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(11) | EP 3 539 443 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | CLEANING PAD |
| (57) One embodiment of the present invention relates to a cleaning pad having an empty
space formed therein and provides a cleaning pad, comprising: a detergent injection
part formed at one end of the cleaning pad; and a sealing part extending from both
ends of the detergent injection part so as to seal the other end of the cleaning pad,
wherein the detergent injection part has a structure, in which the detergent injection
part is folded and fixed towards the inside of the cleaning pad from the outside thereof. |
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning pad which is convenient to use and has high washing effectiveness and antibacterial qualities.
[Background Art]
[0002] Various kinds of contamination may be removed to some degree with only water, but in most cases, use of a detergent is required to remove contamination. A detergent is mainly classified into soap and a synthetic detergent. The soap, which is the oldest detergent, is formed by mixing animal or vegetable oil with sodium hydroxide and boiling the mixed oil, and the synthetic detergent is formed by mixing a surfactant, which is made of a raw material arising from petroleum compounds, with various additives.
[0003] The surfactant, which is a main component of soap and synthetic detergent, contains both a hydrophilic group and a lipophilic group in a molecule thereof to play an important role in removing contaminants. Specifically, when a detergent penetrates between an object to be cleaned and a contaminant, the hydrophilic group and the lipophilic group of the molecule of the surfactant adsorb onto the contaminant and are arranged so that the hydrophilic group moves toward water and the lipophilic group moves toward the contaminant. The detergent weakens a coupling force between the object to be cleaned and the contaminant and swells to make the object to be cleaned and the contaminant separable. Thus, when a physical force is applied to the object to be cleaned, the contaminant may be easily removed.
[0004] However, when a detergent is excessively used, various problems may occur. Particularly, since a dishwashing detergent for washing dishes is in direct contact with a user's skin when in use, the dishwashing detergent is continuously exposed to a user's hand, finger nails, and the like and removes a skin's protective barrier so as to cause skin diseases such as housewife's eczema. Further, when the dishwashing detergent remains on dishes, detergent components directly enter a user's mouth such as to cause an adverse effect on health and sanitation.
[0005] Generally, a liquid-type dishwashing detergent is used. The liquid-type dishwashing detergent is not easy to carry and store due to a heavy weight thereof, and when the dishwashing detergent is used, a control of the amount of the dishwashing detergent is difficult such that the dishwashing detergent may be excessively used, and thus a solid-type dishwashing detergent has been developed. However, since the solid-type dishwashing detergent is exposed to external environments after use until consumed, bacteria may grow easily, and thus the hygienic management of the solid-type dishwashing detergent may be difficult. Further, as the size of the solid-type dishwashing detergent decreases according to use, it will be inconvenient for a user in a process of making foam.
[0006] Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a cleaning pad that enables the hygienic management of a solid-type dishwashing detergent and has excellent usability and washing effectiveness.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Problem]
[0007] The present invention is directed to providing a cleaning pad which is provided with a solid detergent therein so as to have excellent usability and antibacterial qualities and also have excellent washing effectiveness.
[Technical Solution]
[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a cleaning pad which has an empty space formed therein, the cleaning pad including a detergent inlet formed on one end of the cleaning pad and a sealing part that extends from each of both ends of the detergent inlet and seals the other end of the cleaning pad, wherein the cleaning pad has a structure in which the detergent inlet is folded from an outside of the cleaning pad toward an inside thereof and is fixed.
[0010] The fiber fabric may include an external layer having a plurality of pores and an internal layer interposed between the external layers, and the external layers may be connected by the internal layer so that the fiber fabric has an integrated structure.
[0011] The fiber fabric may be one selected from the group consisting of polyester yarn, polypropylene yarn, polyethylene yarn, low-density polyethylene yarn, high-density polyethylene yarn, and combined yarn of two or more thereof.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0016] A cleaning pad according to one embodiment of the present invention has an empty space formed therein to accommodate a solid detergent, includes a detergent inlet which is folded toward the inside of the cleaning pad and is fixed thereto so that the solid detergent is easily put in the detergent inlet but does not come out of the detergent inlet easily, and thus the usability of the cleaning pad can be increased. Further, a fiber fabric that composes the cleaning pad has an integrated structure having pores so that a large amount of foam is generated and maintained, and thus the cleaning pad is highly washable.
[0017] It should be understood that effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects and include all effects deducible from the detailed description of the present invention or the configuration of the invention described in the claims.
[Description of Drawings]
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a view of a cleaning pad according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view of an integrated structure of a fiber fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning pad having a detergent inlet according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Description of Symbols]
[Modes of the Invention]
[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in several different forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, parts irrelevant to descriptions will be omitted in the drawings to clearly explain embodiments of the present invention. Similar parts are denoted by similar reference numerals throughout this specification.
