MXPA06015101A - Cleaning product for storing and attaching cleaning blocks or wipes. - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and attaching cleaning wipes (18) or cleaning blocks (92) is provided. The apparatus includes a container (12) configured for holding at least one cleaning wipe (18) or block. The container has a body (14) with an attaching surface (20). An attachment mechanism (24) is included and is configured for attaching the cleaning wipe (18) or block (92) to the attaching surface (20) for use in a cleaning procedure. The container is capable of being grasped to aid in positioning of the cleaning wipe (18) or block (92) during the cleaning procedure.

Description

CLEANING PRODUCT FOR STORING AND HOLDING CLEANING BLOCKS OR CLEANING CLOTHS BACKGROUND Cleaning applications employ cleaning products, such as towels, in order to remove dirt and other unwanted elements from the surface. In some cases, the cleaning product may be a urethane foam or a cellulose sponge which can be used to clean a surface. The cleaning product can be configured with bristles or grit placed on it in order to help in cleaning.

The cleaning products may be configured to work when they are in a dry state in order to clean the surface, or they may be designed to work in a wet state so that the cleaning product is wet to some degree when the surface is cleaned. A detergent can be used with the cleaning product to help break up dirt and other unwanted elements so that the surface can be cleaned. This is sometimes the case where dirt or other unwanted elements can not be sufficiently removed from a surface even when a cleaning product is properly applied. Applying the cleaning product too aggressively may result in the surface being damaged, and this may still result in the removal of dirt or unwanted elements from the surface. Examples of difficult-to-clean materials include crayon on the walls, shoe scratch marks on the floors, permanent magic marker marks on a variety of surfaces such as dry cleaning boards, porcelain or ceramic stains including dental pieces, grease and oil spots on numerous surfaces, hard water spots and soap scum on tiles, biofilms on metal and plastic surfaces, mold and mold growth on numerous surfaces, and other forms of dirt, scum or other unwanted elements of several surfaces.

Melamine-based foam has been recognized as having useful cleaning properties when it is wetted with water and rubbed against certain surfaces that are to be cleaned, and which has been marketed in several countries for such purposes. The melamine-based foam has a microporous open cell structure. Melamine-based foam is abrasive in the sense of when rubbed across a surface, dirt and other unwanted elements can be removed. The melamine-based foam particles can break due to abrasive contact. Over time, the melamine-based foam will wear out due to repeated abrasion with the surface to be cleaned and the unwanted elements present on this surface.

The melamine-based foam can be used to clean a surface when it is in the wet state. In this case, the melamine-based foam can be soaked with water to some degree before being applied by a user to the surface to be cleaned. A block of melamine-based foam by itself is sometimes used as a cleaning product. In this aspect, the user can grasp the melamine-based foam block, wet the block in the water and then rub the wet melamine-based foam through a surface to remove dirt and unwanted elements.

Alternatively, a cleaning cloth may be provided which includes a layer of melamine-based foam bonded to a backing layer such as a fabric for use in cleaning a surface. The fabric can be a non-woven fabric and the melamine-based foam can be attached to the fabric in a variety of ways, for example, the melamine-based foam can be laminated to the fabric. Additionally, multiple layers of melamine-based foam and fabric backing can be provided to accomplish various functions such as allowing the replacement of a weathered sheet of melamine-based foam and woven backing. In addition, cleaning cloths can be provided which employ other relatively brittle foams such as phenolic foams. Even more, the cleaning cloths are in use which do not incorporate any type of foam there.

Cleaning products such as cleaning blocks and wipes, including those incorporating melamine-based foam, suffer from excessive and non-uniform wear at a few pressure points where the user's fingers selectively depress the product when in use. . Due to non-uniform wear, a user can prematurely discard the product even when the parts of the product have experienced little wear or have not been used. At such time, the user will have to move to the second location to retrieve a new cleaning product to continue cleaning.

There is another problem when the user selectively depresses only certain parts of the cleaning product. For example, if a cleaning cloth incorporating a melamine-based foam was applied to remove a crayon mark, the user's fingers will apply pressure to the foam in the vicinity of the mark. After removal, the crayon will be fully visible at the isolated point highly soiled on the foam. This allows the possibility of a secondary transfer of the crayon to a clean surface previously not soiled, to the hands of the user or to another soiled surface to be cleaned.

The present invention improves upon known cleaning products by providing a cleaning product that acts as both a storage container for cleaning cleaning blocks or cloths and as a grip member that is capable of holding cleaning blocks or cloths during cleaning . A user can grip the cleaning product and move the cleaning block or cleaning cloth on a surface in a uniform manner that provides more uniform and dirty wear of the cleaning block or cloth due to the backing action provided by the cleaning product. The application of a uniform pressure allows the unwanted material to be more evenly spread over the cleaning block or foam so that it is less visible. Cleaning with uniform pressure extends the life of the cleaning block or cleaning cloth, improves comfort, reduces dirt or wetness of hands and improves convenience.

Additionally, the ability of the cleaning product to store cleaning blocks or cleaning cloths allows the user to continue cleaning without having to move to a separate location to take a new cleaning cloth or cleaning block. Also, the user will be able to set the exact amount of cleaning blocks or cleaning cloths available for use during cleaning since the cleaning products are stored in the hand. This feature increases convenience and allows a decrease in the amount of time spent cleaning.

SYNTHESIS Various features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description, or may be obvious from the description or may be learned from the practice of the invention.

The present invention provides an apparatus for storing and holding cleaning cloths. The apparatus including a container configured to contain at least one cleaning cloth with a body having a holding surface. The apparatus also includes a clamping mechanism that is configured to hold a cleaning cloth to the joint surface of the body. The container is capable of being gripped by a user to assist in the placement of the cleaning cloth during a cleaning procedure.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for storing and holding cleaning wipes that includes a container with a body defining an interior space that is configured to store a plurality of wipers. The container has a lid that is configured to be opened and closed in order to allow and prevent access through the body to the interior space. A holding mechanism is configured to hold a cleaning cloth to a body holding surface so that the container acts as a handle for use in applying the cleaning cloth to a surface.

The present invention also provides an apparatus that can store and hold articles other than cleaning cloths. For example, the present invention provides an apparatus that includes a container that is configured to contain at least one cleaning block. A clamping mechanism is configured to attach the cleaning block to a body clamping surface for use in the cleaning process. Again, the container is capable of being grasped in order to assist in the placement of the cleaning block during the cleaning procedure.

When configured with a lid, the lid can be configured to be completely removed from the body when it is opened, or the lid can be configured to be contiguous with the body when it is opened and closed. The lid can be attached to the body in a variety of ways. For example, the lid can be fastened hinged to the body and to the pivot with respect to the body in order to open and close. Alternatively, the lid can be in sliding contact with the body so that the lid is slid in both open and closed positions. In another embodiment of the present invention, the cap may include at least one flexible fin that is configured to flex with the application of a force in order to open and return to the closed position when the force is removed.

