WO2014093145A1

WO2014093145A1 - A cleaning tool with upstanding fibers

Info

Publication number: WO2014093145A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/073472
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott D. Pearson; Lloyd S. Vasilakes
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2012-12-10
Filing date: 2013-12-06
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-10

Abstract

A cleaning tool is disclosed that includes a wiping body at least a portion of which is covered by a plurality of upstanding fibers for effectively sweeping both large and small particles and dust. In one embodiment, a cleaning tool comprises a backing, a handle connected to the backing, a wiping body connected to the backing at a connected end, and a cleaning material. The wiping body forms a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side. The wiping body further comprises a length extending from the backing to a free end of the wiping body, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, and a thickness extending between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The width is greater than the length. The width and length are each at least three times greater than the thickness. The cleaning material comprises a plurality of upstanding and outwardly extending short fibers on the first wiping side and second wiping side of the wiping body.

Description

A Cleaning Tool with Upstanding Fibers

Background

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning tool with upstanding fibers. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a cleaning tool with a wiping body at least a portion of which is covered by a plurality of upstanding fibers.

Long handled brooms are used for gathering dirt, dust, or debris from floors. However, even with sweeping the debris into the dust pan, often a small amount of the debris pass through the bristles and remain on the floor. The broom itself also can become very dirty and entangled with hair and dust.

Summary

A cleaning tool is disclosed that includes a wiping body at least a portion of which is covered by a plurality of upstanding fibers for effectively sweeping both large and small particles and dust. In one embodiment, a cleaning tool comprises a backing, a handle connected to the backing, a wiping body connected to the backing at a connected end, and a cleaning material. The wiping body forms a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side. The wiping body further comprises a length extending from the backing to a free end of the wiping body, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, and a thickness extending between the first wiping side and second wiping side. The width is greater than the length. The width and length are each at least three times greater than the thickness. The cleaning material comprises a plurality of upstanding and outwardly extending short fibers on the first wiping side and the second wiping side of the wiping body.

In one embodiment, the wiping body is a solid material from the first wiping side to the second wiping side. In one embodiment, the wiping body is a solid material from the first edge to the second edge. In one embodiment, the wiping body is a solid material from the connected end to the free end. In one embodiment, the wiping body is a solid material from the connected end to the free end and from the first edge to the second edge. In one embodiment, the wiping body flexibly connects at the connected end. In one embodiment, the wiping body can flex such that the first wiping side and second wiping side are parallel with the surface being cleaned.

In one embodiment, the width is at least two times greater than the length. In one embodiment, the width and length are each at least five times greater than the thickness.

In one embodiment, the cleaning material comprises a substrate containing the plurality of upstanding and outwardly extending short fibers. In one embodiment, the cleaning material is

permanently secured to the wiping body. In one embodiment, the cleaning material wraps from the connected end of the first wiping side around the free end to the connected end of the second wiping side. In one embodiment, the cleaning material entirely covers the wiping body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an embodiment of a floor cleaning tool; FIG. 2 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1.

While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of this invention.

The figures may not be drawn to scale. Detailed Description

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an embodiment of a floor cleaning tool 100. FIG. 2 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the floor cleaning tool 100 of FIG. 1.

The floor cleaning tool 100 comprises a backing 200, a handle 300, a wiping body 400 and a cleaning material 500. The backing 200 is generally rigid and secures on a first end 210 with the handle 300 and on a second end 220 with the wiping body 400. The handle 300 is permanently or removably connected to the backing 200. For floor cleaning, the handle 300 is typically a long handle. However, in one embodiment, the cleaning tool 100 may have a short handle extending from the backing 200. The backing 200 and handle 300 each may be made from plastic, wood, metal, or composite material that will provide structural stability to the cleaning tool 100.

The wiping body 400 includes a connected end 405 secured to the backing 200 and a free end 410, opposite the connected end 405, which is wiped over the surface to be cleaned. The wiping body extends from the connected end 405 at the backing 200 to the free end 410 to form a first wiping side 430 and a second wiping side 440, which is opposite the first wiping side 430. In one embodiment, each wiping side 430, 440 is generally planar. The wiping body includes a first edge 415 and second edge 420, opposite the first edge 415.

The wiping body 400 forms a length 450, width 460, and thickness 470. The length 450 is a distance extending from the connected end 405 to the free end 410. The width 460 is a distance extending from the first edge 415 to the second edge 420. The thickness 470 is a distance separating the first wiping side 430 from the second wiping side 440.

Overall the wiping body 400 forms a broom shape, as opposed to a flat mop shape. Therefore, the length 450 and width 460 are much greater than the thickness 470. In one embodiment, the width 460 and length 450 are each at least three times greater than the thickness 470. In one embodiment, the width 460 and length 450 are each at least five times greater than the thickness 470. In one embodiment the width 460 and length 450 are each at least 10 times greater than the thickness 470. Also, to form a broom shape that is more effective at sweeping over large surfaces, the width 460 is greater than the length 450. In one embodiment, the width 460 is at least two times greater than the length 450. The wiping body 400 flexibly connects at the connected end 405. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 can flex such that the first wiping side 430 or second wiping side 440 are parallel with the surface being cleaned. This flexing gives a large surface area of contact between the respective first wiping side 430 or second wiping side 440 and the surface being cleaned.

In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 comprises solid material that is a continuous section of material. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 comprises a solid material from the first wiping side 430 to the second wiping side 440. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 is a solid material from the first edge 415 to the second edge 420. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 is a solid material from the connected end 405 to the free end 410. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 is a solid material from the connected end 405 to the free end 410 and from the first edge 415 to the second edge 420.

