CLEANING ARTICLE HAVING COATED TOW FIBERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning articles having tow fibers with an effective amount of coating thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various cleaning articles have been created for dusting and light cleaning. For example, cloth rags and paper towels used dry or wetted with polishing and cleaning compositions have been used on relatively flat surfaces such as countertops, showers, sinks and floors. Rags, wipes, and paper towels may be problematic for reasons such as hygiene and inability to reach certain areas.

To overcome the problems associated with using rags and paper towels, various reusable dust gathering devices using felt and hair have been utilized for more than a century. To address the problems with reusable dust gathering devices, disposable cleaning articles have been developed which have limited re-usability. These disposable cleaning articles may include synthetic fiber bundles, called tow fibers. To improve the performance of the tow fibers for acquiring dust and debris, the tow fibers may be coated with a material such as wax and oil. Mineral oil has been used to coat tow fibers used in cleaning articles. Even with the addition of mineral oil to tow fibers, the efficacy of cleaning articles having tow fibers may be less than optimal.

With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for cleaning articles having tow fibers that are coated with a primary coat mix that provides for improved cleaning efficacy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface, said cleaning article comprising: a carrier sheet; and a tow fiber bundle joined to said carrier sheet, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises tow fibers coated with a primary coat mix comprising castor oil ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and fatty acid ester, wherein said castor oil ethoxylate and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said castor oil ethoxylate to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 2:1 to about 1:1, and wherein said fatty acid ester and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said fatty acid ester to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 5:1 to about 3:1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are to scale unless designated as schematic.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top perspective view of a cleaning article having discrete tufts.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a discrete tuft schematically showing a uniform coating thereon.

FIG. 3 is top perspective view of a variant embodiment of a cleaning article having tow fibers bundles disposed in a V-shaped pattern.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a variant embodiment of a cleaning article having tow fibers with bridge portions.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the tow fibers of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a variant embodiment of a cleaning article having tow fibers and a cleaning element, shown partially in cutaway.

FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom plan view of a cleaning article having a variable width hourglass shaped tow fiber bundle and optional diagonally oriented strips, with one side having strips of constant length and one side having strips of variable length.

FIG. 8 is a schematic bottom plan view of a cleaning article having a variable width barrel shaped tow fiber bundle and optional strips with variable width and variable length.

FIG. 9 is a schematic bottom plan view of a cleaning article having plural tow fiber bundles diagonally oriented relative to the longitudinal axis and which fully cover the longitudinal dimension of the cleaning article and optional strips.

FIG. 10 is a schematic bottom plan view of a cleaning article having spaced apart bonds and the tow fiber bundle cut intermediate the spaced bonds and optional strips.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning article known as a duster, and having sleeves, plural layers of tow fibers laminated to plural carrier sheets and having an optional handle.

FIG. 12 is perspective view of a cleaning article.

FIG. 13 is illustration of a tow fiber having a primary coat mix and a secondary coating.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a handle.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a floor cleaning implement having an optional spray system.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a floor cleaning implement having a schematic cleaning article attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2-5, the cleaning article 10 may be generally elongate, and rectangular, although other shapes are contemplated and feasible. The cleaning article 10 may comprise two or more components joined in a laminate form to provide cleaning article 10 suitable for floor cleaning. The cleaning article 10 may have a carrier sheet 12, which forms a frame for attachment of other components thereto. The cleaning article 10 may also have a cleaning strip element 25, having one or more layers of stacked, outwardly extending, flexible strips 17. A bundle of tow fibers 14 can be superimposed on the strips 17 and oriented transversely thereto. An optional absorbent core may be disposed between the cleaning strip element 25 and the sheet 12.

The cleaning article 10 may be disposable. By disposable it is meant that the cleaning article 10 may be used for one cleaning task, or generally for not more than several square meters, then discarded. In contrast, a reusable cleaning article 10 is laundered or otherwise restored after use.

The cleaning article 10 may have a longitudinal axis LA and a transverse axis TA orthogonal thereto. The cleaning article 10, and respective components thereof, may have two longitudinal edges 20 parallel to the longitudinal axis LA and two transverse edges 22 parallel to the transverse axis TA.

