DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cleaning/polishing hand mitt 20 formed in accordance with the present invention. The subject mitt comprises first and second coextensive side members 22,24 fixedly secured to each other by sewing or the like along peripheral regions thereof so that a peripheral seam 28 is defined along with a hand-receiving recess 30 between the members 22,24. The first and second side members are not fixedly secured together along at least a portion of their respective peripheries so that a mouth 32 to the recess is also defined.

[0031] The first and second side members 22,24 comprise a flexible sheet material of at least a soft, absorbent outer layer 22a,24a, respectively. This outer layer comprises natural or synthetic fabrics, yarns, foams, or the like including cotton, wool, microfibers, terry cloth, pile, and other suitable absorbent, soft materials. Preferably, each side member also comprises an optional inner layer or lining 22b,24b comprising foam, rubber, or a other material that has a high coefficient of friction relative to its respective adjacent outer layer 22a,24a so as to limit sliding relative to a user's hand inserted into the recess 30. As is readily apparent in FIG. 2, the inner layers 22b,24b are arranged in opposed facing relation, and the outer layers 22a,24a face outwardly and are exposed exteriorly of the mitt.

[0032] The subject mitt 20 is preferably thumbless and conformed with an overall pentagonal shape, including a triangular distal portion 40, opposite the mouth 32, that converges to a pointed tip 50 located at or immediately adjacent the longitudinal centerline L of the mitt. The details of the tip 50 and preferred overall dimensions of the mitt 20 are discussed below in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8. The shape of the recess 30 conforms with the shape of the mitt overall and, thus, also comprises a pointed region 34 that is specifically adapted for closely receiving a user's middle or third finger when the user's hand is inserted into the recess. The pointed tip 50 can be somewhat rounded at its outermost end as illustrated in FIG. 1, preferably no more so than the tip of an average human middle finger.

[0033] The overall pentagonal shape of the mitt and recess is preferred in that it conforms generally to the shape of a human hand. Referring briefly to FIG. 5, it can be seen that when a user's hand H is placed in the recess 30, the middle or third finger F3 of the user's hand is closely received in the distal pointed region 34 of the recess adjacent the exterior pointed region 50 of the mitt. Thus, the user can use his/her middle finger F3 to manipulate precisely the pointed tip 50 of the mitt as required, e.g., for cleaning polishing hard-to-reach areas only slightly larger than the user's middle finger. The seam 28 in the pointed region 34 of the recess defines a pointed, hardened zone relative to the first and second side members 22,24 that facilitates cleaning/polishing in areas that can only be accessed with the pointed region 50 of the mitt. It is also apparent in FIG. 5 that the recess 30 is minimally large enough to accommodate the user's entire hand, with the user's wrist W located adjacent the mouth 32. It is most preferred that the recess 30 be no larger than necessary to accommodate an average human hand with minimal excess space to minimize movement of the user's hand in the recess.

[0034] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative mitt 120 formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Except as shown and described, the mitt 120 is identical to the mitt 20 and, thus, like reference numbers and letters are used to identify like components, with the numbers being 100 greater than those used in relation to the mitt 20. The mitt 120 is a four-finger mitt that defines a recess 130 adapted for receipt of four fingers of a user's hand as illustrated in FIG. 6. Here, again, the mitt defines an overall pentagonal shape with a triangular distal region 140 that terminates in a pointed tip 150. Like the recess 30 of the mitt 20, the recess 130 includes a pointed region 134 that closely receives a user's middle finger F3 when the user's four fingers are inserted therein. When the mitt 120 is fully seated on a user's hand, the mouth 132 lies adjacent the juncture of the user's fingers and palm, with the user's thumb located exterior of the mitt. In this manner, the user's thumb is free for use without interference from or removal of the mitt.

