U.S. patent application number 11/312888 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for adhesive wipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company. Invention is credited to Paul E. Hansen, Jeffrey M. Mailand, Miroslav Tochacek.
Application Number | 20070136967 11/312888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38171690 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070136967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tochacek; Miroslav ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
Adhesive wipe
Abstract
An adhesive wipe for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The
adhesive wipe comprises a backing having a working surface that is
substantially planar, adhesive on at least a portion of the working
surface of the backing, and at least one spacer strand
independently arranged on the adhesive on the working surface. At
least a portion of the adhesive is covered by the spacer strand and
at least a portion of the adhesive is exposed.
Inventors: |
Tochacek; Miroslav;
(Oakdale, MN) ; Mailand; Jeffrey M.; (Hudson,
WI) ; Hansen; Paul E.; (Lake Elmo, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
PO BOX 33427
ST. PAUL
MN
55133-3427
US
|
Assignee: |
3M Innovative Properties
Company
|
Family ID: |
38171690 |
Appl. No.: |
11/312888 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/104.002 ;
15/228; 15/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20130101;
A47L 25/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/104.002 ;
015/231; 015/228 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/10 20060101
A47L013/10 |
Claims
1. An adhesive wipe for cleaning a surface comprising: a backing
having a working surface that is substantially planar; adhesive on
at least a portion of the working surface of the backing; at least
one spacer strand independently arranged on the adhesive on the
working surface; wherein at least a portion of the adhesive is
covered by the spacer strand and at least a portion of the adhesive
is exposed.
2. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, wherein the working surface
comprises a first edge and second edge.
3. The adhesive wipe of claim 2, wherein the spacer strand extends
continuously from the first edge to the second edge.
4. The adhesive wipe of claim 2, wherein a plurality of spacer
strands extend from the first edge to the second edge, each strand
being continuous and independently arranged on the adhesive on the
working surface.
5. The adhesive wipe of claim 4, wherein the plurality of spacer
strands extend in a mimicking pattern from the first edge of the
working surface to the second edge.
6. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, wherein the adhesive covers the
entire working surface of the backing.
7. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, further comprising a first wing
extending from the working surface and a second wing extending from
the working surface, opposite the first wing.
8. The adhesive wipe of claim 7, wherein the first wing and second
wing are at least partially covered with adhesive on a side of the
adhesive wipe opposite the adhesive on the working surface.
9. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive on
a side of the backing opposite the adhesive on the working
surface.
10. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, wherein the spacer strand
comprises a multi-strand structure.
11. The adhesive wipe of claim 1, wherein the spacer strand is a
yarn, thread, string, foam, or extruded strand of plastic.
12. An adhesive wipe for cleaning a surface comprising: a backing
having a working surface that is substantially planar and includes
a first edge and second edge opposite the first edge; adhesive on
at least a portion of the working surface of the backing; at least
one spacer strand independently arranged on the adhesive on the
working surface and extending continuously from the first edge of
the working surface to the second edge; wherein at least a portion
of the adhesive is covered by the spacer strand and at least a
portion of the adhesive is exposed.
13. The adhesive wipe of claim 12, further comprising a plurality
of spacer strands, each independently arranged on the adhesive on
the working surface and each spacer strand extending continuously
from the first edge of the working surface to the second edge.
14. The adhesive wipe of claim 13, wherein the plurality of spacer
strands extend in a mimicking pattern from the first edge of the
working surface to the second edge.
15. The adhesive wipe of claim 12, wherein the adhesive wipe is
attached to a cleaning tool having a substantially planar
surface.
16. The adhesive wipe of claim 12, wherein the spacer strand
comprises a multi-strand structure.
17. An adhesive wipe for cleaning a surface by attachment to a
cleaning tool having a head with a substantially planar working
face, the adhesive wipe comprising: a backing having a working
surface in contact with the surface to be cleaned and an opposite
surface for contact with the planar working face of the head of the
cleaning tool, the working surface including a first edge and a
second edge opposite the first edge; adhesive on at least a portion
of the working surface of the backing; a plurality of spacer
strands independently arranged on the adhesive, wherein each spacer
strand continuously extends from the first edge of the working
surface to the second edge and wherein each spacer strand comprises
a multi-strand structure; wherein at least a portion of the
adhesive is covered by the spacer strand and at least a portion of
the adhesive is exposed to the surface to be cleaned.
18. The adhesive wipe of claim 17, wherein the plurality of spacer
strands extend in a mimicking pattern from the first edge of the
working surface to the second edge.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an adhesive wipe.
