GB2033731A

GB2033731A - Scouring device

Info

Publication number: GB2033731A
Application number: GB7937508A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LEATHART V
Current assignee: LEATHART V
Priority date: 1978-11-03
Filing date: 1979-10-30
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: GB2033731B

Abstract

A glove or mitten for use in scouring consists of a glove 12, preferably of waterproof elastomeric material, e.g. a conventional rubber glove, having one or more patches 14, 16 of abrasive material on its external surface. Each patch 14, 16 may be a discrete element, e.g. of non-woven plastics fabric, adhered to the glove, or an abrasive region formed on the glove surface, e.g. by bonding abrasive particles. Preferably the patches are disposed so that when an article is gripped with a gloved hand it is contacted largely by abrasive material. There may be patches of different degrees of abrasiveness for different uses. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scouring device This invention relates to cleaning materials, and in particular to scouring devices suitable for domestic and/or industrial application.

Scouring pads are widely used domestically for cleaning kitchen utensils, saucepans and the like, and also for sinks, work-surfaces and tiling. Industrially, scouring pads and similar abrasive products have many uses, e.g. in cleaning and de-scaling parts of apparatus. In any case it is desirable to wear protective gloves while doing such wet and messy jobs.

However, it is less easy to manipulate a socuring pad when gloved, and there is therefore an increased likelihood of dropping the pad, and losing or mislaying it. This can be frustrating and, especially in an industrial context, there is a risk that a mislaid pad will get into machinery or other equipment, possibly with serious consequences. Furthermore, in use the pad tends to wear away the gloves.

Gloves or mittens made of heavy duty laminated scouring material have been proposed but it is thought that these would be relatively costly and clumsy for domestic or other intricate uses, and furthermore would be porous exposing the hands of the user to detergents and other possibly harmful materials.

According to this invention there is provided a glove or mitten having a patch or patches of abrasive material on at least one of its external surfaces.

Preferably the glove or mitten is waterproof.

Preferably there is a patch of abrasive material on the palm and on the front sides of the finger and thumb regions of the glove or mitten.

Preferably the abrasive material is inert in the sense that it does not rust or otherwise deteriorate when exposed to air, water and detergent. Different degrees of abrasiveness may be desirable for different purposes and different patches on the same glove or mitten may be of different degrees of abrasiveness, e.g. coarser on the back than the front. For domestic uses, an abrasive material less scratchy than steel wool or pumice is desirable. The preferred material is an abrasive nonwoven plastics fabric such as is commonly used for sponge backed pot scourers. For some industrial uses more abrasive materials may be desired; these may be, for example, non-woven plastics fabrics of heavier duty than those employed domestically. Alternatively, steel-wool and/or surface layers incorporating abrasives such as powdered pumice may be suitable.

The invention further provides a pair of gloves or mittens, one or both of the members of the pair having an abrasive patch or patches as described above, if desired one member of the pair being of different degree of abrasiveness to the other, and preferably both being waterproof.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view thereof; and Figure 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a left-handed glove 10 consisting of a generally conventional waterproof glove 12 of synthetic rubber material with an abrasive palm and finger patch 14 and an abrasive thumb patch 16. The abrasive patches 14, 16 are adhered to the glove's front surface by means of a waterproof adhesive which forms a flexible bond.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in the form of a right-handed mitten 110.

This is generally similar to the preveiously described embodiment, consisting of a synthetic rubber mitten 11 2 with a palm and finger patch 114 and a thumb patch 116 of abrasive material. Use of a mitten 110 tends to be incovenient for intricate work or handling small objects, but may be preferred for larger tasks since it can offer a larger area and be less prone to damage than a glove 10.

The abrasive patches 14, 16, 114, 116 are made from a non-woven fabric which can be cut to shape. The shape and positioning of the patches are arranged so that when an object is gripped or if anything is rubbed with a gloved hand, it is contacted largely or solely by abrasive material.

It will be appreciated that many departures may be made from the glove and mitten shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the patches of abrasive material may be formed by direct bonding of abrasive grit to rubber or other material of which the glove may be made, and, for example, different fingers may have finger patches of different degrees of abrasiveness (e.g. that for the little finger having fine abrasive such as would be unlikely to damage chromium plated kitchen taps).

For domestic, and many industrial, uses, it may be preferable for the glove to be made basically of rubber or the like. For heavy-duty applications, fabric-reinforced materials may be suitable.

