GB2346801A

GB2346801A - Cleaning Glove

Info

Publication number: GB2346801A
Application number: GB9902737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Allsop James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-09
Filing date: 1999-02-09
Publication date: 2000-08-23
Also published as: GB9902737D0

Abstract

A cleaning device including an abrasive surface, the device can be worn on the hand so that an object can be cleaned by rubbing with the abrasive surface. The device may be in the shape of a glove or mitten and may comprise at least one abrasive outer layer attached to an inner lining made of waterproofed stretchable fabric, wherein the abrasive outer layer and the lining are free to move relative to each other around the hand in use, to facilitate cleaning. The abrasive surface may comprise one or more layers of an open weave formed from a woven ribbon of polypropylene. The ribbon may be of flat-cross section to improve scraping. The cleaning device is particularly suitable for the grooming of horses.

Description

CLEANING DEVICE This invention relates to a cleaning device arranged to be worn on the hand and comprising a mitten, glove, mitt, or similar. The cleaning device is particularly suitable for the grooming of horses and other animals.

Conventionally, in grooming a horse, a brush is used to clean debris and mud from its coat. It is also known for a groom to wear a loose mitten which has plastic teeth on the palm side of the mitten to brush clean a horse's coat. These devices remove debris by brushing between hairs, but they can become clogged with hair and debris and thus less effective.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaning device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device arranged to be worn on the hand and including an abrasive surface so positioned on the device that, in use, the abrasive surface may be rubbed against the object to be cleaned to effect cleaning.

The cleaning device suitably comprises a mitten or glove and may include an inner lining.

The abrasive surface may comprise at least one abrasive outer layer. The inner lining may be partly attached to the outer layer, preferably stitched at a cuff of the inner lining. In that way, the lining and the outer layer are free to move relative to each other around the hand in use to facilitate cleaning.

Alternatively, the lining may be detachable so that either the abrasive outer layer can be replaced, or the lining and the outer layer separated to enable the or a part of the device itself to be cleaned after use. The cleaning device may have two or more superimposed abrasive layers. The abrasive layer or layers may be perforate. The provision of two superimposed abrasive layers has the advantage that, in use, the layers will rub against each other thereby assisting'fall-out'of dirt, mud, etc. collected between the layers.

The inner lining may be a stretchable fabric, for example, LYCRA. In that way, the inner lining can accommodate a range of hand sizes, hence, fewer mitten sizes are required.

Further, the inner lining may be waterproofed.

The cleaning device may be retained on the hand by a fastener preferably located at the cuff of the inner lining and comprising a strap and pads of hook and loop fastening material such as VELCRO'. The cuff of the inner lining may be made sufficiently long to be folded outwardly and back along itself to engulf a part of the outer layer prior to stitching the lining and the outer layer together. In that way the stitch is stronger and the cuff is less easily frayed.

The outer abrasive layer or layers may be an open weave, for example, formed from a woven ribbon of polypropylene. The ribbon may have a flat cross-section to improve its scraping capability.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a cleaning device in accordance with the invention; and, Figure 2 is a section view of the device of Figure 1 on line A-A.

In the drawings, a cleaning device (1) is formed in the shape of a mitten or glove with a cuff portion (3) and has a stretchable fabric inner lining (10) and an abrasive outer layer (12). An abrasive outer layer (12) is made from an openly woven polypropylene ribbon (14) of a flat cross-section produced in tubular form. The abrasive outer layer (12) is stitched closed at a first end (16) to form a pocket (18) which fits over and around the inner lining (10). The abrasive outer layer (12) is secured to the lining (10) at the cuff portion (3). The cuff portion (3) of the fabric inner lining (10) is made sufficiently long to be folded outwardly and back upon itself to enclose a part of the outer layer (10) therebetween. The outer layer (12) is then stitched to the inner lining (10) at the overlap (22).

The cuff (3) further includes a fastening strap (24) and pads (26) of hook and loop fastening material. The pads (26) are attached, one to the cuff (3), and one to the strap (24), to allow the cleaning device to be fastened around a user's wrist.

In use, a user's hand is inserted into the fabric inner lining (10), the inner lining (10) and the outer layer (12) possessing sufficient elasticity to stretch over the hand. The strap (24) is then tensioned and the securing pads (26) are fastened together. The cleaning device (1) may then be rubbed over a horse's coat or other surface to be cleaned to dislodge embedded mud and dirt. The ability of the outer layer (12) to move relative to the inner lining (10) and the flat cross-section of the ribbon material (14) provides a scraping action across the surface being cleaned, promoting more effective cleaning.

Although a construction including an inner lining (10) and at least one outer layer (12) is the preferred construction, the inner lining (10) could be omitted or the abrasive layer may simply be provided across the whole or part of the surface of the cleaning device used for cleaning. The stretchable fabric inner lining (10) may be replaced by a non-stretchable lining and/or a waterproof lining. Two or more superimposed abrasive layers (12) may be used and such a construction has an advantage in that, during use, the superimposed adjacent layers will rub against each other thereby assisting'fall-out'of dirt, mud, etc. collected between the layers (12). The flat cross-section ribbon (14) may be replaced by circular, square, or oval cross-section ribbon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cleaning device arranged to be worn on the hand and including an abrasive surface so positioned on the device that, in use, the abrasive surface may be rubbed against the object to be cleaned to effect cleaning.
2. A cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising a mitten or glove.
3. A cleaning device according to claim 2, comprising an inner lining and wherein the abrasive surface may comprise at least one abrasive outer layer.
4. A cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the inner lining is attached to the outer layer.
5. A cleaning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lining has a cuff and the abrasive outer layer is stitched to the inner lining at the cuff.
6. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the lining and the outer layer are free to move relative to each other around the hand in use to facilitate cleaning.
7. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the lining and the abrasive outer layer are detachable so that the abrasive outer layer can be replaced, or the lining and the outer layer separated to enable the or a part of the device itself to be cleaned after use.
8. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive surface comprises two or more superimposed abrasive layers.
9. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the or each abrasive layer is perforate.
10. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the inner lining is made of a stretchable fabric.
11. A cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the inner lining is waterproofed.
12. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, including a fastener comprising a strap and pads of hook and loop fastening material, such that, the cleaning device may be releasably retained on the hand during use.
13. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abrasive surface comprises one or more abrasive layers of an open weave formed from a woven ribbon of polypropylene.
14. A cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the ribbon comprises a flat cross-section to improve its scraping capability.
15. A cleaning device formed in the shape of a mitten or glove comprising an inner lining and an abrasive outer layer, the abrasive outer layer being made from an openly woven polypropylene ribbon of a flat cross-section and being secured to the lining at a cuff portion thereof, the cuff portion of the inner lining being folded back upon itself to enclose a part of the outer layer therebetween and being stitched to secure the inner lining and the outer layer together at the overlap.
16. A cleaning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.