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

• US 7,182,537 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• 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): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/130,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 401136-140, 401/270, 401/271, 401/279
• US Class Current: 401/138
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes

Abstract

Cleaning implements provide effective cleaning of hard surfaces by delivering a spray of cleaning composition onto a surface to be cleaned in an area generally definable by a trapezoid relative to the leading edge of said implement. Implements such as those used to clean floors can be provided with disposable scrubbing pads which absorb the composition during the cleaning operation. A separate rinse step is not required.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

a handle;

a mop head connected to said handle, said mop head comprising means for retaining a disposable cleaning pad about said mop head;

a cleaning composition delivery mechanism in fluid communication with a nozzle; and

a container filled with a cleaning composition, said container being removably attached to said delivery mechanism, wherein said delivery system is capable of delivering said cleaning composition through said nozzle onto a surface to be cleaned and wherein at least about 90% of the delivered cleaning composition is delivered on an area defined by a trapezoid having a first and a second segment wherein said first segment is substantially parallel to the leading edge of said mop head and is located at about less than 30 centimeters from said leading edge and wherein said second segment is parallel to said first segment and is located between about 20 centimeters to about 90 centimeters from said first segment, and a third and fourth segment wherein said third and fourth segments are substantially equal in length and wherein said third and fourth segments are substantially located on the sides of an isosceles triangle having an apex substantially adjacent to the center of said leading edge and wherein the base of said triangle is said second segment and the angle between said third and fourth segment is comprised between about 9.5 degrees and about 132 degrees, said implement having a T1200 Absorbent Capacity Spray Efficiency of least about 6×

10<sup>−

6</sup> mils/(sec×

cm²×

g/g), a Squeeze Out Spray Efficiency of at least about 6×

10<sup>−

4</sup> mils/(sec×

cm²×

(per unit Squeeze Out) and a Rated Spray Efficiency of at least about 2×

10<sup>−

4</sup> mils/(sec×

cm²).

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said angle is between about 22.6 degrees and about 82.2 degrees and wherein said first segment is located between about 5 centimeters and about 15 centimeters from said leading edge and wherein said second segment is located between about 30 centimeters to about 60 centimeters from said first line.

3. The cleaning implement of claims 2 wherein said Squeeze Out Spray Efficiency is between about 6×

10<sup>−

4</sup> and about 1 mils/(sec×

cm²×

(per unit Squeeze Out)).

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a disposable cleaning pad having a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 5 grams/gram.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 3 wherein said bottom surface of said cleaning pad is textured.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 3 wherein said cleaning pad has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 10 grams/gram.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said T1200 Absorbent Capacity Spray Efficiency is of between about 6×

10<sup>−

6</sup> and about 1×

10<sup>−

2</sup> mils/(sec×

cm²×

g/g).

8. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said nozzle has an average exit velocity of at least about 0.009 cm/sec.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 8 wherein said nozzle has an average exit velocity comprised between about 0.009 cm/sec and about 0.9 cm/sec.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 8 wherein said nozzle generates an average liquid particle size of at least about 100 um.

11. The cleaning implement of claim 10 wherein said nozzle generates an average liquid particle size of between about 100 μ

m and about 3050 μ

m.

12. A method of cleaning a surface with the cleaning implement of claim 1 comprising:

providing a disposable cleaning pad;

attaching said cleaning pad to the mop head of said cleaning implement;

applying a cleaning composition to a surface to be cleaned with said cleaning implement; and

wiping said surface to be cleaned with said cleaning pad.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said cleaning pad has a t₁₂₀₀ absorbent capacity of at least about 10 grams/gram.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said cleaning composition comprises a surfactant.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said cleaning composition comprises a perfume.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said method does not include a rinsing step.