US3336616A

US3336616A - Lint-removing device

Info

Publication number: US3336616A
Application number: US529451A
Authority: US
Inventors: David A Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-02-23
Filing date: 1966-02-23
Publication date: 1967-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-22

Description

Aug. 22, 1967 D. A. MARTIN Q 3,336,616

LINTREMOVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTOR. DAVID A. MARTIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,336,616 LINT-REMOVING DEVICE David A. Martin, 2375 Colgate Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 Filed Feb. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 529,451 8 Claims. (Cl. 104) The present invention generally relates to cleaning devices and more particularly relates to a portable cleaning device adapted to remove loose particles such as lint, dust and the like from surfaces such as those of clothing, wearing apparel, furnilture and the like.

Conventional types of devices for personal grooming include brushes fabricated of animal hair or synthetic plastic bristles or the like of substantial length, brushes having sponge rubber or plastic cleaning surfaces and similar articles developed to remove small particles of dust, tobacco, etc., from wearing apparel in order to freshen the appearance thereof and to clean the same. However, conventional brushes fabricated in the previously indicated manner are'usually relatively bulky, inconvenient to carry on the person, expensive and relatively inefiicient, particularly in removing tenaciously adhering particles such as human hair, lint or the like from clothmg.

Further-more, during use of such conventional articles, the particles which have been removed from the clothing or the like during the brushing operation tend to accumulate in the brush bristles, on the brushing surfaces and the like so that they are likely to be transferred back to the clothing during a subsequent brushing operation, thereby reducing the effectiveness of that operation. Moreover, when brushing is carried out using a bristle brush, and suflicient force is applied to remove tenaciously adhering particles from the clothing, there is a tendency for the bristles to impart considerable wear to the clothing and, in the case of clothing fabricated of relatively fragile or easily frayable materials, such as certain types of rayon and the like, it is inadvisable to brush the same with a bristle brush. Sponge rubber brushes are subject to the same deficiencies. Moreover, they tend to crumble upon continued use and to build up a layer of undesired rubber particles on the clothing. Moreover, they are usually difiicult to use, since they usually require considerable force in order to pass them over a surface of clothing in contact therewith.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved portable cleaning device.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, compact and durable cleaning device particularly adapted for removing tenaciously adhering particles from wearing apparel and the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved inexpensive portable lint remover capable of maintaining high efiiciency in the removal of tenaciously adhering particles such as lint and the like from the surface of wearing apparel and the like.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing an improved portable cleaning device capable of efiiciently removing lint, dust and other tenacously adhering particles from various types of surfaces such as those of wearing apparel, cloth covered furnitureand the like. The device comprises a curved, preferably resilient plate, upon one surface which is disposed particle-removing means comprising a sheet of extended surface area bearing on one side thereof, means comprising extremely short fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, rayon fibers and the like and a tacky film to which the fibers adhere. The sheet has a non-setting adhesive surface on' the opposite side thereof, which surface releasably bonds the sheet to the adjacent surface of the plate. The opposite surface of the plate is provided with improved handle means comprising a pair of spaced wings hingedly connected to the plate and adapted to move between a position adjacent the plate and a handle-forming position generally perpendicular to the plate. When the wings are adjacent the plate, they are releasably maintained in that position by suitable means so that the device is relativelyflat, compact, and highly portable. The wings can be released easily from that position and moved readily into the described handle-forming position. Means are provided on the wings to releasably lock the wings to each other, and means are also provided which form a suitable fingergrip for the handle so the device. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a portion of the particle-removing means stripped from the remainder of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the device of FIG.

- 1 with the handle-forming means in the generally flat,

releasably locked position;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with the handle-forming means in the flat, releasably locked position;

' FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with the handle-forming means partially raised;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with the handle-forming means releasably locked together to form the handle of the device;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 with the handle-forming means in the handle-forming position; and,

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with the handle-forming means in the handle-forming position.

Now referring more particularly 'to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the cleaning device 10 of the present invention is illustrated in schematic perspective view. The device 10 includes a plate 12 upon the bottom surface 13 of which is disposed it could be square, ovoid, circular particle-removing means 14 and on the opposite surface 15 of which is disposed a pair of handle-forming wings 16.

The plate 12 is preferably slightly curved as shown in FIG. 1 in order to facilitate the use of the particle-removing means 14 in the cleaning operation. However, it will be understood that, if desired, the plate 12 could be flat. Moeover, the plate 12 is generally rectangular, although or of any other configuration to facilitate the cleaning operation. Usually, the plate 12 is relatively small, making it highly portable. However, despite its usually small size, for example about 3 X 2% inches, the plate 12 has leasable disposition of a sufiiciently large particle-removing means 14 to permit continued use of the particleremoving means 14 for a considerable period of time before replacement thereof.

