KR101138543B1 - Device for treating surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices for treating, cleaning and / or polishing surfaces. The device comprises a hollow member 28 having an open end configured for the insertion of two or more fingers. The hollow member is defined between the first sheet layer 22 comprising an elastic layer and the second sheet layer 24 comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer having an outer surface. The fibrous nonwoven web layer is impregnated with at least a portion of the outer surface of the treatment composition 86, such as buffing, cleaning gloss or other treatment composition.

Surface treatment apparatus, surface cleaning, surface gloss, hollow member, sheet layer

Description

Surface Treatment Unit {DEVICE FOR TREATING SURFACES}

This application is a partial continuing application of US Patent Application No. 10 / 835,882 filed April 30, 2004 ("Device For Treating Surfaces"). The entire contents of US patent application 10 / 835,882 are incorporated herein by reference.

Various combinations of articles have been used to clean, buff and polish hard surface materials. Cleansing and gloss "kits" may generally include three distinct ingredients. For example, the kit may be a container for holding a cleaning composition or gloss composition, such as a bottle or tin, an applicator for delivering the composition to a hard surface and spreading the composition on the surface, and cleaning Gloss articles used to buff the gloss composition to the surface while removing the composition and / or removing excess gloss composition. As a specific example, a shoe gloss "kit" glitters a can or other container of shoe wax or shoe polish, a small shoe brush, sponge or first cloth used as a shoe polish applicator, and a waxed shoe surface May consist of a second larger shoebrush or second cloth used to polish or buff the appearance.

However, the cleaning / gloss kit as described above is bulky and occupies a useful space, especially when the user travels, and a small touch-up of the bitumen and / or cleaning agent to deal with the dirt on the surface during travel. Only application is actually necessary. It is also possible for one or more of the various components of the cleaning or gloss kit to be separated and lost from the other, making the kit essentially useless. In addition, the cleaning / glossy kits are designed for many uses, and if the kits are used only rarely, the cleaning and / or gloss compositions will be deteriorated or dried and used only a few times before the rest of the kit is disposed of as waste. In addition, due to the rare use, the applicator may be covered with a dry residual amount of the treatment composition and thus become hard and unusable.

Thus, an impregnated treatment composition, such as a cleaning and / or gloss composition, or other treatment composition may be retained and then the treatment composition may be delivered to a surface to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated, and then the surface may be There is a need for a self-contained all-in-one processing device that can additionally be used to buff or polish. It would also be very advantageous if the processing device is provided as a single use article manufactured in a manner consistent with the cost determined by the disposable use of the article used in the limited use or single use disposable product.

<Overview of invention>

Retain or contain an impregnated treatment composition, such as a cleaning and / or gloss composition, and then transfer the treatment composition to a surface to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated, and then added to buff or polish the surface. Disclosed is a convenient self-contained all-in-one processing apparatus that can be used as. The treatment apparatus may also be used to deliver a treatment composition intended to remain on the surface as a temporary or permanent treatment after being delivered to or unfolded on the surface. The surface treatment apparatus includes a hollow member having an open end configured for insertion of two or more fingers, the hollow member being formed between the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer, wherein the first sheet layer is elastic And a second sheet layer comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer having an outer surface, wherein the fibrous nonwoven web layer contains a treatment composition on at least a portion of its outer surface.

In an embodiment, the fibrous nonwoven web layer can further include portions substantially free of the treatment composition. The elastic layer can be, for example, an elastic film and an elastic fiber layer. The first sheet layer may be a multilayer laminate material comprising one or more fibrous web layers bonded to an elastic layer. The second sheet layer may preferably be a laminate material comprising at least one barrier layer, for example a film layer and a nonwoven web layer, adjacent and / or bonded to the fibrous nonwoven web layer. The second sheet layer may further comprise at least one additional fibrous web layer adjacent the barrier layer on the side of the barrier layer opposite the fibrous nonwoven web layer.

The surface treatment apparatus preferably has the treatment composition-containing portion of the fibrous nonwoven web folded in a face-to-face relationship, or alternatively the face-to-face with the portion substantially free of the treatment composition of the fibrous nonwoven web. It may be provided in a folded shape that is folded in a plane relationship. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer may preferably be joined to each other along at least one bond line along at least a portion of a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device for at least partially separating the hollow members into individual hollow chambers. . The fibrous nonwoven web layer and / or second sheet layer of the second sheet layer may preferably be joined in a point unbonded bonding pattern.

Figure 1 shows a fibrous nonwoven web layer bonded in a point unbonded bonding pattern.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary engraved thermal bond calendar, suitable for providing a point unbonded bond pattern to a web material.

3 schematically illustrates a surface treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a surface treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 schematically illustrates a surface treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B schematically illustrate a surface treatment apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, provided in a folded shape.

<Definition>

As used herein and in the claims, the term "comprising" is inclusive and not limiting, and does not exclude additional unmentioned members, compositional components, or method steps. Thus, the term "comprising" includes the more restrictive terms "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of."

As used herein, the term “polymer” generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers such as blocks, grafts, random and alternating copolymers, tripolymers, and the like and blends and modifiers thereof. It doesn't work. Also, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" includes all possible geometrical forms of the material. Such forms include, but are not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetry. As used herein, the term "thermoplastic" or "thermoplastic polymer" refers to a polymer that softens and flows or melts upon application of heat and / or pressure and the change is reversible.

As used herein, the terms "elastic" and "elastomeric" are generally capable of stretching up to an elongated bias length of at least about 133%, or 1 ns, of their relaxed unextended length upon application of force, Bias force is used to mean a material that recovers at least about 50% of its elongation. By way of example only, an elastic material having a relaxed unextended length of 10 cm may be stretched to at least about 13.3 cm upon application of stretching or biasing force. Upon release of the stretching or biasing force, the elastic material will recover to a length of 11.65 cm or less.

As used herein, the term “fiber” means both staple length fibers and substantially continuous filaments unless otherwise indicated. The term “substantially continuous” as used herein for a filament or fiber refers to a filament whose length is much greater than its diameter, eg, a length to diameter ratio of greater than about 15,000 to 1, preferably 50,000 to 1 Means fiber.

As used herein, the term “monocomponent” filament means a filament formed from one or more extruders using only one polymer. This does not mean excluding filaments formed from one polymer with a small amount of additives added for color, antistatic properties, lubrication, hydrophilicity, and the like.

As used herein, the term "multicomponent filament" means a filament formed of at least a two component polymer or the same polymer having different properties or additives and extruded from separate extruders but spun together to form one filament. Multicomponent filaments are also often referred to as conjugate filaments or bicomponent filaments, but more than two components can be used. The polymers are arranged in separate zones that are positioned substantially uniformly across the cross section of the multicomponent filaments and extend continuously along the length of the multicomponent filaments. The shape of the multicomponent filaments may be, for example, a concentric or eccentric sheath / core arrangement in which one polymer is surrounded by another polymer, or may be in a parallel arrangement, an “islands-in-the-sea” arrangement. Or may be arranged as a pie-wedge form or strip on a circular, elliptical or rectangular cross-section filament or in other shapes. Multicomponent filaments are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,108,820 to Kaneko et al. And US Pat. No. 5,336,552 to Strack et al. In addition, conjugate fibers are described in US Pat. No. 5,382,400 to Pike et al. And can be used to corrugate fibers using different expansion and contraction rates of two (or more than two) polymers. . In the case of bicomponent filaments, the polymer may be present in ratios 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 or any other desired ratio. In addition, any given component of the multicomponent filament may preferably comprise two or more polymers as a multiconstituent blend component.

As used herein, the term “biconstituent filament” or “multiple filament” means a filament formed of at least two polymers or the same polymer with different properties or additives, extruded from the same extruder as a blend. The multi-filament filaments do not have polymer components arranged in discrete zones that are substantially uniformly located across the cross-sectional area of the multicomponent filaments, and the polymer components can form fibrils or protofibrils that start at random and terminate.

