US20140259491A1

US20140259491A1 - Multi-layered cleaning cloth

Info

Publication number: US20140259491A1
Application number: US13/833,495
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph M. Colangelo
Original assignee: EZ Products of South Florida LLC
Current assignee: EZ Products of South Florida LLC
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

A multi-layer cleaning cloth including a backing layer, a cleaning layer and an absorbent core. The absorbent core ranges from a weight of 70 GSM to 90 GSM or in some embodiments, 80 GSM. The backing layer may be porous or liquid-impervious. The layers are fusion-bonded to create a pocket between the backing layer and the cleaning layer for containing the absorbent core.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to cleaning cloths and, more particularly to a multi-layered cleaning cloth that can be utilized dry, or can be impregnated with a cleaning solution and used in various applications.
Certainly, making a mess is much more entertaining than cleaning one up—especially if you are not the mess maker. And further, the concept of delayed gratification cannot be employed in the making a mess and cleaning it up scenario as, the cleaning must always follow the messing. And so, many devices have been introduced to help reduce the ration of cleaning a mess to making one.
Various cleaning devices, equipment, tools, and the like have been introduced as a goal to help reduce the time and effort in cleaning, as well as in improving the efficiency of the effort applied. One such technological advancement has been in the area of cleaning cloths that can be used by hand or attached to an appliance. A wide variety of such cleaning cloths have been introduced including cloths with scrubbing strips, polishing cloths, cloths impregnated with cleaning solutions, cloths that are highly absorbent, etc. In addition, a wide variety of materials have been used in the construction of such cloths, including cotton, compressed cotton, non-woven fabrics, fiber enriched paper material, etc. Such cleaning cloths have been made as single-use disposable cloths, multiple-use disposable cloths, and cleanable-reusable cloths. In addition, cloths have been made with varying textures, surfaces, etc. to help facilitate the cleaning process.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A multi-layered cleaning cloth that includes a backing layer, a cleaning layer and an absorbent core. The absorbent core ranges from a weight of 70 GSM to 90 GSM or in some embodiments, 80 GSM. The backing layer may include a spunlace nonwoven embossed sheet having a weight ranging from 60 GSM to 80 GSM and in some embodiments is 80 GSM. The cleaning sheet can be constructed of an air through bonded nonwoven sheet having a weight ranging from 35 GSM to 55 GSM or in some embodiments, a weight of 45 GSM. The backing layer may be porous or liquid-impervious. The layers are fusion-bonded to create a pocket between the backing layer and the cleaning layer for containing the absorbent core.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a photo illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the multi-layer cleaning cloth in a partially disassembled view.

FIG. 2 is a photo illustrating the backing side of an exemplary embodiment of the multi-layer cleaning cloth.

FIG. 3 is a close up of a portion of the photo of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a photo of a disassembled cleaning sheet that has been separated from the cleaning cloth.

