U.S. patent application number 10/581738 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for cleaning tool and method of manufacturing cleaning part thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Chiyoe YAMADA. Invention is credited to Kikuo Yamada.
Application Number | 20070028409 10/581738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34921719 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028409 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamada; Kikuo |
February 8, 2007 |
Cleaning tool and method of manufacturing cleaning part thereof
Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning
tool that exhibits adequate cleaning performance even in the
cleaning of narrow crevices. The cleaning tool of the present
invention comprises a cleaning component and a handle component,
wherein the cleaning component is designed such that a sheet-like
fiber bundle and a sheet are joined to produce a sheet laminate
having a joining portion, this sheet laminate is bent along the
joining portion to form a bulky component formation portion, the
sheet laminate in which said bulky component formation portion has
been formed is bent so that bulky component formation portions are
across from each other, and integrated such that the contact
surfaces of the opposing sheet-like fiber bundles are joined
together, and support rods of the handle component are inserted
into a handle insertion component having handle insertion openings
made at one end of the bulky component formation portions and
formed inside the bulky component formation portion.
Inventors: |
Yamada; Kikuo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERMAN & ASSOCIATES
415 NORTH ALFRED STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Chiyoe YAMADA
403, Tiara Shimazuyama 2-15, Higashi-Gotanda 1-chome
Shinagawa-ku
Tokyo
JP
141-0022
|
Family ID: |
34921719 |
Appl. No.: |
10/581738 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 3, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/03571 |
371 Date: |
July 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/226 ;
15/229.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/38 20130101;
A47L 13/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/226 ;
015/229.3 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/10 20060101
A47L013/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 8, 2004 |
JP |
2004-064310 |
Mar 26, 2004 |
JP |
2004-091169 |
Claims
1. A cleaning tool comprising a handle with at least one supporting
rod; and, a cleaning component including a sheet-like fiber bundle
and a sheet that are joined to produce a layered sheet having a
joining portion, wherein the layered sheet is folded along the
joining portion to form a bulky component, the layered sheet with
said bulky component is folded so that surfaces of said bulky
component face each other, wherein the facing surfaces are joined,
and handle insertion openings are made at the ends of the bulky
component for insertion of the supporting rod.
2. A cleaning tool comprising a cleaning component and a handle
component, wherein the cleaning component is designed such that a
sheet-like fiber bundle and a sheet having a strip component are
partially joined to produce a layered sheet having a joining
portion, this layered sheet is bent along the joining portion to
form a bulky component, the layered sheet in which said bulky
component has been formed is bent at a midpoint so that bulky
component is folded against itself, with the sheet-like fiber
bundle side on the inside, and integrated such that the contact
surfaces of the sheet-like fiber bundles are joined together, and
support rods of the handle component are inserted into a handle
insertion component having handle insertion openings made at one
end of the bulky component and formed inside the bulky
component.
3. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like
fiber bundle is formed by layering a plurality of sheet-like fiber
bundles.
4. The cleaning tool according to claim 3, wherein the sheet-like
fiber bundle comprises a first sheet-like fiber bundle composed of
numerous fibers and a second sheet-like fiber bundle composed of
fibers thicker than the fibers that make up the first sheet-like
fiber bundle.
5. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like
fiber bundle comprises a first sheet-like fiber bundle composed of
numerous fibers and a second sheet-like fiber bundle composed of
fibers that are thicker and shorter than the fibers that make up
the first sheet-like fiber bundle and said first and second
sheet-like fiber bundles are partially joined.
6. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning
component is produced by interposing a fiber bundle body composed
of a first sheet-like fiber bundle and a second sheet-like fiber
bundle between sheet-like fiber bodies that face each other when a
sheet laminate is bent, and joining the fiber bundle body and the
sheet-like fiber bundle where they are in contact with each
other.
7. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the layered
sheet is produced by sandwiching the sheet-like fiber bundle with
the sheet, and joining the sheet to the sheet-like fiber bundle so
as to cover the surface on the opposite side at the location of the
joining portion.
8. The cleaning tool according to claim 4, wherein the sheet-like
fiber bundle comprises a plurality of first sheet-like fiber
bundles and a plurality of second sheet-like fiber bundles.
9. The cleaning tool according to claim 8, wherein the sheet-like
fiber bundle is produced by alternately layering first sheet-like
fiber bundles and second sheet-like fiber bundles.
10. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is
made of a nonwoven cloth fabric.
11. A method for manufacturing a cleaning component for a cleaning
tool, comprising producing a sheet-like fiber bundle by layering
bundled fibers in the form of a sheet with a sheet having a strip
component, and partially joining the bundled fibers and the sheet
to form a sheet laminate, bending the sheet laminate along its
joining portion so that the sheet-like fiber bundle is bent double
at the joining portion, thereby producing a bulky component;
folding the strip component back toward the sheet-like fiber bundle
on the opposite side so as to surround the bulky component, and
bending the bulky component so that the sheet-like fiber bundle is
on the inside; the sheet-like fiber bundle and the sheet having the
strip component being joined and integrated so that the contact
surfaces of the sheet-like fiber bundles are joined to each
other.
12. (canceled)
13. The method for manufacturing a cleaning component for a
cleaning tool according to claim 11, wherein the joining is
performed by thermal fusion.
14. A cleaning tool comprising: a handle component having a grip
component and support rods extending therefrom; a cleaning
component having a bulky component and a tubular handle insertion
component including handle insertion openings at one end; wherein
the support rods have at least one anti-slip protrusion to prevent
the cleaning component from being removed from the support rods
when the rods are inserted into the handle insertion openings.
15. The cleaning tool of claim 14, wherein the bulky component and
the handle insertion component are formed from a sheet laminate
having at least one sheet-like fiber bundle and a sheet joined at a
joining portion.
16. The cleaning tool of claim 15, wherein the sheet-like fiber
bundle comprises a first sheet-like fiber bundle produced by
collecting fibers in the form of a sheet; and a second sheet-like
fiber bundle produced by collecting sheet fibers thicker than the
fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle.
17. The cleaning tool of claim 15, wherein the bulky component is
formed by bending the sheet laminate in half.
18. The cleaning tool of claim 16, wherein the fibers that make up
the second sheet-like fiber have a length that is less than a
length of the fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber
bundles.
19. The cleaning tool of claim 16, wherein the fibers that make up
the first sheet-like fiber bundle are preferably 10 to 50 microns
in diameter and wherein the fibers that make up the second
sheet-like fiber bundle are preferably 60 to 300 microns in
diameter.
20. The cleaning tool of claim 16, wherein the fibers that make up
the second sheet-like fiber bundle have a length about 1 to 10 mm
shorter than the length of the fibers that make up the first
sheet-like fiber bundle.
21. The cleaning tool of claim 14, wherein at least two sheets are
used to form the bulky component and the sheets are of different
colors.