The length of the cleaning article 10 is taken in the longitudinal direction. The width of the cleaning article 10 corresponds to the transverse direction perpendicular to the length direction and disposed within the plane of the sheet 12. The thickness is defined as the dimension in the Z-direction. The XY plane is defined as the plane defined by the cleaning article 10. The Z-direction of the cleaning article 10 is the direction perpendicular to the plane of the cleaning article 10. The cleaning article 10 may have a length from 20 to 50 cm and a width of 10 to 20 cm. The cleaning article 10 may particularly be 30+/−2 cm long by 14+/−2 cm wide, as measured at the greatest dimensions, in order to fit the head of a typical cleaning implement 70, as discussed below. An optional core may particularly have a width of 6.5+/−2 cm and a length of 26+/−2 cm. Other shapes are feasible.

The cleaning article 10 may have an outwardly facing cleaning side and an attachment side opposed thereto. The cleaning article 10 is intended to be used dry, although damp cleaning where incidental moisture may occur is contemplated.

More particularly, the cleaning article 10 may comprise a construction of at least one tow fiber bundle 29 and at least one carrier sheet. The tow fiber bundle 29 and cleaning strip element 25 are joined in face-to-face relationship with at least one permanent bond 38 to form a laminate. The tow fiber bundle(s) 29 may be distended from and protrude outwardly from the plane of the cleaning strip element 25. This arrangement prophetically provides the benefit that larger particles may be captured by the tow fibers 14. If desired, the cross section of the bundle of tow fibers 14 may be thicker in the Z direction as the longitudinal axis LA is approached, increasing the prophetic benefit of allowing large particle entry.

The carrier sheet 12 may serve as a chassis for attachment of the cleaning strip element 25 thereto. The carrier sheet 12 may particularly comprise a synthetic nonwoven sheet 12. A carrier sheet 12 having synthetic fibers provides for convenient joining of the tow fibers 14 thereto. Nonwovens include spun bonded, carded and airlaid materials, as are known in the art and made from synthetic fibers. A suitable nonwoven sheet may be made according to commonly assigned 6,797,357. The carrier sheet 12 may optionally comprise a polyolefinic film, or a microfiber and be liquid pervious or impervious.

The carrier sheet 12 may comprise cellulose, to provide absorptive capacity. A cellulosic sheet 12 may have permanent wet strength resin added thereto, as is known in the art. Or the carrier sheet 12 may optionally comprise a mixture of cellulosic and synthetic fibers, to provide both absorptive and barrier properties, and for convenient joining of the cleaning strip element 25. By cellulosic it is meant that the component comprises a predominant weight percentage of cellulosic fibers.

The carrier sheet 12 may comprise a hydroentangled spunbond nonwoven with a basis weight of 20 to 80 gsm. A 45 gsm nonwoven from Avgol Nonwovens of Tel-Aviv, Israel has been found suitable. The carrier sheet 12 may comprise a laminate of two, three or more plies joined together using adhesive and/or thermal bonds 38 as are known in the art. Optional attachment stripes of loop or similar material may be joined to the attachment side to removably join the cleaning article 10 to a handle 60 or implement 70. One or more plies may comprise a microfiber, particularly a nylon microfiber, as is known in the art.

Tow fibers 14 can be a component fibers of the type used in SWIFFER DUSTERS sold by the instant assignee. The tow fibers 14 may be synthetic, comprising polymers including polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, bio-derived polymers such as polylactic acid, bio-polyethylene, bio-polyester and the like. Tow fibers 14 may also include fibers from natural sources such as cellulose, cellulose acetate, flax, hemp, jute and mixtures thereof manufactured wherein the individual fibers are relatively long strands manufactured in bundles. The tow fibers 14 can be bicomponent fibers having a polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) core with a polyethylene sheath. The tow fibers 14 may be defined as fibers having distinct end points and being at least about 1 cm, optionally at least about 3, optionally at least about 4, optionally at least about 5 cm in length. The tow fibers 14 may extend continuously and in a substantially transverse direction, between the transverse edges of the article 10.

The carrier sheet 12 and tow fiber bundle(s) 29 may be joined by a plurality of permanent bonds 38. The bonds 38 are intended to minimize or prevent stray or dislodged tow fibers 14 from becoming loose. Such sheets 12 and tow fiber bundle(s) 29 may typically be directly superimposed on one another, with or without intervening members or components therebetween.

One suitable form of tow fiber bundles 29 comprises tufts 29T. The carrier sheet 12 and tow fiber bundles 29 may have bonds 38 and cuts 39 therebetween to form the discrete tufts 29T.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the cleaning article 10 may have the tow fiber bundles 29 disposed in a grid of discrete tufts 29T. The discrete tufts 29T may be made in known fashion by discretely bonding the tow fiber bundles 29 to the carrier sheet 12. The carrier sheet 12 and tow fiber bundles 29 are then cut through at discrete slits 39, to form the tufts 29T between the bonds 38 and the slits 39.

