CLEANING WIPE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

• US 20090236033A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Olson, Gary L., Haskett, Thomas E., Zillig, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US12/480,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20090236033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/204
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/005 using adhesive or tacky surfaces to remove dirt, e.g. lint removers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1015 Folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2971 Impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2016 Impregnation is confined to a plane disposed between both major fabric surfaces which are essentially free of impregnating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2738 Coating or impregnation intended to function as an adhesive to solid surfaces subsequently associated therewith

Abstract

A cleaning wipe including a fiber web and a tacky material. The fiber web defines opposing surfaces and an intermediate region between the opposing surfaces. In this regard, at least one of the opposing surfaces serves as a working surface for the cleaning wipe. The tacky material is applied to the web such that a level of tacky material is greater in the intermediate region than at the working surface. In one embodiment, the amount of tacky material per area of web material is greater in the intermediate region than at either of the opposing surfaces. In another embodiment, the fiber web is a nonwoven fiber web.

Claims

1. A method of making a cleaning wipe, the method comprising:

providing a web construction comprising;

a first fiber web layer,

a second fiber web layer,

a layer of tacky material disposed between and bonding the first and second fiber web layers such that the web construction defines opposing surfaces and an intermediate region positioned therebetween; and

transversely compressing the web construction such that the tacky material flows from the intermediate region toward the opposing surfaces;

wherein following compression of the web construction, a level of the tacky material is greater in the intermediate area than at either of the outer surfaces.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tacky material includes a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, and further wherein the web construction is subjected to heat to soften the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive during the step of compressing the web construction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a web construction includes:

providing the first fiber web layer;

applying the tacky material to a face of the first fiber web layer; and

placing the second fiber web onto the tacky material-coated face of the first fiber web layer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second fiber web layers are formed separately.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second fiber web layers are formed as an integral, continuous material sheet having opposing major surfaces, and further wherein providing a web construction includes:

applying the tacky material to one of the opposing major surfaces of the material sheet; and

folding the coated major surface of the material sheet onto itself so as to define the first and second fiber web layers with the tacky material disposed there between.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein applying the tacky material includes coating an entirety of one of the major surfaces of the material sheet with the tacky material.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein applying the tacky material includes coating less than an entirety of one of the opposing major surfaces of the material sheet with the tacky material.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein folding the material sheet includes forming a cross web fold.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein folding the material sheet includes forming a down web fold.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rebulking the web construction following the step of compressing.