Particularly, the present invention relates to an adhesive wipe
with a strand adhered to the adhesive of the wipe, where the wipe
is attached to a mop for cleaning a surface.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cloths and other wiping products are used in cleaning. Most
wiping products, or wipes, are made from either a woven or nonwoven
sheet, and are used either by hand or attached to a tool like a mop
handle to move dirt and dust in a desired direction. Typically,
most wiping products do not have the ability to effectively capture
and retain small and large particles of dirt and debris. During
cleaning, when the dirt or dust has been collected, the wipe may be
scrunched up by the user to try to capture the dirt or sand that
has been collected so that it can be shaken out in the trash. This
process is repeated during cleaning and often requires a user who
is attempting to pick up larger particles such as sand to repeat
the process several times to pick up all the sand or heavier
particles that have been collected. Many times a user will pickup
the debris with a broom and dust pan once it has been gathered into
a pile with the wipe.
[0003] An adhesive sheet may be used to clean a surface.
Additionally, adhesive may be incorporated into a wipe to assist
with retaining both small and large particle of dirt and debris
within the wipe. However, adhesive may adhere to the surface being
cleaned. Therefore, sufficient spacing between the surface being
cleaned and the adhesive layer is necessary to provide sufficient
glide of the wipe while still providing sufficient pick-up of the
dirt and debris.
SUMMARY
[0004] An adhesive wipe for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The
adhesive wipe includes a partially exposed adhesive for assisting
in retaining small and large particles while still allowing for the
adhesive wipe to glide on the surface to be cleaned.
[0005] In one embodiment, the adhesive wipe comprises a backing
having a working surface that is substantially planar, adhesive on
at least a portion of the working surface of the backing, and at
least one spacer strand independently arranged on the adhesive on
the working surface. At least a portion of the adhesive is covered
by the spacer strand and at least a portion of the adhesive is
exposed.
[0006] In another embodiment, the adhesive wipe comprises a backing
having a working surface that is substantially planar and includes
a first edge and second edge opposite the first edge, adhesive on
at least a portion of the working surface of the backing, and at
least one spacer strand independently arranged on the adhesive on
the working surface and extending continuously from the first edge
of the working surface to the second edge. At least a portion of
the adhesive is covered by the spacer strand and at least a portion
of the adhesive is exposed.
[0007] In another embodiment, the adhesive wipe is for cleaning a
surface by attachment to a cleaning tool having a head with a
substantially planar working face. The adhesive wipe comprises a
backing having a working surface in contact with the surface to be
cleaned and an opposite surface for contact with the planar working
face of the head of the cleaning tool, the working surface
including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge,
adhesive on at least a portion of the working surface of the
backing, a plurality of spacer strands independently arranged on
the adhesive. Each spacer strand continuously extends from the
first edge of the working surface to the second edge. Each spacer
strand comprises a multifilament structure. At least a portion of
the adhesive is covered by the spacer strand and at least a portion
of the adhesive is exposed to the surface to be cleaned.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mop with an adhesive wipe
attached to a mop.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of an adhesive
wipe according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of an
adhesive wipe according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of an
adhesive wipe according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of an
adhesive wipe according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a fifth embodiment of an
adhesive wipe according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of a
spacer strand for attachment to the adhesive wipe of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adhesive wipe according
to the present invention having adhesive on a surface opposite the
cleaning surface for attachment to the mop.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an adhesive wipe according
to the present invention having adhesive on a surface opposite the
cleaning surface for attachment to the mop.
[0017] While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth
embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also
contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this
disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not
limitation. It should be understood that numerous other
modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in
the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of this invention.
The figures may not be drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mop 110 with an adhesive
wipe 200 attached to the mop 110. The mop 110 includes a head 120
with a working face 122 and a back face 124. The working face 122
of the head 120 is generally planar. In this embodiment, the
working face 122 and the head 120 of the mop 110 are rectangular
although other shapes are within the scope of the invention,
including but not limited to square, round, or triangular. The
adhesive wipe 200 covers the working face 122 of the head 120 of
the mop 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the adhesive wipe 200 also covers
a portion of the back face 124 of the head 120 of the mop 110. The
back face 124 includes pinch points where the adhesive wipe 200
attaches to the head 120 of the mop 110. Other types of attachment
mechanism for securing the adhesive wipe 200 to the mop 110 are
within the scope of the present invention. Several alternatives for
attaching the adhesive wipe 200 to the mop 110 will be described
below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of an adhesive wipe 200 according to
the present invention. The adhesive wipe 200 is generally planar
and includes a working surface 220. The working surface 220 secures
over the working face 122 of the head 120 of the mop 110 and is the
area that contacts the surface to be cleaned. The working surface
220 includes a leading edge 222, a trailing edge 224 opposite the
leading edge 222, a first side edge 226 and second side edge 228
opposite the first side edge 226.
