U.S. patent application number 15/128707 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-29 for a continuously curving cleaning element and method of making.
The applicant listed for this patent is 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY. Invention is credited to Matthew D. CHAFFEE, Matthew S. COLE, Paul N. DAVELOOSE, Verlin W. SCHELHAAS.
Application Number | 20170181596 15/128707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52814227 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170181596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DAVELOOSE; Paul N. ; et
al. |
June 29, 2017 |
A CONTINUOUSLY CURVING CLEANING ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING
Abstract
The curved cleaning element is made by providing a cleaning
material with a back surface and a working surface that together
define a volume and thickness. A portion of the cleaning material
is removed at a pivot zone. The pivot zone separates the cleaning
material into a first portion and second portion. At the pivot
zone, the cleaning material has less thickness and/or less volume
as compared to either the first or second portions. In one
embodiment, the back surface of the first portion of the cleaning
material is attached to a support and the second portion of the
cleaning material is pivoted at the pivot zone. The second portion
of the cleaning material is secured to either the support or the
first portion of the cleaning material to form a continuously
curving working surface of the cleaning material.
Inventors: |
DAVELOOSE; Paul N.;
(Maplewood, MN) ; CHAFFEE; Matthew D.;
(Minneapolis, MN) ; COLE; Matthew S.; (Woodbury,
MN) ; SCHELHAAS; Verlin W.; (New Richmond,
WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY |
St. Paul |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52814227 |
Appl. No.: |
15/128707 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
March 19, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2015/021449 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61970003 |
Mar 25, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20130101;
A47L 13/258 20130101; A47L 13/257 20130101; A47L 13/22 20130101;
A47L 13/44 20130101; A47L 13/17 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/258 20060101
A47L013/258; A47L 13/44 20060101 A47L013/44; A47L 13/22 20060101
A47L013/22; A47L 13/17 20060101 A47L013/17; A47L 13/257 20060101
A47L013/257 |
Claims
1. A method of making a curving cleaning element comprising:
providing a cleaning material with back surface and a working
surface; removing a portion of the cleaning material at a pivot
zone, wherein the pivot zone separates the cleaning material into a
first portion and second portion; securing the back surface of the
first portion of the cleaning material to a support; pivoting the
second portion of the cleaning material at the pivot zone; securing
the second portion of the cleaning material to either the support
or the first portion of the cleaning material; forming a
continuously curving working surface of the cleaning material.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the back surface of the cleaning
material comprises a foam or a scouring web.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning material comprises a
working surface comprised of woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabric,
scouring material, scouring web.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning material is
comprises of more than one layer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprises: melting a
portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprises: cutting a
portion of the cleaning material at the pivot zone.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprises:
compressing a portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprises: removing
a generally linear portion of the cleaning material from within the
cleaning material.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing comprises: removing
a generally linear portion, recessed within a perimeter of the
cleaning material, from within the cleaning material.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pivot zone comprises a pivot
axis, which extends through the cleaning material.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the securing is by one of
mechanically securing, adhesively securing, thermally melting
securing.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein pivoting the working surface at
the second portion is at less than 180 degrees, as measured by an
inside angle formed through the cleaning material between the
relative positions of the working surface.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: securing the back
surface of the second portion of the cleaning material to a second
portion of the support.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: securing a handle to
the support.
15. A curving cleaning element comprising: a cleaning material with
back surface and a working surface defining a perimeter and a
volume; a pivot zone comprising a portion of reduced thickness and
reduced volume of cleaning material; wherein the cleaning material
pivots about the pivot zone; wherein the working surface is
continuously curving.
16. The curving cleaning element of claim 15, wherein the pivot
zone portion of reduced thickness and reduced volume is within the
perimeter of the cleaning material.
17. The curving element of claim 15, further comprising a support
that secures to the back surface of the cleaning material.
18. The curving element of claim 15, wherein: the pivot zone
separates a first portion of cleaning material from a second
portion of cleaning material; the back surface of the first portion
is secured to a support; the second portion is secured to either
the support or the first portion of the cleaning material.
19. The curving cleaning element of claim 15, wherein the cleaning
material at the back surface is a conformable, thermoplastic
material.
20. The curving cleaning element of claim 19, wherein the portion
of reduced thickness and volume is a melted section of the
conformable, thermoplastic material, and wherein the melted section
is surrounded by sloping inward surfaces.
