Stitch-Bonded Cleaning Pad Structure for Absorbency and Secure Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning pads for floors and surfaces often lack an optimal combination of absorbency, scrubbing efficiency, and attachment mechanism, leading to inadequate fluid retention and surface cleaning performance.

Innovation Solution

A stitch-bonded cleaning pad with multiple layers of absorbent nonwoven material and a fluid-blocking polymer film, featuring multi-filament stitching yarns that form raised loops for cleaning and flat locking stitches for attachment, providing both effective scrubbing and fluid absorption through a hook and loop system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional cleaning pads use simple layered construction without stitch bonding, then manufacturing is simpler, but absorbency and fluid retention are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid absorption capacityVSAvoidpad construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional layers (absorbent nonwoven layers, fluid-blocking polymer film, stitching yarns) into a single integrated stitch-bonded construction. The stitching yarns penetrate through all layers simultaneously, merging the absorbent, blocking, and structural functions into one unified pad structure that achieves enhanced fluid retention without requiring separate assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials comprising absorbent nonwoven materials combined with fluid-blocking polymer films and multi-filament stitching yarns. This composite construction allows the pad to simultaneously provide high absorbency through the nonwoven layers, fluid blocking through the polymer film, and structural integrity through the stitched yarns, resolving the contradiction between fluid retention and construction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If cleaning pads use raised loops for scrubbing, then surface cleaning efficiency improves, but attachment security to mop head deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface cleaning efficiencyVSAvoidattachment security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different surface characteristics in different regions of the pad. The front surface features raised loops for effective scrubbing action, while the rear surface provides a substantially flat engagement surface for secure attachment to the mop head. This spatial differentiation allows the pad to simultaneously achieve high cleaning efficiency and reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pad structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cleaning surface with raised loops for scrubbing and an engagement surface with flat stitches for attachment. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and attachment security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If multiple layers are stacked for absorbency, then fluid retention improves, but structural integrity and attachment capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid retention capacityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple absorbent layers with a fluid-blocking polymer film and multi-filament stitching yarns into a single stitch-bonded construction. The stitching yarns penetrate through all layers, binding them together into one structurally integrated unit that maintains high fluid retention capacity while achieving superior structural integrity and attachment capability compared to traditionally stacked layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 pad achieves enhanced absorbency, scrubbing efficiency, and secure attachment, ensuring effective dirt retention and fluid management, while maintaining a lightweight and durable structure for efficient cleaning operations.

Implementation Method 1

Interior layers of fibrous material in combination with superabsorbent polymer additives serve to absorb and hold fluid from the surface being cleaned

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a multiplicity of stitching yarns is passed repeatedly in stitching relation through one or more substrate layers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

One face of the pad defines a cleaning surface of raised yarn loops formed by the stitched yarns

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical abrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 4

The stitches of yarns across the attachment surface define an engagement surface for attachment to cooperating hooking elements across a surface of a mop head to define a hook and loop attachment system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2418996B1Cleaning system incorporating stitch bonded cleaning pad with multi-filament stitches
Publication Date: 2015.10.21 TIETEX INTERNATIONAL LTD
  • EP2418996B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2418996B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2418996B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A cleaning pad structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent nonwoven material with an optional additional fluid blocking substrate layer of polymer film or other suitable material in juxtaposed relation to the absorbent nonwoven layers. Stitching yarns are introduced in stitching relation through the substrate layers. One face of the pad defines a cleaning surface of raised yarn loops formed by the stitched yarns. The pad further includes an attachment surface facing away from the cleaning surface. The stitches of yarns across the attachment surface define an engagement surface for attachment to cooperating hooking elements across a surface of a mop head to define a hook and loop attachment system.