US20110119851A1

US20110119851A1 - Reversible sponge

Info

Publication number: US20110119851A1
Application number: US12/806,091
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayne Lappeman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-24
Filing date: 2010-08-05
Publication date: 2011-05-26

Abstract

A reversible sponge has four main cleaning surfaces including first and second oppositely disposed outer facing surfaces and third and fourth opposing, inwardly facing surfaces within a hand receiving pocket defined by a slot that is open at opposite ends. The sponge can be flipped inside out, by tucking the outer facing surfaces into the open ended slot and pulling the inwardly facing surfaces out from the opposite end of the slot so that the first and second surfaces now oppose each other within a newly formed pocket and the third and fourth surfaces are disposed on opposite outwardly facing sides for use. The four main surfaces of the sponge allow for greater cleaning capacity. The pocket allows the sponge to be worn on four fingers of a user's hand for convenient grasping with both outer facing sponge surfaces available for cleaning.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/283,026 filed on Nov. 24, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning sponge and, more particularly, to a sponge having opposite outer facing cleaning surfaces and wherein the sponge can be turned inside out to expose two additional cleaning surfaces.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

A typical sponge for household cleaning is usually rectangular or oval in shape and has two opposite faces that are wiped on surfaces of objects in order to clean these surfaces, sometimes with the aide of a cleaning agent. When using a conventional sponge of this nature, only one of the opposite faces can be used to wipe a surface while the opposite face is held against the hand of the user. After making several wipes across a surface being cleaned, the surface of the sponge may become soiled. In this instance, the sponge is turned over so that the opposite face of the sponge can be used for continued cleaning. When both cleaning surfaces of the sponge become soiled, the sponge needs to be rinsed under a faucet. The need to hold one of these surfaces against the hand prevents that surface from being used until the sponge is turned over. Moreover, the cleaning capacity of a conventional sponge is generally limited to the two cleaning surfaces (i.e., on opposite sides of the sponge).
Considering the limitations of the conventional household cleaning sponge, as set forth above, there remains a need for an improved sponge that provides for greater cleaning capacity and that is more conveniently held on the user's hand in a manner that allows for secure hold of the sponge on the hand with increased useful sponge surface on both sides of the user's hand to clean various surfaces such as countertops, sinks, tubs, pots and pans, etc.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sponge for household cleaning, and wherein the sponge includes four separate main sponge faces for cleaning surfaces.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reversible sponge having four independent main sponge faces for cleaning surfaces, and wherein the sponge is adapted to be worn on the hand of the user.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a reversible sponge, having four independent main sponge faces for increasing the cleaning capacity of the sponge between rinsing.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a reversible sponge having four independent sponge faces, wherein each face may be provided with a specific texture for cleaning particular types of surfaces.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a sponge having a hand receiving slot or pocket that allows the sponge to be worn on the user's hand so that opposite exposed faces of the sponge can be used simultaneously while cleaning surfaces such as sinks, pots, pans and the like.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a reversible sponge that has a greater useful life than a conventional sponge.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a reversible sponge that can be sold at the same retail price as a conventional sponge and yet provide twice the cleaning capacity.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a reversible sponge having four main cleaning surfaces including first and second oppositely disposed outer facing surfaces and third and fourth opposing, inwardly facing surfaces within a hand receiving pocket defined by a slot that is open at opposite ends. The sponge can be flipped inside out, by tucking the outer facing surfaces into the open ended slot and pulling the inwardly facing surfaces out from the opposite end of the slot so that the first and second surfaces now oppose each other within a newly formed pocket and the third and fourth surfaces are disposed on opposite outwardly facing sides for use. The four main surfaces of the sponge allow for greater cleaning capacity. The pocket allows the sponge to be worn on four fingers of a user's hand for convenient grasping with both outer facing sponge surfaces available for cleaning. The size of the sponge and pocket can be varied to accommodate different hand sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the reversible sponge of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the reversible sponge of FIG. 1 shown flipped inside out so that the previously inner facing surfaces are now disposed on the outward facing sides of the sponge;

FIG. 3 is an end perspective view of the reversible sponge;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the reversible sponge;

