Patent Application
20240358220
The present invention relates to a multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth having an abrasive strip, a process for its manufacture and a manual wiping device comprising the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth having an abrasive strip.
It is known that germs of various kinds thrive on surfaces such as floors, especially when these are in a warm and/or humid environment. Regular floor cleaning is therefore essential in both public and private areas in order to carefully remove dirt and germs and ensure cleanliness. This is of course particularly important in highly frequented places such as schools, swimming pools, restaurants and cultural institutions where large numbers of people regularly gather, as well as in places such as hospitals and doctors' offices where sick people and people with weakened immune systems can be found. However, regular and effective floor cleaning is also required in private areas to effectively remove dirt and germs and prevent them from spreading.
For floor cleaning, cleaning agents are often added to a container of water and then a dry floor sweeping cloth is dipped into the cleaning solution prepared in this way, which wets the surface of the floor sweeping cloth and is then used for damp floor cleaning. After cleaning, the floor sweeping cloth is usually washed.
This could be improved in multiple respects. Firstly, it is possible to forget to wash the floor sweeping cloth thoroughly and instead only rinse it under running water, leaving germs on the surface and allowing them to spread. Also, if it is not washed immediately, the germs on the surface of the sweeping cloth will spread if it is temporarily stored in the washing machine until the next washing cycle is started, for example. In this way, the floor sweeping cloth actually intended for cleaning even represents a risk of contamination being carried over or a source of contamination.
This problem is countered in the prior art by providing disposable wipes that are intended for cleaning or disinfecting surfaces and are impregnated with an antimicrobial impregnating agent, for example.
It is known that corresponding pre-impregnated disposable wipes should comprise several layers of non-woven fabric, which are generally composed differently. On the one hand, this ensures sufficient stability of the sweeping cloth and, on the other hand, in the case of layers of differently composed nonwovens, can ensure, if the nonwovens are chosen appropriately, that, for example, a first layer provides good liquid absorption, while a second layer provides good liquid release.
WO 02/36339 A2, for example, describes such a multi-layer pre-impregnated sweeping cloth whose at least two layers contain a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. Therein, the sweeping cloth comprises at least one cleaning layer as well as one layer that serves as a liquid reservoir.
A similar approach for a multi-layer disposable floor sweeping cloth is taken in EP 1 212 478 A1. An antimicrobial property is imparted to the floor sweeping cloths by adding preferably silver particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,649 A describes a multi-layer floor sweeping cloth made of several layers of polypropylene with different appearances, the floor sweeping cloth containing surfactants.
The disadvantage of this solution is that the floor sweeping cloth is not environmentally friendly as a disposable article due to its high plastic content.
A more environmentally friendly alternative is disclosed by WO 2018/017597 A1, which describes an at least single-layer disposable floor sweeping cloth. The composition of the individual layers is supposed to be completely compostable and degradable. A high content of PLA ensures that the individual layers can be welded together.
What could be improved about the aforementioned solution is that it is not particularly suitable for removing stubborn soiling, which would require a more abrasive surface.
Such a solution for a disposable floor sweeping cloth, which can also be used to remove stubborn soiling from the floor by scraping, is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,700 B2. Here, a multi-layer floor sweeping cloth is described which can be attached to a manual mopping device and has an abrasive scratch strip for removing more stubborn soiling. The abrasive scratch strip consists of a thermoplastic material.
Such abrasive plastic scratch strips known from the prior art are manufactured by drawing the plastic over rollers on the surface of which relatively pointed protrusions are arranged, whereby the plastic is perforated and/or curved, which in turn causes the abrasive properties of the material.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an alternative multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages known from the prior art and is characterized in particular by excellent environmental compatibility and a simplified manufacturing process.
The invention achieves this object with the features of the claims and in particular with a multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth having an abrasive strip, which comprises at least one cleaning layer and a core layer, wherein both the cleaning layer and the core layer contain cellulose and consist entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers, wherein a scratch strip having increased abrasive properties in comparison to the remaining cleaning layer is arranged on or in the cleaning layer, and wherein the scratch strip contains hemp and also consists entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers.
According to one embodiment, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention consists of the cleaning layer, the core layer and the scratch strip arranged on or in the cleaning layer.
According to another embodiment, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention consists of the cleaning layer, the core layer, the scratch strip arranged on or in the cleaning layer as well as one or more further layers, wherein the one or more further layers preferably also consist entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers. In particular, a further layer can be a cover layer consisting entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers, which is arranged on the side of the core layer facing away from the cleaning layer.
