US1905163A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1933. J. B. FARQUHAR CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 20. 1931 3 J .Mmm

/ /lillxIllllllllllllllllll w mf/My Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT om@ JOHN B FARQUHAB, on'cnroneo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR 'rOOHAMPIoN CORPORATION, OF' n i CHICAGO ILLINQIS. ACORPORATIQN OFILLINOIS e f CLEANING DEVICE e Application med June 20,

This invention relates to cleaningdevices and particularly to an 'article ofthe class described having fluid yabsorbing and retaining properties of a high character.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in cleaning automobiles, or other devices having similar highly polished surfaces, and among other objects the inventionis intended to krovide an article of the classdescribed which is capable of absorbing andV retaining a large quantity of fluid, preferably Water, for cleaning pur-` poses.' n v Y Another object of the invention is. to pro vide an article of the class described from whichthe absorbed Water orl other fluid Vmay be manually and readily expelled.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an article which will not becomematted when saturated or moistened with fluid, and which will not become knotted in al manner to produce hard portions ,which Would tend to scratch or mar the surface being cleaned or otherwise treated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device having a softpliable surface of substantially uniform appearance and cleaning qualities. Y

A still further object ofthe invention is to improve an article of the class described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which Y n Fig. lis an elevational view of the cleaning device embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the improved cleaningvdevice, the braided or Woven tubular strands of absorbent material having been'removed from one side thereof to facilitate the illustratingV of the preferred arrangement of the apertures formed in the envelope comprising the body portion of the device; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken subst'antiallyas indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig; 1;

1931;` serial No. 545,718.

Fig. 4 isI an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the device embodying the presentv invention, and illustrating the manner ofsecuring a .plurality of braided tubular strands Vadjacent the eXtreme edge of the envelope; y

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vievv of a carrier strip and strand assembly adapted to'besecured to the body of the device forming ya part of the present invention ;r and Q Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional vieW through one of the strands embodied in the present invention andillustratingpthe hollow tubular form thereof. f j" The illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a body portion shown in the present instance as `an envelope preferably of' elongated, oval or elliptical form, indicated as a Whole by thenurneral 1Q and comprising, in the ypresent instance, avpairqo'r of Lsuitably formed `front `and back portions or pieces l1 and l2,irespectively, .stitched1t0- gether and covered throughout their-edge portions Witha bindingstrip 13, in a manner to form aclosed envelope or container having a hollow Centrall portionadapted to ,receive a suitable resilient pliable material ylll capable of absorbing and retaininga` considerable quantity of-Water or, other cleaning fluid, the Y material 14 being shown, in the present inno stance, as a plurality of pieces of sponge, a material which has been found mostdesirable for the purpose intended, namely, that of. absorbingjand retaining a considerable quantity of Water or other cleaning fluid, it being understood `that other materials may be employed if found desirable Without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention.V Y f The elongated, oval or elliptical forI'n-fof envelope has been founddesirable in that it enables the user to grasp the device in both hands, and facilitatesvthe. expelling-of the fluidfrom ythe device When desired, it being understood that an envelope of other form than that mentionedjrnay` beemployed if found desirable ,or convenient..V .fl

To resist l.the deteriorating eectofv vvater and distillates lof' petroleum, or the like on thefdevice, the bedr pertimx 1.0 thleefcis fwo formed preferably of a chemically treated materialsuch as drill or other closely woven fabric, and, preferably, both the front and back pieces 11 and 12 are provided with apertures 16 through which water entering the interior of the envelope may be drained `off or expelled. 1

Secured to the front side of the envelope 10, and, if desired, to the rear side thereof also, preferably by lmeans of Ystitching 17, are a plurality of carrier strips 18, 19 and 20 on which are mounted a plurality of braided, tubular, preferably overlapping strands 21 of absorbent material.V These -strandsrare secured preferably adjacent their central portions to the strips 18, 19 and 20 by means of stitching 22 along the edges of the strip in a manner to secure the central portion of the strands in fixed position with respect to the strip, and to permit the opposite ends of the strands to hang or move free and assume any natural position according to the cleaning operations of the device.

` The braided tubular formation of the strands 21 provides a structure capable of absorbing and retaining a vast amount of fluid such as water, and from which the fluid may be readily expelled by squeezing in the manner employed in expelling water from a sponge, or the like. Furthermore, the structure ofthe strands serves to eliminate inatting of the absorbent material and prevents the formation of knots or hard portions which would tend to scratch or mar the surface being cleaned or otherwise treated.

'A device of the character described provides material advantages over cleaning devices at present in-use, particularly Sponges, or the like, in that the present invention provides a structure which is strong, durable and not easily torn or ruptured as frequently happens in the use of other devices, particularly Sponges, or the like, which are of such delicate character that unless carefully used, are easily ruptured and soon become unfit for further use. y Y

For providing substantially uniform distribut-ion of the strands 21 throughout the working surfaces of the device, the carrier strips 18, in the present instance, arersecured in sub;- stantially loop-shaped formation to the front and rear sides of the device, preferably adj acent the marginal edge thereof, while the strips y19 are secured in substantially loopshaped formation to the front and rear portions 11 and 12 Vof the envelope 10, preferably within the strips 18, andy substantially straight strips 2() are secured tothe front and rear portions, preferably within the loop-shaped strip 19, thus -insuring asubstantial body of strands adjacent that portion of the device where the greatest pressure is applied in the cleaning operation, and protecting the surface to bc cleaned from contact with the harder material of the body portion or envelope 10.

being cleaned or otherwise treated vfrom contact therewith.

. It will be apparent also that the improved cleaning device may be employed for polishing or dusting as well as for washing purposes and, as previously stated, the vcarrier strips and strands may be secured to either one or both sides of the body portion, 'as desired.

Obviously, the present invention not limited to the precise lconstruction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. Moreover, all the features `of the present invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinai tions and sub-combinations within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is: v

1. An article of the class described comprising a closed envelope, and a plurality of relatively long braidedstrands vof absorbent material secured adjacent their een ral portions to opposite sides of said enveope. Y

2. An article of the class described. comprising an envelope havinglapertures formed therein and containing aiiuid absorbing Yand retainingmaterial, and a plurality of relatively long closely positioned braided tubular strands of absorbent material secured to said envelope.

3. An article `of theclass' described com'- prising an envelope of water proof material having apertures formed therein, a Huid absorbing and fluid retaining sponge material positioned in'said envelope, carrier strips secured to the envelope, and a plurality of braided tubular strandsY of absorbent material secured adjacent their central portions to said strips. .Y

4. An article of the classdescribed comprising an elongated closed envelope, sponge material in said envelope, a plurality of carrier strips having a plurality of'closely positioned tubular braided strands secured thereto and extending substantiallyv transversely 5 of, a, second strip of substantially loop-shaped form secured to the envelope Within said last mentioned loop-shaped strip, and a substantially straight strip secured to said envelope adj aeent the central portion thereof and within said second loop-shaped strip.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of June, A. D. 1931.

JOHN B. FARQUHAR;

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