Floor cleaning article having strips with differential bond pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning articles, such as rags and disposable dusters, are inadequate for cleaning large or heavily wetted surfaces as they can redeposit dirt and fail to effectively clean into crevices or grout lines due to their flat design.
Innovation Solution
A laminate construction cleaning article with a hydrophilic gather strip element and a sheet, where the gather strip element comprises multiple layers joined to the sheet with varying bonds, providing a dynamic surface area for effective cleaning and minimizing re-deposition of dirt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a generally flat floor sheet is used for cleaning, then liquid absorption is improved, but dirt re-deposition occurs and crevices are not adequately cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The floor cleaning article transitions from a static flat sheet to a dynamic structure with movable strips that can be pressed into crevices and grout lines. The strips are configured to move and adapt to the surface topology, allowing the cleaning article to dynamically change its contact surface area and shape during the cleaning process, thereby preventing dirt re-deposition and effectively cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds vertical dimensionality to the cleaning article by incorporating strips that can be pressed into and along crevices, grout lines, and surface irregularities. This transforms the cleaning action from a two-dimensional surface contact to a three-dimensional engagement with the target surface, enabling effective cleaning of crevices and grout lines that a flat sheet cannot reach.
2Ease of operation
If tow fibers are used for wet cleaning, then cleaning capability is improved, but fibers become matted and unsuitable for large surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning article segments the fiber structure into distinct functional layers: a top layer with upright strips for active cleaning that resists matting, and a bottom layer with absorbent material for liquid retention. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without the drawbacks of the other, maintaining fiber structure stability while preserving cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material construction combining different fiber types and structures - hydrophobic strips in the top layer that resist matting and maintain cleaning effectiveness, and hydrophilic absorbent material in the bottom layer for liquid absorption. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by having each material type perform its strengths without suffering its weaknesses.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single surface configuration is used throughout cleaning, then manufacturing is simplified, but dirt re-deposition occurs on saturated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning article incorporates movable strips that dynamically change their position and contact area during cleaning. As the article moves across the surface, different portions of the strips contact and saturate with dirt, while other portions remain clean and available for continued cleaning. This dynamic redistribution of the cleaning surface prevents dirt re-deposition without requiring complex manufacturing.
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 article effectively absorbs and retains liquids, presenting a dynamic surface area that improves cleaning efficacy by allowing different portions of the gather strip to contact the surface, reducing re-deposition and enhancing the ability to clean crevices and grout lines.
Implementation Method 1
The gather strip element is hydrophilic and effective for absorbing and retaining liquids
Implementation Method 2
The floor cleaning article may include an absorbent core disposed between the gather strip element and the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning article. The cleaning article has a laminate construction. The cleaning article comprises a sheet and a hydrophilic gather strip element joined together at plural bonds. The gather strip element has plural layers superimposed upon one another, providing strips extending outwardly from the bonds. Different layers are differentially bonded, to provide a construction which allows the strips to advantageously present a dynamically changing area to the target surface during cleaning, under normal usage conditions. By changing the surface area, more liquids, and associated debris, can be cleaned from the target surface.