US3229321A

US3229321A - Record cleaning devices

Info

Publication number: US3229321A
Application number: US303892A
Authority: US
Inventors: Watts Cecil Ernest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-31
Filing date: 1963-08-22
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18
Also published as: DE1912248U; GB982599A

Description

Jan. 18, 1966 c. E. WATTS 3,229,321

RECORD CLEANING DEVICES Filed Aug. 22, 1963 .ZZZ' A 5 lNVE/V TOR A TTORME 7 United States Patent 3,229,321 RECORD CLEANING DEVlCES Cecil Ernest Watts, Darby House, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, Eugiand Filed Aug. 22, 1.963, Ser. No. 303,892

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Aug. 31, 1962,

31,185/62 8 Claims. (Cl. 155il6) The present invention relates to record cleaning devices such as are used for removing dirt from the surface of gramophone records and for applying antistatic agent thereto to reduce the build-up of electrostatic charges on the record surface.

In accorrance with the invention there is provided a record cleaning device including a closed tubular container enclosing an absorbent body adapted to hold water or other liquid, a sponge body surrounding the container, and a cover of plush material over the sponge body, the container being perforated to allow the passage of moisture from the absorbent body within the container into the sponge body.

While the device may be used merely as a substitute for the damp cloth or sponge sometimes used at present for cleaning the record surface, the sponge body and plush cover are preferably impregnated with an antistatic agent. Transfer of this antistatic agent to the record surface cannot be detected and it may be that it only serves to facilitate the removal of dirt and dust from the surface by the device. A very small amount of the antistatic agent may be transferred to the record surface and this will help to disperse any accumulation of static charge on the surface.

In the place of water a solvent for the antistatic agent may be used on the absorbent body in cases where it is desired to apply a quantity of antistatic agent to the record. Butyl alcohol is a suitable solvent in some cases.

By way of example one embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device, and

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on the line III-III of FIG. 2.

In the device shown, the container has the form of a cylindrical tube 1! of rigid synthetic plastics material closed at each end by a screw-on cap 11. Loosely disposed within the tube is an absorbent body 12 formed of a polyether sponge material. The body 12 has a core formed of a piece of wire 13 doubled over and twisted with a strip of polyether foam or sponge material which is thus gripped between the turns of the twisted wire. Upon this core strips 14 of polyether sponge are Wound helically and secured with adhesive or by heat and pressure. A loop of the wire 13 is left at each end of the core to facilitate removal of the sponge body 12 for moistenmg.

The cylindrical tube 19 has perforations 15 at intervals along its length and around is periphery. A sheet of polyether sponge material is wrapped around the outer surface of the tube 10 to form a sponge body 16 surrounding the container and over the sponge body 16 is a cover in the form of a sleeve 17 of nylon or other synthetic plush material. The synthetic plush material is a plush or velvet material composed wholly of one or more synthetic fibres and has numerous upstanding filaments which have sufficient stiffness to brush dirt out of the record grooves. The material is pervious to water and other liquids but does not absorb and hold it as would a material composed of natural fibres.

The sponge body 16 around the outside of the container tube It and the plush cover 17 are impregnated with an antistatic compound such as polyethylene glycol monlaurate 400 or nonionic antistatic agent comprising a fatty acid ester, for example that sold under the trade name Glycosperse 020. In use the absorbent body 12 inside the container is saturated with water and the moisture permeates the sponge body 16, which protrudes into the container through the perforations. The device is held radially against the surface of a record rotating on a turntable and removes the dirt from its surface. The moistness of the sponge body and the cover and the presence of the antistatic agent prevents any buildup of static charges due to friction with the record surface. Any moisture or antistatic agent transferred to the record surface during the cleaning operation assists in preserving freedom from charge accumulation during playing of the record but the amount of such transfer is extremely small and cannot interfere with tracking of the record grooves by a stylus as would larger amounts of waxy antistatic agent.

While not in use the device is conveniently kept in a sleeve of flexible synthetic plastics material which fits closely over the cover and has a cap attached to and litting over each end. This enclosure of the device prevents loss of moisture and allows a uniform distribution of moisture to be established throughout the sponge body and cover.

It is not necessary that both the plush cover and the sponge body should be impregnated with antistatic agent. As stated above the device may be used without any antistatic agent. If antistatic agent is used either the sponge body or the cover may be impregnated before assembly of the device or both may be impregnated before or after assembly.

If for purposes of record treatment it is necessary to apply an appreciable quantity of antistatic agent to the record the absorbent body may be moistened with butyl alcohol or other organic solvent which will dissolve some of the antistatic agent and transfer it to the record surface.

I claim:

1. A record-cleaning device comprising:

a closed tubular container;

an absorbent body enclosed within said container;

a sponge body surrounding said container, said sponge body being impregnated with antistatic agent;

and a cover of plush material over said sponge body,

said container being perforated to allow the passsage of moisture from liquid absorbed on the absorbent body within said container into said sponge body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said plush cover is impregnated with antistatic agent.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said container is a rigid cylindrical tube having removable end caps.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said cover is of nylon plush.

5. A record-cleaning device comprising:

a closed tubular container;

an absorbent body enclosed within said container;

a sponge body surrounding said container;

and a cover of plush material over said sponge body,

said cover being impregnated with an antistatic agent, and said container being perforated to allow the passage of moisture from liquid absorbed on said absorbent body within said contaner into said sponge body.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which said container is a rigid cylindrical tube having removable end caps.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which said cover is of nylon plush.

3 4 8. A record-cleaning device comprising: liquid absorbed by said absorbent body within said a rigid cylindrical tubular container; container into said sponge body. a removable end caps closing said container; an absorbent body enclosed within said container; References Cited by the Examiner a sponge body surrounding said container; 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS and a cover of nylon plush material over said sponge 952,106 3/1910 Francis 29 131 body, said sponge y and said cover being p 2,498,980 2/1950 Bowling et al 15-562 X mated with antistatic agent and said container being perforated to allow the passage of moisture from CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A RECORD-CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING: A CLOSED TUBULAR CONTAINER; AN ABSORBENT BODY ENCLOSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER; A SPONGE BODY SURROUNDING SAID CONTAINER, SAID SPONGE BODY BEING IMPREGNATED WITH ANTISTATIC AGENT; AND A COVER OF PLUSH MATERIAL OVER SAID SPONGE BODY, SAID CONTAINER BEING PERFORATED TO ALLOW THE PASSAGE OF MOISTURE FROM LIQUID ABSORBED ON THE ABSORBENT BODY WITHIN SAID CONTAINER INTO SAID SPONGE BODY.