GB2455413A - Anti-microbial cleaning aid - Google Patents
Anti-microbial cleaning aid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2455413A GB2455413A GB0821986A GB0821986A GB2455413A GB 2455413 A GB2455413 A GB 2455413A GB 0821986 A GB0821986 A GB 0821986A GB 0821986 A GB0821986 A GB 0821986A GB 2455413 A GB2455413 A GB 2455413A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- ground structure
- yarn
- copper
- cleaning aid
- aid according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- 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
- A47L13/16—Cloths; Pads; Sponges
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B1/00—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
- D04B1/02—Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features
- D04B1/04—Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features characterised by thread material
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
- Knitting Of Fabric (AREA)
Abstract
An anti-microbial cleaning aid (40) comprises a body and at least one strand of copper wire or yarn in or on the body. The copper wire or yarn preferably has a thickness of 0.05-0.5mm may be in regularly spaced lines between 0.1mm and 10cm and maybe a copper alloy of at least 50% copper. The body of the aid may comprise resilient thermoplastic foam or cloth of natural or man-made fibres. The aid may comprise abrading sheet material (10) which is secured to a backing layer (42). The abrading sheet material (10) comprises a knitted ground structure (14) with looped threads (12) raised from a surface. The ground structure (14) may comprise a copper yarn arranged in parallel lines. The backing layer (42) may have parallel lines of copper wire which are arranged transversely to the parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure (14) to form a grid. The cleaning aid is intended to provide protection against MRSA and C-difficile.
Description
TITLE: ANTI-MICROBIAL CLEANING AID
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an anti-microbial cleaning aid and a method of making the same. The anti-microbial * .1 cleaning aid may include an abrading material for use, for * S..
example, in the manufacture of scouring pads and/or cloths with enhanced resistance to culturing bacteria including *SSS** * MRSA and C.difficile. **.*
: Background Art
*: GB-B-2157329 discloses a method of making an abrading sheet material which comprises knitting a ground structure from a mixture of a polyester and a heat shrinkable PVC yarn with laid-in floated threads of a second material of polyester which is harder than and either non-shrinkable or less shrinkable than the ground structure materials, then shrinking the ground structure so that loops of the second material are raised from a surface thereof.
WO-A-97192].]. discloses a method of making an abrading material which comprises knitting a ground structure comprising a heat shrinkable polyolef in yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a surface of the ground structure, and shrinking the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure.
Materials made in accordance with GB-B-2157329 and WO-A-971921]. provide good abrading properties but do not defend against MRSA and associated culturing bacteria adequately.
It is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning aid, perhaps with an abrading surface, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may offer a much higher degree of protection against MRSA and *:*. associated culturing bacteria.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Aspects of the invention are defined in the appendant independent claims to which reference should now be made.
Embodiments of the invention are defined in the appendant dependent claims to which reference should also now be made.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making an anti-microbial cleaning aid, comprising: knitting a ground structure comprising a shrinkable yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a surface of the ground structure; and shrinking the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure; characterized in that the ground structure comprises a copper yarn.
For the purposes of the present specification, the
copper yarn may comprise or consist of a single or multi-stranded wire of substantially pure copper (e.g. at least 95% by weight copper) or a wire or strand of a high-copper alloy such as brass. The high copper alloy may comprise at least 50% by weight copper, perhaps even at least 60% by weight copper. The anti-microbial properties of copper and high-copper alloys are well known. In hospitals, frequently touched surfaces such as door handles and push plates made of copper and high copper alloys are being used to help prevent the spread of infections by touch in an effort to reduce hospital-acquired infections. The present applicant has found that the presence of copper yarn in the ground structure may help to inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens in cleaning products. Thus, such cleaning products made in accordance with the present invention may help to prevent the spread of bacteria from one surface to another by contact when the surfaces are being cleaned.
The copper yarn has a denier or thickness suitable for knitting into the ground structure. For example, the copper yarn may have a thickness of less than 0.50mm (5.0x104m). Furthermore, the copper yarn may have a thickness greater than 0.050mm (5.0x105m). For example, the copper yarn may have a thickness of about 0.10mm (1.0x104m) The copper yarn may be arranged in substantially parallel courses or lines in the ground structure (at least when positioned unstretched on a planar substrate).
The parallel lines may be regularly spaced across the ground structure. The spacing may be in the range from 0.10mm (l.0x104m) to 10cm (l.0x10'm), perhaps from 0.50mm (5.OxlO4m) to 5.0cm (5.0x102m), or perhaps even from 1.0mm (l.OxlO3m) to 5.0mm (5.0x103m). The preferred spacing between adjacent pairs of parallel lines of copper yarn may depend, at least in part, on the thickness of the copper yarn. For example, for a copper yarn with a thickness of 0.10mm (1.0x104m), the spacing may be as little as 0.20mm (2.OxlO4m) The shrinkable yarn may be a polyolef in yarn. The shrinkable yarn may be a PVC yarn, but a polyolef in yarn is preferred. The looped threads are preferably of a *:*. material which is harder than the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure.
