US20100051054A1

US20100051054A1 - Lint remover with finger loop

Info

Publication number: US20100051054A1
Application number: US12/380,915
Authority: US
Inventors: David L. Hamann; Mary Kristin Burns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-28
Filing date: 2009-03-05
Publication date: 2010-03-04

Abstract

The invention disclosed is an adhesive strip for wrapping around the fingers to remove lint from garments or fabric. The strip has adhesive on one side only and is wrapped around the fingers with the adhesive side facing out. A looped end of the adhesive strip provides an anchor for removing a protective strip and for wrapping the free end of the adhesive strip around the fingers. The free end is adhered to the adhesive surface of the looped end. The strip is easily stored in a flat or folded configuration. Adhesive strips may be offered in stacks with no protective strips applied or the non-adhesive side of one adhesive strip acting as the protective strip for the adhesive side of the adjacent adhesive strip.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention is concerned with lint removers. Lint removers are devices that remove stray pieces of dirt or fibers from clothing. In particular, the present lint remover is concerned with a more effective way of handling the remover and removing lint. Lint removers consist of a flexible sheet material such as paper or cloth which has on one side a sticky surface which sticky surface can catch and retain pieces of lint while not adhering to the cloth from which the lint is being removed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Clothing consists of various woven fabrics such as cotton, wool, or various synthetics. Because there are millions of threads in various articles of clothing it is not unusual that one or more small threads will break off and float in the environment as lint. Also, animal and human hair can adhere to clothing as lint. Bright lights show unattractive non-dark lint on darker clothing.
For this reason lint removers are old art and fall into various types. The following cited patents are representative of the various configurations of the dispensers and handlers of the removers. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Examples of configurations and types of lint removers include electric razor type devices such as D513,814; single sheets; single sheets arranged in a stack for storing/dispensing such as US Patent application 2007/0136,966; single sheets arranged in a stack for storing/dispensing and bound into a pad, U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,623 with holders for fingers; single sheets arranged in a stack for storing/dispensing and contained in a box; a strip arranged in a roll and contained in a dispenser with cutter; a strip arranged in a roll with perforations for separation into single sheets U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,963. multiple sheets arranged in a roll, U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,908; a strip on a roll and having a handle, U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,626; single or multiple sheets arranged in a loop for inserting multiple fingers; single or multiple sheets arranged in a stack with a loop for inserting multiple fingers and single or multiple sheets arranged in a stack with a ring on the back for inserting a finger.
These previous products are effective but have various disadvantages. Some lint removers are too large or have an inconvenient shape to store in a pocket, brief case, or purse. Likewise, many are too awkward to easily use or have a package or dispenser that is not ecologically friendly.
The present invention, Lint Remover with Finger Loop, also called Lint Lizard™ has a looped end. An appropriate length of the present lint remover provides the user with a means to easily wrap the strip around the fingers and hold it secure for picking up lint on clothing or other fabric. The loop allows the user to insert one finger, providing an anchor point. The length allows the strip to be wrapped around the other fingers and overlap the looped end for securing to the looped end. A protective strip may be applied to protect the adhesive lint collector side. Such protective strip may contain a end length that is not adhered to the adhesive strip.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is a lint remover for clothing which is made of a strip of flexible material with a non-adhesive side and an adhesive side. The strip of flexible material has a first free end and a second looped end. The strip of flexible material has a protective strip adhered to the adhesive side and extending around the looped end. The protective strip is longer than the adhesive strip and has a section that extends onto the non-adhesive side of the adhesive strip after passing over looped end.