[0021] Throughout the specification, when a portion is referred to as being "connected with" another portion, the portion may be "directly connected with" another portion or may be "indirectly connected" with another portion having other members interposed therebetween. Further, when a portion "includes" an element, the portion may further include another element rather than excluding other elements unless otherwise described.
[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a view of a cleaning pad according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the cleaning pad according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a cleaning pad 10 having an empty space formed therein, a detergent inlet 20 formed on one end of the cleaning pad 10, and a sealing part 30 that extends from each of both ends of the detergent inlet 20 and seals the other end of the cleaning pad 10.
[0024] When the cleaning pad 10 is applied to an object to be cleaned, that is, a dish, the cleaning pad 10 may serve to remove contamination by rubbing or scrubbing the object to be cleaned. The cleaning pad 10 may be formed by folding and sewing a single fiber fabric. After the fiber fabric is folded or the fiber fabrics overlap, an edge of the fiber fabric may be sewed. In this case, the edge of the fiber fabric may be sewed except the detergent inlet 20. The sewing may be performed by hand or by a sewing machine, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0025] Further, the cleaning pad 10 may include a seam allowance part of 5 to 15 mm. The term "seam allowance" used in the specification refers to a width from a stitching line to an end of a fabric. The seam allowance part may be positioned on an outside or an inside of the cleaning pad 10, however, when the seam allowance part is positioned on the outside of the cleaning pad 10, the seam allowance part stimulates a user's skin while cleaning such as to cause the user to have skin diseases and feel uncomfortable. Therefore, when considering the usability and aesthetics of the cleaning pad 10, the seam allowance part may be positioned inside the cleaning pad 10.
[0026] Further, when the fiber fabric is cut, cutting may be performed in consideration of a portion to be used as a seam allowance part. The cutting size of the fiber fabric is not specified but may be generally designed in a range of 200 to 300 mm in width and 70 to 130 mm in length in consideration of user convenience, portability, and storage property.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view of an integrated structure of a fiber fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the fiber fabric includes external layers 11 having a plurality of pores and an internal layer 12 interposed between the external layers 11, wherein the external layers 11 are connected by the internal layer 12 so that the fiber fabric has an integrated structure. Specifically, the fiber fabric may include the internal layer 12 interposed between the external layers 11 which are in parallel.
[0028] Since yarn of the internal layer 12 that connects the external layers 11 is irregularly arranged in a loose structure, spaces, which are pores, may be formed between strands of the yarn, and a solid detergent enters the pores so that foam is easily generated. Further, although the fiber fabric is woven as a single layer, the fiber fabric has a three-dimensional structure in which the two external layers 11 are connected by the internal layer 12 so as to provide a sense of cushion as in the case in which the fabrics are stacked in three or more layers, and thus durability and the washing effectiveness of the cleaning pad can be increased.
[0029] The fiber fabric of the structure may be woven by a raschel knitting machine. The raschel knitting machine, which is a knitting machine for warp-knit fabrics, uses cotton yarn or filament-yarn of various natural fabrics or artificial fabrics as knitting yarn and weaves fabrics by combining chain knitting with another type of knitting. The warp-knit fabric is a fabric formed using loops vertically formed from yarn supplied in a vertical direction.
[0030] A general method of weaving the warp-knit fabric includes the following operations of threading a hooked needle with various laces in a preceding loop, threading new yarn in the hook needle, and pulling the yarn through the loop to form a new loop. When the operations are repeated, a chain stich, which is a chain knitting structure, which is a basic structure of a warp-knit fabric, is made. However, since the fabric is not only made based on the basic structure, when a new loop is made, guides that supply knitting yarn are alternately moved from side to side so that loops on the left and right are connected, and thus a fabric may be woven.
[0031] When a fabric is woven, a guide that supplies knitting yarn and a knitting needle and a beam around which knitting yarn to be supplied to a guide needle is wound, and the guide or the beam should be hung in the raschel knitting machine, and the numbers of the beams and guides, and needle bed may vary according to the types of structures of warp knit fabrics. When the needle bed is in a row, the needle bed is referred to as one needle bed or a single needle bed. A raschel knitting machine with a single needle bed is referred to as a single raschel knitting machine, and a raschel knitting machine with two needle beds is referred to as a double raschel knitting machine.
[0032] Since the fiber fabric has a three-dimensional structure in which the two external layers 11 are connected by the internal layer 12 interposed therebetween, it is preferable to weave with the raschel knitting machine with two needle beds rather than the raschel knitting machine with one needle bed.
