US20140130280A1

US20140130280A1 - Handy Wiping Tool

Info

Publication number: US20140130280A1
Application number: US13/678,532
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevork Bouboushian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2012-11-15
Publication date: 2014-05-15

Abstract

A handy wiping tool which includes a first unit of cloth-like materials, a second unit of fabric material connected to the first unit to form a body defining a finger positioning cavity opened through an opening towards the bottom side of the body such that that the finger positioning cavity is sized to fit and receive at least one finger of a user and the first surface of the first unit is intact for cleaning a cleaning object; a connector provided on the second unit at a position proximal to a bottom side of the second unit arranged for attaching onto a supporting object; and a keychain member having a length approximately the same as a length of the body of the wiping tool connected to said connector. Accordingly, the wiping tool can be carried by the user easily to provide a handy wiping tool for immediate use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a wiping tool, and more particularly to a handy wiping tool with a wiping side which is sized to fit and secure onto a finger in such a manner that the wiping side is self positioned during a wiping movement.
2. Description of Related Arts
Wiping tools such as cotton cloth, microfiber cloth, napkins, and tissue paper are commonly used in our everyday lives. A conventional wiping tool generally has a sheet-like body which provides a wiping surface for achieving the purpose. For example, when a user needs to clean a surface of a cleaning object, he or she will need to manipulate his or her hand to hold the wiping tool and maintain the wiping surface into position so as to clean the surface of the cleaning object. When the surface of the cleaning object is large, it is easier to hold and grip the wiping tool into position. However, when the surface is relatively small, it is very inconvenient, if not difficult, to grip or hold the wiping tool in order to clean the surface.
A loose cotton cloth, microfiber cloth, or the like are not portable items because they can be too bulky or unfashionable to carry in your car or your handbag. Their larger size is good for the home or office, but not as convenient when one is out and about. In other words, the nature of a loose cotton cloth or microfiber cloth makes it a non-portable personal item in our lives.
Napkins, tissue paper or other disposable handkerchiefs are commonly used for when someone is out, and not at home or office. For example, one may place these disposable handkerchiefs in a car or a handbag as portable personal item so that when there's spill or dirt, she may simply pull out the disposable handkerchiefs for immediate use. It is handy and convenient to use the disposable handkerchiefs. However, there are some drawbacks. First, it is not re-usable. Second, it can't be refreshed and become unusable after a period of time. Third, it is not environmental friendly. Fourth, like a loose cotton or microfiber cloth, it is relatively bulky. Fifth, it may not be able to provide a sufficiently soft wiping surface for cleaning some delicate objects, such as the screen of an electronic device. Sixth, it does not provide a gripping point to hold the cloth. Seventh, it cannot be hanged on or attached to another object by itself.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a handy and washable wiping tool which includes a positioning arrangement to facilitate hassle-free wiping movement.
Another object of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a handy and washable wiping tool which is attractive for carriage as a personal item while providing a positioning arrangement to facilitate hassle-free wiping movement.
Another object of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a handy wiping tool which includes a connector for hanging or attaching to another object for carriage and an elastic member to facilitate hassle-free wiping movement.
Another object of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a handy wiping tool embodiment as a keychain which is fashionable and convenient for carriage.
Another object of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a handy wiping tool which is washable, re-usable, durable, sufficiently soft for delicate surfaces, and convenient to use.
Another object of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a handy wiping tool which has lowered material requirements in manufacturing and hence more efficient and effective.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a wiping tool which is arranged for attaching onto a supporting object and for cleaning an object, comprising:

- a first unit defining a first top side, a first left side, a first right side and a first bottom side which has a first surface serving as a cleaning surface arranged for cleaning the cleaning object and a first connecting edge portion peripherally provided on the first top side, the first left side and the first right side;
- a second unit defining a second top side, a second left side, a second right side and a second bottom side which has a second surface and a second connecting edge portion peripherally provided on the second top side, the second left side and the second right side, wherein the second unit is connected to the first unit through the first and second connecting edge portions to form a body which defines a finger positioning cavity opened through an opening towards the bottom sides of the first and second units in such a manner that the finger positioning cavity is sized to fit two fingers of a user and the first surface of the first unit is intact for cleaning the cleaning object, thereby the two fingers of the user can be fitted and received in the finger position cavity to control movement of the first surface of the first unit; and
- a connector provided on the second unit at a position proximal to the bottom side of the second unit arranged for attaching onto a supporting object.

