Floor cleaning article having strips with differential bond pattern
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 has layers joined to the sheet by elongate 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 independently flex and conform to surface variations. The strips are connected through a bond line that allows relative movement, enabling the cleaning surface to adapt dynamically to crevices and grout lines while maintaining liquid absorption capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning article is divided into multiple separate strips connected at a bond line, rather than using a single continuous flat sheet. This segmentation allows each strip to move independently and conform to surface irregularities, preventing dirt re-deposition by ensuring continuous contact with the cleaning surface including crevices and grout lines.
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 invention uses a flexible sheet material with strips formed thereon, replacing traditional tow fiber construction. This thin film approach maintains the flexibility and conformability needed for effective cleaning while preventing the matting issue that plagues tow fibers when wet, making it suitable for large surface areas.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single bond line is used to attach strips to the sheet, then manufacturing is simplified, but cleaning adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bond line itself is segmented into multiple discrete bonding locations along the length of the strips, rather than using a continuous bond. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing discrete bonding operations while maintaining the ability of strips to flex and conform to surfaces between bond points.
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, reduces re-deposition of dirt, and cleans into crevices and grout lines with minimal surface damage, improving cleaning efficacy and user mobility.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrophilic gather strip element having strips and joined to the sheet at an elongate bond
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning article effectively absorbs and retains liquids
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.