Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
  • A47L13/38—Other dusting implements
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/249921—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
  • Y10T428/249922—Embodying intertwined or helical component[s]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2913—Rod, strand, filament or fiber
  • Y10T428/2929—Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]

Definitions

• Previous hand-held dusting apparatus or "dusters,” are made from wool or other natural fibers. However, these dusters can be difficult to keep clean and the supply of natural fibers is not stable. Moreover, wool dusters are more expensive than dusters made from manufactured materials. For example, other previous dusters are made from shredded ribbons of plastic, such as polyester or polyamide. However, even these versions have their drawbacks. For example, the ability of the shredded ribbon to hold dirt and dust is quite limited, because of the relatively large size of the fibers as compared to the smaller fibers of microfiber materials. Smaller fibers have mechanical properties that improve the fibers' ability to hold dirt and dust.
• Fig. 1 is a side view of at least a portion of apparatus demonstrating one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 2 is a block-diagram of at least a portion of one embodiment of a method of manufacture according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 3 is a sectional view of at least a portion of a microfiber demonstrating one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the microfiber shown in Fig. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of at least a portion of apparatus demonstrating one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIGs. 6a-6d are schematic diagrams of apparatus demonstrating aspects of the present disclosure.
• first and second features are formed in direct contact
• additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.
• microfiber may be a technical term that may indicate that a fiber is one denier or smaller. Such microf ⁇ bers and larger fibers can be employed within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a microfiber or fiber may be about 0.2 denier after undergoing a splitting process described herein or otherwise. However, lower denier values are also within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, microfibers and other fibers employed according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may comprise polyester, polyamide, nylon, acrylic and/or other synthetic materials.
• FIG. 1 illustrated is a side view of an apparatus 100 demonstrating one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• the apparatus 100 may be referred to herein as a duster or microfiber duster.
• the duster 100 includes a central member 110 and synthetic fiber material 120 extending from at least a portion of the central member 110.
• the central member 110 may be a looped and/or twisted wire.
• the gauge of the wire may range between about 2 and about 24.
• the central member 110 may be or comprise uncoated steel, stainless steel, steel plated metal, galvanized zinc, chromed nickel, and/or other metallic materials, among other materials.
• the central member 110 may also have a plastic coating.
• the material of the central member 110 may be selected such that the central member 110 may be flexible, such that central member 110 may be bent and either return to its original shape or retain the new shape.
• the material of the central member 110 may also, or alternatively, be selected such that a twisted configuration may be achieved during manufacturing.
• the central member 110 may be twisted into a configuration having between about Vz turn and about 5 turns per inch, although other configurations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
• the synthetic fiber material 120 may comprise a plurality of threads, each comprising a plurality of microfibers.
• each thread may comprise between about 50 and about 150 filaments, and each filament may have between about eight and about sixteen microfibers.
• each thread includes 72 filaments.
• threads having less than about 50 filaments, threads having greater than about 150 filaments, filaments having less than about eight microfibers, and/or filaments having greater than about sixteen microfibers may be applicable or readily adaptable to embodiments including threads having less than about 50 filaments, threads having greater than about 150 filaments, filaments having less than about eight microfibers, and/or filaments having greater than about sixteen microfibers.
• the synthetic fiber material 120 may generally have a denier value ranging between about 0.01 and about 50. In one embodiment, the synthetic fiber material 120 may have a denier value ranging between about .09 and about 17. In another embodiment, the synthetic fiber material 120 may have a denier value ranging between about 0.1 and about 30. In yet another embodiment, the synthetic fiber material 120 may have a denier value ranging between about 0.2 and about 15.
• Example denier values of the filaments within the scope of the present disclosure include 2 denier, 3 denier, and 5 denier (pre-split filaments). The example denier values and ranges described above may be applicable to the raw microfiber material prior to a fiber splitting process employed during the manufacture of the duster 100, and/or to the microfiber material after such splitting process.
• the diameter D of the synthetic fiber material 120 section of the duster 100 may range between about four inches and about twelve inches.
• the diameter D of the synthetic fiber material 120 may be about six inches.
• the length L of the synthetic fiber material section 120 of the duster 100 may range between about two inches and about thirty inches.
• the length L of the synthetic fiber material 120 may be about three inches, about twelve inches, or about eighteen inches.
• other values of the diameter D and the length L are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
• the linear density of the synthetic fiber material 120 used in the duster 100 may vary depending on the diameter.
• a larger diameter D may require a larger linear density of synthetic fiber material 120 than a smaller diameter D.
• the linear density for a six inch diameter D may vary between about five grams per centimeter and about thirty grams per centimeter. In one embodiment, a linear density of about eighteen grams per centimeter is used for a six inch diameter D. If too small of a linear density is used, then there may not be enough synthetic fiber material 120 to effectively trap and hold dirt and dust. Using a linear density that is too large may hinder the fibers' ability to separate, and may thus hamper the ability of the synthetic fiber material 120 to effectively trap and hold dirt and dust. Linear density values other than those described above are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
• the duster 100 may also include a handle 130.