As used herein, the term "nonwoven web" or "nonwoven" refers to a web having a structure where the individual filaments or filaments are crossed in such a way that they are not as identifiable as in knits or fabrics. Nonwovens or nonwoven webs are formed from many processes such as, for example, meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, airlaying processes, and carded web processes. The basis weight of a nonwoven is usually expressed in ounces (osy) or grams per square meter (gsm) of material per square yard, and useful filament diameters are usually expressed in microns (multiplying osy by 33.91 to convert osy to gsm). .

The term “spunbond” or “spunbond nonwoven web” means a non-woven filament or filament material of small diameter filaments formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic polymer as filaments from a plurality of capillaries of the spinneret. The extruded filaments are cooled while stretching by inductive or other known stretching mechanisms. The stretched filaments are generally deposited or laid on the forming surface in a random manner to form loosely entangled filament webs, and then the laid filament webs are applied to the bonding process to impart physical integrity and dimensional stability. The manufacture of spunbond fabrics is described in US Pat. No. 4,340,563 to Appel et al., US Pat. No. 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al. And US Pat. No. 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al. Generally, spunbond fibers or filaments have a weight per unit length of greater than about 1 denier, up to about 6 denier, or greater, but can produce both finer and heavier spunbond filaments. In terms of filament diameter, the average diameter of the spunbond filament can often be greater than 7 microns, more particularly about 10 to about 25 microns and up to or greater than about 30 microns.

As used herein, the term “meltblown fibers” extrudes a molten thermoplastic through a plurality of fine, usually circular die capillaries into a molten thread or filament or as a fiber into a converging fast heating gas (eg air) stream and By fiber, it is meant fibers or microfibers formed by thinning the fibers of the molten thermoplastic material and reducing their diameters. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web of randomly dispersed meltblown fibers. Such a method is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,849,241 to Butin. Meltblown fibers can be continuous or discontinuous, often with an average diameter of less than 10 microns, frequently with an average diameter of less than 7 microns, even less than 5 microns, and generally sticky when deposited on a collecting surface.

As used herein, “cardedweb” is known to those skilled in the art and is assigned to, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,488,928 (Alikhan and Schmidt, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Schmidt) means a nonwoven web formed by the carding process further described in). In brief, the carding process generally involves starting with bulky batt staple fibers that have been combed or otherwise processed to provide a uniform basis weight web.

As used herein, “thermal point bonding” involves passing a fabric or web or other sheet layer material of the fibers being bonded between a heated calendar roll and an anvil roll. Calendar rolls are patterned on that surface, but not always, generally in such a way that the entire fabric does not bond across its entire surface. As a result, various patterns of calendar rolls were developed for functional and aesthetic reasons. One example of a pattern is Hansen Pennings, which has a dot and has about 30% bond area with about 200 bonds / square inches, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,855,046 to Hansen and Pennings. ) Or "H & P" pattern. The H & P pattern has a square dot or pin joining area, the face dimension of each pin is 0.038 inches (0.965 mm), the pin spacing is 0.070 inches (1.778 mm) and the bonding depth is 0.023 inches (0.584 mm). The joining area of the resulting pattern is about 29.5%. Another typical point joining pattern is an expanded Hansen that produces a 15% bond area with square fins having a face dimension of 0.037 inches (0.94 mm), a pin spacing of 0.097 inches (2.464 mm), and a depth of 0.039 inches (0.991 mm). Pennings or "EHP" binding pattern. Other conventional patterns are point bonds having about 460 pins per square inch (about 71 pins per square centimeter) for about 15% to about 23% of the bonding area and, as the name suggests, such as, for example, window screens. High density diamond or “HDD patterns” that include visible wire weave patterns. In general, the bonding area ratio varies from about 10% to about 30% or more of the area of the fabric or laminate web. Another known thermal calendering bonding method is the "pattern unbonded" or "point unbound" disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,858,515 to Stokes et al., In which a continuous bond region defines a number of distinct unbonded regions. "Or" PUB "binding. Thermal bonds (point bonds or point bonds) impart integrity to individual layers by bonding the fibers in the layers and / or in the case of multilayer laminates, the thermal bonds hold the layers together to form a tacky laminate material.

<Detailed Description of the Invention>

The present invention provides a surface treatment apparatus that may be usefully used to deliver or apply cleaning, waxing, gloss and / or other treatment compositions to a surface, and then also used to buff the surface to clean and / or polish the surface. do. Alternatively, the treatment apparatus can also be used to deliver or spread the treatment composition onto the surface to be treated and then deliver the treatment composition intended to remain on the surface as a temporary or longer term treatment, or even as a permanent surface treatment. The surface treatment apparatus includes a hollow member having an open end configured for insertion of two or more user fingers. The hollow member is formed between the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer, and the first and second sheet layers at least at the periphery of the processing apparatus to form the hollow member except leaving one open end for finger insertion. Joined together along a substantial part. The first sheet layer includes an elastic layer, the second sheet layer includes a fibrous nonwoven web layer, and the fibrous nonwoven web layer provides a treatment composition to the surface to be cleaned, polished, or otherwise treated to a surface of its outer surface. At least in part. That is, the fibrous nonwoven web layer is pre-impregnated with an impregnant, such as a treatment composition, on at least a portion of its surface.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following detailed description and drawings which illustrate certain embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these embodiments are included in the appended claims and do not represent the full scope of the invention, which is broadly applicable in the form of variations and equivalents. In addition, features described or illustrated as part of one embodiment can be used with other embodiments to form another embodiment. It is intended that the claims be extended to all such variations and equivalents.

As described, the surface treatment apparatus includes a first sheet layer having at least one elastic layer. In use, the treatment device is expected to be subjected to vigorous scrubbing movement when the user delivers the treatment composition to the surface and then if desired, when the user buffs the surface to clean and / or polish the surface. The first and second sheet layers of the processing device, when joined together, define the hollow member in such a manner that the insertion of a finger into the processing device stretches or extends the elastic layer of the first sheet layer to at least a small extent. Since the elastic material has dual properties of stretchability and recovery, the resilience of the elastic layer will maintain a certain amount of tension on the user's finger. Thus, the elastic layer serves to make the processing device more conformable and helps to hold the processing device in place on the user's finger while rubbing violently.

The elastic layer may be a single layer such as an elastic cast or blown film layer or an elastic foam layer, an elastic strand layer, or a fibrous elastic layer, for example an elastic melt blown layer or an elastic spunbond layer. In general, the elastic layer may have a basis weight of about 7 gsm or less to about 68 gsm or more. More preferably, the elastic layer may have a basis weight of about 7 gsm or less to about 34 gsm. Since elastic materials are often expensive to manufacture, it is desirable that the basis weight be as small as possible while the elastic layer continues to provide the first sheet layer with the desired stretch and recovery properties.

Many elastomeric polymers are known to be suitable for forming fibers, strands, foams and films. Useful elastomers include any suitable elastomeric fiber or film forming resin, such as elastomeric polyesters, elastomeric polyurethanes, elastomeric polyamides, elastomeric copolymers of ethylene and at least one vinyl monomer, block copolymers, and elastomeric polyolefins. Can be. Examples of elastic block copolymers include those having the general formula ABA 'or AB, where A and A' are each thermoplastic polymer endblocks containing styrenic moieties, for example poly (vinyl arene) and B is elastomeric Polymeric midblocks such as conjugated dienes or lower alkene polymers such as polystyrene-poly (ethylene-butylene) -polystyrene block copolymers. Also included are polymers consisting of A-B-A-B tetrablock copolymers as discussed in US Pat. No. 5,332,613 (Taylor et al.). Examples of such tetrablock copolymers are styrene-poly (ethylene-propylene) -styrene-poly (ethylene-propylene) or SEPSEP block copolymers. These A-B-A 'and A-B-A-B copolymers are available from Kraton Polymers (Houston, Texas, USA) under the trade name KRATON® in several different formulations.

Examples of elastic polyolefins include those produced by ultra low density elastic polypropylene and polyethylene, for example by "single-site" or "metallocene" catalytic processes. The polymers are commercially available from the Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) Under the tradename ENGAGE® and are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,278,272 and 5,272,236 (Lai et al., Name of invention: "Elastic Substantially Linear Olefin Polymers"). Some elastomeric polypropylenes, such as those described in US Pat. No. 5,539,056 (Yang et al.) And US Pat. No. 5,596,052 (Resconi et al.), Incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and polyethylene Also useful are, for example, AFFINITY® EG 8200 from Dow Chemical Company and EXACT® 4049, 4011 and 4041 from Exxon (Houston, Texas, USA). It may also be desirable for the elastic layer to be breathable to allow water vapor and / or gas to pass through, for example, US Pat. Nos. 6,015,764 and 6,111,163 (McCormack and Haffner, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety). Breathable containing fillers as described in (Haffner), US Pat. No. 5,932,497 (Morman and Millicvic), and US Pat. No. 6,461,457 (Taylor and Martin). Microporous elastic films can be preferably used.

Regardless of which film, foam, strand or fiber layer is selected, the elastic layer can have unpleasant tactile aesthetic properties such as a rubber-like or tacky feel on contact, making it unpleasant and uncomfortable for the user's skin. . On the other hand, fibrous webs made from inelastic polymers often have better tactile, comfort and aesthetic properties, softer and less sticky feel in skin-contact applications. The tactile aesthetic properties of the elastic layer of the first sheet layer thus allow for the "facing" of the elastic layer, that is to say on the surface of the elastic layer to be in contact with the user's skin. It can be improved by forming a laminate of elastic layers with a web. In addition, the elastic layer provides additional structural integrity to the first sheet layer because it can have a low resistance to fracture or tear alone, especially when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the elastic layer. It may be highly desirable to encase the elastic layer of the first sheet layer with one or more inelastic fibrous layers to help reduce tears in possible use of the one sheet layer. The fibrous sheath layer can be any fibrous layer that can extend in at least one direction, for example a nonwoven web material, a woven or knitted fabric. However, because of ease of production, speed and relatively low cost, the nonwoven web material is well suited for use as the sheathing layer for the elastic layer in the first sheet layer when one or more sheathing layers are desired. The sheath layer is preferably elastic by methods known in the art, for example by thermal bonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, or the like, or while the fibrous sheath layer is elastic while the elastomer of the elastic layer is still in the molten or semi-melted state. It may be connected or bonded to the elastic layer by extrusion lamination which is connected to the elastic layer immediately after extrusion of the layer.

Suitable polymers for making the fibrous sheath layer include polymers known to be generally suitable for making nonwoven webs such as spunbond, meltblown, cardedweb, and the like, for example polyolefins, polyesters, polys Amides, polycarbonates and copolymers and blends thereof. It should be noted that the polymer (s) may preferably contain treatment compositions, residual amounts of solvents, pigments or colorants and the like to impart the desired properties to other additives, such as processing aids or filaments.

Suitable polyolefins include polyethylenes such as high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene; Polypropylene such as regular polypropylene, alternating polypropylene, blends of regular polypropylene and irregular polypropylene; Polybutylenes such as poly (1-butene) and poly (2-butene); Polypentenes such as poly (1-pentene) and poly (2-pentene); Poly (3-methyl-1-pentene); Poly (4-methyl-1-pentene); And copolymers and blends thereof. Suitable copolymers include random and block copolymers prepared from two or more different unsaturated olefin monomers, for example ethylene / propylene and ethylene / butylene copolymers. Suitable polyamides include nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 4/6, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6/10, nylon 6/12, nylon 12/12, copolymers of caprolactam and alkylene oxide diamines, and the like. Blends and copolymers thereof. Suitable polyesters include poly (lactide) and poly (lactic acid) polymers with polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene-1,4-dimethylene terephthalate, and iso thereof Phthalate copolymers and blends thereof.

Nonwoven fibrous webs formed from inelastic polymers, such as polyolefins, are generally considered inelastic. This lack of elasticity can limit these nonwoven web materials to applications where elasticity is not required or desired. If the inelastic nonwoven web is laminated to the elastic layer, the resulting laminate material may also be too limited in its elastic properties. Therefore, where it is desirable to sheath the elastic layer with one or more layers of inelastic materials, care should be taken to use at least somewhat extensible inelastic materials in the desired stretch and recovery direction of the first sheet layer. For example, carded webs of staple fibers as known in the art are generally known to have significantly greater fiber orientation in the machine direction or "MD" than in the transverse direction or "CD". As more fibers are aligned in the MD, cardedwebs tend to have greater elongation in CD than in MD. In addition, the use of a low basis weight for the selected nonwoven web as the sheath material may allow for greater extensibility regardless of whether the nonwoven web layer is a spunbond web, meltblown web, carded web, or the like.

Generally, the basis weight of the nonwoven web sheath layer may be about 7 gsm or less to 68 gsm or more; In order to reduce the cost of the entire surface treatment apparatus, it is desirable to use the least amount of sheathing material that can produce the desired aesthetic and / or structural results. More particularly, the face layer used in the first sheet layer may have a basis weight of about 7 gsm or less to about 34 gsm, even more particularly about 7 gsm to about 21 gsm. Other embodiments are possible. For example, if the primary reason for sheathing the elastic layer with an inelastic layer is to avoid the feeling of stickiness of the elastomer, the elastic layer is sheathed with light “dusting” of meltblown fibers produced from inelastic polymers. The dusting of the meltblown fibers can be substantially lower in basis weight, for example 5 gsm, 3 gsm, 2 gsm or lighter.

Other laminate materials may be desirable, including the elastic layer of the first sheet layer. For example, elastic laminate materials of elastic and inelastic materials are also prepared by bonding the non-elastic material or web to the elastic material in such a way that the entire laminate or composite material can be stretched or stretched for use in disposable products. For example, in one such laminate material disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,720,415 to Vander Wielen et al., Which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, the inelastic web material is bonded to the elastic material while the elastic material is stretched and maintained. Thus, when the elastic material is relaxed, the inelastic web material is crimped between the bond sites, and the resulting elastic laminate material is stretchable to the extent that the inelastic web material crimped between the bond locations stretches the elastic material.

For example, another such elastic laminate disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,336,545, US Pat. No. 5,226,992, US Pat. No. 4,981,747 and US Pat. No. 4,965,122 (Morman), all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In the material, the inelastic web material is necked (ie, stretched in one direction, usually machine direction, causing wrinkles to form across the web) and connected to the elastic material while the inelastic material is in the necked or stretched state. . The inelastic material can then extend in a direction perpendicular to the necking direction, allowing for the extension of the laminate. The laminate may be referred to as a "necked bonded laminate" or "NBL".

When using any of the above-mentioned elastic laminate materials as the elastic layer of the first sheet layer, in order to achieve the desired aesthetic and skin comfort properties, the inner surface of the hollow member of the processing apparatus has the elastic layer faced with the fibrous web material. It is preferred to be oriented toward. However, the elastic laminate material is also known to be made in the form of a three-layer or multilayer laminate, ie where the elastic layer is sheathed with one or more fibrous web materials on each side. The other laminate forms are also well suited for use in or as the first sheet layer and prevent the possibility of the elastic layer sticking to another surface, for example a package provided with another processing device or an individual processing device. It may also be desirable to have an outer opposing face of the first sheet layer sheathed with an inelastic fibrous layer for this purpose. In addition, when the outer facing surface of the first sheet layer is sheathed with an inelastic fibrous layer, the user of the processing apparatus may optionally use the outer facing surface of the first sheet layer as an additional or optional cleaning or buffing surface if desired. .

As described, the surface treatment apparatus further includes a second sheet layer having at least one fibrous nonwoven web layer. The fibrous nonwoven web layer is an outer layer of the treatment device, has an outer surface, receives the treatment composition, and is then disposed of by the user of the treatment device to the surface to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated by the user of the treatment device. It should be possible. "Outer surface" means having an outwardly-facing surface exposed when the device is formed for use, which is described herein, for example, while the device is in a removable package or while the outer surface is stored. It is not meant to exclude the embodiments described herein, which are temporarily covered in the folded embodiments.

In addition to holding and delivering the treatment composition, the fibrous nonwoven web layer is also intended to be suitable for use in buffing a surface desired to be treated, cleaned or polished if further buffing is desired. Suitable fibrous nonwoven web layers for use in the second sheet layer include the fibrous webs discussed above, such as spunbond nonwoven webs of substantially continuous filaments or fibers and bonded carded webs of staple length fibers. In general, the fibrous nonwoven web layer included in the second sheet layer and / or the second sheet layer may have a basis weight of about 7 gsm or less to about 340 gsm or more. The basis weight selected for the fibrous nonwoven web layer will depend on many factors, such as the type and amount of treatment composition to be delivered, the type of surface to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated with embodiments of the treatment apparatus. . More preferably, the fibrous nonwoven web layer may have a basis weight of about 17 gsm to about 170 gsm, even more preferably about 17 gsm to about 100 gsm. The fibers of the fibrous nonwoven web layer may be monocomponent or multicomponent, multimodal, corrugated or unwrinkled, substantially round or shaped in cross section, or any mixture of the foregoing.

The characteristics or physical properties of the fibrous nonwoven web are at least in part controlled by the density or openness of the fabric. In general, fibrous nonwoven webs made from pleated filaments or fibers have a lower density, greater loft and improved resilience compared to similar nonwoven webs of non-pleated filaments. The lofty low density fibrous nonwoven web layer may be particularly desirable for use in the second sheet layer, depending on the ultimate purpose of the surface treatment apparatus and / or the type of treatment composition used in the treatment apparatus.

By way of example, where the selected treatment composition is a low viscosity fluid, such as an aqueous or alcoholic cleaning composition, a denser or flatter, less lofty fibrous nonwoven web layer may be sufficient. However, for other applications a less dense or more lofty fibrous nonwoven web layer (having more open volume structure) may be more desirable. For example, if the treatment composition to be delivered to the surface is desired to be a heavier composition, such as a high viscosity fluid or paste, or various waxes, or gloss compounds, or may be contained within the less lofty web structure of the nonwoven web. More lofty structures may be particularly desirable where it is desirable to deliver larger amounts of cleaning or gloss compounds than can be.

Various methods are known in the art for corrugating meltspun multicomponent filaments. As disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 3,595,731 to US Pat. No. 3,595,731 and US Pat. No. 3,423,266, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, the bicomponent fibers or filaments may be mechanically corrugated and the resulting fibers may be nonwoven webs. Or a suitable polymer, if used, can be activated by heat treatment of the latent spiral corrugation formed in the bicomponent fiber or filament. Alternatively, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,382,400 to Pike et al., Which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, heat treatment may be used to activate latent spiral wrinkles in a fiber or filament before the fiber or filament is formed into a nonwoven web. . In addition, the lofty fibrous nonwoven web layer may be desirable for use in the second sheet layer when it is desired to emboss or otherwise impart surface features to the outer facing surface of the second sheet layer.

The bonding of the fibrous nonwoven web layer to be used for the second sheet layer is carried out by any method known to be suitable for joining such nonwoven webs, for example thermally point bonding or spot bonding the nonwoven webs as described above. can do. Alternatively, if the fiber is a multicomponent fiber having component polymers with different melting points, a venting combiner may be advantageously used as is well known to those skilled in the art. In general, the aeration coupler directs the heated air stream through a web of continuous multicomponent fibers, preferably providing heated air having a temperature below or above the melting point of the higher melting polymer component Use to form interfiber bonds. Alternatively, the fibrous nonwoven web layer can be joined by using other means known in the art, such as adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding or entanglement bonding, for example hydroentanglement or needling. . The type of bond used is not critical, but the fibrous nonwoven web layer is intended because the intended use of the processing device is to rub the outer surface of the second sheet layer against other surfaces to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated. It is important to be sufficiently bonded or solidified to avoid excessive wear or "fuzzing" of the fibrous nonwoven web layer during the rubbing or buffing.

Although not required, particularly suitable bonding methods of the fibrous nonwoven web layer are " point unbonded " or " pattern unbonded " as disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,858,515 (Stokes et al.), Incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Or a bond known as a "PUB" bond. As disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,858,515, one or two calendar rolls of a thermal bonding device are engraved such that their surface includes a continuous pattern of bonded land regions defining a number of distinct openings, holes or holes. . Each opening at the surface of the roll (s) forms a separate unbonded region at the surface of the nonwoven web material, where the fibers of the web are substantially or completely unbonded. Fibers in separate unbonded regions are dimensionally stabilized by successive bond regions that enclose or surround each non-bonded region, and the unbonded regions provide space between the fibers in the non-bonded regions.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fibrous nonwoven material bonded by the point unbonding method is shown generally designated as 4 in FIG. 1. The nonwoven material 4 comprises a continuous bonding region 6 which defines a plurality of separate dimensionally stabilized nonbonding regions 8. An exemplary calendar roll 10 having a point unbonded surface piece having a continuous land area 16 defining a number of distinct openings or holes 18 is shown in FIG. 2. The continuous joining region 6 corresponds to the continuous land region 16 shown in FIG. 2 on the exemplary calendar roll 10. The nonbonding region 8 of the nonwoven web 4 corresponds to a separate opening or hole 18 on the exemplary calendar roll 10.

Within the continuous bonding region 6, the fibers of the nonwoven material are bonded or fused together, preferably substantially nonfibrous, and may comprise, for example, film like regions. In the nonbonding region 8, the fibers of the nonwoven material are substantially or completely free of bonding or fusion so that they have an open fibrous structure. It should be appreciated that when the point unbonded bonding method is selected, the size, shape, number and shape of the openings 18 may be varied to meet the specific end use requirements of the fibrous nonwoven web layer and / or processing apparatus. The degree of bonding imparted to the fibrous nonwoven web layer by the continuous land regions 16 is the percentage of bonding area, i.e., at least one surface region of the fibrous nonwoven web layer occupied by the continuous bonding region designated in FIG. Can be expressed. Alternatively, it is the percent of unbound area, i.e., of the fibrous nonwoven web layer comprising unbound fibers that are available to receive the treatment composition (and then to the surface) and to buff the desired surface. It can be expressed in terms of part percent. In general, the lower limit (or alternatively the upper limit at% nonbonding) for a suitable nonwoven fibrous web layer results in fiber pull-out or fluff formation excessively reducing the surface integrity and durability of the pattern-unbonded material. Is the point. For applications where minor or moderate wear or fluff formation is acceptable, the percentage of unbonded area may suitably be about 85% or more. For other applications where the likelihood of abrasion or fluff formation of the fibrous nonwoven web layer is less desirable, a fibrous nonwoven web layer having about 80% to about 50% or even smaller percentage of unbonded area may be suitable.

The processing device may also preferably comprise a liquid barrier material capable of preventing the flow of the treatment composition onto the user's fingers. If a liquid barrier material is used, it must be disposed between the user's finger and the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer. Suitable liquid barrier materials include cast and blown polymer films, which may suitably be breathable films, and nonwoven web materials such as spunbond and meltblown layers known in the art and as described above. Other suitable barrier materials include metal foil materials, polymer coated metal foils, and metallized polymer films. The basis weight of the barrier material may be from about 7 gsm or less to 68 gsm or more; In order to reduce the cost of the entire processing apparatus, it is desirable to use the minimum weight of barrier material required to prevent or substantially reduce the flow of the treatment composition. More particularly, the barrier material layer may have a basis weight of about 7 gsm or less to about 34 gsm, even more particularly about 7 gsm to about 21 gsm. Other embodiments are possible. For example, if the desired treatment composition is a heavy or viscous fluid, or wax or paste, i.e., the treatment composition is less prone to flow, the requirement for barrier material may be minimal, in which case barrier function Can be provided by light “dusting” of meltblown fibers of only 17 gsm or less. If desired, the dusting of the meltblown fibers may be substantially lower in basis weight and from about 2 gsm to about 15 gsm.

On the other hand, if the desired treatment composition is a lower viscosity, a lower surface tension fluid, or otherwise tends to flow, the requirements for the barrier material may be more stringent and may be polymer film, metallized film, metal foil or polymer coating. It may be desirable to use a metal foil. Care must also be taken to match the requirements of the barrier material to the chemical properties of the selected treatment composition (s). For example, polyolefin films tend to be lipophilic, that is, tend to have affinity for oil, and thus may be less suitable for treatment compositions comprising oil or petroleum extraction products. For the treatment composition, the metal film or foil or metallized polymer foil may be more resistant to the release flow of the treatment composition. For example, leather polishes and waxes such as those that can be used to polish shoes or other footwear, and wood polishes and waxes for cleaning and polishing wood furniture or wooden floors often contain oil and / or petroleum extracts. . In addition, the use of a high barrier material can avoid moving the liquid portion of the treatment composition (in liquid form or vapor form by evaporation) to other parts of the device during shelf storage.

The liquid barrier material may be provided as a layer lying between the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer, but to prevent the possibility of accidentally inserting a finger into an inappropriate side of the barrier layer, ie between the second sheet layer and the barrier layer. It may be more desirable to include or bond the liquid barrier material within the second sheet layer itself. Thus, the liquid barrier material may be provided as a laminate material in the second sheet layer, where the laminate material comprises a fibrous nonwoven web layer and a liquid barrier material. If the liquid barrier material is a fibrous web, for example a meltblown layer, the laminate may preferably comprise only a fibrous nonwoven web layer and a meltblown liquid barrier material.

The laminate construct of the second sheet layer may further comprise a skin contact layer or sheath layer, which has aesthetic characteristics, such as a cloth, than the meltblown web, foil or film, preferably selected as barrier material, in which case the laminate May be provided as a three layer (or more than three layers) laminate comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer having a meltblown, foil or film liquid barrier material interposed therebetween and a skin contact layer. The skin contact layer can be any layer of material provided to reduce the feeling of adhesion of the barrier material to the skin, and can be one described above with respect to the skin contact / exterior layer that can be used, for example, for the first sheet layer. The multilayer laminate of the second sheet layer comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer may be bonded together by methods known in the art and discussed above, for example, thermal point bonding, point nonbonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and the like. . Particular examples of multilayer laminate structures for the second sheet layer are spunbond-film-spunbond laminates known in the art, and spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminates are described, for example, in US Pat. 4,041,203 and US Pat. No. 4,766,029 (Brock et al.), US Pat. No. 5,464,688 (Timmons et al.) And US Pat. No. 5,169,706 (Collier et al.).

As mentioned, it may be desirable for the barrier layer to be breathable, ie serve as a barrier to liquid passage but allow for vapor and / or gas passage. In addition, the breathable liquid barrier layer can provide increased comfort in use by allowing the passage of water vapor. Nonwoven barrier materials, such as meltblown barrier layers, can generally allow for vapor and gas passage, but film materials can also serve as barriers to them. However, breathable films such as microporous filler films and breathable monolithic films as known in the art can be used. Exemplary breathable films and film-nonwoven laminate materials include, for example, US Pat. No. 6,114,024 (Forte), US Pat. No. 6,309,736 (McCormack et al.) And the United States, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Patent 6,037,281 (Mathis et al.).

In addition, although the fibrous nonwoven web layer itself of the second sheet layer itself has been described above to be bonded to provide structural integrity and wear resistance, when the second sheet layer comprises a laminate material comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer, the fibrous nonwoven web layer is Note that it does not have to be combined before the lamination joining step. Alternatively, the fibrous nonwoven web layer prior to laminate bonding may be joined only slightly or in a low bond region method to avoid the final form of the fibrous nonwoven web layer in the laminate being bonded to a greater extent than desired.

It should also be appreciated that the fibrous nonwoven web layer may itself be a multilayer structure, whether or not provided as a laminate with a liquid barrier material in the second sheet layer. For example, a spunbond fibrous nonwoven web layer may be produced on a multi-spin bank machine in which subsequent spin banks deposit fibers on top of a layer of fibers just deposited from the preceding spin banks. In such a situation, the deposited fibers of the various layers in the fibrous nonwoven web layer may be the same, or may differ in terms of basis weight and / or composition, type, size, wrinkle level, and / or form of fibers produced. As another example, the fibrous nonwoven web layer may be provided as two or more separately produced layers, such as spunbond, carded web, etc., which are joined together to form a fibrous nonwoven web layer, wherein the individually produced layers are discussed above. It may differ in terms of production method, basis weight, composition, and fiber.

Once the desired shapes and materials of the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are selected, the first and second sheet layers of the processing apparatus are left behind, leaving one open end for finger insertion to form a hollow member. Are joined together along at least a substantial portion of the periphery. As described, the hollow member should be large enough to allow insertion of two or more fingers into the processing device. The first and second sheet layers may be joined together by any known method, for example by stitch bonding, thermal bonding to dots or lines, ultrasonic bonding or adhesive bonding. The processing device is somewhat more than the near end of the device (the end closest to the user's hand, i.e. the open end of the device which starts to insert the finger), farther than the far end of the device (the end closest to the user's fingertips when the device is worn). It may be desirable to be formed wide.

3, a surface treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in an elevation view. In FIG. 3, the processing apparatus (designated 20 as a whole) comprises a first sheet layer 22 and a second sheet layer 24. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined together around each peripheral edge by intermittent seaming bonds 26 as shown. As described above, the seam bond can be performed by thermal bonding, adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and the like, and need not necessarily be an intermittent bond as shown. The first and second sheet layers may first be cut to the desired size and shape and then joined together along the periphery of the cut form. Alternatively, the first and second sheet layers are first joined together to form the general form of the hollow member and the processing apparatus, and then additional material is added to the first and second sheet layers to provide the final desired form to the processing apparatus. From the periphery of the joining periphery. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 3, it may be desirable to allow a certain length of material from one or both of the first or second sheet layers to remain along the far edge of the processing apparatus. The remaining material can advantageously be used to fit within small spaces or cracks or cracks on the surface to be cleaned or polished, preferably from about 1 to about 10 mm, more preferably from about 1 to about 5 mm from the far end joining site. Can be extended.

The processing device is open at one end to allow insertion of the user's fingers, forming a cavity or hollow member 28 that is closest to the close end of the device 20. As shown, the processing device 20 in FIG. 3 has a near end of the device wider than the far end of the device, but this is not required. Also not required, as shown in FIG. 1 so that the user can use it as a tab to grip or pull an additional length of the second sheet layer 24 when pulling up the processing device 20 over a finger for ease of use. It may further be desirable for the second sheet layer 24 to be longer than the first sheet layer 22 as well. If such a pull tab portion is desired to be available, either the first sheet layer 22 or the second sheet layer 24 may be supplied as the longer portion. However, from a practical point of view, it may be more desirable for the longer portion to be the second sheet layer if it is desired to have a longer portion since the delivery of the treatment composition and subsequent buffing or gloss will be performed by the second sheet layer. have.

As described above, the first sheet layer comprises an elastic layer, for example a fibrous layer or film layer of an elastomeric polymer, and at least one fibrous inelastic layer, such as a fibrous sheath, as a skin contact layer to increase user comfort. It may further comprise a layer and may also preferably have an inelastic layer facing outwardly. The second sheet layer includes a fibrous nonwoven web layer and may further include a barrier material layer and / or additional fibrous layer, such as another nonwoven web layer, as described above.

Further optional to partially bisect the cavity 28 by joining the first sheet layer 22 to the second sheet layer 24 along or near the longitudinal axis of the processing device 20, which lies approximately at the center line of the processing device. A bond line 30 is also shown in FIG. 3. The bond line 30 serves to separate the hollow member into separate hollow chambers or sleeves for the user's individual fingers. Such separation may be desirable to avoid the possibility that the processing device 20 will rotate around the user's finger in situations where the processing device 20 should be used for intense left and right buffing or scrubbing movements. The bond line 30 may be supplied as a continuous bond line connected to the longitudinal length of the processing device (or of the first sheet layer if the first sheet layer is shorter) or to a substantial portion of the length of the processing device, or a series of intermittent bonds. Or may even be a simple single point where the first and second sheet layers are joined together to partially separate the hollow member into individual finger chambers or sleeves. Bonding line 30 may be produced by any of the lamination bonding methods described above, such as thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, stitch bonding, adhesive bonding, and the like. It should be noted that stitch bonding may be less desirable if the second sheet layer 24 of the processing apparatus 20 also includes a barrier material layer.

As described, the optional bond lines 30 can be connected to the full length of the processing apparatus. However, for ease of use it is possible for the user to grasp and lift the near end of the first sheet layer with a hand that is not inserted so that the finger to be inserted can slide more easily under the first sheet layer into the individual finger chamber or sleeve. It may be desirable. Thus, it may be desirable for the optional bond line 30 to connect from approximately the far end of the processing device to about 75% or less of the length of the first sheet layer. It may be even more desirable for the optional bond line 30 to connect from approximately the far end of the processing device to about 50% or less of the length of the first sheet layer.

4 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a surface treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in an elevation view. In Fig. 4, the processing device (designated 40 as a whole) is formed to allow the insertion of three fingers of the user. The processing device 40 is a second sheet layer 44 bonded to the first sheet layer (not shown in FIG. 4) by an intermittent coupling 46 shown around three quarters of the periphery of the processing device 40. ). The processing device 40 shown in FIG. 4 also provides additional optional bond lines that serve to partially divide the processing device along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and to provide separate hollow chambers or sleeves for each of the three individual fingers. 48 and 50). As described above, the optional bond line may be supplied as a substantially continuous bond line as shown or may be a series of intermittent bonds, or the first and second sheet layers may be joined together to partially join the processing apparatus. It may be a single point that separates and provides a separate finger chamber or sleeve.

The processing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 4 includes a second sheet layer 44 bonded by a point unbonded thermal bonding method as described above. In FIG. 4, the second sheet layer 44 includes a plurality of unbonded regions 52 defined by substantially continuous bonding regions 54. As described above, the coupling pattern is not limited to the specific size, shape or number of the coupling regions shown. Although a point unbonded bonding pattern is not required for the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer, this pattern provides several advantages. As described, the pointless bond bonding pattern may increase the wear resistance of the fibrous nonwoven web layer and reduce the amount of fiber pull or fluff formation that occurs during the buffing operation by the user. The use of a point unbonded bonding pattern can also provide a surface texture to the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer, especially when the lofty web material is selected as the fibrous nonwoven web layer, where the nonbonded regions 52 are fibrous nonwoven web layers. It shows an elevated bump or dot of the web material which extends upwards relative to the continuous bonding region 54 from the plane of.

In addition, since the unbonded region 52 imparts space between the fibers within the unbonded region, the space or volume provided between the fibers is a separate " pocket, which is beneficial to receive and hold the treatment composition in place. ) ". However, whatever kind of bond is selected for the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer, the fibrous nonwoven web layer is pre-impregnated with the treatment composition, which is then cleaned and / or polished by the user of the treatment apparatus, Otherwise it can be delivered to the surface to be treated. It may be desirable to pre-impregnate the entire outer surface of the fibrous nonwoven web layer for a particular use and the entire outer surface of the fibrous nonwoven web layer may be used for delivery and subsequent buffing of the treatment composition, Transfer zone " impregnated, leaving at least another portion of the fibrous nonwoven web layer substantially free of the treatment composition, which is applied by rubbing the transfer zone on the surface to be cleaned, polished, or otherwise treated. It may be more desirable to be able to be used for later buffing. As a specific example, where it is desired to use the treatment device 40 to apply bitumen as the treatment composition, the delivery zone portion of the fibrous nonwoven web layer impregnated with the bitumen is used to apply the bitumen and is substantially free of the treatment composition. The portion can be used to remove excess bitumen, buff and / or wipe the shoe.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer band is designated by brace A on the second sheet layer 44 of the processing apparatus and this portion is shown by the shaded area. As described, the delivery zone contains the pre-impregnated or treating composition of the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer containing the desired treating composition for delivery to the surface to be cleaned, polished and / or otherwise treated. Provided as part. The remaining outer surface (designated braces B in FIG. 4) of the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer may be free or substantially free of treatment composition. The relative sizes of the portions, impregnated and non-impregnated portions of the fibrous nonwoven web layer, indicated by braces A and B, indicate the desired amount of treatment composition to retain and deliver, the desired surface of the surface available for buffing without the treatment composition. Note that it may be very different depending on the amount and the like.

The type and amount of treatment composition to be pre-impregnated onto the fibrous nonwoven web layer will depend on the desired end use of the treatment device. Examples include cleaning compositions such as soaps or detergents or other cleaning compositions, and gloss or shoe shining compounds such as waxes, pastes and varnishes. The cleaning or polishing composition may be designed for cleaning, polishing or treating surfaces, for example wood, plastics, metals and the like. By way of example only, the treatment composition may be such a detergent or polish for furniture, silver or other metals (eg, for jewelry polishes or silverware polishes) and the like. The treating composition is not limited to cleaning and polishing compounds, and may also include a treating agent intended to remain temporarily or indefinitely on the treated surface. By way of example, the treatment composition may include vegetable or animal oils or fats or oils for treating cookware or other cookware surfaces or cookware. As another example, the treatment composition may include an oil or fat or oil for treating wood, hardwood or other surfaces, or for treating mechanical parts. The treatment composition may be an aqueous or alcoholic oil based emulsion and may further comprise or be loaded with a soft abrasive, such as particulate material, as an aid to cleaning and / or polishing. By way of example, the treatment composition may be a composition for wiping shoes. "Composition for wiping shoes" means any treatment composition for cleaning, polishing and / or polishing shoes, including but not limited to soaps, desalting liquids, dyed or undyed pastes, waxes, Oils, silicone oils, waxes and the like. In addition, the treatment composition may be delivered as an encapsulated or microencapsulated composition, which is preferably released when compressing or rubbing the treatment device against a surface to be treated, cleaned, and / or polished. That is, the treatment composition may be coated or encapsulated therein with other materials or mixtures of materials. Methods of encapsulating liquids, gases or other materials, for example by spray drying, spray quenching and cooling, extrusion, fluid bed coating, liposome encapsulation, rotary suspension separation, are known in the art.

