Ergonomic utility hand mitt with pointed closed end

Abstract

A hand mitt includes first and second side members presenting soft, non-abrasive surfaces. A hand-receiving recess is defined between the side members and an open mouth provides access to the recess. The recess defines an innermost region opposite the mouth that converges to a point moving in a direction away from the mouth. The innermost region is adapted for receipt of a middle finger of a user's hand inserted into the recess. The mitt defines a sharply pointed distal end that overlies the converging innermost region of the recess. The pointed distal end is defined by two peripheral edges that converge at an angle of not more than about 135°. An outer face of the mitt is optionally impregnated with wax or a cleaning compound. The mitt can be manufactured as a one-piece construction. A polishing/cleaning device includes two mitts interconnected by a flexible strip.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hand mitt comprising: 
 first and second side members having first and second peripheries, first and second inner faces and first and second outer faces, respectively, wherein a portion of said first periphery is interconnected with a corresponding portion of said second periphery with said first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation and said first and second outer faces exposed and presenting soft, non-abrasive surfaces;    a hand-receiving recess defined between said respective inner faces and an open mouth providing access to said hand-receiving recess defined between a portion of said first periphery that is unconnected to a portion of said second periphery, said recess defined to include an innermost region located opposite said mouth that converges to a point moving in a direction away from said mouth, said innermost region adapted for receipt of a middle finger of a user's hand inserted into said recess through said mouth;    a sharply pointed distal end defined by said first and second outer faces, said sharply pointed distal end overlying the converging innermost region of said recess.    
     
     
         2 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first and second peripheries of said first and second side members define a pentagonal shape and are arranged relative to each other so that said hand mitt, itself, defines an overall pentagonal shape, wherein said sharply pointed distal end of said mitt is defined by a convergence of two linear peripheral edges of said overall pentagonal shape.  
     
     
         3 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 2   , wherein said two linear peripheral edges converge at an angle of not more than 135°.  
     
     
         4 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 3   , wherein said two linear peripheral edges converge at an angle of not more than 110°.  
     
     
         5 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 3   , wherein said recess is sized to accommodate a user's entire hand.  
     
     
         6 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 3   , wherein said recess is sized to accommodate only four fingers of a user's hand.  
     
     
         7 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 5   , further comprising: 
 an elastic cuff adjacent and surrounding the mouth of the recess for closely encircling a users wrist when the users hand is placed in the recess.    
     
     
         8 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein at least one of said first and second outer faces is impregnated with one of a wax and a cleaning compound.  
     
     
         9 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first and second side members are defined as a one-piece construction that is folded upon itself.  
     
     
         10 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first and second side members are each defined from a laminate comprising a first layer of soft absorbent material and a second layer comprising one of foam and a rubberized material, wherein said outer face of each of said first and second side members is defined by said first layer of said laminate and said inner face of each of said first and second side members is defined by said second layer of said laminate.  
     
     
         11 . The hand mitt as set forth in    claim 10   , wherein said laminate comprises a barrier layer between said first and second layers.  
     
     
         12 . A device for cleaning or polishing comprising: 
 a first hand mitt comprising a first exposed surface;    a second hand mitt comprising a second exposed surface;    a flexible strip extending between and interconnecting said first and second hand mitts, said flexible strip defining a third exposed surface.    
     
     
         13 . The device as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein said first, second and third exposed surfaces are defined by a single one-piece member.  
     
     
         14 . The device as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein at least one of said first and second exposed surfaces is impregnated with one of a wax and a polishing compound.  
     
     
         15 . The device as set forth in    claim 12   , wherein each of said first and second mitts defines a pointed distal tip.  
     
     
         16 . The device as set forth in    claim 15   , wherein said pointed distal tip of each of said first and second mitts is defined by linear edges that converge at an angle of not more than 135°.  
     
     
         17 . The device as set forth in    claim 16    wherein each of said first and second mitts is pentagonal in shape and defines a hand-receiving recess having an innermost region adapted for receipt of a user's middle finger that underlies said pointed distal tip.  
     
     
         18 . A method a manufacturing a mitt comprising: 
 forming a one-piece blank defining first and second pentagonally shaped portions separated by a common edge region;    folding said one-piece blank upon itself at said common edge region so that said first and second pentagonally shaped portions are aligned with each other and together define a mitt having first, second, third, fourth and fifth peripheral edges, wherein said first peripheral edge is defined by said common edge region where said blank is folded; and,    joining said first and second pentagonally shaped portions along said second, third and fourth peripheral edges so that a recess is defined between said first and second pentagonally shaped portions and so that said fifth peripheral edge defines a mouth to said recess, said recess adapted for receipt of at least a portion of a user's hand.    
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in    claim 18   , further comprising: 
 impregnating an exposed outer face of said mitt with one of a wax and a polishing compound.    
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in    claim 18   , wherein said step of joining said first and second pentagonally shaped portions along said second, third and fourth peripheral edges comprises one of glueing, sewing and welding.