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Sponge use identifier apparatus and methodRelated Patent Categories: Brushing, Scrubbing, And General Cleaning, Implements, Sponge Or Sponge With Holder, SpongeSponge use identifier apparatus and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185112, Sponge use identifier apparatus and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Sponges are used for all kinds of things, such as for washing dishes, cleaning stovetops, kitchen countertops, kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, tubs and showers, and toilets, just to name a few of the uses of sponges. [0002] When a sponge is used in a kitchen, for example, it is hard to remember the previous usages of that sponge. For example, if the kitchen area has two sponges, one for cleaning the kitchen sink and one for cleaning the kitchen floor, it is difficult to remember which sponge is to be used for which purpose. While sponges are typically sold in packs with sponges of differing colors, one can initially designate the "blue" sponge for cleaning the kitchen floors and the "yellow" sponge for cleaning the kitchen countertops and stovetops. However, at a later date, it is difficult if not impossible to remember which sponge is to be used for which purpose. Also, a guest of a residence may not know the designated use of each sponge if he or she were to be assisting with dish washing and other household cleaning. [0003] This clearly leads to a problem, since one does not want to use his/her kitchen floor cleaning sponge for cleaning the kitchen countertop, due to the germs and such that are picked up by the kitchen floor sponge. Even if one cleans their sponges periodically (e.g., places them in a dishwasher along with the dishes), it is still not a good sanitary idea to use a toilet or floor sponge for cleaning kitchen areas. [0004] The present invention has been developed with the above problem in mind. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] A sponge according to one aspect of the invention herein comprises at least one letter identifier that is used to identify on which components the sponge is to be used to clean. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The invention is described in further detail herein with reference to the drawings in which: [0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a first sponge according to a first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use of the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a second sponge according to the first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a third sponge according to the first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth sponge according to the first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth sponge according to the first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth sponge according to the first embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a sponge according to either a second or third embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0014] FIG. 8 illustrates a first sponge according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. [0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a second sponge according to the fifth embodiment of the invention, whereby an intended use indicator for the sponge is provided on a surface of the sponge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION [0016] FIGS. 1-6 show sponges 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 550 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Each of the sponges has an indelible identifier 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, and 560 placed on a conspicuous location, such as a top or bottom surface, or both, of the sponge. That way, when a person desires to use a sponge to clean something, that person need only to refer to the indelible identifier in order to know which things the sponge is to be used for (and/or has been previously used to clean). That way, the person can be assured that the sponge that he/she currently has in their hands is being used for the same things that it has previously been used to clean. [0017] In accordance with the first embodiment, the sponges 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 550 are preferably sold in one package. The sponges 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 550 may be of different colors, or of the same color. Since there is no worry about misusing a sponge, the color distinctions provided on the sponges are purely for ornamental purposes. In an alternative implementation, there may be more of certain sponges in a sponge package than other sponges, due to the fact that certain things are cleaned more frequently than other things. By way of example and not by way of limitation, there may be a plurality of SINK sponges and only one TOILET sponge in a package, since sinks are typically cleaned more often than toilets (and thus sink sponges wear out faster than toilet sponges). [0018] In the first embodiment, the indelible identifier 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, and 560 is preferably an ink-based identifier, that does not wear off when exposed to water or other liquids. The indelible identifier 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, and 560 is preferably of a large size that takes up most of a top or bottom surface, or both, of the sponge. The indelible identifier 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, and 560 is preferably provided in all capital lettering, but some or all of the letters may alternatively be provided in lower-case lettering, if desired. The lettering is preferably provided in English, but it may also be provided in another language, such as Spanish or German, depending upon where the sponges are to be sold and the prevalent nationality of the persons who are to be using the sponges. The identifier may be fully spelled out, or it may be abbreviated, whereby the abbreviation has enough lettering for one to determine the purpose of the sponge (e.g., TLT for toilet, KIT-CNT for kitchen countertop, SNK for sink, etc.). The size of the lettering may be modified based on the size of the sponges, in order to provide enough lettering on the sponges so as to identify the things the sponges are to be used to clean. Thus, a large sponge may have large lettering (e.g., 14 point lettering), whereby a smaller sponge may have smaller lettering (e.g., 12 point or 10 point) to include the same identifier with the same number of letters. [0019] In a second embodiment of the invention, instead of providing an ink-based indelible identifier on the sponge, the identifier is provided by way of recesses on the sponge surface itself, whereby, during manufacturing of the sponges, a top or bottom surface, or both, of the sponges are "etched" so as to provide the lettering used to identify the particular use of the sponges. In this case, areas on the top or bottom surfaces of the sponge that correspond to the letters are etched down by a certain amount, such as by 1/8'' to 1/4''. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other etch amounts may be contemplated, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. A stamping machine may be utilized during a manufacturing process to achieve the recessed lettering on the sponges. [0020] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a sponge 600 in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, whereby the top surface of the sponge 600 includes recessed regions 610 and non-recessed regions 620. The recessed regions 610 form the letters that indicate the items that the sponge 600 is to be used to clean. Continue reading about Sponge use identifier apparatus and method... Full patent description for Sponge use identifier apparatus and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sponge use identifier apparatus and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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