The lid can be securely attached to the body in a variety of ways in accordance with different example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the lid can be snapped onto the body when it is closed. Alternatively, the lid can be attached to the body with a hook-and-loop type fastener when closed. The lid may also be configured to form a waterproof seal when closed in order to prevent liquid from escaping or entering the interior space of the container.

The securing mechanism of the present apparatus can be configured in a variety of ways according to several example embodiments of the present invention.

For example, the clamping mechanism may be configured so as to allow the cleaning cloth to be removed from the fastening with the fastening surface, or alternatively the fastening mechanism may be configured to permanently attach the cleaning cloth to the fastening surface. The clamping mechanism can be an adhesive in order to hold the cleaning cloth to the clamping surface. The fastening mechanism may also be a hook-and-loop type fastener in which any of the hook or loop elements are fastened to the fastening surface and the other of the hook and loop elements are attached to the cleaning cloths. . The clamping mechanism may also be a gecko type fastener, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a mechanical fastener, a foam adhesive element, or a magnetic fastener according to several exemplary embodiments.

The apparatus may assume a variety of forms in accordance with various example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the apparatus may be rectangular in shape, square in shape, circular in shape or provided with one or more contoured surfaces. The clamping surface of the body can also be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the clamping surface may be planar according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention also provides an apparatus as discussed above that further includes a plurality of cleaning cloths that are configured to be stored in the interior space and are configured to be fastened to the cleaning surface. The wiping cloths include a melamine-based foam that is configured to contact and clean a surface to be cleaned. A fabric attached to the melamine-based foam is contiguous with the clamping surface when the cleaning cloth is clamped to the clamping surface.

The present invention also provides an apparatus as discussed above wherein the body has a column that is configured for a removable fastener with at least one cleaning cloth. In a further example embodiment, the container may have a handle that is connected to the body so as to be grasped by a user in order to position the apparatus.

When configured to be used with a wiper block, the wiper block can be a melamine-based foam block. Additionally, the cleaning block can be provided in a variety of ways. For example, the cleaning block can be rectangular, square, cylindrical or oval in shape.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for storing and holding cleaning wipes that includes a plurality of wipers that are configured to clean a surface. The apparatus also includes a container having a body with a flat fastening surface and defining an interior space configured to store a plurality of cleaning cloths. The container has a lid that is configured to be opened and closed in order to allow and prevent access through the body to the interior space. The cap is snapped onto the body when it closes and forms a waterproof seal in order to prevent the liquid from escaping or entering the interior space. A hook-and-loop type fastener is provided and is configured to hold one of the cleaning cloths to the fastening surface so that the container acts as a handle for use in applying the cleaning cloth to the surface to be cleaned. One of the elements of hooks or curls are attached to the clamping surface and the other of the elements of hooks or curls are attached to the cleaning cloths. The hook-and-loop type fastener is configured to allow the cleaning cloth to be removed from the fastening surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A complete and enabling description of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, addressed to one of ordinary skill in the art is more particularly set forth in the remainder of the description, which refers to the appended figures in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning product used in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention having a cleaning cloth attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cleaning product of figure 1 in which the lid is removed therefrom in order to provide access to the interior space of the container.

Figure 3 is a side view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the lid is fastened to the body of the container via a hinge so that the lid can be pivoted to open it.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the lid is in slidable engagement with the body so that the lid can be slid into the open position for allow access to the interior space of the container.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention including a depression configured to receive the hand of a user in order to allow the user to grip the container. The container includes flexible fins on the side of the container to provide access to the interior space.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cleaning product used in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the body of the container has a contoured shape. The cover is hinged to the body and retained thereon through a pressure fitting connection.

Figures 7A-7G are top views of the cleaning points according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention demonstrating different ways in which the cleaning product can be formed.Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the wiping cloths are not retained within the interior space but instead are attached to the body through the body. a perforated connection.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the wiping cloths are fastened to a body holding surface via a hook-and-loop type fastener .

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which cleaning wipes can be attached to the body's clamping surface via a series of gecko-type fasteners located on the clamping surface.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the wiping cloths are fastened to the gripping surface via a pair of lugs located on opposite sides of the wiping surface. container body.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which a cleaning block having magnetic strips can be secured to a magnetic clamping surface.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which a second lid is present on the container and in which a bag is located in the interior space holding a Active active ingredient to improve cleaning.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention that includes a spraying mechanism configured to supply a fluid such as water, useful for improving cleaning.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the container is in the form of an eraser.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the container has two rounded ends each having a different radius of curvature.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the lid has a pair of appendages to aid in the opening.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the lid has chamfered edges and the container has concave sides.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a cleaning product according to an example embodiment of the present invention in which the container is in the shape of a mail box.

The repeated use of the reference characters in the present description and in the drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the invention.

BRIEF DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and is not intended as a limitation of said invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of an embodiment can be used with another embodiment to give even a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

It should be understood that the ranges and limits mentioned herein include all ranges located within and also all values located below or above the prescribed limits. For example, a range of from 100 to 200 also includes ranges of from 110 to 150, 170 to 190 and 153 to 162. In addition, a limit of up to about 7 also includes a limit of up to about 5, up to about 3, and up to around 4.5.

Referring to Fig. 1 1a present invention provides a cleaning product 10 which is capable of both storing and grasping a cleaning member such as a cleaning cloth 18. The cleaning product 10 may include a container 12 inside which the cleaning cloths 18 are stored and a clamping surface 20 on which the cleaning cloths 18 are fastened through a clamping mechanism 24. The clamping of the cleaning cloths 18 to the clamping surface 20 allows the user to grip the container 12 and move it. the cleaning cloth 18 on a surface to be cleaned in a uniform manner that provides more uniform and dirty wear of the cleaning cloth 18. Cleaning in this manner improves the cleaning performance and lengthens the life of the cleaning cloth 18. The storage of the cleaning cloths 18 in the container 12 allows the user to recover a fresh cleaning cloth 18 without having to move to a second place and also allows the user to set the exact amount of cleaning cloths 18 that remain in his hand.

The cleaning product 10 can be configured in a variety of ways according to several example embodiments of the present invention. Figures 1 and 2 show one of such configuration in which the container 12 includes a body 14 which is essentially rectangular in shape. The body 14 defines an interior space 16 within which one or more cleaning cloths 18 can be placed. The cleaning cloths 18 can be stacked either vertically or horizontally in the interior space 16. Additionally, several different batteries of the cleaning cloths 18 can be stacked. be formed inside the interior space 16. The container 12 may include a lid 22 that is removed as shown in figure 2 in order to provide access to the interior space 16 and thus allow one to remove the wipers 18. In the shown embodiment, the lid 22 is configured to be completely removed from the body 14 when it is opened. However, in accordance with the example embodiments described below of the present invention, the lid 22 can be configured to remain attached to the body 14 after opening.