Preferably the shrinkable yarn is heat shrinkable, and preferably the method of making the anti-microbial cleaning aid comprises the step of heat treating the ground structure so that the shrinkable yarn in the ground structure contracts to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place. The heat shrinking properties of the shrinkable yarn are preferably controlled by subjecting the yarn to a pre-treatrnent process, known per se, which Consists of nipping the yarn at intervals along its length under pressure and at a temperature above it heat shrinking temperature.
When the material is heated with the looped threads raised from the surface of the ground structure, the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure grips the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure. The copper yarn of ground structure is also held by the shrinkable yarn.
Preferably the ground structure further comprises a yarn which is substantially non heat shrinkable or which is less heat shrinkable than the shrinkable yarn, e.g. polyester yarn.
* Preferably the looped threads are of polyester. The looped threads maybe of a yarn or tape made by cutting a synthetic polyester film such as that sold under the registered trademark Mylar'. It would be appreciated however that other abrasive tapes or yarns maybe utilised.
The method may further comprise the step of restraining the ground structure against shrinkage during heat treatment so that the shrinkable yarn in the ground structure contracts to lock the loops in place.
During the knitting process the looped forming material will preferably be positively feed through the knitting machine to form the loops, rather than being held under tension during knitting.
The method may further comprise securing the ground structure to or around an absorbent member (e.g. a pad of resilient thermoplastic material or a cotton cloth). The absorbent member may comprise copper. In this way, the anti-microbial properties of copper may be able to act upon fluids absorbed by the absorbent member. The absorbent member may comprise a copper wire (e.g. a single or multi-strand wire of substantially pure copper or a high-copper alloy). The copper wire may have a thickness of less than 0.50mm (5.0x104m), and may have a thickness greater than 0. 050mm (5.OxlO5m). For example, the copper wire may have a thickness of about 0.10mm (l.0x104m). The copper wire may be arranged in lines (e.g. parallel lines) in or on the absorbent member, and such parallel lines may be regularly spaced across the absorbent member. For example, the spacing may be in the range from 0. 10mm 0**S (1.0x104m) to 10cm (1.0x10'm), perhaps from 0.50mm (5.0x104m) to 5.0cm (5.0x102m), or perhaps even from 1.0mm (1.0x103m) to 5.0mm (5.0x103m) . The parallel lines of copper wire in the absorbent member may be arranged transversely to any parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure so as to form a grid-like array. The spacing between parallel lines of copper wire in the absorbent member and the spacing between parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure may be the same or different. The grid-like array may be orthogonal, and may define rectangles or squares in between the parallel lines of copper wire and yarn.
The step of securing the ground structure to or around the absorbent member may comprise sewing, using adhesives, welding or heat bonding. If sewing, a copper wire may be used to stitch the ground structure to or around the absorbent member. The copper wire may be in electrical contact with the copper yarn in one or more positions.
The absorbent member may comprise a resilient thermoplastic material, such as polyurethane foam.
Alternatively or additionally, the absorbent member may comprise a cloth of natural fibres (e.g. cotton) or man-made fibres. The cloth may comprise at least two layers, with the copper wire sandwiched therebetween.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-microbial cleaning aid comprising a sheet of abrading material comprising a *,..
knitted ground structure with looped threads raised from a surface of the ground structure, the ground structure comprising copper yarn. The looped threads may be locked in place in the ground structure by a shrunken yarn, e.g. S...
*:*.; a polyolef in yarn. The ground structure may further comprise another yarn which is substantially non-shrinkable or which is less shrinkable than the shrunken yarn. The another yarn may be polyester. The percentage relation of ends of the another yarn (e.g. polyester) and ends of copper yarn may be from 1% to 75%, perhaps 5% to 50%, possibly even 40%.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-microbial cleaning aid comprising an absorbent body for absorbing liquids during cleaning, characterised in that at least one strand of copper wire is disposed in or on the absorbent body.
The at least one strand of copper wire may be arranged in a plurality of parallel lines in or on the absorbent body, and such parallel lines may be regularly spaced across or through the absorbent body. The dimensions of the at least one strand of copper wire may be the same as those for the copper yarn of the first aspect of the invention.
The spacings of the parallel lines may be the same as those for the copper yarn of the first aspect of the invention. The absorbent body may be of the same material as the absorbent member of the first aspect of the invention.