FIG. 5 is a photo of a side edge of the multi-layer cleaning cloth.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual depiction of alternate embodiment illustrating one example of a dry/wet combination cleaning cloth.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cleaning cloth of FIG. 6 showing the flow of liquid while using the cleaning cloth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as well as features and aspects thereof, is directed towards providing a multi-layered cleaning cloth that can be used with or without implements for cleaning a surface.
In general, embodiments of the pre-wetted cleaning cloth include at least a three-layer structure. The upper layer(s) of the cleaning cloth is referred to as the backing. The bottom layer(s) of the cleaning cloth is referred to as the cleaning sheet. Sandwiched between the backing and the cleaning sheet is an absorbent core.
It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the backing can be constructed of one or more sheets. For multiple sheet embodiments, the backing can include stacked sheets having different properties, such as hydrophilic, hydrophobic, various textures, colors, designs, embossing, etc. In addition, the backing can be one or more single ply sheets or, multiple sheets laid side-by-side or overlapped, and bonded together.
Similarly, the cleaning sheet may also be constructed of one or more sheets. For multiple sheet embodiments, the cleaning sheet can include stacked sheets having different properties, such as hydrophilic, hydrophobic, various textures, abrasive qualities, colors, designs, embossing, etc. In addition, the cleaning sheet can be one or more single ply sheets or, multiple sheets laid side by side or overlapped, and bonded together.
The absorbent core may be constructed of a single sheet, multiple sheets, compressed materials, air infused materials, etc. In some embodiments, the absorbent layer is impregnated with a fluid, solution or cleaning material. In other embodiments, the absorbent layer is initially dry and when being used, the absorbent layer serves to retain any fluid and soil absorbed by the cleaning pad during use. In yet other embodiments, the absorbent material may include an impregnated portion as well as an initially dry portion that is used to absorb fluid during the cleaning process. The absorbent layer may include a plurality of layers, which are designed to provide the cleaning pad with multiple planar surfaces and/or density gradients. In yet other embodiments the absorbent core may be impregnated with a dry solution that is activated when the cleaning cloth is exposed to moisture.
Turning now to the figures, various examples of embodiments of the cleaning cloth, as well as variants, features, aspects and elements of such embodiments are presented in more detail.
FIG. 1 is a photograph illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the multi-layer cleaning cloth in a partially disassembled view. Arrow 110 points to the backing sheet, which as been pealed away revealing the absorbent core 120 and portions of the cleaning sheet 130. In FIG. 1, it is apparent that the absorbent core 120 is sandwiched between the backing sheet 110 and the cleaning sheet 130. The crisscross lines across the surfaces of the backing sheet 110, absorbent core 120 and the cleaning sheet 130 are the results of fusion bonding of the layers together.
FIG. 2 is a photograph illustrating the backing side of an exemplary embodiment of the multi-layer cleaning cloth of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the backing sheet 110 fusion-bonded to the cleaning sheet 130 and the absorbing layer 120 is sandwiched there between.
FIG. 3 is a close up of a portion of the photograph of FIG. 2. The fusion-bond is seen in this figure as including a series of tics that are linearly positioned in crisscross lines.
FIG. 4 is a photograph of a disassembled cleaning sheet that has been separated from the cleaning cloth. The cleaning sheet 130 is illustrated to be of such material and thickness so as to be translucent, however, this characteristic is not necessary in all embodiments of the cleaning cloth.
FIG. 5 is a photograph of a side-edge of the multi-layer cleaning cloth. The side edge shows that the cleaning sheet 130 is fused with the backing 110 at points 210 with the absorbing core 120 being sandwiched between the two. The fusion-bonding 210 results in creating a varying surface on the surface of the cleaning sheet 130 with raised portions 510 and valleys 520.

The Backing Sheet

In the various embodiments, the backing sheet 110 can be constructed using any of a variety of materials.
In one particular embodiment of the cleaning cloth, the backing sheet 110 can be constructed of an air through bonded nonwoven material. The backing sheet can be constructed at a weight of 45 GSM or in a range of 40-50 GSM as a non-limiting example. The backing sheet 110 may include sites for receiving a loop material or include loops or hooks for mating with another material of opposing structure (hooks or loops) such as VELCRO, to facilitate being attached to a cleaning implement.
The backing sheet 110 may be porous or non-porous in various embodiments. As a non-limiting example, the backing sheet 110 can be liquid-impervious, such as can be achieved using materials such as plastic, Mylar, silicon, etc.

The Cleaning Sheet

The cleaning sheet can be constructed of a variety of materials and in a variety of manners. A few non-limiting examples of such construction are provided herein.
In one embodiment, the cleaning sheet 130 is constructed of a spunlace nonwoven embossed material. The cleaning sheet can be constructed at a weigh of 70 GSM or in a range of 60-80 GSM as a non-limiting example. However, other embodiments may utilize a spunbonded nonwoven fabric, a suction nonwoven fabric, a heat bonded nonwoven fabric, a melt blown nonwoven fabric and the like, as a few non-limiting examples. A non-limiting example of a cleaning sheet 130 may include a fibrous material, which provides enhanced dust absorbing characteristics and anti-wear properties.
The fibrous composition for composing the non-woven fabric can be selected depending on the bonding method. For instance, if the cleaning cloth is formed by heat sealing the non-woven fabric, then the non-woven fabric may be constructed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber, for example, on the cleaning surface side, whereas on the bonding surface side, the sheet may be constructed of a non-woven fabric made of a PET/polyethylene (PE) (core/sheath) composite fiber. These non-woven fabrics are preferably obtained by subjecting a polypropylene (PP) fiber to water needling through a PP net having a lattice shape arrangement.
The cleaning cloth of the present invention may take any form as long as once it is joined to the backing cloth; it results in creating an interior space for the absorbent material.
It should be appreciated that the cleaning cloth may include apertures, raised portions or have a scrubbing material attached thereto to facilitate having an abrasive surface for scrubbing.

