Patent ID: 12232672

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least one in number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of the elements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIGS.1-3illustrate a cleaning implement10for spot cleaning a surface, such as an automobile fender or other object.

The cleaning implement10includes a cleaning block20that has a plurality of sides25and edges26. Preferably the cleaning block20is a cube21having twelve rounded edges26, six flat sides25, and eight corners27. Preferably the cleaning block20is made from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material. In other embodiments, the cleaning block20is made from a resilient foam material, polyester, polypropylene, air-laid paper, non-woven spun-lace fabric, plastic textiles, wood, or any type of metal.

One or more elongated cleaning strips30each have an outside surface39, an inside surface31, a first end32, and an opposing second end38. Each elongated cleaning strip30is preferably made with a non-woven polyester or bamboo fiber material, and is optionally infused with a cleaning solution. Such elongated cleaning strips30may be packaged together in a water-tight container (not shown) until ready for use, at which time one or two elongated cleaning strips30are removed from the container and wrapped around the cleaning block20.

For each elongated cleaning strip30, a fastening mechanism40is adapted for fixing the first end32of the cleaning strip30to the second end38of the cleaning strip30, around at least two of the edges26and two of the faces25of the cleaning block20. Such a fastening mechanism40may include a two-part mechanical fastener60, such as a hook-and-loop type material63, wherein a first part61of the two-part mechanical fastener60is fixed proximate the first end32of the elongated cleaning strip30, and wherein a second part62of the two-part mechanical fastener60is fixed proximate the second end38of the elongated cleaning strip30.

Such a two-part mechanical fastening mechanism60may optionally include a tongue-in-groove mechanism (not shown) cooperative with the cleaning block20. Alternately, such a two-part mechanical fastening mechanism60may include mechanical snaps, or adhesive (not shown) fixed on both ends32,38of the elongated cleaning strip30. In such an embodiment the adhesive may be covered until ready for use by an adhesive liner, as is known in the art. Alternately, the ends32,38of the elongated cleaning strip30may include the first part61of the hook-and-loop type material63, while the cleaning block25includes the second part62of the hook-and-loop type material63. Alternately, the material of the elongated cleaning strip30may naturally include loops that can be fixed with a hook-type material (not shown) fixed about the cleaning block20.

Preferably each cleaning strip30includes, on at least the outside surface39thereof but preferably also on the inside surface31, a wear indicator50positioned over each side25of the cleaning block20over which the cleaning strip30is attached. Spot cleaning the surface using a side25with one of the wear indicators50causes the wear indicator50to change visually, such as turning from a first color51such as blue, to a second, contrasting color52, such as white. As such, which sides25of the cleaning block20have been used is visually apparent. Once all of the wear indicators50have been worn to the second color52, the cleaning strip30may be removed from the cleaning block20, flipped over, and re-applied to the cleaning block20, wherein the inside surface31of the cleaning strip30now faces away from the cleaning block20and is ready for use.

As such, with each cleaning strip30fastened around the cleaning block20, the first end32of each cleaning strip30fastened to the opposing second end38of the cleaning strip30, the cleaning block20may be grasped and used to spot clean the surface.

In some embodiments wherein the cleaning block20is the cube21, each cleaning strip30may take the shape of a cross33(FIG.5), such that when folded around the cleaning block20all six sides25of the cleaning block20are covered by a single cleaning strip30. In embodiments wherein the cleaning strip30is linear (FIGS.1-3), two such cleaning strips30must be used to cover each side25of the cube21, and that leaves two sides25of the cube21with a double layer of the cleaning strips30. Thus the cross-shaped cleaning strip30is more efficient at covering the cube21. Flaps36of such a cleaning strip30may be included for affixing the cleaning strip30to the cleaning block20, such as with adhesive, the hook-and-loop type material63, or the like.

The packing container holding the elongated cleaning strips30may be configured for receiving used such cleaning strips30for convenient disposal or recycling. Such a container may also include a sub-compartment (not shown) for holding the cleaning block20. In some embodiments the cleaning strips30are wound on a spool like tape.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIGS.2and5, the cleaning implement10includes rubber finger grips70positioned in corners27of the cleaning block20. The cleaning strip30includes notches35that are configured to receive each finger grip70when the cleaning strip30is wrapped around the cleaning block20. This configuration allows the finger grips70to remain exposed for improved grip while the cleaning strip30is securely fastened around the cleaning block20.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the shape of the cleaning block20might be a substantially flat geometric shape, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, or the like, having just a thin edge. Such a cleaning block20can be stamped from a plastic sheet material, or laser cut from a rigid material such as wood or metal. Alternately, the cleaning block20might be a different geometrical solid, such as a rectangular prism, a pyramid, a cylinder, a tetrahedron, a triangular prism, dodecahedron, or other suitable shape. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.