U.S. patent application number 12/480109 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for integral dual functionality cleaning pads.
Invention is credited to Chad Kamil Hickson, David John Pung.
Application Number | 20100306946 12/480109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42543286 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100306946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pung; David John ; et
al. |
December 9, 2010 |
Integral Dual Functionality Cleaning Pads
Abstract
A cleaning pad has a facing layer joined to a backsheet, and an
absorbent core disposed between the facing layer and backsheet. The
facing layer is an integral sheet having a first region comprising
a plurality of apertures, and a second region comprising a
plurality of raised protrusions. The two different regions provide
dual functionalities of absorbing (or distributing) liquid, such as
a cleaner, and scrubbing, respectively.
Inventors: |
Pung; David John; (Loveland,
OH) ; Hickson; Chad Kamil; (Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
42543286 |
Appl. No.: |
12/480109 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/209.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/209.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/10 20060101
A47L013/10 |
Claims
1. A cleaning pad for attachment to the head of a cleaning
implement, said pad comprising: a backsheet and a facing sheet
joined in face-to-face relationship with an absorbent core
therebetween, said facing sheet being an integral sheet having a
first region having apertures therethrough, and a second region
having a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom and
away from said core.
2. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 wherein said cleaning pad is
generally rectangularly shaped having two spaced longer edges and
two spaced apart shorter edges, each of said backsheet and said
facing sheet having two spaced apart longer edges and two spaced
apart shorter edges, said longer edges of said backsheet extending
outwardly beyond said longer edges of said facing sheet.
3. A cleaning pad according to claim 2 having a border between said
first region and said second region, wherein said border between
said first region and said contiguous second regions is
substantially straight.
4. A cleaning pad according to claim 3, having said first region
intermediate two second regions, wherein one of each said second
regions is juxtaposed with each said longer edge.
5. A cleaning pad according to claim 4 having a width between said
longer edges, and said first region comprises from 30 to 90 percent
of said width.
6. A cleaning pad according to claim 5, wherein said first region
and said second regions are contiguous.
7. A cleaning pad according to claim 5, wherein said first region
has apertures with an open area ranging from about 1 to about 9
square millimeters per aperture.
8. A cleaning pad according to claim 7, wherein said second region
has protrusions extending outwardly about 0.5 to about 4
millimeters.
9. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 wherein said first region
and said second region overlap.
10. A cleaning pad according to claim 9 wherein said first region
substantially circumscribes said second region.
11. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 wherein said first region
and said second region are separated by a visually discernable
region free of said plurality of protrusions and free of said
apertures.
12. A cleaning pad according to claim 11 wherein said second region
substantially circumscribes said first region.
13. A cleaning pad according to claim 1 removably attached to a
cleaning implement, said implement comprising a handle and a head
attached thereto, wherein said backsheet of said cleaning pad is
attached to said head.
14. A cleaning pad according to claim 13 which is premoistened.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to floor cleaning pads and
more particularly to floor cleaning pads having a textured surface
for cleaning a target surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cleaning pads are well known in the art. Such pads are used
for cleaning a target surface, such as a floor or other hard
surface. Floors commonly cleaned with a pad include linoleum, tile,
wood, etc.
[0003] For convenience, the cleaning pad may be removably attached
to a cleaning implement. The cleaning implement may have an
elongate handle for grasping by the user. The handle may be
typically attached to a head by universal joint. Alternatively the
handle and head may be in fixed relationship, as often occurs with
a loop handle. The cleaning pad may be removably attached to the
bottom of the head, for movement relative to the target surface
during cleaning. Attachment may be accomplished using one or more
grippers. Suitable grippers may be made according to commonly
assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,305,046; 6,484,346; and/or 6,651,290.
Alternatively the pad may be removably adhesively attached or
attached using hook and loop fasteners. Suitable cleaning
implements include the Swiffer.RTM. Sweeper, Swiffer.RTM.
WetJet.RTM. and Swiffer.RTM. SweeperVac.RTM. sold by the instant
assignee.
[0004] Such cleaning pads may also be used with water, or in other
cleaning solution to solubilize debris on the floor. The pads may
be wetted and/or cleaning fluid may be distributed onto the floor
from a reservoir. One suitable implement for cleaning with a pad
and distributing cleaning fluid from a replaceable reservoir
includes the Swiffer.RTM. WetJet.RTM. implement sold by the instant
assignee. Such an implement may be made according to commonly
assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,392. Alternatively, a suitable
pre-wetted cleaning pad includes the Swiffer.RTM. Sweeper Wet
Cloths sold by the instant assignee and made according to commonly
assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,805.
