Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning the touch screen of any personal electronic device, including but not limited to smart phones and personal computing tablets. The apparatus comprises a wet portion and a dry portion in a substantially horizontal figure “8” configuration. The apparatus may also comprise a reservoir for storing a volume of conventional cleaning fluid. When not in use, the apparatus is slid into a case which is configured to house the wet and dry portions of the apparatus in separate housing compartments. A method is also provided for storing the apparatus when not in use so as to prolong its effective lifespan and improve its overall performance.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/454,686, filed on Mar. 21, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 119. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Technology 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates to the field of maintenance of personal electronics, specifically to the cleaning of a screen of a personal electronic device and method for storing the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    The use of small portable electronic devices has exploded in recent modern day society and will only increase as the technology becomes cheaper and easier to use. Devices such as smart phones and computer tablets with touch screen displays lead the way in disseminating powerful computing power and access to information to the mass public. Specifically it is the implementation of touch screen displays which provide intuitive and user friendly navigation techniques and allows individuals with even the most rudimentary computer skills to effectively use the device. 
         [0006]    A significant drawback of the touch screen however is that the touch screen itself becomes dirty and covered in unwanted oils and fingerprints from the user making use of the device more difficult if not unpleasant. This problem is magnified several times over in cases where the device is shared between several people such as in a patient waiting room or within a classroom where the device may act as a transmission means for germs to spread from user to user. 
         [0007]    Previous attempts to clean touch screen devices have included lint free cloths which do help remove large dirt or soil particles, but lack the ability to remove or kill bacteria and other germs which may be present. Other attempts have included using paper towels and a cleaning spray, however these additional items are bulky and are impractical for use when traveling or otherwise on the move. 
         [0008]    What is needed is an apparatus that may be used to clean the touch screens of modern day electronic devices and thus cut down on the grime and amount of germs present on the device while still being as portable as the devices themselves. The apparatus should also comprise a method for being properly stored so as to prolong the functionality of the apparatus. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The current invention is for a system that effectively cleans the touch screen of any personal electronic device, including but not limited to smart phones and personal computing tablets such as the iPad®. The invention also includes a method for storing the apparatus when not in use so as to prolong its effective lifespan and improve its overall performance. 
         [0010]    The current invention is a system for cleaning a touch screen of a personal electronics device including a cleaning stick with a wet portion and a dry portion with the wet and dry portions are adjacently disposed to one another. The system also includes a case with a wet housing and a dry housing also adjacently disposed to one another. The wet and dry portions of the cleaning stick are capable of being inserted in the wet and dry housing respectively. The system also includes a cap which is removably coupled to the case. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the dry housing of the case has a surface and includes a plurality of perforations defined through it which communicate the dry housing of the case with a surrounding ambient environment. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the wet portion of the cleaning stick has a larger cross sectional diameter than the dry portion of the cleaning stick. 
         [0013]    The case included in the system has a longitudinal length and further includes a seal disposed along the longitudinal length for preventing contact between the wet portion and dry portion of the cleaning stick. In other embodiments, the case further comprises a reservoir disposed along its longitudinal length. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the wet housing of the case is prismatically shaped and has a larger cross sectional area than that of the dry housing of the case. A handle may also be connected to the cleaning stick. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the reservoir within the case is fluidicly communicated with only the wet portion of the cleaning stick when the cleaning stick is inserted into the case. 
         [0016]    The invention further provides for a method for storing a cleaning stick used to clean a touch screen of a personal electronic device including aligning the cleaning stick to match a longitudinal orientation of a case, inserting the cleaning stick into the case, maintaining a fluidic barrier between a wet portion and a dry portion of the cleaning stick when it is the case, and then enclosing the cleaning stick within the case. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the method step of aligning the cleaning stick to match the longitudinal orientation of the case includes aligning the wet portion of the cleaning stick with a wet housing of the case and then aligning the dry portion of the cleaning stick with a dry housing of the case. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the method step of maintaining a fluidic barrier between a wet portion and a dry portion of the cleaning stick when it is the case includes confining the wet portion of the cleaning stick within a wet housing of the case and then confining the dry portion of the cleaning stick within a dry housing of the case. The dry portion of the cleaning stick may be air dried when it is inserted in the dry housing of the case via a plurality of perforations defined through a surface of the dry housing. 