The Absorbent Core

The absorbent layer comprises any material capable or absorbing and retaining fluid during use. Typically, the absorbent layer comprises fibrous material, preferably nonwoven fibrous material. Fibers useful in the present invention include those that are naturally occurring (modified or unmodified), as well as synthetically made fibers. Examples of suitable unmodified/modified naturally occurring fibers include cotton, Esparto grass, bagasse, kemp, flax, silk, wool, wood pulp, chemically modified wood pulp, jute, ethyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate. Suitable synthetic fibers can be made from polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylics such as ORLON®, polyvinyl acetate, Rayon®, polyethylvinyl acetate, non-soluble or soluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX®) and polypropylene, polyamides such as nylon, polyesters such as DACRON® or KODEL®, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, and the like. The absorbent layer can comprise solely naturally occurring fibers, solely synthetic fibers, or any compatible combination of naturally occurring and synthetic fibers.
The fibers useful herein can be hydrophilic, hydrophobic or can be a combination of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. As used herein, the term “hydrophilic” is used to refer to surfaces that are wettable by aqueous fluids deposited thereon. Hydrophilicity and wettability are typically defined in terms of contact angle and the surface tension of the fluids and solid surfaces involved. A surface is considered hydrophilic when either the contact angle between the fluid and the surface is less than 90 degrees or when the fluid tends to spread spontaneously across the surface, both conditions normally co-existing. Conversely, a surface is considered to be hydrophobic if the contact angle is greater than 90 degrees and the fluid does not spread spontaneously across the surface.
The particular selection of hydrophilic or hydrophobic fibers will depend upon the other materials included in the cleaning pad, for instance in different absorbent layers, the backing layers or the cleaning layers. That is, the nature of the fibers will be such that the cleaning pad exhibits the necessary fluid delay and overall fluid absorbency. Suitable hydrophilic fibers for use in the various embodiments include cellulosic fibers, modified cellulosic fibers, rayon, polyester fibers such as hydrophilic nylon (HYDROFIL®). Suitable hydrophilic fibers can also be obtained by hydrophilizing hydrophobic fibers, such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like.
Suitable wood pulp fibers can be obtained from well-known chemical processes such as the Kraft and sulfite processes. It is especially preferred to derive these wood pulp fibers from southern soft woods due to their premium absorbency characteristics. These wood pulp fibers can also be obtained from mechanical processes, such as ground wood, refiner mechanical, thermomechanical, chemimechanical, and chemi-thermomechanical pulp processes. Recycled or secondary wood pulp fibers, as well as bleached and unbleached wood pulp fibers, can be used.
Another type of hydrophilic fiber for use in the present invention is chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers. As used herein, the term “chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers” means cellulosic fibers that have been stiffened by chemical means to increase the stiffness of the fibers under both dry and aqueous conditions. Such means can include the addition of a chemical stiffening agent that, for example, coats and/or impregnates the fibers. Such means can also include the stiffening of the fibers by altering the chemical structure, e.g., by crosslinking polymer chains.
Where fibers are used as the absorbent layer (or a constituent component thereof), the fibers can optionally be combined with a thermoplastic material. Upon melting, at least a portion of this thermoplastic material migrates to the intersections of the fibers, typically due to interfiber capillary gradients. These intersections become bond sites for the thermoplastic material. When cooled, the thermoplastic materials at these intersections solidify to form the bond sites that hold the matrix or web of fibers together in each of the respective layers. This can be beneficial in providing additional overall integrity to the cleaning pad.
Amongst its various effects, bonding at the fiber intersections increases the overall compressive modulus and strength of the resulting thermally bonded member. In the case of the chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers, the melting and migration of the thermoplastic material also has the effect of increasing the average pore size of the resultant web, while maintaining the density and basis weight of the web as originally formed. This can improve the fluid acquisition properties of the thermally bonded web upon initial exposure to fluid, due to improved fluid permeability, and upon subsequent exposure, due to the combined ability of the stiffened fibers to retain their stiffness upon wetting and the ability of the thermoplastic material to remain bonded at the fiber intersections upon wetting and upon wet compression. In net, thermally bonded webs of stiffened fibers retain their original overall volume, but with the volumetric regions previously occupied by the thermoplastic material becoming open to thus increase the average inter fiber capillary pore size.
The absorbent layer 120, in some embodiments may include a thin filled hydrophilic polyurethane foam coating in a rectangular. In other embodiments, the absorbent core can be constructed of airlaid viscose material. The absorbent core can be constructed at a weight of 80 GSM or in a range of 70-90 GSM as a non-limiting example.
As previously mentioned, some embodiments of the cleaning cloth may be wet cloths, while some may be dry cloths. Further, in some embodiments the cleaning cloth may be a mixture of wet and dry cloths as is described in more detail below. The characteristics of the absorbent core in the various embodiments can thus be tweaked for the particular application. For instance, in the wet cleaning cloths, the absorbent core may be designed to be impregnated with and hold a cleaning solution and release the cleaning solution during use. In the dry cleaning cloths, the absorbent core may be designed to siphon liquids from the cleaning surface and hold the liquids within the core. Various materials suitable for wet cleaning cloths are described above and materials suitable for drying cleaning cloths are described below. However, it will be appreciated that in any particular application, materials from either embodiment may be blended to obtain a desired effect or functionality.
