Surface cleaning pad having zoned absorbency and method of making same

• US 8,026,408 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Quality Retail Services LLC (First Quality Enterprises LLC)
• Original Assignee: First Quality Retail Services LLC (First Quality Enterprises LLC)
• Inventors: Glaug, Frank S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US11/545,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 604/367, 604/387, 604/385.01, 604/368, 428/152, 428/171, 428/172, 428/327
• US Class Current: 604/368
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/407 containing absorbing substances, e.g. activated carbon
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/732 by fluid current, e.g. air-lay

Abstract

A method of forming a surface cleaning pad body comprising a matrix web of binder fibers and superabsorbent polymer particles is provided. The method comprises the steps of depositing a mass of binder fibers onto a conveyor, shielding all but a selected area of the mass of binder fibers, depositing superabsorbent polymer particles onto the selected area of the mass of binder fibers so as to disburse superabsorbent polymer particles throughout a thickness of the mass of binder fibers, and bonding the mass of binder fibers to form a web structure and to substantially contain the superabsorbent polymer particles, thereby providing a cleaning pad body with superabsorbent polymer particles substantially contained in a zone of the mass of binder fibers that occupies at least a portion of the thickness of the mass of binder fibers and the selected area. The method further comprises the step of applying an attachment device to the cleaning pad body, thereby configuring the pad body for attachment to a cleaning implement.

Claims

1. A method of forming a surface cleaning pad body comprising a matrix web of binder fibers and superabsorbent polymer particles, said method comprising the steps of:

a) depositing a mass of binder fibers onto a conveyor;

b) shielding using a screen all but a selected area of the mass of binder fibers;

c) depositing superabsorbent polymer particles through the screen onto the selected area of the mass of binder fibers so as to disburse superabsorbent polymer particles throughout a thickness of the mass of binder fibers;

d) bonding the mass of binder fibers to form a web structure and to contain the superabsorbent polymer particles, thereby providing a cleaning pad body with superabsorbent polymer particles contained in a zone of the mass of binder fibers that occupies at least a portion of the thickness of the mass of binder fibers and the selected area; and

e) applying an attachment device to the cleaning pad body, thereby configuring the pad body for attachment to a cleaning implement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said shielding step further comprises shielding a discrete area of the mass of binder fibers along the length of the mass of binder fibers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said shielding step further comprises shielding a discrete area of the mass of binder fibers along the width of the mass of binder fibers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said depositing a mass of binder fibers step further comprises depositing a mixture of binder fibers and absorbent fibers onto a conveyor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said depositing a mass of binder fibers step further comprises depositing a mixture of binder fibers and cellulosic fibers onto a conveyor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said depositing a mass of binder fibers step further comprises depositing a mixture of binder fibers and rayon fibers onto a conveyor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said bonding step further comprises bonding the mass of binder fibers to form a web structure and to substantially contain the superabsorbent polymer particles, thereby providing a cleaning pad body with superabsorbent polymer particles substantially contained in a zone of the mass of binder fibers that occupies the majority of the thickness of the mass of binder fibers and the selected area.