         [0019]    In yet another embodiment, the method alsoincludes fluidicly communicating the wet portion of the cleaning stick with a reservoir disposed within the case. 
         [0020]    In yet another embodiment, the method step of maintaining a fluidic barrier between a wet portion and a dry portion of the cleaning stick when it is the case includes providing a seal between the wet portion and the dry portion of the cleaning stick as the cleaning stick is inserted into the case. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the method step of enclosing the cleaning stick within the case further includes coupling a cap to the end of the case. 
         [0022]    In still a further embodiment, the method step of inserting the cleaning stick into the case includes inserting the wet portion of the cleaning stick into a wet housing of the case, inserting the dry portion of the cleaning stick into a dry housing of the case, and then preventing the insertion of the wet portion of the cleaning stick into the dry housing of the case. 
         [0023]    The current invention also provides for an apparatus for storing a cleaning stick used to clean a touch screen of a personal electronics device. The apparatus includes a case with two portions, wherein each portion of the case is configured to accommodate a corresponding portion of the cleaning stick. A fluidic barrier is also disposed longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the case, and a cap is also removably coupled to the case. 
         [0024]    In one particular embodiment, the case portion of the apparatus also includes a refillable reservoir disposed longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the case. The reservoir is fluidicly communicated with only one portion of the cleaning stick and includes means for air drying the remaining portion of the cleaning stick. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the two portions of the case of the apparatus have unequal volumes. 
         [0026]    Finally, the case may be attachable to the personal electronics device or fixed thereto as needed. 
         [0027]    While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The disclosure can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the current system comprising a cleaning stick, case, and cap. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the case comprising a seal. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the case comprising a reservoir. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cleaning stick being inserted into the case. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the cleaning stick after being fully inserted into the case. 
       
    
    
       [0033]    The disclosure and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    The current apparatus is a cleaning “stick” or rod  10  as seen in  FIG. 1  used to clean the surface of touch screens for various personal electronic devices. The cleaning stick  10  is a substantially narrow rod-like structure comprising two rounded halves coupled together along a longitudinal axis. Each of the halves are separately designated as a wet half  12  and a dry half  14 . The wet half  12  and dry half  14  are both preferably comprised of soft, sponge material, however any material or material composite now known or later devised for applying or absorbing moisture may be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0035]    Both the wet half  12  and dry half  14  are substantially circular or semi-circular in shape, however the dry half  14  comprises a smaller diameter than that of the wet half  12 . This allows the cleaning stick  10  to have an asymmetrical cross section as seen in  FIG. 1 , similar to a horizontal figure “8” shape with one half being smaller than the adjacent half. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the wet half  12  instead of the dry half  14  may be the smaller of the two halves. Coupled to the cleaning stick  10  and disposed between the wet half  12  and dry half  14  is a handle  16  which is used to grip the cleaning stick  10  during use. 
         [0036]    The current apparatus also comprises a storage case  20  as seen in  FIG. 1  that comprises the same horizontal figure “8” cross section as the cleaning stick  10 . The storage case  20  comprises a wet housing  22  and a dry housing  24  disposed next to one another which are sized and shaped to accommodate the wet half  12  and dry half  14  of the cleaning stick  10 , respectively. The storage case  20  is preferably comprised of plastic or plastic composite, however any light weight durable material may be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. When not in use, the cleaning stick  10  is inserted into the storage case  20  with the wet half  12  aligned within the wet housing  22  and the dry half  14  aligned within the dry housing  24  as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The figure “8” cross sections of both the cleaning stick  10  and storage case  20  ensure that only the wet half  12  of the cleaning stick  10  is inserted into the wet housing  22  of the storage case  20 , and that the dry half  14  is inserted into the dry housing  24 . If the wet half  12  of the cleaning stick  10  is mistakenly aligned with the dry housing  24  portion of the case  20 , the diameter of the dry housing  24  which is smaller than that of the wet half  12 , will prevent the wet half  12  from being inserted into the case  20 . In other words, the storage case  20  will only accommodate the cleaning stick  10  if it is properly orientated in the proper configuration, i.e. the wet half  12  disposed in front of the wet housing  22  and the dry half  14  disposed in front of the dry housing  24 . 