According to a further embodiment, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention, in addition to the cleaning layer, the core layer and the scratch strip arranged on or in the cleaning layer, has a further layer which is impermeable to liquids and acts as a barrier layer. This further layer can be arranged in particular on the side of the core layer facing away from the cleaning layer and ensures that liquid is not released upwards, but only downwards. The additional layer is preferably made of renewable and/or biodegradable raw materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid) or corn starch.
According to still another embodiment, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention consists of the cleaning layer, the core layer, the scratch strip arranged on or in the cleaning layer, optionally one or more further layers, which preferably also consist entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers, as well as fastening means for fastening the disposable sweeping cloth according to the invention to a manual wiping device.
Therein, the fastening means comprise, for example, ribbons, buttons, hooks, a zipper and/or a hook-and-loop fastener, wherein the fastening means are preferably arranged at the optional cover layer and wherein the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention can be fastened to a manual sweeping device by means of these fastening means. Alternatively, the cover layer can also serve as a counter layer for the aforementioned fastening means, which does not itself have these fastening means but can be brought into engagement with them, for example by a hook-and-loop fastener arranged on a manual wiping device being fastened to the cover layer or a hook or button arranged on a manual wiping device engaging in an eyelet or loop or a hole arranged on the cover layer, which are also understood as fastening means.
According to a still further embodiment, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention consists of the cleaning layer, the core layer, the scratch strip arranged on or in the cleaning layer, optionally one or more further layers, which preferably consist entirely of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers, fastening means for fastening the disposable sweeping cloth according to the invention to a manual wiping device, and an impregnating agent with which one or more of the aforementioned layers is or are pre-impregnated.
According to the invention, the cleaning layer, the core layer, the optional cover layer, the abrasive scratch strip and other optional layers thus contain natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers. The term “natural fibers” refers to all fibers of natural origin that can be used directly without further chemical conversion reactions. “Regenerated fibers”, on the other hand, are fibers that are produced from naturally occurring, renewable raw materials using chemical processes. However, like natural fibers, regenerated fibers also consist of 100% natural material.
Preferably, the natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers contained in the cleaning layer, in the core layer, in the optional cover layer, in the abrasive scratch strip and in optional further layers of the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention are independently selected from the group comprising or consisting of viscose fibers, modal fibers, lyocell fibers, cellulose fibers, cupro fibers, cotton fibers, jute fibers, hemp fibers and flax fibers as well as any mixtures thereof.
In contrast to the floor sweeping cloth according to the invention, floor sweeping cloths known from the prior art having an abrasive scratch strip always have a synthetic fiber content, for example a PLA content, which allows the individual layers of the floor sweeping cloth to be thermally bonded. In contrast, the individual layers of a floor sweeping cloth according to the invention are joined, for example, by so-called “micro-entangling” via ultrasonic movement. Therein, the natural and/or regenerated fibers contained in the individual layers are set in motion in such a way that they become entangled and matted. Alternatively, the individual layers of a floor sweeping cloth according to the invention can also be bonded by a treatment with electric shocks, by hydroentanglement or by so-called “needlepunching”.
It has been found that the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention can achieve a range that is 20-50% greater than that of comparable products comprising plastic non-woven.
The cleaning layer of a disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention comprises or preferably consists of a mesh material comprising or consisting of pulp (cellulose pulp) and lyocell fibers. In the mesh material, which preferably has a grammage of 50-60 g/m2, the fibers are arranged in a grid-like manner, which imparts a certain stiffness and abrasiveness to the cleaning layer. In an alternative embodiment, however, the cleaning layer may also contain or consist of viscose fibers in combination with hemp fibers and/or flax fibers. Hemp and flax fibers already have a rather high stiffness naturally, so that in this case no mesh arrangement is required.
The core layer of a disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention preferably contains at least 50% by weight, at least 60% by weight, at least 70% by weight, at least 80% by weight, at least 90% by weight, at least 95% by weight or 100% by weight cellulose. Preferably, the cellulose contained in the core layer is DRC (double re-crepe) cellulose, in particular having a grammage of 115 g/m2.
Cellulose fibers are characterized by an excellent storage capacity for impregnating agents. Therefore, the core layer of a disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention—in the event that it is impregnated with an impregnating agent-serves as a liquid reservoir for the impregnating agent.
