GB2532506A

GB2532506A - Super sponge

Info

Publication number: GB2532506A
Application number: GB1420795.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Ashworth John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-23
Filing date: 2014-11-23
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Also published as: GB201420795D0

Abstract

A device for applying liquids to surfaces comprising a spongiform material having an operative surface 1 for application and remaining surfaces 2 sealed by impermeable flexible means. The sealing means is preferably a sac-like component that is glued to the sponge or where the opening is at least glued to the periphery of the operating surface. Preferably the sealing means is flexible, and adapted to receive and retain liquid for transmission to the sponge. The device may have apertures to increase the absorption of the sponge, and/or communicate the liquid to the operating surface of the device. The sealing means may be achieved by blocking the pores of the spongiform by adhesive filler, heat sealing or a chemical process, and the spongiform made from a foamed polymer compound, polyurethane compound or a naturally occurring vegetable form. The operating surface may be shaped, and flexible sheets of abrasive material may be secured to the operating surface. Flexible strips of abrasive sheet material may also be secured to, one or more of the non-operative outer surfaces of the device, the abrasive material may be waterproof glass paper, emery cloth or a flexibly backed brush where the bristles are made from steel wire.

Description

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR APPI:]ING LIQUIDS TO SURFACES This invention relates to devices for applying liquids to surfaces.

A well-known example of a prior device for applying liquids to surfaces is a sponge. Such sponges although originally occurring in naturally growing vegetable forms are now more commonly made of foamed polymer compounds such as open-pore foamed polyurethane. They are produced in various shapes sizes and densities according to the purpose for which they are intended, ranging from decorating and car washing to domestic dishwashing and personal ablutions.

Existing sponges have the disadvantage that when used on vertical or overhead surfaces a large proportion of the liquid content affected by gravity is not applied to the work surface but runs down the arm or drops on the head of the user or is otherwise wasted. A further disadvantage of such sponges is that in whatever posture they are used some at least of the liquid contained therein escapes from the pores in directions that are ineffective to fulfil the function for which the sponge is being used. Moreover if used to absorb noxious substance from a surface some of the substance may escape onto the hands of the user.

According to one form of the present invention there is provided a sponge in which all but the operative surface is shrouded in an impermeable closely-fitting flexible easing which allows the sponge to be squeezed in the usual way while preventing the liquid content from escaping other than through the operative surface; said casing being sealed to the sponge at or adjacent the periphery of its open end by a suitable adhesive.

In a second tbrm of the invention there is provided a sponge in which all the surface pores except those of the operative surface are sealed by adhesively bonding thin flexible material such as polyvinyl chloride to the said pores.

In a third form of the invention there is provided a sponge in which all the surface pores except those of the operative surface are sealed by the use of a suitable sealant compatible with the sponge material and providing a flexible sealing means.

According to a fourth form of the invention there is provided a sponge in which the periphery of the operative surface is scaled to the open end of shrouding means in the form of an appropriately sized and shaped hollow member adapted to provide both hand holding means for the implement and liquid containing means for the supply of liquid to the sponge.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the embodiment of figure 1 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment Figure 4 a cross-section view of the embodiment of figure 3 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment Figure 6 is a perspective v of a fourth embodiment Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment Figure 8 is a cross section view of a sixth embodiment. Figure 9 is a cross-section view of a seventh embodiment Figure 10 is a cross-section of an eighth embodiment Figure 11 is a cross-section view of a ninth embodiment Figure-12 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment Figure 13 is a cross section view of an eleventh embodiment Figure 14 is a cross section view of a twelfth embodiment Referring to the drawings figs. I and 2 illustrate a device according to the invention in which a substantially rectangular block of open polyurethane foam is encased except on its operating surface 1 within a sheath 2 of liquid impermeable thin flexible material as for example polyvinyl chloride sheet. The sheath may be sealed to the spongiform material around the internal perimeter of the sheath at its open end as indicated at 3 using a suitable adhesive such as the latex adhesive used for bonding carpets and typically market by the 3M company.