For the dry cleaning cloth embodiments, The absorbent layer may comprise any material(s) capable of absorbing and retaining fluid during use. To achieve desired total fluid capacities for various embodiments, the absorbent core may be constructed of, or include a material having a relatively high capacity (in terms of grams of fluid per gram of absorbent material). As used herein, the term “superabsorbent material” means any absorbent material having a g/g capacity for water of at least about 15 g/g, when measured under a confining pressure of 0.3 psi. Because a majority of the cleaning fluids useful with the various embodiments are aqueous based, it is preferred that the superabsorbent materials have a relatively high g/g capacity for water or water-based fluids.
Representative superabsorbent materials include water insoluble, water-swellable superabsorbent gelling polymers (referred to herein as “superabsorbent gelling polymers”) which are well known in the literature. These materials demonstrate very high absorbent capacities for water. The superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention can have a size, shape and/or morphology varying over a wide range. These polymers can be in the form of particles that do not have a large ratio of greatest dimension to smallest dimension (e.g., granules, flakes, pulverulents, interparticle aggregates, interparticle crosslinked aggregates, and the like) or they can be in the form of fibers, sheets, films, foams, laminates, and the like. The use of superabsorbent gelling polymers in fibrous form provides the benefit of enhanced retention, relative to particles, during the cleaning process. While their capacity is generally lower for aqueous-based mixtures than it is for water, these materials still demonstrate significant absorbent capacity for such mixtures. Examples of such materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,103 (Harper et al.), issued Jun. 13, 1972; U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,731 (Harmon), issued Jun. 20, 1972; U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 32,649 (Brandt et al.), reissued Apr. 19, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,735 (Alemany et al.), issued May 30, 1989.
Superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in some embodiments of the cleaning cloth include a variety of water-insoluble, but water-swellable polymers capable of absorbing large quantities of fluids. Such polymeric materials are also commonly referred to as “hydrocolloids”, and can include polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; nonionic types such as polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl ethers; cationic types such as polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl morpholinione, and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl or N,N-diethylaminopropyl acrylates and methacrylates, and the respective quaternary salts thereof. Typically, superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention have a multiplicity of anionic functional groups, such as sulfonic acid, and more typically carboxy, groups. Examples of polymers suitable for use herein include those that are prepared from polymerizable, unsaturated, acid-containing monomers. Thus, such monomers include the olefinically unsaturated acids and anhydrides that contain at least one carbon-to-carbon olefinic double bond. More specifically, these monomers can be selected from olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids and acid anhydrides, olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.
Some non-acid monomers can also be included, usually in minor amounts, in preparing the superabsorbent gelling polymers useful herein. Such non-acid monomers can include, for example, the water-soluble or water-dispersible esters of the acid-containing monomers, as well as monomers that contain no carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups at all. Optional non-acid monomers can thus include monomers containing the following types of functional groups: carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid esters, hydroxyl groups, amide-groups, amino groups, nitrile groups, quaternary ammonium salt groups, aryl groups (e.g., phenyl groups, such as those derived from styrene monomer). These non-acid monomers are well-known materials and are described in greater detail, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663 (Masuda et al), issued Feb. 28, 1978, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,817 (Westerman), issued Dec. 13, 1977, both of which are incorporated by reference.
Olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid anhydride monomers include the acrylic acids typified by acrylic acid itself, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, .alpha.-chloroacrylic acid, a-cyanoacrylic acid, .beta.-methylacrylic acid (crotonic acid), .alpha.-phenylacrylic acid, .beta.-acryloxypropionic acid, sorbic acid, .alpha.-chlorosorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chlorocinnamic acid, .beta.-sterylacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citroconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxyethylene and maleic acid anhydride.
Olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomers include aliphatic or aromatic vinyl sulfonic acids such as vinylsulfonic acid, allyl sulfonic acid, vinyl toluene sulfonic acid and styrene sulfonic acid; acrylic and methacrylic sulfonic acid such as sulfoethyl acrylate, sulfoethyl methacrylate, sulfopropyl acrylate, sulfopropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropyl sulfonic acid and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.