The tow fiber bundles 29 can comprise tow fibers 14 at least partially coated with a primary coat mix 15 (FIG. 2). The primary coat mix 15 can be a continuous coating of the individual tow fibers 14. The primary coat mix 15 can be a discontinuous coating of the individual fibers. The primary coat mix 15 can comprise discrete droplets disposed on the tow fibers 14. The primary coat mix 15 can be rings of primary coat mix 15 that do not extend along the entirety of an individual tow fiber 14. The primary coat mix 15 can extend along the entirety of an individual tow fiber 14. Referring particularly to FIGS. 3-5, the cleaning article 10 may have tow fiber bundles 29 disposed in spaced apart lines. The lines may be V-shaped, straight, serpentine, curvilinear, etc. as desired. Discrete slits 39 between the lines form tufts 29T, as described above.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tow fiber bundles 29 may optionally form tow fiber bridges. The tow fiber bridges are formed by tow fibers 14 which are bonded at spaced apart bonds 38 and are not cut or slit between the bonds 38. Prophetically, the tow fiber bridges capture debris which may not be captured by discrete tufts 29T. The slits 39 and/or bonds 38 may be spaced on a uniform pitch ‘d’ or a nonuniform pitch, as desired.

Referring to FIG. 6, the cleaning article 10 may comprise an optional cleaning element 25. The cleaning strip element 25 may comprise a polyolefinic film, having integral protrusions. The cleaning strip element 25 can comprise a mixture of wet laid fibers formed into a tissue which is bonded onto a synthetic nonwoven using a process such as spun lace or hydroentangling. The cleaning element 25 can comprise a 23 gsm tissue with a 17 gsm polypropylene spunbond as a composite, sold under the name GENESIS tissue by Suominen of Helsinki, Finland. Or, the cleaning strip element 25 and/or the sheet 12 may alternatively or additionally comprise nylon microfiber. The cleaning article 10 may further comprise an absorbent core 19, as is known in the art. The absorbent core may be cellulosic and contain absorbent gelling material.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the cleaning article 10 may comprise opposed rows of hydrophilic cleaning strips 17 disposed in a cleaning strip element 25. As used herein, cleaning strips 17 refer to strips extending outwardly from proximal ends to respective distal ends. The individual cleaning strips 17 may have a proximal end at or offset from the longitudinal centerline of the article 10, and having a length (taken in the transverse direction) greater than the corresponding width (as taken in the longitudinal direction), to provide an aspect ratio of at least 1 and optionally 2 to 20, and optionally 5 to 15. The cleaning strips 17 may have a length, taken from a respective proximal end juxtaposed with a bond 38 to a respective distal end, which may be juxtaposed with a longitudinal edge 20 of the cleaning article, of 3 to 15, 4 to 12 or particularly 5 to 8 cm, and a width of 3 to 20, 4 to 15 or particularly 6 to 8 mm. These particular dimensions have been found suitable for use in floor cleaning, when using a cleaning implement.

The cleaning strips 17 lie within the XY plane as intended by manufacture, although may be deformed out of the XY plane due to fluffing before use, and/or deformations which occur in use due to movement against the target surface. The cleaning strips 17 may be incorporated into one of the sheets 12 described herein or may be deployed on a separate sheet 12. The cleaning strips 17 may extend parallel to the width direction of the article, or may be disposed in acute angular relationship thereto. The cleaning strips 17 may be straight, as shown, curved, serpentine or of any desired shape.

While the cleaning article 10 may have cleaning strips 17 throughout the longitudinal extent of the cleaning article 10, other arrangements may be practical. Or the cleaning strips 17 may be disposed along any portion of the longitudinal edges.

