Heated cleaning articles using a reactive metal and saline heat generator

• US 9,826,878 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Ouellette, William R., Azelton, Kerry, Lin, Brian, Mazumder, Vismadeb, Ochomogo, Maria, Parrish, Bryan K., Petrin, Michael J., Uriarte, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILJANEN, JOSHUA R
• Application Number:
  US15/057,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20160270622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 401 1, 401 2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/17 containing cleaning agents A47L13/19 takes precedence ; chemical compositions C11D17/049
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/225 Steam mops
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2230/01 Cleaning with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion

Abstract

Cleaning articles including a heat engine incorporated therein. The cleaning article may include a substrate (e.g., a non-woven wipe) including one or more layers. The heat engine may be in the wipe or pad, and includes a reactive metal composition which upon contact with a salt water (e.g., saline) composition, reacts to produce heat. The cleaning article may thus produce water vapor and/or steam upon activation of the heat engine. A venting structure may be provided adjacent to or surrounding the heat engine that includes an impermeable material (e.g., impermeable to water and/or air or other gas), which includes one or more vents through the impermeable material. The venting structure directs water vapor and/or steam to a desired face of the cleaning article, away from the user. A heat barrier layer may insulate a user'"'"'s hand from the generated heat, and/or a handle may be attachable to the pad.

Claims

1. A selectively heatable cleaning article comprising:

(a) a cleaning substrate material comprising one or more layers;

(b) a heat engine comprising a reactive metal composition that generates heat upon contact with a salt water composition;

(c) a handle attachable to the cleaning substrate, the handle including a delivery channel therethrough in fluid communication with the reactive metal composition of the heat engine so that upon introduction of an activating water composition through the delivery channel, the heat engine is activated, generating heat; and

(d) a venting structure surrounding or adjacent to the heat engine comprising a moisture impermeable material containing one or more vents through at least one surface of the moisture impermeable material for releasing steam and/or water vapor generated by the heat engine, so that the venting structure directs the water vapor and/or steam through the one or more vent holes on one face of the cleaning article, opposite a face on which the handle is attachable.

2. The heated article of claim 1, wherein the reactive metal composition comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron and mixtures thereof.

3. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the selectively heatable cleaning article further comprises a heat barrier layer on a face opposite from where water vapor and/or steam generated by the heat engine exits the cleaning article.

4. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the selectively heatable cleaning article further comprising a rigid housing that allows pressure to be applied to the article by the handle or otherwise, while reducing or preventing seepage of liquid water from the heat engine due to compression.

5. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a member selected group consisting of a dispenser, button, and trigger for selectively dosing water through the handle or a reservoir to the heat engine.

6. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the selectively heatable cleaning article further comprises a cleaning composition.

7. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the selectively heatable cleaning article further comprises a phase change material on or within the article that regulates temperature achieved by the cleaning article.

8. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 1, wherein one or more layers of the substrate are absorbent to minimize or prevent dripping of liquid water from the heat engine.

9. A selectively heatable cleaning article comprising:

(a) a cleaning substrate material comprising one or more layers;

(b) a heat engine comprising;

(i) a reactive metal composition;

(ii) water provided in a frangible, moisture impermeable container;

(iii) a salt;

(c) a venting structure surrounding the heat engine comprising a moisture impermeable material containing one or more vents on at least one surface of the impermeable material for releasing steam and/or water vapor generated by the heat engine.

10. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the salt of the heat engine is present with the water, so that the water comprises a salt water composition.

11. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the salt of the heat engine is present with the reactive metal composition or elsewhere as an anhydrous salt.

12. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the reactive metal composition comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron, and mixtures thereof.

13. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the salt of the heat engine is present with the water, so that the water comprises a salt water composition, wherein the salt water composition includes from about 2% to about 10% by weight of the salt.

14. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein one or more of the one or more layers of the substrate are absorbent to minimize or prevent dripping of liquid water from the heat engine.

15. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the venting structure is configured to control the direction of water vapor and/or steam generated by the heat engine, so as to direct the water vapor and/or steam through the one or more vent holes on one face of the heatable cleaning article.

16. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 9, wherein the selectively heatable cleaning article further comprises a heat barrier layer on a face opposite from where water vapor and/or steam generated by the heat engine exits the cleaning article, to allow a user to hold the cleaning article on the face including the heat barrier layer while reducing risk of a burn.

17. A selectively heatable cleaning article comprising:

(a) a cleaning substrate material comprising one or more layers;

(b) a heat engine comprising;

(i) a reactive metal composition; and

(ii) a salt, wherein upon addition of water to the heat engine, forms a salt water composition and a heating reaction between the reactive metal composition and the salt water composition is initiated;

(c) a venting structure surrounding the heat engine comprising a moisture impermeable material containing one or more vents through at least one face of the impermeable material, so as to direct water vapor and/or steam generated by the heat engine to exit from the cleaning article from a face thereof; and

(d) a heat barrier layer on a face opposite from where the water vapor and/or steam generated by the heat engine exits the cleaning article, to allow a user to hold the cleaning article on the face including the heat barrier layer while reducing risk of a burn.

18. The selectively heatable cleaning article of claim 17, wherein one or more of the one or more layers of the substrate are absorbent to minimize or prevent dripping of liquid water from the heat engine.

19. The heated article of claim 17, wherein the reactive metal composition comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, iron and mixtures thereof.