• the central member 110 may extend through at least a portion of the handle 130, or the central member 110 and the handle 130 may be coupled end-to-end. In either case, the handle 130 may be secured to the central member 110 by a friction or interference fit, adhesive, crimping, and/or other means.
• the handle 130 may also include a button, slide, or other means for aiding the removal of the central member 110 from the handle 130. Such means may include latching means for preventing inadvertent removal of the central member 110 from the handle 130.
• the duster 100 may also include a cap 140.
• the central member 110 may extend through at least a portion of the cap 140, or the central member 110 and the cap 140 may be coupled end-to-end. In either case, the cap 140 may be secured to the central member 110 by a friction or interference fit, adhesive, crimping, and/or other means.
• the handle 130 and/or the cap 140 may be wooden, metallic, or plastic.
• a block-diagram depicting at least a portion of a manufacturing method 200 according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• the method 200 includes a step 210 in which raw micro fibers contained in the filaments of a thread are split.
• a bi-component filament design may be employed, such that there are two separate materials (such as polyester and nylon) that are joined during yarn manufacture.
• all the filaments may be made of one material (such as polyester, nylon, acrylic or any other synthetic fiber).
• filament designs other than those described above are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
• each raw microfiber 300 may include a central portion 310 and a plurality of outer segments 320.
• the central portion 310 may have a spoked or star-shaped cross-sectional geometry, such as in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, the outer segments 320 may each have a wedge-shaped cross- sectional geometry, such as in the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3.
• the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to microfibers having portions according to the cross-sectional geometry examples shown in Fig. 3.
• the number of outer segments 320 in each fiber 300 maybe less than or greater than the eight segments 320 shown in Fig. 3.
• the central portion 310 and the outer segments 320 may comprise polyester, polyamide, nylon, and/or other materials.
• the central portion 310 may comprise polyester and the outer segments 320 may each comprise nylon.
• the outer segments 320 may be partially or completely separated from the central portion 310 during the fiber splitting step 210 of method 200.
• the splitting step 210 may include agitating the fiber 300 in the presence of heat and/or a chemical solution selected to separate the outer segments 320 from the central portion 310.
• the chemical solution may comprise lye and/or other caustic compositions.
• the heat and/or chemical solution may also be employed in the absence of agitation.
• the outer segments 320 may become substantially or completely separated from the central portion 310.
• the outer segments 320 may become only partially separated from the central portion 310.
• the microfiber threads may be wound around a central member (e.g., the central member 110 shown in Fig. 1) in a step 220.
• the winding process may be performed substantially simultaneously, and possibly as a result of, a process employed to twist a wire forming the central member.
• end pieces may be attached to the central member.
• a handle and/or cap such as those shown in Fig. 1 maybe attached to the appropriate end of the central member.
• the method 200 may include an optional step 240 in which some or all of the microfiber threads are dyed one or more colors before the threads are wound on the central member.
• the dye process of step 240 may also or alternatively be performed after the threads are wound on the central member in step 220 and/or before the splitting process of step 210.
• the method 200 may also include an optional step 250 in which some or all of the microfiber threads are cut into separate threads before the end pieces are attached in step 230.
• This thread cutting step 250 maybe performed after the winding process of step 220 or elsewhere in the method 200.
• the thread cutting step 250 may optionally be performed substantially simultaneously with, and perhaps as a consequence of, the winding process of step 220.
• FIG. 5 illustrated is a side view of an apparatus 500 demonstrating one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• the apparatus 500 is substantially similar to the apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1.
• the apparatus 500 includes a central member 510, a microfiber portion 520, and a handle 530, each of which may be substantially similar in composition and manufacture relative to corresponding components of the apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1.
• the central member 510/110 may substantially comprise a flexible material. Consequently, the central member 510/110 may be configured in a variety of shapes to suit a variety of applications.
• the central member 510 is configured in a closed or substantially closed loop. Consequently, the duster 500 may be employed to remove dust and other particulate from a ceiling fan blade by inserting the ceiling fan blade through the loop and brushing the microfiber portion 520 across the blade.
• the looped configuration of the central member 510 has a generally rectangular shape.
• the looped central member 510 may also have other shapes, such as a circular shape resembling a conventional toilet bowl brush, or a slender shape configured to fit into small spaces, among other shapes.
• the apparatus 100, the apparatus 500, and/or other embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also include coupling means 550 at an end of the handle 530 opposite the microfiber portion 520.
• the coupling means 550 may be adhered, latched, clamped or otherwise attached to the handle 530, although the coupling means 550 may also be formed integral to the handle 530.
• the coupling means 550 is configured to couple the apparatus 500 to, for example, an extension pole.
• the coupling means 550 forms one half of a threaded coupling.
• the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment.
• Fiber may mean material that is generated by splitting a filament.
• Filament may refer to either pre-split material that contains microfibers, or a filament may refer to a synthetic material that is small and cannot be split.
