Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A MAINTENANCE ITEM AND A CLEANING DEVICE INCLUDING
SUCH A MAINTENANCE ITEM
Technical Field
The present invention relates to the technical field
of maintenance items for cleaning floor surfaces, and to
cleaning devices for using such maintenance items.
Background Art
When it is desired to clean a floor surface, it is
known to use maintenance items that have on their
"cleaning" bottom surface a textile made up of loops
and/or a pile of microfibers and of fibers having a
linear density greater than 1 dtex, also referred to by
the term "scraping fibers". Microfibers
are known for
forming an extremely dense capillary array giving them
excellent ability to absorb liquids and good ability to
recover small particles such as dust. In the
present
text, the term "microfibers" is used to designate any
fibers having a linear density of less than 1 dtex.
The loops or pile formed by fibers having a linear
density greater than 1 dtex give abrasive or scraping
power to said maintenance item for the purpose of
detaching any dirt that might be located on the surface
for cleaning.
The absorption power of the microfibers is such that
if they constituted the entire cleaning surface, the
maintenance item being handled remotely using a head-
plate of a broom would adhere so strongly to the floor
for cleaning, in particular when the maintenance item is
wet, that the user would no longer be able to move said
item (this can be referred to as the "suction cup" effect
as generated by the capillary array).
To mitigate that drawback, scraping fibers having a
linear density greater than 1 dtex are arranged in
alternation with said microfibers. Since the
scraping
fibers have a linear density that is greater than that of
the microfibers, they are stiffer and they form bearing
points on the "cleaning" surface enabling the maintenance
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item to slide over the floor surface for cleaning.
Generally, such maintenance items include on their
bottom surfaces - that are to form the "cleaning" surface
that comes into conLaoL with the floor - about 50% by
weight of microfibers relative to the proportion by
weight of fibers on said bottom faces, the remainder
being formed by fibers having a linear density greater
than 1 dtex.
Such maintenance items may be laminated with a foam
or they may include other absorbent textile panels
arranged on their top faces.
Such maintenance items are thus limited in the
quantity of microfibers that their cleaning surfaces can
present and also by their fineness (or linear density in
dtex). The greater the fineness of the microfibers (i.e.
the smaller their linear density (dtex)), the better they
absorb liquids and recover dust present on the floor, but
the greater their tendency to adhere to the cleaning
surface on the floor.
Furthermore, since microfibers have capacities for
absorption and recovery that are greater than those of
the scraping fibers, it is advantageous to seek to
optimize their quantity and/or their fineness in the
cleaning surfaces of maintenance items.
DE 103 27 584 discloses a cleaning item having two
portions in one of its faces. The fibers covering these
sections present fineness in the range 0.1 dtex to
10 dtex, and preferably in the range 0.1 dtex to 3 dtex.
EP 0 925 399 discloses a textile structure
comprising a support material from which there project
fibers having different finenesses and thus capable of
forming up to three dirferent zones that repeat over the
surface.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention mitigates the above-mentioned
problems in full or in part in that, in a first aspect,
it provides a maintenance item for cleaning a floor
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surface, the item comprising a front portion and a rear
portion in line with each other, having respective top
and bottom faces, said bottom faces defining a "cleaning"
surface, wherein the
front portion includes, projecting
from its bottom face, microfibers and scraping fibers of
linear mass density greater than 1 dtex, and the rear
portion includes, projecting from its bottom face,
microfibers, or, microfibers and also scraping fibers of
linear mass density greater than 1 dtex, wherein the
microfibers and the scraping fibers on said bottom face
of the front portion have a mean linear mass density T1
that is greater than or equal to 0.5 dtex, and the
microfibers, or, the microfibers and the scraping fibers,
on said bottom face of the rear portion have a mean
linear mass density 12 that is less than or equal to
2 dtex, and in that the mean linear mass density T1 is
different from the mean linear mass density T2.
Preferred embodiments are described hereunder.
The term "mean linear density" of the fibers present
on the "cleaning" surface designates the weighted average
of the linear densities of the various fibers.
The term "fiber" is used to designate a fiber or a
filament.
The bottom faces of the front and rear portions are
in line with each other ecpally.
The microfibers and the scraping fibers are
preferably selected from the following polymers, singly
or in combination: polyamide 6, polyamide 6-6, polyamide
4-6 or 12, polyethylene tcrophthalate, polypropylene, and
polyethylene.
The microfibers preferably have a linear density of
less than 1 dtex, preferably less than or equal to
0.87 dtex. The
microfibers preferably have a linear
density of 0.56 dtex or of 0.2 dtex. Preferably,
when
the microfibers have a linear density of 0.2 dtex, they
comprise a mixture of. polyethylene terephthalate fibers
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and of polyamide 6 or 6-6 fibers. This mixture is due in
particular to their method of fabrication, which consists
in extruding filaments presenting a pie segment
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structure, which segments are subsequently separated (the
segments being made of polyethylene terephthalate, and
the interfaces between two adjacent segments being made
of polyamide).
The scraping fibers preferably have a linear density
greater than 1 dtex, preferably greater than or equal to
4 dtex. More
preferably, the scraping fibers have a
linear density of 10 dtex or of 30 dtex.
Calculating the linear density of a fiber is well
known to the person skilled in the art, and there exist
numerous standards for performing this calculation,
including in particular the following standards mentioned
in non-exhaustive manner:
= NF G01-001: Expression of linear density - TEX
system;
= NF EN ISO 1973: Determination of linear density -
gravimetric method and vibroscope method;
ISO 7211-5: 1984: Woven fabrics, construction,
methods of analysis, part 5: determination of linear
density of yarn removed from fabric.
The values specified in the present text are given
plus or minus 10%.
Advantageously, the front and rear portions have
different capillary arrays, the maintenance article
presenting adhesive powers on the floor cleaning surface
that differ between the bottom face of the front portion
and the bottom face of the rear portion, and thus
presenting capacities for recovering and absorbing dirt
that differ between these portions.
The linear density ranges specified for each of the
portions give the bottom face of the front portion the
function of sliding over the floor surface for cleaning.
The bottom face of the front portion thus forms the
"leading" face, i.e. the face from which the user causes
the maintenance item to slide over the floor surface.
The inventors have thus observed, surprisingly, that
the bottom face of the front portion unsticks dirt and
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recovers it by means of the microfibers it includes, and
that the bottom face of the rear portion recovers even
more dust and other dirt than does the front portion.
This has been observed visually.
Furthermore, the user has no difficulty in causing
the maintenance item to slide over the floor surface when
beginning to move said item on its "cleaning" surface,
i.e. the bottom face of the front portion.
The rear and front portions are connected together
along one of their longitudinal edges, by any securing
means known in the state of the art. The front and rear
portions may, for example, be secured by stitching (e.g.
whipping), ultrasound welding, or thermofusing.
The front and rear portions are constituted by a
common textile panel, or preferably each of them is
constituted by at least one textile panel, which may be
woven or knitted, preferably being a weave or a knit
including loops or pile projecting at least from their
bottom surfaces forming the "cleaning" bottom surface.
The values specified concerning mean linear
densities or indeed the proportions by weight of fibers
are calculated relative to the fibers present on the
bottom faces of the front and rear portions.
The maintenance item preferably includes an
intermediate layer, e.g. made of one or more textile
panels comprising microfibers or made of foam, arranged
on the top faces of the front and rear portions that then
form a bottom layer. The
maintenance item may also
include a top layer arranged on the intermediate layer,
having attachment means suitable for co-operating with
complementary attachment means arranged on the head-plate
of a broom.
In a variant, the mean linear density T1 (dtex) is
greater than the mean linear density T2 (dtex).
Advantageously, the bottom face of the rear portion
has more microfibers than the bottom face of the front
portion, and thus presents properties of absorbing and
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recovering dirt that are greater than those of the front
portion.
The maintenance item of the invention thus enables
the effectiveness of cleaning to be improved.
In a variant, the bottom face of the rear portion
comprises a proportion by weight of microfibers relative
to the total weight of fibers projecting from the bottom
face of the rear portion that is greater than the
proportion by weight of microfibers of the bottom face of
the front portion relative to the total weight of fibers
projecting from the bottom face of the front portion.
In its bottom face, the rear portion includes fibers
that are finer than the fibers of the bottom face of the
front portion, thus enabling it to offer a capillary
array that is more developed than that of the front
portion.
In a variant, the microfibers and the scraping
fibers on the bottom face of the front portion alternate
repeatedly in at least one first given pattern, and the
microfibers and optionally the scraping fibers on the
bottom face of the rear portion alternate repeatedly in
at least one second given pattern, and the first pattern
being different from the second pattern.
This provision enhances sliding of the maintenance
item over the floor surface to be cleaned.
The term "pattern" is used to designate any
particular arrangement, in particular a geometrical
arrangement, that is repeated over the bottom face of the
maintenance item.
