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(11) | EP 2 781 181 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | CLEANING MEMBER, CLEANING TOOL, AND FOLDING STRUCTURE FOR CLEANING MEMBER |
| (57) Provided is a cleaning member (1) comprising of at least a sheet structure (4) in
which a f iber bundle (2) having a structure in which multiple fibers are bundled
together are joined to a base sheet (3) and a configuration in which a support handle
insertion part (6) having an insertion space part (7) which enables a support handle
(27) for supporting the sheet structure to insert in a predetermined direction is
formed on the sheet structure (4), wherein the base sheet (3) is formed in a tubular
shape and has a space part (8) formed in the interior thereof, the sheet structure
(4) joins the fiber bundle (2) to an outer peripheral surface of the base sheet (3),
and the space part (8) of the base sheet (3) and the insertion space part (7) of the
support handle insertion part (6) are formed apart from each other. It is possible
to sufficiently capture dust and dirt with the cleaning member (1) while suppressing
the problem of the efficient use of the entire fibers during cleaning and the problem
of increase in manufacturing costs.
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Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning member, a cleaning tool, and a folding structure for the cleaning member.
Background Art
[0002] Dusters have been known hitherto as a cleaning tool for removing dirt, dust or the like adhering to furniture such as chest of drawers, electronic products such as personal computers and lighting equipment, inner walls of buildings, doorsills, lintels and the like. However, the dusters merely sweep dust and dirt adhering to cleaning surfaces of objects to be cleaned and are not sufficient to capture dust and dirt.
[0003] Patent Literature 1 suggests a technique of wiping off dust or the like of the objects to be cleaned using a cleaning article provided with fiber bundles or the like including multiple fibers. Specifically, this cleaning article is equipped with brush parts on a cleaning surface side and both right and left sides of a base sheet, and the brush parts are formed by strip pieces of non-woven fabric and fiber bundles. In addition, the cleaning article forms a join line by joining a base sheet and a holding sheet to form a holding space between the base sheet and the holding sheet. The cleaning article is intended to be used as a cleaning member, and is used in a state of being incorporated into a cleaning tool by inserting a holding tool into the holding space of the cleaning member serving as the cleaning article during cleaning.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] The cleaning article of Patent Literature 1 forms a state where fibers present around the holding space by directly joining the fiber bundle to an outer surface side of a portion forming the holding space of the base sheet. Moreover, the fibers located around the holding space capture dust and dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned during cleaning. In order to clean a wider region using such a cleaning article, it is required to lengthen an overall length of the fibers forming the fiber bundles, increase an overall density of the fibers forming the fiber bundles, and increase a volume of the fiber bundles. The same is also true for a case of cleaning a more uneven region using the cleaning article of Patent Literature 1.
[0006] However, there is a problem in that as the length of the fibers forming the fiber bundles is lengthened in the cleaning article of Patent Literature 1, only a portion of a leading end side of the fiber is used for capturing dust and dirt during cleaning, a portion of the proximal end side of the fiber, which is a join portion formed by joined the fiber bundle and the base sheet, hardly comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned during cleaning and is hardly used for capturing dust and dirt, and it is not possible to effectively use the entire fibers forming the fiber bundles to capture the dust and dirt. Moreover, lengthening the overall length of the fibers forming the fiber bundle used in the cleaning article and increasing the overall density of the fibers cause an increase in manufacturing costs. Furthermore, there is a possibility that when lengthening the length of the fiber, entanglement is likely to occur at the leading end of the long fiber when transporting the cleaning article.
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a cleaning member and a cleaning tool capable of sufficiently capturing dust and dirt, while suppressing a problem of an efficient use of the entire fibers during cleaning, and a problem of an increase in manufacturing costs in view of the above-described problems. Furthermore, another object of the invention is to provide a folding structure of the cleaning member that facilitates transportation of the cleaning member.
Solution to Problem
[0008] According to the invention, there is provided (1) a cleaning member comprising of at least a sheet structure in which a fiber bundle having a structure in which multiple fibers are bundled together are joined to a base sheet, and a configuration in which a support handle insertion part having an insertion space part which enables a support handle for supporting the sheet structure to insert in a predetermined direction is formed on the sheet structure,
wherein the base sheet is formed in a tubular shape and has a space part formed in the interior thereof,
the sheet structure joins the fiber bundle to an outer peripheral surface of the base sheet, and
the space part of the base sheet and the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part are formed apart from each other;
(2) The cleaning member as set forth in (1), wherein the space part of the base sheet is greater than the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part;
(3) The cleaning member as set forth in (1) or (2), the cleaning member is comprised
of a plurality of fiber bundles and,
wherein the plurality of fiber bundles is includes different color fiber bundles;
(4) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (3), wherein the support handle insertion part has a color different from the part except for the support handle insertion part;
(5) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (4), wherein an intervention sheet piece is provided between the base sheet and the fiber bundle, and an outer peripheral edge of the intervention sheet piece is located inside a reach of free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundle;
(6) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (5), wherein the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part is formed by joining the base sheets;
(7) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (6), wherein in the base sheet, an extended part is formed by extending at least one end surface side, and multiple notches are applied toward an proximal end from an extended leading end of the extended part;
(8) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (7), wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which colors of the fibers are different to each other;
(9) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (8), wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which materials of the fibers are different to each other;
(10) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (9), wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which thicknesses of the fibers are different to each other;
(11) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (10), wherein the fiber bundle is formed with a fiber bundling part that bundles the multiple fibers and joins the fibers in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the fibers at a predetermined position, and the fiber bundling part is formed at a position laterally offset from a central position in the flow direction of the fibers;
(12) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (11), wherein a plurality of fiber bundles are provided, and at least one of the fiber bundles is made of the fibers formed by a material which is different from a material of the fibers forming at least one other fiber bundles;
(13) The cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (12), wherein a plurality of fiber bundles are provided, and at least one of the fiber bundles is made of the fibers having a thickness which is different from a thickness of the fibers forming at least one other fiber bundles;
(14) A cleaning tool in which a support handle is inserted into a support handle insertion part of the cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (13); and
(15) A folding structure of the cleaning member in which the cleaning member as set forth in any of (1) to (13) is folded at a predetermined position of the sheet structure to form a folded part, and the base sheet is flattened,
wherein the folded part is formed to have a bulge in the base sheet when inserting the support handle into the support handle insertion part.Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009] According to the invention, the cleaning member and the cleaning tool capable of sufficiently capturing dust and dirt while suppressing the problem of the efficient use of the entire fibers during cleaning, and the problem of increase in manufacturing costs are provided. Furthermore, according to the folding structure of the cleaning member of the invention, it is possible to facilitate the transportation of the cleaning member.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0010]
Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a cleaning member in a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 1B is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of the cleaning member in the first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state taken from a line A-A of Fig. 1B.
Fig. 2 is an explanatory view for illustrating a step of forming fiber bundles.
Fig. 3A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a sheet structure raw material prepared in manufacturing the cleaning member of the invention, and Fig. 3B is a schematic side view schematically illustrating an example of a sheet structure raw material prepared in manufacturing the cleaning member of the invention.
Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F are schematic rear views illustrating other examples of the cleaning member in the first embodiment.
Fig. 5A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a cleaning member in a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5B is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of the cleaning member in the second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5C is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state taken from a line B-B in Fig. 5B.
Figs. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views for illustrating other examples of a joining state of the base sheet and the sheet piece in the example of the invention, and schematically illustrating the state of a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section illustrated in Fig. 1C.
Figs. 7A and Fig. 7B are schematic plan views of the cleaning member, showing other examples of a joining state of the base sheet and the fiber bundles.
Fig. 8A is a schematic plan view of the cleaning member, showing another example of a position where a fiber join portion is formed, and Fig. 8B is a schematic plan view of the cleaning member for describing another example of a positional relation between free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundles and the end surface of the base sheet.
Fig. 9A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of the cleaningmember of the invention, and the example in which a crushed part is formed on one end surface side of the base sheet,
Fig. 9B is a schematic side view schematically illustrating an example of the cleaningmember of the invention, and the example of forming a crushed part on one end surface side of the base sheet,
Fig. 9C is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of the cleaningmember of the invention, and the example in which a crushed part is formed on one end surface side of the base sheet,
and Fig. 9D is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating another example of a case of forming a crushed part on one end surface side of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention.
Figs. 10A and 10B are diagrams for illustrating a state of the end surface of the base sheet in the example of the cleaning member of the invention, and illustrate other examples of forming end join portion.
Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating another example of the case of forming a crushed part on one end surface side of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention.
Fig. 12A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a case of forming a strip-like part on at least one end surface side of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention, and Fig. 12B is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of a case of forming a strip-like part on at least one end surface side of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention.
Fig. 13A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a case where a cross-sectional shape of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention has a modified cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the cleaning member of Figs. 1A to 1C, Fig. 13B is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of a case where a cross-sectional shape of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention has a modified cross-sectional shape, and Fig. 13C is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating another example of a case where a cross-sectional shape of the base sheet in the cleaning member of the invention has a modified cross-sectional shape.
Fig. 14A is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating an example of a case where an intervention sheet piece is provided between the base sheet and the fiber bundles in the cleaningmember of the invention, and Fig. 14B is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state taken from a line C-C in Fig. 14A.
Fig. 15A is an explanatory view schematically illustrating an example of a method of attaching a support handle to the cleaning member of the invention, and Fig. 15B is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating an example of a cleaning tool in which the support handle is attached to the cleaning member of the invention.
Figs. 16A and 16B are schematic side views schematically illustrating an example of a sheet structure raw material prepared in manufacturing the cleaning member of the embodiment illustrated Figs. 17D and 17C in the second embodiment of the invention.
Figs. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D are schematic rear views schematically illustrating other examples of the cleaning member in the second embodiment of the invention.
Figs. 18A and 18B are explanatory views illustrating exemplary states of the cleaning using the cleaning tool in which the support handle is inserted into the cleaning member of the invention.
Fig. 19A is a schematic plan view for schematically illustrating a coupling piece raw material, and Fig. 19B is a schematic plan view for schematically illustrating the coupling piece.
Fig. 20A is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating a joining structure, Fig. 20B is a schematic plan view schematically illustrating a cutting target joining body, Fig. 20C is a schematic plan view for illustrating another example of the base sheet, and Fig. 20D is a schematic rear view for illustrating another example of the base sheet.
Fig. 21A is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating a folding structure, and Fig. 21B is a schematic rear view schematically illustrating a state of inserting the support handle into the folding structure.
Description of Embodiments
<First Embodiment>
[0011] The cleaning member of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the cleaning member in a first embodiment of the invention will be described.
[Configuration of Cleaning Member 1]
[0012] As illustrated in an example of a cleaning member 1a of Figs. 1A, 1B, and 1C, a cleaning member 1 of the first embodiment of the invention is configured to include a sheet structure 4. In addition, in the cleaning member 1, a direction along an insertion direction (a direction of an arrow E) of a support handle 27 is assumed to be a longitudinal direction, a front side in the insertion direction is assumed to be a back side, and an inner side thereof is assumed to be a front face side. Furthermore, in regard to the cross-section of the cleaning member 1, a cross-section observed when cutting the cleaning member 1 along a plane in which a direction of an arrow E is a normal direction is assumed to be a cross-section of the cleaning member. In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the insertion direction matches the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3.
(Sheet Structure 4)
[0013] The sheet structure 4 is formed by joining at least one fiber bundle 2 to the base sheet 3, and in the example illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C, the sheet structure is configured by joining four fiber bundles 2 to the base sheet 3 to form bundle join portions 11. The sheet structure 4 joins the fiber bundles 2 on an outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3. Furthermore, in the sheet structure 4, the fiber bundles 2 are disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the fiber join portion 10 of the fiber bundle 2 is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 as viewed in a plan view of the cleaning member 1. The expression "as viewed in the plan view of the cleaning member 1" indicates a state when the cleaning member 1 is viewed in a direction along a plane in which the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 is the normal direction.
[0014] The sheet structure 4 is formed with a support handle insertion part 6. Here, the support handle insertion part 6 is a portion having an insertion space part 7 into which a support handle to be described later for supporting the sheet structure 4 can be inserted in a predetermined direction.
(Base Sheet 3)
[0015] The base sheet 3 is a structure capable of stably forming a state in which the fiber bundles 2 are disposed in the cleaning member 1, and is formed to include a thin sheet raw material 9 capable of being flexibly deformed. In appearance, the base sheet 3 forms a tubularbody formed in a tubular shape with openings at both ends, is formed to have a cross-sectional circular shape when viewed in the cross-section of the tubular body while assuming the longitudinal direction of the tubular body to be the normal line, and forms a space part 8 in a space within the tubular body. Furthermore, an external shape of the base sheet 3 has a tubular shape in which an outer diameter of the cross-section from one end surface 5a to the other end surface 5b is substantially constantly maintained.
(Material of Base Sheet 3)
[0016] The tubular body forming the base sheet 3 is a material of the sheet raw material 9 and is not particularly limited as long as materials usable as the sheet rawmaterial 9 to be described later.
(Manufacturing of Base Sheet 3)
[0017] The base sheet 3 is manufactured by, for example, forming the sheet raw material 9 as a tubular body in an appropriate tubular shape by rounding the sheet raw material 9, and by joining the sheet raw materials 9 to each other at a predetermined position to form a join portion 12.
(Sheet Raw Material 9)
[0018] As a shape of the sheet raw material 9, it is possible to use a rectangular shape, but not limited thereto, the shape can be appropriately selected depending on the shape of the base sheet 3 and the method of forming the base sheet 3, and specifically, it is also possible to use a circular shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape or the like.
[0019] Furthermore, the sheet raw material 9 is not particularly limited, as long as sheet materials capable of forming a tubular structure of the base sheet 3 and capable of forming a state of joining the fiber bundles 2 on the outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3 are adopted. Sheets such as paper, woven fabric, a synthetic resin sheet, non-woven fabric are preferably used as the sheet material. Among them, non-woven fabric is particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of light weight, strength, durability and adhesion.
[0020] As the non-woven fabric usable as the sheet raw material 9, it is possible to use a spun lace non-woven fabric, a spun bond non-woven fabric, a thermal bond non-woven fabric, an air-through non-woven fabric, a point-bonded non-woven fabric or the like, but the spun bond non-woven fabric, and thermal bond non-woven fabric are preferred. As the fibers forming the non-woven fabric, any of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and composite fibers may be used. The non-woven fabric preferably has a basis weight of about 20 to 100 g/m2.
[0021] The sheet raw material 9 may be made of a piece of sheet material, may be formed by overlapping multiple pieces of sheet materials, and may be formed by laminating, joining, and integrating the sheet materials to one another. Furthermore, the sheet raw material 9 may be configured to have a plurality of portions having differentproperties. For example, the sheet raw material 9 may be configured by separately preparing two or more sheet materials such as the non-woven fabric and arranging these side by side (in a planar direction) to connect the end portions thereof to each other. As a method for connecting the end portions to each other, it is possible to appropriately adopt a method of bonding the end portions with adhesive, a method of joining the end portions by sewing or the like.
(Space Part 8)
[0022] Furthermore, the space part 8 of the base sheet 3 is formed in the internal space of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 as described above. The space part 8 is formed as a space extending from one end surf ace 5 (5a) toward the other end surf ace 5 (5b) of the base sheet 3 along the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3. And the space part 8 is in a state of being opened on both end surfaces 5, 5 side of the base sheet 3 and communicating with the outside.
[0023] The size of the space part 8 is not particularly limited, but is preferably greater than the size of the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6. Here, it is assumed that the size of the space part 8 and the size of the insertion space part 7 are a volume of the space part 8 and a volume of the insertion space part 7 that are specified when assuming a state in which the space part 8 and the insertion space part 7 are not crushed in the state of spreading the sheet raw material 9 surface of the base sheet 3 forming the space part 8 and the sheet piece 13 surface of the support handle insertion part 6.
[0024] Since the size of the space part 8 is greater than the size of the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6, even in cases where the surface to be cleaned is expanded over a wide region as well as a case where the surface to be cleaned is formed in a narrow region, it is possible to easily perform the effective cleaning of the region, and it is possible to obtain the cleaning member 1 having a wide range capable of performing the effective cleaning. That is, when cleaning a narrow region, cleaning is performed without pressing the cleaning member 1 against the surface to be cleaned, whereas, when cleaning a wide region, by pressing the cleaning member 1 toward the surface to be cleaned, the space part 8 is crushed along the pressing direction and the space part 8 spreads along the cleaning surface, a contact area between the fiber bundles 2 and the surface to be cleaned is expanded, and it is possible to perform cleaning of a wider range.
(Join Portion 12)
[0025] In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the join portion 12 is formed in a region (a region R in Figs. 3A and 3B) between one end edge of the sheet raw material 9 forming the base sheet 3 and a slightly inside position of the one end edge, and is formed in a band line shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body as the base sheet 3. In the cleaning member 1, the forming position or shape of the join portion 12 is not limited to the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, and is appropriately set according to the shape or the method of forming the base sheet 3. Specifically, the shape of the join portion 12 may be formed in an appropriate shape such as a curved shape, a dashed-line shape, a dotted shape, a fine line shape, and a wave shape.
[0026] As the method for forming the join portion 12, itispossible to use a joining method using an adhesive. In this method, the join portion 12 is formed as a structural portion formed by joining the sheet raw materials 9 via an adhesive part 15 formed by applying the adhesive to apredeterminedposition of the sheet raw material 9. Furthermore, in this case, as the used adhesive, a two-liquid curable adhesive, a thermoplastic resin-based adhesive, an elastomeric adhesive, a thermosetting resin-based adhesive, an instant bonding adhesive, a hot-melt adhesive and the like. The adhesive is preferably the hot-melt adhesive from the viewpoint that is capable of performing the rapid joining work by cooling and heating. Furthermore, when the sheet raw material 9 is a non-woven fabric, a solution type or an emulsion type thermoplastic adhesive or elastomeric adhesive is preferable from the viewpoint of good permeability into the non-woven fabric.
[0027] The joining method using the adhesive described above is an example of a method of forming the join portion 12, and in addition, as a method of forming the join portion 12, a joining method using a heat seal, and a joining method using an ultrasonic seal can be adopted.
[0028] The joining method using the heat seal is a method of heating a target portion trying to join the sheet raw materials 9, and fusing the sheet raw materials 9 in the heating target portion and can be achieved using a heat sealing machine known hitherto.
[0029] The joining method using the ultrasonic seal is a method of instantly melting the target portion by applying fine ultrasonic vibration and pressure to the target portion trying to join the sheet raw materials 9, and joining the sheet raw materials 9 in the target portion, and can be achieved using an ultrasonic sealing machine known hitherto.
(Fiber Bundle 2)
[0030] The fiber bundles 2 are formed in a sheet shape by bundling a plurality of fibers, and as such fiber bundles 2, it is possible to use fiber bundles in which each fiber forming the bundles are gathered to an extent of not being loosened to form a fiber join portion 10. In the fiber bundles 2, in addition to the fiber join portion 10, the fibers may be further partially bonded to one another, by fusing, bonding the like as needed.
[0031] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the fiber bundle 2 can be specifically obtained by a following method or the like. In the method, a plurality of long fibers 21 is bundled side by side to obtain a long fiber bundle 20 in a sheet shape. A plurality of long fibers 2 of the long fiber bundle 20 are joined at intervals (with suitable intervals) in a direction (for example, a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the long fibers) intersecting with the flow direction of the long fibers to form long fiber join portions 22. Then the long fiber bundle 20 is cut an intermediate portion between the adj acent long fiber join portions 22. At this time, the cut fibers form the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2 and the long fiber join portion 22 forms the fiber join portion 10 forming the fiber bundles 2. Furthermore, in the example of the fiber bundles 2, the fiber join portion 10 is formed at a central position in the flow direction of the fiber.
[0032] As the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2, for example, natural fibers such as cotton, and wool, composite fibers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, and polyacrylic, sheath-core fibers, sea-island type fibers, and side-by-side fibers are used, but when combining the fibers by partial heat sealing, core-sheath type composite fibers in which a core is made of polypropylene and a sheath is made of polyethylene are preferable, since the core-sheath type composite fibers have both excellent thermal adhesiveness of polyethylene forming the sheath and stiffness of polypropylene forming the core. The fibers forming the fiber bundles 2 are preferred to have a thickness of about 0.01 mm to 0.3 mm in diameter so as to be able to appropriately capture the dust. Furthermore, the fiber bundles 2 may be constituted only by the fibers having the same material, thickness, color and the like, and may be formed by fibers of two or more different types. In this case, with regard to one fiber bundle 2, the fiber bundle 2 may be formed by the plural types of the fibers in a state in which the fibers are generally mixed with one another. The fiber bundle 2 may be formed in a state in which a potion comprised of fibers which have one predetermined type and a potion comprised of the fibers which have another predetermined type, are divided in regions. For example, in one fiber bundle 2, the fiber bundle 2 may be formed in a state in which blue fibers and yellow fibers are generally mixed with one another. The fiber bundle 2 may be formed in a state in which a potion comprised of blue fibers and a potion comprised of yellow fibers are divided in regions. In the fiber bundles 2, when the fiber bundle 2 has plural potions which are formed by different color fibers respectively , and plural potions formed in divided regions, it is possible to obtain the fiber bundles 2 forming a pattern such as a patchy pattern, thereby improving design characteristics.
[0033] As the fiber bundles 2, the fiber bundles formed by being bent or folded in the flow direction of the fibers forming the bundles may be used. The fiber bundles 2 formed with a folded potion by folding can be specifically achieved, for example, by taking an axis in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2 and at the substantially central position of the fiber bundle 2, folding the fiber bundles 2 in the flow direction of the fibers around the axis, and forming the folded section as the folded potion.
(Combination of Fiber Bundles 2)
[0034] The base sheet 3 may be provided with the plurality of fiber bundles 2, in this case. Each of the fiber bundles 2 which is used on the base sheet 3 may be formed with the fibers of the same material. Some of the fiber bundles 2 may be formed with the fibers of a material which is different from a material used the fibers in the other fiber bundles 2. The fiber bundles 2 may be respectively different from a material used the fibers. Furthermore, as the plurality of fiber bundles 2, those obtained by combining the fibers of different properties may be used. For example, on the outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3, the fiber bundles 2 formed of fibers having water absorbency, and the fiber bundles 2 formed of fibers having chargeability may be provided. In this case, it is possible to wipe off the liquid dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned by the fiber bundles 2 formed of the fibers having the water absorbency, and it is possible to electrostatically suck and wipe off the small dust adhering to the surface to be cleaned by the fiber bundles 2 having chargeability, and thus it is possible to manufacture the cleaning member 1 having excellent cleaning performance.
[0035] Each of the fiber bundles 2 may be formed of the fibers having the same color. Each of the fiber bundles 2 may be formed of the fibers having the different color. For example, white fiber bundles 2 and blue fiber bundles maybe alternately arranged on the outer surface side of the base sheet 3. Furthermore, in regard to the color type of the fiber bundles 2, all the fiber bundles 2 may be different from one another. For example, when four fiber bundles 2 are arranged on the outer surface side of the base sheet 3, fiber bundles exhibiting red, blue, white, and yellow may be used. In such a case, it is possible to efficiently obtain the cleaning member 1 having the excellent design properties.
[0036] Furthermore, in a case where the base sheet 3 is provided with the plurality of fiber bundles 2, when using the fiber bundles 2 constituted by the thin fibers and the fiber bundles 2 constituted by fibers thicker than these fibers in combination, since the thick stiff fibers function to scrape out the dust and the thin fibers function to capture the scrapped dust, it is possible to sufficiently capture from the finer dust to the large dust to some extent, thereby performing the effective cleaning. Here, as the fine fibers, those having the diameter of 0.01 mm to 0.05 mm are preferred. Furthermore, the thick fibers may be thicker than the fine fibers, but fibers having the thickness of the diameter of 0.06 mm to 0.3 mm are preferred.
(Bundle Join Potion 11)
[0037] In the cleaning member 1, the bundle join portion 11 is formed as a portion in which the fiber bundles 2 and the base sheet 3 are joined to each other. The bundle join portion 11 is formed in a direction intersecting with the flow direction (longitudinal direction) of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2. In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the bundle join portion 11 is linearly formed, but is not limited thereto. The shape of the bundle join portion 11 can be appropriately selected by a broken line shape, a curved line shape or the like.
(Formation of Bundle Join Portion 11)
[0038] The bundle join portion 11 can be specifically formed as a part formed by bonding the fiber bundle 2 and the base sheet 3 via an adhesive part which is formed by applying an adhesive to at least one predetermined position of the fiber bundle 2 and the base sheet 3. Furthermore, the method of forming the bundle join portion 11 illustrated herein is merely an example and is not intended to be limited thereto. For example, as the method of forming the bundle join portion 11, methods applicable to the method of forming the join portion 12, such as a method of directly bonding both the fiber bundle 2 and the base sheet 3 by heat fusion, may be used.
[0039] Furthermore, the method of forming the bundle join portion 11 may be performed before or after manufacturing the base sheet 3 from the sheet rawmaterial 9 or maybe simultaneously per formed.
(Support Handle Insertion Part 6)
[0040] In the cleaning member 1, the support handle insertion part 6 is formed on the base sheet 3. In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by disposing the sheet piece 13 to face a predetermined position of the base sheet 3 and joining a predetermined portion of the sheet piece 13 to the base sheet 3 to form a sheet piece join portion 14. Furthermore, the support handle insertion part 6 may have color different from those of the portions except for the support handle insertion part 6. For example, in the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by a portion, which is constituted by forming the insertion space part 7 of the sheet raw material 9 forming the base sheet 3, and a portion constituted by the sheet piece 13. A Portion other than those portions in the cleaning member 1 is a portion except for the support handle insertion part 6. In such a case, the support handle insertion part 6 is noticeable, and it is easy to insert the support handle 27 into the insertion space part 7.
(Sheet Piece 13)
[0041] The sheet piece 13 is not limited to one formed in a strip shape as illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C and can be appropriately selected depending on the shape of the base sheet 3 and the shape of the support handle insertion part 6. Furthermore, as long as the material of the sheet piece 13 can be joined to the base sheet 3, the material is not particularly limited, and specifically, it is possible to adopt the materials usable as the sheet raw material 9 forming the base sheet 3, such as non-woven fabric.
(Sheet Piece Join Portion 14)
[0042] In the cleaning member 1, the sheet piece join portion 14 is formed as a section in which the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3 are joined to each other.
[0043] In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the sheet piece join portions 14 are formed in three positions which have respectively a linear shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet piece 13 and are at both side edges of the sheet piece 13 and the center of the sheet piece.
[0044] However, the sheet piece join portion 14 is merely an example, and is not intended to be limited to the forming position, number or shape, and can be appropriately selected based on the shape of the support handle to be inserted into the space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6. For example, the shape of the sheet piece join portion 14 may be a broken line shape as illustrated in Fig. 6B, and in addition, it is possible to appropriately select a dotted line shape, a curved line shape, or the like.
(Formation of Sheet Piece Join Portion 14)
[0045] The sheet piece join portion 14 can be specifically formed by bonding the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3 via the adhesive part which is formed by applying an adhesive to at least one predetermined position of the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3. In addition, the method of forming the sheet piece join portion 14 illustrated herein is merely an example and is not intended to be limited thereto. For example, as the method of forming the sheet piece join portion 14, methods applicable to the method of forming the bundle join portion 11 and the join portion 12 may be appropriately used.
[0046] In addition, the timing for carrying out the method of forming the sheet piece join portion 14 may be before or after manufacturing the base sheet 3 from the sheet raw material 9 in the same manner as in the method of forming the bundle join portion 11, or may be simultaneous therewith.
(Insertion Space Part 7)
[0047] With the formation of the support handle insertion part 6, the insertion space part 7 is formed. The insertion space part 7 is formed in a shape capable of inserting the support handle. In the case of joining the sheet piece 13 to the base sheet 3 as described above, a space is formed between the base sheet 3 and the sheet piece 13, and this space forms the insertion space part 7. Here, the insertion space part 7 is formed as a space passing through the insertion direction (a direction indicated by an arrow E in Figs. 1A and 15) of the support handle 27. Specifically, the insertion space part 7 extends in the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 from the position of one end surface 5a toward the position of the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3, and is a space opened and penetrated on both ends surface sides of one end surface 5a and the other end surface 5b. When the insertion space part 7 is the penetrated space, it is possible to insert the support handle 27 from both one end surface 5a side and from the other end surface 5b side.
(Forming Part and Size of Insertion Space Part 7)
[0048] In the cleaning member 1, the space part 8 of the base sheet 3 and the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6 are dividedly formed. That is, the insertion space part 7 is formed as a space partitioned from the space part 8. In the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the space in the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 is divided into two kinds by the sheet piece 13, one divided space forms the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6, and the other space thereof forms the space part 8. Furthermore, in the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, the space part 8 of the base sheet 3 and the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6 are in the state of being divided via the sheet piece 13.
[0049] As the size of the insertion space part 7, a size of an extent that at least the support handle can be inserted may be secured.
[Manufacturing of Cleaning Member 1]
[0050] For example, the cleaning member 1 can be specifically manufactured as illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3B. Figs. 3A and 3B are diagrams for illustrating an example of the sheet structure raw material used in the execution of the manufacturing method of the cleaning member 1 illustrated in Fig. 1
[0051] In manufacturing the cleaning member 1, first, the sheet raw material 9 is prepared and the fiber bundles 2 formed with the fiber join portion 10 are prepared, and as illustrated in Fig. 3A, the fiber bundles 2 are joined onto the surface of the sheet raw material 9 to form the bundle join portions 11. Furthermore, the sheet piece 13 is joined onto the surface of the sheet raw material 9 to form the sheet piece join portion 14,thereby forming the sheet structure raw material 17 (17a).
[0052] Next, an adhesive is applied to one end edge side of one surface 16 (16b) of the surfaces of the sheet raw material 9 to form an adhesive part 15, and the whole sheet structure raw material 17a including the sheet raw material 9 is rounded by winding the sheet raw material 9 of sheet structure raw material 17a in the direction of the arrow P1 so that the adhesive part 15 faces a region R of the other end side of the sheet raw material 9 on the other surface 16 (16a) of the sheet raw material 9. Moreover, at the position of the region R of the sheet raw material 9, one surface 16b and the other surface 16a of the sheet raw material 9 face each other via the adhesive part 15 and the sheet raw materials 9 are joined to each other to form the join portion 12. Thus, the sheet structure raw material 17a forms the sheet structure 4, and it is possible to manufacture the cleaning member 1.
[Use of Cleaning Member 1]
[0053] The cleaning member 1 according to the invention can be used for wiping off the dust and dirt of the surface to be cleaned while cleaning. Furthermore, according to the cleaning member 1 of the invention, since the fiber bundles 2 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3, a soft state is easily formed by forming a state in which the fibers are present on the entire peripheral surface of the base sheet 3.
[0054] Furthermore, in the cleaning member 1, it is easy to prepare the base sheet 3 having the relatively great dimension of a cross-section by adjust the size of the sheet raw material 9. It is possible to obtain the cleaning member 1, which is bulky as a whole, without depending on increasing the volume of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2.
[0055] Therefore, even when a wide region is a surface to be cleaned, it is possible to easily obtain the cleaning member 1 capable of cleaning such a wide region. Moreover, it is possible to suppress the need to lengthen the overall length of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2, and it is possible to obtain the cleaning member 1 capable of cleaning a wide region, while suppressing the need to increase the volume of the fiber bundles 2 by increasing the overall density of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2.
[Folding Structure 46 of Cleaning Member 1]
[0056] When the cleaning member 1 of the invention is carried, the cleaning member 1 may be carried in a state in which the inner peripheral surface of the base sheet 3 is unfolded outward as illustrated above, but maybe carried in a state of the folding structure 46.
(Folding Structure 46)
[0057] The folding structure 46 is a folded structure of the cleaning member 1, and is formed by folding the sheet structure 4 to form a folded part 47 and flattening the base sheet 3 as illustrated in Fig. 21A. Furthermore, in the folding structure 46 of the cleaning member 1, the inner surfaces of the base sheet 3 of the sheet structure 4 adjacently face each other to form facing surfaces 60 (60a, 60b). Moreover, in the folding structure 46, flattening the base sheet 3 indicates that the inner surfaces of the base sheet 3 are set to be a state of being closer to each other than before folding the sheet structure 4. At this time, in appearance, a state in which the volume of the portion of the cleaning member 1 in which the fiber bundles 2 is present decrease is formed. Here, decreasing the volume indicates that when based on the volume of the portion of the cleaning member 1 in which the fiber bundles 2 is present before being folded, in regard to the volume in the direction along the directions facing each other of the facing surfaces 60, 60, the apparent volume of the cleaning member 1 in the portion in which the fiber bundle 2 is present decreases.
(Folded Part 47)
[0058] In the folding structure 46, a folded part 47 is formed by appropriately folding the sheet structure 4 around a folding axis J (indicated by dashed lines in Figs. 1A to 1C (symbol J)) assumed at a predetermined position of the sheet structure 4. As long as the folded part 47 is formed to have a bulge in the base sheet 3 when the support handle 27 is inserted into the support handle insertion part 6, the forming pattern, the forming position or the like thereof is not particularly limited. Specifically, in the folding structure 46 formed with the folded part 47 (47a) as illustrated in the example of Fig. 21A, when the support handle 27 is inserted into the support handle insertion part 6, in appearance of the cleaning member 1, the bulge is formed on the base sheet 3. Furthermore, the portion in which the fiber bundles 2 of the cleaning member 1 is present when the support handle 27 is inserted into the support handle insertion part 6 becomes bulky. The bulkiness described herein indicates that in regard to the bulkiness of the cleaning member 1 along the directions facing to each other of the facing surfaces 60, 60, the apparent cleaning member 1 in the portion in which the fiber bundles 2 is present increases than before inserting the support handle 27 into the support handle insertion part 6.
[0059] As illustrated in Fig. 21A, the folded part 47 is formed so as to position a protruding end 49 thereof on the outer peripheral surface side of the sheet structure 4.
[0060] When the folded part 47 is formed, the facing surface 60 is formed. For example, the space part 8 is narrowed by pressing the sheet structure 4 illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C in the direction of arrow D1 toward the inside from the outside of the cleaning member 1 as illustrated in Fig. 21A, the base sheet 3 is flattened in appearance, and the folded state of the sheet structure 4 is formed. At this time, the sheet structure 4 is bent inward (inner surface side direction of the sheet base 3; arrows V1 and V2 in Fig. 21A) around two folding axes J (J1, J2) assumed at a predetermined position of the sheet structure 4 to form the folded parts 47 (47a, 47b) and the facing surfaces 60 (60a, 60b) are formed on the inner surface side of the base sheet 3. In addition, the facing surfaces 60a, 60b border on the folded parts 47 (47a, 47b). The facing surfaces 60a, 60b may not come into contact with each other at a position other than the folded part 47, or may come into contact with each other. When the facing surfaces 60a, 60b come into contact with each other at the position other than the folded part 47, the space part 8 is in a crushed state.
(Shape of Folded Part 47)
[0061] The folded part 47 is formed by folding the sheet structure 4 about the folding axis J once, but this is an example. For example, the folded part 47 may be formed in a pattern, such as locating the protruding end 49 on the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 of the sheet structure 4. The foldedpart 47 can be formed by folding the sheet structure 4 so that the base sheet 3 has a flat appearance by being pressed inward from the outside of the cleaning member 1, while folding the sheet structure 4 so that a prearranged part as the protruding end 49 is folded inside the sheet structure 4. In this case, the folded part 47 becomes a portion having a gazette structure.
(Forming Position of Folded part 47)
[0062] Furthermore, in regard to the forming position of the folded part 47, the folded part 47 can be formed at a position appropriately selected according to the configuration of the support handle insertion part 6 of the cleaning member 1.
[0063] In the folded part 47 illustrated in the example of Fig. 21A, there is one (folded part 47a in Fig. 21A) in which an axis along at least assumed folding axis J (J1) is formed at a position intersecting with the end portion 48 of the support handle insertion part 6. Specifically, the folding axis J1 is assumed on one sheet piece join portion 14 formed between the adjacent insertion space parts 7 of the sheet piece join portion 14 for joining the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3 forming the support handle insertion part 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1B along the sheet piece join portion 14, and the sheet structure 4 is bent around the folding axis J1 to form the foldedpart 47 (47a). In addition, this is not intended to limit the forming position of the folded part 47 only to the above-described position. For example, by assuming the folding axis J at a position deviated from the sheet piece join portion 14 while intersecting with the end portion 48 of the support handle insertion part 6 and folding the sheet structure 4 therearound, the folded part 47 may be formed.
[0064] Furthermore, when the support handle insertion part 7 is constituted by joining the plurality of sheet pieces 13 and base sheets 13 prepared separately to form the plurality of insertion space parts 7 as illustrated in Fig. 4B, the folded part 47 may be formed, by assuming the folding axis J at a predetermined position located between the respective insertion space parts 7 along the surface of the base sheet 13, and folding the sheet structure 4 around the folding axis J. In this case, the folding axis J assumed in forming the folded part 47 may not intersect with the end portion 48 of the support handle insertion part 6.
(Number of Formation of Folded part 47)
[0065] At least two folded parts 47 are formed. In the folding structure 46 of Fig. 21A, two folded parts 47 (47a and 47b) are formed at the positions facing each other so that the protruding end of the flat base sheet 3 becomes the protruding end 49 of the folded part 47.
[0066] If one (folded part 47a) of the folded parts 47 is formed to have a bulge in the base sheet 3 when inserting the support handle 27 into the support handle insertion part 6, the forming position of the other (folded part 47b) of folded parts 47 is not particularly limited. When differences are observed in stiffness and thickness of the base sheet 3 between the join portion 12 and a non-join portion in the cleaning member 1, in view of implementation easiness of folding of the sheet structure 4, as illustrated in Figs. 21A and 21B, the folded part 47b is preferably the portion which is formed by being bent the sheet structure 4 at a boundary position 61 which is a boundary between the join portion 12 and the non-join portion.