22. A cleaning tool comprising: a cleaning component including a
sheet laminate formed of at least one sheet and at least one
sheet-like fiber bundle; wherein the sheet laminate is bent to form
a bulky component; and wherein the sheet laminate is then bent in
the lengthwise direction and joined at a joining portion by thermal
fusion.
23. The cleaning tool of claim 22, wherein the sheet laminate has
perforation and the bulky component forms a handle insertion
component for receiving a handle.
24. A cleaning tool comprising: a cleaning component including a
first sheet-like fiber bundle; a second sheet-like fiber bundle
parallel to the first sheet-like fiber bundle; a first non-woven
sheet parallel to the first sheet-like fiber bundle; a second
non-woven sheet parallel to the second sheet-like fiber bundle; a
fiber bundle body produced by bending the first and second sheets
and first and second sheet-like fiber bundles in half and then
bending in the lengthwise direction; a joining portion for
connecting the sheets and sheet-like fiber bundles in the fiber
bundle body; a plurality of cuts along one edge of the fiber bundle
body; and a handle insertion component formed along another edge of
the fiber bundle body.
25. The cleaning tool of claim 24, further comprising a handle for
retaining the cleaning component and wherein the cleaning component
has continuous cuts formed in the nonwoven cloths at a bottom end
and a tubular handle insertion component formed at a top end by
heat sealing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cleaning tool comprising
a cleaning component and a handle component, and to a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component for said cleaning tool.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Dusters have been used in the past as cleaning tools for
removing dust that builds up on chests and other such furniture;
computers, lighting devices, and other such electrical products;
and interior walls, thresholds and sills, and so forth. A duster is
constructed such that a plurality of cord-like bands are attached
to the distal end of a handle component, and the surface of a dusty
object is hit with the cord-like bands to remove the dust.
Therefore, a conventional duster had no wiping function, so it was
unable to remove dust without scattering it into the air.
[0005] Proposals that have been made in order to help solve this
drawback to dusters include a cleaning tool in which a cleaning
cloth equipped with a wiping component and a dusting component is
attached to the head at the distal end of a handle component
(Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H10-43115), and a hand wiper
comprising a handle component, a head component, and a cleaning
cloth, with the main portion formed in the center of the head
component, and a thin flexible portion formed around the main
portion (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-83883).
[0006] However, with the cleaning tool described in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application H10-43115, the wiping component did
not offer sufficient wiping capability, and the tool was
inconvenient to use. With the hand wiper described in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-83883, not only was the wiping
performance lacking, but narrow spaces could not be properly
cleaned.
[0007] The present invention was conceived in order to solve the
above problems, and it is an object thereof to provide a cleaning
tool that exhibits adequate cleaning performance even in the
cleaning of narrow crevices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a cleaning tool comprising a
cleaning component and a handle component, wherein the cleaning
component is designed such that a sheet-like fiber bundle and a
sheet are joined to produce a sheet laminate having a joining
portion, this sheet laminate is bent along the joining portion to
form a bulky component formation portion, the sheet laminate in
which said bulky component formation portion has been formed is
bent so that bulky component formation portions are across from
each other, and integrated such that the contact surfaces of the
opposing sheet-like fiber bundles are joined together, and support
rods of the handle component are inserted into a handle insertion
component having handle insertion openings made at one end of the
bulky component formation portions and formed inside the bulky
component formation portion.
[0009] The cleaning tool of the present invention is constituted
such that the sheet laminate is bent and the contact surfaces of
the opposing sheet-like fiber bundles are partially joined together
to form a bulky component formation portion, and the sheet laminate
in which said bulky component formation portion has been formed is
bent and the contact surfaces of the opposing sheet-like fiber
bundles are joined, forming in a bulky form the bulky portion
handle insertion openings made at one end and the handle insertion
component in the bulky component formation portion. Accordingly,
this cleaning tool can be made in a slender shape, which means that
dust and dirt in narrow crevices can be efficiently wiped clean.
Also, since a sheet-like fiber bundle produced by bundling fibers
is used for the cleaning component in this cleaning tool, even if
dust is hiding in narrow grooves in a tight space, the fibers that
make up the sheet-like fiber bundle can reach into these narrow
grooves and efficiently clean out any dust hiding in these grooves,
affording excellent dusting performance.
[0010] Also, with this cleaning tool, the handle insertion
component is formed by bending the sheet laminate, so there is no
need to separately produce and install any parts that would serve
as the handle insertion component, which means that fewer parts
make up the cleaning tool.
[0011] The present invention provides a cleaning tool comprising a
cleaning component and a handle component, wherein the cleaning
component is designed such that a sheet-like fiber bundle and a
sheet having a strip component are partially joined to produce a
sheet laminate having a joining portion, this sheet laminate is
bent along the joining portion to form a bulky component formation
portion, the sheet laminate in which said bulky component formation
portion has been formed is bent so that bulky component formation
portions are across from each other, with the sheet-like fiber
bundle on the inside, and integrated such that the contact surfaces
of the sheet-like fiber bundles are joined together, and support
rods of the handle component are inserted into a handle insertion
component having handle insertion openings made at one end of the
bulky component formation portions and formed inside the bulky
component formation portion.
[0012] With this cleaning tool, in addition to the above-mentioned
effects of being formed in a slender shape and being able to
efficiently remove dust and dirt from narrow crevices, and of
reducing the number of parts required, larger dust particles that
cannot be wiped away with just the fibers that make up the
sheet-like fiber bundle can be wiped away with the strip component
provided to the sheet, resulting in even better cleaning
performance.
[0013] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
sheet-like fiber bundle may be formed by layering a plurality of
sheet-like fiber bundles.
[0014] With this cleaning tool, because a plurality of layered
sheet-like fiber bundles are used as the sheet-like fiber bundle,
more fibers are involved in cleaning and wipe away dust more
efficiently.
[0015] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
sheet-like fiber bundle may comprise a first sheet-like fiber
bundle composed of numerous fibers and a second sheet-like fiber
bundle composed of fibers thicker than the fibers that make up the
first sheet-like fiber bundle.
[0016] With this cleaning tool, the sheet-like fiber bundle
comprises a first sheet-like fiber bundle and a second sheet-like
fiber bundle composed of fibers thicker than the fibers that make
up the first sheet-like fiber bundle, and the stiffness of the
first sheet-like fiber bundle can be made different from that of
the second sheet-like fiber bundle. Specifically, if the fibers
that make up a sheet-like fiber bundle are thicker, the stiffness
will be higher, so the second sheet-like fiber bundle can be made
stiffer. Also, the thinner are the fibers that make up the
sheet-like fiber bundle, the more slender will be the fiber bundle
when the fibers are made into a sheet-like fiber bundle. Because of
this, with this cleaning tool, dust can be efficiently wiped away
with the stiffer second sheet-like fiber bundle, while this dust
that has been wiped off can be efficiently picked up by the finer
first sheet-like fiber bundle, which means that more efficient
cleaning is possible.