The cover 22 is attached to the body 14 via a snap-fit connection 27. The snap-fit connection 27 includes four male snap-fitting members 28 located on the lid 22 that are received in the snap-fit members. complementary female 30 on the body 14. Although shown using four male hit adjustment members 28 and four female hit adjustment members 30, it should be understood that according to several exemplary embodiments of the present invention, fewer female employees may be employed. or more of these members 28 and 30 in order to effect the fastening of the cover 22 to the body 14. The construction of such a snap fit connection 27 is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art and it should be understood that this invention includes various modifications to the shape, size and configuration of the male and female tap adjustment members 28 and 30 as is known in the art.

The clamping mechanism 24 can also be an adhesive 86 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case, a user can simply locate the cleaning cloth 18 near the clamping surface 20 and move the cleaning cloth 18 to a contact with the adhesive 86 thereby causing the cleaning cloth 18 to be fastened to the holding surface 20. Once removal of the cleaning cloth 18 is desired, a user can peel the cleaning cloth 18 from the adhesive 86 thereby removing the cleaning cloth 18 of the clamping surface 20. A user can then obtain a fresh cleaning cloth 18 from the container 12 and apply the fresh cleaning cloth 18 on the adhesive 86 in order to retain the cleaning cloth 18 and allow one to continue or initiate cleaning .

Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning product 10 in which the lid 22 remains clamped and pivoted with respect to the body 14 after opening through the use of a hinge 26. The hinge 26 can be selected to allow the lid 22 rotating any arc distance with respect to the upper part of the body 14. Additionally, the hinge 26 can be selected so that the lid 22 rotates freely with respect to the body 14, or the hinge 26 can be selected in a manner that a spiral spring or other member acts against the force of the opening cover 22 and acts to push the cover 22 back to its closed position.

In order to help retain the lid 22 in the closed position, a hook-and-loop type fastener 32 is employed on one end of the lid 22 and the body 14. The hook-and-loop type fastener 32 includes a plurality of fasteners. hooks 34 fastened to the underside of the lid 22 which are configured to engage and be retained by a plurality of loops 36 fastened to an upper body part 14. Such hook-and-loop type fasteners 32 are well known in the art, and The hook-and-loop type fastener 32 employed can be variably configured in accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the curls 36 can be placed on the lid 22 and the hooks 34 can be placed on the body 14 in a different embodiment of the cleaning product 10. The hook-and-loop type fastener 32 can be selected to open with the application of a predetermined and desired force.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the alternate example of the cleaning product 10 in which the cover 22 is configured alternately. In this case, the lid 22 is in a slidable contact with the body 14 so that a user can pull or push the pull tab 38 in order to slide the lid 22 in the open or closed position. The cover 22 includes a pair of rails 42 that are resident in the corresponding rails 40 located in the body 14. The rails 42 may have an end portion that is pigeon tail shaped or otherwise configured to retain the lid 22 in the same vertical position with respect to the body 14. A stop 44 can be provided on the body 14 in order to engage a stop 46 placed on the cover 22. The engagement of the stops 44 and 46 with each other will prevent an additional displacement of the cover 22 with respect to the body 14 and therefore will act to achieve a desired size of the opening inside the interior space 16. Alternatively, the cover 22 may be configured so that the stops 44 and 46 are not present thereby allowing the lid 22 being moved so as to essentially open the entire upper surface of the container 12.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the cleaning product 10 in which four flexible fins 48 are placed on one side of the body 14. The flexible fins 48 are configured so as to be pressed to the closed position and opened with the application of a force about them. For example, a user can push his hand against the flexible fins 44 thereby causing the flexible fins 48 to pivot inwardly to the interior 16 and allow the user to gain access to the cleaning cloths 18 stored therein. After removing his hand, the flexible fins 48 jump back to the normally closed position through their construction from an elastic material. The flexible fins 48 may be provided in any number and in any other form in accordance with several exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The cleaning product 10 in Figure 5 also includes a body 14 defining a depression 50 shaped for receiving a hand from the user. The depression 50 allows a user to more easily grasp the container 12 in order to move the container 12 during a cleaning procedure so that the cleaning cloth 18 attached thereto is moved through the soiled surface in a uniform manner. Even when the depression 50 is shown as being configured for the reception of the fingers, the palm and thumb of a user, the depression 50 may be configured differently according to other example embodiments so that only the fingers and thumb are accommodated for reception. In addition, the depression 50 can be configured to allow receiving the right hand, the left hand or both hands of the user of the cleaning product 10. The container 12 can be manufactured by molding to form the depression 50 in the body 14. Additionally, the depression 50 may be located on any surface or surfaof the body 14 in accordance with several exemplary embodiments.

Figure 6 shows an alternate configuration of a cleaning product 10 in which the body 14 is contoured in its shape. The contouring of the body 14 causes the clamping surface 20 to be similarly contoured and thus allows the clamping of a contoured cleaning cloth 18. However, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning pads 18 do not need to conform to the same size or shape of the clamping surface 20. For example, the cleaning cloth 18 may be circular in shape while the clamping surface 20 is rectangular. In addition, the cleaning cloth 18 may be smaller or larger than the fastening surface 20.

A clamping surface 20 can be of any size or shape, even when the clamping surface 20 may preferably be flat in certain exemplary embodiments to help provide uniform cleaning to the cleaning cloth 18.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the cleaning product 10 employs a lid 22 which is fastened through the hinge 26 to the body 14. The lid 22 can therefore be pivoted upwards in order to open the body 14 and provide access to the body. interior space 16. A stroke adjusting connection 27 is employed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the lid 22 and the body 14. The stroke adjustment connection 27 can be configured as previously discussed with regard to incorporation of example described in Figures 1 and 2, and the stroke adjustment connection 27 is used in order to hold the cover 22 of the body 14 in the closed position.

The lid 22 and the container 2 can be made of any suitable material. For example, these components can be made of plastic or rubber according to certain example embodiments. When closed, the lid 22 can form a waterproof seal to prevent the liquid from escaping or entering the interior space 16. This feature can be beneficial when the cleaning cloths 18 are provided in a wet state. In this case, the waterproof seal of the lid 22 will prevent the wipers 18 from drying prematurely and in turn will extend the life of the wipers 18. Additionally, in case the wipers 18 are provided in a dry state, the lid 22 and possibly the waterproof seal will prevent premature wetting of the wipers 18 in the interior 16 again extending the life of the wipers 18.

The cleaning product 10 can be formed in a variety of configurations having various shapes and sizes. Figure 7A-7G show different plan views of the cleaning product configurations 10 according to several example embodiments of the present invention.