[0067] This can be specifically achieved by configuring the cleaning member 1 so as to mate the portion serving as the folding axis J2 and the boundary positions 61 when the sheet structure 4 is pressed in the direction of arrow D1. In addition, this does not exclude a case that the folded part 47b is formed at the positions other than the boundary position 61 between the join portion 12 and the non-join portion.
(Insertion of Support Handle 27 into Folding Structure 46)
[0068] In the folding structure 46, the base sheet 3 is flat, and space part 8 is in a thin state or a crushed state. However, with the insertion of the support handle 27 into the support handle insertion part 6 of the folding structure 46, as illustrated in Fig. 21B, the tubular space of the base sheet 3 is pushed in the direction of arrow D2, the flat state of the base sheet 3 of the sheet structure 4 is released, expansion of the space part 8 is restored in the tubular space of the base sheet 3, the bulge is formed in the base sheet 3, and the cleaning member 1 in which the folded state is released is formed. That is, when the support handle 27 is inserted into the support handle insertion part 6 of the folding structure 46, the cleaning member 1 restores a three-dimensional state compared to the folded state prior to insertion of the support handle 27.
(Support Handle 27 That can be Inserted into Folding Structure 46)
[0069] In regard to the configuration of the support handle 27 to be inserted into the folding structure 46, the support handle 27 is not particularly limited. That is, as illustrated in Fig. 21B, the support handle 27 inserted into the folding structure 46 is not limited to one having two support rods 28a and 28b formed by dividing the fixed part 28 into two parts, but may be one having one support rod, and may be one having a structure which has three or four support rods and are divided into three or four parts, respectively. Furthermore, the shape of the support rod may be one formed in an appropriate shape in addition to a round bar shape, and a square bar shape.
[Another Example of Cleaning Member 1]
[0070] The cleaning member 1 is not limited to one having a sheet structure 4 as illustrated above, and may be one in which each part such as the fiber bundles 2 forming the sheet structure 4 is configured as will be described below.
(Another Example of Fiber Bundle 2)
[0071] In the sheet structure 4, the fiber bundles 2 are not limited to the case of forming the fiber join portion 10 at the central position in flow direction of the fibers. As illustrated in Fig. 8A, the fiber bundles 2 may be configured so that the fiber join portion 10 is formed at a position or location that is laterally offset from the central position in the flow direction of the fibers. That is, when assuming a distance from the fiber join portion 10 to one end (one free end) of the fibers to be W1, and assuming a distance to the other end (the other free end) to be W2, W1 and W2 may be different values from each other. In addition, in the sheet structure 4, in the case of W1 > W2, the fiber bundles 2 are preferably disposed so that portions of the fibers of applying W1 of the fiber bundles 2 are disposed on the outer side in the sheet structure 4. In this case, by adjusting the value of W1, it is possible to more efficiently suppress the exposure of the portion of the end surface 5 of the base sheet 3 while cleaning. Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to easily maintain the state in which the flexible fibers are present in a portion corresponding to the portion of the end surface 5 of the base sheet 3 in the sheet structure 4, thereby improving the flexibility of that portion.
[0072] In addition, the end surface 5 of the base sheet 3 is covered with fiber bundles 2 in the sheet structure 4, but the exposure suppression of the portion of the end surface 5 of the base sheet 3 can be achieved by adjusting the dimensions of the base sheet 3 so that the end surface 5b of the base sheet 3 is positioned inside the free end of the fiber bundle 2, as illustrated in Fig. 8B.
(Another Example of Arrangement of Fiber Bundle 2)
[0073] Furthermore, in the sheet structure 4, the arrangement of the fiber bundles 2 is not limited to those illustrated above. As illustrated in Fig. 7A, the fiber bundles may be disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the fiber join portion 10 of the fiber bundle 2 is a direction along the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 7B, the fiber bundles 2 may also be disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the fiber join portion 10 of the fiber bundle 2 becomes a direction that diagonally crosses the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3.
(Intervention Sheet Piece 26)
[0074] In the sheet structure 4, the fiber bundles 2 are not limited to a case of being directly joined to the outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3, and may be indirectly joined to the outer peripheral surface of the base sheet 3 via an intervention sheet piece 26 as illustrated in Figs. 14A and 14B. The intervention sheet piece 26 is not particularly limited as long as it is made of materials capable of being joined to both the fiber bundles 2 and the base sheet 3. Specifically, the intervention sheet piece 26 may be appropriately selected from the sheet materials usable as the sheet raw material 9.
[0075] The sheet structure 4 provided with the intervention sheet piece 26 can be obtained as follows. That is, as illustrated in Fig. 19B, the intervention sheet piece 26 is joined to the fiber bundle 2 in advance to form an inter-bundle intervention sheet piece join portion 42, thereby forming a coupling piece 41. Next, the coupling piece 41 is joined to the sheet raw material 9 to form a state of indirectly joining the fiber bundles 2 to the sheet raw material 9 via the intervention sheet piece 26. Here, as a method of joining the fiber bundles 2 and the intervention sheet piece 26, and a method of joining the intervention sheet piece 26 and the sheet raw material 9, it is possible to appropriately select the same method as the method of forming the join portion 12. Furthermore, the shape of the join portion between the intervention sheet piece 26 and the sheet raw material 9 can be appropriately selected, and is not limited to a linear shape, a dotted shape or the like. Furthermore, the intervention sheet piece 26 may be joined to all over the sheet raw material 9, or may be partly joined thereto. In this way, the coupling piece 41 is appropriately joined to the sheet raw material 9, and the sheet piece 13 is joined to the sheet raw material 9 to form a sheet structure raw material as necessary, and then, the sheet structure raw material is appropriately rounded and the join portion 12 is formed to manufacture the sheet structure 4. Moreover, the cleaning member 1 is obtained by preparing the sheet structure 4 in this manner.
[0076] In addition, the shape of the intervention sheet piece 26 can be appropriately selected depending on the shape of the fiber bundles 2. The intervention sheet piece 26 is formed in a piece shape in the example of Figs. 14A and 14B. In addition, the size of the intervention sheet piece 26 can be appropriately selected, but, as illustrated in Fig. 19B, the size can be set within a range in which it is possible to position the outer peripheral edge of the intervention sheet piece 26 inside the reach (a fiber movable range K) of the free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundle 2 as viewed in a plan view of the coupling piece 41. In this case, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the state of exposing the intervention sheet piece 26 to the outside of the free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundle 2 occurs more than necessary in the cleaning member 1. Here, the fiber movable range K is constituted by a fiber movable range K1 in the longitudinal direction and a fiber movable range K2 in a width direction, in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the fiber bundles 2, respectively. As viewed in a plan view of the coupling piece 41, the fiber movable range K1 is an outside range along the longitudinal direction (the direction of extension of the fiber join portion 10 in Fig. 19B) of the fiber bundle 2 from the positions X1 and X2 of each join portion end based on the position X (X1 and X2) of the join portion end of the fiber join portion 10, and is a reach of the free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundles 2. As viewed in the plan view of the coupling piece 41, the fiber movable range K2 is a reach of the free ends of the fibers forming the fiber bundle 2, which is a range between both join portion ends of the fiber join portion 10 (between X1 and X2), and is an outside range along the width direction of the fiber bundles 2.
[0077] Positioning the outer edge of the intervention sheet piece 26 inside the fiber movable range K can be specifically achieved as follows. As illustrated in Fig. 19A, the intervention sheet piece raw material 35 is prepared, and the coupling piece raw material 36 obtained by joining the fiber bundles 2 thereto is prepared. At this time, in the coupling piece raw material 36, an inter-bundle intervention sheet piece raw material join portion 37 is formed in a joining portion between the fiber bundle 2 and the intervention sheet piece raw material 35. In the coupling piece raw material 36, perforations 38 are provided at a predetermined position of the intervention sheet piece raw material 35. By means of tearing the intervention sheet piece raw material 35 by the perforations 38, the outer portion of the perforations 38 in the intervention sheet piece raw material 35 is removed. At this time, the intervention sheet piece raw material 35 forms the intervention sheet piece 26, the inter-bundle intervention sheet piece raw material join portion 37 forms an inter-bundle intervention sheet piece join portion 42, and the coupling piece 41 is prepared. In addition, the position of the perforations 38 is selected so that the peripheral edge of the intervention sheet piece 26 is located at the outer position than the inter-bundle intervention sheet piece join portion 42 and is located inside the contour position of the fiber movable range K.
[0078] After the coupling piece 41 is adjusted, the sheet structure raw material, in which the coupling piece 41 is provided in the sheet raw material 9 as indicated above, is prepared. Then the cleaning member 1 can be prepared by using the sheet structure raw material.
[0079] Furthermore, as the perforations 38, in Fig. 19A, ones extending along the respective directions for both the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the fiber bundles 2 are provided, but not limited thereto, and ones expending in at least one direction may be provided.
(Another Example of Base Sheet 3)
[0080] In the sheet structure 4, the base sheet 3 is not limited to a case of being formed by joining the free end portions of the end edge side of the sheet raw material 9 to form the join portion 12 while allowing one surface 16b and the other surface 16a of the sheet raw material 9 to face each other, but as illustrated in Fig. 4D, the base sheet 3 can be formed by joining the free endportions of the endedge side of the sheet rawmaterial 9 to form the join portion 12 while allowing one surfaces 16b of the sheet raw material 9 to face each other. Furthermore, the base sheet 3 may also be formed by joining the free end portions of the end edge side of the sheet raw material 9 to form the join portion 12 while allowing the other surfaces 16a of the sheet raw material 9 to face each other as illustrated in Fig. 4E.
[0081] Furthermore, the base sheet 3 is not limited to the case of being formed by joining the free end portions of the end edge side of the sheet raw material 9 to form the join portion 12. As illustrated in Fig. 4C, the base sheet 3 may also be formed by joining the free end portion of the end edge side of the sheet raw material 9 and a predetermined portion close to the center of the sheet raw material 9 while facing each other to form the join portion 12. In the example of Fig. 4C, the join portion 12 (12a) is formed by joining the other surface 16a side of the free end portion of one end edge of the sheet raw material 9 to the predetermined portion close to the center of the other surface 16a of the sheet raw material 9 to face each other, and the join portion 12 (12b) is formed by joining the one surface 16b side of the free end portion of the other end edge side of the sheet raw material 9 to the predetermined portion close to the center of the one surface 16b of the sheet raw material 9 to face each other. Moreover, the base sheet 3 is formed with a space part 23 (23a) formed in a state in which the other surface 16a of the sheet raw material 9 faces the inner surface side, and a space part 23 (23b) formed in a state in which the one surface 16b of the sheet raw material 9 faces the inner surface side, the sheet piece 13 is attached to the inner surface of the space part 23 (23b) in a state in which the one surface 16b of the sheet raw material 9 faces the inner surface side to form the insertion space part 7 and to form the support handle insertion part 6. At this case, a space part 8 is formed as a space group constituted by a residual space 34 obtained by subtracting the part forming the support handle insertion part 6 from the space part 23b, and the space part 23a.
[0082] As illustrated in Figs. 20C and 20D, the base sheet 3 may also include a structure which is formed in a tubular shape by obliquely winding the parallelogram-shaped sheet raw material 9, as a tubular body. The cleaning member 1 equipped with such a base sheet 3 can be obtained as follows. As illustrated in Fig. 20A, a join portion structure 44 is obtained by joining the fiber bundles 2 to one surface of the rectangular sheet raw material 9. The predetermined portions of the two side edge sides forming a short side of the sheet raw material 9 of the join portion structure 44 are cut in a direction obliquely crossing the longitudinal direction of the join portion structure 44 to obtain a cutting target joining body 45 having almost a parallelogram shape as viewed in a plan view as illustrated in Fig. 20B, and the parallelogram-shaped sheet raw material 9 is formed. Furthermore, the tubular structure is formed by winding the cutting target joining body 45 around the axis (indicated by symbol M in the Fig. 20B) along the direction perpendicular to the direction along the short side of the cutting target joining body 45. At this case, when forming the join portion 12 by joining the facing portions of the side end surfaces of the sheet raw material 9 to each other, the shape of the tubular structure is stabilized. Moreover, by joining the sheet piece 13 at a predetermined position of the tubular structure, for example, at a predetermined position such as the inner surface of the tubular structure illustrated in Fig. 20D, the sheet structure 4 is formed, and the cleaning member 1 is obtained. In addition, even in this case, multiple fiber bundles 2 may be disposed and maybe disposed such that the longitudinal direction of the fiber bundles 2 becomes the direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the sheet raw material 9.
(Another Example of Support Handle Insertion Part 6)
[0083] The support handle insertion part 6 is not limited to the case of being formed by joining one sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3 as illustrated in the example of Figs. 1A to 1C. As illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B, the multiple sheet pieces 13 may be joined to the base sheet 3 to form the insertion space part 7 by the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3, respectively, and the support handle insertion part 6 may be formed by combining the individually formed insertion space parts 7.
[0084] Furthermore, in Figs. 1A to 1C, the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by two insertion space parts 7, but may be formed by one insertion space part 7, and as illustrated in Fig. 4B, the support handle insertion part 6 may be formed by three insertion space parts 7 and may be formed by more than four insertion space parts 7 (not illustrated).
[0085] Furthermore, the sheet piece 13 is not limited to the case of being joined to a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface side of the base sheet 3 as illustrated in the example of Figs. 1A to 1C, and may be joined to a predetermined position of the outer peripheral surface side of the base sheet 3 to form a sheet piece join portion 14 as illustrated in Fig. 4F. In this case, the support portion insertion part 7 is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the base sheet, and the insertion space part 6 is formed to be spaced apart from space part 8 via the base sheet 3. Furthermore, in this case, the fiber bundles 2 may be disposed to cover the exposed outer surface of the sheet piece 13 as illustrated in Fig. 4F, and may be disposed to avoid the arrangement portion of the sheet piece 13.
(Another Example of Insertion Space Part 7)
[0086] The insertion space part 7 is not limited to the case of being formed as the space passing through the insertion direction of the support handle 27 as described above. That is, the insertion space part 7 is not limited to the case of being formed as a space that is opened on both end surface sides of the one end surface 5a and the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3 and passes from the position of the one end surface 5a of the base sheet 3 toward the position of the other end surface 5b. As illustrated in Figs. 6A and 6B, the insertion space part 7 may be formed as a space (a space that does not penetrate) having closed one side of the one end surface 5a and the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3. Such a space can be formed by forming a crossing join portion 24 in the support handle insertion part 6 so as to cross the extension direction of the insertion space part 7 (direction facing the other end surface 5b from one end surface 5a of the base sheet 3) as the insertion direction. In the example of Fig. 6A, the crossing join portion 24 is formed linearly by joining the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3 to each other at a predetermined position slightly inner from the position of the other end surface 5b. In a case where the insertion space part 7 is a space that does not pass through the cleaning member 1, when the support handle 27 is inserted from the one end surface 5a side or the other end surface 5b side, it is possible to reliably prevent the fear of the penetration of the leading end of the support handle 27 to the opposite side.
(Another Example of Sheet Raw Material 9 Forming Base Sheet 3)
[0087] In the sheet structure 4, the base sheet 3 is not limited to the case of being formed using one sheet raw material 9, and may be formed using the multiple sheet raw materials 9 as in a second embodiment described below.
(Another Example of Cross-Sectional Shape of Base Sheet 3)
[0088] In regard to the sheet structure 4, the description has been given of a case where the base sheet 3 forms as a circular shape in a cross-section view taking in a vertical direction in which both end surfaces 5 (5a, 5b) side are open, but are not limited thereto. The cross-sectional shape of the base sheet 3 can be appropriately selected. Here, the cross-section of the base sheet 3 indicates the shape of the section of the base sheet 3 recognized when assuming the state of cutting the base sheet 3 in a plane having a normal line in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3. The cross-sectional shape of the base sheet 3 is not limited to a circular cross-sectional shape as in the example of Figs. 1A to 1C. Specifically, the base sheet 3 may have a deformed cross-sectional shape such as an elliptical shape, and a shape formed by combining a plurality of circular shapes as illustrated in Figs. 13A, 13B, and 13C. The deformed cross-sectional shape is assumed to indicate the cross-sectional shapes other than a circular cross-sectional shape.
[0089] In addition, the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Figs. 13A and 13B can be prepared using the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in the example of the cleaning member 1a of Figs. 1A to 1C. That is, in regard to the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C, two different positions of the tubular space side of the base sheet 3 are selected and joined linearly along the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 at the two positions, thereby forming the join portion 12 (12c) . As a result, the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Figs. 13A and 13B is formed. At this case, the space part 8 is formed as a space group formed by the space part 23c and the space part 23d. Furthermore, the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Fig. 13C can be prepared, by selecting two different positions of the tubular space side of the base sheet 3 with respect to the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Fig. 13B and linearly joining in the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 at the two positions to form the join portion 12 (12d), as well as the join portion 12c. In this case, the space part 8 is formed as a space group including the space part 23c, the space part 23d, and the space part 23e.
[0090] Since the sheet structure 4 is configured so that the base sheet 3 has the deformed cross-sectional shape as illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13C as described above, it is possible to diversify the contact state with the surface to be cleaned.
(Another Example of External Shape of Base Sheet 3)
[0091] In the sheet structure 4, the external shape of the base sheet 3 is not limited to the case of openingboth-side end surfaces 5 side, while forming the tubular shape in which the substantially constant outer diameter of the cross-section is maintained from one end surface 5a toward the other end surface 5b, and the base sheet 3 may have a shape of a state in which at least a part is closed by crushing the opening of at least a part of the cross-section of the other end surface 5b side position in the base sheet 3, as illustrated in the example of Figs. 9A to 9C. In the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in the example of Figs. 9A to 9D, the base sheet 3 is formed with a crushed part 18 on the other end surface 5b side by closing at least a part of the other end surface 5b side.
[0092] The sheet structure 4 illustrated in Figs. 9A to 9D can be specifically prepared using the sheet structure 4 as illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C. That is, after preparing the sheet structure 4 illustrated in Figs. 1A to 1C, two positions of a predetermined position of the other end surface 5b side as the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 and a predetermined position on the sheet piece 13 are selected to form the crushing target part, and the crushing target parts of the two positions are joined to each other in a dotted shape to form an end join portion 25. At this time, the cross-sectional shape of the base sheet 3 is in a state of being crushed by the position of the end join portion 25 and the periphery thereof, the state of crushing the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3 is formed to form the crushed part 18. At this time, as illustrated in Fig. 9B, the cleaning member 1 has a shape tapered toward the position of the other end surface 5b side from the position of the one end surface 5a of the base sheet 3 when the one side surface is viewed from a predetermined position. However, for example, when the cleaning member 1 is viewed in a direction rotated by 90 degrees about an axis in the longitudinal direction of the base sheet 3 with respect to the predetermined direction, as illustrated in Fig. 9A, the cleaning member 1 has a shape expanded from the position of one end surface 5a toward the position of the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3. In addition, the multiple end join portions 25 are formed. Furthermore, when the end join portions 25 are formed at the central position of the base sheet 3 or in the vicinity thereof, the sheet structure 4 has a shape narrowed toward the center from the position of the end surface 5 of the base sheet 3.
[0093] As the multiple crushing target positions for forming the end join portions 25, the multiple positions may be selected only from the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3. In this case, the crushing target portion is not selected from a predetermined position on the sheet piece 13.
(Another Example of Crushed Part 18)
[0094] The crushed part 18 is not limited to the case of being formed by joining the crushed target positions of two different positions as the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 and the predetermined position on the other end surface 5b side in a dotted shape to form the end join portion 25. The crushed part 18 may be formed by forming the end join portion 25 as illustrated in Figs. 10A and 10B. That is, as illustrated in Figs. 10A and 10B, the different three positions (Fig. 10A), four positions (Fig. 10B) or more positions as the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 and the predetermined position of the other end surface 5b side are selected as the crushing target positions, and the crushing target positions are joined to one another in a dotted shape, thereby forming the end join portion 25. For convenience of description, in Figs. 10A and 10B, the sheet piece 13 and the fiber bundles are not illustrated, and in regard to the base sheet 3, the portion of the end surface 5b is also illustrated by extraction.
(Another Example of End join portion 25)
[0095] Furthermore, the end join portion 25 is not limited to the case of being formed by joining the multiple different positions as the inner surface side of the tubular body forming the base sheet 3 and the predetermined position of the other end surface 5b side in a dotted shape. As illustrated in Fig. 9D, the end join portions 25 may be formed by linearly joining the base sheet 3 on the other end surface 5b side of the base sheet 3. Furthermore, at this case, as illustrated in Fig. 11, pleats may be formed at the position of the end join portion 25. That is, in the base sheet 3 illustrated in Fig. 11, the state in which the other end surface 5b side of the base sheet 3 is more effectively crushed is formed, by adding a configuration in which the other end surface 5b side is crushed to form the pleats to a configuration in which the end join portion 25 is linearly formed, and the crushed part 18 has a shape that is narrowed at the other end surface 5b side of the base sheet 3.
[0096] Since the cleaning member 1 forms the crushed part 18 in the base sheet 3 of the sheet structure 4, it is possible to use the crushed part 18 side of the cleaning member 1 as the leading end side of the cleaning member 1, and the cleaning member 1 can be formed as a tapered shape toward the leading end, the leading end of the cleaning member 1 can slip into a narrow space, and cleaning of the narrow space can be easily performed.
[0097] The cleaning member 1 may have a configuration in which the notch part 31 as illustrated in Figs. 12A and 12B is provided in the base sheet 3 to form the multiple strip-like parts 32 in the sheet structure 4.
(Notch Part 31)
[0098] In the example of Figs. 12A and 12B, the notch part 31 is formed by extending one end surface 5a side and the other end surface 5b side of the base sheet 3 to form the extended part 33, and by adding a plurality of notches toward the proximal end from the extension leading end of the extended part 33. Furthermore, the strip-like part 32 is formed as a portion interposed between the adjacent notch parts 31, 31. At this case, as illustrated in Fig. 12B, it is preferred to apply the notch so as to avoid the support handle insertion part 6. When the notch part 31 is also applied to the support handle insertion part 6, the strip-like part 32 is also formed in the support handle insertion part 6, but, in that case, it is feared that the strip-like part 32 may interfere with insertion of the support handle 27.
[0099] In addition, in the example illustrated in Figs. 12A and 12B, on both one end surface 5a side and the other end surface 5b side of the base sheet 3, the extended parts 33 are formed, and the notch parts 31 are formed, but one configuration of the extended part 33 and the notch part 31 may be formed on at least one of the one end surface 5a and the other end surface 5b of the base sheet 3. Furthermore, Figs. 12A and 12B are an example, the notch part may be formed to a position entered the base sheet 3 from the proximal end of the extended part 33, and the notch may be formed in the base sheet 3 without forming the extended part 33 to form the notch part 31.
[0100] When the cleaning member 1 has a configuration in which the base sheet 3 is formed with the multiple strip-like parts 32 in the sheet structure 4, it is possible to capture the dust and dirt by the strip-like parts 32 as well as fiber bundles 2, and it is possible to provide more excellent cleaning capability. In addition, since the extended part 33 forms a portion protruding outward the reach position of the fiber leading end of the fiber bundle 2, and the strip-like part 32 is formed on at least that portion in the example of Figs. 12A and 12B, the strip-like part 32 is hardly covered with the fibers of the fiber bundles 2, and it is possible to more reliably capture the dust and dirt by the strip-like parts 32.
<Second Embodiment>
[0101] In the first embodiment, the cleaning member 1 has the configuration in which the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by joining the sheet piece 13 and the base sheet 3, but the cleaning member 1 is not limited to those illustrated in such a form.
[0102] The embodiment of the invention may have a form in which the cleaning member 1 is configured as illustrated in the example of the cleaning member 1b of Figs. 5A to 5C. This form is referred to a second embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, in the cleaning member 1, a space forming the insertion space part 7 is formed between the facing base sheets 3 by the formation of the joining state of the base sheets 3, as in the cleaning member 1 (1b) illustrated in Figs. 5A to 5C, and the support handle insertion part 6 may be formed by the insertion space part 7. In addition, the cleaning member 1 in the second embodiment is provided with the sheet structure 4 as in the first embodiment, and each configuration such as the fiber bundle 2 and the base sheet 3 except for the configuration in which the support handle insertion part 6 is formed as described above may be configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
[0103] The cleaning member 1b of Figs. 5A to 5C can be prepared by forming the sheet structure 4 as follows.
[0104] First, a sheet structure raw material formed by appropriately joining the sheet raw material 9 to the fiber bundle 2 is prepared. Two side parts 19a and 19b of the side part 19, which are defined by predetermined portions at the side end edge which is a side portion apart from the center of the sheet raw material 9 in the sheet structure raw material, are selected. The sheet raw material 9 is formed in a tubular body while allowing the side parts 19a and 19b to face inward. Subsequently, two side parts 19a and 19b, which are faced inward in the tubular body, are respectively rounded in a direction opposite to each other to face each of two side parts 19a and 19b to the inner surface of the tubular body. And then two space parts surrounded by the respective side parts 19a and 19b are formed tubularly.
[0105] Moreover, the side parts 19a and 19b are joined to each other, and the free end portions of the side parts 19a and 19b are joined to the inner surface of the tubular body to form the join portion 12. At this time, the sheet raw material 9 forms the base sheet 3, the joining state between the base sheets 3 at a predetermined position of the base sheets 3 is formed, the two space parts form the insertion space parts 7, 7, and the support handle insertion part 6 is formed. Furthermore, the space part 8 is formed on the outside of the support handle insertion part 6 at this time. In addition, the join portion 12 can be formed by, for example, applying an adhesive to a predetermined section to be formed the join portion 12, in advance to form the adhesive part 15. This is also applied to the formation of the join portion 12 for all embodiments of the cleaning member 1 as well as the cleaning member 1 of Figs. 5A to 5C.
[0106] In addition, in the sheet structure 4 illustrated in the example of the cleaning member 1 in Figs. 5A to 5C, the sheet structure 4 is formed by forming a tubular body while the two predetermined side parts 19a and 19b of the sheet raw material 9 are faced inward. The sheet structure 4 maybe formedby forming a tubular body while the two predetermined side parts 19a and 19b of the sheet raw material 9 are faced outward.
[0107] The cleaning member 1b illustrated in Figs. 5A to 5C as the cleaning member 1 in the second embodiment is an example, namely, the cleaning member 1 is not limited to the example of Figs. 5A to 5C. For example, the cleaning member 1 may be a cleaning member such as illustrated in Figs. 17A to 17D. In the cleaning member illustrated in Figs. 17A to 17D, a space forming the insertion space part 7 is also formed between the facing base sheets 3 by the formation of the joining state of between the base sheets 3, and the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by the insertion space part 7.
[0108] In regard to the cleaning member illustrated in Figs. 17A to 17D, for example, the cleaning member 1 of Fig. 17C can be prepared by forming the sheet structure 4 as follows. As illustrated in Fig. 16B, the sheet structure raw material 17 (17b) formed by appropriately joining the fiber bundles 2 to the sheet raw material 9 is prepared. In the sheet structure raw material 17b, the adhesive part 15 is formed by applying an adhesive to a predetermined position selected as the position where the join portion 12 is formed in advance. The sheet raw material 9 is wound in the directions of arrows P3 and P4 to form a tubular body while allowing the predetermined two side parts 19a and 19b of the sheet raw material 9 in the sheet structure raw material 17b to face inward.
[0109] The free end portions of the side parts 19a and 19b which are faced inward are folded in the direction opposite to each other to face to the inner surface of the tubular body, so that two space parts respectively is formed to be included to the inner surface of the tubular body, and to each of the side parts 19a and 19b both of which are formed as a predetermined parts of the end edge sides.
[0110] Moreover, the facing side parts 19a and 19b are joined to each other at the multiple positions (three positions in the example illustrated in Fig. 17C) in the portion close to the center of the sheet raw material 9 slightly from the free end portions at intervals, and the free end portions of the side parts 19a and 19b are joined to the inner surface of the tubular body to form the join portion 12. At this time, the sheet raw material 9 forms the base sheet 3, the joining state between the base sheets 3 is formed at the predetermined position of the base sheet 3, the space group defined by the above-mentioned two space parts forms the space part 8, two space parts formed between the adjacent join portions 12, 12 of the join portions 12 which are disposed between the facing side parts 19a and 19b and join the both form the insertion space parts 7, 7, and the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by the insertion space parts 7, 7.