[0020] The working surface 220 is at least partially covered with
adhesive 230. FIG. 3 depicts the adhesive 230 by pixilation. As can
be seen, in that embodiment, the adhesive 230 covers the entire
working surface. However, the adhesive 230 may be coated in
stripes, dots or other patterns that would result in a
noncontinuous coating of adhesive on the working surface 220. In
the other figures, for simplicity, specific depiction of the
adhesive 230 has been omitted.
[0021] Attached to the adhesive is a spacer strand 260. Once the
spacer strand 260 is attached to the adhesive 230, a portion of the
adhesive 230 is covered by the spacer strand 260, but a portion of
the adhesive 230 remains exposed for picking up and retaining dirt
and debris. In this embodiment, the adhesive 230 covers
substantially the entire working surface 220 of the adhesive wipe
200.
[0022] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spacer
strands 260 are on the adhesive 230. The spacer strands 260 are
independently arranged on the adhesive 230 in that the spacer
strands do not intersect one another or otherwise contact one
another. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the spacer strands 260
are individual segments 262 randomly scattered onto the adhesive
230 covering the working surface 220, which extends from the first
side edge 226 to the second side edge 228 and from the leading edge
222 to the trailing edge 224. The spacer strand 260 may be in any
length, size, and thickness and may be scattered on the working
surface with a greater or smaller density than shown in FIG. 2.
Also, the spacer strand 260 may be scattered in a generally uniform
density, such as that shown in FIG. 2, or in varying density across
the working surface.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of the adhesive wipe 200 having an
alternative spacer strand arrangement. The spacer strand 260 on the
adhesive 230 includes a single spacer strand 264. The spacer strand
264 extends continuously from the first side edge 226 to the second
side edge 228 in a wavelike pattern. The peaks of the wave extend
from the leading edge 222 to the trailing edge 224 of the working
surface. Although shown in a wavelike pattern, the single spacer
strand 264 may be linear, diagonal, zig-zag, or any other
arrangement so long as the spacer strand 264 is independently
arranged on the adhesive so that no portion of the spacer strand
264 intersects with another portion of the spacer strand 264. Also,
the single spacer strand 264 is shown extending continuously from
the first side edge 226 to the second side edge 228, it may also
extend continuously from the leading edge 222 to the trailing edge
224 in any of the described patterns or other such arrangement.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top view of the adhesive wipe 200 having an
alternative spacer strand arrangement. The spacer strand 260 on the
adhesive 230 includes a plurality of spacer strands 264. The spacer
strands 264 extend continuously from the first side edge 226 to the
second side edge 228 in a wavelike pattern such that each spacer
strand 264 is independently arranged on the adhesive 230. As shown
in FIG. 4, the wavelike pattern of each spacer strand 264 mimics
the wavelike pattern of the other spacer strands 264 resulting in
an arrangement such that the spacer strands 264 do not intersect
with one another. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the spacer
strands 264 are equally spaced from one another. Although shown in
a wavelike pattern the spacer strands 264 may be linear, diagonal,
zig-zag, or any other arrangement.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top view of the adhesive wipe 200 having an
alternative spacer strand arrangement. The spacer strand 260 on the
adhesive 230 includes a plurality of spacer strands 264
independently arranged on the adhesive 230. The spacer strands 264
extend continuously from the leading edge 222 to the trailing edge
224 in a wavelike pattern. As shown in FIG. 5, the wavelike pattern
of each spacer strand 264 mimics the wavelike pattern of the other
spacer strands 264 resulting in an arrangement such that the spacer
strands 264 do not intersect with one another. Although shown in a
wavelike pattern the spacer strands 264 may be linear, diagonal,
zig-zag, or any other arrangement.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a top view of the adhesive wipe 200 having an
alternative spacer strand arrangement. The spacer strand 260 on the
adhesive 230 includes a plurality of spacer strands 264. The spacer
strands 264 extend continuously from the first side edge 226 to the
second side edge 228 linearly. However, the spacer strands 264 may
extend continuously from the leading edge 222 to the trailing edge
224. As shown in FIG. 6, the linear spacer strands 264 are spaced
from one another generally uniformly and parallel to one another
resulting in an arrangement such that the spacer strands 264 do not
intersect with one another. It is understood that the spacing
between spacer strands 264 may be non-uniform.