As can be seen, the cleaning product 10 can be shaped to be rectangular, trapezoidal, circular, semicircular, contoured, etc. The overall three-dimensional shape of the body 14 can be prismatic, such as a cuboid, a prism (for example a triangular cousin, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, etc.), a prismatoid, a frustopyramidal, a parallelepiped and the like or rounded, chamfering and / or enlarged versions thereof or versions with concave parts. Any face or plurality or surrounding faces of the shape can serve as the lid 22. The different configurations of the cleaning product 10 allow several additional advantages to be carried out. For example, when it has a rectangular or square shape so as to have a corner section, the cleaning product 10 will allow a user to reach inside and clean the corners of his room. In addition, some users may find it more comfortable to grip a semicircular cleaning product 10 as opposed to one that is rectangular or circular in shape. Still further, a circular cleaning product 10 may be preferred when it was used to clean around circular objects. As such according to other embodiments of the invention, the fastening surface 20 of the body 14 is not rectangular and the cleaning cloths 18 have a similar non-rectangular shape.

Although described as having an interior surface 16 inside which the cleaning cloths 18 are placed, the cleaning product 10 can be configured in order to keep the cleaning cloths 18 on the exterior of the body 14 so that a cover 22 does not be necessary This type of placement will eliminate the need for a user to open the lid 22 and insert his or her hand inside the body 14 in order to retrieve a fresh cleaning cloth 18. Figure 8 shows one of such example embodiment of the present invention in the wherein the cleaning product 10 is configured without the interior space 16. In this case, a plurality of cleaning cloths 18 are fastened to a column 52 of the body 14 by means of a series of perforated connections 56. In order to apply a fresh cleaning cloth 18 to the clamping surface 20, a user will grasp and pull the upper cleaning cloth 18 in order to break the perforated connection 56 and remove the cleaning cloth 18 from the column 52. The subsequent cleaning cloths 18 can be removed in a similar fashion until that the supply of cleaning cloths 18 is exhausted. A handle 54 is provided and is attached to the column 52. The handle 54 is capable of being grasped by a user and the user maneuvering the cleaning product 10 so that the held cleaning cloth 18 can be moved on the surface to be cleaned in a uniform manner. The handle 54 can be simply cylindrically shaped, or it can be provided with additional features such as depressions into which the hand and / or fingers of a user can be held in order to provide an improved grip. In addition, the handle 54 may have a sleeve placed thereon which is made of a high flex material in order to allow a better grip. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a rubber sleeve can be placed on the handle 54 to provide an improved grip.

The clamping mechanism 24 can be configured in a variety of ways in order to hold the cleaning cloth 18 to the clamping surface 20. Figure 9 shows one such exemplary embodiment of the cleaning product 10 in which a fastener of the type of hooks and curls 58 is used to hold the cleaning cloth 18. In this embodiment, a plurality of hooks 60 are placed on the holding surface 20 and a plurality of curls 62 are placed on the cleaning cloth 18. A user can placing the cleaning cloth 18 so that the curls 62 engage and are held on the hooks 60 causing the cleaning cloth 18 to be securely fastened to the fastening surface 20. At this point, a user can use the cleaning product 10 so as to of cleaning a surface by moving the cleaning cloth 18 through a surface to be cleaned. After the service life of the cleaning cloth 18 has expired, or if otherwise desired by a user, the cleaning cloth 18 can be pulled by a user so that the curls 62 are pulled from the hook with the hooks 60 causing both the release of the cleaning cloth 18 from the fastening surface 20. The hooks 60 can be placed through the entire area of the fastening surface 20, or can be limited to smaller discrete parts. Additionally, the curls 62 can also be placed across the entire surface of the cleaning cloth 18 or they can be placed in selective places on it. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strands of the curls 62 are placed on the cleaning cloth 18. Furthermore, according to other example embodiments, the curls 62 can instead be placed on the surface of 20 while the hooks 60 are located on the cleaning cloth 18.

The hook-and-loop type fastener 58 used in order to hold the cleaning cloth 18 to the fastening surface 20 can be made under the trade name VELCRO®. An example of a type of VELCRO® material that can be used in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured by Velero USA, Inc., located at 406 Brown Avenue, Manchester, NH 03103.

Figure 10 allows yet another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning product 10. In this case, a plurality of gecko-type fasteners 64 are present on a fastening surface 20. The placement of the cleaning cloth 18 in contact with the fasteners of type gecko 64 will cause the cleaning cloth 18 to be retained on the holding surface 20.

The gecko-type bras 64 mimic the adhesive characteristics of the gecko's legs. The principles of gecko adhesion are discussed in more detail by Nelly Autumm and others in the book "Evidence for Adhesion van der Waals in the Gecko", procedures of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, volume 99, number 19, pages 12,252-12,256 (September 17, 2002); in the work of Ribert J. Full and others "Adhesive Manufacturing and Method for Self Formation", WO 01/49776, published on July 12, 2001; in the patent application of the United States of America Series No. 10 / 039,574, "Adhesive Microstructure and Method for Forming the Same" filed on January 2, 2002 by K. Autumm and published as the patent US20030124312-A1 on 3 July 2003; and the application of the United States of America Series number 10 / 197,763, "Adhesive Microstructure and method for forming same" filed July 17, 2002 by R. Fearing and published as US20030208888-A1 on November 13, 2003; all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In general, gecko-type materials may have a plurality of microscopic protrusions that rise from one surface, the protrusions having a diameter of about 0.1 to 1 miera and a height of about 0.5 microns to about 500 microns, said protuberances being effective to adhere to the opposing superpieces without the use of pressure sensitive adhesives.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment of the clamping mechanism 24 that can be used with the cleaning product 10. In this case, the clamping mechanism 24 is a pair of handles 70 and 72 located at either end of the body 14. A cleaning cloth 18 can be placed on the clamping surface 20 and any end of the cleaning cloth 18 can be wrapped around the clamping surface 20 in order to make contact with the sides of the body 14. At this point, the handles 70 and 72 can be open and then closed so as to grip the ends of the wiper cloth 18 thereby holding the wiper cloth 18 to the gripping surface 20. The grips 70 and 72 can be operated again in order to remove the wiper cloth 18 therefrom once that the cleaning cloth 18 has reached the end of its useful life or if it is otherwise desired that it be removed by the user.

Figure 12 shows yet another example embodiment of the cleaning product 10. In this case, instead of being configured to be used with a cleaning cloth 18 the cleaning product 10 is configured to be used with a cleaning block 92. The block The cleaning block 92 can be stored in an interior space 16 in the same manner as previously described with respect to the cleaning cloth 18. The cleaning block 92 can also be fastened to the fastening surface 20 in the same manner as previously discussed with with respect to the clamping of the cleaning cloth 18. In this case, however, the cleaning block 92 is provided with a plurality of magnetic strips 68 that are configured for fastening to a magnetic surface 66 comprising the clamping surface 20. A user you can simply place the cleaning block 92 near the clamping surface 20 so that the magnetic strips 68 make contact and engage with the magnetic surface 66. The magnetic fastener can be designed in such a way as to be able to retain the cleaning block 92 on the clamping surface 20 during cleaning, but still allow a user to disengage the magnetic strips 68 from the surface magnetic 66 once the removal of the cleaning block 92 is desired.