The plate 12 can be fabricated of any suitable material,

but preferably is of a plastic material which has a high e type of palstic to use. High fatigue point, is strong and is somewhat resilient. The plate 12, of course, should be inexpensive and easy to fabricate. For such purposes, it has been found that polypropylene synthetic thermoplastic material is a preferred density polyethylene can also be used, as well as polyallomer or any other orienas to improve the ease of use of' suflicient area for retated type of plastic having the desired characteristic of dimensional stability, strength, low cost, light weight, ease of fabrication and attractive appearance.

Preferably, the plate 12 is injection molded or extruded of thermoplastic material to the desired configuration, for high production and economy. However, it can be fabricated in any other suitable manner. In this regard, it is preferred that the wings 16 be integral with the plate, as shown in FIGS. 3, and 6, along with other components of the device 10, except the particle-removing means 14. If integral with and formed at the same time as the plate 12, the wings 16 should be fabricated, as previously indicated, of high fatigue resistant material so that during bending of the Wings 16 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the junction points 18 (shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) between the wings 16 and the plate 12 do not crack through and cause separation of the wings 16 from the plate 12.

The wings 16 comprise a pair of spaced-apart plates 19 which preferably are thinner adjacent the junction points 18 so as to facilitate the movement of the wings 16 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. The wings 16 are generally rectangular in shape and of size so as generally conform to the configuration of the plate 12 and also allow sufiicient handle-forming surface area. For example, with a plate 12 of overall dimensions of about 2% x 3 inches, each wing 16 may be, for example, about 2% x 1 inches. On the surfaces of the wings 16 which face each other (when the wings are in the handle-forming position shown in FIG. 6) there is provided a plurality of mating ridges 20, best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The ridges 20 may be of any suitable configuration and are present for the purpose of releasably locking the wings together, as shown in FIG. 6, to form a handle 21 therefrom, and to prevent the wings 16 from slipping past one another when the handle 21 is used to manipulate the device 10. The wings are also preferably provided with a plurality of ridges 22 on their opposite surfaces, which ridges 22 act as finger-gripping means for the handle 21. It will be understood that any other type of configuration which effects a finger-gripping function can be used in place of the ridges 22, for example, dots, irregular surfaces, etc. This is also true of the releasably locking ridges 20.

It will be also understood that the wings 18 generally are symmetrically disposed with respect to the central axis of the plate 12, so that when the handle is formed, as shown in FIG. 6, usually it is approximately centered on the upper surface 15 of the plate 12 for maximum effectiveness. The wings 16 preferably do not extend beyond the periphery of the plate 12 in any direction and may be somewhat smaller in dimensions, if desired, as indicated in FIG. 4. The wings 16 should, however, have sufficient height to form the handle 21 of sufficient size to facilitate handling and use of the device 10.

The wings 16 are releasably locked in a relatively flat position adjacent the upper surface 15 of the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 3, through the use of any suitable locking means, for example, at least one locking button 24 on each of the two opposite sides 26 of the plate 12 which adjoin the top surfaces of the wings 16 when the Wings 16 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 3. However, it will be understood that any suitable number of the locking buttons 24 can be used. Preferably, raised rims 30 are provided on the sides 26 with the buttons 24 disposed adjacent the upper surface thereof, so that a space 32 is provided, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, between each button 24 and the adjoining surface of the plate 12, for the purpose of releasably receiving the top surface 28 of a wing 16. The height of each wing 16 is adjusted with respect to the position of the locking buttons 24 so that the wing 16 can be readily passed down into the space 32 and is releasably held in position under the button 24. It is preferred that the buttons 24 and/ or the plate 12 and/ or the wings 16 be resilient to facilitate this releasable locking.

When it is desired to release the wings 16, as shown in FIG. 5, from the locked position, the plate 12 can be grasped between the thumb and second and/ or third finger of the hand and can be slightly bent into a less curved configuration, thus permitting the wings 16 to spring up past the locking buttons 24. Any other suitable technique can also be used to release the wings 16 from the fiat locked position of FIG. 3. The purpose of that position is to make the device 10 as compact as possible, so that it can be easily carried in a pocket, purse, etc. The wings 16 are released from the locked position, shown in FIG. 3, in order to form the handle 21. The wings 16 can be easily moved into the handle-forming position shown in FIG. 6, since they hingedly connect to the plate 12 at points 18. Once the wings 1-6 are placed in the handle-forming position, the ridges 20 tend to hold the wings 16 in that handleforming position, as shown in FIG. 6. As previously indicated, the opposite surfaces of the plates 19 are provided with the ridges 22, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, to facilitate gripping of the handle 21 during use of the device 10 for removing lint and the like from clothing. The plate 12 can be provided, if desired, with one or more rims 34 extending from the surface 13 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, to facilitate alignment of the particle-removing means 14 on the surface 13. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, the rims 34 are disposed on the sides 26 of the plate 12.