21. The curving cleaning element of claim 15, wherein the cleaning
material comprises a two layer structure of a foam and a scouring
material at the working surface.
22. The curving cleaning element of claim 17, further comprising: a
handle connected to the support.
23. The curving cleaning element of claim 15, wherein at the pivot
zone, the cleaning material at the back surface is under
compression and the cleaning material at the working surface is
under tension.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a continuously curving
cleaning element and a method of making a continuously curving
cleaning element.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Cleaning tools are commonly used for cleaning dishes,
bathrooms, walls, showers. These tools can be made of various
materials such as foam, sponge, fabric, scrubbing webs and may be
attached to a solid, handled tool. Examples of commonly used
cleaning tools include the Scotch-Brite.TM. Scrub Sponge and
Scotch-Brite.TM. Dishwand. These tools include generally flat
working surfaces. However, depending on the substrate to be
cleaned, it may be desirable to have a cleaning tool with a
continuously curving surface. Depending on the construction of the
cleaning tool, folding, bending, or curving the tool may place
stresses within the tool that result in the tool preferentially
returning to a flat working surface.
SUMMARY
[0003] The disclosed cleaning element and method of making the
disclosed cleaning element allow for a continuously curving working
surface with minimal internal stresses on the curved cleaning
element. Therefore, the continuously curving cleaning element
maintains its shape under use and allows for easy cleaning of flat
and curved surfaces.
[0004] In one embodiment, the method of making a curving cleaning
element comprises providing a cleaning material with a back surface
and a working surface, removing a portion of the cleaning material
at a pivot zone, wherein the pivot zone separates the cleaning
material into a first portion and second portion, securing the back
surface of the first portion of the cleaning material to a support,
pivoting the second portion of the cleaning material at the pivot
zone, securing the second portion of the cleaning material to
either the support or the first portion of the cleaning material,
and forming a continuously curving working surface of the cleaning
material.
[0005] In one embodiment, the back surface of the cleaning material
comprises a foam or a scouring web. In one embodiment, the cleaning
material comprises a working surface comprised of woven, knitted,
or nonwoven fabric, scouring material, scouring web. In one
embodiment, the cleaning material comprises of more than one layer.
In one embodiment, the removing comprises melting a portion of the
cleaning material at a pivot zone. In one embodiment, the removing
comprises cutting a portion of the cleaning material at the pivot
zone. In one embodiment, the removing comprises compressing a
portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone. In one
embodiment, the removing comprises removing a generally linear
portion of the cleaning material from within the cleaning material.
In one embodiment, the removing comprises removing a generally
linear portion, recessed within a perimeter of the cleaning
material, from within the cleaning material. In one embodiment, the
pivot zone comprises a pivot axis, which extends through the
cleaning material. In one embodiment, the securing is by one of
mechanically securing, adhesively securing, thermally melting
securing. In one embodiment, the method comprises pivoting the
second portion of the cleaning material at least 45 degrees and
less than 180 degrees, as measured by the angle formed through the
cleaning material. In one embodiment, the method comprises securing
the back surface of the second portion of the cleaning material to
a second portion of the support. In one embodiment, the method
further comprises securing a handle to the support.
[0006] In one embodiment, a curving cleaning element comprises a
cleaning material with back surface and a working surface defining
a perimeter and a volume, a pivot zone comprising a portion of
reduced thickness and reduced volume of cleaning material, wherein
the cleaning material pivots about the pivot zone and the working
surface is continuously curving.
[0007] In one embodiment, the pivot zone portion of reduced
thickness and reduced volume is within the perimeter of the
cleaning material. In one embodiment, the cleaning element further
comprises a support that secures to the back surface of the
cleaning material. In one embodiment, the pivot zone separates a
first portion of cleaning material from a second portion of
cleaning material, the back surface of the first portion is secured
to a support, the second portion is secured to either the support
or the first portion of the cleaning material. In one embodiment,
the cleaning material at the back surface is a conformable,
thermoplastic material. In one embodiment, the portion of reduced
thickness and volume is a melted section of the conformable,
thermoplastic material, and the melted section is surrounded by
sloping inward surfaces. In one embodiment, the cleaning material
comprises a two layer structure of a foam and a scouring material
at the working surface. In one embodiment, the cleaning element
further comprises a handle connected to the support. In one
embodiment, at the pivot zone, the cleaning material at the back
surface is under compression and the cleaning material at the
working surface is under tension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cleaning
element;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cleaning element shown in
FIG. 1 through line 2-2;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning element of FIG.