DRC cellulose in particular is characterized not only by its excellent storage capacity for liquids but also by its extraordinary stability when wet.
The particular advantage of DRC cellulose over airlaid cellulose is that DRC cellulose with only about ¼ of the thickness of airlaid cellulose is significantly more resistant, in particular by a factor of 2-3. To achieve the same wiping performance (coverage), sweeping cloths made of DRC cellulose can therefore be significantly thinner than airlaid cellulose wiping cloths.
Alternatively, the core layer can also consist of 100% viscose (spunlace material), in particular having a grammage of approx. 100 g/m2. As a further alternative, the core layer can also consist of binder-free airlaid cellulose, in particular having a grammage of 135 g/m2. As a further alternative, the core layer can also consist of pressed cellulose, in particular having a grammage of 160 g/m2.
The impregnating agent optionally contained in the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention preferably contains at least one compound having antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the impregnating agent may contain all ingredients contained in conventional impregnating agents, in particular water, oil, preservatives, surfactants, emulsifiers, skin-caring ingredients, moisturizing ingredients and any combination thereof.
Optionally, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention also contains a sensor which is adapted to indicate when the impregnating agent contained in the cloth is no longer sufficient for a reliable cleaning. In particular, the sensor can be a visual sensor that indicates an insufficient impregnating agent content in the floor sweeping cloth by means of a chemical color reaction.
For removing stubborn soiling, the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention contains a scratch strip which has increased abrasive properties in comparison to the cleaning layer. The scratch strip of a disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention preferably contains at least 50% by weight, at least 60% by weight, at least 70% by weight, at least 80% by weight, at least 90% by weight, at least 95% by weight or 100% by weight of hemp fibers.
In an alternative embodiment, the scratch strip comprises at least 50% by weight, at least 60% by weight, at least 70% by weight, at least 80% by weight, at least 90% by weight or at least 95% by weight of hemp fibers and additionally comprises flax fibers and/or cellulosic fibers and/or a mesh material comprising or consisting of pulp and lyocell fibers.
In each embodiment, the high proportion of hemp in the scratch strip leads to the increased abrasiveness compared to the cleaning layer, as the hemp fibers have a high stiffness.
Equipping the scratch strip with hemp fibers therefore has two major advantages over the prior art, because on the one hand the scratch strip in the floor sweeping cloth according to the invention is 100% natural and thus also environmentally friendly as a disposable article. Secondly, the required abrasiveness of the scratch strip is achieved solely by the hemp content. Additional steps, such as those required in the prior art to give a plastic scratch strip the necessary abrasiveness by drawing the strip over rollers with needles/bulges, are not necessary for the scratch strip of a floor sweeping cloth according to the invention, which is advantageous in terms of both time and money.
According to a preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
According to a further preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
According to a further preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
According to a further preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
According to a further preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
According to a further preferred embodiment, the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention has the following layers and compositions:
The invention also relates to a process for production of a multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth, comprising the steps of
The disposable floor sweeping cloth produced in the process according to the invention has the properties which have been disclosed in the foregoing with reference to the disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention as such, which is why the preceding description can also be used to characterize the process in more detail. This means in particular that
Preferably, in the process according to the invention, the cleaning layer and the core layer and optionally the scratch strip and optional further layers, in particular the aforementioned cover layer and/or the barrier layer, are connected by means of micro-entangling by means of movement generated by ultrasound, by a treatment by means of electric shocks, by hydroentanglement and/or by needlepunching.
Preferably, the core layer and optionally also further layers of the disposable floor sweeping cloth are impregnated with an impregnating agent in the manufacturing process according to the invention.
The invention also relates to a manual wiping device comprising a head part movably arranged on a handle, to which the multi-ply disposable floor sweeping cloth according to the invention is attached, so that the cleaning layer is in contact with the floor when wiping the floor and the scratch strip has no contact with the floor when wiping the floor. Since the scratch strip has a higher abrasiveness than the cleaning layer, there would be a risk of scratching the floor during cleaning if the scratch strip were in contact with the floor when sweeping the floor. Due to the arrangement of the scratch strip, in which it has no contact with the floor during sweeping, this risk does not exist. The scratch strip can therefore be used selectively to remove stubborn dirt by a deliberate turning and/or tilting movement of the manual wiping device, if necessary.
The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the examples and in the claims may be essential, both individually and in any combination, for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 122 041.6 | Aug 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DE2022/100611 | 8/17/2022 | WO |