[0017] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
sheet-like fiber bundle may be constituted such that a first
sheet-like fiber bundle composed of numerous fibers and a second
sheet-like fiber bundle composed of fibers that are thicker and
shorter than the fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber
bundle are partially joined.
[0018] When the fibers that make up a sheet-like fiber bundle are
shorter, these fibers become stiffer, which means that the second
sheet-like fiber bundle can be made even stiffer.
[0019] Therefore, with this cleaning tool, since the fibers that
make up the second sheet-like fiber bundle are thicker and shorter
than the fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle,
they are stiffer, and these stiffer fibers more powerfully wipe
away dust from narrow crevices, and the dust that is thus wiped off
is picked up by the finer fibers, which affords even more effective
cleaning and also helps prevent the thick fibers from becoming
entangled with the fine fibers.
[0020] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
cleaning component may be produced by interposing a fiber bundle
body composed of a first sheet-like fiber bundle and/or a second
sheet-like fiber bundle between sheet-like fiber bodies that face
each other when a sheet laminate is bent, and joining the fiber
bundle body and the sheet-like fiber bundle where they are in
contact with each other.
[0021] This cleaning tool can be constituted such that the distal
ends of the fibers that make up the fiber bundle body are above the
upper end of the bulky component. Therefore, with this cleaning
tool, any dust or the like that is above the bulky component can be
efficiently wiped away with the fiber bundle body.
[0022] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the sheet
laminate may be produced by sandwiching the sheet-like fiber bundle
with the sheet, and joining the sheet body to the sheet-like fiber
bundle so as to cover the surface on the opposite side at the
location of the joining portion.
[0023] With this cleaning tool, since the sheet-like fiber bundle
is sandwiched by the sheet and the sheet body, the overall
configuration of the sheet-like fiber bundle is stabilized, giving
the cleaning tool better integrity overall.
[0024] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
sheet-like fiber bundle may comprise a plurality of first
sheet-like fiber bundles and/or a plurality of second sheet-like
fiber bundles.
[0025] With this cleaning tool, the use of a plurality of
sheet-like fiber bundles allows dust to be wiped away more
efficiently by a greater number of fibers.
[0026] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the
sheet-like fiber bundle may be produced by alternately laminating
first sheet-like fiber bundles and second sheet-like fiber
bundles.
[0027] With this cleaning tool, the sheet-like fiber bundles are
such that dust is efficiently wiped away by the thicker, stiffer
fibers that make up the second sheet-like fiber bundle, while the
dust that has been wiped off is picked up by the finer fibers that
make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle, so the cleaning
component is able to clean more effectively. Also, these sheet-like
fiber bundles effectively contribute to preventing the entanglement
of the thick fibers with the fine fibers.
[0028] With the cleaning tool of the present invention, the sheet
may be composed of a nonwoven cloth.
[0029] With this cleaning tool, if the sheet has a strip component,
fine dust can be efficiently picked up by the fibers of the
nonwoven cloth that makes up the strip component. Also, with this
cleaning tool, the sheet-like fiber bundle is disposed to the
inside of where the strip component of the sheet is disposed, fine
dust is wiped away by the fibers that make up the sheet-like fiber
bundle, and this dust that has been wiped off can be efficiently
picked up by the fibers of the nonwoven cloth that makes up the
strip component.
[0030] The present invention also provides a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component for a cleaning tool, wherein a
sheet-like fiber bundle produced by bundling fibers in the form of
a sheet is laminated with a sheet having a strip component, these
are partially joined to form a sheet laminate, and the sheet
laminate is then bent along its joining portion so that the
sheet-like fiber bundle is bent double at the joining portion,
thereby producing a bulky component formation portion, after which
the sheet having the strip component is bent back toward the
sheet-like fiber bundle on the opposite side so as to surround the
bulky component formation portion, and further the bulky component
formation portion is bent so that the sheet-like fiber bundle side
is on the inside, and the sheet-like fiber bundle and the sheet
having the strip component are joined and integrated so that the
contact surfaces of the sheet-like fiber bundles are joined to each
other.
[0031] The method for manufacturing a cleaning component of the
present invention makes it easy to provide a cleaning tool that
provides sufficient cleaning performance even in the cleaning of
narrow crevices.
[0032] Further, the present invention provides a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component for a cleaning tool, comprising
the steps of making notches for forming a strip in a long sheet
used for forming a sheet having a strip component; forming a
joining portion by joining, in the sheet width direction of the
sheet, a long laminate sheet obtained by laminating a long sheet
that has been notched for forming a strip, first with a long
sheet-like fiber bundle produced by bundling fibers in the form of
a sheet, and then with a substrate sheet for supporting the
sheet-like fiber bundle; obtaining a laminated sheet for forming a
cleaning component, by slitting the long sheet laminate between the
joining portions; forming a bulky component formation portion by
cutting out one of the side portions flanking the joining portion
of the sheet having a strip component in the laminated sheet for
forming a cleaning component, cutting out both side portions
flanking the joining portions of the substrate sheet, and then
bending along the joining portions so that sheet-like fiber bundle
is folded double, and joining so that the joining portions are
tubular in shape; and forming handle insertion openings at one end
of the bulky component formation portion by bending the laminated
sheet for forming a cleaning component in which the bulky component
formation portion has been formed, so that the sheet-like fiber
bundles are on the inside, and integrating so that the contact
surfaces of the sheet-like fiber bundles are joined to each
other.
[0033] The method for manufacturing a cleaning component of the
present invention makes it easy to provide a cleaning tool that
provides sufficient cleaning performance even in the cleaning of
narrow crevices, and when the cleaning tool is equipped with a
sheet having a strip component, the handle insertion component can
be kept in a bulky form and the periphery of the handle insertion
component can be surrounded by the sheet-like fiber bundle,
allowing a stouter handle insertion component to be formed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] FIG. 1 is an exploded oblique view of an example of the
cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of a sheet laminate in the process
of manufacturing the cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross section along the I-I line in FIG. 2;
[0037] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a sheet laminate in the process
of manufacturing the cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 5 is an oblique view of a sheet laminate in the process
of manufacturing the cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 6 is an oblique view of another example of the cleaning
tool of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 7 is an exploded oblique view of an example of the
cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section along the II-II line in
FIG. 7;
[0042] FIG. 9 is an oblique view of a step in the method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 10 is an oblique view of another step in the method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0044] FIG. 11 is an oblique view of another step in the method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0045] FIG. 12 is an oblique view of another step in the method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0046] FIG. 13 is an oblique view of another step in the method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0047] FIG. 14 is a process schematic of another method for
manufacturing a cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the
present invention;
[0048] FIG. 15A is a view along the A arrow in FIG. 14;
[0049] FIG. 15B is a view along the B arrow in FIG. 14;
[0050] FIG. 15C is a view along the C arrow in FIG. 14;
[0051] FIG. 16 is a vertical cross section along the X-X line in
FIG. 15B;
[0052] FIG. 17 is a vertical cross section along the XI-XI line in
FIG. 15C;
[0053] FIG. 18 is a vertical cross section illustrating the state
when one side of the nonwoven cloth flanking the joining portion,
and both sides of the substrate sheet flanking the joining portion
are cut out alone perforated lines from the laminated sheet for
forming the cleaning component shown in FIG. 17;
[0054] FIG. 19 is an oblique view of the state when the laminated
sheet for forming the cleaning component shown in FIG. 18 is bend
along the joining portion;
[0055] FIG. 20 is a vertical cross section illustrating the state
when joining has been performed so as to form a bulky tubular
handle insertion component at the joining portion of the laminated
sheet for forming a bent cleaning component as shown in FIG.
