Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PACKAGES FOR STORING SHEETS FOR CLEANING IMPLEMENTS
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of packages for storing sheets for
cleaning implements, and, more particularly, to the field of packages for
sheets which are
used with a floor mop having attachment structures for retaining a sheet about
a mop
head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mops which utilize a sheet, such as a woven or non-woven sheet, for cleaning
are
known in the art. These mops can be used to clean floors and the like and
typically
comprise a mop head and a handle pivotally connected to the mop head by a
universal
joint. Various structures have been used to secure the sheet to the mop head.
For
example, US patent no. 5,815,878 to Murakami et al. discloses a sweeping
device having
a sweeper head with a pair of clamping members while JP3022675 appears to
disclose a
mop having a plurality of serrated structures located on the mop head for
receiving a
sheet. Because the sheets used with these types of mops are disposable and
therefore
replaced after each use, it is often desirable to bundle together and market
multiple sheets
as unit for a consumer. While such sheets have been bundled together in non-
resealable
flexible pouches having slit-like openings, often times these sheets can be
deformed
during storage or removal from or reinsertion to the pouch such that their
cleaning
performance is degraded and/or the portion of the sheet which attaches to the
mop cannot
engage the mop head as effectively as it would prior to deformation. Further,
some
cleaning sheets may have three-dimensional surfaces which aid in the
collection and
retention of particulates within the sheet but which can also be susceptible
to deformation.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide improved packages which can protect
the shape
and/or three-dimensionality of these sheets. Further, there exists a need to
provide
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improved package and sheet combinations which can accommodate removal and
reinsertion of sheets without substantial deformation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A package for storing a plurality of sheets used with a mop having a mop head
with a plurality of attachment structures for retaining a sheet about the mop
head is
provided. The package includes a container having a front wall, side walls, a
rear wall,
and a bottom wall, wherein the walls form a compartment. A plurality of sheets
having a
deformable scrim are stored within the compartment, wherein the sheets are
folded about
at least one longitudinal axis of the sheets. A lid is attached to one of the
walls, wherein
the lid closes an opening in the container through which the sheets can be
removed. In a
more preferred form, the opening of the package has a length at least about
40% of the
length of the sheets stored in the compartment and, more preferably, has a
width at least
about 50% of the width of the sheets stored in the compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and
distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention
will be better
understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary floor mop suitable for use with
the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the floor mop of Fig. 1, wherein the mop has a
sheet
attached thereto;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred sheet suitable for use with the
floor mop
of Fig. 1;
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Fig. 4a is schematic plan view of the preferred sheet of Fig. 4a illustrating
the
basis weight differences of the sheet;
Fig. 4b is a photomicrograph of the preferred sheet of Fig. 3 showing a
textured
three-dimensional surface;
Fig. 5 is a top view of the floor mop of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the mop head of Fig. 5, taken along
line 6-6
thereof;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a package made in accordance with the present
invention, wherein the lid is in the raised position;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the sheet of Fig. 3, wherein the sheet is
folded about
the two longitudinal axes; and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the sheet of Fig.3, wherein the sheet is
folded about
two longitudinal axes and a transverse axis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of
the
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings
wherein like
numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views. As will be
appreciated, the
present invention is directed to packages for storing sheets which are adapted
for use with
a cleaning implement and, more preferably, to packages for storing sheets
which are
adapted for use with a floor mop. Refernng to Figs. 1 and 2, an exemplary
floor mop 20
is illustrated. The mop 20 comprises a mop head 22 and a handle 24 pivotally
connected
to the mop head 22 by a universal joint 26. As shown in Fig. 2, a sheet 27,
which can be
provided in the form of a woven or non-woven fabric, is attached to the mop
head 22 for
collecting dust, dirt, and other material during use. The sheet 27 is attached
to the mop
head 22 by a plurality of attachment structures 34. The mop head 22 includes
an elastic
member 28 which is disposed about the periphery of the mop head 22 and which
both
tensions the sheet 27 about the mop head 22 and provides a support surface for
the sheet
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27. The elastic member 28 has a length LM and a width DM, wherein the length
LM is
preferably between about 20 cm and about 30 cm and the width WM is between
about 8
cm and about 12 cm. As used herein, the phrases "cleaning head" and "mop head"
are
intended to refer to the structure which engages and retains the sheet 27. The
mop head
22, and universal joint 26 are preferably formed from ABS type-polymers (e.g.,
terpolymer from acrylonitrile), polypropylene or other plastic material by
injection
molding while attachment structures 34 are preferably formed from injection
molded
polyethylene and the elastic member 28 is preferably formed from polyurethane
by
molding. The handle 24 can be formed from plastic, aluminum, or other
structural
materials.
