Pre-loaded floor wipes with improved pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor cleaning systems are ineffective in picking up and retaining high aspect ratio particles, such as long hairs, due to their complex multi-layer structures and poor air permeability, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pre-loaded cleaning substrate with specific characteristics, including a basis weight greater than 100 g/m², air permeability of 45-75 ft³/min, fiber diameter of 10-15 μm, and a cleaning composition with a surface tension modifier, which enables efficient pick-up and retention of particles with L/D aspect ratios greater than 3000.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing floor cleaning pads use complex multi-layer structures to tackle tough dirt, then cleaning effectiveness on some surfaces is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and particle pick-up capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex multi-layer structure from existing cleaning pads, replacing it with a single-layer substrate that has specifically engineered properties (basis weight 80-200 g/m², air permeability 30-80 ft³/min, fiber diameter 5-20 μm). This simplification removes unnecessary complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through optimized single-layer characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling substrate properties including basis weight (80-200 g/m²), air permeability (30-80 ft³/min), fiber diameter (5-20 μm), and surface roughness (Ra 0.5-5 μm). These parameter optimizations enable the simplified single-layer structure to achieve both effective cleaning and improved particle pick-up capability.
2Reliability
If existing floor cleaning pads use complex multi-layer structures, then some cleaning characteristics are improved, but particle pick-up capability particularly for high aspect ratio particles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous materials by engineering the substrate with controlled air permeability (30-80 ft³/min) through specific fiber diameter (5-20 μm) and surface roughness (Ra 0.5-5 μm). This porous structure creates capillary action and increased surface area that significantly improves pick-up of high aspect ratio particles like hair, while maintaining effective cleaning characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing cleaning pads use traditional structures, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but particle retention capability particularly for long hairs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes substrate parameters including basis weight (80-200 g/m²), fiber diameter (5-20 μm), and surface roughness (Ra 0.5-5 μm) to enhance particle retention. The cleaning composition is also formulated with specific surface tension (20-60 dynes/cm) and viscosity (10-1000 cP) parameters. These parameter changes improve long hair retention while maintaining ease of manufacture through a simplified single-layer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system by combining the engineered substrate (with specific fiber properties and surface characteristics) with a specially formulated cleaning composition (surface tension 20-60 dynes/cm, viscosity 10-1000 cP). This composite approach enhances particle retention capability, particularly for long hairs, while the simplified single-layer structure maintains manufacturing efficiency.
4Strength
If existing floor cleaning pads have poor air permeability, then structural integrity is maintained, but cleaning efficiency and particle pick-up capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials with controlled air permeability (30-80 ft³/min) achieved through specific fiber diameter (5-20 μm) and surface roughness (Ra 0.5-5 μm). This porous structure improves cleaning efficiency and particle pick-up capability by allowing better contact with the cleaning surface and enhanced capillary action, while the optimized fiber network maintains adequate structural integrity.
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 substrate effectively picks up and retains more than 60% of high aspect ratio particles, demonstrating improved hair pick-up and retention capabilities compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning composition including water and a surface tension modifier (e.g., a surfactant and/or solvent) where the surface tension of the cleaning composition is less than 50 dynes/cm
Implementation Method 2
particle pick up, adhesion and retention of particles with an L/D aspect ratio greater than 3000, to the pre-loaded cleaning substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 μm, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).