Claims
- 1. A cleaning implement comprising:
- a. a handle; and
- b. a removable cleaning pad comprising:
- i. a scrubbing layer; and
- ii. an absorbent layer;
- wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 10% of the pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity, and a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 5 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 2. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 5% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity.
- 3. The cleaning implement of claim 2 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 2% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity.
- 4. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 10 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 5. The cleaning implement of claim 4 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 20 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 6. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the scrubbing layer is in direct fluid communication with the absorbent layer.
- 7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad further comprises an attachment layer, and wherein the absorbent layer is positioned between the scrubbing layer and the attachment layer.
- 8. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the scrubbing layer is in direct fluid communication with the absorbent layer.
- 9. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the attachment layer comprises a material that is essentially fluid impervious.
- 10. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the handle comprises a support head at one end, wherein the support head comprises a means for releasably attaching the cleaning pad to the handle.
- 11. The cleaning implement of claim 10 wherein the means for releasably attaching the cleaning pad are hooks and the attachment layer comprises a material that will act as loops for mechanically attaching to the hooks.
- 12. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein the support head has an upper surface that is pivotably attached to the handle and a lower surface that comprises the hooks for releasably attaching the cleaning pad to the support head.
- 13. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad further comprises a scrim material.
- 14. The cleaning implement of claim 13 wherein the scrim material is a distinct layer positioned between the scrubbing layer and the absorbent layer.
- 15. The cleaning implement of claim 14 wherein the scrim material is a component of the scrubbing layer or the absorbent layer.
- 16. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the cleaning pad has a squeeze-out value of not more than about 40% at 0.25 psi.
- 17. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein the cleaning pad has a squeeze-out value of not more than about 25% at 0.25 psi.
- 18. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the absorbent layer comprises a superabsorbent material.
- 19. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 15%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 20. The cleaning implement of claim 19 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 20%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 21. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein the superabsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of superabsorbent gelling polymers and hydrophilic polymeric absorbent foams.
- 22. The cleaning implement of claim 21 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 20%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 23. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein the cleaning pad further comprises an attachment layer, and wherein the absorbent layer is positioned between the scrubbing layer and the attachment layer.
- 24. The cleaning implement of claim 23 wherein the attachment layer comprises a material that is essentially fluid impervious.
- 25. The cleaning implement of claim 23 wherein the handle comprises a support head at one end and wherein the support head comprises a means for releasably attaching the cleaning pad to the handle.
- 26. The cleaning implement of claim 25 wherein the means for releasably attaching the cleaning pad are hooks and the attachment layer comprises a material that will act as loops for mechanically attaching to the hooks.
- 27. The cleaning implement of claim 26 wherein the support head has an upper surface that is pivotably attached to the handle and a lower surface that comprises hooks for releasably attaching the cleaning pad to the support head.
- 28. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein the cleaning pad further comprises a scrim material.
- 29. A cleaning implement comprising:
- a. a handle comprising a support head at one end; and
- b. a removable cleaning pad comprising:
- i. a scrubbing layer;
- ii. an absorbent layer in direct fluid communication with the scrubbing layer; and
- iii. an attachment layer that is essentially fluid impervious;
- wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 5% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity, and a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 20 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 30. The cleaning implement of claim 29 wherein the support head comprises an upper surface that is attached to the handle and a lower surface that comprises hooks for releasably attaching the cleaning pad to the support head.
- 31. The cleaning implement of claim 29 wherein the cleaning pad has a squeeze-out value of not more than about 25% under 0.25 psi of pressure.
- 32. The cleaning implement of claim 29 wherein the cleaning pad further comprises a scrim material.
- 33. A cleaning pad comprising:
- a. a scrubbing layer; and
- b. an absorbent layer;
- wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 10% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity, and a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 5 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 34. The cleaning pad of claim 33 having a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 5% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity.
- 35. The cleaning pad of claim 34 having a t.sub.30 percent absorbency of not more than about 2% of the cleaning pad's t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity.
- 36. The cleaning pad of claim 33 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 10 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 37. The cleaning pad of claim 36 wherein the cleaning pad has a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 20 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.
- 38. The cleaning pad of claim 33 further comprising an attachment layer for mechanically attaching the cleaning pad to a handle of a cleaning implement, wherein the absorbent layer is positioned between the scrubbing layer and the attachment layer.
- 39. The cleaning pad of claim 38 wherein the attachment layer is essentially fluid impervious and is suitable for being releasably attached to a handle of a cleaning implement having mechanical hooks.
- 40. The cleaning pad of claim 39 wherein the absorbent layer comprises a superabsorbent material.
- 41. The cleaning pad of claim 40 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 15%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 42. The cleaning pad of claim 41 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 20%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 43. The cleaning pad of claim 40 wherein the superabsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of superabsorbent gelling polymers and hydrophilic polymeric absorbent foams.
- 44. The cleaning pad of claim 40 wherein the absorbent layer comprises at least about 20%, by weight of the absorbent layer, of the superabsorbent material.
- 45. The cleaning pad of claim 40 further comprising a scrim material.
- 46. The cleaning pad of claim 33 further comprising a scrim material.
- 47. The cleaning pad of claim 33 wherein the cleaning pad has a squeeze-out value of not more than about 40% at 0.25 psi.
- 48. The cleaning pad of claim 47 wherein the cleaning pad has a squeeze-out value of not more than about 25% at 0.25 psi.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/716,766, (Sherry et al.), filed Sep. 23, 1996, abandoned. Applicants claim priority to this application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120.
US Referenced Citations (30)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 357 496 |
Mar 1990 |
EPX |
696 432 |
Feb 1996 |
EPX |
4300920 |
Jul 1994 |
DEX |
01178223 |
Jul 1989 |
JPX |
WO 9415520 |
Jul 1994 |
WOX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
716766 |
Sep 1996 |
|