Cleaning wipe

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disposable and washable floor cleaning wipes often fail to effectively clean surfaces with varied textures, leaving detritus in the valleys of the floor surface due to their inadequate topographical variation in the floor-contacting layer.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer cleaning wipe design featuring a first and second nonwoven layer with gate folds and interlaced strips, where more than 10% of the second nonwoven strips are bent out of plane, creating a fluffier, three-dimensional structure that can conform to irregular floor surfaces, enhancing cleaning efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional flat laminate layers are used in cleaning wipes, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cleaning wipe cannot effectively clean valleys of textured floor surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to clean textured floor surfacesVSAvoidstructure of cleaning wipe layers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by transforming flat nonwoven layers into three-dimensional structures with loops, gates, and out-of-plane bends. The first and second nonwoven layers are configured with loops and gates that protrude toward each other, creating a conforming surface that can adapt to textured floor valleys rather than remaining flat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat laminate layers to three-dimensional structures by creating loops, gates, and bent configurations that extend out of the plane. This dimensional change allows the cleaning wipe to physically engage with vertical and depth components of textured floor surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If flat nonwoven layers are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the cleaning wipe lacks topographical variation needed for conforming to floor surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopographical variation of floor contacting layerVSAvoidprocess of creating nonwoven layers

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments each nonwoven layer into multiple functional components including loops, gates, and straight portions. The first nonwoven layer is divided into loops extending upward and gates extending toward the second layer, while the second nonwoven layer is segmented into corresponding structures, creating topographical variation through systematic division

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates nested structures where loops of the first nonwoven layer contain or surround gate portions, and multiple layers are nested together with the second nonwoven layer positioned within or alongside the first layer's loop structures, forming complex three-dimensional configurations from simpler components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If conventional laminate structure is used, then the cleaning wipe is easier to operate, but it leaves detritus in floor valleys due to inadequate conforming ability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidusage of cleaning wipe

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes physical parameters of the nonwoven layers including loop size, gate dimensions, bend angles, and layer spacing to optimize conforming ability. These parameter adjustments enable the cleaning wipe to reliably adapt to various floor textures while maintaining ease of operation through consistent structural properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240115103A1Cleaning wipe

Publication Date: 2024.04.11 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A cleaning wipe including a first nonwoven having a plurality of first nonwoven strips and a second nonwoven having a plurality of second nonwoven strips. The first nonwoven and the second nonwoven are each gate folded. More than about 10% of the second nonwoven strips are bent so that the free ends of the second nonwoven strips are bent out of plane relative to the fixed ends of the second nonwoven strips.