The particle-removing means 14 includes a sheet 36 of extended surface area, that is, an area approximately equal to that of the surface 13 of the plate 12, on one side of which are disposed a tacky film 38 and a plurality of short fibers 40.

The sheet 36 can comprise, for example, paper, plastic film or the like thin, inexpensive material. In one embodiment, the sheet 36 comprises paper which has been treated to reduce its absorption of adhesives and the like. For example, such paper can comprise filled paper, calendared paper, lacquered paper, etc. The side 42 of the sheet 36 is releasably attached to the surface 13 of the plate 12, as by a suitable non-setting adhesive, for example, natural or synthetic rubber base adhesive, acrylic base adhesive or the like. If desired, the opposite side 44 of the sheet 36, i.e, the side to which the tacky film 38 and fibers 40 are attached, can be of suitable plastic film such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or the like. The tacky film 38 may be of a suitable non-setting adhesive, such as that described for the adhesive between the side 42 and the plate 12.

The fibers 40 comprise short, thin, relatively stiff fibers, such as rayon or other 'cellulosic fibers, nylon fibers, etc., suitable for removing lint and the like from clothing and the like. Preferably, such fibers are very short, for example, inch and are preferably grouped in a plurality of parallel raised ridges 46, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7 of the drawings, with spaces therebetween. The ridges may be, for example, about 7 inch wide, with about inch spaces therebetween. Other suitable arrangement of the fibers 40 are also contemplated. The fibers 40 can be disposed in any manner, preferably by flocking thereon electrostatically, after dressing the side 44 with the tacky film 38 of adhesive material. A final treatment of the flocked fibers 40 is preferably carried out to control the adhesivity of the finished lint-removing surface 41 represented by the fibers 40 and film 38. Thus, the surface 41 can be lightly dressed with, for example, a thin penetrating coating of acrylic base adhesive or the like.

When the device 10 is to be used, the wings 16 are released from the locked position shown in FIG. 3 and moved into the position shown in FIG. 6, as previously described. The handle 21 is then gripped between the thumb and one or more fingers of the same hand, and the cleaning operation is accomplished by sliding the surface 41 along the surface of the clothing, etc., to be cleaned, preferably using short, rapid brushing strokes. When the short fibers 40 are disposed in parallel lines, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, it is preferred to guide brush strokes in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the parallel lines of short fibers for maximum effectiveness. Accordingly, the device is relatively easy to use, is simple, compact, durable and inexpensive.

The finished fiber-removing surface 41 of the device 10 is slightly tacky and is able to perform its lint-removing function in a highly eflicient manner. Since the ridges 46 of short fibers extend a short distance, for example, about inch, beyond the remainder of the surface 41, such ridges facilitate the lint-lifting action provided during brushing by the very short fibers 40 by simulating a plurality of minute brushes having extremely short fibers so that lint and other tenaciously adhering particles on clothing and the like can be easily lifted from the clothing, etc. Moreover, since both the fibers 40 and the film 38 are at least slightly tacky, particles which have been loosened during brushing by means of the short fibers 40 tend to adhere to the lint-removing surface 41 of the device 10. Furthermore, during brushing, a small amount of electrostatic attraction is provided by the fibers 40 so that in some instances particles of dust, etc, of opposite charge are attratced to and held by the lint-removing surface 41 of the device 10. Accordingly, the lint-removing surface 41 not only causes a brushing up, loosening and attachment of the lint by physical contact with the short fibers but also adhesively removes the lint and in some instances electrostatically attracts the same. The net effect is a highly efiicient device for removing surface and also more deeply lying dust, dirt, hair, dandruff, lint, foreign particles and the like from wearing apparel, upholstery, etc., so as to substantially clean and improve the appearance thereof without damaging or wearing out the fabric.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, when the lint-removing surface 41 becomes soiled, the sheet 36 can be readily stripped from the plate 12, as shown in FIG. 2, and a new sheet of similar construction can be substituted therefor, containing the tacky film 38 and fibers 40 on one side and tacky adhesive on the opposite side for releasably joining the sheet to the surface 13 of the plate 12. Accordingly, the efiiciency of removal of lint and other particles from wearing apparel by the device 10 can be maintained at about optimal by periodic renewal of the particle-removing means 14 of the device.