Antimicrobial properties may be exhibited by other *,..
metals such as silver and possibly zinc. Thus, the present applicants believe it may be possible to replace the copper in the preceding statements with certain other metals, such as silver or zinc, and still have a viable S..
antimicrobial cleaning aid. * S. * ._
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a pattern illustrating how an abrading material of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is knitted; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the top or working surface of the abrading material of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a side view of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of yet another anti-microbial cleaning aid embodying the present invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic illustration showing construction details of the anti-microbial cleaning aid of Figure 5.
DETAIL,ED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
A ground structure of an abrading sheet material is knitted according to the pattern of Fig.1 in which the x' lines indicate courses of heat shrinkable polyolef in yarn * ** and the + lines indicate course of alternate polyester :*. 20 and copper yarn. However the percentage relation of ends of polyester and copper in the. � lines could vary by economic choice from 1% to 75%, suitably 5% to 50% though ***S preferably the standard production of the material will probably be 40%. The percentage calculation is based upon Fig 1. + lines where the copper substitutes the polyester to the desired percentage. During knitting polyester yarn e.g. that sold under the registered trademark Mylar' in the form of cut tape is laid in, being tucked to each fourth stitch of polyolef in yarn across the courses, the tucks o' of alternative threads of polyester tape having a walewise staggered relationship so that the loops of polyester tape are not in alignment in the direction of the wales of the fabric. The polyester tape is positively threaded through the knitting machine such that the loops are formed above the ground structure.
Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates the top surface of the fabric 10 after it has been knitted. It will be seen that the loops 12 of polyester tape stand up from the ground structure 14. The fabric 10 is now subjected to heat treatment while the opposed edges of the ground structure are held to prevent shrinkage so that the polyolefin yarn of the ground structure shrinks or sets to lock the loops 12 in the ground structure.
Figure 3 illustrates one use of the resulting abrading sheet material 10 of Figures 1 and 2 in an anti-microbial scouring pad 20. A suitably sized piece of the * S. abrading sheet material 10 is secured (e.g. by impulse :*. 20 heat welding) to a pad of resilient thermoplastic material 22 (e.g. polyurethane foam), with the loops 12 exposed over one surface thereof. The opposing surface of the pad :: : of resilient thermoplastic material 22 is covered by a foamed cellulosic layer 24 to form a wiping surface.
Figure 4 illustrates another use of the resulting abrading sheet material 10 of Figures 1 and 2 in a universal anti-microbial scouring pad 30. The abrading sheet material 10 is provided in a sock format with loops 12 on the outer periphery, and is filled with a resilient thermoplastic material 32. The open ends 34 are then sealed for example by heat bending, welding adhesives or sewing (e.g. with copper wire).
Figure 5 illustrates an anti-microbial cleaning scourer 40, which is similar to the scouring pad 20 of Figure 2, but without the resilient thermoplastic material 22. Thus, in anti-microbial cleaning scourer 40, the abrading sheet material 10 is secured to a backing layer 42, for example a foamed cellulosic layer. The abrading sheet material 10 has parallel lines 44 of copper yarn in its ground structure 12, represented schematically in (a) of Figure 6. The backing layer 42 also has parallel lines 46 of copper wire, represented schematically in (b) and (c) of Figure 6. The spacing between the parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure 12 is less than the spacing between the parallel lines of copper wire in the backing layer 42. Before assembled together, the backing * ** layer 42 is rotated relative to the abrading sheet material 10 so that the parallel lines 44 and 46 form a :"! grid when registered, as shown schematically in (d) of Figure 6. *.*
Comparative Testing Two cleaning aids were provided for testing: a) an abrading sheet material in accordance with W097/1921]. (without copper) with a cotton cloth backing; and b) abrading sheet material in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 (with copper yarn approximately 0.1mm thick and spaced on average 2.86mm apart) with a cotton cloth backing.
Each of these samples were cut into 2.5cm squares and placed individually in a sterile Petri dish. Sample (b) was cut to include a uniform number of copper threads in each sample. Each sample was inoculated with 0.5 ml of test organism. This was sufficient to wet the whole of the sample. The samples were placed rough side up to aid absorption of the fluid. The samples were tested to determine colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml) at the following time intervals (mins) 0, 5, 30, 60, and 120, and also after 24 hours. Sufficient numbers of samples were used to test each time interval in duplicate and two blanks. The organisms used were Staph. aureus NCIMB 9575 (6300/mi) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIMB 8626 (4000/mi), representing Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative kinds of *1** bacteria. * *.
Each sample was placed into 9.5m1 of sodium chloride peptone (SCP) (-1 dilution) and mixed using a vortex.