As will be appreciated, the floor mop 20 and mop head 22 illustrated in the
accompanying Figures are but one configuration which is suitable for use with
the present
invention. The mop head 22 can be provided in other shapes and sizes and may
be
configured for other types of cleaning, such as cleaning walls, around
corners, furniture
and the like. Also, while the present invention is discussed herein with
respect to a floor
mop for purposes of simplicity and clarity, it will be understood that the
present invention
can be used with other types of cleaning implements having other types of
cleaning heads
with attachment structures for securing a sheet about the cleaning head. For
instance, the
present invention can be used with other types of floor mops, wall and other
smaller hand-
held dusters, wet mops which utilize a cleaning solution, etc.
Preferred sheets which are suitable for use with the present invention are
more
fully described in US patent application serial nos. 09/082,349 entitled
"Novel Structures
Useful As Cleaning Sheets", filed May 20, 1998; and 09/082,396 entitled "Novel
Three
Dimensional Structures Useful As Cleaning Sheets", filed May 20, 1998, both of
which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference. The sheets described in these
applications
preferably comprise two components: a polymeric net or scrim 29 and a fibrous
material
30 which is laid upon the scrim 29, as shown schematically in Fig. 3, by
lamination via
heat or chemical means such as adhesives or by hydrogentanglement. Scrim
materials
useful herein are described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 4,636,419, which is
incorporated
by reference herein. The scrims may be formed directly at the extrusion die or
can be
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derived from extruded films by fibrillation or by embossment, followed by
stretching and
splitting. The scrim may be derived from a polyolefin such as polyethylene or
polypropylene, copolymers thereof, poly(butylene terephthalate), polyethylene
terephthalate, NYLON 6, NYLON 66, and the like. Scrim materials are available
from
various commercial sources. A preferred scrim material useful in the present
invention is
a polypropylene scrim, available from Conwed Plastics of Minneapolis, MN.
The sheets also preferably have a continuous high and discrete low basis
weight
regions 32 and 33, respectively, such as shown schematically in Fig. 4a,
and/or a three-
dimensional surface, such as shown in Fig. 4b, both features being more fully
described in
US patent application serial nos. 09/082,349 and 09/082,396. While the low
basis weight
regions are depicted as being of essentially the same size and of a single
well defined
shape, these regions may be of differing sizes to facilitate entrapment of
particles of
varying size and shape. The high and low basis weight regions and the three
dimensionality of the surface of the sheet shown in Figs. 4a and 4b assists in
receiving
and trapping material, such as dust and dirt, in the sheet.
The sheets 27 can be made using either a woven or nonwoven process, or by
forming operations using melted materials laid down on forms, especially in
belts, and/or
by forming operations involving mechanical actions/modifications carried out
on films.
The structures are made by any number of methods (e.g., spunbonded, meltblown,
resin
bonded, air-through bonded, etc.), once the essential three dimensional and
basis weight
requirements are known. However, the preferred structures are nonwoven, and
especially
those formed by hydroentanglement as is well known in the art, since they
provide highly
desirable open structures. Also preferred are heat-bonded nonwoven structures
which
utilize continuous filaments bonded to a base sheet via heat-sealed lines.