19;
[0056] FIG. 21 is an oblique view of the state when the laminated
sheet for forming a cleaning component in which a handle insertion
component has been formed as shown in FIG. 20 is bent;
[0057] FIG. 22A is a front view of an embodiment of the handle
component of the cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 22B is a plan view of an embodiment of the handle
component of the cleaning tool of the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 23 is a front view of the handle component when
folded;
[0060] FIG. 24A is a vertical cross section of the bending
mechanism of the handle component;
[0061] FIG. 24B is a vertical cross section of along the D-D line
in FIG. 22A;
[0062] FIG. 25A is a plan view of an embodiment illustrating
another example of the handle component;
[0063] FIG. 25B is a plan view of the state when the grip component
of the handle component in FIG. 25A is extended;
[0064] FIG. 26A is a vertical cross section of along the E-E line
in FIG. 25A;
[0065] FIG. 26B is a vertical cross section illustrating the state
when the protrusion in FIG. 26A is pushed in;
[0066] FIG. 27A is a main component side view of the joining
portion between a support rod and the grip component of the handle
component in FIG. 25A;
[0067] FIG. 27B is a main component side view of the state when a
stopper of the grip component in FIG. 27A has been moved;
[0068] FIG. 28A is a main component vertical cross section of the
vicinity of the stopper in FIG. 27A;
[0069] FIG. 28B is a main component vertical cross section of the
vicinity of the stopper in FIG. 27B;
[0070] FIG. 29A is a main component vertical cross section of the
vicinity of the joining portion in FIG. 27A; and
[0071] FIG. 29B is a main component vertical cross section of the
vicinity of the joining portion in FIG. 27B
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0072] The cleaning tool of the present invention comprises a
cleaning component and a handle component, wherein the cleaning
component is designed such that a sheet-like fiber bundle and a
sheet are joined to produce a sheet laminate in which a joining
portion is formed, this sheet laminate is bent along the joining
portion to form a bulky component formation portion, the sheet
laminate in which said bulky component formation portion has been
formed is bent so that bulky component formation portions are
across from each other, and integrated such that the contact
surfaces of the opposing sheet-like fiber bundles are joined
together, and support rods of the handle component are inserted
into a handle insertion component formed inside the bulky component
formation portion and having handle insertion openings made at one
end of the bulky component formation portions.
[0073] Examples of the sheet used in the cleaning component include
paper, synthetic resin sheets, and nonwoven cloth, but nonwoven
cloth is preferred. This nonwoven cloth can be spunlace nonwoven
cloth, spunbond nonwoven cloth, thermal bond nonwoven cloth,
air-through nonwoven cloth, point-bonded nonwoven cloth, or the
like, but spunbond nonwoven cloth and thermal bond nonwoven cloth
are preferred. Examples of the fibers that make up the nonwoven
cloth include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and composite
fibers, but synthetic fibers and composite fibers are preferred
because of their thermal fusibility. The nonwoven cloth preferably
has a basis weight of about 20 to 100 g/m.sup.2. Even if the sheet
is composed of a material that is not thermally fusible, the sheet
and the sheet-like fiber bundle can be joined by thermal fusion by
laminating a thermally bondable material such as a hot melt
adhesive. The sheet is not limited to a single sheet, and can
consist of two or more sheets.
[0074] The sheet-like fiber bundle is produced by bundling fibers
in the form of a sheet, and this can comprise numerous fibers
unified enough that the individual fibers will not come apart,
although the fibers may be partially bonded together by fusion or
the like if necessary. The sheet-like fiber bundle can be obtained,
for example, by a method in which numerous long fibers are bundled
in the form of sheets, these products are joined perpendicular to
the lengthwise direction at suitable intervals, and this product is
then cut in the middle of adjacent joining portions.
[0075] Examples of the fibers that make up the sheet-like fiber
bundle include cotton, wool, and other natural fibers,
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon,
polyacrylic, and other such synthetic fibers, and core/sheath
fibers, islands-in-the-sea fibers, side-by-side fibers, and other
such composite fibers, but synthetic fibers and composite fibers
are preferred because of their thermal fusibility, and core/sheath
fibers in which the core is polypropylene and the sheath is
polyethylene are particularly favorable because they combine the
excellent thermal fusibility of the polyethylene that makes up the
sheath with the good stiffness of the polypropylene that makes up
the core.
[0076] The fibers that make up the sheet-like fiber bundle have a
thickness of about 0.01 to 0.3 mm. A sheet-like fiber bundle 7 may
be made up solely of fibers of the same thickness, or made up of
fibers of two or more different thicknesses, and may made up solely
of fibers of the same type, or made up of fibers of two or more
different types.
[0077] The sheet-like fiber bundle can be made up of fibers of
different colors, regardless of whether the thickness and type of
the constituent fibers are the same or different.
[0078] It is also possible to laminate two or more sheet-like fiber
bundles.
[0079] When two or more sheet-like fiber bundles are laminated,
sheet-like fiber bundles of different thickness and of different
fiber colors and types can be combined as desired. Using sheet-like
fiber bundles of different colors together improves the
designability of the cleaning tool of the present invention. When a
plurality of sheet-like fiber bundles having different fiber
thicknesses, types of fibers, colors, etc., are used together,
there are no particular restrictions on the number of laminations,
but the number is usually from two to ten.
[0080] When a plurality of sheet-like fiber bundles are laminated
for use in a cleaning tool, the sheet-like fiber bundles of the
cleaning tool of the present invention may be constituted such that
a first sheet-like fiber bundle composed of numerous fibers and a
second sheet-like fiber bundle composed of fibers that are thicker
and shorter than the fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber
bundle are partially joined.
[0081] This cleaning tool will now be described in detail through
reference to the drawings.
[0082] FIG. 1 is an exploded oblique view of an example of the
cleaning tool of the present invention, which comprises a cleaning
component 1 and a handle component 2.
[0083] The handle component 2 has a grip component 14 and support
rods 5. The cleaning component 1 and the handle component 2 are
integrated by inserting the support rods 5 of the handle component
2 into handle insertion components 6 formed at the location of a
bulky component formation portion 3, through handle insertion
openings 4 made at one end of the bulky component formation portion
3 of the cleaning component 1. In FIG. 1, 45 is an anti-slip
protrusion for preventing the support rods 5 from coming loose from
the handle insertion components 6.
[0084] The cleaning component 1 is constituted by the sheet-like
fiber bundle 7 and a sheet 9.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 of the
cleaning component 1 comprises a first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a
produced by collecting fibers in the form of a sheet, and a second
sheet-like fiber bundle 7b produced by collecting in the form of a
sheet fibers that are thicker (have a larger size) than the fibers
that make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a. As a result,
dust is wiped away by the thicker, stiffer fibers, and the dust
that has been wiped off is picked up by the finer fibers, which
affords more effective cleaning.
[0086] The thickness of the fibers that make up the first
sheet-like fiber bundle is preferably a diameter of 10 to 50 .mu.m.
The thickness of the fibers that make up the second sheet-like
fiber bundle is greater than the thickness of the fibers that make
up the first sheet-like fiber bundle, but it is preferable for the
diameter to be from 60 to 300 .mu.m because then the second
sheet-like fiber bundle 7b will be suitably stiffer than the first
sheet-like fiber bundle 7a.
[0087] With this cleaning tool, the first sheet-like fiber bundle
7a and the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b are constituted such
that the fibers that make up the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b
are shorter than the fibers that make up the first sheet-like fiber
bundle 7a.
[0088] The length of the fibers that make up the second sheet-like
fiber bundle 7b is less than the length of the fibers that make up
the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a, and it is preferable for them
to be about 1 to 10 mm shorter than the fibers that make up the
first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a.
[0089] When the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 comprises first
sheet-like fiber bundles alternately laminated with second
sheet-like fiber bundles, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 functions
such that dust is efficiently wiped away by the thicker, stiffer
fibers that make up the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b, while
the dust that has been wiped off is picked up by the finer fibers
that make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a, so the cleaning
component 1 is able to clean more effectively. Also, a sheet-like
fiber bundle 7 such as this is preferable because it helps prevent
the thick fibers from becoming entangled with the fine fibers.
[0090] Examples of the fibers that make up the first sheet-like
fiber bundle 7a include the same as those listed above for the
sheet-like fiber bundle, namely, cotton, wool, and other natural
fibers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate,
nylon, polyacrylic, and other such synthetic fibers, and
core/sheath fibers, islands-in-the-sea fibers, side-by-side fibers,
and other such composite fibers, but synthetic fibers and composite
fibers are preferred because of their thermal fusibility, and
core/sheath fibers in which the core is polypropylene and the
sheath is polyethylene are particularly favorable because they
combine the excellent thermal fusibility of the polyethylene that
makes up the sheath with the good stiffness of the polypropylene
that makes up the core. The fibers that make up the second
sheet-like fiber bundle 7b can be polypropylene, polyethylene
terephthalate, PBT, or other such thermoplastic fibers, for
example. The first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a and the second
sheet-like fiber bundle 7b may be made up solely of the same type
of fibers, or made up of fibers of two or more different types, and
may made up of fibers of different colors, regardless of whether
the constituent fibers are of the same or different types and
thicknesses. Also, two or more of the first sheet-like fiber
bundles 7a may be laminated with two or more second sheet-like
fiber bundles 7b.
[0091] With the cleaning component 1, a joining portion 10 is
formed in the region where the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the
sheet 9 overlap in the sheet laminate formed by laminating the
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9. This sheet laminate is
bent with the sheet 9 to the inside (FIG. 4), forming the bulky
component formation portion 3 with the sheet-like fiber bundles 7
facing each other along the joining portion 10. The sheet laminate
in which the bulky component formation portion 3 has been formed is
then bent such that one end in the lengthwise direction moves
toward the other end, and the contact surfaces of the sheet-like
fiber bundles 7 that face each other as a result of this bending
are joined in the vicinity of the bulky component formation portion
3, forming a joining portion 11 and integrating the whole (FIG.
5).
[0092] The cleaning component 1 of this cleaning tool can be
manufactured as follows.
[0093] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and
the sheet 9 are laminated and joined at the location of a portion
12 where the two overlap (for the sake of clarity, the area of the
portion 12 where the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 are
joined is shaded). Examples of joining methods include thermal
fusion, adhesive bonding, and stitching, but the sheet-like fiber
bundle 7 and the sheet 9 are preferably made of thermally fusible
materials because the joining can be accomplished by thermal fusion
since it allows joining and integration to be performed easily by
heating and pressing with a heated roller or the like. (The
following description assumes the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the
sheet 9 to be made from thermally fusible materials.) The portion
12 where the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 are joined
is formed where the middle part of the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 is
sandwiched perpendicular to the fiber direction of the sheet-like
fiber bundle 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7
and the sheet 9 are put together and joined at the portion 12 to
constitute a sheet laminate 13a in which the joining portion 10 is
formed. The sheet laminate 13a in which the joining portion 10 is
formed is bent with the sheet 9 to the inside, forming the bulky
component formation portion 3 in the direction in which the joining
portion 10 was formed (FIG. 4).
[0094] Next, one end in the lengthwise direction of the resulting
sheet laminate 13b is bent toward the other end to form a sheet
laminate 13c, and the sheet-like fiber bundles 7 that face each
other as a result of this bending are joined where they come into
contact with each other, thereby forming a joining portion 11 and
obtaining the cleaning component 1. In this case, it is preferable
for the sheet-like fiber bundles 7 that face each other to be
joined together in the vicinity of the bulky component formation
portion 3 (FIG. 5). If thermal fusion is employed for this purpose,
not only can the opposing sheet-like fiber bundles 7 be joined, but
the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 can also be joined at
the same time.
[0095] Also, the cleaning component 1 of the cleaning tool of the
present invention may be constituted such that when the sheet
laminate 13c is formed by bending one end in the lengthwise
direction of the sheet laminate 13b toward the other end, a fiber
bundle body 70 produced by laminating the first sheet-like fiber
bundle 7a and the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b is interposed
between the sheet-like fiber bundles 7 that face each other as a
result of this bending, so that the distal end in at least one
fiber direction of the fiber bundle body 70 is disposed above the
bulky component formation portion 3 (FIG. 6). In this case, since
the cleaning component 1 is constituted such that the distal ends
in the fiber direction of the first sheet-like fiber bundle and
second sheet-like fiber bundle face both above and below the bulky
component formation portion 3, the cleaning tool is able to trap
dirt and dust with the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and, at the same
time, trap dirt and dust above the bulky component formation
portion 3 with the fiber bundle body 70.
[0096] There are no limitations on the number of laminations of the
first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a and the second sheet-like fiber
bundle 7b in the fiber bundle body 70. If the fiber bundle body 70
is produced by laminating numerous first sheet-like fiber bundles
7a and second sheet-like fiber bundles 7b, the cleaning tool will
be able to form a state in which many of the constituent fibers of
the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a or the second sheet-like fiber
bundle 7b are higher than the bulky component formation portion 3,
allowing dirt and dust that is higher than the bulky component
formation portion 3 to be trapped more efficiently.
[0097] Also, it is preferable for the fiber bundle body 70 to be
constituted by alternately laminating the first sheet-like fiber
bundles 7a with the second sheet-like fiber bundles 7b because, as
discussed above, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 will function such
that dust is efficiently wiped away by the thicker, stiffer fibers
that make up the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b, while the dust
that has been wiped off is picked up by the finer fibers that make
up the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a, so the cleaning component
1 is able to clean more effectively.
[0098] The cleaning component 1 of the cleaning tool of the present
invention may also be constituted such that a sheet body is
laminated on the outside of the sheet-like fiber bundle 7. In this
case, the cleaning component 1 can be manufactured by laying out
the sheet body so that the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 is sandwiched
by the sheet body and the sheet 9, forming the sheet laminate 13a,
and bending the sheet laminate 13a in the same manner as discussed
above. The sheet body is preferably a nonwoven cloth. In this case,
the sheet body, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7, and the sheet 9 can
be easily joined and integrated by thermal fusion, thereby forming
the sheet laminate 13a.
[0099] This cleaning component 1 can be such that the sheet-like
fiber bundle 7 is sandwiched by the sheet body and the sheet 9,
which stabilizes the overall configuration of the sheet-like fiber
bundle 7 and holds the cleaning tool together better overall.
[0100] The cleaning component of the cleaning tool of the present
invention may make use of a sheet that is equipped with a strip
component on one side.
[0101] The cleaning tool of the present invention in the above case
will now be described in detail through reference to the
drawings.
[0102] The cleaning tool here is constituted as shown in FIG.
7.
[0103] FIG. 7 is an exploded oblique view of another example of the
cleaning tool of the present invention.
[0104] This cleaning tool comprises the cleaning component 1
equipped with the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9, and
the handle component 2 having the grip component 14 and the support
rods 5. The cleaning component 1 and the handle component 2 are
constituted such that they can be integrated by inserting the
support rods 5 of the handle component 2 into handle insertion
components 6 formed at the location of the bulky component
formation portion 3, through the handle insertion openings 4 made
at one end of the bulky component formation portion 3 of the
cleaning component 1. In FIG. 7, 45 is an anti-slip protrusion for
preventing the support rods 5 from coming loose from the handle
insertion components 6.
[0105] The cleaning component 1 of this cleaning tool is such that
the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having a strip
component 8 are partially joined at the joining portion 10,
producing a sheet laminate in which the joining portion 10 is the
bulky component formation portion 3, this sheet laminate is bent so
that the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 side is to the inside, and the
joining portion 11 is provided and integrated in the vicinity of
the bulky component formation portion 3 of the opposing sheet-like
fiber bundles 7.
[0106] With this cleaning tool, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 may
be formed by layering a plurality of sheet-like fiber bundles. In
this case, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 may be constituted as
above, comprising a first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a composed of
numerous fibers and a second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b composed of
fibers thicker (fibers that are larger in size) than the fibers
that make up the first sheet-like fiber bundle 7a. Also, as
discussed above, the thickness of the fibers that make up the first
sheet-like fiber bundle is preferably a diameter of 10 to 50 .mu.m,
and the thickness of the fibers that make up the second sheet-like
fiber bundle is greater than the thickness of the fibers that make
up the first sheet-like fiber bundle, and preferably the diameter
is from 60 to 300 .mu.m. The sheet-like fiber bundle 7 may also be
constituted by alternately laminating the first sheet-like fiber
bundles and the second sheet-like fiber bundles. In this case, the
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 will function such that dust is
efficiently wiped away by the thicker, stiffer fibers that make up
the second sheet-like fiber bundle 7b, while the dust that has been
wiped off is picked up by the finer fibers that make up the first
sheet-like fiber bundle 7a, so the cleaning component 1 is able to
clean more effectively. This is also preferable because it will
help prevent the thick fibers from becoming entangled with the fine
fibers.
[0107] With the cleaning component 1 of this cleaning tool, the
strip component 8 of the sheet 9 is preferably about 20 to 100 mm
long and about 0.5 to 5 mm wide.
[0108] The sheet 9 having the strip component 8 is not limited to a
single sheet, and two or more sheets can be laminated. When a
plurality of the sheets 9 having the strip component 8 are
laminated together, all the sheets do not have to be the same, and
sheets 9 of different materials, colors, and so forth can be used
together. There are no particular restrictions on how many of the
sheets 9 are laminated, but the number is usually from two to
five.
[0109] A method for manufacturing the cleaning component 1 of this
cleaning tool will now be described.
[0110] As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 is
laminated with the sheet 9 having the strip component 8 on one
side, and these are joined at the portion 12 where the two overlap
(for the sake of clarity, the area of the portion 12 where the
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having the strip
component 8 are joined is shaded). Examples of joining methods
include thermal fusion, adhesive bonding, and stitching, but when
the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having the strip
component 8 are preferably made of thermally fusible materials
because the joining can be accomplished by thermal fusion since it
allows joining and integration to be performed easily by heating
and pressing with a heated roller or the like. The portion 12 where
the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having the strip
component 8 are joined corresponds to the portion where the middle
part of the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 is sandwiched perpendicular
to the fiber direction of the sheet-like fiber bundle 7. Next, as
shown in FIG. 10, the sheet laminate 13a joined at the portion 12,
which is part of the overlapping component between the sheet-like
fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having the strip component 8, is
bent in the vicinity of the middle perpendicular to the fiber
direction of the sheet-like fiber bundle 7, so that the sheet-like
fiber bundles 7 face each other and are joined at the portion 12 of
the overlapping component, forming the sheet laminate 13b in which
the joining portion 10 serves as the bulky component formation
portion 3.
[0111] Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the sheet 9 having the strip
component 8 in the sheet laminate 13b in which the bulky component
formation portion 3 has been formed is bent in the direction of the
bulky component formation portion 3, and the bulky component
formation portion 3 of the sheet 9 is joined with the contact
portions. When thermal fusion is employed for this purpose, the
inner sides of the bulky component formation portion 3 in the
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 can also be joined at the same time.
After the joining of the sheet 9 with the contact portions of the
bulky component formation portion 3, as shown in FIG. 12, the sheet
9 is bent back so as to envelop the bulky component formation
portion 3, forming the sheet laminate 13c. This sheet laminate 13c
is bent so that the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 side is to the inside
(FIG. 13), and the cleaning component 1 is obtained by integrally
joining the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having the
strip component 8 so that the contact surfaces of the bent
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 are joined. It is preferable for the
joining to be performed such that the contact surfaces of the
sheet-like fiber bundle 7 are joined very close to the bulky
component formation portion 3. If thermal fusion is employed for
this purpose, the sheet-like fiber bundle 7 and the sheet 9 having
the strip component 8 can be joined at the same time between
sheet-like fiber bundles 7.
[0112] Another method for manufacturing the cleaning component 1 of
this cleaning tool will now be described. FIG. 14 illustrates
another step of producing the cleaning component 1, and describes
an example of forming a sheet having the strip component from a
three-layer laminated unwoven cloth.
[0113] In FIGS. 14, 47a, 47b, and 47c are long rolls of nonwoven
cloth, 48 is a long sheet-like fiber bundle, and 49 is a long
substrate sheet for supporting the sheet-like fiber bundle. There
are no particular restrictions on the material of the substrate
sheet 49 as long as it is in the form of a sheet, but a nonwoven
cloth is preferred. The nonwoven cloths 47a, 47b, and 47c are
played out while being layered over one another, and a cutter roll
50 makes a plurality of cuts 52, for forming a strip component in
the lengthwise direction, in the resulting laminate 51 of the
nonwoven cloths 47a to 47c (FIG. 15A). A plurality of blades are
provided around the peripheral surface of the cutter roll 50 for
making the cuts 52, and if gaps are provided to the blades, then
non-continuous cuts 52 can be formed in the nonwoven cloth laminate
51 as shown in FIG. 15A. Providing non-continuous cuts 52 maintains
the sheet form of the nonwoven cloth laminate 51. The nonwoven
cloth laminate 51 is then laminated with the sheet-like fiber
bundle 48 and the substrate sheet 49 to form a sheet laminate 53,
but it is preferable for perforations 55 to be formed in the
nonwoven cloth laminate 51 as shown in FIG. 15B with a perforating
roller 54 prior to the formation of the sheet laminate 53. It is
also preferable to provide perforations 57 (FIG. 17) in the
substrate sheet 49 with a perforating roller 56 prior to the
formation of the sheet laminate 53.
[0114] Next, the nonwoven cloths 47a to 47c, the sheet-like fiber
bundle 48, and the substrate sheet 49 that make up the sheet
laminate 53 are joined in the width direction, and joining portions
58 are intermittently provided in the lengthwise direction of the
sheet laminate 53 a shown in FIG. 15B. When non-continuous cuts 52
are formed in the nonwoven cloth laminate 51 as shown in FIG. 15A,
the joining portions 58 are preferably provided to the non-cut
portions 60. The joining portions 58 are preferably formed by a
heat sealing method involving heating and pressing with a sealing
roll 59. The perforations 55 provided to the nonwoven cloth
laminate 51 are preferably provided so as to be located to one side
of the joining portions 58 in the non-cut portions 60 toward the
cuts 52. The perforations 57 provided to the substrate sheet 49 are
preferably formed so as to be located at both sides flanking the
joining portions 58. If the width of the sheet-like fiber bundle 48
constituting the sheet laminate 53 is less than the width of the
nonwoven cloths 47a to 47c and the substrate sheet 49, as shown in
FIG. 16, the ends of the sheet-like fiber bundle 48 will not be
exposed at the joining portion ends 58a, which is preferable
because it facilitates the work of inserting the support rods of
the handle component (discussed below) in the handle insertion
components 6 formed by putting the joining portions 58 in the form
of bulky tubes.
[0115] The sheet laminate 53 in which the joining portions 58 have
been formed is cut between the joining portions 58 with a cutting
roll 61 as shown in FIG. 15C, forming a laminated sheet 62 for
forming a cleaning component (FIG. 17). Next, as shown in FIG. 18,
one of the side portions flanking the joining portion 58 of the
nonwoven cloths 47a to 47c of the sheet in the laminated sheet 62
for forming a cleaning component is cut out from the perforations
55, and both side portions flanking the joining portion 58 of the
substrate sheet 49 are cut out from the perforations 57. 49a in
FIG. 18 is the remainder of the cut substrate sheet 49.
[0116] The cleaning component formation-use laminated sheet 62
obtained by cutting out one of the side portions flanking the
joining portion 58 of the nonwoven cloths 47a to 47c and both side
portions flanking the joining portion 58 of the substrate sheet 49
is then bent along the joining portion 58 so that the sheet-like
fiber bundle 48 is folded over itself as shown in FIG. 19, and then
the joining portion 58 is joined so as to become a bulky tubular
component 63 as shown in FIG. 20, thereby forming the handle
insertion component 6. After the handle insertion component 6 has
been formed in this manner, as shown in FIG. 21, the cleaning
component formation-use laminated sheet 62 is bent so that the
sheet-like fiber bundle 48 side is on the inside, and the bent
portions are joined together to obtain the cleaning component 1.
This manufacturing method differs from the first manufacturing
method described above in the order in which the handle insertion
component 6 is formed in the manufacturing process, but there is
substantially no difference in the structure of the resulting
cleaning component 1.
[0117] The second method described above was for a case in which
three layers of nonwoven cloth 47a to 47c and one layer of
sheet-like fiber bundle 48 were laminated, but there may instead be
just one or two layers of nonwoven cloth, or four or more layers
may be used, and two or more layers of the sheet-like fiber bundle
48 may also be used.
[0118] The cleaning tool of the present invention is obtained by
attaching the handle component 2 to the cleaning component 1 by
inserting the support rods 5 of the handle component 2 into the
handle insertion components 6 of the cleaning component 1
manufactured as above. The cleaning component 1 is detachably
attached to the handle component 2. The material of the handle
component 2 can be plastic, metal, wood, etc., but plastic is
preferred because of its light weight and low cost. When plastic is
used as the material, a polyolefin resin, such as a polyethylene
resin or polypropylene resin, is preferable because it is easy to
mold.
[0119] Favorable examples of the handle component 2 will now be
described through reference to the drawings from FIGS. 22A and 22B
to FIGS. 29A and 29B. FIGS. 22A and 22B to FIGS. 24A and 24B are
examples of a preferred embodiment of the handle component 2 of the
cleaning tool of the present invention. The handle component 2
comprises the support rods 5 and the grip component 14. The support
rods 5 provided to the handle component 2 are preferably formed at
a spacing that is slightly wider than the spacing between the
handle insertion openings 4. With a constitution such as this, when
the support rods 5 are inserted into the handle insertion
components 6, the spacing between the support rods 5 is narrowed,
and after their insertion into the handle insertion components 6,
the restoring force of the support rods 5 creates an outward force,
which holds the support rods 5 securely in the handle insertion
components 6, so that the support rods 5 will not readily slip out
of the handle insertion components 6 during cleaning. As shown in
FIGS. 22A and 22B, serration-like notches 15 are provided on the
outsides of the two support rods 5. It is preferable for the notch
angle .alpha. of the notches 15 on the support rod 5 side to be a
large angle, and for the notch angle .beta. of the notches 15 on
the grip component 14 side also to be a large angle. Providing such
notches 15 allows the two support rods 5 to be easily inserted into
the handle insertion components 6, and also makes it less likely
that the support rods 5 will come loose from the handle insertion
components 6, and more effectively prevents the support rods 5 from
slipping out of the handle insertion components 6 during
cleaning.
