Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02261270 2002-03-28
SCOURING PAD
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flexible cleaning pads with a scouring surface.
Background Art
Cleaning pads of this general type are normally used in household
applications.
They are essentially brick-shaped with longitudinal side surfaces and
transverse end
surfaces, made of foam and dimensioned to be comfortably gripped with one hand
during cleaning applications. The cleaning pad is thereby normally gripped
with one
hand in the region of both longitudinal side surfaces and touched by the index
finger
on one end surface. Gripping grooves provided in the longitudinal side
surfaces of
the pad, which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pad, are
thereby
provided to ensure that the cleaning pad made of flexible material does not
inadvertently slip out of the hand during cleaning. However, this is not
satisfactory,
since that part of the flexible cleaning pad which is held in the palm of the
hand has
a large volume and compression of the pad causes an unsatisfactory deformation
of
the scouring surface and a simultaneous reduction in the absorbent capacity of
the
pad. The cleaning of hard to access corners and grooves is difficult with the
known
type of cleaning pad.
It is now an object of this disclosure to provide an improved cleaning pad,
which
facilitates the cleaning of hard to reach grooves and corners and which is
easier to
grip while preventing a cramped gripping position.
As here described a cleaning pad is provided which has an end surface and
adjacent side surfaces and wherein the end surface meets one side surface at a
sharp edge and is connected to the other side surface by an oblique surface.
Accordingly, there is an absorbent, flexible cleaning pad including top and
bottom
surfaces, side surfaces and end surfaces, the bottom surface being a scrubbing
surface, at least one end surface adjoining one side surface in a sharp edge
and
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
-2-
being connected with the other side surface by an oblique surface. In this
disclosure
the term "oblique" is also intended to include a rounded surface, not only a
flat or
planar surface.
In the cleaning body described, at least the back surface of the block shaped
pad is
defined at one side by a sharp edge and at the other side by an oblique
surface
which extends between the end surface and an adjacent side surface. The back
or
near surface in this context is the side of the cleaning pad directed away
from the
user during use.
The shape of the cleaning pad is easily produced. However, for ergonomic
reasons,
the shape should be adapted to fit the anatomical shape of the human hand
during a
gripping action. The contact regions by which the new cleaning pad is held
during
use are thereby significantly enlarged, which provides for a more reliable
gripping
and prevents a cramped holding of the cleaning pad. Furthermore, it is
possible to
compress the edge zones of the side and end surfaces of the cleaning pad,
which
are on opposite sides of the sharp edge, between the index finger and the
thumb,
until all pores are collapsed to further secure the cleaning body, without
causing any
significant deformation of the scouring surtace. An especially good and
comfortable
securing of the cleaning pad in the human hand is thereby achieved while point
form
overloads of the flexible material or the human hand are avoided. This greatly
reduces cramping of the user's hand during extended periods of use. It is also
not
necessary to deform the cleaning pad, with the resulting loss in absorbency,
to
achieve a secure grip. This is of great advantage for the quick absorbtion of
dissolved dirt.
The new cleaning pad is further improved by the provision of an oblique
surface on
the cleaning pad in addition to the scouring surface and the sharp edge, which
in
connection with the adjacent parts of the side and end surface, provides for
easier
removal of dirt from grooves and hard to reach corners.
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
-3-
The cleaning pad can be made of one or more of the commonly used materials,
for
example from a flexible textile and/or foam block. When several materials are
used
in combination, for example, a layer of polyurethane foam and a layer of a
textile
material, the individual layers can be permanently or separably connected. In
the
latter case, it is possible, for example, to use hook and loop fasteners for
connection
of the layers.
It has proven advantageous to position the sharp corner at the left edge of
the rear
end surface and the oblique surface at the right edge thereof. During right
handed
use of the pad, most users are right handed, the sharp edge of such an
embodiment
thereby automatically ends up between thumb and index finger, so that it can
be
safely gripped.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the side and end surfaces of the
brick-
shaped cleaning pad are connected at two diagonally opposite corners of the
pad by
the oblique surface and at the remaining corners meet in the sharp edge. Due
to the
resulting symmetric shape of such a cleaning pad, one no longer needs to
consider
its respective orientation when picking up the pad to achieve a proper grip.
The pad
will always be oriented the same way in the hand after pick up when the
scouring
surface is oriented downward. Independently of its orientation, one sharp edge
and
one oblique surface will always be located at the back of the pad where the
edge
can be easily gripped. This is of great advantage for practical use.
The side surfaces can be provided with longitudinally extending gripping
grooves in
the manner known in the art, for example, a gripping groove which has a
sinusoidal
profile and merges with the top surface of the cleaning pad along a rounded
top
edge thereof.
In order to prevent an undesired decrease in capacity of the flexible cleaning
pad in
the region of the end surface, the cleaning pad is preferably shaped so that
the
gripping grooves and the oblique surface intersect at a second edge in such a
way
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
-4-
that no gripping groove is present in the region of the end surfaces. This is
not
disadvantageous, since in that region, the cleaning pad can only be held
parallel to
the scouring surface. However, it is of advantage that the transfer of high
contact
forces to the surface to be cleaned is also possible at the end surface. This
improves the scouring action.
According to another preferred embodiment, the oblique surface is part of a
rounded
portion which evenly merges into the respectively adjacent end and side
surfaces.
This further facilitates the cleaning of grooves and the scouring of pots and
kitchen
utensils.
It has proven advantageous to provide the rounded portion with a radius that
is 0.2
to 0.5 times as large as the width of the pad, preferably 0.3 to 0.4 times as
large.