Materials particularly suitable for forming the fibrous material 30 of sheet
27
include, for example, natural cellulosics as well as synthetics such as
polyolefms (e.g.,
polyethylene and polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, synthetic cellulosics
(e.g.,
RAYON~), and blends thereof. Also useful are natural fibers, such as cotton or
blends
thereof and those derived from various cellulosic sources. Preferred starting
materials for
making the hydroentangled fibrous sheets of the present invention are
synthetic materials,
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which may be in the form of carded, spunbonded, meltblown, airlaid, or other
structures.
Particularly preferred are polyesters, especially carded polyester fibers. The
degree of
hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the fibers is optimized depending upon the
desired
goal of the sheet, either in terms of type of soil to be removed, the type of
additive that is
provided, when an additive is present, biodegradability, availability, and
combinations of
such considerations. In general, the more biodegradable materials are
hydrophilic, but the
more effective materials tend to be hydrophobic. The sheets 27 preferably have
a width
Ws and length LS and, preferably, the width Ws is between about 18 cm and
about 22 cm
while the length Ls is between about 25 cm and about 35 cm for an elastic
member
having a width WM between about 8 cm and about 12 cm and a length LM between
about
20 cm and about 30 cm. While the above-described sheets are preferred, it will
be
understood that other sheet materials, dimensions, and constructions may be
equally
suitable for use with the present invention.
The sheets 27 are attached to the mop head 22 by a plurality of attachment
structures 34. The attachment structures 34 are configured to receive and
retain the sheet
27 about the mop head 22, as shown in Fig. 2, during use. The attachment
structures 34
are preferably disposed at the corners of the mop head 22, although these
locations can be
varied depending upon the size and shape of the mop head 22. As best seen in
Figs. 5 and
6, the attachment structures 34 each preferably comprise a base triangle 36
which is
defined along two sides thereof by slits 38 which extend through the flexible
material
which forms the attachment structures 34. The attachment structures 34 also
preferably
comprise a plurality of pie-shaped sections 42 having apexes 44. The pie-
shaped sections
42 are defined along two sides thereof by slits 48 which extend through the
flexible
material which forms the attachment structures 34. This arrangement permits
the pie-
shaped sections 42 to individually deflect relative to each other. The slits
through the
flexible material of the attachment structure 34 allow the pie-shaped sections
42 and the
base triangle 36 to deflect under finger pressure so that a portion of the
sheet 27 can be
pushed through the top surface of the attachment structures 34 and into a
cavity 49 (Fig.
6) formed within the attachment structures 34. As the sheet 27 is pushed past
the top
surface of an attachment structure 34, the apexes 44 of the pie-shaped
sections 42 and the
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apex 40 of the base triangle 36 can pierce and engage the sheet 27 such that
the sheet is
retained about the mop head 22 during use.
While the above-described dry mop is preferred, it will be understood that
other
arrangements, materials and configurations would be equally suitable for use
with the
present invention. For example, other joints can be used in place of the
universal joint 26
to provide relative movement between the handle 24 and the mop head 22 and the
mop
head 22 can be provided in the form of other shapes and configurations (e.g.,
with a
textured bottom surface, curvilinear side walls, etc.). Further, while the
attachment
structures 34 are preferred, it will be appreciated that the dry mop 20 can
incorporate
other configurations for the attachment structures 34. For example, hinged
clamps can be
provided or the sheets can be attached to the mop head 22 using hook and loop
fasteners.
While the attachment structures of the present invention are preferably used
in
combination with the dry mop 20, the attachment structures can be used with
other
cleaning implements as previously discussed.
As previously discussed, the scrim 29 provides a support structure for the
fibrous
material 30. However, semi-permanent and/or permanent deformations (e.g., "dog
ears"
and other irregularlities) can be imparted to the scrim 29 (and therefore also
to a sheet 27)
if the scrim is pinched, crushed, or otherwise deformed. Such deformations can
degrade
not only the cleaning performance of the sheets 27 but also, if severe, affect
engagement
between the sheet 27 and the attachment structures 34.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a preferred package 50
for storing
the sheets 27 which can prevent undesirable deformations is illustrated in
Fig. 7. The
package 50 includes a lid 52 hingedly attached to a rear wall 54, a top wall
55, a front
wall 56 disposed opposite the rear wall 54, a bottom wall 58, and opposing
side walls 60
and 62. The lid 52, which is preferably recloseable, and the walls form a
compartment 64
for storing the sheets 27. More preferably, the compartment 64 is sized to
store between
about 5 and about 100 sheets, and, more preferably, between about 8 and about
64 sheets.
Perforations or, more preferably, scoring define the edges of the lid 52 as
well as an
opening 68 through which the sheets 27 can be removed. The scoring allow a
user of the
package 50 to easily separate the lid 52 from the top wall 55 to expose the
compartment
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64. The package 50 is preferably formed from paperboard, cardboard, corrugated
cardboard or other suitable material and is substantially rigid. As used
herein, the phrase
"substantially rigid" is intended to refer to a package 50 whose height Ho
(Fig. 7), when
subjected to a 7.5 1b load distributed across the top of the package 50, is at
least about
ninety percent and, more preferably, at least about ninety-five of the height
Ho of the
package 50 without an applied load. While package SO has been illustrated
herein as
generally rectangular in plan view and the lid 52 has been described herein as
hingedly
attached to the rear wall 54, it will be appreciated that the walls and lid of
package 50 can
be provided in other shapes and configurations without departing from the
scope of the
present invention. For example, the lid 52 might be provided as detachable
from the
package 50.
Referring to Figs 3, 8, and 9, the sheets 27 which are stored in the
compartment 64
are preferably folded about longitudinal and transverse axes of the sheet.
More
particularly, the sheet 27 is preferably folded about first and second
longitudinal axes 70
and 72 (Fig. 3), wherein the width WB between the longitudinal axes is about
equal to the
width WM of the elastic member 28. In other words, portions 74 of a sheet 27
which
engage the attachment structures 34 of the mop 20 are folded over on top of
the base
portion 76 (i.e., the portion defined by the width WB as shown in Fig. 3) of
the sheets 27,
as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Because the sheets 27 preferably comprise a
deformable scrim
29, the portions 74 which engage the attachment structures 34 are protected
from
deformation by both the rigid package SO and the fact that these portions are
disposed
interiorly of the walls of the package 50. Still further, the folding pattern
for the sheets 27
provides a set of sheets whose three-dimensional surfaces are less likely to
suffer
deformation because of an "air cushion" which is established between the
folded sheet
layers.
The opening 68 of the package SO is also preferably sized to prevent
deformation
of the sheets 27 and has a length Lo and a width Wo (Fig. 7) which are at
least about
40% and 50%, respectively, of the folded length LF and folded width WF (Fig.
9) of the
sheets 27. More preferably, the length Lo is between about 65% and about 85%
of the
folded length LF and the width Wo is between about 80% and about 100% of the
folded
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width WF. Most preferably, the opening 68 has a length Lo between about 10 cm
and
about 13 cm and a width Wo between about l lcm and about 13 cm for a folded
sheet 27
having a folded length LF between about 13 cm and about 16 cm and a folded
width WF
of between about 9 cm and about 12 cm. An opening 68 sized accordingly can
allow a
sheet 27 to be removed from and reinserted to the package 50 without damage.
The
sheets 27 are also preferably folded about the transverse axis 78 (Figs. 3 and
8) which is
located at about the midpoint of the length Ls. Folding the sheet 27 about the
transverse
axis 78 permits the size of the opening 68 to still be maximized relative to
the size of the
folded sheet for removal from the package 50 while providing an overall
package size
which is convenient for storage.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has
been
presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to
be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or
variations are
possible and contemplated in light of the above teachings by those skilled in
the art, and
the embodiments discussed were chosen and described in order to best
illustrate the
principles of the invention and its practical application. It is intended that
the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
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