         [0037]    When the cleaning stick  10  is not in use or has just finished being used, the stick  10  is orientated as described above and then slid distally into the storage case  20 , as best seen in the end view of the stick  10  and case  20  in  FIG. 5 . The wet housing  22  is sized to be slightly larger than the wet half  12  so as to provide a snug or tight fit and thus prevent any residual moisture from evaporating and drying out the wet half  12 . The dry housing  24  also comprises a plurality of perforations  28  defined in its surface as seen in  FIG. 1 . The perforations  28  permit moisture collected from the dry half  14  to evaporate and pass through the dry housing  24  and into the surrounding environment. It is in this fashion therefore that the wet half  12  remains moist while the dry half  14  is permitted to air dry between uses. 
         [0038]    After the cleaning stick  10  has been completely slid distally into the storage case  20 , a cap  26  is placed over the proximal end of the storage case  20  to seal in the cleaning stick  10 . The cap  26  comprises the same horizontal figure “8” shape as the cross section of the storage case  20  and not only holds the cleaning stick  10  within the storage case  20 , but also helps to prevent further moisture depletion from the wet half  12 . 
         [0039]    To use the cleaning stick  10 , the cap  26  is removed and the cleaning stick  10  is slid proximally out of the storage case  20 . The user grips the cleaning stick  10  by the handle  16  and presses the wet half  12  against the surface of the touch screen of the electronic device to be cleaned. The wet half  12  preferably already contains a liquid cleaning agent within its sponge-like material, however cleaning agents may be applied to the surface of the touch screen by known means by the user before applying the wet half  12 . The wet half  12  is then maneuvered around the touch screen, spreading the cleaning agent and breaking down any dirt or oils present. The user then orientates the cleaning stick  10  so that the dry half  14  is in contact with the touch screen surface and then repeats the wiping process and absorbs moisture left behind from the wet half  12 . The cleaning stick  10  may then be replaced into the storage case  20  as described above until needed again. 
         [0040]    In another embodiment seen in  FIG. 2 , the storage case  20  comprises a seal or other interlocking slide  30  disposed down the center of the storage case  20 . The seal  30  is an effective physical barrier along the longitudinal length of the storage case  20  which prevents contact between the wet half  12  and dry half  14  of the cleaning stick  10  while it is contained within the storage case  20 . In this particular embodiment, the cleaning stick  10  also comprises a narrowed segment along its longitudinal length between the wet half  12  and dry half  14  so as to snuggly fit within the seal  30 . 
         [0041]    In another embodiment seen in  FIG. 3 , the storage case  20  comprises a reservoir  32  disposed along its longitudinal length. When the cleaning stick  10  is inserted into the storage case  20  as disclosed above, the wet half  12  of the cleaning stick makes fluidic contact with the reservoir  32 , transferring fresh cleaning agent from the reservoir  32  to the wet half  12  by means known in the art. The reservoir  32  may be refilled via a port or a one way valve defined within the outer surface of the storage case  20 . In this embodiment, each time the cleaning stick  10  is removed from the storage case  20 , the wet half  12  already has cleaning agent applied to it due to contact with the reservoir  32  making the cleaning stick  10  ready for immediate use. After use, the cleaning stick  10  is inserted back into the storage case  20  allowing the wet half  12  to replenish its supply of cleaning agent from the reservoir  32 . 
         [0042]    Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following embodiments and its various embodiments. 
         [0043]    Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the embodiments as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the embodiments includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the embodiments is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the embodiments. 
         [0044]    The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
         [0045]    The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
         [0046]    Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
         [0047]    The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments.