GB2189983A - Article for removing fluff from clothing and furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

An article for removing hairs, dandruff, and fluff from clothing or furniture comprises a block 10 having a coating or layer 12 of tacky material. The latter may be protected by a peelable barrier layer 14. The block may be made from a rigid or flexible material e.g. foamed plastics or rubber, and may be provided with a handle. More than one side of the block may be provided with the tacky coating or layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Material removal This invention concerns means for removing unwanted material from a surface.

To remove unwanted material from a surface, such as hairs, dandruff or fluff from clothing or furniture, a brush is often used. The use of a brush can be effective in many circumstances but, possibly due to the increased use of man-made fibres for clothing and furniture covers, electrostatic charges are quickly built up by brushing and these charges tend to hold the unwanted material onto the surface being brushed. Furthermore, brushes can become clogged with unwanted material and unless cleared regularly may tend to deposit rather than remove material.

The object of this invention is to provide an alternative means to a brush for removing unwanted material from a surface.

According to the invention there is provided means for removing unwanted material from a surface comprising a block having on at least one surface a coating or layer of a tacky substance to which the unwanted material can adhere when the said means is passed over the surface.

The block may be of any suitable material and in any suitable shape. Possibly the block could be of a substantially rigid material but preferably will be of a flexible material such as of a sponge-like material.

Examples of sponge-like material may include foamed plastics or rubber.

For ease of manufacture, the block will probably be of rectangular section but may be shaped to facilitate gripping, possibly even provided with a handle.

The tacky substance will probably be an adhesive and may be applied to the block in any suitable way.

For example, the adhesive could be sprayed or painted onto the block or be on a base-layer which is itself affixed to the block.

The adhesive used should be sufficiently tacky to pick up the unwanted material but not so strong as to stick to the surface being cleaned orto make it too difficult to pass over the surface.

The tacky substance, e.g. adhesive coating or layer, is preferably provided with a covering peelable layer so that the adhesive is protected prior to use. A block can, therefore, be provided with adhesive on two or more sides each covered with a barrier layer so that further adhesive layers can be uncovered and used once the previously used layer has lost effectiveness due to collection of unwanted material.

The removal means of the invention may be packed in any suitable way but preferably a clear plastic readily removed wrapping will be used.

The removal means of the invention will preferably be a disposable item and so its preferred form will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a means for removing unwanted material from a surface.

In the drawing, a block 10 of foamed rubber has on one surface a layer of adhesive 12 applied by spraying. The adhesive layer 12 is covered by a peelable barrier layer 14, shown partly peeled back, which is removed prior to use.

In use the barrier layer 14 is removed and the adhesive slide of the block rubbed over the surface to be cleaned. The adhesive picks up loose material such as hairs, dust etc. After probably one use the block is disposed of or if there is another layer of adhesive on another side it can be returned for further use.

1. Means for removing unwanted material from a surface comprising a block having on at least one surface a coating or layer of a tacky substance to which unwanted material can adhere when the said means is passed over a surface.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block is of substantially rigid material.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block is of flexible material.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the block is of sponge-like material.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sponge-like material is foamed plastics or rubber.

6. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the block is of rectangular section.

7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the block is shaped to facilitate gripping.

8. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the block is provided with a handle.

9. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tacky substance is an adhesive.

10. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tacky substance is provided with a peelable covering layer to protect same prior to use.

11. Means for removing unwanted material from a surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Material removal This invention concerns means for removing unwanted material from a surface. To remove unwanted material from a surface, such as hairs, dandruff or fluff from clothing or furniture, a brush is often used. The use of a brush can be effective in many circumstances but, possibly due to the increased use of man-made fibres for clothing and furniture covers, electrostatic charges are quickly built up by brushing and these charges tend to hold the unwanted material onto the surface being brushed. Furthermore, brushes can become clogged with unwanted material and unless cleared regularly may tend to deposit rather than remove material. The object of this invention is to provide an alternative means to a brush for removing unwanted material from a surface. According to the invention there is provided means for removing unwanted material from a surface comprising a block having on at least one surface a coating or layer of a tacky substance to which the unwanted material can adhere when the said means is passed over the surface. The block may be of any suitable material and in any suitable shape. Possibly the block could be of a substantially rigid material but preferably will be of a flexible material such as of a sponge-like material. Examples of sponge-like material may include foamed plastics or rubber. For ease of manufacture, the block will probably be of rectangular section but may be shaped to facilitate gripping, possibly even provided with a handle. The tacky substance will probably be an adhesive and may be applied to the block in any suitable way. For example, the adhesive could be sprayed or painted onto the block or be on a base-layer which is itself affixed to the block. The adhesive used should be sufficiently tacky to pick up the unwanted material but not so strong as to stick to the surface being cleaned orto make it too difficult to pass over the surface. The tacky substance, e.g. adhesive coating or layer, is preferably provided with a covering peelable layer so that the adhesive is protected prior to use. A block can, therefore, be provided with adhesive on two or more sides each covered with a barrier layer so that further adhesive layers can be uncovered and used once the previously used layer has lost effectiveness due to collection of unwanted material. The removal means of the invention may be packed in any suitable way but preferably a clear plastic readily removed wrapping will be used. The removal means of the invention will preferably be a disposable item and so its preferred form will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a means for removing unwanted material from a surface. In the drawing, a block 10 of foamed rubber has on one surface a layer of adhesive 12 applied by spraying. The adhesive layer 12 is covered by a peelable barrier layer 14, shown partly peeled back, which is removed prior to use. In use the barrier layer 14 is removed and the adhesive slide of the block rubbed over the surface to be cleaned. The adhesive picks up loose material such as hairs, dust etc. After probably one use the block is disposed of or if there is another layer of adhesive on another side it can be returned for further use. CLAIMS

1. Means for removing unwanted material from a surface comprising a block having on at least one surface a coating or layer of a tacky substance to which unwanted material can adhere when the said means is passed over a surface.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block is of substantially rigid material.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block is of flexible material.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the block is of sponge-like material.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sponge-like material is foamed plastics or rubber.

6. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the block is of rectangular section.

7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the block is shaped to facilitate gripping.

8. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the block is provided with a handle.

9. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tacky substance is an adhesive.

10. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tacky substance is provided with a peelable covering layer to protect same prior to use.

11. Means for removing unwanted material from a surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.