WO1995031923A1 - Eponges - Google Patents

Eponges Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995031923A1
WO1995031923A1 PCT/GB1995/001160 GB9501160W WO9531923A1 WO 1995031923 A1 WO1995031923 A1 WO 1995031923A1 GB 9501160 W GB9501160 W GB 9501160W WO 9531923 A1 WO9531923 A1 WO 9531923A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sponge
water
layer
sheet
laminate
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1995/001160
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen Anthony Rawlings
Original Assignee
Decosol Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Decosol Limited filed Critical Decosol Limited
Priority to AU25318/95A priority Critical patent/AU2531895A/en
Publication of WO1995031923A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995031923A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
    • A47L13/16—Cloths; Pads; Sponges

Definitions

  • This invention relates to sponges, and is especially concerned with sponges for use in cleaning motor vehicles, and methods of manufacturing them.
  • a sponge wherein a body of sponge material is backed by a laminate that comprises a water-impervious layer beneath a fabric layer, and the water-impervious layer is holed to enable liquid to pass to a restricted extent through it from said body to the fabric layer.
  • a method of manufacturing a sponge wherein a body of sponge material is backed by a laminate that comprises a water-impervious layer beneath a fabric layer, and the water-impervious layer is punctured to enable liquid to pass to a restricted extent through it from said body to the fabric layer.
  • the water-impervious layer may be a plastics film, for example of polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, and the fabric layer may be, for example, of polyester or other man-made fibre, cotton, chamois leather or cloth similar thereto.
  • the laminate may involve the water-impervious layer sandwiched between the fabric layer and a layer of sponge material that is bonded to the sponge-material body.
  • the sponge material may be a polyester or polyether foam.
  • Figure 1 shows a first of the sponges in plan view
  • Figure 2 shows the sponge of Figure 1 in side elevation
  • Figure 3 is a sectional side-elevation of the sponge of Figure 1 to enlarged scale.
  • Figure 4 is plan view of the second sponge according to the invention.
  • the first sponge to be described is of elongate slab form having a substantially constant thickness of some 50 mm throughout, and a backing surface 1 that is printed with a perspective, colour view 2 of a motor vehicle.
  • the sponge is configured in length and width to the general outline of the view 2, for novelty effect.
  • the surface 1 is the upper surface of a three-layer laminate 3 that backs a slab 4 of open-cell polyester or polyether foam forming the main sponge body.
  • the three layers of the laminate 3 are illustrated individually in Figure 3 to which reference will now be made.
  • the laminate 3 consists of an upper sheet 5 of polyester fabric, and a film 6 of polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane that is sandwiched between the sheet 5 and a lower sheet 7 of polyester or polyether foam.
  • the foam sheet 7 is bonded to the slab 4 so that the laminate 3 backs the slab 4 with the fabric sheet 5 outermost.
  • the fabric sheet 5 provides a comfortable and pleasing feel for the hand stretched across the surface 1 in gripping the spc re during use.
  • the slab 4 soaks up a large quantity c water when it is immersed and retains a substantial proportion of this when it is removed from the water; the fabric sheet 5, in contrast, retains little.
  • pressure of the hand on the sponge in this action causes some of the water retained by the slab 4 to be discharged down onto the work surface to wash away the dirt.
  • the sponge of the present invention however, water is restricted from release upwardly by the film 6 of the laminate 3, so a higher proportion of the water retained by the sponge is released downwardly, than otherwise would be the case.
  • the present sponge is more efficient in use of the retained water for washing dirt from the work surface. Release of water upwardly from the slab 4 is not totally precluded however, in that the film 6 is punctured by small holes 8.
  • the holes 8 ensure that some water is discharged from the slab 4 into the fabric sheet 5 when the sponge is squeezed. This enables the sheet 5 to be used for cleaning where a degree of body and extra pressure in the rubbing operation is required, the sponge then being held with the slab 4 in the palm of the hand and the sheet 5 against the work surface. Such cleaning is most conveniently carried out by gripping the sponge in the hand and pressing it down with one or the other of the two ends of the sheet 5 contacting the work surface under pressure exerted on the slab 4 by the extended index finger.
  • the sheet 5 is kept wet for lubrication in the region of rubbing contact by water supplied through the holes 8 from the reservoir of water held by the gripped slab 4. Since the contact is most conveniently made with the work surface at either end of the sponge, more holes 8 are provided at the ends than in the middle.
  • the holes 8 may be uniformly distributed throughout the sheet 6, variation in distribution enables greater efficiency of water use, and therefore cleaning, to be achieved.
  • the holes 8 may, for example, be spaced apart by 10 mm in one region and by 30 mm in another, and may be provided in one case in two-dimensional groupings and in single-file lines in another.
  • the sponge is manufactured by first forming the laminate 3. For this a thin, unpunctured film of polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane is sandwiched between sheets 5 and 7 of fabric and foam respectively.
  • the foam has a thickness of some 2 mm, and the film and two sheets are heat bonded together by heating the film so that it is to some extent melted as the sandwich is passed through pressure rolls.
  • the view 2 is now printed onto the fabric upper surface 1 of the laminate; the foam sheet 7 adds body to the fabric for this process, and the laminate form ensures that the printing is not distorted in the finished product.
  • the finished laminate is now bonded to an appropriately- thick slab 4 of foam.
  • the bond between the thin sheet 7 of foam and the slab 4 is preferably achieved by flame- welding or -lamination, but may be brought about by spraying a contact adhesive onto the mating surfaces and then bringing the two foam surfaces into contact with one another.
  • the resultant product is then cut to the required configuration, and submitted to a spiked roller or other tool for puncturing the film at appropriate locations, through the fabric sheet 5, to form the holes 8.
  • the sheet 5 is preferably of polyester fibre or other man-made fibre having low water-retention characteristics. A higher degree of water retention may be desired, however, in certain cases, and in this respect the sheet 5 may instead be of cotton or of chamois leather, or of a cloth similar to chamois leather in its water retention properties.
  • the configuration of the sponge may include features to assist further in the cleaning process.
  • a sponge having the same construction as that of the sponge of Figure 1, but configured to include features of this nature, is illustrated in Figure 4 and will now be described.
  • the elongate sponge in this case is configured with a series of grooves 9 extending through its thickness opposite a concave longitudinal edge 10, making the sponge comfortable to hold squeezed slightly in the palm of the hand with the thumb against the edge 10 and fingers engaged in individual grooves 9.
  • the index finger may be extended lengthwise of the sponge for exertion of downward pressure, and the slight squeezing of the sponge then tends to push it up around the index finger to afford some protection to that finger.
  • the two end edges 11 and 12 of the sponge are configured to provide blunt-nose and convex rubbing surfaces respectively. These surfaces may be utilised effectively also when holding the sponge at the concave edge 10, as may the grooves 9 for cleaning grilles and similar areas of the vehicle body.

