U.S. patent application number 14/398665 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-14 for cloth for cleaning.
The applicant listed for this patent is Renato Zorzo. Invention is credited to Renato Zorzo.
Application Number | 20150128369 14/398665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46397475 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150128369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zorzo; Renato |
May 14, 2015 |
CLOTH FOR CLEANING
Abstract
The invention relates to a cleaning cloth, and in particular a
cleaning cloth with two active cleaning surfaces, which includes an
element interposed between the above-mentioned surfaces for
particular requirements.
Inventors: |
Zorzo; Renato; (S. Giustina
in Colle (PD), IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zorzo; Renato |
S. Giustina in Colle (PD) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
46397475 |
Appl. No.: |
14/398665 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
May 2, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2013/053486 |
371 Date: |
November 3, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/209.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/20 20130101;
A47L 13/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/209.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20060101
A47L013/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2012 |
IT |
PD2012/A000135 |
Claims
1. An improved cloth for cleaning, comprising a first surface for
cleaning that is solidly connected to at least part of an edge of a
second cleaning surface in a substantially symmetrical manner, the
cloth including an impermeable or semi-impermeable laminar
partition element held fast on said part of the edge between said
first and said second surfaces.
2. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein
said first and said second surface are specific for the particular
cleaning function to be carried out.
3. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein the
first surface, second surface and the laminar partition element are
solidly connected along their entire perimeter edges.
4. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein
said solid connection is achieved through sealing and/or
bonding.
5. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein
said solid connection is either continuous or at intervals.
6. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein
said solid connection is not only along the perimeter edge but also
at least partially within the perimeter of the profile.
7. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 further
including one or more tabs, coupling elements, or another device
for coupling to a base, which protrude from the edge of each
surface where connected.
8. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 further
including one or more layers of an absorbent material between the
laminar partition element and a cleaning surface, the absorbent
material adapted to absorb and release a certain amount of liquid
to act as a water or detergent store.
9. The improved cloth for cleaning according to claim 1 wherein
said laminar partition element is a semi-permeable filter or an
osmotic membrane.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Italian Patent
Application PD2012/A000135, filed on 4 May 2012, and PCT
Application PCT/IB2013/053486, filed on 2 May 2013, both
incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The scope of application of the invention concerns a cloth
for cleaning, in particular a cleaning cloth that has two active
cleaning surfaces.
[0004] DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
[0005] It is well known that the cleaning sector can be divided
into dry cleaning and wet
[0006] Dry cleaning signifies cleaning that does not require any
detergent or wetting of the cleaning cloth, because they collect
the dry dirt.
[0007] This collection can be carried out with a normal cleaning
broom, but increasingly a cloth is laid on the floor and held by a
respective mop base.
[0008] In fact, the cleaning operations carried out using the
collection of dirt with a normal broom has the drawback of raising
a considerable part of the dirt as dust, which remains in the air
for a long time, to later settle on the ground again, thereby
thwarting the cleaning operations.
[0009] A different exigency is pursued, however, by wet cleaning,
carried out nearly always using the direct or indirect wetting of
the surface to be cleaned.
[0010] In any case, whether the floor is wet beforehand, or whether
it is dampened by the wet cloth, the same cloth or a fresh one
needs to collect the wet dirt.
[0011] Sometimes with the aid of detergents and specifically
assigned cloths, the dirt is removed in a mechanical manner, with
possible rubbing so that it can be dissolved and/or detached from
the floor.
[0012] For this purpose, the adoption of microfiber cloths has
proven particularly useful.
[0013] Furthermore, since an exact amount of water is required for
soaking the cloth there are a whole range of methods and
instruments capable of making the cloth absorb the right amount of
liquid.
[0014] During this soaking, the amount of solution used is
calibrated with the right percentage of detergent beforehand
according to the amount of dirt that needs to be removed.
[0015] Very often, two stages of cleaning are required for a deep
and thorough cleaning, which includes both dry and wet
cleaning.
