Cleaning articles

Abstract

An identification system for identifying individual cleaning articles one from another includes a number of separate cleaning articles, each of the cleaning articles being intended for a different specific intended cleaning application. Each is provided with a cleaning surface disposed on an external surface for the specific intended application. An identifying indicia is disposed on the external surface for identifying the cleaning articles one from another and for identifying the specific intended application of the cleaning article from the specific intended application of each of the cleaning articles.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An identification system for identifying and distinguishing individual cleaning articles, each of the cleaning articles selected from the group consisting essentially of wiping and absorbent devices, including sponges, wipes, towels, rags, cloths, blotters and metallic and non-metallic scrubbers, the identification system comprising a plurality of cleaning articles, each cleaning article intended for a different specific intended cleaning application, each of the cleaning articles including an external surface, a cleaning surface disposed on the external surface for a specific intended cleaning application, and identifying indicia constituting a visually distinguishing external feature for identifying the specific intended cleaning and the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the identifying indicia distinguishing each of the cleaning articles for different intended cleaning applications one from another and specifying the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles.  
     
     
         2 . The identification system of    claim 1    wherein the indicia comprises text affixed to the external surface of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the text describing the specific intended cleaning application.  
     
     
         3 . The identification system of    claim 1    wherein the indicia comprises identifiable symbols affixed to the external surface of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the identifiable symbols representing images descriptive of the specific intended cleaning application.  
     
     
         4 . The identification system of    claim 1    wherein each of the plurality of cleaning articles has an outer silhouette, the indicia comprising an identifiable shape formed by the silhouette of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the identifiable shape representing images descriptive of the specific intended cleaning application.  
     
     
         5 . The identification system of    claim 1    wherein the indicia comprises indicia that is raised relative to the external surface for tactile identification.  
     
     
         6 . An identification system for identifying and distinguishing individual cleaning articles, the identification system comprising a plurality of cleaning articles, each of the cleaning articles selected from the group consisting essentially of wiping and absorbent devices, including sponges, wipes, towels, rags, cloths, blotters and metallic and non-metallic scrubbers, each of the plurality of cleaning articles being intended for a specific cleaning application and including an external surface, a cleaning surface disposed on the external surface of each of the plurality of cleaning articles for a specific intended cleaning location, and identifying indicia constituting a visually distinguishing feature for identifying the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the indicia including a visually discernible identification associated with the cleaning article for distinguishing each of the cleaning articles for different intended cleaning applications one from another, for specifying the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles and for associating the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles with the specific intended cleaning application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles.  
     
     
         7 . The identification system of    claim 6    wherein the identifying means comprises text affixed to the external surface of each of the plurality of cleaning articles, the text communicating the specific intended application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles.  
     
     
         8 . The identification system of    claim 7    wherein each of the plurality of cleaning articles bears a different indicia representing a different and distinguishable visually discernible identification indicating a different intended cleaning application.  
     
     
         9 . The identification system of    claim 7   , wherein the indicia is permanently affixed to the cleaning article.  
     
     
         10 . The identification system of    claim 7   , wherein the indicia is an indelible and non-toxic dye of a contrasting color to that of the cleaning article.  
     
     
         11 . The identification system of    claim 7   , wherein the indicia is a visually discernible material of a contrasting color to that of the cleaning article embedded into the cleaning article to form the indicia identifying the specific intended application of each of the plurality of cleaning articles.  
     
     
         12 . The identification system of    claim 7   , wherein the indicia is formed by a lithographic, printed or stenciled process.  
     
     
         13 . The identification system of    claim 7   , wherein the indicia is formed by a raised surface relative to the external surface.  
     
     
         14 . A method of distinguishing cleaning articles one from another, wherein each of the cleaning articles is selected from the group consisting essentially of wiping and absorbent devices, including sponges, wipes, towels, rags, cloths, blotters and metallic and non-metallic scrubbers, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of cleaning articles, each intended for a specific intended cleaning application, selecting for each of the plurality of cleaning articles a visually discernible indicia associated with the cleaning article and with the intended cleaning application, the indicia being different from the indicia of the other of the plurality of cleaning articles intended for different intended cleaning applications so as to facilitate visual determination of the intended cleaning application and discrimination of the cleaning articles intended for different intended cleaning applications one from the other, and applying the indicia to the cleaning articles.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein the first and second indicia are written words indicating the intended use of the first and second one of the plurality of cleaning articles, respectively.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein the first and second indicia are symbols indicating the first and second intended use of each of the first and second one of the plurality of cleaning articles, respectively.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 14   , wherein the first and second indicia are permanently affixed to each of the first and second one of the plurality of cleaning articles, respectively.