US4582625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabric covered washing aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-12-05
•
Granted: 1986-04-15
•
Expires: 2003-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A washing aid in the form of either a soap tablet or a sponge is covered with a fabric layer formed from spandex yarn. A raschel knit LYCRA® is stretched over the soap tablet or sponge by firstly manufacturing a tube of the fabric and then injecting the sponge or soap into the tube and sealing the ends of the tube. Heat sealing is used for the transverse seams and heat sealing or sewing can be used for the longitudinal seam of the tube. The apparatus includes an injector, retracting rollers and the heat sealing mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Burrell F. George
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:57
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/04; C11D17/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A washing aid comprising a substantially solid, integral tablet of soap encased in a fabric forming a single layer fully surrounding the soap tablet, said fabric being formed from a spandex yarn and comprising a thin substantially incompressible layer of very low moisture absorption characteristic and being stretched such that each portion thereof is tensioned into contact with the soap tablet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A washing aid comprising a substantially solid, integral tablet of soap encased in a fabric forming a single layer fully surrounding the soap tablet, said fabric being formed from a spandex yarn and comprising a thin substantially incompressible layer of very low moisture absorption characteristic and being stretched such that each portion thereof is tensioned into contact with the soap tablet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the fabric is stretched to substantially its fullest extent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the fabric is stretched to greater than 50% of its stretch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the fabric is knitted from spandex yarn.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein the fabric is a raschel knit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the fabric includes at least one seam lying along the tablet so the fabric lies flat against the surface of the tablet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein the seams are formed by heat sealing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 7 wherein the heat sealed seam lies along the direction of formation of the fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein the fabric is formed in a tube and wherein the seams extend across the tube to fully encase the tablet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the fabric is formed with a differential stretch between the direction parallel to the direction of formation and the direction at right angles thereto and wherein the fabric is wrapped around the soap such that the direction of longer stretch extends around the shorter peripheral extent of the tablet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the yarn is formed from covered spandex fibres.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3124827A
Cited
US2958885A
Cited
US3076298A
Cited
US3322674A
Cited
US3167805A
Cited
US4190550A
Cited
US3949137A
Cited
US3931035A
Cited
US4062792A
Cited
US4309014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |