Cleaning composition, pad, wipe, implement, and system and method of use thereof

• US 6,669,391 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Jackson, Rhonda Jean, Policicchio, Nicola John, Rhamy, Preston James, Dusing, Michael William, Willman, Kenneth William
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 401/137, 401/138, 401/139, 401/140, 401/268, 401/270, 401/276, 401/282, 401/271
• US Class Current: 401/270
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/51 Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0866 the pump being a gear, centrifugal or screw-type pump
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/662 Carbohydrates or derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3792 Amine oxide containing polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/43 Solvents

Abstract

The cleaning implement has a handle a mop head attached to the handle and the mop head comprises a plurality of attachment structures formed from a flexible material. The cleaning implement also comprises a liquid delivery system having a container filled with a cleaning solution, fitment which has a fluid transfer check valve communicating with a nozzle and a vent valve. The vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in the container when the pressure differential defined by P1−P2 is superior to the cracking pressure, where P1 is the atmospheric pressure and P2 is the pressure inside said container. The cleaning implement also includes a disposable cleaning pad which has an absorbent layer and an attachment layer. The attachment layer has at least one notch located on the leading edge of the attachment layer such that the cleaning solution is dispensed from the nozzle without being obstructed by the attachment layer.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

a handle;

a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a liquid delivery system comprising a container filled with a cleaning solution, said container being removably attached to a fitment, said fitment having a fluid transfer check valve, a vent valve and a tubular probe for engaging said fluid transfer check valve wherein said tubular probe is in fluid communication with a nozzle connected to said mop head adjacent to said leading edge of said mop head and wherein said cleaning solution flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and said tubular probe, when said fitment is attached to said container and said container is inverted and said tubular probe engages said transfer check valve; and

a disposable cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer having a lower surface and an upper surface, an attachment layer adjacent said lower surface of said absorbent layer for removably attaching said disposable cleaning pad about said mop head, wherein said attachment layer has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein said attachment layer comprises at least one notch located on said leading edge such that said cleaning solution is dispensed from said nozzle without being obstructed by said attachment layer.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in said container when the pressure differential defined by P1−

P2 is superior to said cracking pressure, wherein P1 is the atmospheric pressure and P2 is the pressure inside said container.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 2 wherein said cracking pressure of said venting check valve is at least about 0.6 Kpa.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 3 wherein said cracking pressure between about 0.6 Kpa and about 20 Kpa.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 4 wherein said cracking pressure between about 1 Kpa and about 10 Kpa.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said vent valve is a duckbill valve.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said vent valve is an umbrella valve.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said vent valve is a ball and spring check valve.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said vent valve is a slit valve.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said mop head further comprises at least one attachment structure disposed on said mop head for receiving and retaining said attachment layer of said cleaning pad about said mop head, wherein said attachment structure is formed from a flexible material and wherein said attachment structure further comprises a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections wherein two sides of each of said pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through said flexible material such that each of said pie-shaped sections can be deflected to receive the cleaning sheet or cleaning pad.

28. The cleaning implement of claim 29 wherein said cleaning pad further comprises an impervious layer adjacent said upper surface of said absorbent layer.

29. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the width of said attachment layer is greater than the width of said mop head such that said attachment layer engages in said attachment structures.

30. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said absorbent layer has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams/gram.

31. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said attachment layer is a liquid pervious scrubbing layer.

32. The cleaning implement of claim 31 wherein said absorbent layer is in fluid communication with said scrubbing layer.

33. The cleaning implement of claim 32 wherein said cleaning pad further comprises an impervious layer adjacent said upper surface of said absorbent layer.

11. A cleaning implement comprising:

a handle;

a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a liquid delivery system comprising a container filled with a cleaning solution, said cleaning container being removably attached to a fitment, wherein said fitment comprises a fluid transfer check valve and a vent valve wherein said fluid transfer check valve is in fluid communication with a nozzle connected to said mop head adjacent to said leading edge of said mop head and wherein said vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in said container when the pressure differential defined by P1−

P2 is superior to said cracking pressure, wherein P1 is the atmospheric pressure and P2 is the pressure inside said container; and

a disposable cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer having a lower surface and an upper surface, an attachment layer adjacent said lower surface of said absorbent layer for removably attaching said disposable cleaning pad about said mop head, wherein said attachment layer has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein said attachment layer comprises at least one notch located on said leading edge such that said cleaning solution is dispensed from said nozzle without being obstructed by said attachment layer.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said mop head further comprises at least one attachment structure disposed on said mop head for receiving and retaining said attachment layer of said cleaning pad about said mop head, wherein said attachment structure is formed from a flexible material and wherein said attachment structure further comprises a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections wherein two sides of each of said pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through said flexible material such that each of said pie-shaped sections can be deflected to receive the cleaning sheet or cleaning pad.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 12 wherein each of said slits terminates at one end with a substantially circular opening.

16. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said attachment layer is a scrubbing layer.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein the width of said attachment layer is greater than the width of said mop head such that said attachment layer engages in said attachment structures.

18. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said absorbent layer has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams/gram.

19. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein said absorbent layer is in fluid communication with said scrubbing layer.

20. The cleaning implement of claim 19 wherein said cleaning pad further comprises an impervious layer adjacent said upper surface of said absorbent layer.

14. The cleaning implement 13 of claim wherein said mop head comprises four attachment structures.

15. The cleaning implement of claim 14 further comprising a dry cleaning sheet.

21. A method of cleaning a hard surface, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a cleaning implement comprising;

a handle;

a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a liquid delivery system comprising a container filled with a cleaning solution, said container being removably attached to a fitment, said fitment having a fluid transfer check valve, a vent valve and a tubular probe for engaging said fluid transfer check valve wherein said tubular probe is in fluid communication with a nozzle connected to said mop head adjacent to said leading edge of said mop head and wherein said cleaning solution flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and said tubular probe, when said fitment is attached to said container and said container is inverted and said tubular probe engages said transfer check valve;

providing a disposable cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer having a lower surface and an upper surface, an attachment layer adjacent said lower surface of said absorbent layer for removably attaching said disposable cleaning pad about said mop head, wherein said attachment layer has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein said attachment layer comprises at least one notch located on said leading edge such that said cleaning solution is dispensed from said nozzle without being obstructed by said attachment layer;

attaching said container to said fitment;

inverting said container;

attaching said disposable cleaning pad to said mop head;

actuating said fluid delivery system; and

mopping said hard surface with said pad.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in said container when the pressure differential defined by P1−

P2 is superior to said cracking pressure, wherein P1 is the atmospheric pressure and P2 is the pressure inside said container.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said cracking pressure of said venting check valve is at least about 0.6 Kpa.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the width of said attachment layer is greater than the width of said mop head such that said attachment layer engages in said attachment structures.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said absorbent layer has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams/gram.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said attachment layer is a liquid pervious scrubbing layer.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said absorbent layer is in fluid communication with said scrubbing layer.