According to the various configurations of the clamping mechanism 24, the strong hold of the cleaning cloth 18 to the clamping surface 20 is not required in order to allow the cleaning product 10 to function. However, the peeling force for removal of the cleaning cloth 18 from the fastening surface 20 may be desirably low in accordance with certain example embodiments of the present invention in order to facilitate the repeated removal and resumption of a fresh cleaning cloth. 18. It is generally desirable that the cleaning cloth 18 has a good cutting resistance so that the cleaning cloth 18 does not easily come off under the cutting forces thereon typically produced by scrubbing with the cleaning product 10.

Other cleaning components can be incorporated in the cleaning product 10 according to other example embodiments of the present invention. Figure 13 shows one such example embodiment in which the body 14 is provided with a bag 74 within which an active ingredient 76 is placed such as a cleaning agent, a disinfectant, or an abrasive agent. Apart from the use of a bag 74, the active ingredient 76 may be contained within any suitable container. For example, a bag, tube or bottle can be used in order to store the active ingredient 76. During cleaning, the user can move and apply the active ingredient 76 in order to assist in cleaning.

The cleaning product 10 in Figure 13 also employs a second lid 78 that can be opened by a user in order to gain access to the interior space 16 to remove cleaning cloths 18 or other products stored there. As can be imagined, any number of caps can be employed on the body 14 in order to gain access to the interior space 16. In the example embodiment shown in Figure 13, the lid 22 provides access to the active ingredient 76 and can also be used to access the wipers 18 in the interior 16 while the second lid 78 is used exclusively to gain access to the wipers 18.

Another feature that can be included in the cleaning product 10 is a spraying mechanism 80 as shown in Figure 14. Here, a container 82 can be filled with a fluid 84, such as water or other cleaning solution, which It can be used in order to help the user in cleaning. The user can operate the spraying mechanism 80 to supply the fluid 84 on a surface and subsequently rub the cleaning cloth 18 thereon in order to allow the cleaning cloth 18 to clean while in a wet state. The spraying mechanism 80 can be detached from the container 82 or to allow the user to refill the container 82 with an appropriate fluid 84. The fluid 84 can be a fluid designed only to clean the surface to be cleaned, or it can be configured with other properties as desired. For example, the fluid 84 can be configured as an odor control agent in order to suppress or eliminate odors associated with the surface to be cleaned or with the odors brought during surface cleaning.

The container 12 can be provided in any form in accordance with several exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, Figure 15 shows a container 12 with a shaped body of a parallelepiped prism with a side view in the form of a rhombus and an end view in the shape of a rectangle. The container 12 has a shape that resembles a well-known shape for a rose eraser. An end face of the body 14 serves as the cover 22.

In Figure 16, a cleaning product 10 has a container 12 with a prismatic shape with a flat view that looks like an oval that has been augmented by a rounded triangle. The cleaning cloths 18 intended for use in this cleaning product 10 have a pointed end which can be useful to reach inside narrow corners. In general, the body 14 of the container 12 may have a rounded end and a pointed end (e.g., tapered at an acute angle), or a first end 94 with a first radius of curvature substantially greater than the radius of curvature of a second end 96 The cleaning cloths 18 may have the same or a different shape from that of the fastening surface 20.

The cleaning product 12 in Figure 17 has a container 12 with a hinged lid 22. The lid 22 has a pair of appendages 98 on the opposite ends thereof to facilitate the opening of the lid 22. Appendices 98 can be received in the depressions 100 in the body 14.

The cleaning product 12 of Figure 18 has a lid 22 with chamfered edges. Additionally, the body 14 has a pair of concave sides. The wipers 18 can be shaped in a manner to conform to the shape of the body 14 or they can be shaped differently according to several example embodiments.

Figure 19 shows a cleaning product 10 with a container 12 that is in the shape of a mail box. One side of the body 14 swings down to provide access to the wipers 18 that can be stacked horizontally in the container 12.

Examples of cleaning wipes 18 or cleaning blocks 92 that can be used in accordance with the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application No. 10 / 744,238 filed on 22 of December of 2003 whose inventors are Jeff Lindsay, Fung-Jou Chen, Julie Berdnarz, Stan Kellenberger, and James Tanner, entitled "Multi Purpose Cleaning Product that Includes a Foam and a Fabric". Whose complete description of the patent application of the United States of America No. 10 / 744,238 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes. Other examples of how the wiping cloths 18 can be configured are those shown in U.S. Patent Application No. 10 / 321,277 filed December 17, 2002, the inventors of which are Fung-Jou Chen and Jeff Lindsay, entitled "Disposable Scrubbing Product". The full description of the United States of America patent application No. 10 / 321,277 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

The cleaning cloth 18 includes a foam such as a melamine-based foam 90 which is fastened to a fabric 88. The foam 90 generally has an open cell structure which when moved on a surface is capable of effectively cleaning the dirt and other unwanted elements of the surface. The fabric 88 can act as a reinforcement layer to reinforce or maintain the melamine-based foam 90, and / or provide water retention properties that help keep the wet melamine-based foam 90 in case it is worn. a wet cleaning with the cleaning cloth 18 on the holding surface 20. Alternatively or in addition, the fabric 88 may be adapted for scrubbing, and may comprise abrasive material (not shown) such as rough polymeric filaments, tow blown with melting, abrasive particles, hook-like protrusions such as those used in the mechanical fastening systems of hooks and curls and the like.

The fabric 88 may comprise a structure of fibers or filaments which are retained from one another by fiber-fiber bonding (eg, hydrogen bonding), fiber entanglement, adhesive bonding, friction between fiber or fiber. between filaments, and the like. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the fabric 88 can be a hydrophilic cellulosic fibrous fabric such as a wet laid fabric or an air laid paper fabric comprising predominantly natural cellulosic fibers such as fibers for making paper based on wood, cotton, kenaf, bagasse, victor, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the fabric 88 may be a paper fabric comprising synthetic cellulosic fibers such as rayon. Alternatively, the fabric 88 may be a non-woven fibrous web which has a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlocked, but not in an identifiable way as in a knitted fabric. The fibers in a non-woven fabric are generally understood to be man-made fibers such as non-cellulosic polymer fibers, typically based on synthetic polymers such as polyolefins, including fabrics made from melt-bonding processes (meltblowing, bonding with spinning, etc.). Alternatively, the fabric 88 does not need to include a fiber structure but may be, for example, a film or foam in other embodiments.

