Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Fabric
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-25
2001-12-25
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Fabric
C015S001520, C015S231000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dust mop provided with an electrostatically charged thermoplastic fabric (dust collector) for attracting dust particles such as those commonly found in households. In one aspect it relates to a mop having a charged nonwoven thermoplastic fabric detachably secured to the mop head, wherein the charges in the fabric attract and hold dust particles. In a more specific aspect, it relates to a dust mop having an electrostatically charged meltblown fabric which is detachably secured to the mop head by electrostatic cling.
As is widely known, the activity of dusting to remove unwanted and/or unsanitary dust particles is a common household or office task. In many situations the task can be accomplished with a dust rag and a simple wipe-of-the-hand. There are, however, many other situations where the task becomes more complicated. These include hard-to-reach places such as around floorboards, the upper portion of a walls and ceilings, on floors such as hardwood floors, and ceiling fans.
The present invention provides a dust mop that which not only facilitates dusting in difficult areas but has a dust collector that can be changed easily. As described in detail below, the dust collector of the mop is made of electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric. A brief description of the more important nonwoven fabrics may be helpful: meltblowing and spunbonded fabrics.
Meltblowing is a process wherein a molten polymer is extruded through a meltblowing die to form a plurality of side-by-side fibers. Convergent sheets of air are directed onto opposite sides of the fibers as they leave the die. The air draws and attenuates the fibers to microsized diameters (viz. 0.05-15 microns). The fiber and air stream is directed onto a moving collector surface where the fibers deposit in a random pattern and form a nonwoven fabric or web. The fabric is held together primarily by interfiber entanglement with some fiber sticking while in the molten or semi-molten state. The fibers may be continuous or discontinuous filaments. By varying operating conditions, meltblown fabrics having different basis weights may be produced.
It is well-known in the art of meltblowing to apply an electrostatic charge to the fibers as they are extruded or, alternatively, after the fabric is formed. Electrostatically charged meltblown webs are often referred to as electrets. Electrets were originally developed for gas filtration applications wherein the charges act to attract particulate matter that flows through the web. Since most nonwoven webs are dielectrics, the charge is very persistent and may be sustained for periods of a year or longer. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,215,682 and 4,904,174 disclose apparatus for producing electrets by the “hot charging” method as well as test data indicating the filtration efficiency of the webs. PCT application PCT/US/93/09630, and its U.S. counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,446, disclose “cold charging” methods and apparatus for producing electrets.
Spunbonded fabrics are nonwoven fabrics that are produced by extruding a molten polymer through a spinneret that is a metal disc or die containing numerous minute holes through which the polymer is forced. Continuous filaments are extruded through the spinneret and are blown by low velocity air and deposited on a moving foramenous conveyer. The desired orientation of the filaments in the web are achieved by rotating the spinneret, by electrical charges, by controlled airstreams, and by the speed of the conveyer. The web can be additionally bonded by passing through compacting rolls and/or hot-roll calendering. Spunbonded webs generally have larger average diameter filaments (viz. 10-100 microns, typically 20 to 60 microns) than meltblown webs and, therefore, tend to be heavier and stiffer. Spunbonded webs can be electrostatically charged by methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,815; 4,375,718; and 5,401,446.
A paper presented at “Fiber Producer Conference 1983”, in Greenville, S.C. entitled “Nonwoven Fabrics: Spunbonded and Meltblown Processes” describes the two processes in detail. The disclosures of this paper and the above noted patents are incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a dust mop which collects dust particles through the action of an electrostatic attraction between the dust collector layer (charged nonwoven layer) and the dust particles. The mop comprises a handle with a mop head secured to the bottom of the handle. The head comprises a rigid member which may have a layer of padding material (batting, sponge, fabric layer, etc.) secured to the underside of the member. The head may further include a bag-shaped cloth cover that is placed over the mop head and covers the padding layer. The cover may be removably secured to the rigid mop head member using an elastic band. A layer of electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric (dust collector), which carries a persistent electrostatic charge on each side of the layer, is placed over the cover. The electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric is the duct collector and is in the form of a layer. The charges on the nonwoven fabric cause it to cling to the cloth cover thereby securing this layer to the cover. The charged fabric is thereby detachably secured to the cover solely by electrostatic cling.
The exposed side of the charged layer defines the working surface of the mop head and acts as the dust collector. The charged dust collector layer surface is brought into contact or into close proximity with the dust to be collected. The dust particles are attracted to the dust collector layer and cling thereto under the action of electrostatic attraction whereby the dust is collected for disposal. After repeated use the dust collector layer surface will become soiled, at which time it can be detached from the cloth cover by simply pulling the dust collector layer away from the cloth cover. A new charged collector layer may be installed by smoothing a new collector layer onto the mop head cover.
The electrostatic charge on the nonwoven collector fabric thus serves two functions: (1) it permits the collector to be detachably mounted on the mop head by electrostatic cling requiring no screws, clips, or similar connectors; and (2) it attracts and collects dust particles.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4215682 (1980-08-01), Kubik et al.
patent: 4305173 (1981-12-01), Isao
patent: 4375718 (1983-03-01), Wadsworth et al.
patent: 4588537 (1986-05-01), Klaase et al.
patent: 4592815 (1986-06-01), Nakao
patent: 4904174 (1990-02-01), Moosmayer et al.
patent: 5401446 (1995-03-01), Tsai et al.
patent: 5592357 (1997-01-01), Rader et al.
patent: 5968204 (1999-10-01), Wise
patent: 166436 (1934-03-01), None
Exxon Chemical “Melt Blowing Process” 1994.
Graham Barbara G.
Graham Robert L.
Kilman Katherine L.
Chin Randall E.
Graham R. L.
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