USRE19796E - Wash kag or pad - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1935. E. MAR

WASH RAG OR PAD ori inal Filed Jan. 50, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24, 1935.

E. MAR

WASH RAG OR PAD Original Filed Jan. 30, 1933 2 sheets- -sheet 2 Reissued 24, 1935 PATENT OFFICE.

wash- RAG or. ran

Edmundo Mar, Houston, Tex assignor of one- I half to Priscilliano Elizondo, Monterey, Mexico Original No.

1,968,696, dated July 31, 1934, Serial No. 654,282, January 30, 1933.

Application for reissue May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,920

13 Claims.

This invention relates to wash rags or pads 1 adapted to be used for bath and other cleansing purposes and, among other objects, aims to provide an improved, simple and inexpensive rag composed of natural hard vegetable fibre which maybe used alone or which is adapted to be impregnated with anindividual portion of soap so as to provide abundant lather instantly. One of the main ideas is toprovide a cheap and sanitary rag of this character, which may be used.

only. once and thrown away. Also, the invention aims to provide a hard fibre ragor pad which can be used very ,efiectively and economically to remove grease, paint, ink or dirt from machinery, vessels, etc., with proper solvents, such as gaso line, kerosene,-linseed oil and the like.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a fibre rag embodying the invention;

2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of '25 -Fig.3isanedgeviewoftheragshown.in1ig.

1 and showing three layers of fibre stitched together;

Fig. 4 is an end view of a modified form of the rag composed of two layers of fibre; 80 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing the outside face of a palm fibre layer or.,sheet;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a rag or pad in the form of a mitten;

Fig. 'i is a top plan view of the mitten; Fig. 8 is an end view of the mitten; and Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view. Ordinary wash rags, sponges and the like, which are used in bathrooms, bathhouses, hotels, 4 kitchens, etc., require-frequent sterilization to avoid contamination and to prevent the spread of diseases. In using such rags, it is quite a laborious operation to saturate them with suflficient soap to produce: a good lather. In fact, 45 they have .to be rubbed on the soap quite often while they are being used. Ordinary soap usually slips from the hands," causing bother to find it in soapy water. It is one aim of this invention toprovide a greatly improved sanitary, fibrous 50 wash rag which has previously been impregnated with an individual portion of soap so that a new ragcan' be used on each occasion. The idea is to impregnate the rag or pad with just enough soap for one use so as to-avoid unnecessary waste 85 ot soap. Also, the invention contemplates previous impregnation of the rag or pad with individual portions of other substances. Fln'thermore, the idea is to provide a natural, hard vegetable fibre rag or pad which can be used repeatedly and very efiectively to wash machinery 5 and the like with solvents, the principal advantage being the saving of solvent due to the fact that the fibre does not absorb as much of the solvent as the soft fibres of ordinary rags now in general use. Since the fibres are hard, grease'lo and dirt cannot penetrate the strands; hence they may be washed oif very easily. Moreoven'the fibres will not scratch-ordinary surfaces such as enamel, glass, etc. Further, they'are pliable and will not injure the'hands. 15 Referring particularly to the drawing Figs. 1 to 4 disclose a rag or pad of rectangular shape composed of natural layers of Mexican palm fibres which are suificiently rough to produce the necessary scrubbing 'or rubbing friction. These palm fibres are strong and light so that the rags or pads made of them will float. Howeveait is contemplated that fibres of manila hemp, lechuguilla and similar materials may be employed. In Fig. 3, the rag is composed of three layers III, II and I! of the fibres. which are first thoroughly sterilized. The two outer layers Ill and I! are stitched by separated parallel rows of stitching It to the central layer and are shown as being buckled or crimped to provide tubular pockets It. If desired, these pockets may be filled with coarse fibres or some more or less elastic and yieldable material to keep the pockets open and thereby increase the suction and expulsion efi'ect when. the rag or pad is squeezed and released. Before the layers are stitched together, the fibre in the middle layer or in both of the outerlayers, or in all of the layers, is previously soaked in a soap solution, either alone, or in combination with one or more chemical compounds which will produce 40 abundant lather in soft or hard water. Ordinary thread is used to bind the layers together and the stitches serve to prevent displacement of the fibre. In makingthe rag. composed-of three layers, the two outside layers Ill and I! are longer than the-middle layer and are buckled or crimped to provide pockets of the desired size. The purpose of the pockets is to providelarge air spaces between the layers and thereby form an air cushion which causes the rapid formation of soap lather or suds by suction and expulsion when the rag is compressed and released.

