Abstract:
A stain removing device comprises a base portion, a foam material that comprises polyurethane foam and a fastener that connects the foam material to the base portion. A handle extends from the base portion. The fastener comprises at least one of adhesives and mechanical fasteners. The fastener removably attaches the foam material to the base portion. The foam material may comprise polyester polyurethane foam.

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for removing stains on articles of clothing.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     People commonly use deodorant to reduce body odor and/or perspiration. During the morning, people apply deodorant under their arms and then dress. When applying deodorant, the deodorant may not dry quickly. If the person applying the deodorant dresses immediately after application, the deodorant may leave a stain on clothing that comes into contact with the deodorant. Some types of deodorant tend to leave a white stain on clothing. If the contact occurs on outwardly-facing portions of the clothing, the stain is visible to others.  
         [0003]     Removing the deodorant stain may be difficult to accomplish without removing the affected clothing and washing and/or dry-cleaning them. This approach can be inconvenient; particularly when the stain is discovered after the person leaves home. One approach for cleaning the stain includes using a damp cloth to clean the affected area. While this initially seems to correct the problem, the stain often reappears when the stained area dries.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     A stain removing device comprises a base portion, a foam material that comprises polyurethane foam and a fastener that connects the foam material to the base portion.  
         [0005]     In other features, a handle extends from the base portion. The fastener comprises at least one of adhesives and mechanical fasteners. The fastener removably attaches the foam material to the base portion.  
         [0006]     In other features, the foam material comprises polyester polyurethane foam. The foam material has a density of approximately 1.55+/−10% lbs/ft 3 . The foam material has a minimum tensile strength of approximately 23.0 pounds per square inch (psi). The foam material has a minimum tear resistance of 3.0 pounds per lineal inch (pli). The foam material has a minimum compression force deflection of approximately 0.35 to 0.40 psi at 25% deflection and approximately 0.40 to 0.45 psi at 50% deflection. The foam material has an average compression force deflection of approximately 0.55 psi at 25% deflection and approximately 0.60 psi at 50% deflection.  
         [0007]     A method for removing stains comprises providing a foam material that comprises polyurethane foam; and rubbing the foam material on a portion of clothing that includes a stain.  
         [0008]     In other features, the method comprises attaching the foam material to a supporting base portion using at least one of adhesives and mechanical fasteners. The method comprises providing a handle that extends from the base portion. The method comprises removably attaching the foam material to the base portion.  
         [0009]     The foam material comprises polyester polyurethane foam. The foam material has a density of approximately 1.55+/−10% lbs/ft 3 . The foam material has a minimum tensile strength of approximately 23.0 pounds per square inch (psi). The foam material has a minimum tear resistance of 3.0 pounds per lineal inch (pli). The foam material has a minimum compression force deflection of approximately 0.35 to 0.40 psi at 25% deflection and approximately 0.40 to 0.45 psi at 50% deflection. The foam material has an average compression force deflection of approximately 0.55 psi at 25% deflection and approximately 0.60 psi at 50% deflection.  
         [0010]     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a first exemplary stain removing device;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the stain removing device of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a second exemplary stain removing device;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the stain removing device of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates steps of a method for reducing deodorant stains and/or other stains from clothing and other objects;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of multi-layer stain removing device; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a plan view of the multi-layer stain removing device of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary stain removing device  10  is shown to include a base portion  14  and a handle  16 . A foam material  20  is attached to the base portion  14  using any suitable fastener  22 . The fastener  22  may permanently affix the foam material  20  to the base portion  14  and/or may removably attach the foam material  20  to the base portion  14 . The handle  16  may extend a variable distance from the base portion  14  depending upon a particular application. Alternately, the handle  16  can be omitted if desired as will be shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  described below. The base portion  14  may be made of any suitable material including plastic, wood, and/or other suitable materials. The base portion  14  preferably includes a material that is stiffer than the foam material  20 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary stain removing device  50  is shown to include a base portion  54  and a foam material  52  that is attached to the base portion  54  using any suitable fastener  56 . The fastener  56  may permanently affix the foam material  52  to the base portion  54  and/or may removably attach the foam material  52  to the base portion  54 .  
         [0022]     The fasteners  22  and  56  may include adhesives such as glue, epoxy, and/or other suitable adhesives and/or mechanical fasteners such as staples, Velcro® and/or other suitable mechanical fasteners. For example, the foam material  20  may be replaceable by attaching the foam material  20  to the base portion  14  using Velcro®. Further exemplary removable fasteners are disclosed in “Lotion Applicator”, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0175677, published Aug. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Still other fixed and removable attachment methods are contemplated.  
         [0023]     The foam material  20  and  52  may include polyurethane foam. The foam material  20  and  52  may include polyester polyurethane foam. In some implementations, the foam material  20  and  52  may have a density of approximately 1.55+/−10% lbs/ft 3 . The foam material  20  and  52  may have a minimum tensile strength of 23.0 pounds per square inch (psi) and an average tensile strength of approximately 28.0 psi. The foam material  20  and  52  may have a minimum tear resistance of 3.0 pounds per lineal inch (pli) and an average tear resistance of approximately 3.5 pli. The foam material  20  and  52  may have a minimum compression force deflection of 0.35 to 0.40 psi at 25% deflection and 0.40 to 0.45 psi at 50% deflection. The foam material  20  and  52  may have an approximate average compression force deflection of 0.55 psi at 25% deflection and 0.60 psi at 50% deflection. One or both sides of the base portion  14  and  54  may be covered with the foam material  20  and  52 .  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , steps for removing stains from clothing are shown generally at  70 . The method begins in step  72 . In step  74 , the foam is positioned adjacent to the stain on a fabric such as clothing. In step  76 , the foam is moved relative to the fabric while applying gentle pressure. In step  78 , the stain is inspected to determine whether the stain has been removed. If the stain has not been removed as determined in step  80 , steps  74 - 78  are repeated. If the stain has been removed as determined in step  80 , steps  74 - 80  are repeated for other stains if needed. If there are no other stains as determined in step  82 , the method ends.  
         [0025]     The above described method can be implemented with the stain removing devices described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 , which include a base portion, and/or without a base portion. For example, the foam material  20  and  52  may be cut into relatively small sections that can be easily attached to deodorant packaging and sold together with the deodorant.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a multi-layer stain removing device  100  is shown. The stain removing device includes a first layer  104  and a second layer  108 . An outer periphery of two or more sides of the first and second layers  104  and  108  are attached together using an attachment method indicated by dotted lines  110 ,  112  and  114  to define a pocket  118 . The attachment method may include the use of adhesives, stitching, staples, or any other suitable method.  
         [0027]     At least one of the first and second layers  104  and  108  includes the foam material described above. The other of the first and second layers  104  and  108  can be selected from any other suitable material such as the foam material, felt, cloth, paper or cardboard, plastic, and/or any other suitable material. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the first and second layers  104  and  108  are attached on three sides. An opening  120  is defined on the remaining side of the first and second layers  104  and  108 .  
         [0028]     In use, a user can insert a finger, multiple fingers, a hand, etc. through the opening  120  and into the pocket  118 . Then, the user rubs the foam material on the stain. The arrangement shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  allows the user to position and manipulate the foam material more easily.  
         [0029]     As can be appreciated, the methods and apparatus described above are particularly suited for removing deodorant stains on clothing. However, this application of the methods and apparatus described herein is merely exemplary in nature and not limiting. There are other many other stain removing applications for the methods and apparatus described above.