This was then further diluted 1 in 10 (-2). imi samples S.... * .
of each dilution were cultured using a tryptone soya agar S..
:: : (TSA). Plates were incubated at 30°C for two days. The results are set out in Table 1 and notably for sample (b) the level of: Staph. aureaus NCIMB 9575 (initially 6300/mi) is down to 310/mi after 24 hours, a reduction of 95%.
Pseudornonos aeruginosa NCIMB 8626 (initially 4000/mi) is down to 150/mi after 24 hours, a reduction of 96.25%.
It is believed that a cloth scourer 40 as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 may achieve a 99% reduction of organisms.
TABLE 1
Time Staph. aureus PS. aeruginosa (Minutes) (cfuImI) (cfulml) Sample (a) Cloth (no Copper): 0 7500 1560 3900 1700 2130 1200 1990 750 1960 420 (24 hour) 1440 3580 3700 Start 6300 4000 % Decrease 43.2% 7.5% * ** * S * S. S...
a.... Sample (b) Cloth (with Copper): 0 2500 4600 . : 5 2740 2550 a. 30 2950 1380 5800 1140 1900 660 *:* (24 hour) 1440 310 150 I..
. : Start 6300 4000 % Decrease 95.1% 96.3%
TITLE: ANTI-MICROBIAL CLEANING AID
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an anti-microbial cleaning aid and a method of making the same. The anti-microbial * .1 cleaning aid may include an abrading material for use, for * S..
example, in the manufacture of scouring pads and/or cloths with enhanced resistance to culturing bacteria including *SSS** * MRSA and C.difficile. **.*
: Background Art
*: GB-B-2157329 discloses a method of making an abrading sheet material which comprises knitting a ground structure from a mixture of a polyester and a heat shrinkable PVC yarn with laid-in floated threads of a second material of polyester which is harder than and either non-shrinkable or less shrinkable than the ground structure materials, then shrinking the ground structure so that loops of the second material are raised from a surface thereof.
WO-A-97192].]. discloses a method of making an abrading material which comprises knitting a ground structure comprising a heat shrinkable polyolef in yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a surface of the ground structure, and shrinking the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure.
Materials made in accordance with GB-B-2157329 and WO-A-971921]. provide good abrading properties but do not defend against MRSA and associated culturing bacteria adequately.
It is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning aid, perhaps with an abrading surface, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may offer a much higher degree of protection against MRSA and *:*. associated culturing bacteria.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Aspects of the invention are defined in the appendant independent claims to which reference should now be made.
Embodiments of the invention are defined in the appendant dependent claims to which reference should also now be made.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making an anti-microbial cleaning aid, comprising: knitting a ground structure comprising a shrinkable yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a surface of the ground structure; and shrinking the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure; characterized in that the ground structure comprises a copper yarn.
For the purposes of the present specification, the
copper yarn may comprise or consist of a single or multi-stranded wire of substantially pure copper (e.g. at least 95% by weight copper) or a wire or strand of a high-copper alloy such as brass. The high copper alloy may comprise at least 50% by weight copper, perhaps even at least 60% by weight copper. The anti-microbial properties of copper and high-copper alloys are well known. In hospitals, frequently touched surfaces such as door handles and push plates made of copper and high copper alloys are being used to help prevent the spread of infections by touch in an effort to reduce hospital-acquired infections. The present applicant has found that the presence of copper yarn in the ground structure may help to inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens in cleaning products. Thus, such cleaning products made in accordance with the present invention may help to prevent the spread of bacteria from one surface to another by contact when the surfaces are being cleaned.
The copper yarn has a denier or thickness suitable for knitting into the ground structure. For example, the copper yarn may have a thickness of less than 0.50mm (5.0x104m). Furthermore, the copper yarn may have a thickness greater than 0.050mm (5.0x105m). For example, the copper yarn may have a thickness of about 0.10mm (1.0x104m) The copper yarn may be arranged in substantially parallel courses or lines in the ground structure (at least when positioned unstretched on a planar substrate).
The parallel lines may be regularly spaced across the ground structure. The spacing may be in the range from 0.10mm (l.0x104m) to 10cm (l.0x10'm), perhaps from 0.50mm (5.OxlO4m) to 5.0cm (5.0x102m), or perhaps even from 1.0mm (l.OxlO3m) to 5.0mm (5.0x103m). The preferred spacing between adjacent pairs of parallel lines of copper yarn may depend, at least in part, on the thickness of the copper yarn. For example, for a copper yarn with a thickness of 0.10mm (1.0x104m), the spacing may be as little as 0.20mm (2.OxlO4m) The shrinkable yarn may be a polyolef in yarn. The shrinkable yarn may be a PVC yarn, but a polyolef in yarn is preferred. The looped threads are preferably of a *:*. material which is harder than the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure.
