Apparatus for cleaning view screens and lenses and method for the use thereof

Abstract

A lens and/or a view screen of an electronic device having at least one case can be cleaned by wiping the view screen with a cleaning component wherein the cleaning component is configured to selectively couple to the at least one case or some other substrate using a magnetic attractive force. The cleaning devices may have secondary applications such as securing fly fishing lures, activating or deactivating a device having a magnetic switch, or preventing sunglasses from sinking. They may also be manufactured without a cleaning component for use with the secondary applications.

1 . A method of cleaning a view screen of an electronic device having at least one case comprising wiping the view screen with a cleaning component wherein the cleaning component is configured to selectively couple to the at least one case using a magnetic attractive force. 
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of activating or deactivating an electronic device comprising employing a cleaning component having a magnet element to activate or deactivate a magnetic switch. 
     
     
         8 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A cleaning component for use on an electronic device view screen comprising a cleaning material covering at least one surface of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic substrate wherein the cleaning component also includes a tab. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning component of  claim 16  wherein the tab is elongated so that it can function as a stand to hold the electronic device upright. 
     
     
         18 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one case is the primary case used by manufacturer to hold and protect the electronic device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one case is a protective case that functions to protect a primary case. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, smart phones, cameras, telescopes, weapons scopes, tablet computers, laptop computers, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, and laboratory apparatuses. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1  wherein there is sufficient magnetic force to allow the cleaning component to remain in place despite casual movements of the electronic device, but to still be easily removed by a human operator. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic force is provided by a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the rare earth magnet is one prepared from a component selected from the group consisting of samarian, neodymium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning component has a maximum thickness of 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning component has a length of from about 10 cm to about 1 cm. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning component has a wet of from about 5 cm to about 0.5 cm. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, smart phones, cameras, telescopes, weapons scopes, tablet computers, laptop computers, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, and laboratory apparatuses. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 16  wherein there is sufficient magnetic force to allow the cleaning component to remain in place despite casual movements of the electronic device, but to still be easily removed by a human operator. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the magnetic force is provided by a rare earth magnet. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the rare earth magnet is one prepared from a component selected from the group consisting of samarian, neodymium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cleaning component has a maximum thickness of 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cleaning component has a length of from about 10 cm to about 1 cm. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cleaning component has a wet of from about 5 cm to about 0.5 cm.