The foam 90 can be laminated to the fabric 88 in order to effect clamping of these two components of the cleaning cloth 18. The term "laminate" as used herein means that the two components are attached to each other by an adhesive optionally with the use of heat and / or pressure. However, in accordance with other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the foam 90 may be attached to the fabric 88 in a variety of ways. For example, these two components can be fastened to each other by ultrasonic bonding, hot melts, pressure sensitive adhesives, thermal bonds, or by mechanical fasteners such as sewing, mechanical fasteners, or a hook-and-loop type fastener according to with other example additions. The hydroentanglement can also be used to attach a fibrous fabric to the foam. In one embodiment, a hot melt is used comprising at least one polymer with a substantial number of carboxyl groups or salts thereof to provide a good bond with a fibrous cellulosic fabric when wet. For example, a hot melt suitable for the present invention may comprise ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and may have at least about 20% by weight (wt%) of ethylene vinyl acetate, or at least about 50% by weight. weight of ethylene vinyl acetate. The hot melts can be applied by melt blow nozzles, rubber guns, or other adhesive nozzles and the like. After the hot melt is applied to one or both of the surfaces to be joined, the two surfaces can immediately be contacted and optionally pressed together with a compressive force, such as a force of about 0.03 pounds per inch. square or greater, or about 0.5 pounds per square inch or greater, or about 5 pounds per square inch or greater. The compressive force can be provided by a pressure point between two rollers, the pressure between two flat plates or other methods known in the art.

The cleaning cloth 18 can be configured so that the foam 90 is a relatively thin layer. For example, the foam may be in the order of about 2 millimeters to about 8 millimeters in thickness. Other example embodiments of the present invention exist in which the foam 90 can have a variable thickness, for example being 1 millimeter thick in certain parts of the fabric 88, and being 10 millimeters thick in other parts of the fabric 88. As such, the present invention includes several embodiments in which the foam 90 has a uniform thickness therethrough, and also a variable thickness therethrough. Additionally, the present invention includes exemplary embodiments wherein the foam 90 is less than 20 millimeters thick. Even the additional example embodiments exist in which the foam 90 is less than 15 millimeters thick, less than 10 millimeters thick and less than 5 millimeters thick. Additional exemplary embodiments of the present invention exist in which the foam 90 is from about 1 millimeter thick to about 15 millimeters thick.

The fabric 88 can be made of a soft material so that it is capable of damping or polishing a surface. Alternatively, the fabric 88 can be made of a rough material so that the fabric 88 is rougher or more abrasive than the foam 90. In this case, the cleaning cloth 18 can be used so that the fabric 88 is capable of scrubbing rough surfaces which would otherwise damage the foam 90. In fact, the fabric 88 may be better able to remove the dried or ground food substances in the dirt and some other unwanted elements from a surface to be cleaned in other example embodiments . The fabric 88 may comprise abrasive grit or a blown shot with fusion attached to a fibrous substrate, or abrasive fibers such as the multi-filament aggregates described in the co-owned patent application of the United States of America series No. 10 / 321,831, "Fused Blown Scrub Product", filed December 17, 2002 by Chen and others, and incorporated here by reference. A part of the cleaning surface of the foam 90 itself can also be bonded to materials such as meltblowing or multi-filament aggregates, in order to improve the cleaning or strength of the foam 90 and prevent the foam 90 is damaged during cleaning.

The fabric 88 may optionally include an abrasive material placed there, such as a rough melt blow shot, an abrasive grit such as mineral particles, or an aggregate of melt blown multiple filaments.

The cleaning cloth 18 can be incorporated in a scrubbing pad which is attached to the holding surface 20 so that the cleaning cloth 18 is fastened to the holding surface 20. Here, the cleaning cloth 18 comprises the outer surface of the pad to scrub. The foam 90 is located on one end of the scrubbing pad. Alternatively, the foam 90 may be included on both sides of the scouring pad according to other example embodiments. The fabric 88 is again attached to the foam 90.

The scouring pad can be a layered structure, the outer layer being the cleaning cloth 18. Additional layers of the scouring pad can each be a blown layer with abrasive melt which is also able to make contact with a surface that It will be cleaned once the cleaning cloth 18 is removed. The abrasive layer can be fastened to a water absorbing substrate which can be, for example, a sponge. In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the scrub pad can be configured to clean a surface when the scrub pad is wet to some degree.

Once the cleaning cloth 18 has been worn to some degree, the layer or layers of abrasive can be exposed in order to help clean the surface to be cleaned. Although described as being blown with an abrasive melt, the layers may be replaced by additional wipers 18 according to other example embodiments of the present invention.

In an example embodiment alternate cleaning cloth 18 can be incorporated into a sponge replacement. The used sponge substitute may be that as described in the United States of America patent application series No. 10 / 036,736 filed December 21, 2001 which was published as the United States patent application publication. of America No. 2003/0135181 on July 17, 2003. This application is the property of the assignee of the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. The cleaning cloth 18 can cover one side of the sponge substitute. The attachment of the sponge substitute to the clamping surface 20 causes the cleaning cloth 18 to be fastened to the clamping surface 20.

The cleaning cloth 18 can also be configured to include alternating layers of foam 90 and fabric 88 joined together. The alternate layers of foam 90 and fabric 88 are configured in a stack. In such a configuration, the use of the cleaning product 10 with the cleaning cloth 18 will eventually result in one of the layers of the foam 90 and / or the fabric 88 to be worn. In such a case, a fresh layer of the foam 90 and / or the fabric 88 will be exposed with the wear of the preceding foam 90 and / or the fabric 88.

The foam 90 may extend through the entire surface of the fabric 88, or the foam 90 may extend only over a portion of the surface of the fabric 88. In accordance with other example embodiments of the present invention, any number of additional pieces of foam 90 can be placed on the fabric 88 so that a plurality of foam pieces 90 are located through the tissue receiving surface 88.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the foam 90 and the fabric 88 are held together due to the fact that the foam 90 and the fabric 88 are integrally formed with one another. The complete foam 90 or a layer or part of the foam 90 can be formed integrally with a plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers can be fibers for making paper, mineral fibers, and / or polymer fibers. The foam 90 can be formed integrally with a plurality of fibers which form the fabric 88 of the cleaning cloth by a method as set forth in United States of America Patent No. 6,603,054 which is owned by the assignee of the present invention and which is incorporated here for all purposes in its entirety. In one case, the fabric 88 can be dispersed through the foam 90 and therefore integrally connected therewith. Here, about 10% or more of the weight of the cleaning cloth 18 can be from the plurality of fibers which are formed by mixing loose fibers in a resin coupled with a blowing agent or other means of foam production before curing. the resin in order to form the foam.