Preferably the shrinkable yarn is heat shrinkable, and preferably the method of making the anti-microbial cleaning aid comprises the step of heat treating the ground structure so that the shrinkable yarn in the ground structure contracts to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place. The heat shrinking properties of the shrinkable yarn are preferably controlled by subjecting the yarn to a pre-treatrnent process, known per se, which Consists of nipping the yarn at intervals along its length under pressure and at a temperature above it heat shrinking temperature.
When the material is heated with the looped threads raised from the surface of the ground structure, the shrinkable yarn of the ground structure grips the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure. The copper yarn of ground structure is also held by the shrinkable yarn.
Preferably the ground structure further comprises a yarn which is substantially non heat shrinkable or which is less heat shrinkable than the shrinkable yarn, e.g. polyester yarn.
* Preferably the looped threads are of polyester. The looped threads maybe of a yarn or tape made by cutting a synthetic polyester film such as that sold under the registered trademark Mylar'. It would be appreciated however that other abrasive tapes or yarns maybe utilised.
The method may further comprise the step of restraining the ground structure against shrinkage during heat treatment so that the shrinkable yarn in the ground structure contracts to lock the loops in place.
During the knitting process the looped forming material will preferably be positively feed through the knitting machine to form the loops, rather than being held under tension during knitting.
The method may further comprise securing the ground structure to or around an absorbent member (e.g. a pad of resilient thermoplastic material or a cotton cloth). The absorbent member may comprise copper. In this way, the anti-microbial properties of copper may be able to act upon fluids absorbed by the absorbent member. The absorbent member may comprise a copper wire (e.g. a single or multi-strand wire of substantially pure copper or a high-copper alloy). The copper wire may have a thickness of less than 0.50mm (5.0x104m), and may have a thickness greater than 0. 050mm (5.OxlO5m). For example, the copper wire may have a thickness of about 0.10mm (l.0x104m). The copper wire may be arranged in lines (e.g. parallel lines) in or on the absorbent member, and such parallel lines may be regularly spaced across the absorbent member. For example, the spacing may be in the range from 0. 10mm 0**S (1.0x104m) to 10cm (1.0x10'm), perhaps from 0.50mm (5.0x104m) to 5.0cm (5.0x102m), or perhaps even from 1.0mm (1.0x103m) to 5.0mm (5.0x103m) . The parallel lines of copper wire in the absorbent member may be arranged transversely to any parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure so as to form a grid-like array. The spacing between parallel lines of copper wire in the absorbent member and the spacing between parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure may be the same or different. The grid-like array may be orthogonal, and may define rectangles or squares in between the parallel lines of copper wire and yarn.
The step of securing the ground structure to or around the absorbent member may comprise sewing, using adhesives, welding or heat bonding. If sewing, a copper wire may be used to stitch the ground structure to or around the absorbent member. The copper wire may be in electrical contact with the copper yarn in one or more positions.
The absorbent member may comprise a resilient thermoplastic material, such as polyurethane foam.
Alternatively or additionally, the absorbent member may comprise a cloth of natural fibres (e.g. cotton) or man-made fibres. The cloth may comprise at least two layers, with the copper wire sandwiched therebetween.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-microbial cleaning aid comprising a sheet of abrading material comprising a *,..
knitted ground structure with looped threads raised from a surface of the ground structure, the ground structure comprising copper yarn. The looped threads may be locked in place in the ground structure by a shrunken yarn, e.g. S...
*:*.; a polyolef in yarn. The ground structure may further comprise another yarn which is substantially non-shrinkable or which is less shrinkable than the shrunken yarn. The another yarn may be polyester. The percentage relation of ends of the another yarn (e.g. polyester) and ends of copper yarn may be from 1% to 75%, perhaps 5% to 50%, possibly even 40%.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-microbial cleaning aid comprising an absorbent body for absorbing liquids during cleaning, characterised in that at least one strand of copper wire is disposed in or on the absorbent body.
The at least one strand of copper wire may be arranged in a plurality of parallel lines in or on the absorbent body, and such parallel lines may be regularly spaced across or through the absorbent body. The dimensions of the at least one strand of copper wire may be the same as those for the copper yarn of the first aspect of the invention.
The spacings of the parallel lines may be the same as those for the copper yarn of the first aspect of the invention. The absorbent body may be of the same material as the absorbent member of the first aspect of the invention.
