable for scrubbing and scouring than the cloth portion. In the depicted embodiment the abrasive portion  14   a  is made of a polyethylene nylon blend. Example scrubbing pad patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,035 titled Scouring Pad Fabricating Method and U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,417 titled Scouring Pad, which are both herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. Nonetheless, it should be appreciated that the abrasive portion  14   a  in other embodiments may comprise other types of materials, for example, a loofah material. 
         [0013]    The towel  10   a  is rectangular (a shape having one or more right angles), but it should be appreciated that many other shapes are also possible including, for example, circular, oval, triangular, or irregular shapes. In the depicted embodiment the towel  10   a  has a height H 1  of approximately 10-14 inches and a width W 1  of approximately 10-14 inches (e.g., 11×8.5 or 12×12). Preferably, the towel  10   a  according to this disclosure has a cross-sectional area of between 36 square inches and 250 square inches. More preferably, the towel  10   a  has a cross-sectional area of between 70 to 150 square inches. 
         [0014]    In the depicted embodiment the abrasive portion  12   a  is square shaped with a height H 2  and width W 2  of approximately 3 inches. It should be appreciated that the abrasive portion can be of many other shapes and sizes. In preferred embodiments the abrasive portion  12   a  has an area 4 to 25 square inches. In more preferred embodiments the area of the abrasive portion is less than 20 percent of the area of the towel. The size of the abrasive portion  12   a  can have an effect on the overall effectiveness of the towel  10   a . If the abrasive portion is too small, the towel may not be as effective for scrubbing and scouring. On the other hand if the abrasive portion is too large, the towel may not be as effective for drying and polishing. 
         [0015]    In the depicted embodiment the abrasive portion  12   a  is roughly centered in the lower right quadrant  16  of the towel  10   a . The arrangement prevents the abrasive portion  12   a  from interfering with the cloth portion  14   a  while the towel  10   a  is in use. According to the depicted arrangement the towel  10   a  can be conveniently folded to position abrasive portion  12   a  inside the towel  10   a , which prevents the abrasive portion  12   a  from inadvertent contact with the object that is being cleaned, polished, or dried. However, it should be appreciated that the abrasive portion  12   a  could be positioned at other locations as well while still enabling the towel  10   a  to be selectively used as a cloth only. 
         [0016]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the abrasive portion  12   a  is shown as an abrasive pad  18  that is stitched and bound over the cloth portion  14   a  of the towel  10   a . In the depicted embodiment only one side of the towel  10   a  includes an abrasive portion  12   a . According to the depicted construction the cloth portion  14   a  provides structural support for abrasive portion  12   a . In the depicted embodiment only one surface of the towel  10   a  has an abrasive portion  12   a . It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments an abrasive pad  18  may be stitched to both sides of the towel  10   a  so that both sides of the towel  10   a  include abrasive portions  12   a . Also, in alternative embodiments the cloth portion could be cut away or otherwise absent in the abrasive portion  12   a  such that the abrasive pad  18  is exposed on both sides of the towel  10   a.    
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the towel  10   a  is shown. The towel  10   b  includes an identical cloth portion  14   b  and similar abrasive portion  12   b . The abrasive portion  12   b  is rectangular rather than square shaped. It includes a height H 3  of approximately 2 inches and a width W 3  of approximately 4 inches. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a third embodiment of the towel  10   a  is shown. The towel  10   c  includes an identical cloth portion  14   c  and similar abrasive portion  12   c . The abrasive portion  12   c  is circular rather than square or rectangular shaped. It includes a diameter D 1  of approximately 3 inches. The second and third embodiments are further examples of towels that include a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is better suited for drying and polishing and the second material is better suited for scrubbing and cleaning. The second material and the first material in both embodiments are arranged relative to each other such that both materials can be used for their respective functions without interference of the other. 
         [0019]    The above specification provides examples of how certain inventive aspects may be put into practice. It will be appreciated that the inventive aspects can be practiced in other ways than those specifically shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects. In the description, like reference numbers have been used to identify like or similar parts.