The fabric 88 may in other example embodiments of the present invention be provided with additional functionality. For example, the fabric 88 may be provided with a plurality of functional members placed there. The functional members may be cleaning agents in order to assist the cleaning cloth 18 in cleaning a surface. For example, the functional members can be enzymes such papain, or they can be bleaching agents such as peroxide. Additionally, the functional members may be abrasive compounds or may be detergents in accordance with other example embodiments. The functional members can also be configured so that they release an odor which can subsequently be transferred to the surface which is to be cleaned. In addition, the functional members can be agents for the well-being of the skin. The functional members can be encapsulated in a polymeric or lipid shell capable of breaking during use in response to mechanical compression and shear, whereby the ingredients in the functional members are released. Alternatively, the functional members may be embedded or encapsulated in a water soluble material so that the solvation of the material when wet allows the release of the functional components. The functional members can be antimicrobial agents and / or extracts or natural plant-based compounds according to other example embodiments. The functional members can be a detergent, a bleaching agent, a solvent, enzymes, etc.

The cleaning product 10 can also have an added functionality so that the container 12 and / or the functional members act as a biosensor. In this instance, in case the cleaning cloth 18 and / or the functional members detect the presence of harmful bacteria, lead, mercury or other agents, the cleaning cloth 18 and / or the functional member may change color in order to to indicate the presence of such agents. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning cloth 18 and / or the functional members can be heat generating agents, for example the cleaning cloth 18 can employ a thermal pad technology. In one case, oxidation of the iron can result in heating of the cleaning cloth 18. Alternatively, the water-activated technology can be used, such as the calcium chloride pellets, to heat cleaning cloth 18 so that the cloth cleaner 18 is also heated. The heating of the cleaning cloth 18 can be advantageous in the sense that a more effective cleaning of the grease or other elements can be carried out when the cleaning product 10 is used.

The functional members may be odor control agents such as cyclodextrins, zeolites, clays, and / or activated carbon particles or fibers. The cleaning cloth 18 can also be configured to have a chemical agent in order to combat the odor or to regulate the release of compounds that provide odor or eliminate odor. Chemical agents which may be included are, for example, chlorine dioxide, antimicrobial liquids or gases, antimicrobial time release compounds, silver ions embedded in foam 90, zeolites, and / or compounds related to chitosan.

The cleaning cloth 18 and / or the functional members can also be foaming agents. In these cases, the foaming agents can be activated when they come in contact with the water in order to create a foam which can additionally be used to help the cleaning cloth 18 to clean a surface of dirt or other unwanted elements. Also, the functional members and / or the fabric 88 can be made of a material or configured to help keep the foam 90 wet during the use of the cleaning cloth 18.

Even when described as being incorporated into the fabric 88, the functional members may be incorporated in the foam 90 of the cleaning cloth 18 in accordance with several other embodiments. In addition, the functional members may be on the outer surface, edges or even be separate from the fabric 88 and / or the foam 90.

The cleaning product 10 can be used by a user to clean the face or other parts of the user's body. The cleaning product 10 can also be used as an article for the removal of makeup. In this case, the foam 90 can be provided with an extra pore space in order to trap and retain the makeup during cleaning by the user through the surface of the skin. In such a case, the foam 90 of the cleaning cloth 18 can provide an abrasive but gentle cleaning of the wearer's skin. Such cleaning can be either wet or dry. The extra pore space may be provided by drilling, piercing, laser drilling, punching, openings or other means to provide wells or other suitable depressions to retain the removed material. In one embodiment, a textured three-dimensional molded foam layer 90 with a suitable topography can be used. Proper topography may include molded wiping cloths 18 with smaller depressions of about 4 millimeters in diameter and with a peak-to-valley height of about 0.2 millimeters or more. In a related embodiment, the raised portions of a three-dimensional surface are essentially flat, with the depressed regions occupying about 30% or less of the surface area of the foam layer.

Additional uses of the cleaning product 10 can be found by using the cleaning product 10 as a furniture cleaner for polishing wooden furniture. The cleaning cloth 18 can also be configured as a polishing pad for the automobile body. The cleaning cloth 18 can also be configured as a waxing pad for use in the maintenance of the automobile body. In this case, the foam 90 may have an additive to be impregnated there in order to effect the waxing of the automobile surface. Alternatively, a wax substrate may be attached to the foam 90 and / or the fabric 88 in other example embodiments.

The cleaning product 10 can also be used in order to prepare a surface to be painted. Still further, the cleaning product 10 can be used as a shoe cleaning cloth. The cleaning product 10 can also be used as a bathroom cleaning product. In this case, the cleaning product 10 can be used in order to clean the rigid slag from the tiles and porcelains found in the bathrooms.

The cleaning product 10 can be used in order to clean a variety of objects. For example, knives, golf balls, bowling balls and various household items that can be cleanser by the cleaning product 10 of the present invention. The cleaning product 10 can also be used as a useful article to remove stains from a user's teeth, or to brighten a person's teeth.

One or more parts of the cleaning cloth 18, for example the foam 90 and / or the fabric 88, can be loaded in order to more effectively remove and retain the bacteria. According to an example embodiment, the foam 90 and / or the fabric 88 have an electrostatic charge either chemically, or by the addition of electrettes in order to help attract and retain the bacteria by electrostatic means. A chemical electrostatic charge can be provided, for example, by chitosan, polyvinylamines, primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary amines, cationic polymers, polyelectrolytes.

Any known method can be used to add charged compounds to the surfaces of the struts in the foam 90 in case surfaces loaded in the cleaning foam 90 are desired. For example, chemical additives can be attached to the surface of the struts polymeric by impregnating the foam 90 with a solution containing charged species that can be crosslinked with each other or with foam 90. Combinations of chemical treatments, electrical and other physical treatments may be used, such as plasma treatment, corona discharge treatment, electret generation, and the like. By way of example, subsequent chemical treatments of the hydrophobic surface are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,537,614 issued March 25, 2003 to N. Wei et al., And it is believed that such treatments may be adapted to the cleaning foams 90 of the present application. The Wei et al. Patent discloses a hydrophobic polymer fiber having a cationically charged coating thereon, wherein the coating includes a functionalized cationic polymer, such as the polyamine functionalized with epichlorohydrin or a polyamido-amine functionalized with epichlorohydrin, the which has been criss-crossed by heat. Such materials can be made by the fibrous filter treatment with an aqueous solution of a functionalized cationic heat crosslinkable polymer under conditions sufficient to essentially coat the fibers with the functionalized cationic polymer, wherein the solution includes the functionalized cationic polymer, a poly (alcohol) of vinyl), a polar solvent for poly (vinyl alcohol), and water; and treating the resulting coated fibrous filter with heat at a temperature and for a sufficient time to crosslink the functionalized cationic polymer present in the hydrophobic polymer fibers. As adapted for the present application, a solution of a functionalized cross-heat cationic polymer can be used to impregnate or saturate all or a portion of a layer of cleaning foam 90 to coat the struts of the foam 90. The resulting coated foam 90 can be treated with heat at a temperature and for a sufficient time to crosslink the functionalized cationic polymer present on the foam surface 90.