Antimicrobial properties may be exhibited by other *,..
metals such as silver and possibly zinc. Thus, the present applicants believe it may be possible to replace the copper in the preceding statements with certain other metals, such as silver or zinc, and still have a viable S..
antimicrobial cleaning aid. * S. * ._
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a pattern illustrating how an abrading material of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is knitted; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the top or working surface of the abrading material of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a side view of an anti-microbial cleaning aid in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of yet another anti-microbial cleaning aid embodying the present invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic illustration showing construction details of the anti-microbial cleaning aid of Figure 5.
DETAIL,ED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
A ground structure of an abrading sheet material is knitted according to the pattern of Fig.1 in which the x' lines indicate courses of heat shrinkable polyolef in yarn * ** and the + lines indicate course of alternate polyester :*. 20 and copper yarn. However the percentage relation of ends of polyester and copper in the. � lines could vary by economic choice from 1% to 75%, suitably 5% to 50% though ***S preferably the standard production of the material will probably be 40%. The percentage calculation is based upon Fig 1. + lines where the copper substitutes the polyester to the desired percentage. During knitting polyester yarn e.g. that sold under the registered trademark Mylar' in the form of cut tape is laid in, being tucked to each fourth stitch of polyolef in yarn across the courses, the tucks o' of alternative threads of polyester tape having a walewise staggered relationship so that the loops of polyester tape are not in alignment in the direction of the wales of the fabric. The polyester tape is positively threaded through the knitting machine such that the loops are formed above the ground structure.
Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates the top surface of the fabric 10 after it has been knitted. It will be seen that the loops 12 of polyester tape stand up from the ground structure 14. The fabric 10 is now subjected to heat treatment while the opposed edges of the ground structure are held to prevent shrinkage so that the polyolefin yarn of the ground structure shrinks or sets to lock the loops 12 in the ground structure.
Figure 3 illustrates one use of the resulting abrading sheet material 10 of Figures 1 and 2 in an anti-microbial scouring pad 20. A suitably sized piece of the * S. abrading sheet material 10 is secured (e.g. by impulse :*. 20 heat welding) to a pad of resilient thermoplastic material 22 (e.g. polyurethane foam), with the loops 12 exposed over one surface thereof. The opposing surface of the pad :: : of resilient thermoplastic material 22 is covered by a foamed cellulosic layer 24 to form a wiping surface.
Figure 4 illustrates another use of the resulting abrading sheet material 10 of Figures 1 and 2 in a universal anti-microbial scouring pad 30. The abrading sheet material 10 is provided in a sock format with loops 12 on the outer periphery, and is filled with a resilient thermoplastic material 32. The open ends 34 are then sealed for example by heat bending, welding adhesives or sewing (e.g. with copper wire).
Figure 5 illustrates an anti-microbial cleaning scourer 40, which is similar to the scouring pad 20 of Figure 2, but without the resilient thermoplastic material 22. Thus, in anti-microbial cleaning scourer 40, the abrading sheet material 10 is secured to a backing layer 42, for example a foamed cellulosic layer. The abrading sheet material 10 has parallel lines 44 of copper yarn in its ground structure 12, represented schematically in (a) of Figure 6. The backing layer 42 also has parallel lines 46 of copper wire, represented schematically in (b) and (c) of Figure 6. The spacing between the parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure 12 is less than the spacing between the parallel lines of copper wire in the backing layer 42. Before assembled together, the backing * ** layer 42 is rotated relative to the abrading sheet material 10 so that the parallel lines 44 and 46 form a :"! grid when registered, as shown schematically in (d) of Figure 6. *.*
Comparative Testing Two cleaning aids were provided for testing: a) an abrading sheet material in accordance with W097/1921]. (without copper) with a cotton cloth backing; and b) abrading sheet material in accordance with Figures 1 and 2 (with copper yarn approximately 0.1mm thick and spaced on average 2.86mm apart) with a cotton cloth backing.
Each of these samples were cut into 2.5cm squares and placed individually in a sterile Petri dish. Sample (b) was cut to include a uniform number of copper threads in each sample. Each sample was inoculated with 0.5 ml of test organism. This was sufficient to wet the whole of the sample. The samples were placed rough side up to aid absorption of the fluid. The samples were tested to determine colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml) at the following time intervals (mins) 0, 5, 30, 60, and 120, and also after 24 hours. Sufficient numbers of samples were used to test each time interval in duplicate and two blanks. The organisms used were Staph. aureus NCIMB 9575 (6300/mi) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIMB 8626 (4000/mi), representing Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative kinds of *1** bacteria. * *.
Each sample was placed into 9.5m1 of sodium chloride peptone (SCP) (-1 dilution) and mixed using a vortex.
This was then further diluted 1 in 10 (-2). imi samples S.... * .
of each dilution were cultured using a tryptone soya agar S..