[0016] It is clear that the dry cleaning operations by sweeping
with a dry cloth should precede the wet cleaning In fact, if all
the dry dirt that could be taken away were not done so beforehand,
this would dissolve on the floor and would be distributed over the
entire surface to be cleaned, negatively affecting the results.
[0017] Therefore, the operator has to be adequately equipped with
both dry cleaning devices, as well as with wet cleaning
equipment.
[0018] To speed up these operations, the operator therefore prefers
to have not only cloths suited to cleaning, but also retention
bases, spare storage, collection and disposal sacks one
specifically for dry cleaning and one for wet cleaning.
[0019] It follows that the twofold supply and equipment is a
considerable investment and takes up more space during transport
and storage.
[0020] Another consequence of the decision to adopt a clear
distinction between the types of cleaning and the consequent
twofold supply and use of equipment, reflects also on
productivity.
[0021] In fact, the operator is forced at each change of the type
of cleaning to return to the work station, which is very often a
cleaning trolley parked not far from the cleaning place, in order
to change the cloth and tools, and then return to the place where
he was before the cleaning operations were interrupted, to restart
with the new type of cleaning.
[0022] It should be said that sometimes, in order to avoid these
interruptions, operators carry out the cleaning just the same, not
taking into account the above-mentioned distinction between the two
types of cleaning, because they are in a hurry to finish, but at
the same time compromising the quality of the end result.
[0023] Moreover, often another cleaning situation arise, namely
where it is necessary to dry the floor that has just been wet
immediately. For example, areas open to the public or places where
people are continually passing through.
[0024] Therefore, in these situations the floor needs to be
immediately dried after it has been washed, so as not to compromise
the washing that has just been carried out, but also to prevent
people slipping on the wet floor and hurting themselves.
[0025] For these reasons, the operator should therefore have a
range of chains, signs, indicators and stands that cordon off the
wet areas so that temporarily the public cannot pass through.
[0026] These barriers and signaling devices have to be continually
shifted after the floor has dried, and put on the next floor to
wash or which has just been washed.
[0027] When it is not possible to use these barriers or signs,
because too many people are moving around, the operator always has
to wash just a small part, which then needs to be dried
immediately.
[0028] The times for the above-mentioned operations, which require
a continual change of equipment and above all moving around,
heavily influence productivity in a negative way.
[0029] To get around this difficulty, very often the operator has
to modify, also in an unjustifiable and irrational way, the
sequence of work, to clean the above-mentioned places when there
are few people around.
[0030] In the past, there was an attempt at a solution to try to
provide the operator simultaneously with two cloths, one dry and
one wet.
[0031] This solution proposed a cloth that was the same size as two
standard cloths, with the first half kept dry against a first
surface of a base, and a second half, kept damp with detergent
against a second surface of the same base, where said base can be
worked on both sides.
[0032] This proprietary solution was very costly, however, since it
required a special base that could engage said special cloths,
which proved to be extremely cumbersome.
[0033] Moreover, said cloth with a double extension could not be
treated differently on each side, for example just wetting one
half, but had to be treated as a single cloth.
[0034] Moreover, the dimensions, the attachment devices and many
other aspects heavily negatively affected this solution so that it
was not widely used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0035] For all the reasons mentioned above, there is need for a new
cleaning cloth with a different configuration that can overcome and
resolve one or more of the drawbacks mentioned above.
[0036] Another object of this invention is to make available a
cleaning cloth that is similar to and can be used like other
current cloths it replaces.
[0037] A further object of this invention is to make available a
cleaning cloth that can be used on a normal base, replacing the
traditional cleaning cloths.
[0038] An even further object of this invention is to make
available a cleaning cloth that can be easily made and that is
inexpensive.
[0039] A still further object of this invention is to make
available a cleaning cloth that can be used for dry cleaning or
brushing, as well as for wet cleaning without the drawbacks
mentioned above.