1. A glove or mitten having a patch or patches, of abrasive material on at least one of its external surfaces.

2. A glove or mitten according to claim 1 which is waterproof.

3. A glove or mitten according to claim 1 or claim 2 having a patch of abrasive material on the palm and on the front sides of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Scouring device This invention relates to cleaning materials, and in particular to scouring devices suitable for domestic and/or industrial application. Scouring pads are widely used domestically for cleaning kitchen utensils, saucepans and the like, and also for sinks, work-surfaces and tiling. Industrially, scouring pads and similar abrasive products have many uses, e.g. in cleaning and de-scaling parts of apparatus. In any case it is desirable to wear protective gloves while doing such wet and messy jobs. However, it is less easy to manipulate a socuring pad when gloved, and there is therefore an increased likelihood of dropping the pad, and losing or mislaying it. This can be frustrating and, especially in an industrial context, there is a risk that a mislaid pad will get into machinery or other equipment, possibly with serious consequences. Furthermore, in use the pad tends to wear away the gloves. Gloves or mittens made of heavy duty laminated scouring material have been proposed but it is thought that these would be relatively costly and clumsy for domestic or other intricate uses, and furthermore would be porous exposing the hands of the user to detergents and other possibly harmful materials. According to this invention there is provided a glove or mitten having a patch or patches of abrasive material on at least one of its external surfaces. Preferably the glove or mitten is waterproof. Preferably there is a patch of abrasive material on the palm and on the front sides of the finger and thumb regions of the glove or mitten. Preferably the abrasive material is inert in the sense that it does not rust or otherwise deteriorate when exposed to air, water and detergent. Different degrees of abrasiveness may be desirable for different purposes and different patches on the same glove or mitten may be of different degrees of abrasiveness, e.g. coarser on the back than the front. For domestic uses, an abrasive material less scratchy than steel wool or pumice is desirable. The preferred material is an abrasive nonwoven plastics fabric such as is commonly used for sponge backed pot scourers. For some industrial uses more abrasive materials may be desired; these may be, for example, non-woven plastics fabrics of heavier duty than those employed domestically. Alternatively, steel-wool and/or surface layers incorporating abrasives such as powdered pumice may be suitable. The invention further provides a pair of gloves or mittens, one or both of the members of the pair having an abrasive patch or patches as described above, if desired one member of the pair being of different degree of abrasiveness to the other, and preferably both being waterproof. The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view thereof; and Figure 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention. Figs. 1 and 2 show a left-handed glove 10 consisting of a generally conventional waterproof glove 12 of synthetic rubber material with an abrasive palm and finger patch 14 and an abrasive thumb patch 16. The abrasive patches 14, 16 are adhered to the glove's front surface by means of a waterproof adhesive which forms a flexible bond. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in the form of a right-handed mitten 110. This is generally similar to the preveiously described embodiment, consisting of a synthetic rubber mitten 11 2 with a palm and finger patch 114 and a thumb patch 116 of abrasive material. Use of a mitten 110 tends to be incovenient for intricate work or handling small objects, but may be preferred for larger tasks since it can offer a larger area and be less prone to damage than a glove 10. The abrasive patches 14, 16, 114, 116 are made from a non-woven fabric which can be cut to shape. The shape and positioning of the patches are arranged so that when an object is gripped or if anything is rubbed with a gloved hand, it is contacted largely or solely by abrasive material. It will be appreciated that many departures may be made from the glove and mitten shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the patches of abrasive material may be formed by direct bonding of abrasive grit to rubber or other material of which the glove may be made, and, for example, different fingers may have finger patches of different degrees of abrasiveness (e.g. that for the little finger having fine abrasive such as would be unlikely to damage chromium plated kitchen taps). For domestic, and many industrial, uses, it may be preferable for the glove to be made basically of rubber or the like. For heavy-duty applications, fabric-reinforced materials may be suitable. CLAIMS

2. A glove or mitten according to claim 1 which is waterproof.

3. A glove or mitten according to claim 1 or claim 2 having a patch of abrasive material on the palm and on the front sides of the finger and thump region.

4. A glove or mitten according to any one of the preceding claims having a plurality of said patches, at least some of said patches differing in abrasive character.

5. A glove or mitten according to any one of the preceding claims suitable for domestic use, said glove or mitten comprising elastomeric material, and said- patch or at least one of said patches comprising a non-woven plastics fabric.

6. A glove or mitten substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figs. f and 2 or in Fig. 3 of the accompa- nying drawings

7. A pair of gloves or mittens for the left and right hands each glove or mitten being according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A process for making a glove or mitten according to any one of claims î to 6 comprising the step of adhering one or more abrasive patches to a glove or mitten with a waterproof adhesive to form a flexible bond.