In some embodiments, the superabsorbent gelling polymers may contain carboxy groups. These polymers include hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, partially neutralized hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic ester copolymers, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylamide copolymers, slightly network crosslinked polymers of any of the foregoing copolymers, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid. These polymers can be used either solely or in the form of a mixture of two or more different polymers. Examples of these polymer materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,661,875, U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663, U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,776, U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,983, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,478.
In some embodiments, the polymer materials used for making the superabsorbent gelling polymers are slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acids and starch derivatives thereof. For example, the hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers may comprise from about 50 to about 95% neutralized, slightly network crosslinked, polyacrylic acid (i.e. poly(sodium acrylate/acrylic acid)). Network crosslinking renders the polymer substantially water-insoluble and, in part, determines the absorptive capacity and extractable polymer content characteristics of the superabsorbent gelling polymers. Processes for network crosslinking these polymers and typical network crosslinking agents are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663.
While the superabsorbent gelling polymers may be of one type (i.e., homogeneous), mixtures of polymers can also be used in various embodiments. For example, mixtures of starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid can be used in the present invention.
In a particular embodiment of the cleaning cloth, the backing sheet is constructed of an air through bonded nonwoven material. The backing sheet can be constructed at a weight of 45 GSM or in a range of 40-50 GSM as a non-limiting example. The backing sheet may be white or, to further differentiate the backing sheet from the cleaning surface, the backing sheet may be colored with one or more colors, embossed in a distinctive manner, or including writing to indicate that it is the backing sheet.
The dual sided cleaning cloth can be mounted to a cleaning implement such as a broom, mop head, etc. Thus, the dual sided disposable cleaning cloth 10 could be attached to a broom or other cleaning implement with various types of fastening devices, such as hook/loop fasteners, locking mechanisms, etc. Further, the cleaning cloth may simply be a hand use cloth.
The backing sheet and the cleaning sheet can be bonded together using a variety of techniques, such as fusion-bonding, to create an inner pocket for receiving the absorbing core. The backing sheet and/or the cleaning sheet can also be bonded to the absorbent core or, the absorbent core can remain free within the pocket formed by bonding the backing sheet to the cleaning sheet. In the illustrated embodiments, the backing sheet, cleaning sheet and absorbent core are illustrated as being rectangular but, any shape is also anticipated. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the backing sheet may be bonded to the cleaning sheet around the periphery of the backing sheet with the cleaning sheet overlapping the backing sheet. The overlapping material is used for attaching the cleaning cloth to a mop head or similar cleaning element. In the illustrated example, the layers of the cleaning cloth are bonded using a crisscross diamond shaped pattern. Advantageously, this aspect results in creating multiple surfaces on the surface of the cleaning sheet to facilitate cleaning and scrubbing.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual depiction of alternate embodiment illustrating one example of a dry/wet combination cleaning cloth. In this example, the backing sheet 610 and the cleaning sheet 630 would be bonded together to create a pocket for the absorbent core 620. The absorbent core 620 includes an impregnated sheet 622 that may include an aqueous cleaning solution. A liquid-impervious sheet boundary sheet 614 is positioned under the impregnated sheet 622 and includes a series of apertures 626. As such, the liquid from the impregnated sheet 622 passes only through the apertures 626. A dry absorbent sheet 628 is positioned below the boundary sheet 614 and includes apertures 629 that are similarly sized and in substantial alignment with the apertures 626 of the boundary sheet. Below this structure is the cleaning sheet 630. In operation, liquid from the impregnated sheet 622 would pass through the apertures 626 of the boundary sheet 624 and through the apertures 629 of the dry absorbent sheet 628 and then through the cleaning sheet 630 to the surface to be cleaned. As the surface is cleaned and as the cleaning cloth is passed over the surface, the liquid is then absorbed by the dry absorbent layer 628.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the cleaning cloth of FIG. 6 showing the flow of liquid while using the cleaning cloth. The backing sheet 610 and the cleaning sheet 630 are bonded together to create a pocket for the absorbent core 620. The absorbent core 620 includes an impregnated sheet 622 that may include an aqueous cleaning solution. A liquid-impervious sheet boundary sheet 614 is positioned under the impregnated sheet 622 and includes a series of apertures 626. As such, the liquid from the impregnated sheet 622 passes only through the apertures 626. A dry absorbent sheet 628 is positioned below the boundary sheet 614 and includes apertures 629 that are similarly sized and in substantial alignment with the apertures 626 of the boundary sheet. Below this structure is the cleaning sheet 630. In operation, liquid from the impregnated sheet 622 would pass through the apertures 626 of the boundary sheet 624 and through the apertures 629 of the dry absorbent sheet 628 and then through the cleaning sheet 630 to the surface to be cleaned as shown in flow 710. As the surface is cleaned and as the cleaning cloth is passed over the surface, the liquid is then absorbed by the dry absorbent layer 628 as per flow 720.
In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements, or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.
The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that are described and embodiments of the present invention comprising different combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occur to persons of the art.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning cloth comprising:

