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

• US 6,948,873 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• 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): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/094,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 401136-140, 401/268, 401/270, 401/276, 401/279
• US Class Current: 401/139
• 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: B67B 7/28 and associated with receptacle hodlers
• 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

Cleaning compositions, pads, wipes, and implements provide effective cleaning of hard surfaces.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

a handle;

a mop head pivotably attached to said handle;

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 and a vent valve wherein said fluid transfer check valve is in fluid communication with a nozzle attached to said handle and wherein said vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in said container when said container is attached to said fitment and said container is inverted and said cleaning solution flows by gravity through said transfer check valve; and

a disposable cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer having a bootom surface and a top surface and an attachment layer adjacent absorbent layer, said attachment layer having 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 the width of said attachment is greater than the width of said mop head.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said cracking pressure of said vent valve is at least about 0.6 Kpa.

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

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

6. The cleaning implement of claim 5 wherein said absorbent layer is in direct fluid communication with said scrubbing layer.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said cleaning pad further comprises an impervious layer adjacent said top surface of said absorbent layer.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said attachment layer of said cleaning pad further comprises at least one notch on said trailing edge of said attachment layer.

9. A floor cleaning kit comprising:

(a) a cleaning implement comprising;

a handle, a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head comprising a plurality of attachment structures formed from a flexible material, wherein said attachment structures comprise 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, a liquid delivery system comprising a container filled with a cleaning solution, said container being removably attachable to a fitment, wherein said container is substantially non-deformable and 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 attached to said mop head and wherein said vent valve has a cracking pressure such that venting occurs in said container when said cleaning solution flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and 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, a housing attached to said handle for receiving said fluid-filled container in an inverted position, and a trigger attached to said handle for actuating said liquid delivery system;

(b) at least one disposable cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer and an attachment layer adjacent said absorbent layer, said attachment layer having 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; and

(c) a set of instructions for using said kit comprising the steps of;

(i) attaching said container to said fitment such that a fluid communication is established between said container and said nozzle;

(ii) attaching said cleaning pad to said mop head;

(iii) actuating said trigger such that said cleaning solution is delivered to the floor; and

(iv) mopping said floor with said cleaning implement.

10. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 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.

11. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein said cracking pressure of said vent valve is at least about 0.6 Kpa.

12. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein said absorbent layer has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams/gram.

13. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein said attachment layer is a liquid pervious scrubbing layer.

14. The floor cleaning kit of claim 13 wherein said absorbent layer is in direct fluid communication with said scrubbing layer.

15. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein said cleaning pad further comprises an impervious layer adjacent said absorbent layer such that said impervious layer is in contact with the bottom surface of said mop head when said cleaning pad is attached to said mop head.

16. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein said attachment layer of said cleaning pad further comprises at least one notch on said trailing edge of said attachment layer.

17. The floor cleaning kit of claim 9 wherein the length of said attachment layer is greater than the length of said mop head such that said attachment layer engages said attachments structures.

18. A method of cleaning a floor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a cleaning implement comprising;

a handle, a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head comprising a plurality of attachment structures formed from a flexible material, wherein said attachment structures comprise 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, a liquid delivery system comprising a container filled with a cleaning solution, said container being removably attached to a fitment, wherein said container is substantially non-deformable and 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 attached to said mop head, a housing attached to said handle for receiving said fluid-filled container in an inverted position and at least one disposable cleaning pad removably attached to said mop head, wherein said disposable pad comprises an absorbent layer having a bottom surface and a top surface and an attachment layer adjacent said bottom surface of said absorbent layer, said attachment layer having 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;

delivering said cleaning solution to the floor; and

mopping said floor with said cleaning implement.

19. The cleaning implement of claim 18 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.

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