US20060107481A1

US20060107481A1 - Scrubbing pad

Info

Publication number: US20060107481A1
Application number: US10/992,209
Authority: US
Inventors: Po-Chang Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-19
Filing date: 2004-11-19
Publication date: 2006-05-25

Abstract

A scrubbing pad formed of porous curled nylon strands. Portion of the strands are stitched transversely to form weft and the remaining strands are stitched longitudinally to form warp. In one embodiment in the warp two adjacent strands are formed as a unit, two units are separated by longitudinal strands, and a distance therebetween allows another unit opposite the sandwiched single strand to stitch. An uneven texture on one surface of the scrubbing pad is adapted to increase bubble creation capability. Further, a wavy texture on the other surface is adapted to increase rubbing capability. The scrubbing pad has advantages of decreasing the amount of dishwashing liquid being used, effectively removing dirt adhered on kitchenware, preventing microorganism from growing, and being not subject to decomposition.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to kitchenware cleaning devices and more particularly to a scrubbing pad formed of strands of nylon with wavy texture and being adapted to have a desired porosity and roughness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional scrubbing pad for cleaning kitchenware is shown in FIG. 1. The scrubbing pad is formed of layers of hard glass fiber and has a sufficient thickness. The scrubbing pad is adapted to clean kitchenware when absorbing water mixed with dishwashing liquid. Initially, the scrubbing pad is somewhat tough, less elastic, and not porous. As such, fewer bubbles are created by rubbing the scrubbing pad in the water. That is, a user has to pour more dishwashing liquid into water for using the scrubbing pad to clean bowls or the like. This is quite time consuming. Moreover, dishwashing liquid may remain on the clean kitchenware if sufficient water is not used to wash it. Also, scrape may be created on a stainless pot, pan, or the like when it is rubbed by the scrubbing pad. Further, a ceramic may lose its brightness after subjecting to such rubbing for a relatively long period of time. In addition, the scrubbing pad tends to become soft and lose its roughness after a relatively long period of time of use. As a result, the scrubbing pad gradually loses its cleaning capability as time passes. To the worse, it may decompose to leave its debris in the kitchenware after cleaning. This is not hygienic since the debris may mix with food put into a dish, pot, or the like.
Another prior scrubbing pad for cleaning kitchenware is shown in FIG. 2. The scrubbing pad is formed of sponge and thus has a sufficient softness and is adapted to easily create bubbles. Such scrubbing pad is able to preserve smoothness and brightness of a ceramic, dish, pot, or the like being cleaned. However, it tends to quick decompose and thus may rapidly grow microorganism therein since sponge is subject to absorb water and tends to break. Particularly, its roughness is not sufficient to effectively clean dirt firmly adhered on a pot, dish, or the like. This is not desired. Hence, a need for improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a scrubbing pad comprising a plurality of nylon strands formed by curling so as to be porous and elastic wherein a first texture on a surface of the scrubbing pad is uneven for increasing bubble creation capability and thus decreasing the amount of dishwashing liquid being used in one cleaning.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a scrubbing pad having a wavy texture on the surface so as to effectively remove dirt adhered on kitchenware. Moreover nylon is not a water absorbing material for preventing microorganism from growing in the scrubbing pad. This can prolong the useful life of the scrubbing pad. Also, the scrubbing pad does not tend to decompose to leave its debris in the kitchenware after cleaning.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional scrubbing pad formed of hard glass fiber;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional scrubbing pad formed of sponge;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of a preferred embodiment of scrubbing pad according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 a top plan view for schematically depicting a stitch pattern of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically depicting the stitch pattern shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the scrubbing pad shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, there is shown a scrubbing pad 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The scrubbing pad 10 is comprised of a plurality of nylon strands 11 formed by curling so that the strand 11 can have a desired porosity and elasticity. About one half of the strands 11 are then stitched transversely to form weft 13 and the remaining strands 11 are stitched longitudinally across the weft 13 to form warp 12 in which in the warp 12 two adjacent strands 11 are formed as a unit, two units are separated by a longitudinal strand 11, and a distance therebetween is adapted to allow another unit opposite the sandwiched single strand 11 to stitch (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This forms a stitch pattern of the scrubbing pad 10 having an uneven texture 14 on its top surface similar to the surface of a pineapple (see FIG. 4) and a wavy texture 15 on its bottom surface (see FIG. 7). The surface having the wavy, three-dimensional, rough texture 15 is further folded. Then three open sides thereof are sewed to form the scrubbing pad 10 of the invention (see FIG. 8).
Alternatively, a cylindrical member is formed by folding the above half-finished product. Next, sew both open ends of the cylinder to form a scrubbing member. Still alternatively, the strands 11 in the weft 13 are across the strands 11 in the warp 12 to form a wavy stitch pattern. As such, the formed scrubbing pad has a more obvious texture 14 on its top surface and a wavy texture 15 on its bottom surface with increased roughness. Still alternatively, a stitch pattern different from the above is made possible depending on applications as long as a sufficient roughness of the scrubbing pad is made.
The benefits of the invention include:
(a) The scrubbing pad 10 is comprised of a plurality of nylon strands 11 formed by curling so that the scrubbing pad 10 can have a desired porosity and elasticity. This enables the scrubbing pad 10 to create many bubbles once being submerged in water mixed with dishwashing liquid. As a result, the number of kitchenware can be cleaned in one cleaning is increased.
(b) The wavy texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad 10 is an excellent rubbing surface due to its sufficient roughness. The scrubbing pad 10 is subject to rot due to the durability of nylon. That is, the scrubbing pad 10 does not tend to decompose to leave its debris in the kitchenware after cleaning. Moreover, nylon is not a water absorbing material. As a result, it is difficult for microorganism to grow in the scrubbing pad 10 as long as the scrubbing pad 10 is placed at a well ventilated area after cleaning.
(c) The surface roughness of the scrubbing pad 10 can be altered depending on its stitch pattern. For example, the wavy texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad 10 can be made less obvious (i.e., more soft) by suitably arranging the stitch pattern formed by warp 12 and weft 13 if the pad 10 is used as one for cleaning the body (i.e., avoiding hurting the skin). In another application of using the scrubbing pad 10 as a kitchenware cleaning device, the wavy texture 15 on the surface of the scrubbing pad 10 cab be made more obvious (i.e., more rough) by suitably arranging the stitch pattern formed by warp 12 and weft 13. Moreover, there is no need to worry that the rough scrubbing pad 10 may scrape a ceramic kitchenware or metal pot since nylon is full of elasticity. As an end, smoothness and brightness of the kitchenware cleaned by the scrubbing pad 10 still can be preserved.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A scrubbing pad comprising a plurality of nylon strands formed by curling so as to be porous, the scrubbing pad having a top surface and a bottom surface, a portion of the strands being stitched transversely to form weft and the remaining strands being stitched longitudinally across the weft to form warp wherein in the warp a plurality of adjacent strands are formed as a unit, two units are separated by at least one longitudinal strand, and a distance therebetween is provided with another unit opposite a sandwiched single strand being stitched such that a stitch pattern is formed wherein a first texture on the top surface of the scrubbing pad is uneven for increasing bubble creation capability, and a second texture on the bottom surface thereof is wavy for increasing rubbing capability.

2. The scrubbing pad of claim 1, wherein the wavy surface is folded, and the scrubbing pad having four sides, at least three sides of which are sewed together.