1 with a support;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool comprising
the cleaning element of FIG. 1 with a continuously curving
surface;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
cleaning element;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cleaning element shown
in FIG. 5 with a continuously curving surface.
[0014] 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.
[0015] The figures may not be drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cleaning
element 300. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cleaning element 300
shown in FIG. 1 through line 2-2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of
the cleaning element 300 of FIG. 1 with a support 310. FIG. 4 is a
perspective view of a cleaning tool 100 comprising the cleaning
element 300 of FIG. 1.
[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning tool 100
comprises a handle 200 with a holding end 205 and a working end
210. The working end 210 includes a first attachment 230 for
connection with a second attachment 311(discussed below) on the
cleaning element 300. In one embodiment the handle 200 includes a
receptacle 215 for holding a liquid, such as liquid dish soap. To
aid in dispensing the dish soap from the receptacle 215 to the
cleaning element 300, the handle includes a passage 217. In one
embodiment, to prevent continuous leaking of the liquid contained
within the receptacle, the handle may include a valve (not shown)
at the passage 217 to hold the liquid in the handle until
sufficient pressure is placed against the valve. The pressure may
come from deformation of an actuator 220. In this embodiment, the
actuator 220 is deformable and is located on the underside of the
handle 200. Therefore, when the handle 200 is being held, a user's
index finger is able to easily deform the actuator 220, which in
turn, forces liquid from the valve out the passage 217. From the
passage 217, the liquid will enter into the cleaning element 300.
The cleaning element 300 may itself include through passages to
further aid in the fast release of the dispensed liquid from the
handle 200 to the surface being cleaned.
[0018] The cleaning element 300 includes a cleaning material 305
with a working surface 330, a back surface 340, defining a
perimeter 302, width 301, thickness 303, and volume. The cleaning
element 300 includes a first portion 314 and a second portion 317
separated from one another by a pivot zone 320. The second portion
317 is able to rotate relative to the first portion 314 at the
pivot zone 320. In one embodiment, the pivot zone 320 includes a
pivot axis 322, which passes through the cleaning element 300 so
that the second portion 317 is able to rotate relative to the first
portion 314 about the pivot axis 322. The pivoting or rotation of
the second portion 317 relative to the first portion 314 creates
the continuously curving working surface 330. By continuously
curving, it is meant that the cleaning material 305 at the working
surface 330 does not have breaks or disconnects, other than those
features naturally part of the underlying substrate.
[0019] When the cleaning element 300 is of a completely uniform,
solid material, pivoting a second portion relative to the first
portion can apply large amounts of pressure and stress on the
cleaning element 300 due to the compressed cleaning material at the
pivot. Removing or reducing a portion of the cleaning material at
the pivot, while keeping the working surface continuous, allows for
reduced stress on the cleaning element. Therefore, the pivoted
cleaning material remains in a pivoted position.
[0020] In one embodiment, cleaning material 305 at the pivot zone
320 is removed. In one embodiment, the pivot zone 320 is a portion
of the cleaning element 300 having a thickness less than the
thickness of either the first or second portions 314, 317. In one
embodiment, the pivot zone 320 is a portion of the cleaning element
300 having a volume less than the volume of either the first or
second portions 314, 317. In one embodiment, the pivot zone 320 is
a portion of the cleaning element 300 having a density that is less
than the density of either the first or second portions 314, 317.
In either embodiment, the cleaning material 305 at the working
surface 330 remains continuous.
[0021] The pivot zone 320 is created by removing a portion of the
cleaning material 305. Creating the pivot zone 320 on the cleaning
material 305 can be accomplished from a variety of known techniques
to remove material depending on the type of cleaning material 305
and the desired configuration of the shape or arrangement of the
removed material at the pivot zone 320. To remove cleaning material
305 to create the pivot zone 320, cleaning material 305 can be
melted, compressed, dissolved, or mechanically cut. For example,
techniques such as water jet cutting, notching, variable cross
sectioning, laser cutting, routing, knife cutting, flame melting,
chemical melting or fusing, band heating, or hot wire melting or
cutting from application of heat could be used to form the pivot
zone 320. One skilled in the art would be able to identify suitable
techniques for the particular cleaning material 305. For example,
melting is a suitable technique for forming the pivot zone for
thermoplastic cleaning material, such as thermoplastic foams or
nonwovens.