FIG. 5 is a end perspective view showing the sponge being flipped or turned inside out in the transformation from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view showing the reversible sponge worn on four fingers of a user's hand for use in cleaning surfaces such as countertops, sinks, tubs, pots and pans and the like.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the several views of the drawings, the reversible sponge of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10.
The reversible sponge 10 includes a first main face 12 and an oppositely disposed second main face 14. The sponge further includes a left end 16 and an opposite right end 18. A slot 20 extends through the sponge and is open at the opposite ends 16, 18. The slot 20 forms a pocket for receiving four fingers of a user's hand therein, as seen in FIG. 6. On the inward facing sides of the sponge, within the slot, there are opposing main faces, including a third main face 22 and a fourth main face 24.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the reversible sponge 10 is adapted to be turned inside out so that the third main face 22 and the fourth main face 24 are disposed in outwardly facing relation and the first and second main faces 12 and 14 are within a newly formed slot 20 a. As seen in FIG. 5, this is done by tucking the outwardly disposed faces of the sponge inwardly through one end of the slot and pulling the inwardly disposed faces out through the opposite end of the slot, effectively flipping the sponge inside out to expose fresh cleaning faces of the sponge for further use.
The construction of the sponge is primarily defined by two main rectangular sponge panels 30, 32. The first of these sponge panels 30 includes the first main face 12 and the third main face 22 on the opposite side. Likewise, the second main sponge panel 32 includes second main sponge face 14 and forth main sponge face 24 on the opposite side. The sponge panels 30, 32 are joined at the top and bottom ends 34, 36, respectively, leaving the open ended slot 20 between the inwardly disposed faces of the rectangular sponge panels 30, 32. The sponge panels 30, 32 may be joined together at the top and bottom ends 34, 36 by heat compression, adhesive or stitching. Alternatively, the main sponge panels 30, 32 may be molded or formed as an integral unit generally in the form of a flattened cylinder with the top and bottom ends 34, 36 formed as a continuous structure of the panels.
As noted with reference to FIG. 6, the slot 20 (or 20 a) forms a pocket for receiving four fingers of a user's hand therein. This allows the sponge to be conveniently worn on the user's hand while cleaning. Placement of the four fingers within this pocket provides a secure grasp of the sponge without covering the outer exposed sponge faces that can be used for cleaning surfaces, such as the side walls of a sink, the inner surfaces of a pot or pan, countertops and other surfaces that are normally cleaned with a sponge. The sponge can be made in different sizes, such as small, medium and large, to accommodate a range of hand sizes.
While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a main sponge body having a plurality of main faces including a first main face defining a first cleaning surface, a second main face defining a second cleaning surface, a third main face defining a third cleaning surface and a fourth main face defining a fourth cleaning surface;

a slot within said main sponge body and communicating with at least one slot opening, and said slot and said at least one slot opening being cooperatively structured and disposed for receipt of a user's hand therein so that said main sponge body covers at least a portion of the user's hand; and

said plurality of main faces being selectively and reversibly positionable between a first operative position wherein said first and second main faces are oppositely positioned in outwardly facing relation on an exterior of said main sponge body and said third and fourth main faces are oppositely disposed in inwardly facing relation within said spot, and said second operative position defined by said third and fourth main faces oppositely positioned in outwardly facing relation on an exterior of said main body and said first and second main faces positioned and disposed in opposing inwardly facing relation within said slot.

2. The cleaning device as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of main faces includes an abrasive scour material.

3. The cleaning device as recited in claim 1 wherein said main sponge body includes two of said slot openings each communicating with said slot.

4. The cleaning device as recited in claim 3 wherein said two slot openings are positioned and disposed on opposite sides of said main body with said slot extending therebetween.

5. The cleaning device as recited in claim 1 wherein said main sponge body comprises:

a first sponge member including said first main face and said third main face, and said first sponge member having a peripheral edge zone surrounding said first and third main faces;

a second sponge member including said second main face and said fourth main face, and said second sponge member having a peripheral edge zone surrounding said second and fourth main faces;

said first and second sponge members being positioned and disposed in overlying, stacked relation with said peripheral edge zones of said first and second sponge members arranged in corresponding alignment; and

said first and second sponge members being attached along at least a portion of said correspondingly aligned peripheral edge zones.

6. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and second sponge members are joined together with said correspondingly aligned peripheral edge zones being attached by heat compression.

7. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and second sponge members are joined together with said correspondingly aligned peripheral edge zones being attached by an adhesive.

8. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein said first and second sponge members are joined together with said correspondingly aligned peripheral edge zones being attached by stitching.