Fig. 1 shows two fiat layers or sheets of natural fibre stitched together by parallel rows of stitches as illustrated-in Pig. 1. These layers are inmat- 55 either or both layers may be impregnated. When it is used for washing machinery, etc. with solvents such as gasoline, kerosene, linseed oil and the'like, the interstices or air spaces serve to increase the carrying capacity. The solvent fills the air spaces and clings to the surfaces of the strands, thus tending to prevent dirt from entering the rag. The strands are so close together that the outer faces of the rag act as strainers also to prevent large particles of dirt from entering the rag. Further, the outer strands collect practically all of the dirt and can be cleaned very easily; whereas, ordinary soft fibres quickly absorb dirt and grease in their capillary tubes and must be discarded.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, there is shown a rag or pad in the form of a mitten. In this case, a rag I5 is shown as being made of multiple layers of fibre stitched together intermediate their edges by parallel rows of stitches it to provide tubular air pockets like those shown in Fig. 3 and to one side of the rag is stitched two pieces of waterproof fabric or material I! and II of different widths so as to provide a mitten of such size to fit the hand. The free end of the rag is preferably bound by a tape l8 stitched to the fibre layers. While the inner waterproof piece I I may be omitted in some cases, it is preferred so as to prevent directcontact of the hand with the rag during its use. It will be observed that both pieces offabric are wider than the rag and that they are stitched to the edges of the ,rag by a single row of stitching 20 which serves also to bind the ends of the multiple layers of fibre. The space between the waterproof layers and the rag may be partially filled with a charge of any kind of soap 'such as the pieces which usually go to waste or powdered soap. This type of pad is not only adapted for use in bathing or washing the body, but is especially useful in cleansing lavatories, bath-tubs, sinks, kitchen.- ware, floors, furniture and other articles. It will last much longer than the ordinary fibre rag without the mitten attachment.

When the improved rag or pad is to be used in hard or salty water, it is contemplated that one of-the outerlayers of fibre shall be impregnated with citric acid or its equivalent and the other outer layer with bicarbonate of soda or its equivalent; while the middle layer is covered or coated with a thin layer of soap. These materials are selected because they do not decompose the soap. I

The chemical reaction of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda in the water produces an eil'ervescence which causes the soap to make abundant foam or suds in any'kind of water. The same result may be accomplished by impregnating the outer layers of fibre with soap and depositing bicarbonate of soda in some of the pockets and citric acid in other pockets. This is especially desirable when only two layers of fibre are used,

asshowninFig.3. Insomecaseabicarbonate' of soda, alone. will be suilicient if the-water'is ofsuchnatureastocausethedesir deflervesoence.

. iportion.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved rags or pads may be manufactured at a very low cost and that they are especially adapted for many uses. They may be wrapped in waterproof paper of "cellophane" and 5 are absolutely sanitary. Their use makes possible a very considerable saving of soap or' cleaning solvent'and avoids the expense of laundering ordinary rags.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein' shown and described.

- What is claimed is:

l. A rag of the character described composed of layers of palm fibre stitched together with parallel rows of stitching across the strands to hold the layers together the strands in said layers being generally parallel with each other.

2. A wash rag or pad comprising multiple layers of sterilized vegetable fibre sewn together by 20 a plurality of parallel rows of stitches, two of said layers being buckled with respect to each other to provide air pockets in the spaces between the rows of stitches.

3. A wash rag or pad composed of multiple lay- 25 ers of vegetable fibre secured together at least one ofthe layers being impregnated withsoap: and separate charges .of citric acid and bicarbonate of soda carried by the layers to produce abundant foam in any kind of water.

4. A wash rag or pad composed of at least two layers of vegetable fibre secured together face to face by spaced rows of stitches and being charged with foam-producing chemicals which react with each other in water and cause soap to form layer and opposed buckled layers ofhard vegetable fibre stitched to said flat central layer by parallel rows of stitches to provide air pockets between the rows of stitches which produce suction and expulsion in use.

7. A mitten-type pad comprising a rag portion 50 composed of multiple layers of vegetable fibre impregnated with soap and stitched together at intervals;- said layers having opposed buckled portions between the rows of stitches to form pockets; and a piece of waterproof material 55 stitched to the opposite sides and one end of the rag portion providing a pocket toreceive the hand 8. A mittenype pad comprising a rag. portion composed of mutipie layers of vegetable fibre stitched together at intervals with the outside layers bowed so as to present pockets between the stitching: and W, separate pieces of waterproof material stitched to the opposite sides and one end of the rag portion providing a'space between said pieces to receive the hand and also a pocket between the fibre layers and thewaterproof layers to insert soap or other materials.

9. A mittenype pad comprising a fiat rag portioncomposed of Separate layers of natural hard vegetable fibre extending across the pad and stitched together by parallel rows of stitches across the strands andlongitudinally of the pad;

andahandpocketsecuredtoonesideofthersg ior leo losAwashragorpadiorwashingmachinery and the like with solvents. comprising at least one layer oi. hard vegetable fibres having strands extending in the same general direction; and 8&- curing means across the strands to hold them assembled in substantially fiat pad form with the strands on its opposite iaces exposed.

11. An elongated rag or pad oi the character described composed of layers of natural, hard.

vegetable fibres in the form of hair-like strands extending longitudinally of the pad and stitched together across the strands to hold the assembled layers substantially fiat in pad form. t

12. A wash rag or pad or the character described comprising two layers of natural hard vegetable fibres having strands extending in the same general direction and sewn together across the strands at spaced intervals to provide air spaces between thelayers whereby the rag, when compressed and released, will produce a suction and expulsion eii'ect, said fibres being suillciently rough to produce the necessary cleansing friction.

13. A rag or pad of the character described composed of a plurality of layers of natural palm fibres with the strands extending in the same general direction and secured together by spaced parallel rows of stitches across the strands whereby the pad presents outwardly bulging portions between the rows of stitches to produce a suction and expulsion when the rag is used.

' Enmmno mm.

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