[0035] With reference now to FIG. 7, the mitt 20 is described in further detail. FIG. 7 shows only the first side member 22 of the mitt, but those of ordinary skill in the art will certainly recognize from the foregoing discussion that the second side member 24 is identically shaped, although it may be defined from a different material. The mitt is generally pentagonal in overall shape, and includes the noted triangular distal region 40. The triangular region is preferably defined by at least substantially linear edges 44a,44b that converge at an angle a of not more than about 135° and most preferably not more than 110° to define the pointed tip 50. Optionally, the mitt 20 comprises an elastic cuff member 46 adjacent the mouth 32 and adapted to tightly encircle a user's wrist when the user's hand is inserted into the mitt. By way of example only, the mitt 20 can be defined with an overall length (from mouth 32 to tip 50) of about ten inches, with the triangular portion 40 providing about thirty to forty percent of this length, and an overall width of about six inches.

[0036] Details of the four-finger mitt 120 are disclosed in FIG. 8 wherein the first side member 122 of the mitt is illustrated. Again, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the second side member 124 is identically shaped. The mitt 120 is generally pentagonal in overall shape, and includes a triangular distal region 140. The triangular region is preferably defined by at least substantially linear edges 144a,144b that converge at an angle b of not more than about 135° and most preferably not more than 110° to define the pointed tip 150. By way of example only, the mitt 20 can be defined with an overall length (from mouth 132 to tip 150) of about five inches, with the triangular portion 40 providing about thirty to forty percent of this length, and an overall width of about four to five inches.

[0037] With reference now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a preferred method of fabricating the mitt 20,120 is described. If desired, the mitt 20,120 can be fabricated from a single blank of material. For ease of understanding the invention, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a blank 200 suitable for forming the four-finger mitt 120, but the thumbless mitt 20 can be fabricated in the same manner using a blank of different dimensions. The blank 200 is defined to comprise only the first and second side members 122,124 interconnected along a common edge 202. The blank 200 is defined from any suitable material such as the laminate illustrated in FIG. 10. The laminate comprises a first layer 210 including a soft, absorbent material such as wool, cotton, foam, microfiber, or the like, and will ultimately serve as the outer layer 122a,124a of the first and second mitt side members 122,124. A second layer 220 of the laminate is defined from foam, a rubberized coating, or other suitable mitt lining material, and will ultimately serve as the inner layer 122b,124b of the first and second mitt side members 122,124. The first and second laminate layers are interconnected by an intermediate layer 215 comprising a laminating adhesive such as a double-faced tape including a plastic substrate with rubber and/or acrylic adhesives applied to its opposite faces. Such a tape provides a protective barrier that inhibits or entirely prevents the passage of polishing wax and/or cleaning/polishing solutions from the first layer 210 to the second layer 220. Optionally, a portion of the first layer 210 of the blank corresponding to the first and/or second side members 122,124 is impregnated with a wax or a cleaning substance 230.

[0038] To form the mitt 120, the blank 200 is folded at the common edge 202 so that the first layer 210 of the laminate is exposed and so that the second layer 220 of the laminate is folded upon itself. The portions of the blank defining the first and second side members 122,124 of the mitt 120 are arranged in registry and sewn, glued, welded, or otherwise fixedly secured to each other along first, second, and third seams S1,S2,S3 (FIG. 3) and left separate from each other along at least one edge so that the mouth 132 is defined.

[0039] FIG. 11 illustrates a cleaning/polishing mitt device comprising first and second mitts 320a,320b both formed in accordance with the present invention and interconnected by a central cleaning/polishing cloth 370 that preferably comprises a soft, absorbent material such as cotton, wool, microfiber, foam, or the like on at least one face. The first and second mitts 320a,320b are preferably thumbless mitts formed identically to the mitt to the mitt 20. Accordingly, like components relative to the mitt 20 are identified with like reference numbers that are 300 greater than those used in FIGS. 1 and 2. The central connecting cloth 370 is long enough so that a user can place one of his/her hands in each mitt 320a,320b and use the mitts independently. The central cloth 370 provides additional cleaning/polishing action as it contacts the object surface. Most preferably, at least one side member 322,324 defining each mitt and the central cloth section are defined as a one-piece construction.

[0040] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they are encompassed by the appended claims as construed literally and/or according to the doctrine of equivalents.