[0022] There can be any number of arrangements for the specific
arrangement of the pivot zone 320, i.e., the material removed from
the cleaning material 305 to form the pivot zone 320. Generally,
the material removed from the cleaning material 305 to create the
pivot zone 320 is shaped to guide curving and pivoting of the
second portion 317 relative to the first portion 314. To maintain
the continuity and integrity of the working surface 330, the pivot
zone 320 does not extend entirely through the thickness 303 of the
cleaning material 305. There may be one or more defined portions
removed from the cleaning material 305 to form the pivot zone
320.
[0023] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the pivot zone
320 extends across the width 301 of the cleaning material 305, but
near the perimeter 302 some cleaning material 305 remains. The
thickness of the material removed at the perimeter 302 of the pivot
zone 320 is less than the thickness of the material removed within
the remaining portion of the pivot zone 320, which is less than the
overall thickness 303 of the cleaning material 305. In other words,
material removed at the pivot zone 320 is not uniform across the
width 301 of the cleaning material 305. In this embodiment, when
the second portion 317 is curved relative to the first portion 314,
the cleaning material 305 at the perimeter 302 remains to provide a
nearly continuous surface without substantial gaps or openings.
[0024] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pivot zone 320
extends uniformly and entirely across the width 301 of the cleaning
material 305. In one embodiment, not shown, the cleaning material
removed to form the pivot zone 320 is entirely within the perimeter
302 of the cleaning material 305, such that at the perimeter 302
the full thickness 303 of the cleaning material 305 remains.
[0025] In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the cleaning
material 305 is a thermoplastic, specifically a thermoplastic foam,
and the pivot zone 320 is formed by melting the thermoplastic
material to create a generally inward sloping surface at the pivot
zone 320. The inward sloping surface at the pivot zone 320 creates
a pull or pucker so that the second portion 317 naturally pivots
relative to the first portion 314.
[0026] The pivot zone 320 may include one or more linear, circular,
or other shaped sections removed. In one embodiment, more than 10%
of the thickness at the pivot zone is removed, in one embodiment,
more than 25% of the thickness at the pivot zone is removed, and in
one embodiment more than 50% of the thickness at the pivot zone is
removed. In one embodiment, more than 5% of the thickness remains
at the working surface, in one embodiment, more than 15% of the
thickness remains at the working surface, in one embodiment, more
than 25% of the thickness remains at the working surface.
[0027] In one embodiment, the working surface 330 of cleaning
material 305 continuously curves at least 45 degrees, as measured
by an inside angle formed through the cleaning material 305 between
the relative positions of the working surface 330. In one
embodiment, the working surface 330 of cleaning material 305
continuously curves at least 90 degrees, as measured by an inside
angle formed through the cleaning material 305 between the relative
positions of the working surface 330. In one embodiment, the
working surface 330 of cleaning material 305 continuously curves
less than 180 degrees, as measured by an inside angle formed
through the cleaning material 305 between the relative positions of
the working surface 330. In one embodiment, relative portions of
the working surface 330 are parallel to one another, but spaced
apart from one another by the cleaning material 305.
[0028] It is understood that to create the disclosed continuously
curving working surface 330, the second portion 317 of the cleaning
material 305 rotates relative to the first portion 314 such that at
the back surface 340 of the cleaning material 305 is at least
partially under compression while the cleaning material 305 at the
working surface 330 is at least partially under tension.
[0029] The cleaning material 305 may have varying width 301 along
its length. In one embodiment, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and
3, the cleaning material at the first portion 314 has a first width
wider than the width at the second portion 317. Therefore, the
width of the working surface 330 narrows at the pivot zone 320.
Therefore, the working surface 330 at the pivot zone 320 is better
able to fit into small, curving areas of items being clean, like
the bottom of a glass or bowl.
[0030] In one embodiment, the cleaning element 300, such as shown
in FIG. 1, can be used alone as shown. The second portion 317 can
flex and pivot at the pivot zone 320 relative to the first portion
314 to allow for cleaning of contoured surfaces.