[0027] The spacer strand 260 covers a portion of the adhesive 230
and preferably does not entirely cover all of the adhesive 230. In
one embodiment, the spacer strand 260 covers less than 75% of the
adhesive. Further, the spacer strand 260 covers less than 50% of
the adhesive.
[0028] The spacer strand 260 provides vertical spacing between the
adhesive 230 and the surface to be cleaned. Whether the strand is
compressible or rigid, preferably the spacer strand provides at
least 5 mils of vertical spacing between the adhesive 230 and the
surface to be cleaned.
[0029] Preferably, the spacer strand 260 is a compressible and
deformable material without sharp or rough edges that may damage
hard surfaces such as tile, wood, glass or laminates. Preferably,
the spacer strand is a continuous material having a generally
uniform composition from a first end of the spacer strand to a
second end of the spacer strand. In one embodiment, the spacer
strand comprises a single strand. In another embodiment, the spacer
strand comprises a plurality of strands which may or may not be
twisted together. (see FIG. 7).
[0030] The spacer strand may be made of a natural or synthetic
material. Examples of material that may be used are a woven strand,
a sponge strand, an extruded strand that may be a plastic, or
combinations thereof. Woven strands include such materials as
natural and synthetic threads, yarns, string. Sponge strands may be
natural or synthetic sponges applied or extruded.
[0031] For an extruded strand, a continuous strand of plastic
applied in a molten, dissolved, or reactive form may be used as the
spacer strand. The cross section of the spacer strand may be shaped
such as round, oval, star shaped, rectangle, or hollow (i.e.,
capillary). The plastic may be foamed to make it lighter or more
flexible. Preferable material that would be extruded for the spacer
strand include polypropylene, polyethylene or olefin copolymers and
other thermoplastics. The spacer strands may be applied
continuously or intermittently.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of a
spacer strand 260 for attachment to the adhesive wipe of the
present invention. The spacer strand 260 shown includes a plurality
of individual strands 268 that are twisted together to make the
spacer strand 260. The individual strand 268 may comprise a single
fiber or a plurality of interlocked fibers.
[0033] The spacer strand 260 spaces the exposed adhesive 230 from
the working surface to allow the adhesive wipe 200 to easily glide
across the surface to be cleaned, which may include wood, tile,
laminates, or the like. Without sufficient spacing, the exposed
adhesive 230 may adhere too strongly to the surface to be cleaned
creating drag and preventing sliding of the adhesive wipe. The dirt
and debris have a profile extending above the surface to be cleaned
so are captured and retained by the spacer strand 260 and the
exposed adhesive 230. The spacer strand 260 has a sweeping effect
on the surface to be cleaned in that it helps capture the dirt and
debris and direct it to the exposed adhesive. In the embodiments
where the spacer strand 260 includes a plurality of twisted
individual strands 268, and each strand and the space between the
strands assists in retaining particles and creating a "dam" to
prevent particles from passing through the spacer strand 260.
[0034] In each of the embodiments shown above, the spacer strand
260 is only on the working surface 220 and not on the first wing
240 or the second wing 250. It is possible to include the spacer
strand 260 on the entire surface of the adhesive wipe 200,
including the wings.
[0035] The working surface 220, as well as the adhesive wipe 200,
are shown to be generally rectangular. The rectangular shape is
typically used because the head 120 of the mop 110 is generally
rectangular. However other shapes of the adhesive wipe 200 and
working surface 220 are within the scope of the present invention
such as but not limited to square, round, and triangular.
Typically, the shape of the wipe 200 and working surface 220 will
match the shape of the head 120 of the mop 110.
[0036] The first and second wings 240, 250, if included, can be of
the same material as the working surface 220. However, it is
possible to construct the first and second wings 240, 250 of a
different material, from that disclosed below, than the working
surface 220.
