Cleaning sleeve

Abstract

A cleaning sleeve for use in cleaning the surfaces of industrial machinery and equipment or the like can include an abrasive pad and a fabric piece partially secured to the abrasive pad to delineate a sleeve-like structure that an operator can insert their hand into. To enable opening of the cleaning sleeve, the fabric piece can be secured along a first major side and along an opposite, second major side of the abrasive pad so that the central portion of the fabric piece is displaceable with respect to the pad. The fabric piece can have a stretchable or elastically resilient characteristic to compressively conform about the back of the operator's hand and press the operator's palm again the abrasive pad thereby retaining the cleaning sleeve to the operator.

1 . A cleaning sleeve, compatible with foreign matter exclusion principles, comprising:
 a flat, abrasive pad having a first major surface and an opposite second major surface, the pad further having at least a first side and a second side generally opposite the first side;   a pliant, elastically stretchable, fabric piece secured to the abrasive pad adjacent the first major surface proximately along the first side and proximately along the second side such that a portion of the fabric piece is displaceable from the first major surface for accommodating a user's hand.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric piece is generally coextensive with the first major surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 2 , wherein the abrasive pad is generally rectangular with the first and second side being first and second major sides, the rectangular abrasive pad further including a third minor side disposed between the first and second major sides and a fourth minor side disposed between the first and second major sides. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the fabric piece is not secure along the third minor side to provide access for a user's hand. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the fabric piece is secured along the fourth side. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the abrasive pad is approximately six (6) inches by nine (9) inches. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the manner of securing the fabric piece to the abrasive pad is selected from the groups consisting of stitching, sewing, stapling, adhesive, and melt bonding. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive pad is comprised of nonwoven, aluminum oxide fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the fabric piece is selected form the group consisting of mesh, polyester, nylon, spandex, and elastane. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric piece includes a plurality of narrow apertures to provide elasticity. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric piece comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric piece includes a first section secured proximately along the first side of the abrasive pad and a separate second section secured proximately along the second side. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the first section and the second section extend from the respective first and second sides past a mid-width point of the abrasive pad. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning sleeve of  claim 13 , wherein the first section and the second section can be joined along their respective free edges by hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . A method of retaining a cleaning sleeve to the hand of an operator comprising:
 providing a flat, abrasive pad having a first major surface and a second major surface;   securing a fabric cloth adjacent the first major surface proximately along a first side and a second side of the pad such that an inner portion of the cloth is displaceable from the first major surface;   receiving an operator's hand between the abrasive pad and the fabric cloth; and   resiliently conforming the fabric piece about the back of the operator's hand to hold the pad against the palm of the operator's hand.