It is contemplated that the processing apparatus of the present invention may be encased in a variety of packaging materials, such as films or foil packets, film foil laminates, metallized films, multilayer plastic films, and the like, before they are shipped or marketed. The packaging is preferred to help preserve the material used in the manufacture of the treatment apparatus and also to preserve the treatment composition impregnated on the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer. It is also contemplated that the processing device may be provided in a separate package. However, whether provided as a separate treatment device or as a plurality, the non-impregnated portion of the treatment device prevents contact with the treatment composition or prevents the composition from inadvertently contacting a surface or packaging material or finger that the user does not want to touch. It may be desirable. Thus, it may be desirable to provide the processing apparatus in a folded shape such that the transmission bands are folded in a face-to-face relationship. Referring briefly to FIG. 4 for purposes of explanation, this may be achieved by folding the fibrous nonwoven web layer itself along a line approximately parallel to the longitudinal centerline.

Alternatively, the fibrous nonwoven web layer may itself fold about the middle of the length size of the delivery zone along the horizontal line, ie about halfway down the portion shown by the brace A. As an alternative, the fibrous nonwoven web layer is located near the base of the length of the length of the transmission band along the horizontal line, ie, indicated by curly brace A in FIG. 4, especially when the transmission band is small compared to the non-impregnated portion of the processing apparatus. It may fold itself at approximately the bottom of the portion shown. In this case, a certain amount of treatment composition may flow over the non-impregnated portion below the folded region, but the substantial remainder of the non-impregnated portion will still remain without the treatment composition.

Alternatively, whether the processing device is provided in a folded shape or not, it may be desirable for the delivery zone to be provided as a covered portion of the processing device, for example by covering it with a release paper that the user can remove before use. The release paper is well known in the art and may be a polymer film, metal foil or metallized film foil, beeswax and the like. An embodiment of an exemplary processing apparatus having a covered propagation band portion is shown in FIG. 5. The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 (designated 60 as a whole) shows a two-finger apparatus having a joining line 74 that partially divides the processing apparatus along a line nearly parallel to the longitudinal axis at a nearly centerline of the apparatus. However, the device shown in FIG. 5 may be similar to the two-finger or three-finger shape shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or need not have separate hollow chambers or sleeves for individual fingers. The device shown in FIG. 5 also includes an intermittent coupling 76 around about 3/4 of the periphery of the device 60 that couples the second sheet layer 62 to the first sheet layer (not shown in FIG. 5). do. As shown, the second sheet layer 62 includes a plurality of unbonded regions 64 defined by substantially continuous bonding regions 66. As described above, the bonding pattern is not limited to the specific size, shape, or number of bonding regions shown, and also as described above, the bonding of the point unbonded bonding pattern with respect to the fibrous nonwoven web layer 62 of the second sheet layer. Does not require use

As shown in FIG. 5, the treatment composition on the second sheet layer 62 is covered with a release paper 68. The release paper 68 may be, for example, a polymer film, a metal foil, a metallized foil film, a wax paper or the like as mentioned above. Preferably, the release paper 68 may be bonded to the surface of the second sheet layer 62 around the periphery 70 of the release paper 68. Bonding of the release paper 68 to the second sheet layer 62 may be performed by methods known in the art, such as thermal bonding, ultrasonics, adhesives, and the like. Release paper 68 having an easy-removal tab 72 as shown may also preferably be provided, whereby the user may more easily grasp and lift the release paper 64 to remove the release paper, The treatment composition may be exposed before using the device 60.

Another embodiment of a surface treatment apparatus is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the illustrated embodiment, the device 80 is provided in a folded shape (FIG. 6A), where the device 80 is folded along its longitudinal axis and the treatment composition impregnated portion of the fibrous nonwoven web of the second sheet layer 82. Is folded into a face-to-face relationship with itself. In addition to folding as shown, the impregnated or treating composition containing portion of the device 80 is preferably abutted by a peripheral bond 84 around the treatment composition, and the peripheral bond 84 is a device 80. ) Is applied when it is in a folded shape. The peripheral bonds may be brought together by a method known in the art, for example by thermal bonding, for example when the device 80 is present in this face-to-face shape together with the fibers of the second sheet layer or the second sheet layer. By applying heat and pressure to bond. Alternatively, other means known in the art, such as ultrasonic bonding or adhesive bonding, may be used. While peripheral bonds 84 are shown in substantially continuous lines, it should be appreciated that for some embodiments, peripheral bonds may preferably be discontinuous intermittent bonds along the desired perimeter to provide suitable peripheral bonds. In addition, the peripheral coupling 84 does not necessarily need to be circular as shown, but may be oval, square or other shapes. In addition, although the peripheral coupling portion 84 has been described above as being applied when the device 80 is in a folded shape, those skilled in the art will appreciate that if an adhesive bond is desired, the adhesive may be of the desired shape before folding the device 80. Will be applied.

Peripheral bonds 84 (continuous or discontinuous) help to further prevent the treatment composition and / or components of the treatment composition from moving outside the desired delivery zone by surrounding or surrounding the treatment composition. In addition, the peripheral bond can prevent undesired drying of the treatment composition comprising an aqueous or other fluidic solvent or emulsifier. Preferably, the peripheral bond 84 around the composition is a frangible bond; That is, the engagement portion is easily broken when a pulling force is applied, allowing both sides of the device 80 to be detached and the device to be unfolded for use as shown in FIG. 6B. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the device 80 is provided and stored in the folded shape shown in FIG. 6A, and when the user of the device intends to use it, the user simply unfolds the device to engage the engagement portion 84. ) Can be exposed to the treatment composition 86 (shown in the shaded portion of FIG. 6B). In another embodiment, depending on other factors affecting the viscosity or ease of flow of the treatment composition, the functionality of the peripheral bonds is a “moat” underneath the treatment composition on the treatment device, with a breakable bond line (intermittent or continuous). moat "or by simple means of applying to act as flow interruption. The breakable bond or flow break line may preferably be a straight horizontal line, angled line, curve, or other arcuate portion of the semicircle or peripheral bond 84 below the treatment composition.

In addition, easy-grip tabs, such as 88 and (e.g., 88), on the device 80 to provide the user with an easy means to straighten the device and / or destroy the peripheral coupling 84. It may also be desirable to provide a tab designated 90). The gripping tab may be provided as an extension of one or both of the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer. The easy to grip tab may be an additional piece of material that is separately attached to the device or may be an integral part of one or both of the first or second sheet layers. That is, the peripheral shape or outline of the device can be cut in such a way as to include the integral, easy to hold tab as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Example 1

A surface treatment apparatus designed to receive two fingers of a user similar to that shown in FIG. 3 was constructed in accordance with the above description. The first sheet layer comprised a neck bonded laminate material as described above (ie, a nonwoven-elastic film-nonwoven laminate material). The two nonwoven layers were about 14 gsm polypropylene spunbond layers that were necked and then extruded laminated to both sides of the elastic film. The elastic film was a 34 gsm ethylene-octene copolymer plastomer film available under the trade name AFFINITY EG 8200 from Dow Chemical Company.

The second sheet layer comprised a multilayer laminate comprising a fibrous nonwoven web layer, a film layer as a liquid barrier material, and a nonwoven sheath layer. The fibrous nonwoven web layer itself contained a bicomponent corrugated fiber spunbond layer having a basis weight of about 126 gsm, which was air permeable. The bicomponent fibers were present in parallel component shapes with about 50-50 component ratios of polyethylene as one component and polypropylene as the other component. The fibrous nonwoven web layer was prepared substantially in accordance with the teachings of US Pat. No. 5,382,400 (Pike et al.), As mentioned above, and the web layer was reinforced through aeration bonds. The film layer was an 18 gsm polyethylene film with a Catalloy® skin layer to help the film bind to the fibrous nonwoven web. Catalloy® polymers are from Montel USA, Inc. (Montell USA, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, USA), an olefinic multistage reactor product, wherein amorphous ethylene propylene random copolymers are predominantly molecules in a semi-crystalline high rate propylene monomer / low rate ethylene monomer continuous matrix. Distributed, examples are described in US Pat. No. 5,300,365 (Ogale). The inner face layer was also the same bicomponent spunbond layer as the fibrous nonwoven web layer described above except that it was 14 gsm instead of 126 gsm. These three layers are placed on top of each other in the order described and bonded together to the laminate material for the second sheet layer by point unbonding as described above.

The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are then interposed in a face-to-face relationship (by contacting the first sheet layer with a 14 gsm polypropylene spunbond layer of the second sheet layer) and the Branson Ultrasonics Corporation. Hollow member between the first and second sheet layers formed seam-bonded together by an ultrasonic bond using a Branson 9201W ultrasonic welder available from Danbury, Connecticut, USA, to accommodate two fingers of the user. Was formed. The processing device had a tapered shape as described above, where the far end of the device is narrower than the near or finger insertion end of the device. The overall dimensions of the processing apparatus were about 4 cm wide at the far end, 7 cm wide at the near end, and about 9.7 cm in length. As shown in FIG. 3, the first sheet layer was provided as a slightly shorter layer than the second sheet layer, so the measured length leading from the far end to the near end of the device was 7.8 cm. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the two hollow members are ultrasonically bonded together by ultrasonically joining the first and second sheet layers together from the far end along the longitudinal centerline of the device to a distance of about 35 mm from the near end of the first sheet layer. An optional bond line was provided to partially divide the finger sleeve.

The treatment composition was pre-impregnated on about one half of the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer to form a delivery zone on the far end of the fibrous nonwoven web layer. By far end is meant that the delivery zone comprises a portion of the fibrous nonwoven web layer extending vertically down to about 5 cm from the seam-coupled top end of the processing device from the seam-coupled narrow far end or “top” of the processing device. The treatment composition was a black modified shoe polish compound commercially available from Sara Lee Household & Body Care USA (Exton, Pa.) Under the trade name KIWI (R).

The index finger and middle finger of one hand was then inserted into the open end of the bitumen impregnated treatment device and the treatment device was pulled over the finger by grasping and pulling the longer provided portion of the second sheet layer. The shoe polish was successfully applied and spread on the shoe surface using a treatment device. Subsequently, the non-impregnated portion of the fibrous nonwoven web layer of the second sheet layer was used to buff the shoe by rubbing the fibrous nonwoven web layer with vigorous lateral movements against the shoe until the shoe surface had a well polished appearance. The elastic layer of the first sheet layer held the treatment device in place comfortably during the delivery of the bitumen and subsequent buffing operations.

Example 2

A surface treatment apparatus designed to receive three fingers of a user, similar to that shown in FIG. 4, was constructed in accordance with the above description. First and second sheet fabricated from the same material as described with respect to Example 1 and formed with the first and second sheet layers bonded together to accommodate three fingers of the user A hollow member was formed between the layers. The overall dimensions of the processing apparatus were about 4.5 cm wide at the far end, 8 cm wide at the near end, and about 9.7 cm in length. As described with respect to Example 1, the first sheet layer was provided as a layer slightly shorter than the second sheet layer and the measured length was 7.8 cm.

In addition, the processing apparatus of Example 2 is further provided with an additional optional bond line in the longitudinal direction that partially divides the processing apparatus along a line nearly parallel to the longitudinal axis to provide three separate hollow chambers or sleeves for each of the three individual fingers. Is provided. As in Example 1, these optional bond lines extend to a distance of about 35 mm from the far end to the near end of the first sheet layer at only a portion of the length of the processing apparatus.

The fibrous nonwoven web layer of the processing apparatus of Example 2 was also impregnated with the same bitumen at its upper half, and then the index finger, middle finger and ring finger of one hand were inserted into the open end of the hollow member of the bitumen-impregnated processing apparatus, Was pulled over the finger by grasping and pulling the longer provided portion of the second sheet layer. The shoe polish was then successfully applied and spread on the surface of the other shoe using a treatment device, and the shoe was successfully buffed and wiped using the non-impregnated portion of the fibrous nonwoven web layer.

A self-contained all-in-one device for treating a surface is well suited for delivering or applying cleaning, waxing, gloss and / or other treatment compositions to the surface and then buffing the surface to clean and / or polish the surface. It may also be advantageously provided as a single use article manufactured in a manner consistent with the cost determined by the disposable use of the article used in the limited use or single use disposable product. As a further advantage, the treatment apparatus of the present invention is compact and lightweight and therefore easily portable. When packaged individually or in small packages, the surface treatment device can easily be carried in the user's pocket, handbag or purse until needed, which is, for example, a treatment device with a treatment composition designed as a shoe polishing composition. It is especially beneficial to travelers when is impregnated.

Various patents are incorporated herein by reference, but if there is any discrepancy between the contents contained herein and this specification, the present specification will control. In addition, while the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and other changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. will be. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and other variations that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims (25)

A hollow member having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, the hollow member having an open end configured for insertion of two or more fingers, formed between the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer, wherein the first sheet layer comprises an elastic layer, The second sheet layer comprises a fibrous nonwoven web layer having an outer surface, wherein the fibrous nonwoven web layer is a portion substantially free of the treatment composition, adjacent to (i) the treatment composition portion, and (ii) the treatment composition portion on the outer surface. And a device provided in a folded shape such that the device is folded along a substantially longitudinal axis. The device of claim 1, wherein the elastic layer is selected from an elastic film and an elastic fiber layer. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sheet layer is a multilayer laminate material comprising one or more fibrous web layers bonded to the elastic layer. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first sheet layer is a multilayer laminate material comprising one or more fibrous web layers bonded to each side of the elastic layer. The device of claim 1, wherein the second sheet layer is a laminate material comprising one or more barrier layers bonded to the fibrous nonwoven web layer. delete The device of claim 5, wherein the barrier layer is selected from a nonwoven web layer, a polymer film layer, a foil material, and a metallized polymer film layer. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the barrier layer is a meltblown layer. The device of claim 8, wherein the barrier layer is a thermoplastic film layer. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second sheet layer further comprises one or more additional fibrous web layers adjacent the barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is disposed between the fibrous nonwoven web layer and the one or more additional fibrous web layers. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second sheet layer further comprises one or more additional fibrous web layers adjacent the barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is disposed between the fibrous nonwoven web layer and the one or more additional fibrous web layers. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is folded in a face-to-face relationship. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is folded in a face-to-face relationship with a portion substantially free of the treatment composition of the fibrous nonwoven web. The line of claim 1, wherein the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer comprise at least one bond line along at least a portion of a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to at least partially separate the hollow member into two or more separate hollow chambers. Devices that are coupled together along the line. The device of claim 1, wherein the fibrous nonwoven web layers are bonded in a point unbonded bonding pattern. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second sheet layer is joined in a point unbonded bonding pattern. The device of claim 12, wherein the second sheet layer is joined in a point unbonded bonding pattern. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is bounded by peripheral bonds surrounding the treatment composition portion. The device of claim 1, further comprising an easy-grip tab extending from the distal end of the device beyond the perimeter of the hollow member. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is covered with a release paper. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is a polishing composition. A hollow member having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, the hollow member having an open end configured for insertion of two or more fingers, formed between the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer, wherein the first sheet layer comprises an elastic layer, The second sheet layer comprises a fibrous nonwoven web layer having an outer surface, wherein the fibrous nonwoven web layer is a portion substantially free of the treatment composition, adjacent to (i) the treatment composition portion, and (ii) the treatment composition portion on the outer surface. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer along at least one joining line along at least a portion of a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to at least partially separate the hollow member into two or more separate hollow chambers. Surface treatment apparatus to be bonded to each other. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is folded in a face-to-face relationship. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is folded in a face-to-face relationship with a portion substantially free of the treatment composition of the fibrous nonwoven web. 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device is substantially folded along a longitudinal axis and the treatment composition portion of the fibrous nonwoven web is bounded by peripheral bonds surrounding the treatment composition portion.

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