Sanitary Cleaning Device and Holder Therefore

Abstract

A cleaning system comprising a cleaning implement and a storage means is disclosed. The cleaning system advantageously allows the cleaning implement to dry suspended within the storage means, and provides for air circulation throughout. The cleaning implement comprises a volume of cleaning material, such as a sponge material in a nylon netting. The cleaning implement includes a hanging means at a top end thereof, such as an apertured tab. The storage means comprises a base having at least one upright wall extending upwardly therefrom. Each wall has a plurality of air slots therethrough for allowing air to more freely circulate throughout the storage means. One of the walls of the storage means includes a suspension means that is adapted to cooperate with the hanging means of the cleaning implement so that when the cleaning implement is engaged with the suspension means the cleaning implement is suspended above the base without contacting any of the sides of the storage means. The base, each wall and the suspension means are each made from a dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe material, and the cleaning system is sized to fit into most microwave ovens, whereby the storage means, cleaning implement, or both may be sanitized by microwave energy to eradicate any bacterial growth thereon, either before or after each use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 825,620, filed on Sep. 14, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to cleaning implements, and more particularly to a sanitary cleaning device and holder therefore.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0004]Cleaning implements such as kitchen sponges are widely used and have traditionally suffered from certain drawbacks. Chief among these is the fact that a wet sponge left on a counter top or sink tray fails to adequately dry on the side that it rests on. It is important for such a sponge to thoroughly dry in order to reduce the opportunity that fungus and bacteria have to multiply. Consequently, sponges and other cleaning implements that have failed to dry adequately may do more to transfer germs from surface to surface than they d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention is a cleaning system that provides an easily-sanitized cleaning implement that is at least partially hidden from view when stored, thereby improving the appearance of a sink area, or the like. The present device enables the cleaning implement to be suspended when stored, facilitating quick drying thereof and eliminating areas of the implement that stay wet, such as with prior art sponges laying in a tray, for example. The present device may be easily sanitized in a microwave oven, and the storage means of the present device may be easily cleaned in a dishwasher, if desired. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Problems solved by technology

Chief among these is the fact that a wet sponge left on a counter top or sink tray fails to adequately dry on the side that it rests on.

Consequently, sponges and other cleaning implements that have failed to dry adequately may do more to transfer germs from surface to surface than they do to clean such surfaces.

While germs are prevented from growing on a sponge stored in such devices, it is not always desirable to keep a sponge wet when not in use as it is inconvenient to remove the sponge from such devices, particularly with one hand.

Yet, when removing the sponge it is impractical to expect the user to wring-out the sponge directly over the container to avoid spilling the disinfecting fluid.

Most users, instead, will wring the sponge out over a nearby sink, thus wasting disinfecting fluid and lowering the volume of fluid in the container.

Consequently, use of such devices will require constant refilling of the container with disinfecting fluid, which is both inconvenient and costly.

Further, such racks are open and in plain sight, making the often unsightly sponge visible to the casual viewer.

While such a sponge may dry easily, such a device again is visible to the casual viewer and, once the sponge becomes unsightly, becomes an eyesore.

Further, the user of such a device necessarily has to either install a hook or have a suitable suspension means for use with such a device.

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