[0040] Another object of this invention is to make available a
cleaning cloth where the dry cleaning phase is not influenced by
the wet cleaning and vice-versa.
[0041] An additional object of this invention is to make available
a cleaning cloth that can easily be wet beforehand.
[0042] A further object of this invention is to make available a
cleaning cloth that provides a quick change of cleaning mode from
sweeping or drying to washing and vice-versa.
[0043] An even further object of this invention is to make
available a cleaning cloth that provides greater work autonomy than
a traditional cloth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] One or more of the above-mentioned objects is achieved by a
cleaning cloth that has one of more of the characteristics set out
in the attached claims.
[0045] In particular, the object of the invention consists of a
cleaning cloth comprising a first surface for cleaning to which at
least part of the perimeter or edge a second cleaning surface is
solidly joined in a symmetrical way, and comprising, between said
first and second surface, an impermeable or semi-impermeable
laminar element held to at least said part of the perimeter or
edge.
[0046] Beneficially, with the adoption of a first and second
cleaning surface, a cloth is obtained where there is a specific
material for each surface of the cloth to carry out a particular
function.
[0047] A further advantage consists of the fact that the wetting of
a surface does not affect the dry state of the opposite surface,
because said laminar element between them is impermeable.
[0048] Another advantage consists of the fact that the wetting of a
first surface with a first liquid does not affect the wetting of a
second surface that is opposite to the first with a second
liquid.
[0049] A further advantage of this invention consists of the fact
that there is a complete compartmentalization between the opposed
surfaces.
[0050] Another advantage lies in the fact that there are no holes
in the laminar partition element due to the passage of the sewing
thread, because the joint is created through sealing and/or
bonding.
[0051] This method of joining the two, sealing and/or bonding,
between the laminar partition element to the outer surfaces, might
be useful that it is of the continuous type without interruptions,
creating an airtight compartmentalization between the two sides of
the cloth with the adoption of a waterproof laminar element, or
else with spaced stitching, maintaining a flexibility comparable to
that of sewn cloths.
[0052] Beneficially, the joint is not made along the edge but at
least partly inside the surrounding perimeter, limiting the free
extensions between the sealing points, and rendering the cloth more
robust.
[0053] In the eventuality that the above-mentioned compound cloth
requires one or more coupling devices, like for example tabs or
blades or the like, for being engaged by the retaining base, for
the solid union of the cloth to the relative base during cleaning,
beneficially said coupling elements are one or more elements that
protrude from the joint edge, without having to join another
element to the cloth with the functions of coupling to the mop
base.
[0054] Another advantage lies in the fact that the cleaning cloth
is flat and continuous, and suitable for being wet only on one
surface, while the opposite surface is kept dry.
[0055] Another type of benefit comes from the possibility of
inserting between the laminar element and a cleaning surface,
preferably the cleaning surface that is to be wet, a layer of
absorbent material, capable of absorbing and releasing a certain
amount of liquid, acting as a water or detergent storage, to
facilitate and prolong the cleaning operations.
[0056] An even further advantage comes from the use as a laminar
element of a semi-permeable filter or osmotic membrane that can
retain the dirt on one surface and have the water or detergent pass
to the opposite surface.
[0057] With this application, the semi-permeable filter or osmotic
membrane acts as a filter, but allowing the passage of water,
increases the work autonomy and allows further cleaning operations
to be carried out, after having collected the excess dirty water
from the floor with a rinse, carried out with the other cleaning
surface, wet or dampened with a clean liquid.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] The technical characteristics of the cleaning cloth of this
invention, for the above-mentioned objects, can clearly be found in
the content of the claims below, and the benefits will be more
clearly evident in the detailed description that follows, made with
reference to the attached drawings that represent an embodiment
that is purely by way of example and not in any way limited,
where:
[0059] FIG. 1 shows perspective view of a cleaning cloth according
to the invention, composed of a double surface, joined along a
longitudinal edge by stitching;
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the cleaning cloth
according to the invention where the overlapping of the cleaning
surfaces with an interposed laminar element, all the perimeter
edges joined by sealing and/or bonding;
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment
of the object, where there is an absorbent element for storing and
keeping the cleaning liquid and all the perimeter edges are joined
by means of sealing and/or bonding; and
[0062] FIG. 4 shows the object of the invention with external
coupling tabs that are part of only one surface layer that make up
the cloth.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0063] With reference to the diagrams, the cleaning cloth 1, the
object of the invention, has a dimension in a plan view similar to
a traditional cleaning cloth.