The invention is also a method of removing lint from clothing with the first step of obtaining a lint remover. The lint remover comprises a strip of flexible material with a non-adhered side and an adhesive side and a first free end and a second looped end. The user places the looped end of lint remover on either his index finger or pinky finger. The inventive lint remover is wrapped around the fingers of the hand of the user, and the user pats or brushes the area of clothing from which lint is to be removed. The user removes a protective strip prior to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the elements of Lint Remover with Finger Loop. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the method of use of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows lint remover 101 which includes a strip of flexible material such as paper or cloth with an adhesive (lint catcher) side 110 and a non-adhesive side 120. The strip of flexible material adhesive strip 101 has a first free end 130 and a second loop end 150. Loop 140 is formed by securing the loop end 150 to the non-adhesive side 120 along a bonding line 160.
FIG. 1B shows protective strip 201 with a first free end 230, which corresponds to the adhesive strip first free end 130, and a tab end 240, which corresponds to the adhesive strip loop end 150. The protective strip 201 has first side 210 and a second side 220. The protective strip 201 adheres to the lint remover 101 adhesive (lint catcher) side 110 by applying strip 201 in the direction of arrows AA and wrapping the loop end 240 around loop 140 in the direction of arrow BB.
FIG. 1C shows the invention 102 which is lint remover 101 with the protective strip 201 adhered to it. The protective strip 201 is longer than the adhesive strip 101 and has a section 305 that extends onto the non-adhesive side 120 of the adhesive strip 101.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show how to use Lint Remover with Finger Loop 101. FIG. 2A shows user left hand 201 which holds lint remover 101 with an adhesive (lint catcher) side 110 and a non-adhesive side 120. Index finger 203 on user right hand 205 will be placed into loop 140. FIG. 2B shows right index finger 203 placed within loop 140. Right thumb 211 holds lint remover 101 onto the front of fingers 213. Left thumb 207 and left index finger 209 grasp section 305 and starts removal of protective strip 201 as shown by arrow CC. FIG. 3C shows right index finger 203 holding lint remover 101 with loop 140. Left thumb 207 and left index finger 209, by grasping section 305 of protective strip 201, removes protective strip 201 as shown by arrows DD.
FIG. 3D shows the next step in the placement of “Lint Remover with Finger Loop” 101. After protective strip 201 is removed, left thumb 207 and left index finger 209 grasp first free end 130 of lint remover 101 and following direction of arrow EE lint remover is placed over back of fingers of right hand 205 as shown in FIG. 3E with arrow FF.
FIG. 3F shows that after the lint remover 101 is placed of the back of fingers of right hand 205 by following arrow GG the lint remover 101 is placed on the front of fingers 213 of hand 205.
FIG. 3G shows that lint remover 101 with a first free end 1 is placed around fingers 213 of right hand 205. Non adhesive side 120 is bonded by adhesive (lint catcher) side 110 in back of fingers 313.
FIG. 4H illustrates lint remover 101 ready to remove lint or hair by placing right hand fingers 213 covered with lint remover 101 over the areas that need to have lint removed. In practice, finger loop 140 can be placed over pinky finger and achieve the same results of having the lint remover attached to the fingers of hand.

Claims

1) A clothing lint remover comprising;

a strip of flexible material;

said strip has a non-adhesive side and an adhesive side;

said strip of flexible material has a first free end and a second looped end.

2) A clothing lint remover as in claim I wherein said strip of flexible material has

a protective strip adhered to said adhesive side;

said protective strip extends over said looped end;

said protective strip is longer than said adhesive strip and has a section that extends onto said non-adhesive side of said adhesive strip after passing over said looped end.

3) A clothing lint remover as in claim 1 wherein said strip of flexible material has a protective strip adhered to said adhesive side;

said protective strip extends over said looped end;

said protective strip has a non-adhered free end.

4) A method of removing lint from clothing comprising the steps of:

obtaining a lint remover;

said lint remover comprises a strip of flexible material;

said strip has a non-adhesive side and an adhesive side;

said strip of flexible material has a first free end and a second looped end;

placing said looped end of said lint remover on either the index finger or pinky finger of a user;

said lint remover is wrapped around the fingers of the hand of the user;

said lint remover affixed around the fingers of the hand of the user is used to pat or brush areas of clothing from which lint is to be removed.

5) The method of claim 3 wherein said adhesive side of said lint remover has a protective strip;

a user removes said protective strip prior to use.