[0005] The cleaning pads retain the dual functionality of
transmitting cleaning solution to/from the pad and scrubbing debris
or stains which may be difficult to remove from the floor. However,
this dual functionality is not optimally met by a single surface of
the cleaning pad. A surface suitable for transmitting cleaning
fluid therethrough is not optimized for scrubbing debris and vice
versa.
[0006] One solution to this problem is to provide two different
materials, each having a surface optimized for the task of
transmitting liquids therethrough or the task of scrubbing debris.
However, this solution raises even more problems. Having two
materials for the sheet increases inventory and assembly costs.
Assembly may not properly occur, leading to scrap. Even if assembly
is proper, the extra step of assembling the two materials as part
of the production of the cleaning pad may slow the production,
again increasing cost.
[0007] Thus, the efforts to make a better cleaning pad continue.
One such effort is found in the cleaning pad of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention comprise a cleaning pad for attachment to the
head of a cleaning implement. The pad comprises a backsheet and a
facing sheet joined in face-to-face relationship with an absorbent
core therebetween. The facing sheet comprises an integral sheet
having a first region with apertures therethrough, and a second
region having a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly
therefrom and away from the core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cleaning pad according to the
present invention with the cleaning surface facing upwardly, shown
partially in cutaway.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pad of FIG. 1,
taken along line 2-2.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus
suitable for making the sheet of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a line profile plot representing an instantaneous
sectional view of the facing sheet of the cleaning pad of FIG.
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning pad 20 according to
the present invention may comprise a plurality of layers joined in
face-to-face relationship to define an XY plane and Z-direction
orthogonal thereto. The layers may comprise a facing layer 21
according to the present invention, an absorbent core 24, and a
backsheet 22. Optionally, the backsheet 22 may have adhesive
attachments on the outwardly facing surface.
[0014] The center of the cleaning pad 20 is defined at the junction
of a centrally-disposed longitudinal axis L and a centrally
disposed transverse axis T. Longitudinal axis L and transverse axis
T define a two-dimensional plane of the cleaning pad, which, in the
embodiment shown is associated with the machine direction (MD) and
cross machine direction (CD), respectively as are commonly known in
the art.
[0015] The backsheet 22 may be any liquid impervious sheet
flexible, yet capable of imparting sufficient strength to the pad.
One suitable backsheet 22 may be made of a laminate of
spunbond/meltblown/spunbond fibers, as is known in the art.
[0016] The optional core 24 may be any layer capable of holding
fluid and optionally delivering fluid. Fluid may be transmitted
from the surface being cleaned, through the facing layer 21 to the
core 24 or may be transmitted from the core 24 to the surface to be
cleaned. The core 24 may further comprise absorbent gelling
material as is known in the art, to increase its capacity. A
suitable pad 20 may be made with a core 24 generally according to
the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,960,508;
6,003,191; 6,101,661 and/or 6,766,552. If desired, an optional
secondary topsheet 27 may be included to improve fluid transmission
and strength of the facing sheet 21.
[0017] The facing layer has a first region 12 comprising a
plurality of apertures, and a second region 14 comprising a
plurality of raised, out-of-plane deformations that can be
protrusions 31. The two regions 12, 14 are differentiated by the
kind of topographical features disposed in each. The facing sheet
21 is the component of the cleaning pad 20 which contacts and
cleans the target surface, such as a floor, in use. The facing
sheet 21 is integral. By integral it is meant the facing sheet 21,
or other desired component of the cleaning pad 20, is formed from a
single raw material and is not made by joining two separate
components together.
[0018] In particular, apertures 28 are disposed in, and may extend
through, first region(s) 12 of the facing layer 21 may be
sufficiently large (e.g., at least about 1 to 2 mm.sup.2 each) to
permit relatively viscous fluids, to flow through the facing layer
21 and into absorbent core 24 and less than 8 to 9 mm.sup.2 to
minimize leakage. First region(s) 12, may be disposed generally
centrally to cleaning pad 20, and the second region 14 may be
disposed outwardly of the first region 12, or vice versa with the
second region 14 centrally disposed and the first region 12
outboard thereof. In another embodiment, the first region 12 and
second region 14 may overlap, to provide a region having both
apertures 28 and out-of-plane protrusions 31.
