WO2013109150A1

WO2013109150A1 - Garment provided with a pocket for cleaning of a portable electronics apparatus and a method for cleaning of the electronics apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013109150A1
Application number: PCT/NO2013/050010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torbjørn ØSTREM
Original assignee: To3Design Torbjørn Østrem
Priority date: 2012-01-17
Filing date: 2013-01-15
Publication date: 2013-07-25
Also published as: NO20121096A1

Abstract

A garment (2) provided with a pocket (1) which is formed with a pocket opening (12), the pocket (1) being provided with a lining (13) constituted by one or more textiles (11), and at least one of the textiles (11) being constituted by a microfibre textile. A method for cleaning the surface of the apparatus (5) and use of a microfibre textile for the formation of at least a portion of the lining (13) of the pocket (1) are described as well.

Description

GARMENT PROVIDED WITH A POCKET FOR CLEANING OF A PORTABLE ELECTRONICS APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR CLEANING OF THE ELECTRONICS APPARATUS

The invention relates to a garment provided with a pocket in which an apparatus with a smooth surface may be kept. More particularly, the invention relates to a pocket in which a portable electronics apparatus, especially an electronics apparatus provided with a screen, still more particularly, an electronics apparatus provided with a so- called touch screen, may be kept, and in which, in a portion, the surface of the pocket is provided with a textile which is arranged to clean a portion of the surface of the electronics apparatus.

It is well known that apparatuses with smooth surfaces are kept clean by a dry or damp cloth being passed across the surface of the apparatus to remove dust and dirt. The cloth may be a textile cloth constituted by a natural material or by a synthetic material. As examples of such apparatuses in which at least a portion of the surface is constituted by a smooth surface, spectacles, binoculars, TV sets and telephones are mentioned. An electronics apparatus that is provided with a touch screen is particularly prone to becoming dirty from fingers that are pressed against or pulled across the touch screen. A portable apparatus with a touch screen may include a music playback device, a so-called smartphone or a so-called tablet computer.

It is known that a screen or touch screen may be cleaned by wiping the screen with a cleaning cloth. In particular, dry textile cloths constituted by microfibres are suitable for the purpose. Apparatuses with screens or touch screens are used frequently, and the user often carries such an apparatus with or on him/her. There is therefore a need to be able to clean the screen or touch screen independently of where the user is.

The patent document JP 2009160024 discloses a bundle of cleaning sheets that are kept in a portable unit. It is thereby achieved that a cleaning sheet is available whenever needed in order to clean a portable apparatus such as a mobile phone. The patent document US 6115841 discloses a necktie which is provided with a cleaning cloth for spectacle lenses, at its end portions.

The patent document AU 2002100391 discloses a garment with a specially adapted pocket for a mobile phone. The specially adapted pocket is positioned inside a pocket of a normal appearance so that the specially adapted pocket is hidden, in particular when it does not hold a mobile phone. The specially adapted pocket is an alternative to ordinary pockets in garments as, according to this patent document, such pockets are not specially adapted for keeping a mobile phone, which may also result in the mobile phone inadvertently being lost from the pocket.

The patent document EP 2103231 discloses a separate protection or cover for a mobile phone, music playback device or the like. The protection includes an outer envelope of an elastic material, for example a knitted material, and a lining constituted, in a portion, by a microfibre material. The lining may be stretchable or folded. When, for example, a mobile phone is inserted, the lining will fit snugly around the mobile phone and the mobile phone will be rubbed against the lining.

The prior art only partly solves the problem of having a cleaning means available whenever there is a need to clean a surface such as a screen or a touch screen irrespective of where the user is. Like other units, a separate storing unit may be left behind, or lost, and it takes up space. Special garments like neckties are not used by everybody. A microfibre material which is rubbed against an object once as the object is inserted into a storage compartment and once as the object is removed from the storage compartment will not clean the microfibre material in the same satisfactory way as when the microfibre material is rubbed repeatedly over the object and usually in different directions.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

In what follows, reference to a microfibre textile is meant to be a textile constituted by microfibre threads, the textile being produced by known techniques which may include weaving, braiding, knotting or crocheting as this is known within the art. In what follows, reference to a garment is meant to be a garment selected from a group comprising trousers, shorts, skirts, shirts, waistcoats, jackets, overcoats, sweaters and anoraks.

In what follows, reference to a screen is meant to be a screen and a touch screen. The screen may be an LCD screen.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a garment provided with a pocket which is formed with a pocket opening, and the pocket is provided with a lining constituted by one or more textiles, at least one of the textiles being constituted by a microfibre textile. The pocket of the garment may be non-complementary to a portable apparatus provided with a smooth surface.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of cleaning a portable apparatus provided with a smooth surface, the apparatus being kept in a pocket in a garment as described above. The method may further include movement by a wearer of the garment, the movement making the apparatus and the microfibre textile of the pocket move relative to each other, which produces a cleaning of the surface of the apparatus. The method may also include producing cleaning of the surface of the apparatus by the relative movement of the apparatus relative to the microfibre textile of the pocket as the apparatus is inserted into the pocket and the apparatus is removed from the pocket through a pocket opening.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of a microfibre textile for forming at least a portion of a lining in a pocket of a garment.

In what follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described, which are visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a garment in the form of trousers which are

provided with pockets in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2A-B show schematically, on a different scale, a jacket which is provided with external pockets in accordance with the invention;

Figures 3A-B show schematically, in a side view and in a sectional view, on yet

another scale, a pocket of a different design and an apparatus in the pocket; and

Figures 4A-B show schematically, in a side view and in a sectional view, a pocket of yet another design. In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a pocket in accordance with the invention. Figure 1 shows schematically a garment 2 which is provided with two pockets 1. In figure 1, the garment 2 is shown as a pair of trousers. In other embodiments, the garment 2 may be constituted by a skirt, a waistcoat, an overcoat, a sweater or an anorak. A jacket 2 with patch pockets 1 is shown in figure 2. The person skilled in the art will know that other garments 2 may be provided with at least one pocket 1 in accordance with the invention as well. An apparatus 5 is schematically shown as being placed in one pocket 1. The apparatus 5 may be constituted by a mobile phone 5 provided with a screen 50. The screen 50 may be of the touch-screen type.

The pocket 1 is formed from one or more textiles 11 in cloth form which are joined together by one or more seams 19, and the pocket 1 is attached to the garment 2 by one or more seams (not shown), as it is known within the art. The textiles 11 in cloth form constitute the lining 13 of the pocket 1. At least one of the textiles 11 is constituted by a microfibre textile.

The pocket 1 may be of a design known per se. The figures 1-4 show examples of some possible embodiments. What is common to the embodiments is that the pocket 1 has a shape which is not specially adapted for the apparatus 5. The pocket 1 is non- complementary to the apparatus 5. The apparatus 5 may therefore be inserted into the pocket 1 through the pocket opening 12 in several ways, and the position and orientation of the apparatus 1 in the pocket 1 may be random ones as shown in figures 1-4. The position and orientation of the apparatus 1 in the pocket 1 may also change when the wearer of the garment 2 is moving.

In its position of application, a pocket 1 as shown in figure 1 will rest against the wearer's thigh at the front of the thigh. When the wearer is walking, the apparatus 5 will repeatedly be pressed against the lining 13 and the microfibre textile of the lining 13, which provides a rubbing movement between the apparatus 5 and the microfibre textile. This provides for an efficient cleaning of the surface of the apparatus 5.

Between uses, the apparatus 5 is kept in a pocket 1 as described above. During insertion into the pocket 1 through the pocket opening 12, the screen 50 will be rubbed in its entirety or in part against the microfibre cloth in the lining 13 of the pocket 1. The same will happen as the apparatus 5 is removed from the pocket 1. This is usually not sufficient to achieve a satisfactory cleaning of the surfaces of the apparatus 5. When the wearer of the garment 2 is moving, the mobile phone 5 and the lining 13 will rub against each other. The apparatus 5 and the screen 50 will thereby be cleaned in the pocket 1 between each time the apparatus 5 is removed from the pocket 1.

It is important for the understanding of the invention that the pocket 1 is not limited to any particular shape or size. The pocket 1 is not specially adapted for any apparatus 5. The pocket 1 may therefore be used for the same purposes as other known pockets 1 of a garment 2. This also has the advantage that the same pocket 1 may be used for keeping and cleaning portable apparatuses 5 of different sizes and shapes. The invention is not restricted to the cleaning of apparatuses 5 with screens 50, as an apparatus without a screen with a smooth surface could also be cleaned in accordance with the invention.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A garment (2) provided with a pocket (1) which is formed with a pocket opening (12), the pocket (1) being provided with a lining (13) constituted by one or more textiles (11), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least one of the textiles (11) is constituted by a microfibre textile.

2. The garment (2) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pocket (1) of the garment (2) is non-complementary to a portable apparatus (5) provided with a smooth surface.

3. A method for the cleaning of a portable apparatus (5) provided with a

smooth surface, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the apparatus (5) is kept in a pocket (1) in a garment (2) in accordance with claim 1.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein a wearer of the garment (2) is moving and the movement makes the apparatus (5) and the microfibre textile of the pocket (1) move relative to each other, which produces a cleaning of the surface of the apparatus (5).

5. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the relative movement of the apparatus (5) relative to the microfibre textile of the pocket (1) produces cleaning of the surface of the apparatus (5) when the apparatus (5) is being inserted into the pocket (1) and the apparatus (5) is being removed from the pocket (1) through a pocket opening (12).

6. Use of a microfibre textile for the formation of at least a portion of a lining (13) in a pocket (1) of a garment (2).