[0037] Examples of suitable material for adhesive wipe backing
include woven, nonwoven, paper, polymeric and plastic film
materials including polyolefins such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene or propylene, halogenated
polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinylidene
chloride), polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate,
polyurethanes, and poly(vinyl acetate) and vinyl acetate
copolymers. Polypropylenes can include monoaxially oriented
polypropylene, biaxially oriented polypropylene, simultaneously
biaxially oriented polypropylene, and untensilized polypropylene
including untensilized isotactic polypropylene. Various types of
nonwoven synthetic polymeric materials including spun-bond
polyethylene could be used. The adhesive wipe 200 can be
compostable or degradable, can be colored, can be printed, can be
of different surface textures or embossed, can include pigments,
fragrance, or other additives.
[0038] Suitable adhesives for the layer of adhesive 230 include hot
melt-coated formulations, transfer-coated formulations,
solvent-coated formulations, and latex formulations. Preferably,
the layer of adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. General
categories of pressure-sensitive adhesives can be based on natural
rubber, styrene butadiene, butyl rubber and polyisobutylene,
styrenic block copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate and related
copolymers, poly-alpha olefins, acrylic adhesives, silicone,
butadiene-acrylonitrile, polychloroprene, polybutadiene, atactic
polypropylene, or repulpable pressure-sensitive adhesive. [(From
the Handbook of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Technology, Third
Edition, Edited by Donatas Satas, Satas & Associates, 1999.)]
However, other pressure-sensitive adhesives may be used for
adhesive layer 320, such as those with the properties described in
Adhesion and Adhesives Technology an Introduction, p. 216,
Alphonsus V. Pocius, Hanser Gardner Publications, Inc., 1997. The
Pressure-Sensitive Tape Council has defined pressure-sensitive
adhesives as materials with the following properties: 1) aggressive
and permanent tack; 2) adheres with no more than finger pressure;
3) requires no activation by any energy source; 4) has sufficient
ability to hold onto the adherend; and 5) has enough cohesive
strength to be able to be removed cleanly from the adherend.
[0039] Examples of adhesives useful for the layer of adhesive 320
include those based on general compositions of polyacrylates;
polyvinyl ethers; diene-containing rubbers such as natural rubber,
polyisoprene, and polyisobutylene; polychloroprene; butyl rubber;
butadiene-acrylonitrile polymer; thermoplastic elastomers; block
copolymers such as styrene-isoprene and styrene-isoprene-styrene
block copolymers, styrene-diene type block copolymers such as SBS,
SIBS, SEBS, and SEPS, or styrene-ethylene-butylene, hydrogenated
SBS, hydrogenated SIS, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene,
ethylene-propylene-diene polymers, and styrene-butadiene polymer;
poly-alpha-olefin; amorphous polyolefins; silicones;
ethylene-containing copolymers such as those prepared from ethylene
vinyl acetate, ethylacrylate, and ethyl methacrylate;
polyurethanes; polyamides; epoxies; polyvinylpyrrolidone and
vinylpyrrolidone copolymers; polyesters; and mixtures of the above.
Additionally, the adhesives can contain additives such as
tackifiers, plasticizers, fillers, antioxidants, stabilizers,
pigments, diffusing particles, curatives, fragrance, and
solvents.
[0040] Each wipe may include a textured adhesive surface having
raised portions and recessed portions. A textured adhesive surface
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,765 the disclosure of which is
herein incorporated by reference.
[0041] All the adhesive wipes 200 disclosed with reference to FIGS.
2 to 6 include a first wing 240 and second wing 250. As shown in
FIG. 1, the wings provide one mechanism for attachment to a mop
head 120 having pinch points. However, the wings are not a
necessary feature of the wipe 200 depending on how the wipe 200 is
attached to the mop head 120. There are a variety of alternative
mechanisms for attaching the wipe 200 to the mop head. 120.