If desired, the strips 25 may be made of a fibrous woven or nonwoven sheet having high bulk or terry cloth-like properties. The cleaning strip element 25 may comprise polypropylene spunbond as a composite, such as the aforementioned GENESIS tissue by Suominen of Helsinki, Finland. The carrier sheet 12 and cleaning strips 17 may be joined by a plurality of bonds 38, as set forth below. The bonds 38 may be thermal, adhesive or ultrasonic, etc. as are known in the art.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 7-10, an elongate tow fiber bundle 29 may be disposed in a rope or channel oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. Such an elongate tow fiber bundle 29 may be oriented transverse the cleaning strips 17. By transverse, it is meant that the tow fibers 14 have a major axis that is oriented at least 30, optionally at least 45, optionally about 90 degrees to the major axis of the strips 17. This arrangement reduces the chance of undesired entanglement of the tow fibers 14 and strips 17, while allowing for mobility of the strips 17 and, as desired static positioning or mobility of the tow fiber bundle 29.

An elongate tow fiber bundle 29 may be disposed in a sharp zig-zag or sinusoidal pattern, both collectively referred to as serpentine. This arrangement provides the benefit that the tow fibers 14 are disposed at different positions relative to the longitudinal axis and prophetically provide better cleaning for different sizes of particulates. If such serpentine pattern is selected, the repeats may have a constant or variable wavelength, amplitude and tow fiber bundle thickness. The tow fiber bundle 29 may be of variable width in the X direction, parallel to the transverse axis TA. This arrangement prophetically provides the benefit of more surface area in the forward/backward sweeping directions to intercept particles. This arrangement also provides different effective lengths for the cleaning strips 17, prophetically improving dynamic surface area presented to the target surface. Prophetically an hourglass shaped tow fiber 29, may funnel particles to the center of the cleaning article 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. 9, plural tow fiber bundles 29 may be diagonally oriented relative to the longitudinal axis LA. Optionally the tow fiber bundles 29 fully cover the longitudinal dimension of the cleaning article 10, so that the entire length of the cleaning article 10 advantageously intercepts particles. If such an embodiment is selected, optionally no portion of the cleaning article 10 has a line in the transverse direction which does not intercept a tow fiber bundle 29.

Referring particularly to FIG. 10, an elongate tow fiber bundle 29 may have discrete bonds 38 which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The tow fiber bundle 29 may be cut intermediate the bonds 38. This arrangement provides tow fibers 14 extending from proximal ends at the bonds 38 to respective distal ends. The distal ends are free and can move against the target surface. This arrangement is believed to promote efficacious cleaning as the tow fibers 14 present dynamic movement to the target surface.

The bonds 38 may be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA, or may be skewed relative thereto. Likewise, the cuts 39 intermediate the bonds 38 may be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA, or may be skewed relative thereto. Prophetically cuts 39 oblique to the longitudinal axis LA provide the benefit of differential length tow fibers 14. The bonds 38 may be longitudinally spaced apart as desired. Prophetically a pitch of 0.5 to 6 cm, or 1 to 3 cm, would be feasible, providing tow fibers 14 with a cut length of 1 to 6 cm.

The bond(s) 38 may be formed by adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, etc. In thermal bonding and ultrasonic bonding, energy and compressive pressure are applied to local bond 38 sites. The synthetic sheet 12 and synthetic tow fibers 14 are melted at such local sites. Upon refreezing, the local materials of sheet 12 and tow fibers 14 are refreeze together at such local sites, forming localized welds which are the bonds 38.

Referring to FIG. 11, the cleaning article 10 may comprise a laminate of one or more carrier sheets 12 and tow fibers 14 transverse the carrier sheet(s) 12. Two or more carrier sheets 12 may be stacked, with one or more layers of tow fibers 14 disposed on either side of the stacked carrier sheets 12. Such cleaning article 10 may optionally have strips 17, as desired.

A bond 38 may extend throughout a spine of the longitudinal dimension of the cleaning article 10. Other bonds 38 may be disposed outboard of the spine, to form attachment sleeves 58 between the stacked carrier sheets 12. The attachment sleeves 58 may receive a handle 60, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 11. The product shown in FIG. 11 can be practical as a hand duster.

A cleaning article 10 having tow fiber bundles 29 is shown in FIG. 12. The cleaning article 10 can comprise a top carrier sheet 12a and a bottom carrier sheet 12b and the tow fibers 14 can be positioned between the top carrier sheet 12a and the bottom carrier sheet 12b. That is, the tow fibers 14 can be positioned between two carrier sheets 12. A bond 38 can extend along the longitudinal axis LA of the cleaning article 10. The bond 38 can be through the top carrier sheet 12a, the tow fibers 14, and the bottom carrier sheet 12b. The tow fiber bundles 29 can extend from the longitudinal axis LA along the bond 38. The tow fiber bundles 29 can be fluffed to form a fluffy fibrous tow fiber bundle 29.

The tow fibers 14 can be coated with a primary coat mix 15 comprising castor oil ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and fatty acid ester. The castor oil ethoxylate and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate can be present at a weight ratio of castor oil ethoxylate to fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 2:1 to about 1:1. The fatty acid ester and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate can be present at a weight ratio of the fatty acid ester to the fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 5:1 to about 3:1. The castor oil ethoxylate and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate can be present at a weight ratio of the castor oil ethoxylate to the fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 1.5:1. The fatty acid ester and the fatty alcohol ethoxylate can be present at a weight ratio of the fatty acid ester to the fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 3.75:1. The primary coat mix 15 can be DURON OS 2627, available from CHT Germany, GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany. The coat mix 15 can be applied to the tow fibers 14 by spraying, printing, blade knife coating, kiss coating, or other process for applying a coating material to tow fibers 14.

The tow fiber bundles 29 can comprise from about 0.1% to about 2%, optionally from about 0.2% to about 1.8%, optionally from about 0.6% to about 1.5%, optionally about 0.45%, by weight of the tow fibers 14 of the primary coat mix 15. The primary coat mix 15 can be free of wax.

Applicant has further discovered that the presence of excessive moisture in the tow fibers 14 may lead to cohesive failure of the primary coat mix 15 and the optional secondary coating and may cause undesirable residue on the target surface. The tow fibers 14 can have less than about 4, optionally less than about 3, optionally less than about 2, optionally 1.5, weight percent moisture. Without being bound by theory, lower moisture of the tow fibers 14 may reduce the amount of residue that might remain on the target surface.

The tow fibers 14 can be at least partially coated with a secondary coating 16 comprising mineral oil (FIG. 13). The tow fiber bundle 29 can comprise from about 1% to about 20%, optionally from about 2% to about 18%, optionally from about 4% to about 15%, optionally from about 6% to about 12%, by weight of said tow fibers of the secondary coating 16. The secondary coating 16 can comprise mineral oil.

The primary coat mix 15 can be between the secondary coating 16 and the tow fibers, by way of nonlimiting example as shown in FIG. 12. Mineral oil can improve the ability for cleaning article to pick up dust particles. The mineral oil can be provided in a mixture of mineral oil and surfactant at a ratio of about 90:10, optionally 99:1, mineral oil to surfactant by weight of the mixture. The mineral oil can be PAROL 500P available from Calumet Lubricants, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America. The surfactant can be a nonionic surfactant. The mineral oil can be FANCOL POLYISO 800 CG from Fanning Corporation, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.

The secondary coating 16 can be a continuous coating of the combination of the individual tow fibers 14 and the primary coat mix 15. The secondary coating 16 can be a discontinuous coating of the combination of the individual tow fibers 14 and primary coat mix 15. The secondary coating 16 can comprise discrete droplets of the secondary coating 16 disposed on the combination of the individual tow fibers 14 and or secondary coating 16. The secondary coating 16 can be rings of secondary coating 16 deposited on the combination of the individual tow fibers 14 and secondary coating 16 that do not extend along the entirety of an individual tow fiber 14. The secondary coating 16 can disposed on the combination of the individual tow fibers 14 and or secondary coating 16 and can extend along the entirety of an individual tow fiber 14.

Test Method to Determine Moisture Content of Tow Fibers 14

A cleaning article 10 is provided. The cleaning article 10 is equilibrated to 20 degrees C. and 45-55% RH for at least 8 hours.

A portion of the cleaning article 10 not having tow fibers is removed and weighed. This portion may be approximately 25 mm×25 mm. This weight is converted to a basis weight of gsm by simple division.

The weight of the carrier sheet 12 of the remaining portion of the cleaning article 10 is calculated, based upon the total carrier sheet 12 area. The cleaning article 10 is weighed in a sealable plastic bag and the weight of the carrier sheet 12 subtracted, to yield the weight of the tow fibers 14.

The cleaning article 10 is immediately placed on the center rack of an oven held at 105 to 110 degrees C. for 90 minutes with the tow fibers 14 facing upwards. After 90 minutes the sample is removed and immediately sealed in the plastic bag.

The sample is re-weighed while still warm and weight recorded to 4 decimal places. The dry sheet 12 weight is subtracted from the initial weight to determine moisture percentage according to the formula:

[Initial Sheet Weight (pre-oven)−Dried Sheet Weight (post oven)/Initial Sheet weight]*100.