A first pattern may differ from a second pattern
even though the arrangement of the loop is the same,
providing the two patterns are visually different (it
being possible to distinguish them because of the linear
densities of the fibers, because of their color, and
because of their arrangement on the bottom face of the
front or rear portion). Under such
circumstances, the
rows of microfiber loops are visually different from the
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rows of scraping fiber loops because of the different
linear densities of the fibers in question.
In a subvariant, the front portion and/or the rear
portion may present on their bottom faces microfibers
and/or scraping fibers that are arranged in at least two
patterns.
For example, on its bottom face, the front portion
may have a first strip of continuous rows of loops and/or
of pile of scraping fibers making up a first pattern,
followed by a second strip of continuous rows of loops
and/or of pile of microfibers alternating with continuous
rows of loops and/or of pile of scraping fibers, thereby
forming a second pattern.
Under such circumstances, the rear portion
preferably includes a strip of continuous rows of loops
and/or of pile of microfibers forming a second pattern.
In a variant, the first and second patterns are
selected from: alternating continuous or discontinuous
rows of microfibers and/or of scraping fibers, zigzags of
microfibers and/or of scraping fibers, and islands or
localized zones of scraping fibers or of microfibers.
In a variant, the bottom faces of the front and rear
portions comprise loops and/or free pile of microfibers
and/or of scraping fibers.
In a variant, the bottom face of the rear portion
comprises at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, by
weight of microfibers relative to the total weight of
fibers projecting from its bottom face.
The bottom faces of the front and rear portions of
the maintenance item of the invention thus makes it
possible to present a large quantity of microfibers by
weight, thereby optimizing the capacity of the
maintenance item for absorbing and recovering dirt.
In a variant, the bottom face of the front portion
comprises at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, by
weight of microfibers relative to the total weight of
fibers projecting from its bottom face.
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In the prior art, a maintenance item for cleaning a
floor surface generally comprises about 50% by weight of
microfibers projecting from its bottom face, and
sometimes 30% by weight relative to the total weight of
fibers projecting from its bottom face.
The bottom faces of the front and rear portions of
the invention thus preferably have at least 50%,
preferably at least 60%, by weight of microfibers
relative to the total weight of fibers projecting from
said bottom faces. This provision thus improves cleaning
effectiveness considerably.
In a variant, the maintenance item has attachment
means suitable for co-operating with complementary
attachment means arranged on the head-plate of a broom.
These attachment means may be side pockets suitable
for co-operating with side ends of the head-plate of a
broom, or they may be tongues arranged on the side edges
of the maintenance item and projecting from the top faces
of the front and rear portions in order to co-operate
with eyelets, or other equivalent means arranged on the
side ends of the head-plate of a broom. The attachment
means may also be complementary magnet systems fitted to
tongues arranged on the maintenance item and to the head-
plate of the broom, or indeed attachment members of the
hook and loop type suitable for co-operating together so
as to be releasably secured to each other.
In a variant, the top faces of the front and rear
portions are covered in a textile panel, in particular a
three-dimensional knit, having loops with which hooks can
co-operate in order to attach them. In particular, these
may be hooks supported by the head-plate of a broom.
In a variant, the maintenance item includes a foam
or a textile panel, comprising microfibers and arranged
on the top face of the rear portion, and optionally of
the front portion.
Said textile panel may be woven or knitted.
Preferably, the foam or the textile panel thus forms an
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intermediate layer arranged on the top face of the front
portion and possibly of the rear portion, and between
them and an outer layer, said outer layer is preferably a
three-dimensional knit and/or includes attachment means
suitable for co-operating with attachment means fitted to
the head-plate of a broom.
In a second aspect, the present invention also
provides a cleaning device including a maintenance item
in accordance with any of the above variant embodiments
and comprising a broom fitted with a handle having a
head-plate at its distal end and having dimensions that
are of the same order as the dimensions of the
maintenance item of the invention.
The maintenance item and thus the head-plate for
receiving it may be rectangular or trapezoidal in shape.
Mode(s) for carrying out the invention
The present invention can be better understood on
reading about three embodiments mentioned in non-limiting
manner. In the following embodiments, the percentages by
weight of fibers in the bottom face of the front or rear
portion are given relative to the total weight of the
fibers projecting from said bottom face of the front or
rear portion.
The first example of a maintenance item has a front
portion and a rear portion in line with each other and
having respective top and bottom faces, said bottom faces
defining a "cleaning" surface, the front portion
including on its bottom face microfibers and scraping
fibers having a linear density greater than 1 dtex, and
the rear portion having microfibers on its bottom face.