• Thread may mean the combination of multiple filaments that may be woven into a cloth (pre-split) or wound to form a duster (post- split). Threads may come on a spool and may be used to make a tangible product. Nonetheless, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the common industrial meanings these terms may have.
• Figs. 6a-6d are schematic diagrams of various microfiber material manufacturing stages according to aspects of the present disclosure.
• Fig. 6a is a schematic diagram of a single bi-component filament 610. The bi-component filament design is discussed above, and is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3 and 4.
• Fig. 6b is a schematic diagram of a single "islands in the sea" filament 620, in which a plurality of substantially round or otherwise shaped microfibers (the "islands") 622 are encased in another material (the "sea") 624.
• the islands 622 may comprise polyester and/or other synthetics.
• the islands 622 within a single filament 620 may each comprise the same material.
• a single filament 620 may comprise islands 622 of more than one material.
• Fig. 6c is a microfiber thread 630 comprising a plurality of microfiber filaments 635.
• 50 to 100 single filaments 635 each possibly being about 3 denier, may be combined to create the thread 630, which may result in about 150 denier.
• One or more of the single filaments 635 combined to form the thread 630 shown in Fig. 6c may be substantially similar or identical to the filament 610 shown in Fig. 6a and/or the filament 620 shown in Fig. 6b.
• a filament employs the "islands in the sea” approach, then upon splitting the filament, the sea may be dissolved, leaving the small islands.
• the "islands in the sea” design may yield as many as 1200 microfibers from one strand of yarn consisting of about 70 filaments.
• each thread comprises 72 filaments and the splitting process releases 1152 microfibers, resulting in a denier of about 0.2.
• the resulting cloth may be dyed and then wound onto central member to form a microfiber duster (such as shown in Figs. 1 or 5) or other apparatus within the scope of the present disclosure.
• an apparatus comprising a central member and a synthetic fiber material portion extending radially outward from the central member along at least a portion of the central member and comprising a plurality of synthetic threads, wherein each of the plurality of threads comprises a plurality of synthetic filaments, and wherein each of the plurality of filaments comprises a plurality of synthetic microfibers.
• the plurality of synthetic microfibers may comprise a plurality of bi-component microfibers and/or a plurality of "islands in the sea" microfibers.
• the synthetic fiber material portion may have a denier value ranging between about 0.01 denier and about 50 denier, a denier value ranging between about 0.1 denier and about 30 denier, a denier value ranging between about 0.09 denier and about 17 denier, a denier value ranging between about 0.2 denier and about 15 denier, or a denier value of about 0.7 denier.
• the plurality of filaments may comprise between about 50 and about 150 filaments, and the plurality of microfibers may comprise between about 8 and about 16 microfibers.
• the synthetic fiber material portion may have a linear density ranging between about 5 grams per centimeter and about 30 grams per centimeter at a synthetic fiber material portion diameter of about 6 inches, or a linear density of about 18 grams per centimeter at a synthetic fiber material portion diameter of about 6 inches.
• the central member may comprise a twisted metallic wire having a plastic coating, wherein the twisted wire may have a number of turns ranging between about 0.5 and about 5 turns per inch.
• the apparatus may further comprise a handle detachably coupled to the central member.
• the present disclosure also introduces a method of manufacturing an apparatus comprising (1) processing a plurality of synthetic threads, wherein the plurality of threads comprises a plurality of synthetic filaments, wherein each of the plurality of filaments comprises a plurality of synthetic microfibers, and wherein processing the plurality of threads comprises splitting each of the plurality of filaments to release the plurality of microfibers therein; and (2) winding the threads onto a central member.
• the processing may be performed before, after or during the winding.
• Splitting the filaments may comprise exposing the filaments to at least one of heat and a chemical solution, and may further comprise agitating the filaments in the presence of the at least one of the heat and the chemical solution.
• the method may further comprise adding color to a plurality of the threads.
• Each of the plurality of filaments may be one of a bi-component filament and an "islands in the sea" filament.
• the present disclosure also provides an apparatus comprising: (1) a central member comprising a twisted metallic wire having a number of turns ranging between about 0.5 and about 5 turns per inch; (2) a handle detachably coupled to a first end of the central member; (3) a cap attached to a second end of the central member; and (4) a synthetic fiber 007/062331
• each of the plurality of threads comprises between about 50 and about 150 synthetic filaments
• each of the synthetic filaments comprises between about 8 and about 16 microfibers
• the synthetic fiber material portion has a denier value of about 0.7 denier, a linear density of about 18 grams per centimeter, and a diameter of about 6 inches.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38169408

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2007
  • 2007-02-16 WO PCT/US2007/062331 patent/WO2007103625A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-02-16 EP EP20070757132 patent/EP1993425A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-02-16 CN CNA2007800079929A patent/CN101516248A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-02-16 US US11/675,997 patent/US20090123725A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-02-16 CA CA 2654437 patent/CA2654437A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-03-01 TW TW96107013A patent/TWI438316B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events