Although the rectangular form of the invention is preferred because for given practicalable overall dimensions it contains the largest volume of spongiform material and hence the greatest liquid absorption capacity the invention comprises other shapes which are possible and advantageous. Some of these will now he described with reference to the drawings.

The embodiment illustrated in figures 3 and 4 has a circular periphery. This allows easier sealing of the periphery of the sealing sac since there are no corners and also a firmer grip by the user. Similar benefit may be obtained by an elliptical or oval periphe{not illustrated), but such peripheries are included in the invention.

Figure 5 shows a sponge according to the invention having an octagonal periphery and the invention also comprises sponges with polygonal peripheries having other numbers of sides.

The absorption ofliquid by devices according to the invention has been found to be accelerated if a number of blind holes as shown at 4 on Fig.6 are provided. Such holes extend through the spongtbiiii material substantially perpendicularly to the operating surface but not penetrating the sealing means opposite thereto. Typically the embodiment of Fig.6 provides for one hole of approximately 6mm diameter for each 1200scurnm of operating surface.

tt has also been found that more complete compression of the spongiform material and consequent increased expulsion of absorbed liquid is achieved if the operative surface protrudes slightly beyond the periphery of the sealing means as shown at 5 in Fig.7. Protrusion of the order of 5min is preferred for commonly used sponge sizes.

In operations such as wallpaper stripping it is often necessary to remove obstinately adhering fragments by the use of abrasive means such as coarse waterproof emery cloth or glass paper. Such removal may be expedited according to the invention by securing a multiplicity of strips of such abrasive material to the operative surface as shown at 6 in Fig.8. Alternatively a single sheet of abrasive material may be secured to the operative surface, said sheet being perforated to allow the passage of liquid into and out of the sponge.

In paint cleaning it is sometimes necessary to remove loose or flaking paint; this may require the use of a bruSh or scrubber. it is convenient that sponges according to the invention may have a suitable brushing or scrubbing means secured to one or more external surfaces of the sponge as shown at 7 in Fig.9.

Use of the invention in operations requiring considerable quantities of liquid to be applied to the work surface (as for example in washing a car) may be expedited either by feeding a continuous controlled liquid supply into the sponge or (for lesser liquid requirements) by providing liquid retaining and storage means integral with the sponge backing 13, as shown in figure 14. Filling opening 14 is provided with the threaded enclosure cap 15. Feeding directly into the sponge may more effectively he done by providing a number of transverse feed passages in the spongiform material as at 10 in Fig.10 communicating with a feed nipple 9 supported in a reinforced area of the sealing means as at 8 in Fig.10.

For the cleaning of deeply moulded or indented work surfaces it has been found that a convex operative surface curved in one plane as shown at 1 t in Fig.11 or in two planes or in a part-spherical form (not illustrated) is preferable.

For use in the well known sponge mops in the application of liquids to, and absorption from floors and other relatively remote surfaces it has been found that a sponge having a bellows-like periphery as shown in cross-section in figure 13 requires less effort to compress it fully so ensuring more complete expulsion of washing fluid (e.g. water with detergent additives if preferred) and more complete absorption of soiled liquid. It has also been found that sponges in this form are less subject to crumpling of the peripheral surface and consequent leakage after prolonged use. In such sponge mops the sponge is carried in an appropriate housing provided with remotely operated sponge compression means and open to contact with the work surfaces.

In the embodiments of the invention described above and illustrated in Figs.! to 14 it will be understood that the sheath of liquid impermeable material constituting the sealing means in the first form of the invention may be replaced by a suitable thin flexible material adhesively bonded to the non-operative surfaces (the second form of the invention) or by a suitable sealant such as a fast-curing one-part general purpose polyurethane compound, or material with similar attributes (the third form of the invention). A sponge according to the third form of the invention is shown in a rectangular prism version in Fig. 12, in which surfaces 12 are sealed by such method. It will be understood that the same method may be applied to sponges having other peripheries such as are shown in figures 3 and 5 or having features such as illustrated in figures 6, 8 and 10. A variety of sealants may be used according to the application process adopted.

In one process for producing sponges according to the third form of the invention the sealant may be applied by spraying within a spray tunnel. The sponges are laid with the faces intended to remain unsealed (the operative faces) in contact with a flat impervious surface (which may he that of a conveyor means or a carrying tray) so that in passage through the spray tunnel all surfaces except the operative surfaces are sealed. After passage through the spray tunnel any necessary drying and hardening of the sealant takes place. Finally the finished sponges are removed from the carrying means.

In another process for producing sponges according to the third form of the invention a mass of spongiform material appropriately shaped according to the periphery required in the finished sponge and of volume equal to twice the volume of such sponge is supported from above or below by a hook or spike embedded in the mass and attached to conveyor means which carries the mass though the spray tunnel. During this stage the whole external surface of the mass is coated with this sealant. After the sealant has dried and hardened the mass is bisected by suitable cutting means to form two identical sponges having flat operative surfaces according to the invention.

It will be realised that the scope of the invention is not restricted entirely to the shapes illustrated in the figures.

Claims

CIAIMS1. A device for applying liquids to surfaces comprising a mass of spongiform material having an operative surface for application to a surface being treated, the remaining surfaces being sealed by impermeable flexible means.
A device according to claim 1 in which the sealing means comprises a sac-like component the periphery of its open end being glued at least to the periphery of the operative surface.
3, A device according to claim I or claim 2 in which the sealing means is sufficiently flexible to he squeezable 4, A device according to claims 1,2 or 3 in which the sealing means is adapted to receive and retain liquid for transmission to the sponge.5, A device according to claim 2 in which the gluing extends to substantially the whole internal surface of the sac-like component 6, A device according to claim I in which the sealing means consists of an adhesive tiller whereby the surface pores of the spongiform material are sealed.A device according to claim I in which the sealing mean consists of a heat sealing process whereby the surface pores of the spongiform material are incited together and sealed.ice according to claim I in which the sealing means consist of a chemical process whereby the surface pores of the spongiform material are caused to coalesce together to form an impermeable flexible skin.9, A device according to any of claims Ito 6 in which the spongiform material is in a naturally occurring vegetable form.10, A device according to any of claims Ito 8 in which the spongiform material is a foamed polymer compound.11, A device according to any of claims Ito 8 and claim 10 in which the spongiform material is a foamed polyurethane compound.A device according to any of the preceding claims in which the periphery of the operating surface is rectangular.13, A device according to any of claims I to operative surface is substantially circular. in which the periphery of the 14, A. device according to any of claims 1 to 11 in which the periphery of the operative surface is substantially elliptical.15, A device according to any of claims 1 to 11 in which the periphery of the operative surface is polygonal.16. A device according to any of preceding claims 1 to 15 in which the peripheral walls of the mass of spongi form material have a bellows-like formulation.17, A device according to any of the preceding claims in which blind holes are made into, and in a direction substantially perpendicular to, the operating surface penetrating to or near the opposite face of the spongiform material.18; A device according to claim 17 in which the holes are of the order of 6mm. Diameter at the rate of substantially one hole per 1200sq.mm. of operative surface 19, A device according to any of the preceding claims in which the plane of the operative surface is spaced from the periphery of the sealing means by an amount equal to between 5% and 20% of the thickness of the spongiform material.20, A device according to any of the preceding claims in which flexible strips of abrasive material are secured to one or more of the non-operative outer surfaces of the device.21, A device according to claim 20 in which the abrasive material is waterproof glass paper er emery cloth.22, A device according to claim 20 in which the abrasive material is in the form of a flexibly backed brush.23, A device according to claim 22 in which the brush has steel wire bristles of the order of between 3-6min tong.24, A device according to any of claims 1 to 17 and 19 to 23 in which transverse passages in the spongiform material lying in planes parallel to, and spaced from the operative surface communicate with a liquid feed nipple secured to a reinforced non-operative surface of the device.A device according to any of the preceding claims in which the operative surface is convex in one or both planes.26, A device for applying liquids to surfaces substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.