[0019] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 has the structural
feature that protrusions 31 extend from the peripheral area of the
cleaning pad in the Z-direction, while the apertures 28 are
centrally disposed. This arrangement provides the benefit that
applied force, compressively transmitted by the user through the
handle of the cleaning implement tends to be centrally applied to
the head of the cleaning implement. By having Z-direction
deformations disposed away from the handle in the XY plane, the
compressive force is more uniformly distributed in the XY plane.
This relatively more uniform force distribution is believed to
result in a more uniform compressive stress across the head of the
cleaning implement when used in conjunction with the cleaning pad
20 of FIG. 1. This improved stress distribution is believed, in
turn, to yield improved cleaning of the target surface and more
complete usage of the cleaning pad 20.
[0020] Protrusions 31 may be disposed in second region 14 of facing
layer 21. In general, by "out-of-plane" is meant extending in the
"Z"-direction, as indicated by FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 protrusions 31 are
shown in exaggerated proportion, although there are not believed to
be particular dimensional limitations. The only design
considerations with respect to the dimensions of protrusions 31 are
those related to the desired cleaning task. It may be that for
particular facing layers 21 the height (Z-direction) of protrusions
31 can be uniform; in other embodiments the height can vary, such
as by increasing with greater distance from longitudinal centerline
L. The protrusions 31 may extend about 0.5 to about 4 millimeter,
and about 1 to about 3 millimeters in the Z-direction. In one
embodiment, protrusions 31 are disposed generally outboard of first
region 12, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, protrusions 31 can comprise
raised ridges of a pre-defined length that is much shorter than the
length of the cleaning pad, measured along the longitudinal
centerline, for example. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1,
protrusions 31 are disposed in a regular pattern of protrusions 31
that form a pattern of diamond-shapes, each diamond shape being
comprised of a plurality of protrusions 31. In this manner, the
protrusions 31 may contribute to scrubbing capability. In general,
the individual protrusions 31 can have a length, measured along
their longitudinal orientation, of between 1% and 50% of the length
of the cleaning pad, measured along the longitudinal axis. The
individual protrusions 31 may have a spacing in the XY plane such
that there is not an unbroken path from any portion of the first
region 12 to either of the longitudinal side edges of cleaning pad
20.
[0022] The facing layer 21 can comprise nonwoven materials as are
known in the art for facing layers on disposable absorbent articles
and cleaning pads 20. Absorbent core 24 and backsheet 22 may
likewise comprise absorbent materials, and film materials,
respectively, as are well known in the art. An optional secondary
facing layer can be used as a distribution layer to distribute
fluid in the XY directions.
[0023] The dual cleaning benefit of the present invention is in
part due to apertures 28 and protrusions 31 that form discrete
regions of facing layer 21. Apertures 28 provide for relatively
unimpeded fluid flow of cleaning fluid and even viscous fluid.
Raised, protrusions 31 may act as a plurality of individual fluid
barriers, each effective in retarding any free fluid flow that may
have a tendency to run off the facing layer 21 when cleaning pad 20
is used, without becoming a total block of fluid distribution to
outboard portions of the cleaning pad 20. In addition protrusions
31 may function as resilient textured wipers, to help clean debris
from the target surface.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, apertures 28 permit fluid communication
through the facing layer 21. Typically, inner surface of the facing
layer 21 is in contact with absorbent core 24 to allow efficient
fluid flow into the core 24. Apertures 28, and discrete raised,
protrusions 31 may also add elastic extensibility to facing layer
21.
[0025] Although all the raised, protrusions 31 are shown as being
aligned longitudinally in the MD, the raised, protrusions 31 could
be oriented in any desired configuration. Other patterns of
apertures 28 and protrusions 31 are within the scope of the
invention, including, for example, a discrete region in the center
of the cleaning pad 20 having apertures, the discrete region not
extending to any of the peripheral edges. Also, apertures 28 and
protrusions 31 could be in a striped pattern with the stripes
generally transversely, longitudinally, diagonally oriented or
aligned in a combination thereof. The first region 12 may comprise
from about 30 to about 90 percent, or about 40 to about 80 percent
of the width of the cleaning pad 20.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for making facing layer 21 of the
present invention that is suitable for use with cleaning pad 20.