[0031] In one embodiment, the cleaning element 300 may be secured
to a support 310. The support 310 maybe secured to one or both of
the first and second portions 314, 317. The support 310 may be
secured to a back surface 340 of the first portion 314, the second
portion 317 pivoted and then secured either to the support 310 or
to a portion of the back surface 340 of the first portion, such as
shown in FIG. 3. The support maybe secured to both the first and
second portions and would include a flexible portion at the pivot
zone 320, such as a living hinge, or such as shown in US Patent
Application Publication 2014-0013527, incorporated herein by
reference. In one embodiment, the support 310 may be of a size or
shape to allow a user to easily hold the cleaning element 300.
[0032] In one embodiment, the support includes the second
attachment 311 with a slot 312 for receiving the first attachment
230 of the handle 200. The second attachment 311 also includes a
guard 313. The guard 313 is deformable so that is can be pressed
down to allow for the first attachment 230 to slide in and out of
the second attachment 311. When the guard 313 is in place, it
securely wraps around the backside of the working end 210 of the
handle 200 to provide a secure connection between the cleaning
element 300 and handle 200.
[0033] Depending on the materials of the support 310 or the
cleaning material 305, one skilled in the art could use any number
of materials or techniques for either securing the cleaning element
300 to the support or for securing the second portion 317 of the
cleaning material 305 to either the support 310 or the first
portion 314 to create the continuously curving working surface 330.
For example, chemical or flame treatment of a meltable material,
adhesives, or mechanical fasteners could be used. In one
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 a support 310 is secured to the back
surface 340 of the first portion 314 of the cleaning material 305,
while the second portion 317 is rotated about the pivot zone 320
and secured to a portion of the support 310. In another embodiment,
a portion of a support is secured to the first portion 314 of the
cleaning material 305 while a second portion of a support is
secured to the second portion 317 of the cleaning material 305. The
two parts of the support interact and may interlock such as
described in US Patent Application Publication 2014-0013527.
[0034] The cleaning material 305 can comprise foam, sponge,
nonwoven fabric, knitted fabric, woven fabric, scouring material,
such as scouring nonwoven webs or fabric coated or printed with
abrasive or resin, or combinations of one or more thereof. In one
embodiment, the cleaning material 305 is a foam or sponge, with a
scouring layer secured to the foam or sponge at the outermost
working surfaces. The cleaning material 305 can be secured to the
support 310 by a variety of mechanisms such as adhesive or melt
bonding.
[0035] It is understood that the curved cleaning element 300 may be
secured to a separate cleaning tool 100, which includes a handle,
or may be independently used for cleaning. Further if used with a
cleaning tool 100, any variety of sizes and shapes of cleaning
tools could be used and any specific types of attachment mechanisms
could be used for securing the cleaning element 300 to the cleaning
tool 100.
[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment, where similar
reference numbers for similar features are used. As distinguished
from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, in this embodiment the
pivot zone 320 includes a shaped section from edge-to-edge of the
cleaning material 305. In the pivoted cleaning element 300 shown in
FIG. 6, the second portion 317 is secured to the back surface 340
of the first portion 314. A support is not shown, but it is
understood that a support such as described above could be
included. In this embodiment, the working surface 330 is
continuously curving.
[0037] The cleaning element 300 can be made in a variety of methods
disclosed. In one embodiment, the cleaning element 300 is made by
providing a cleaning material 305 with back surface 340 and a
working surface 330 that together define a volume and thickness
303. A portion of the cleaning material 305 is removed at a pivot
zone 320. The pivot zone 320 separates the cleaning material 305
into a first portion 314 and second portion 317. At the pivot zone
320, the cleaning material 305 has less thickness and/or less
volume as compared to either the first or second portions 314, 317.
In one embodiment, the back surface 340 of the first portion 314 of
the cleaning material 305 is attached to a support 310 and the
second portion 317 of the cleaning material 305 is pivoted at the
pivot zone. The second portion 317 of the cleaning material 305 is
secured to the support 310 and/or the first portion 314 of the
cleaning material 305 to form a continuously curving working
surface 330 of the cleaning material 305.
[0038] The disclosed curved cleaning element and method of making
the cleaning element provide for a continuously curving working
surface that is useful for cleaning flat and curved surfaces such
as bowls or cups.
[0039] 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 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.
* * * * *