[0064] The edges 2 of this compound cleaning cloth 1 can be either
stitched, using stitching 8, but much more beneficially are joined
by means of sealing 7 and/or bonding, both in a continual manner as
well as by spaced stitches.
[0065] The cleaning cloth 1 of the invention externally, therefore,
looks like a cleaning cloth with two active cleaning surfaces 3, 4,
one for each of the two sides.
[0066] Eventually, each surface 3, 4 has a specific function, like
for example washing and drying, or else sweeping and washing.
[0067] Between the two outer cleaning surfaces, there is an
interposed laminar element 5.
[0068] Said interposed laminar element 5 can be impermeable,
creating an airtight compartmentalization between the two sides of
the cloth, or else semi-impermeable, like a filter passing clean
water but retaining dirt.
[0069] In the eventuality that it is an impermeable interposed
laminar element, it is beneficially held fast along the perimeter
edges 3, creating a total compartmentalization between the two
sides, and preventing the liquid wetting one surface passing
through to the opposite surface.
[0070] For this reason, if complete compartmentalization is
required between the two opposite surfaces, the sealing 7 and/or
bonding of the edges is the best solution.
[0071] In the eventuality that this requirement is not critical
and/or that the materials used are not compatible with sealing
and/or bonding, it is possible to proceed with simple stitching 8,
tolerating a minimum passage of liquid through the holes of the
stitching form one side to the other side.
[0072] A cloth 1, which can easily be obtained with the
above-mentioned methods, is particularly useful and effective in
combination with a mop base that allows both surfaces to be used,
eventually without detaching and rotating to then re-attach the
above-mentioned cleaning cloth 1 with a double active surface.
[0073] This joint is beneficially obtained using sealing 7, which
stiffens the edges 2, preventing the weft near the ends of the
surfaces 3, 4 from unravelling because of wear or
deterioration.
[0074] These stiffened edges 2 can beneficially be used in
combination with a mop base that can engage the cloth 1 along its
longitudinal edge.
[0075] With this stiffened edge profile, joining the cloth 1 to the
base is made easier, providing an easy and smooth insertion of said
stiffened edge inside the gripping mouth of the mop base.
[0076] Eventually it is possible that at least one layer 3, 4, 5 of
the surfaces that make up the cloth 1 of the invention extends
externally beyond the joint edge 2 to create one or more tabs 9 or
another coupling device, suited to being retained by the base to
which the cloth is joined.
[0077] Furthermore, a considerable increase in autonomy and
productivity is a result of the positioning of an absorbent element
6 between said interposed laminar element 5 and an outer surface,
which can act as a sponge or pad, having the role of retaining the
water or detergent, releasing the absorbed liquid a little at a
time depending on the pressure exercised on it by the base.
[0078] Said absorbent element 6 beneficially extends as a laminar
element adjacent to the inner side of the active cleaning surface,
the one that will be wet.
[0079] The store of liquid accumulated by this absorbing element 6
therefore allows work autonomy to be increased, maintaining the
cloth 1 sufficiently damp for an lengthy and prolonged cleaning
operation, with the regulated release of the absorbed liquid,
without these prolonged operations requiring the cloth 1 to be
excessively dampened with the risk of dripping and the excessive
release of liquid, especially in the initial phases of the cleaning
operations.
* * * * *