[0120] The handle component 2 is constituted such that it can bend
between the support rods 5 and the grip component 14, and so that
the support rods 5 and the grip component 14 can both be fixed when
these have been extended. As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, a receiver
16 is provided at the base of the support rods 5, an insertion
component 17 is provided to the distal end of the grip component
14, a recess 18 in which the insertion component 17 can fit is
provided in the interior of the receiver 16, bearing holes 21 are
provided in side walls 19 and 20 inside the recess 18 formed in the
receiver 16, and a shaft 24 provided to the side walls 22 and 23 of
the insertion component 17 is supported in the bearing holes 21,
which allows the grip component 14 to rotate. A latching protrusion
26 is provided to the ceiling 25 of the receiver 16, and a latching
recess 28 in which the latching protrusion 26 can fit is provided
to the upper surface 27 of the insertion component 17. The grip
component 14 is rotated around the shaft 24 until the insertion
component 17 goes into the recess 18, and the latching protrusion
26 inside the recess 18 fits into the latching recess 28 of the
insertion component 17. This puts the grip component 14 and the
support rods 5 in an extended state. When the grip component 14 is
rotated in the opposite direction from the above, the latching
protrusion 26 and the latching recess 28 are unlatched, allowing
the grip component 14 and the support rods 5 to be folded up (FIG.
23).
[0121] The receiver 16 may instead be provided on the grip
component 14 side, and the insertion component 17 provided on the
support rod 5 side, and the latching protrusion 26 may be provided
on the insertion component 17 side, and the latching recess 28
provided on the receiver 16 side.
[0122] FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate another embodiment of the
handle component 2 used in the cleaning tool of the present
invention. With the handle component 2 in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 25A, anti-slip protrusions 45 are provided instead of the
notches 15 used in the above example, to prevent the support rods 5
from coming loose from the handle insertion components 6. This
handle component 2 is constituted such that the two support rods 5
and the grip component 14 can be bent at a joining portion 29, and
the grip component 14 can be extended. The grip component 14 of the
handle component 2 shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B comprises a hollow
outer casing 46 and a core component 30 that is stowed in the
hollow part of the outer casing 46. The core component 30 and the
outer casing 46 are constituted such that they can slide in the
lengthwise direction. The grip component 14 is extended and
lengthened by sliding the outer casing 46 and the core component 30
in the lengthwise direction. A protrusion 31 is provided in the
vicinity of the end of the core component 30 in the lengthwise
direction, and fitting holes 32 and 33 in which the protrusion 31
fits are provided in the vicinity of both ends of the outer casing
46 in the lengthwise direction. As shown in FIG. 25A, when the grip
component 14 has been retracted, the protrusion 31 of the core
component 30 fits into the fitting hole 33 at the rear end side of
the outer casing 46. As shown in FIG. 25B, as the grip component 14
is extended, the protrusion 31 of the core component 30 is fitted
and fixed in the fitting hole 32 at the distal end side of the
outer casing 46. Fitting the protrusion 31 into the fitting holes
32 and 33 fixes the grip component 14 at a specific length. When
the grip component 14 is pulled out, the engagement of the
protrusion 31 in the fitting hole 32 prevents the grip component 14
from being pulled out too far, which would cause the core component
30 to come out of the outer casing 46. As shown in FIG. 26A, when
the protrusion 31 of the core component 30 has been fitted into the
fitting hole 32 (or 33) of the outer casing 46, the outer casing 46
is latched to the core component 30 so that it will not move
readily. The portion of the end of the core component 30 where the
protrusion 31 is provided is formed thin as shown in FIG. 26B, and
when the grip component 14 is extended and retracted, the
protrusion 31 can be easily pushed into the hollow part of the
outer casing 46, and the protrusion 31 unlatched from the fitting
hole 32 (or 33), by pressing on the protrusion 31 with a finger,
allowing the core component 30 and the outer casing 46 to be slid
relative to each other.
[0123] The handle component 2 shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B is formed
so that it can fold in two at the joining portion 29 between the
grip component 14 and the support rods 5, and is provided with an
anti-folding mechanism so that during use these components will be
kept extended and not readily fold up. As shown in FIGS. 27A and
27B, the anti-folding mechanism comprises a stopper 34 formed
slidably in the lengthwise direction of the core component 30, and
a latching tab 37 extending from a side wall 36 of the joining
portion 29 of the support rods 5. The handle component 2 is
prevented from folding up during use by latching the latching tab
37 onto the stopper 34. As shown in FIG. 27A, when the stopper 34
has been slid in the lengthwise direction of the core component 30
and pressed against the joining portion 29, the grip component 14
can be non-rotatably fixed with the grip component 14 and the
support rods 5 in an extended state by latching the latching tab 37
on the stopper 34. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 27B, when the
stopper 34 is slid toward the grip component 14, the latching tab
37 is unlatched from the stopper 34, allowing the grip component 14
to rotate around the rotational axis 38 of the joining portion 29.
The grip component 14 can be rotated about 180.degree. and folded
into a compact size. A movement positioning mechanism is formed on
the stopper 34 so that the stopper 34 will not move more than
necessary when slid in the direction of being unlatched from the
latching tab 37. This movement positioning mechanism, as shown in
FIGS. 28A and 28B, for example, can be constituted such that a
protrusion 39 is provided to the upper surface of the core
component 30, a groove 40 that is closed on the joining portion 29
side is provided to the stopper 34, and the protrusion 39 can be
slid within the groove 40. As shown in FIG. 28B, the grip component
14 is in a rotatable state, so when the stopper 34 is slid in the
direction of being unlatched from the latching tab 37, the
protrusion 39 hits a latching wall 41 that blocks the joining
portion 29 side in the groove 40 of the stopper 34, so that the
stopper 34 cannot slide any farther.
[0124] With the handle component 2 shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the
support rods 5 and the grip component 14 cannot bend when extended,
so as shown in FIGS. 29A and 29B, a hemispherical protrusion 43 is
provided to the bottom 42 of the joining portion 29, a
hemispherical recess 44 for fittably supporting the hemispherical
protrusion 43 is provided to the core component 30, and when the
grip component 14 and the support rods 5 have been extended, as
shown in FIG. 29A, the hemispherical protrusion 43 of the joining
portion 29 fits into and is fixed in the hemispherical recess 44 of
the core component 30. In contrast, when the handle component 2 is
to be folded up, as shown in FIG. 29B, the grip component 14 is
rotated by applying a slight force to it, whereupon the
hemispherical protrusion 43 of the joining portion bottom 42 comes
out of the hemispherical recess 44 of the core component 30,
allowing the grip component 14 to be rotated and the support rods 5
and the grip component 14 to be folded in two.
[0125] The cleaning component 1 of the cleaning tool of the present
invention may also be a disposable type, in which case the cleaning
component 1 can be removed from the handle component 2 after use
and replaced with a new cleaning component 1.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0126] The present invention can be used to advantage in the home
and elsewhere as a cleaning tool for removing dust that has built
up on chests and other such furniture; computers, lighting devices,
and other such electrical products; and interior walls, thresholds
and sills, molding, and so forth.
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