Accordingly, an improved, efiicient, portable lint-removing device is provided which is simple, inexpensive and easy to use. It can be made small enough to be carried flat in a purse, pocket or the like and is effective for removing surface and deeper lying lint, dust, etc., from fabric such as wearing apparel, upholstery and the like without in any way harming, causing any appreciable wear or otherwise adversely affecting such surfaces. Since the lint-removing surface of the device can be rapidly, inexpensively and readily renewed, the device can be kept at about a maximum of efiiciency at all times. The device can be used with equal facility by either hand and allows the remaining hand to be free to hold the article to be cleaned or to otherwise guide or assist in the cleaning operation. Further advantages of the invention are as set forth in the foregoing.

Various other embodiments of the device 10 can be consrtucted in accordance with the invention. Moreover, the components of the device 10 can be fabricated from one or a plurality of suitable materials. It will be obvious that device 10 can be varied in size, shape and the manner in which the components thereof are joined together and cooperate. Such variations in the device 10, its components, their construction and the method of fabrication of the device 10 as are within the scope of the following appended claims form a part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable lint-removing device, which device comprises, in combination, a curved plate, a pair of handleforming wings pivotally connected in spaced relation to one surface of said plate and adapted to move between a nested position adjacent said plate and a handle-forming position approximately perpendicular to said plate, and particle-removing means releasably disposed adjacent the opposite surface of said plate, comprising a tacky film and a plurality of short fibers adhering to said film, wherein the plate is resilient, wherein said tacky film is of extended surface area and wherein said particle-removing means also includes a sheet of extended surface area releasably secured to the adjacent surface of said plate, the sheet bearing on the outwardly facing side thereof said tacky film and said fibers.

2. The portable lint-removing device of claim 1 wherein said tacky film comprises non-setting adhesive disposed directly on said one side of said sheet and wherein said short fibers are embedded in and disposed on said tacky film in a manner such that said film remains slightly tacky.

3. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 wherein a tacky non-setting adhesive is disposed on the side of said sheet adjacent said curved plate and wherein a plastic film is releasably disposed on the opposite side of said sheet, which film bears said tacky film and short fibers.

4. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fibers has been flocked on said tacky film in a plurality of generally parallel low ridges, whereby the efliciency of the particle-removing means is increased.

5. The portable lint-removing device of claim 4 wherein the plate and wings are integral with one another and comprise synthetic plastic material, and wherein releasable locking means are provided on two opposite sides of said curved plate adjacent each of said wings to releasably lock said wings in said position adjacent said plate.

6. The portable lint-removing device of claim 5 wherein adajacent surfaces of said wings are provided with a plurality of mating ridges which releasably lock said wings in said handle-forming position and wherein the opposite surfaces of said wings are provided with finger-gripping means.

7. The portable lint-removing device of claim 6 wherein said finger-gripping means comprises a plurality of generally parallel ridges and wherein said releasable locking means comprises flexible buttons extending toward each other from said two opposite sides of said plate and wherein said two opposite sides of said plate include raised 111118.

8. The portable cleaning device of claim 7 wherein said plate, wings, buttons, finger-grips and releasable locking means are integral and are injection molded polypropylene, wherein said sheet comprises paper treated to reduce penetration of adhesive but compatible therewith, wherein said non-setting adhesive comprises rubber base adhesive and wherein said short fibers comprise rayon fibers electrostatically flocked on said tacky film, each of said fibers having a length of about inch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,602 11/1950 Magit.

2,542,774 2/1951 Hutchinson 15l04 2,693,610 11/19'54 Hensley 15l04 2,724,847 11/1955 Krasno 15l04 3,103,029 9/1963 Valles 15-l04 3,131,410 5/1964 Anderson et al 15143 X 3,142,855 8/1964 Gilchrist 15210 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. D. BLUM, Examiner.

Claims

1. A PORTABLE LINT-REMOVING DEVICE, WHICH DEVICE COMPRISES IN COMBINATION, A CURVED PLATE, A PAIR OF HANDLEFORMING WINGS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE AND ADAPTED TO MOVE BETWEEN A NESTED POSITION ADJACENT SAID PLATE AND A HANDLE-FORMING POSITION APPROXIMATELY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLATE, AND PARTICLE-REMOVING MEANS RELEASABLY DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE, COMPRISING A TACKY FILM AND A PLURALITY OF SHORT FIBERS ADHERING TO SAID FILM, WHEREIN THE PLATE IS RESILIENT, WHEREIN SAID TACKY FILM IS OF EXTENDED SURFACE AREA AND WHEREIN SAID PARTICLE-REMOVING MEANS ALSO INCLUDES A SHEET OF EXTENDED SURFACE AREA RELEASABLY SECURED TO THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID PLATE, THE SHEET BEARING THE OUTWARDLY FACING SIDE THEREOF SAID TACKY FILM AND SAID FIBERS.