Exemplary materials for the wiping body 400 include all types of foam, porous rubber, silicon, synthetics, synthetic foams, formed polyester, cellulose materials, and sponge materials. Specific exemplary materials or material substrates include polyether or polyester, low or high density, small, large or twin pore sizes, closed or open cell, non or flame retardant, flexible or semi rigid, plain, melamine or post treated impregnated foams, and the like. Also, neoprene, natural rubber, SBR, butyl, butadiene, nitrile, EPDM, ECH, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA, EMA, metallocene resin, polyurethane, PVC, blends of any of the above, and the like. Natural, cellulose-based, and synthetic sponges can be used. Synthetic sponges can be constructed of porous rubber, synthetic foam, other plastic and rubber derivatives, and the like, for example.

A wiping body 400 that is a solid and continuous material is able to gather large amounts of debris because the solid material does not allow much, if any, material to pass though during cleaning. The solid, continuous material typically has sharp edges that are able to reach into corners and pass along walls well.

The stiffness of the solid, continuous material aids in gathering up the debris from the floor. The stiff material will resist against the sweeping action that a user is applying to the cleaning tool 100 and press more firmly against the surface being cleaned. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 that comprises a sponge has a durometer (Shore 00) of at least 10. In another embodiment, the wiping body 400 that comprises a sponge has a durometer (Shore 00) of at least 20. Other suitable materials for the wiping body 400 include plastics that form a squeegee-like blade. In one embodiment, the wiping body 400 that comprises a blade has a durometer (Shore A) of less than 100. In another embodiment, the wiping body 400 that comprise a blade has a durometer (Shore A) of less than 80.

In another embodiment, the wiping body 400 comprises a plurality of bristles or strips extending from the backing 200. Suitable materials for the bristles or strips include strips of cellulose sponge, synthetic sponge, or natural and/or polymeric bristles.

The cleaning material 500 is applied to the wiping body 400 and is used for cleaning or wiping a surface. The cleaning material 500 comprises a plurality of upstanding fibers 520. In one embodiment, the upstanding fibers 520 further comprise additional fibers projecting outward for each upstanding fiber 520. In one embodiment, the cleaning material 500 comprises a substrate 510 from which the fibers 520 project. The cleaning material 500 may be reusable, disposable, or semi-disposable and may be removably or permanently secured to the wiping body 400.

The cleaning material substrate 510, if provided, may be a film, woven, knitted, or nonwoven cloth formed from natural, synthetic, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers or filaments. In one embodiment, the fibers 520 are short and in one embodiment are less than 10 mm. In one embodiment, the fibers 520 are less than 5 mm. In one embodiment, the fibers 520 are longer than 1 mm.

In one embodiment, the cleaning material 500 covers at least the first wiping side 430 and second wiping side 440. In one embodiment, the cleaning material 500 wraps from the first wiping side 430 around the free end 410 to the second wiping side 440. In one embodiment, the cleaning material 500 entirely covers the wiping body 400.

To use the cleaning tool 100, a user holds the handle 300 and with a pulling or sweeping motion glides the wiping body 400, covered by the cleaning material 500, over the surface being cleaned. The cleaning material 500 gathers debris. Because the cleaning material 500 includes a plurality of short, upstanding fibers, the cleaning material 500 is effective at gathering small particles and dust. The cleaning material 500 is more efficient at sweeping debris as compared to a bristled broom because it has many more fibers in contact with the surface being cleaned. A typical exemplary cleaning material 500 may have 300,000 or more fibers in contact with the surface being cleaned, whereas a typical broom may have only 2,000 to 8,000 fibers. Even for typical bristled brooms with higher fiber content, during cleaning many of the fibers are not in contact with the surface being cleaned.

The pulling motion of sweeping is also advantageous because debris can be pulled out of corners and away from walls instead of the pushing motion of mopping where debris is pushed into corners. In embodiments where the wiping body 400 is flexible, pressure can be applied to the cleaning tool 100 to press the wiping body 400 towards the surface being cleaned, such as shown in FIG. 1. After the dirt, dust, and debris has been gathered, the wiping body 400 with the attached cleaning material 500 can sweep the gathered dirt and dust into a dust pan.

The wiping body 400 with attached cleaning material 500 includes two cleaning surfaces, the first wiping side 430 and second wiping side 440, which is opposite the first wiping side 430, to maximize the amount of available surface area for gathering dirt, dust, and debris.

Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning tool comprising:

a backing;

a handle connected to the backing;

a wiping body connected to the backing at a connected end, the wiping body forming a first wiping side and a second wiping side, opposite the first wiping side;

wherein the wiping body further comprises a length extending from the backing to a free end of the wiping body, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, and a thickness extending between the first wiping side and second wiping side;

wherein the width is greater than the length;

wherein the width and length are each at least three times greater than the thickness;

a cleaning material comprising a plurality of upstanding and outwardly extending short fibers on the first wiping side and second wiping side of the wiping body.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the wiping body is a solid material from the first wiping side to the second wiping side.

3. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body is a solid material from the first edge to the second edge.

4. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body is a solid material from the connected end to the free end.

5. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body is a solid material from the connected end to the free end and from the first edge to the second edge.

6. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body flexibly connects at the connected end.

7. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body can flex such that the first wiping side and second wiping side are parallel with the surface being cleaned.

8. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping body is a sponge.

9. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the width is at least two times greater than the length.

10. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the width and length are each at least five times greater than the thickness.

1 1. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning material comprises a substrate containing the plurality of upstanding and outwardly extending short fibers.

12. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning material is permanently secured to the wiping body.

13. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning material wraps from the first wiping side around the free end to the second wiping side.

14. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning material entirely covers the wiping body.

15. The cleaning tool of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibers are less than 10 mm.