With a conventional width of 60 to 80 mm, the resulting curvature of the
rounded
portion is such that the joint curvature of the thumb can particularly
harmoniously
follow the shape of the cleaning pad at the rounded portion, which also
provides a
safer grip.
The underside is used in many cases for the mechanical loosening of strongly
adhered dirt particles. To allow the simultaneous cleaning of a directly
adjacent side
surface, for example, the side wall of a pot adjacent the bottom of the pot,
it is
advantageous that the shape of the cleaning pad provide a sharp edge in this
region.
It is not necessarily required that the side and end surfaces enclose an angle
at the
sharp edge which is exactly 90°. Rather, in view of the ergonomic
properties of the
human hand, these two surfaces preferably join at a sharp edge at this
location,
enclosing an angle of less than 90° with each other, for example, an
angle of 60 to
85°. Pore-free compression of the material black forming the cleaning
pad for secure
gripping is thereby substantially facilitated.
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
-5-
More particularly, in accordance with the invention there is provided, an
absorbant,
flexible cleaning pad, comprising top and bottom surfaces, side surfaces and
end
surfaces, the bottom surface being a scrubbing surface, at least a first end
surface
adjoining a first side surface in a sharp edge and being connected with the
other
side surface by an oblique surface.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in the
following by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, wherein
Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the cleaning pad in accordance
with
the invention and in a perspective view from above; and
Figures 2 to 5 respectively show alternative embodiments of the cleaning pad
in
accordance with the invention and in top plan view.
Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments
The scouring pad illustrated in Figure 1 consists of a foam block of open
porous
polyurethane foam having a weight per volume of 30 to 40 kglm2, preferably
about
35 kg/m2. It is in the shape of a rectangular block and is dimensioned in such
a way
that normal gripping is possible without any difficulty. The cleaning pad is
provided
at its underside with a scouring surface 1. In longitudinal direction, the pad
is defined
by opposite transverse end surfaces 4, 5 and in transverse direction by two
longitudinal side surfaces 2, 3. The side surfaces 2, 3 and the end surfaces
4, 5
extend essentially perpendicularly to the scouring surface 1. The top surface
6
preferably extends parallel to the scouring surface 1.
In the embodiment illustrated, the side surfaces 2, 3 and the end surfaces 4,
5
defining the block are connected at diagonally opposite corners by a rounded
portion
11.1 and intersect at the other corners at a sharp edge 9. One of the sharp
edges
defines the rear end surface at the left corner. The side surfaces 2, 3 meet
the end
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
-6-
surfaces 4, 5 an angle of 75°. The cleaning pad can thereby be
specially solidly
gripped in the region of the sharp edges 9, without leading to localized
overloading
of its flexible material and without large dimensional changes or deformations
of the
scouring surface. Limitation of its range of use or inadvertent slipping of
the cleaning
pad from the hand is substantially prevented. This is also of great advantage
with
respect to avoiding fatigue of the human hand guiding the cleaning pad. The
scouring surface 1 is provided with a liquid, penetratable scouring coating of
elastomeric polyurethane.
Figures 2 to 5 show top views of other preferred embodiments of the cleaning
pad in
accordance with the invention which have shapes different from the embodiment
described above. In all of these embodiments, the not visible scouring surface
1
extends parallel to the visible top surface 6. Similarly to the embodiment
according
to Figure 1, the cleaning pads of Figures 2 to 5 can be made of foam or
textile
materials commonly used for this purpose.
In the embodiment according to Figure 2, the front end surface 4, which is
directed
towards the user, is rounded to form a semi-circle. It merges tangentially
into the
side surfaces 2, 3 without sudden direction changes. The rear end surface
encloses
a sharp angle A of 75° with the longitudinal direction of the adjoining
side surface 2.
It ends on the left side at a sharp edge 9 and is connected on the right side
with the.
right side surface 3 by way of a rounded portion 11.1. The rounded portion has
a
radius of about 20 mm for a cleaning pad of about 75 mm width. The cleaning
pad
therefore includes several radiuses, sharp edges and scouring surfaces of
mutually
different shape and size. It has manifold uses in the household and in
commerce.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 differs from the previous example in
that the
side and end surfaces 2, 3; 4, 5 of the block are connected at two diagonally
opposite corners by a rounded portion 11.1 and are defined at the remaining
corners
by sharp edges 9. The end surfaces 4, 5 in this embodiment meet at a sharp
angle
of about 70° with the longitudinal side surfaces 2, 3.
CA 02261270 2003-03-21
_7_
The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is characterized in that the side and end
surfaces 2, 3; 4, 5 of the pad are connected at two diagonally opposite
corners by an
oblique surface 11 and are defined at the remaining corners by a sharp edge 9.
The
end surfaces 4, 5 meet at a right angle with the longitudinal side surfaces 2,
3.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the end surface 5, which defines the pad
at
the rear end, is delimited at one corner by an oblique surface 11 and at the
other
corner by a sharp edge 9, whereby the end surface meets the longitudinal
direction
of the side surface 2 at an angle A of about 70°. The oblique surface
11 meets the
side surface 3 at an angle B of about 150°. The front end surface 4
meets the side
surfaces 2 and 3 at respective right angles.
The oblique surface 11 can be easily produced for the embodiments according to
Figures 4 and 5 with a straight cut and without producing waste. Furthermore,
it is
possible with this embodiment, due to the elastic deformability of the
material block
forming the cleaning pad, to clean grooves and rounded corners, for example,
of
household utensils, particularly easily.
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be
carried
out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be
limited
only by the scope of the appended claims.