This procedure is repeated for three samples, and the results are averaged.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cleaning article 10 may be removably attachable to a handle 60. Particularly, an attachment system may provide for removable attachment of the cleaning article 10 to a suitable and optional handle 60. The cleaning article 10 attachment system and optional complementary handle 60 attachment may comprise adhesive joining, cohesive joining, mechanical engagement through sleeves 58, etc. One common attachment system comprises sleeves 58 into which the tine[s] of the handle 60 may be inserted.

Referring to FIGS. 14-16, the cleaning article 10 may be removably attachable to an implement 70 for use with dry, wet and/or prewetted cleaning depending upon the particular task.

If desired, the cleaning article 10 may optionally be used with a cleaning solution or other solution usable for other purposes such as treating the surface for appearance or disinfectant, etc. The cleaning solution may be pre-applied to the cleaning article 10, creating a pre-moistened cleaning article 10 or may be contained within a separate reservoir for dosing onto the cleaning article 10 and/or target surface. The cleaning solution may comprise a majority water, and at least about 0.5, 2, 5 or 10 weight percent solids, or at least about 30 or 50 weight percent aqueous solvents, non-aqueous solutions or mixtures thereof.

Particularly, a floor cleaning implement 70 may allow for cleaning of the floor while the user is upright, and may also provide for spraying of cleaning solution or other liquid to the floor. A typical floor cleaning implement 70 has a handle 72 for grasping by the user and a head 74 attached thereto, and optionally pivotally attached thereto. The head 74 moves against the floor, or other target surface. The cleaning article 10 may be removably attached to the bottom of the head 74. The strips 17 may be bounded by the footprint of the head 74 in use, promoting dynamic movement of the strips 17 during cleaning. In FIG. 7, the cleaning article 10 has strips disposed on one side only and oriented in a chevron pattern. The other side is free of and does not have strips 17.

Removable attachment of the cleaning article 10 to the implement 70 may be accomplished using adhesive, hook and loop systems, and grippers.

The cleaning article 10 may also be used manually, without a handle 60 or implement 70. If desired, various cleaning articles 10 described herein may be packaged and sold in a kit. This arrangement provides the benefit that the user has a choice of different cleaning articles 10 for different tasks. For example, if desired, plural sizes of the cleaning articles 10 may be sold together as a single kit. This arrangement allows the user to select the particular cleaning article 10 best suited for the immediate task.

Combinations

An example follows:

- A. A cleaning article (10) for cleaning a target surface, said cleaning article comprising: a carrier sheet (12); and
  - a tow fiber bundle (29) joined to said carrier sheet, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises tow fibers (14) at least partially coated with a primary coat mix (15) comprising castor oil ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and fatty acid ester, wherein said castor oil ethoxylate and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said castor oil ethoxylate to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 2:1 to about 1:1, and wherein said fatty acid ester and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said fatty acid ester to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate from about 5:1 to about 3:1.
- B. The cleaning article according to Paragraph A, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of said tow fibers of said primary coat mix.
- C. The cleaning article according to Paragraph A or B, wherein said tow fiber bundle has less than about 4 weight percent moisture.
- D. The cleaning article according to any or Paragraphs A to C, wherein said primary coat mix is free of wax.
- E. The cleaning article according to any of Paragraphs A to D, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises a plurality of individual tufts (29T).
- F. The cleaning article according to any of Paragraphs A to E, wherein said castor oil ethoxylate and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said castor oil ethoxylate to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 1.5:1 and wherein said fatty acid ester and said fatty alcohol ethoxylate are present at a weight ratio of said fatty acid ester to said fatty alcohol ethoxylate of about 3.75:1.
- G. The cleaning article according to any of Paragraphs A to F, wherein said tow fibers are at least partially coated with a secondary coating (16) comprising mineral oil.
- H. The cleaning article according to Paragraph G, wherein said primary coat mix is between said secondary coating and said tow fibers.
- I. The cleaning article according to Paragraph G or H, wherein said tow fiber bundle comprises from about 1% to about 18% by weight of said tow fibers said secondary coating.
- J. The cleaning article according to any of Paragraphs A to I, wherein said tow fibers are positioned between two said carrier sheets and a bond (38) extends along a longitudinal axis (LA) of said cleaning article, wherein said tow fiber bundle extends from said bond.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.” All percentages are in weight percent.

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

CLEANING ARTICLE HAVING COATED TOW FIBERS

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