a backing layer;

a cleaning layer;

the backing layer and the cleaning layer being joined together to create a pocket; and

an absorbent core, positioned within the pocket, the absorbent core being impregnated with a cleaning solution and being constructed of an airlaid viscose absorbent material having a weight ranging from 70 GSM to 90 GSM.

2. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core has a weight of 80 GSM.

3. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the backing layer is a bonded nonwoven sheet.

4. The cleaning cloth of claim 3, wherein the backing layer has a weight of approximately 45 GSM.

5. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the backing layer, cleaning layer and absorbent core are fusion-bonded using a crisscross pattern to create diamond shapes.

6. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the cleaning layer is larger than the backing layer and the absorbent core in at least one dimension.

7. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the cleaning layer is an air through bonded nonwoven sheet having a weight ranging from 35 GSM to 55 GSM.

8. The cleaning cloth of claim 7, wherein the cleaning layer has a weight of 45 GSM.

9. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the backing layer is a spunlace nonwoven embossed sheet having a weight ranging from 60 GSM to 80 GSM.

10. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the backing layer has a weight of 70 GSM.

11. The cleaning cloth of claim 1, wherein the backing layer is liquid-impervious.

12. A cleaning cloth comprising:

a backing layer of spunlace nonwoven embossed material having a weight ranging from 60 GSM to 80 GSM;

a cleaning layer of an air through bonded nonwoven material having a weight ranging from 35 GSM to 55 GSM;

13. The cleaning cloth of claim 12, wherein the absorbent core has a weight of 80 GSM.

14. The cleaning cloth of claim 13, wherein the backing layer is a bonded nonwoven sheet.

15. The cleaning cloth of claim 13, wherein the backing layer has a weight of approximately 45 GSM.

16. The cleaning cloth of claim 13, wherein the backing layer, cleaning layer and absorbent core are fusion-bonded using a crisscross pattern to create diamond shapes.

17. The cleaning cloth of claim 13, wherein the cleaning layer is larger than the backing layer and the absorbent core in at least one dimension.