Preferably, the first unit is made of microfiber material and the second unit is made of fabric material having a preset level of elasticity such that the first surface provides a microfiber surface for cleaning and the second surface provides flexibilities for fingers movement inside the finger receiving cavity.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a key chain wiping tool, comprising:

- a first unit of cloth-like materials;
- a second unit of fabric material connected to the first unit to form a body defining a finger positioning cavity opened through an opening towards the bottom side of the body such that that the finger positioning cavity is sized to fit and receive at least one finger of a user and the first surface of the first unit is intact for cleaning a cleaning object;
- a connector provided on the second unit at a position proximal to a bottom side of the second unit arranged for attaching onto a supporting object; and
- a keychain member having a length approximately the same as a length of the body of the wiping tool connected to said connector. Accordingly, the wiping tool can be carried by the user easily to provide a handy wiping tool for immediate use.

Preferably, the first unit and the second unit are integrally connected together through a first connecting edge portion of the first unit and a second connecting edge portion of the second unit.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wiping tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another illustration of a wiping tool according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustration of a wiping tool according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a wiping tool according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention which is embodied into a keychain.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a wiping tool illustrating the two connecting edges thereof according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another illustration of a keychain wiping tool according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, a wiping tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The wiping tool is arranged for fitting onto a user's finger to secure into position and providing a wiping surface of cloth-like materials such as cotton, microfiber, fabric, and the like for cleaning
The wiping tool has a body 10 which comprises a first unit 11 and a second unit 12 connected together to define a finger positioning cavity 13 opened through an opening 14. The first unit 11 has a first surface 111 provided thereon serving as a wiping surface, and a first connecting edge portion 112 peripherally provided on a top side 113, a left side 114 and a right side 115 of the first unit 11. The second unit 12 has a second surface 121 provided thereon, and a second connecting edge portion 121 peripherally provided on a top side 123, a left side 124 and a right side 125 of the second unit 12.
Preferably, the finger positioning cavity 13 of the wiping tool is sized to fit at least one finger of a human user such that the wiping tool can be self-positioning onto the at least one finger to facilitate the movement of the at least one finger to provide movement flexibility while allowing free movement and sensation of other fingers, if any. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, when the finger positioning cavity 13 of the wiping tool is sized to fit two fingers, the finger positioning cavity 13 of the wiping tool is sized to fit a middle finger and an index finger or a ring finger of the user.
It is worth mentioning that the first unit 11 is arranged for providing the wiping surface and is made of cloth-like materials. Preferably, the first unit 11 is made of microfiber material.
Preferably, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are made of different materials. In particular, the first unit 11 is made of cloth-like materials and is preferably made of microfiber material, and the second unit 12 is made of fabric material which has a minimum level of elasticity to facilitate movement. Accordingly, the wiping tool is capable of providing a wiping surface through the first surface 111 while providing flexibility through the second surface 121. In other words, high performance cleaning surface is provided through the first surface 111 of the first unit and great flexibility to accommodate finger's movement is provided through the second surface 121 of the second unit 12. It is worth mentioning that the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 can also be made of same material but are preferred to be made of different materials.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6 of the drawings, the wiping tool further comprises a connector 16 on the body 10 arranged for connecting the wiping tool to an attaching object such that the wiping tool can be easily and conveniently hanged or placed onto the attaching object, such as a hook on a wall or a ring of a handbag without hassle.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings, the connector 16 is provided on the second unit 12 proximal to a bottom side 126 of the second unit 12. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the connector 16 comprises a ring body 161 integrally provided on the second unit 12 which defines a connecting hole 162 at the center of the ring body 161. Accordingly, a hanging or connecting part is provided to the wiping tool through the connector 16. It is worth mentioning that the connector 16 is not provided on the first unit 11 and hence the first surface 111, which is a cleaning surface, is free from any additional element which may scratch or damage the cleaning object. In other words, when the wiping tool is worn by a user, the connector 16 on the second unit 12 is separated from the cleaning surface 111 of the first unit 11 by the finger of the user.
It is worth mentioning that the connector 16 can also be a button-type connector, a clip-connector or the like. Since the connector 16 which is located on the second unit 12 is totally separated from the first unit 11 and the first surface 111, a plurality of connectors 16 may be used to fit different design choices of the wiping tool. For example, the connector 163 can also be a pair of detachable button which clip onto the second unit 12 through the bottom side 126 of the second unit 12.
It is worth mentioning that the connector 16 can also be provided on the body 10 of the wiping tool at a position proximal to the opening 14 of the body 10. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the connector 16 comprises a connector body 161A integrally provided between the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 at a position proximal to the opening 14 of the body and defines a connecting hole 162A at the center of the connector body 161A. Accordingly, a hanging or connecting part is provided to the wiping tool through the connector 16. It is worth mentioning that the connector 16 is not extended towards the first surface 111, which is a cleaning surface, such that the cleaning surface is free from any additional element. In other words, when the wiping tool is worn by a user, the connector 16 is positioned away from the cleaning surface 111 of the first unit 11 and the cleaning surface 111 is intact for use.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the wiping tool embodiment is as a key chain wiping tool. In particular, a keychain member 163 is connected to the connector 16. As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the connector 16 is provided on the second unit 12 of wiping tool. Preferably, a length of the keychain member 163 is about the same or slightly shorter than a length of the body 10 of the wiping tool such that the keychain member 163 will not be long enough to reach the cleaning object and is effectively barred from touching the cleaning object from a palm of the user. Accordingly, the user can freely hang the keychain wiping tool onto a handbag, a messenger bag, a hook on a wall or inside a car at will such that the wiping tool can be carried by the user easily to provide a handy wiping tool for immediate use.
It is worth mentioning that the keychain member 163 can be integrally connected to the connector 16 or detachably connected to the connector 16. As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the keychain member 163 is a detachable fastener which is connected to the body 10 of the wiping tool in which the finger positioning cavity 13 of the wiping tool is sized to fit one finger of a human user. In particular, the keychain member 163 has an elongated body comprising two clip members 1631 at two ends 1632 of the elongated body of the keychain member 163 respectively, thereby the keychain member 163 is detachably connected to the body 10 of the wiping tool through clipping one of the clip members 1631 to the connecting hole 162A of the connector 16. In other words, one of the clip members 1631 is provided at one end 1632 of the keychain member 163 which is available for clipping or hanging the wiping tool onto another supporting object such as a handbag, a casing for electronic device and the like.
Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are integrally connected together through stitching the first and second connecting portions 112, 122 together in such a manner that the first surface 111 of the first unit 11 remains intact for providing a smooth and high performance surface for cleaning Alternately, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 are detachably attached together in such a manner that the first surface 111 of the first unit 11 remains intact for providing a smooth and high performance surface for cleaning For example, the first unit 11 and the second unit 12 can be connected together by a fastener, such as hook fastener, though inner surfaces of the first and second connecting edge portions 112, 122 of the first and second units 11, 12 respectively.
Preferably, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the wiping tool may further comprise an elastic member 15 provided on the bottom side 126 of the second unit 12 so as to further secure the wiping tool onto a user. The elastic member 15 is preferably provided along the bottom side 126 of the second unit 12. The elastic member 15 may also further be provided along the bottom side 116 of the first unit 11 through the inner surface along the bottom side 116 such that the first surface 111 is remained intact for providing a smooth and high performance cleaning surface.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Its embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and are subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A handy wiping tool which is arranged for attaching onto a supporting object and for cleaning a cleaning object, comprising:

