Cleaning article

Abstract

A cleaning article in the form of a sponge body for absorbing and retaining a fluid and an encasement membrane attached to the sponge body. The encasement membrane covers a portion of the sponge body being sized to fit within and be held by the hand of a user while leaving exposed, a portion of the sponge body for engaging a surface to be cleaned. As a preferred embodiment, the encasement membrane is further characterized as being a thermal insulator substantially reducing thermal energy contained within the fluid from passing therethrough. The encasement membrane is also characterized as being impervious to water, steam or other gasses to prevent their escape where they could affect the user's hand. The present invention is ideally suited for cleaning a surface by applying a cleaning fluid, such as water with or without a detergent to the sponge body and placing the cleaning article within a microwave oven. The temperature of the cleaning fluid contained within the sponge body is thus raised while the encasement membrane prevents a user from being exposed to thermal energy contained within the cleaning fluid held by the sponge body.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A cleaning article comprising:
 a sponge body for absorbing and retaining a fluid, the sponge body having a bottom side for being rubbed over a surface, an opposite top side and sidewalls connecting said top and bottom sides;   an encasement membrane attached to said sponge body, covering said top side and a portion of said sidewalls of sponge body and leaving said bottom side exposed, said membrane having an exterior shaped and sized to fit within and be held by the hand of a user, while leaving exposed said bottom side of said sponge body for engaging a surface to be cleaned, said encasement membrane being a thermal insulator which reduces thermal energy contained within said fluid from passing through said membrane.   
   
   
       11 . The cleaning article of  claim 10 , wherein said top and bottom sides of said sponge body are parallel. 
   
   
       12 . The cleaning article of  claim 11 , wherein said sidewalls of said sponge body are perpendicular to said top and bottom sides thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The cleaning article of  claim 11 , wherein said top and bottom sides of said sponge body are each substantially rectangularly shaped. 
   
   
       14 . The cleaning article of  claim 13 , wherein said encasement membrane has a five sided shape extending over said top side and partially over said sidewalls of said sponge body. 
   
   
       15 . The cleaning article of  claim 10 , wherein said encasement membrane is comprised of a material which is impervious to water, steam or other gases. 
   
   
       16 . The cleaning article of  claim 10 , wherein said encasement membrane is comprised of a material having the characteristic that its temperature does not significantly increase upon exposure to microwave irradiation such that said article may be held in a hand by holding the membrane after said irradiation. 
   
   
       17 . The cleaning article of  claim 16 , wherein said encasement membrane is comprised of closed cell foam. 
   
   
       18 . The cleaning article of  claim 10 , wherein said encasement membrane is of uniform thickness over said top side and said sidewalls of said sponge body and is without a grip off said sponge body. 
   
   
       19 . The cleaning article of  claim 10 , wherein said encasement membrane has an external shape of said sponge body over said top side and said sidewalls of said sponge body are encased by said membrane.