Landscapes

  • Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

Eponge destinée au nettoyage de véhicules à moteur comprenant une épaisse tranche (4) d'éponge supportée par un stratifié (3), lequel comporte une feuille (6) de plastique imperméable à l'eau, prise en sandwich entre une feuille (5) de tissu formant la surface supérieure (1) de l'éponge et une fine couche (7) de mousse plastique liée à la tranche (4) alvéolaire. La feuille (6) est percée, les trous (8) étant pratiqués à travers la feuille (5) de tissu, afin de permettre à l'eau de passer de manière restreinte de la tranche (4) alvéolaire à la feuille (5) de tissu. La répartition des trous (8) dans la feuille (6) peut varier d'une zone à l'autre de l'éponge.
PCT/GB1995/001160 1994-05-20 1995-05-22 Eponges WO1995031923A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU25318/95A AU2531895A (en) 1994-05-20 1995-05-22 Sponges

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9410122A GB9410122D0 (en) 1994-05-20 1994-05-20 Sponges
GB9410122.7 1994-05-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995031923A1 true WO1995031923A1 (fr) 1995-11-30

Family

ID=10755453

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1995/001160 WO1995031923A1 (fr) 1994-05-20 1995-05-22 Eponges

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2531895A (fr)
GB (1) GB9410122D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1995031923A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2143420A1 (es) * 1998-06-05 2000-05-01 Saiz Manuel Munoz Util para la limpieza del calzado.
WO2004021846A1 (fr) * 2002-09-05 2004-03-18 Paolo Alvera Tapis
WO2006000762A2 (fr) 2004-06-23 2006-01-05 Switchkey Intellectual Property Limited Interface main-utilitaire
WO2008003979A1 (fr) * 2006-07-06 2008-01-10 Switchkey (Iom) Limited Interface pour accessoire à main
FR2918260A1 (fr) * 2007-07-04 2009-01-09 Financ Elysees Balzac Sa Outil de nettoyage de structure composite et son obtention
WO2011127135A1 (fr) * 2010-04-06 2011-10-13 Foamtec International Co., Ltd. Eponge dotée de microfibres
EP2631065A1 (fr) * 2012-02-23 2013-08-28 Ulrich Pohlmann Tampon de nettoyage pour des surfaces fixes, lisses ou légèrement structurées

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2828055A1 (de) * 1978-06-26 1980-01-10 Henkel Kgaa Reinigungstuch
EP0066463A1 (fr) * 1981-06-01 1982-12-08 Unilever Plc Produit contenant une matière active
JPS60233176A (ja) * 1984-05-04 1985-11-19 Daimatsu Kagaku Kogyo Kk スポンジテ−プ
FR2653059A1 (fr) * 1989-10-13 1991-04-19 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Article pour traitement de surface contenant un materiau de traitement loge in situ et liberable au moment de l'utilisation.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2828055A1 (de) * 1978-06-26 1980-01-10 Henkel Kgaa Reinigungstuch
EP0066463A1 (fr) * 1981-06-01 1982-12-08 Unilever Plc Produit contenant une matière active
JPS60233176A (ja) * 1984-05-04 1985-11-19 Daimatsu Kagaku Kogyo Kk スポンジテ−プ
FR2653059A1 (fr) * 1989-10-13 1991-04-19 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Article pour traitement de surface contenant un materiau de traitement loge in situ et liberable au moment de l'utilisation.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 10, no. 103 (C - 340) 18 April 1986 (1986-04-18) *

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2143420A1 (es) * 1998-06-05 2000-05-01 Saiz Manuel Munoz Util para la limpieza del calzado.
WO2004021846A1 (fr) * 2002-09-05 2004-03-18 Paolo Alvera Tapis
WO2006000762A2 (fr) 2004-06-23 2006-01-05 Switchkey Intellectual Property Limited Interface main-utilitaire
WO2006000762A3 (fr) * 2004-06-23 2006-03-02 Switchkey Intellectual Propert Interface main-utilitaire
WO2008003979A1 (fr) * 2006-07-06 2008-01-10 Switchkey (Iom) Limited Interface pour accessoire à main
US9131821B2 (en) 2006-07-06 2015-09-15 Michael Charlton Powell Hand utility interface
FR2918260A1 (fr) * 2007-07-04 2009-01-09 Financ Elysees Balzac Sa Outil de nettoyage de structure composite et son obtention
WO2011127135A1 (fr) * 2010-04-06 2011-10-13 Foamtec International Co., Ltd. Eponge dotée de microfibres
US8739353B2 (en) 2010-04-06 2014-06-03 Foamtec International Co., Ltd. Sponge with mocrofiber
EP2631065A1 (fr) * 2012-02-23 2013-08-28 Ulrich Pohlmann Tampon de nettoyage pour des surfaces fixes, lisses ou légèrement structurées

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2531895A (en) 1995-12-18
GB9410122D0 (en) 1994-07-06

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