:: : (TSA). Plates were incubated at 30°C for two days. The results are set out in Table 1 and notably for sample (b) the level of: Staph. aureaus NCIMB 9575 (initially 6300/mi) is down to 310/mi after 24 hours, a reduction of 95%.
Pseudornonos aeruginosa NCIMB 8626 (initially 4000/mi) is down to 150/mi after 24 hours, a reduction of 96.25%.
It is believed that a cloth scourer 40 as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 may achieve a 99% reduction of organisms.
TABLE 1
Time Staph. aureus PS. aeruginosa (Minutes) (cfuImI) (cfulml) Sample (a) Cloth (no Copper): 0 7500 1560 3900 1700 2130 1200 1990 750 1960 420 (24 hour) 1440 3580 3700 Start 6300 4000 % Decrease 43.2% 7.5% * ** * S * S. S...
a.... Sample (b) Cloth (with Copper): 0 2500 4600 . : 5 2740 2550 a. 30 2950 1380 5800 1140 1900 660 *:* (24 hour) 1440 310 150 I..
. : Start 6300 4000 % Decrease 95.1% 96.3%
Claims (13)
1. An antimicrobial cleaning aid comprising a body and at least one strand of copper wire disposed in or on the body.
2. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 1, in which the at least one strand of copper wire has a thickness of between 0.050mm and 0.50mm.
3. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the body comprises an absorbent member for absorbing liquid during cleaning.
4. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 3, in which the at least one strand of copper wire is disposed in or on the absorbent member.
5. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 4, in which the at least one strand of copper wire is arranged in regularly spaced apart lines in or on the absorbent member.
6. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 5, in which the regularly spaced apart lines have a spacing of from 0.10mm to 10cm.
7. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to any one of *....
claims 3 to 6, in which the absorbent member comprises a : material selected from the group consisting of a resilient thermoplastic foam, a cloth or natural fibres, and a cloth of man-made fibres.
8. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to any preceding claim, in which the body comprises a sheet of abrading material comprising a knitted ground structure
S
with looped threads raised from a surface of the knitted ground structure.
9. A antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 8, in which the at least one strand of copper wire defines a copper yarn in the knitted ground structure.
10. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 9, in which the copper yarn is arranged in regularly spaced-apart parallel lines in the knitted ground structure.
11. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 10, in which the regularly spaced apart parallel lines have a spacing of from 0.10mm to 10cm.
12. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 10 or claim 11, when dependent on any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the regularly spaced-apart lines of copper wire in the absorbent member are arranged at least in part transversely to the regularly spaced-apart parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure.
13. A method of making an antimicrobial cleaning aid *::::* comprising: knitting a ground structure comprising a shrinkable yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a
S
surface of the ground structure; and shrinking the S..
shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure; characterized in that the ground structure comprises a copper yarn.
13. A method of making an antimicrobial cleaning aid *::::* comprising: knitting a ground structure comprising a shrinkable yarn with laid-in looped threads of a hard material, such that the looped threads are raised from a
S
surface of the ground structure; and shrinking the S..
shrinkable yarn of the ground structure to grip the looped threads to lock the loops in place in the ground structure; characterized in that the ground structure comprises a copper yarn.
1. An antimicrobial cleaning aid comprising a body and at least one strand of copper wire disposed in or on the body.
2. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 1, in which the at least one strand of copper wire has a thickness of between 0.050mm and 0.50mm.
3. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the body comprises an absorbent member for absorbing liquid during cleaning.
4. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 3, in which the at least one strand of copper wire is disposed in or on the absorbent member.
5. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 4, in which the at least one strand of copper wire is arranged in regularly spaced apart lines in or on the absorbent member.
6. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 5, in which the regularly spaced apart lines have a spacing of from 0.10mm to 10cm.
7. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to any one of *....
claims 3 to 6, in which the absorbent member comprises a : material selected from the group consisting of a resilient thermoplastic foam, a cloth or natural fibres, and a cloth of man-made fibres.
8. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to any preceding claim, in which the body comprises a sheet of abrading material comprising a knitted ground structure
S
with looped threads raised from a surface of the knitted ground structure.
9. A antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 8, in which the at least one strand of copper wire defines a copper yarn in the knitted ground structure.
10. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 9, in which the copper yarn is arranged in regularly spaced-apart parallel lines in the knitted ground structure.
11. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 10, in which the regularly spaced apart parallel lines have a spacing of from 0.10mm to 10cm.