The mean linear density Tl (dtex) of microfibers and
scraping fibers on said bottom face of the front portion
is greater than or equal to 0.5 dtex, the mean linear
density T2 (dtex) of microfibers on said bottom face of
the rear portion is less than or equal to 2 dtex, and the
mean linear density T1 (dtex) is greater than or equal to
the mean linear density T2 (dtex). The front portion is
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a warp and weft pile fabric having alternating
microfibers and scraping fibers projecting from its
bottom face and each arranged in a first pattern, e.g.
the microfibers and the scraping fibers alternate in the
5 form of islands. The front
portion thus has microfiber
pile and scraping fiber pile. The bottom
face of the
rear portion, in particular a warp knitted fabric with
loops is constituted by microfibers, preferably of the
pie segment type in a 70%/30% (by weight) mixture of
10 polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide, with a linear
density of 0.2 dtex. The
microfibers are arranged in
continuous rows of loops and thus form a second pattern
different from the first pattern.
In its bottom face, the front portion has 90% by
weight of microfibers. The scraping fibers represent 10%
by weight of the surface of the front portion. The
microfibers of the front portion have a linear density of
0.56 dtex and they are preferably made of polyethylene
terephthalate. The scraping fibers of the front portion
have a linear density of 30 dtex and they are preferably
made of polyamide. Thus, the mean linear density (T1) of
the front portion is equal to (0.9x0.56
dtex
+ 0.1x30 dtex=) 3.5 dtex, while the mean linear density
(T2) of the rear portion is (1x0.2 dtex=) 0.2 dtex.
The rear portion thus presents a mean linear density
(T2) that is much less than the mean linear density (T1)
of the front portion, thereby giving the front portion
the main function of scraping the floor in order to
unstick dirt and the function of sliding, and on the rear
portion the function of absorbing and recovering dirt,
some of which has been unstuck but not absorbed by the
front portion.
The second embodiment of a maintenance item differs
from the first embodiment in that the rear portion
comprises a warp knitted fabric with loops comprising
alternating loops of microfibers and loops of scraping
fibers projecting from its bottom and alternating in a
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second pattern, e.g. intervals comprising a plurality of
rows of microfibers or of scraping fibers, the second
pattern being different from said first pattern.
In this particular embodiment, the microfibers and
the scraping fibers represent respectively 80% by weight
and 20% by weight of the bottom surface of the front
portion, and they have respective linear densities of
0.87 dtex and 5 dtex. In the
bottom face of the rear
portion, the proportion by weight of microfibers is
greater than that in the bottom face of the front portion
since it represents 90% by weight of the bottom surface
of the rear portion, thus leaving 10% scraping fibers.
In the bottom face of the rear portion, the microfibers
have a linear density of 0.2 dtex and the scraping fibers
have a linear density of 4 dtex. The mean linear density
(T1) of the fibers in the bottom face of the front
portion is thus about 1.69 dtex (-0.8x0.87
dtex
+ 0.2x5 dtex). The mean
linear density (T2) of the
fibers in the bottom face of the rear portion is
0.58 dtex (=0.9x0.2 dtex + 0.1x4 dtex).
The third embodiment of a maintenance item has a
front portion in a warp and weft knitted fabric having
loops, with 50% by weight microfibers and 50% by weight
scraping fibers. The rear portion is likewise a warp and
weft knitted fabrics having loops, with 80% by weight
microfibers and 20% by weight scraping fibers. In the
front and rear portions, the microfibers are preferably
of the pie segment type in a 70%/30% (by weight) mixture
of polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide, and they have a
linear density of 0.2 dtex, while the scraping fibers are
preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate and have a
linear density of 4 dtex.
The mean linear density (T1) of fibers in the bottom
face of the front portion is thus 2.1 dtex
(=0.5x0.2 dtex + 0.5x4 dtex). The mean linear
density
(T2) of fibers in the bottom face of the rear portion is
1.248 dtex (=0.8x0.2 dtex + 0.2x4 dtex).
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The three above-mentioned embodiments all have the
advantage of presenting a bottom face of the rear portion
with properties that are improved in terms of absorbing
liquids and recovering dirt compared with the properties
provided by the bottom face of the front portion, which
serves to improve the quality with which a floor surface
is cleaned while preserving the comfort of the user
handling said maintenance item at a distance via the
head-plate of a broom, for example.
