Cleaning pad having preferred performance with representative cleaning solution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrophobic floors, such as those with aluminum oxide coatings, are difficult to clean due to low coefficient of friction issues with traditional cleaning pads, leading to ineffective absorption and retention of cleaning solutions, especially on dark or shiny surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning pad with a hydrophobic floor sheet and an absorbent core containing absorbent gelling material (AGM), combined with a hydrophilic smoothing strip, providing a specific coefficient of friction range for enhanced cleaning performance and absorbency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional cleaning pad is used on hydrophobic floors, then the cleaning pad glides easily over the surface, but the coefficient of friction is too low to effectively absorb and retain cleaning solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoefficient of frictionVSAvoidabsorbency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning pad is divided into multiple functional layers: a hydrophobic floor sheet for gliding, an absorbent core with AGM for liquid absorption, and a hydrophilic smoothing strip for friction enhancement. Each layer performs a specific function to resolve the contradiction between low friction and poor absorbency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning pad combines materials with different properties: hydrophobic polyolefin for the floor sheet, absorbent gelling material (AGM) in the core, and hydrophilic cellulosic fibers in the smoothing strip. This composite structure enables the pad to simultaneously achieve low friction for easy gliding and high absorbency for effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If too much cleaning solution is used, then the cleaning solution can cover the surface adequately, but not all of it is absorbed and retained by the sheet during cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning solution coverageVSAvoidunabsorbed cleaning solution

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The absorbent core uses absorbent gelling material (AGM) that changes its physical state from liquid to gel upon absorbing cleaning solution. This parameter change enables the core to retain cleaning solution effectively, preventing loss and ensuring adequate coverage without waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning pad concentrates absorbency in the core region containing AGM, while the floor sheet maintains hydrophobicity for gliding. This local differentiation of properties allows the pad to absorb and retain cleaning solution where needed while maintaining ease of operation on the surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the cleaning pad has high absorbency, then it can retain cleaning solution effectively, but the coefficient of friction may become too high making manual cleaning difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveabsorbencyVSAvoidcoefficient of friction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning pad separates the friction function (hydrophobic floor sheet) from the absorbency function (absorbent core with smoothing strip). The floor sheet provides low friction for easy gliding, while the core provides high absorbency, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophilic smoothing strip is placed only in the outwardly facing portion of the core, creating a localized friction-enhancing region. This allows the pad to have high overall absorbency while providing controlled friction only where contact with the floor occurs, maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 cleaning pad effectively absorbs and retains cleaning solutions, preventing redeposition of dirt while maintaining adequate friction for efficient cleaning, even on hydrophobic surfaces, by optimizing the distribution of AGM within the core and the hydrophilic properties of the smoothing strip.

Implementation Method 1

The core has absorbent gelling material (AGM) therein, so that the pad has a particular minimum absorbency as used with water or with common cleaning solutions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

A hydrophilic smoothing strip is joined to the outwardly facing surface of said floor sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10492656B2Cleaning pad having preferred performance with representative cleaning solution

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A cleaning pad for absorbing liquids from a hard, target surface. The cleaning pad has a hydrophobic floor sheet, and a core joined to the floor sheet. The core has absorbent gelling material therein with a gradient distribution, so that the pad has a particular minimum absorbency as used with water or with common amine oxide cleaning solution. A hydrophilic smoothing strip is joined to the outwardly facing surface of said floor sheet. The cleaning pad provides both good absorbency and a coefficient of friction falling within a specified range judged advantageous for cleaning. The absorbency and coefficient of friction work well with both water and an amine oxide cleaning solution.