The cleaning cloth 18 can also be configured in some embodiments so that the "melamine-based foam" 90 is a melamine-free foam containing melamine powder.

In addition, any aminoplast foam or other brittle or rigid foam described in United States of America Patent No. 4,125,664, entitled "Foamed Plastic Articles" granted on November 14, 1978 to H. Giesemann, and incorporated herein by reference it can be used with the cleaning product 10 of the present invention. Other foams 90 which are believed to be useful within the scope of the present invention include those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,666,948 entitled "Preparation of Elastic Melamine Foams" granted on May 19, 1987 to Woerner and others; U.S. Patent No. 5,234,969, "Cure Phenolic Foams" issued August 10, 1993 to Clark et al .; U.S. Patent No. 6,133,332, "Process for Producing Phenolic Resin Foams" granted on October 17, 2000 to T. Shinanuma; and WO 91/14731"Stable Aminoplast Cellular Foams and Process for Fabricating" published October 3, 1991 by Madre et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The latter, patent WO 91/14731 discloses cell foams obtained by the use of a halogenated and unsaturated polyalcohol in a precondensate of constituent resin and a partially esterified dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid with a fatty alcohol and a long chain polyhydric alcohol such as polyethylene. glycol, in a hardening constituent of foaming agent.

The principles for the manufacture of melamine-based foam are well known. Melamine-based foams are currently manufactured by BASF (of Ludwigshafen, Germany), under the trade name BASOTECT®. For example BASOTECT® 2011, with a density of around 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter, can be used. The cleaning block 92 of the melamine-based foam may be that marketed by Procter & Gamble (from Cincinnati, Ohio) under the trade name MR. CLEAN® and under the name CLEENPROmarca of LEC, Inc., of Tokyo, Japan (several product executions are shown at http: //www.users .bigpond. Com / jme. Au / CLEENPRO / CLEENPRO-E .htm and http : //www.users .bigpond.com / jmc .au / CLEENPRQ / CLEENPRO% 20Family-E .htm, both printed on November 13, 2003). Melamine-based foam is also marketed for acoustic and thermal insulation by many companies such as American Micro Industries (of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania).

Other foams that can be used are described in the German publication DE-AS 12 97 331. These foams are formed of phenolic components, of components based on urea, or of melamine-based components or are in an aqueous solution with an agent of blowing and a hardening catalyst.

The cleaning cloth 18 does not need to include a melamine-based foam 90 or other type of cleaning foam according to other example embodiments of the present invention. For example, the cleaning cloth 18 can be made of a tissue, spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, textiles or the like, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the cleaning cloth 18 can be a coform material that can be formed from cellulose and meltblown fibers possibly by having an optional meltblown layer bonded with spinning or a laminated film on either side of the composite.

The cleaning product 10 can be provided with a battery-activated heating element in order to heat the cleaning cloths 18 in order to improve its ability to clean a soiled surface. The cleaning cloth 18 can be made of an expendable component so that the cleaning cloth 18 disintegrates when it contacts or becomes saturated with water.

It should be understood that the present invention includes various modifications that can be made to the incorporations of the cleaning product 10 as described herein and as falling within the scope of the attached clauses and their equivalents.

Claims (20)

R E I V I ND I C A C I O N S

1. An apparatus for storing and holding cleaning cloths or cleaning blocks comprising: a container configured to contain at least one cleaning cloth or a cleaning block, the container having a body with a fastening surface; Y a joining mechanism configured to hold a cleaning cloth to a cleaning block to the cleaning surface for use in a cleaning procedure wherein the container is capable of being gripped to assist in the placement of the wiper cloth or the wiper block during the cleaning process. cleaning procedure.

2. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the body defines an interior space for use in retaining the cleaning cloth or cleaning block, and further comprises a cover configured to be opened and closed in order to allow and avoid access through the body to the interior space.

3. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping surface is flat.

4. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 3, characterized in that the body defines a depression configured to receive the hand of a user to aid in the grip of the container.

5. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 4, characterized in that the clamping mechanism is configured to allow the cleaning cloth or the cleaning block to be removed from the fastening with the clamping surface.

6. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 5, further characterized in that it comprises a spraying mechanism attached to the body, wherein the spraying mechanism is configured to supply a fluid.

7. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 6, characterized in that the fastening mechanism is a hook-and-loop type fastener in which either the hook elements or the loop elements are fastened to the fastening surface and the other element of hooks or curls is attached to the cleaning cloth or the cleaning block.

8. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a gecko type fastener, an adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, a mechanical fastener, an adhesive element of foam and a magnetic fastener.

9. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 8, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of cleaning cloths configured to be contained by the container and configured to be fastened to the fastening surface, wherein the cleaning cloths comprise a foam Melamine base configured to contact and clean a surface to be cleaned and a fabric bonded to the melamine-based foam, wherein the fabric is contiguous with the bonding surface when the cleaning cloth is attached to the cleaning surface.

10. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 9, characterized in that the clamping surface has a non-rectangular shape and further comprises a plurality of cleaning cloths having a non-rectangular shape adapted for fastening to the non-rectangular clamping surface.

11. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 10, characterized in that the body has a rounded end and an essentially pointed end.

12. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 to 10, characterized in that the body has a first rounded end and a second rounded end, wherein the radius of curvature of the first rounded end is substantially greater than the radius of curvature of the second end. rounded.

13. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the lid is completely removed from the body when it is opened and where the lid is attached to the body when closed.

14. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the cover is contiguous with the body when both open and closed.

15. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the lid is hingedly fastened to the body and is pivoted with respect to the body in order to open and close.

16. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the lid is in slidable engagement with the body so that the lid is slid in order to open and close.

17. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the lid is fastened to the body with a hook-and-loop type fastener when closed.

18. The apparatus as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the lid forms a waterproof seal when closed to prevent the liquid from escaping or entering the interior space.

19. The apparatus as claimed in clauses 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning block is a block of melamine-based foam.

20. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the body has a spine configured for removable fastening with at least one cleaning cloth or a cleaning block, wherein the container has a handle connected to the body. SUMMARY An apparatus is provided for storing and holding cleaning cloths or cleaning blocks. The apparatus includes a container configured to contain at least one cleaning cloth or a block. The container has a body with a clamping surface. A clamping mechanism is included and is configured to hold the cleaning cloth or the block to the clamping surface for use in a cleaning procedure. The container is capable of being gripped to assist in the placement of the cleaning cloth or the block during the cleaning procedure.