Facing layer 21 may formed from a generally planar, two dimensional
nonwoven precursor web 200 on apparatus 100, the apparatus may be
oriented for continuous web processing with respect to a machine
direction (MD) and a cross machine direction (CD) as is commonly
known in the art of nonwoven webs. Precursor web 200 has formed
therein in predetermined regions a plurality of melt-weakened
portions 115 prior to entering nip 116. Melt-weakened portions 115
are formed in predetermined regions of web 200 by thermal point
calendaring in the predetermined regions, the predetermined regions
corresponding to first region(s) 12 of facing layer 21, that is,
the region where apertures 28 are ultimately desired. Each
melt-weakened portion 115 of the predetermined region may be
generally elongated and/or oriented in the MD. Upon stretching in
the CD in the portion of the apparatus 100 corresponding to the
region 113, the melt-weakened portions 115 rupture to form
apertures 28. The melt-weakened portions 115 may be limited to the
central region of web 200, that is, corresponding to the central
first region 12 of cleaning pad 20 in FIG. 1.
[0027] The apparatus 100 may comprise a pair of rolls 102 and 104,
each rotating about parallel axes A, and is similar in many
respects to the apparatuses described in commonly assigned U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,916,661; 5,628,097 and 5,518,801 issued to Chappell et
al. and U.S. 2004/0127875 published in the name of Hammons et al.
By combining both into one apparatus to form both apertures 28 and
protrusions 31 in one facing layer 21, the cleaning pad 20 of the
present invention provides for significant cleaning and fluid
handling benefits over prior art cleaning pads. Further, such
facing layer 21 provides these benefits in with an integral facing
layer 21, further providing for convenient and inexpensive
manufacture.
[0028] The apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 may comprise a roll 102
having a plurality of circumferentially-extending ridges 106
separated by grooves 108, as disclosed in the above-mentioned
patents and as well known in the art of "ring-rolling." A second,
intermeshing roll 104 comprises a first region 113 having
essentially matching roll 102 and having ridges 106 separated by
grooves 108. The intermeshing ridges 106 and grooves 108 of rolls
102 and 104 incrementally stretch precursor web 200 to form
apertures 28 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,916,661 and
5,628,097. Of course, precursor web 200 has melt-weakened regions
115 formed therein prior to precursor web 200 entering the nip 116
of apparatus 100.
[0029] In addition to region 113, roll 104 may have two regions 111
comprising ridges with teeth 110, the toothed ridges separated by
grooves 112. Ridges 106 of roll 102 intermesh with the grooves 112
of roll 104 to form the protrusions 31 of second region(s) 14. A
pitch of about 0.7 to 13 millimeters, and particularly about 1.5
millimeters may be utilized for the second region 14. A pitch of
about 0.7 to 13 millimeters, and particularly about 2.5 millimeters
may be utilized for the first region 12. The rolls 102, 103 may
have an engagement of about 0.5 to 26 millimeters, independent of
pitch.
[0030] Facing layer 21 has a first region 12 defined on both sides
of facing layer 21 by having a plurality of spaced apart apertures
28. A second region 14 is defined by a plurality of spaced-apart
protrusions 31 which may be integral extensions of the fibers of
the precursor web 200.
[0031] One advantage of the apparatus 100 described above is that
the facing layer 21 can be produced in-line with other production
equipment on a manufacturing line for producing such articles. For
example, an apparatus 100 such as disclosed above, can be made as a
unit operation for an existing manufacturing line. As a unit
operation, such apparatus 100 can be modular, so that it can be
easily changed out. When used as part of a manufacturing line for
cleaning pads 20, the constituent rolls 102, 104 need not be much
wider than the product itself, thereby providing for relatively
easy installation and removal. Various patterns of first regions 12
and second regions 14 can therefore be implemented with a minimum
interruption.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a line profile plot of an exemplary cleaning
pad 20 according to the present invention. In this embodiment,
first region 12 is disposed generally central with respect to the
cleaning pad 20. The second region 14 is disposed outboard of first
region 12, in a region extending from first region 12 to an area
adjacent longitudinal edges of the cleaning pad 20.
[0033] The protrusions 31 in the second regions 14 function to
scrub or loosen debris from the target surface. The apertures 28 in
first region 12 then function to absorb liquid cleaner deposited on
the target surface and retain debris on the cleaning pad 20. The
pad 20 and debris can then be discarded.
[0034] The dimensions and other values disclosed herein are not to
be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical
values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such
value is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
[0035] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0036] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *