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

• US 7,144,173 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Dusing, Michael William, Jackson, Rhonda Jean, Policicchio, Nicola John, Rhamy, Preston James, Willman, Kenneth William
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/874,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 401136-140, 401/268, 401/270, 401/271
• US Class Current: 401/138
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• 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 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/43 Solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/505 encapsulated or adsorbed on a carrier, e.g. zeolite or clay

Abstract

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

Claims

1. A cleaning implement, comprising:

a handle;

a support head pivotally attached to said handle;

a disposable cleaning substrate removeably attached to the support head, wherein said disposable cleaning substrate has a t1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 5 g/g; and

a liquid delivery system for providing a cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned on an area in front of said support head, wherein said liquid delivery system is configured to dispense at least about 2 mils/sec of a cleaning liquid.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said liquid delivery system is configured to spray the cleaning liquid onto a surface with a spray efficiency of at least about 0.000006 mils/(sec×

cm2×

g/g).

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said cleaning substrate has a squeeze-out value of no more than about 40%.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said liquid delivery system is configured to spray the cleaning fluid on to a surface with a cleaning efficiency of at least about 0.0006 mils/(sec×

cm2×

unit squeeze-out).

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery system is configured to spray the liquid onto a surface with a spray efficiency of at least about 0.0002 mils/(sec×

cm²).

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery system comprises a spray nozzle, a pump in fluid communication with said spray nozzle, an electric motor driving said pump, a voltage source powering said motor, and a liquid filled canister in fluid communication with said pump.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein the spray nozzle is configured to provide a spray angle of at least about 30 degrees.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 7, wherein the said spray nozzle is configured to provide an average particle size of at least about 100 μ

m.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said spray nozzle is configured to provide an exit velocity of at least about 0.009 cm/sec.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said voltage source is a plurality of batteries and wherein said batteries are configured to provide a voltage of at least about 1.5 volts.

11. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein said voltage is supplied for at least about 5 minutes of continuous pump operation.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said pump is configured to spray the cleaning liquid at a spray nozzle inlet pressure of 6 Kpa.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said pump has an efficiency of at least about 3%.

14. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said motor has an efficiency of at least about 50%.

15. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said liquid delivery system is configured to provide a spray pattern having a spray depth of at least about 20 cm.

16. The cleaning implement of claim 15, wherein said liquid delivery system is configured to provide a spray pattern having a spray width of at least about 20 cm.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said handle has a deflection of less than about 15 mm.

18. The cleaning implement of claim 1, further comprising a scrubbing strip wherein said scrubbing strip is attached to said support head.

19. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein said scrubbing strip is releasably attached to said support head.

20. The cleaning implement of claim 18, wherein said support head includes a front, a rear and side edges and wherein said scrubbing strip is attached to one of said edges of said support head.

21. The cleaning implement of claim 20 wherein said scrubbing strip comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, polypropylene, abrasive material, and mixtures thereof.

22. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said disposable cleaning substrate has t1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 10 g/g.

23. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said support head includes a front, a rear and side edges, wherein said liquid delivery system comprises a nozzle in fluid communication with a container and wherein said nozzle is connected to said implement such that said nozzle is adjacent said front edge of said support head.