Cleaning article comprising strips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning articles, such as rags, paper towels, and disposable dusters, are inadequate for cleaning large or heavily wetted surfaces as they can redeposit dirt, leave streaks or films, and fail to effectively clean into crevices or grout lines, especially on new flooring materials with high gloss levels or difficult surface energies.
Innovation Solution
A disposable cleaning article with a dynamically changing surface area, comprising a carrier sheet and cleaning strip elements with varying thickness and geometry, including tow fiber bundles and serpentine folds, designed to be removably attached to a cleaning implement, allowing for effective absorption and debris removal without redeposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a generally flat floor sheet is used, then the cleaning article can cover large surfaces, but it redeposits dirt and fails to clean into crevices or grout lines
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning strips are designed to be movable relative to the carrier sheet, allowing them to dynamically change their configuration and present different surface areas to the target surface during cleaning. This dynamic adjustment enables the strips to adapt to crevices and grout lines while maintaining coverage of large surfaces, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning article is divided into multiple separate cleaning strips that can move independently relative to the carrier sheet. This segmentation allows different portions of the cleaning article to perform different functions simultaneously - some strips can reach into crevices while others maintain broad surface coverage, preventing dirt redeposition and improving overall cleaning effectiveness.
2Quantity of substance
If reusable microfiber pads are used, then absorption of liquids is improved, but the floor may be damaged and filming/streaking may still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning article is designed as a disposable product with a carrier sheet and cleaning strips that can be used once and then discarded. This eliminates the need for repeated washing and reuse, preventing floor damage that occurs with reusable microfiber pads while maintaining high liquid absorption capacity through the disposable design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning strips are designed with specific physical and chemical parameters optimized for single-use cleaning - including fiber composition, thickness, and absorbency characteristics that provide superior liquid absorption without the damaging effects associated with reusable microfiber pads. The parameters are tuned to prevent filming and streaking on floor surfaces.
3Reliability
If tow fiber bundles are used, then debris gathering is improved, but the fibers become matted when wet and are not suitable for large or heavily wetted surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning article merges tow fiber bundles with a carrier sheet structure and cleaning strips designed to maintain their functional properties when wet. The combination allows the tow fibers to effectively gather debris while the overall structure prevents matting, enabling suitability for both dry and heavily wetted surfaces including large floor areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dynamic surface area design enhances cleaning efficacy by presenting more edges to the surface, minimizing redeposition, and effectively cleaning into crevices and grout lines, while maintaining ease of movement and preventing damage to the floor.
Implementation Method 1
These floor sheets may contain large amounts of absorbent cellulose
Implementation Method 2
floor sheets may contain AGM to further assist in liquid absorption and retention
Implementation Method 3
various reusable dust gathering devices using felt and hair have been utilized for more than a century
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~3A
AI summary
A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface. The cleaning article has strips which present a dynamically changing surface area to the target surface during use. The surface area has also has a bundle of tow fibers which may be oriented transverse to the strips. The tow fibers may extend outwardly from the plane of the strips, allowing particles to migrate towards and be retained near the center of the cleaning article, without interfering with the strips.