[0111] Furthermore, the cleaning member 1 of Fig. 17D can be prepared by forming the sheet structure 4 as follows. As illustrated in Fig. 16A, the sheet structure raw material 17b formed by appropriately joining the fiber bundle 2 to the sheet raw material 9 is prepared. In the sheet structure raw material 17b, an adhesive part 15 is formed in advance by applying an adhesive to the position where the join portion 12 is formed in advance. The tubular body is formed by winding the sheet raw material 9 around the side part 19b in the direction of arrow P2 so as to superimpose predetermined one side part 19a and the other side part 19b of the sheet raw material 9 in the sheet structure raw material 17b, and the facing side parts 19a and 19b are joined to each other at the multiple positions (three positions in the example illustrated in Fig. 17D) at intervals to form the join portion 12. At this time, the sheet raw material 9 forms the base sheet 3, the joining state of the base sheets 3 is formed at a predetermined position of the base sheet 3, and two space parts defined between the side parts 19a and 19b, which are formed between the adjacent join portions 12, 12 form the insertion space parts 7, 7, and the support handle insertion part 6 is formed by the insertion space parts 7, 7. Furthermore, the space part 8 is formed on the outside of the support handle insertion part 6 at this time.
[0112] In addition, in the sheet structure 4, the base sheet 3 is not limited to the case of being formed using one sheet raw material 9, and may be formed using the multiple sheet raw materials 9 as illustrated in Figs. 17A and 17B.
[Cleaning Tool 30]
[0113] The cleaning member 1 is attached to the support handle 27 as illustrated below and is used as a cleaning tool 30 as illustrated in Figs. 15A and 15B. In addition, the cleaning tool 30 illustrated in the example of Figs. 15A and 15B is a handy mop.
[0114] As illustrated in Fig. 15A, the support handle 27 is constituted by the support rods 28a and 28b which constitute a fixed part 28 for fixing the cleaning member 1, and a grip part 29. When the support rods 28a and 28b are subjected to external stress, the support rods 28a and 28b can elastically expand in the direction space apart from each other or narrow in the direction approaching each other in a spring-like fashion in an attempt to return to the position of the support rods 28a and 28b in the state that the support rods 28a and 28b are not subjected to stress load when subjected to external stress.
[0115] As illustrated in Figs. 15A and 15B, the cleaning tool 30 can be obtained by inserting the support rods 28a and 28b of the support handle 27 into the insertion space part 7 of the support handle insertion part 6 of the cleaning member 1. In addition, the direction of insertion of the support handle 27 in Fig. 15A is indicated by an arrow E.
[0116] In addition, it is preferred that the cleaning tool 30 adjust the shape and the size of the insertion space part 7 and the support rods 28a and 28b so that the cleaning member 1 is not easily detached from the support handle 27 after the support rods 28a and 28b are inserted into the insertion space part 7.
[0117] Furthermore, the support handle 27 is formed to include the fixed part 28 having the two support rods 28a and 28b, but is not limited thereto. The support handle 27 may include the fixed part 28 formed in an appropriate shape according to the support handle insertion part 6 of the cleaning member 1. For an example, in the case that the support handle insertion part 6 has a configuration which includes one insertion space part 7, the support handle 27 will provide with one support rod 28.
[0118] At this time, the shape of the support rod of the fixed part 28 may be appropriately selected, and may be formed in an appropriate shape such as a circular rod shape, and a tongue shaped. Furthermore, the support handle 27 may include three or more support rods so as to radially expand from the end of the grip part 29. When such a support rod 27 is used, it is possible to reliably maintain the tubular state in the base sheet 3 of the cleaning member 1.
[Use of Cleaning Tool 30]
[0119] According to the cleaning tool 30, as illustrated in Fig. 18A, it is possible to entwine the dust or dirt adhering to the surface 40 to be cleaned using the fiber bundles 2 by moving in the surface direction of the surface 40 to be cleaned while bringing the fiber bundles 2 into contact with the surface 40 to be cleaned. Furthermore, according to the cleaning tool 30, as illustrated in Fig. 18B, bypressing the fiber bundles 2 against the surface 40 to be cleaned, while bringing the fiber bundles 2 into contact with the surface to be cleaned so that the space part 8 is present between the support handle insertion part 7 and the surface to be cleaned, the space part 8 of the cleaning member 1 is crushed in the pressing direction (direction of arrow N), the space part 8 spreads in a direction along the plane of the surface being cleaned, and thus, it is possible to increase the contact area between the fiber bundles 2 and the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, as the cleaning member 1 is provided in the cleaning tool 30, even when a region as the surface to be cleaned is a wide region, it is possible to sufficiently perform cleaning.
Industrial Applicability
[0120] The present invention is beneficial for use at homes as a cleaning member for removing dust adhering to furniture such as chest of drawers, electrical appliances such as personal computers and lighting equipment, walls inside the buildings, doorsill, lintel or the like
Reference Signs List
[0121]
- 1, 1a, 1b
- cleaning member
- 2
- fiber bundle
- 3
- base sheet
- 4
- sheet structure
- 5
- end surface
- 5a
- end one surface
- 5b
- other end surface
- 6
- support handle insertion part
- 7
- insertion space part
- 8
- space part
- 9
- sheet raw material
- 10
- fiber join portion
- 11
- bundle join portion
- 12
- join portion
- 13
- sheet piece
- 14
- sheet piece join portion
- 15
- adhesive layer
- 16, 16a, 16b
- surface of sheet raw material
- 17, 17a, 17b
- sheet structure raw material
- 18
- crushed part
- 19
- side part
- 20
- long fiber bundle
- 21
- long fiber
- 22
- long fiber join portion
- 23
- space part
- 24
- crossing join portion
- 25
- end join portion
- 26
- intervention sheet piece
- 27
- support handle
- 28
- fixed part
- 28a, 28b
- support rod
- 29
- grip part
- 30
- cleaning tool
- 31
- notch part
- 32
- strip-like part
- 33
- extended part
- 34
- residual space
- 35
- intervention sheet piece raw material
- 36
- coupling piece raw material
- 37
- inter-bundle intervention sheet piece raw material join portion
- 38
- perforation
- 40
- surface to be cleaned
- 41
- coupling piece
- 42
- inter-bundle intervention sheet piece join portion
- 44
- join portion structure
- 45
- cutting target joining body
- 46
- folding structure
- 47
- folding part
- 48
- end portion of support handle insertion part
- 49
- protrusion end
- 60
- facing surface
- 61
- boundary position
1. A cleaning member comprising of at least a sheet structure in which a fiber bundle
having a structure in which multiple fibers are bundled together are joined to a base
sheet, and a configuration in which a support handle insertion part having an insertion
space part which enables a support handle for supporting the sheet structure to insert
in a predetermined direction is formed on the sheet structure,
wherein the base sheet is formed in a tubular shape and has a space part formed in the interior thereof,
the sheet structure joins the fiber bundle to an outer peripheral surface of the base sheet, and
the space part of the base sheet and the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part are formed apart from each other.
wherein the base sheet is formed in a tubular shape and has a space part formed in the interior thereof,
the sheet structure joins the fiber bundle to an outer peripheral surface of the base sheet, and
the space part of the base sheet and the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part are formed apart from each other.
2. The cleaning member according to claim 1, wherein the space part of the base sheet
is greater than the insertion space part of the support handle insertion part.
3. The cleaning member according to claim 1 or 2,
the cleaning member is comprised of a plurality of fiber bundles and,
wherein the plurality of fiber bundles is includes different color fiber bundles.
the cleaning member is comprised of a plurality of fiber bundles and,
wherein the plurality of fiber bundles is includes different color fiber bundles.
4. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support handle
insertion part has a color different from parts except for the support handle insertion
part.
5. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein an intervention sheet
piece is provided between the base sheet and the fiber bundle, and an outer peripheral
edge of the intervention sheet piece is located inside a reach of free ends of the
fibers forming the fiber bundle.
6. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insertion space
part of the support handle insertion part is formed by joining the base sheets.
7. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the base sheet,
an extended part is formed by extending at least one end surface side, and multiple
notches are applied toward a proximal end from an extended leading end of the extended
part.
8. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which colors of the fibers are different to each other.
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which colors of the fibers are different to each other.
9. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 8,
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which materials of the fibers are different to each other.
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which materials of the fibers are different to each other.
10. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 9,
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which thicknesses of the fibers are different to each other.
wherein the fiber bundle is formed by fibers which are formed by plural types in which thicknesses of the fibers are different to each other.
11. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 10,
wherein the fiber bundle is formed with a fiber bundling part that bundles the multiple fibers and joins the fibers in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the fibers at a predetermined position, and
the fiber bundling part is formed at a position laterally offset from a central position in the flow direction of the fibers.
wherein the fiber bundle is formed with a fiber bundling part that bundles the multiple fibers and joins the fibers in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the fibers at a predetermined position, and
the fiber bundling part is formed at a position laterally offset from a central position in the flow direction of the fibers.
12. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of fiber
bundles are provided, and at least one of the fiber bundles is made of the fibers
formed by a material which is different from a material of the fibers forming at least
one other fiber bundles.
13. The cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of fiber
bundles are provided, and at least one of the fiber bundles is made of the fibers
having a thickness which is different from a thickness of the fibers forming at least
one other fiber bundles.
14. A cleaning tool in which a support handle is inserted into a support handle insertion
part of the cleaning member according to any of claims 1 to 13.
15. A folding structure of the cleaning member in which the cleaning member according
to any of claims 1 to 13 is folded at a predetermined position of the sheet structure
to form a folded part, and the base sheet is flattened,
wherein the folded part is formed to have a bulge in the base sheet when inserting the support handle into the support handle insertion part.
wherein the folded part is formed to have a bulge in the base sheet when inserting the support handle into the support handle insertion part.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description