12. An antimicrobial cleaning aid according to claim 10 or claim 11, when dependent on any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the regularly spaced-apart lines of copper wire in the absorbent member are arranged at least in part transversely to the regularly spaced-apart parallel lines of copper yarn in the ground structure.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0723611A GB0723611D0 (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2007-12-03 | Abrading material |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0821986D0 GB0821986D0 (en) | 2009-01-07 |
| GB2455413A true GB2455413A (en) | 2009-06-10 |
| GB2455413B GB2455413B (en) | 2012-02-08 |
Family
ID=38962520
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0723611A Ceased GB0723611D0 (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2007-12-03 | Abrading material |
| GB0821986A Expired - Fee Related GB2455413B (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-12-02 | Anti-microbial cleaning aid |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0723611A Ceased GB0723611D0 (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2007-12-03 | Abrading material |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB0723611D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2009071872A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2958524A1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-10-14 | Eurvest | Sponge has plant sponge layer, fixed to hydrophilic synthetic sponge layer, where abrasive surface is provided at side of synthetic sponge layer |
| FR2958525A1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-10-14 | Eurvest | Sponge has plant sponge layer, fixed to hydrophilic synthetic sponge layer, where abrasive surface is provided at side of synthetic sponge layer |
| EP2712533A2 (en) * | 2011-03-08 | 2014-04-02 | Dae Hwan Cho | Multipurpose cleaning pad |
| EP3750468A1 (en) * | 2019-05-06 | 2020-12-16 | RC-Cuijpers GmbH | Cleaning device for manual cleaning of a target surface and method for manufacturing a cleaning element |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103174127B (en) * | 2013-04-09 | 2014-10-22 | 肥城三英纤维工业有限公司 | Warp-knitted polyester glass fiber three-dimensional slope protection soil fixation grating and preparation method thereof |
| CN103919510B (en) * | 2014-04-29 | 2017-02-01 | 江苏丽洋新材料股份有限公司 | Cleaning wiping material for strengthening friction performance and manufacturing method of cleaning wiping material for strengthening friction performance |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE513382C (en) * | 1930-11-27 | Artur Vogt | Scrubbing cloths made from a double weave | |
| US2156549A (en) * | 1936-11-07 | 1939-05-02 | Metal Textile Corp | Absorbent and abrasive fabric |
| GB524452A (en) * | 1939-01-28 | 1940-08-07 | Russell Barclay Kingman | Improvements in scouring implements |
| JP3099301B2 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 2000-10-16 | 株式会社ダイキョー | Antibacterial cloth |
| JPH0871340A (en) * | 1994-09-08 | 1996-03-19 | Mitsubishi Materials Corp | Bathtub filter using metal fiber |
| GB9523972D0 (en) * | 1995-11-23 | 1996-01-24 | Impak Marketing Ltd | Abrading material |
| JP2001190470A (en) * | 2000-01-07 | 2001-07-17 | Tatsuo Nishida | Sponge scrubbing brush |
| GB0105811D0 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2001-04-25 | Hilltout Alexander M | Cleaning cloth |
| JP4307819B2 (en) * | 2002-10-29 | 2009-08-05 | 株式会社セイホウ | Functional fabric |
| CN2728653Y (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2005-09-28 | 张金六 | Cleaning sponge with copper wire |
| US20070079462A1 (en) * | 2005-10-06 | 2007-04-12 | Haskett Thomas E | Scouring web and method of making |
| DE202006017511U1 (en) * | 2005-11-17 | 2007-03-08 | Moll Gmbh | Textile fabric for garment with medicinal action contains two different fibers, one with anti-microbial action and one without, knitted in a flat stitch pattern |
-
2007
- 2007-12-03 GB GB0723611A patent/GB0723611D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2008
- 2008-11-28 WO PCT/GB2008/003952 patent/WO2009071872A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-12-02 GB GB0821986A patent/GB2455413B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2958524A1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-10-14 | Eurvest | Sponge has plant sponge layer, fixed to hydrophilic synthetic sponge layer, where abrasive surface is provided at side of synthetic sponge layer |
| FR2958525A1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-10-14 | Eurvest | Sponge has plant sponge layer, fixed to hydrophilic synthetic sponge layer, where abrasive surface is provided at side of synthetic sponge layer |
| EP2712533A2 (en) * | 2011-03-08 | 2014-04-02 | Dae Hwan Cho | Multipurpose cleaning pad |
| EP2712533A4 (en) * | 2011-03-08 | 2014-09-03 | Dae Hwan Cho | Multipurpose cleaning pad |
| EP3750468A1 (en) * | 2019-05-06 | 2020-12-16 | RC-Cuijpers GmbH | Cleaning device for manual cleaning of a target surface and method for manufacturing a cleaning element |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0723611D0 (en) | 2008-01-09 |
| GB2455413B (en) | 2012-02-08 |
| WO2009071872A1 (en) | 2009-06-11 |
| GB0821986D0 (en) | 2009-01-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20161202 |