Cleaning or application device comprising a sponge body, and method for producing the same

• US 20030077106A1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coronet-Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Coronet-Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Weihrauch, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/196
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/17 containing cleaning agents A47L13/19 takes precedence ; chemical compositions C11D17/049
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/18 Gloves; Glove-like cloths
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/19 containing cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/08 Pads; Balls of steel wool, wire, or plastic meshes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/005 Avoiding skin formation; Making foams with porous surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/0407 by regulating the temperature of the mould or parts thereof, e.g. cold mould walls inhibiting foaming of an outer layer

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a cleaning or application sponge which is characterized by foaming a sponge body in a molding tool (11, 12) to the substantially final shape of the sponge. The outer surface of the sponge body has in at least some areas a solidified skin (13) that can be at least partially removed in a subsequent process step. The sponge body may also have a closed-cell structure that is partially revealed in a subsequent process step.

Claims

1. Method for the manufacture of a cleaning or application sponge, wherein a sponge body (10) is foamed in a mould (11, 12) to the substantially final sponge shape and at least in partial areas of the outer surface of the sponge body (10) is formed a hardened outer skin (13) and, in a following method step, the outer skin (13) is at least zonally opened, wherein a gripping part (14) of the sponge body (10) remains unopened and which forms a handle section or on which a handle component can be introduced.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sponge body (10) has an inner, closed-cell structure, which is at least zonally opened in a following method step. .

3. Method according to one of the claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sponge body comprises flexible polyurethane foam.

4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sponge body (10) has a foam density of 25 to 80 kg/M³.

5. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sponge body comprises several, differently structured sponge body portions.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the sponge body portions are prefabricated and subsequently joined together.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the mould cavity is subdivided into several chambers by means of partitions and into each of them can be filled different foam materials and that before the end of the foaming process the partitions are removed and the foam materials are linked.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the partitions only separate the chambers from one another in partial regions.

9. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sponge body contains a storage chamber (17) and/or a slit (29) for a cleaning medium or a medium to be applied with a filling opening issuing onto the outside of the sponge body.

10. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the sponge body (10) is embedded an inner bag (40) accessible from the outside of the sponge body.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the inner bag (40) is a glove.

12. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a suspension ring (30) is shaped onto the sponge body.

13. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a gripping part is shaped onto the sponge body.

14. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a working surface of the sponge body is surface-structured.

15. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that on its outer surface the sponge body is zonally provided with a coating (33, 34).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the coating is inserted in the mould prior to the foaming of the sponge body.

17. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterized in that objects are foamed around and embedded in the sponge body.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the objects are hanging loops or metal eyelets or pins or bristles or silicon bristles.

19. Cleaning or application device having a sponge body according to one of the claims 1 to 18, wherein a gripping part (14) is introduced on the unopened portion of the sponge body (10).

20. Cleaning or application device according to claim 19, characterized in that the gripping part (14) forms at least one storage chamber (17) for a cleaning medium or a medium to be applied and that the medium can be introduced from the storage chamber into the sponge body.

21. Cleaning or application device according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the storage chamber (17) is formed between the sponge body (10) and gripping part (14).

22. Cleaning or application device according to one of the claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the storage chamber is connected to the outside by means of a filling opening and that the filling opening can be closed using a closure (14a, 20, 14b, 29, 31).

23. Cleaning or application device according to one of the claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the filling opening is constructed as a labyrinth channel (31).

24. Cleaning or application device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the closure is shaped in one piece onto the foam body.