[0042] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adhesive wipe 800
according to the present invention having adhesive 870, 880 on a
surface opposite the working surface 820. The wipe 800 is generally
similar to the wipe 200 shown and describe above and includes a
working surface 820, a first wing 840, and a second wing 850. The
working surface 820 includes an adhesive 830 and a plurality of
spacer strands 864 attached to the adhesive 830 while leaving a
portion of the adhesive 830 exposed. The first wing 840 includes a
first adhesive 870 and the second wing 850 includes a second
adhesive 880 (not shown). The first adhesive 870 and the second
adhesive 880 are located on a surface of the adhesive wipe 800
opposite the working surface 820. The first adhesive 870 and second
adhesive 880 wrap over and adhere to the back face 124 of the mop
(similar to the mop of FIG. 1) without requiring the pinch points
for attaching the wipe 800 to the mop 110. A release liner may be
provided over first adhesive 870 and second adhesive 880 to prevent
the adhesive from contacting the wipe 800. Alternatively, the side
of the wipe directly opposite the working surface 820 may include a
release liner or release treatment to prevent the first and second
adhesive 870, 880 from adhering. The back face 124 of the mop may
include a release treatment to facilitate removing the adhesive
wipe 800 from the back face 124. Examples of release treatment
include flame treatment, corona treatment, roughening, release
liner, and release coatings such as silicones, organo-modified
silicones, fluorochemicals, acrylates, polyurethanes, and
polyvinylacetates that can be cured via thermal, ultraviolet, or
electron beam mechanisms.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an adhesive wipe 900
according to the present invention having adhesive 940 on a surface
opposite the working surface 920. The wipe 900 is generally similar
to the wipe 200 shown and described above and includes a working
surface 920 but does not include a first wing or second wing. The
working surface 920 includes an adhesive 930 and a plurality of
spacer strands 964 attached to the adhesive 930 while leaving a
portion of the adhesive 930 exposed. An adhesive 940 is located on
a surface of the adhesive wipe 900 directly opposite the working
surface 920. Adhesive 940 may cover the entire surface of the wipe
opposite the working surface 920, or may cover just a portion.
Prior to use, the adhesive 940 may be covered with a release liner
950. Once the release liner 950 is removed, the adhesive 940
adheres the adhesive wipe 900 directly to the working face 122 of
the mop 110, which is why wings are not necessary but still may be
included The working face 122 of the mop 110 may include a release
treatment to facilitate removing the adhesive wipe 900 from the
working face 122. Examples of release treatment include flame
treatment, corona treatment, roughening, release liner, and release
coatings such as silicones, organo-modified silicones,
fluorochemicals, acrylates, polyurethanes, and polyvinylacetates
that can be cured via thermal, ultraviolet, or electron beam
mechanisms.
[0044] Although FIGS. 8 and 9 disclose using adhesive as
alternative attachment mechanisms for securing the adhesive wipe to
the mop, other suitable methods are possible. Specifically, the
working face 122 or the back face 124 of the mop may include hook
extensions attached to the mop or molded into the mop that directly
attach and secure with the adhesive wipe (depending on the material
of the wipe) or may attach to a loop material secured to the
adhesive wipe. Alternatively, the hook may be placed on the
adhesive wipe and the loop on the mop. Other mechanical attachments
are within the scope of the present invention.
[0045] To use the adhesive wipe a user will attach the adhesive
wipe to a mop similar to that shown in FIG. 1 or described with
reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The mop is pushed across a surface,
typically a floor and typically a hard surface floor such as wood,
tile, laminate, or the like. The dirt and debris are stopped and
dammed by the spacing strand and also retained by the adhesive.
When finished, the adhesive wipe is removed from the mop and
discarded.
[0046] Although typically the adhesive wipe will be applied to a
cleaning tool, a user may use the wipe without applying the
adhesive wipe to a cleaning tool. In such a case, the user would
user his or her hand and extend the adhesive wipe across the
surface to be cleaned for picking up dust, dirt and debris.
[0047] To make the adhesive wipe 200 a finished tape such as 3M
Masking Tape or 3M Micropore Surgical Tape, both available from 3M
of St. Paul, Minn. can be fed into a process line. Multiple thread
from a creel are fed through a guide comb on the
traversing/oscillating arm just before the entry side of the common
nip rolls while the adhesive coated backing is simultaneously fed
to the nip. Oscillation of the transverse bar creates the
sinusoidal pattern of the spacer strands attached to the surface of
the adhesive coated backing with uniform machine direction and
cross direction spacing.
[0048] Alternately, a backing such as a polyester/rayon non-woven
backing available from Ahlstrom as product number 17029, can be fed
to chilled nip rolls. An adhesive film die is then used to extrude
hot-melt PSA adhesive film to the backing just prior to the
traversing arm/spacer strand combination at the entry side of the
nip rolls. The preferred adhesive is an acrylic hot-melt adhesive
as it is heat and oxidation resistant. All the components are then
combined into an integral structure similar to the one described
above. The advantage of this structure is reduced cost, simplicity,
and no release treatment is necessary to the non-woven to allow for
the final product to be made in roll form.
[0049] Although specific embodiments of this invention have been
shown and described herein, it is understood that these embodiments
are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements
that can be devised in application of the principles of the
invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in
accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to
the structures described in this application, but only by the
structures described by the language of the claims and the
equivalents of those structures.
* * * * *