EP0858764B1 - Method for removing either dry or damp dirt from a surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention refers to a new application of micro-fibres made of polymers, to manufacture a cloth to remove either dry or damp dirt from glasses, metallic, wooden, plastic-coated and other smooth surfaces, by using only water and without any chemical detergents. The cloth is ready for use after getting dipped for a few minutes in water brought to the boil.

Description

The invention refers to a new application of synthetic fibres, generally called micro-fibres, for manufacturing a cloth to remove either dry or damp dirt.

To remove dirt from surfaces such as, for example, surfaces of glasses, furniture, metallic surfaces of cars, plastic-coated surfaces, taps and fittings, tiles, paving-tiles, silverware, crystal work, etc., it is necessary to make use of clothes which neither scratch the surfaces nor form haloes over them, but which are capable of removing dirt entirely.

The traditional cloth does not have such necessary requisites and call for the use of detergent substances which often spoil the surfaces to be cleaned.

Furthermore, since said traditional clothes are to be soaked with water mixed with chemical detergents, the drying out of said surfaces is to be carried out by making use of dry clothes, the cleaning so requiring more time to be done.

In some cases, for example if a car windscreen is to be cleaned by simply using water, in lack of proper detergent substances, dirt may not be removed.

At last, while removing either dust or, in particular, the earthy materials which gather over the metallic surface of cars during their motion, the traditional clothes may scratch the surfaces or not completely remove dirt.

The US Patent N. 4346,127 issued in August 24, 1992, discloses the process to prepare an absorbing mop material having a weight grams ranging from 100 to 750 gr/sqm, comprising a substrating of non woven fibres and flexible, porous polymeric binders.

This mop material contains non woven web of textile fibres of cellulose material, a polymeric aqueous dispersion of a thermo coagulating agents suitable for thermo regulation, and expanding agents instead of polyurethane and polyamide.

The other claims refer to other treatment and to inclusion of other components etc.

Therefore the invention relates above all to the procedure for preparing the absorbing mop and not to the applications and the mode to use the cloth, i.e. the use without detergent substances that spoil the surfaces to be cleaned, without the use of dry clothes to drying the surfaces with chemical detergents.

Furthermore the US Patent N. 4346,127 does not disclose the application to clean for example of the windscreen by simply using water in lack of proper detergent substances and removing the dust and earthy materials from the surface of a car with a dry cloth.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method apt to remove dirt just by means of water and without any chemical detergent, so overcoming all the above said drawbacks.

After removing dirt without chemical detergents, the cloth may be rinsed, so to be once more well cleaned and ready for use.

The cloth, in use is apt to remove dry dirt by rubbing the surfaces which maybe used without scratching the surface, and which is also apt to remove damp dirt by means of an absorbing action obtained by simply making use of water.

Furthermore, the invention solves the problem of providing a method of using cloth which perfectly stands abrasion and tearing, and which has physical and chemical properties which do not get altered when the cloth is exposed to temperatures from -30'C up to + 130°C.

The cloth used in the method according to the invention is made of synthetic fibres, i.e. micro-fibres preferably deriving from polyamide and polyurethane, which form velvet elements acting like micro-spoons and apt to gather and remove dry dirt without scratching the surfaces.

Another very important feature of the cloth used in the method according to the invention is due to the fact that, together with water, it first keeps damp dirt and then, after absorbing it, releases said dirt (water-repellent action) as soon as said cloth is washed by means of clean water.

In other words, the cloth, soaked with water, works like a soap, i.e. it reduces the surface tension of the water which touches dirt, so as to facilitate the absorption of said dirt.

This is achieved by a method according to claim 1, said Method for removing either dry or damp dirt from a surface, the surfaces being glasses, or metallic, wooden, plastic-coated and other similar surfaces, being characterised by the fact that a cloth made of micro-fibres, of polyamide and/or polyurethane and/or polyester is used, and that, prior to its use and once for all, the cloth is dipped in water brought to the boil for about 10 minutes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cloth is made of 50% of micro-fibres of polyamide and 50% of polyurethane micro-fibres.

In another embodiment, the cloth is made of 50% of micro-fibers of polyamide and 50% of microfibers of polyester.

Said compositions may however vary of 20% of the above indicated ones.

Claims (10)

1. Method for removing either dry or damp dirt from a surface, the surfaces being glasses, or metallic, wooden, plastic-coated and other similar surfaces, characterised by the fact that a cloth made of micro-fibres, of polyamide and/or polyurethane and/or polyester is used, and that, prior to its use and once for all, the cloth is dipped in water brought to the boil for about 10 minutes.
2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the use of a cloth made by 50% of micro-fibres of polyamide and 50% of polyurethane micro-fibres.
3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the use of a cloth made by 50% of micro-fibres of polyamide and 50% micro fibers of polyester.
4. Method as claimed in claims 2 and 3, characterised by the use of a cloth made by micro-fibres having compositions which may vary of about 20% of the above indicated ones.
5. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the use of a cloth made by fibres suitable to stand temperature from -30'C up to + 130°C.
6. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by an absorbing action of the cloth.
7. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by using a cloth made of micro- fibres that cause, together with water, a soap-like effect which entraps dirts.
8. Method as claimed in claims 1 and 7, characterised by the fact that the micro-fibres of the cloth have to be structured so as to repel the water containing the dirt as soon as they are soaked with clean water.
9. Application of the method as claimed in previous claims, for removing dirt without using chemical detergents.
10. Application of the method as claimed in previous claims, for removing dirt, dust, sand only with water.