a first unit defining a first top side, a first left side, a first right side and a first bottom side which has a first surface serving as a cleaning surface arranged for cleaning the cleaning object and a first connecting edge portion peripherally provided on said first top side, said first left side and said first right side; and

a second unit defining a second top side, a second left side, a second right side and a second bottom side which has a second surface and a second connecting edge portion peripherally provided on said second top side, said second left side and said second right side, wherein said second unit is connected to said first unit through said first and second connecting edge portions to form a body which defines a finger positioning cavity opened through an opening towards said bottom sides of said first and second units in such a manner that said finger positioning cavity is sized to fit at least one finger of a user and said first surface of said first unit is intact for cleaning the cleaning object, whereby the at least one finger of the user can be fitted and received in the finger position cavity to control movement of said first surface of said first unit.

2. The handy wiping tool, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector provided on said second unit at a position proximal to said bottom side of said second unit arranged for attaching onto a supporting object.

3. The handy wiping tool, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first unit is made of microfiber material and said second unit is made of fabric material having a preset level of elasticity such that said first surface provides a microfiber surface for cleaning and said second surface provides flexibilities for fingers movement inside said finger receiving cavity.

4. The handy wiping tool, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first unit is made of microfiber material and said second unit is made of fabric material having a preset level of elasticity such that said first surface provides a microfiber surface for cleaning and said second surface provides flexibilities for fingers movement inside said finger receiving cavity.