[0033] Further, the external layer 11 may have a net-type structure. Generally, since the cleaning pad serves to remove contamination while cleaning and contamination may remain after cleaning, there is a risk of bacterial growth. Further, when dishes are washed with a bacteria-infested cleaning pad, a user's infection rate increases, and particularly, fatal effects are caused to users with low immunity such as the elderly and children. The external layer 11 in the net-type structure, that is, the cleaning pad 10 according to the present invention, dries quickly after cleaning to prevent bacterial growth and to facilitate hygienic management.
[0034] Meanwhile, the fiber fabric may be one selected from the group consisting of polyester yarn, polypropylene yarn, polyethylene yarn, low-density polyethylene yarn, high-density polyethylene yarn, and combined yarn of two or more thereof.
[0035] Since the polyester is a resin with excellent productivity, a fabric, which is produced from polyester, has an excellent durability and is resistant to bugs and molds such as to be easily stored for long periods of time. Further, the polyester has a low water absorption rate due to its strong interatomic coupling force so as to dry in a short time even when wet.
[0036] The polypropylene is a resin widely used for producing fabrics with polyester. Particularly, since a fabric structure of a polypropylene fabric is more lightweight than that of a polyester fabric, the polypropylene fabric is comfortable to use. Due to a perspiration effect that quickly absorbs sweat generated from a human body and discharges the sweat to the outside, the polypropylene fabric can be maintained in a pleasant condition. Further, the polypropylene fabric has excellent thermal insulation due to low thermal conductivity and has excellent antibacterial qualities due to a moisture content thereof being close to '0'.
[0037] The polyethylene, which is a thermoplastic resin, has excellent electrical insulation, toughness, and water resistance. The polyethylene is inexpensive and is easy to process so as to be widely used for household goods.
[0038] The polyethylene may be classified into a high density polyethylene (HDPE), a low density polyethylene (LDPE), a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and the like according to density. The LDPE has many side chains connected to a main chain to have a low packing capacity, and thus there is a problem in that the crystallization of the LDPE is lower than that of the HDPE.
[0039] Generally, fiber yarn may be produced by spinning and stretching a molten resin composition. A spinning process refers to a process of spinning molten polymer material, which forms a fiber, into yarn through micro-holes. Since the fiber has an irregular molecular arrangement and a weak strength immediately after the spinning process, the fabric is stretched so that fiber orientation is adjusted, and thus the strength of the fiber can be increased.
[0040] Therefore, yarn may be produced through processes of selecting, melting, spinning, and stretching a resin which is a main material of yarn to be produced. Further, single or combined yarn may be selected as the yarn for producing the fiber fabric in consideration of properties and costs to be implemented in an end article, effects to be implemented therefrom, and the like.
[0041] The thickness of yarn may be in a range of 300 to 800 deniers. When the thickness of yarn is less than 300 deniers, the pores of the fabric become smaller so that foam of detergent is not sufficiently generated, and thus washing effectiveness may be degraded. When the thickness of yarn is greater than 800 deniers, the pores of the fabric become larger than necessary, and thus the durability may be degraded.
[0042] The term "denier" used in the specification is an international unit used to express the thickness of a filament, which is long like a noodle, such as silk, of synthetic fibers, regenerated fibers, or natural fibers. A thickness of yarn having a length of 9000 m and a weight of 1 g is defined as 1 denier. For example, 10 deniers mean that 9,000 meters of yarn weighs 10 gram, and 100 deniers mean that 9,000 meters of yarn weighs 100 gram. Thus, when a denier value of yarn is large, the yarn is thick, and when a denier value of yarn is small, the yarn is thin.
[0043] The thickness of the fiber fabric may be in a range of 5 to 10 mm. When the thickness of the fiber fabric is less than 5 mm, the amount of input solid detergent is decreased, and thus washing effectiveness may be degraded. When the thickness of the fiber fabric is greater than 10 mm, the fiber fabric becomes thicker than necessary, and thus usability may be degraded.
[0044] The porosity of the fiber fabric may be in a range of 10 to 30 vol%. When the porosity of the fiber fabric is less than 10 vol%, the amount of input solid detergent decreases, and thus washing effectiveness may be degraded. When the porosity of the fiber fabric is greater than 30 vol%, the durability of the cleaning pad may be degraded.
[0045] Meanwhile, the cleaning pad 10 may have an empty space formed therein, and a solid detergent may be input to the cleaning pad 10 through the detergent inlet 20. When a solid detergent is provided in the cleaning pad 10, foam may be consistently generated, and thus user convenience can be increased when cleaning. Since a separate detergent storage box or detergent storage space is not necessary, cleanliness of a kitchen can be maintained.
[0046] The length of the detergent inlet 20 may be in a range of 35 to 45 mm. When the length of the detergent inlet 20 is less than 35 mm, it may be difficult to input a solid detergent in the detergent inlet 20, and when the length of the detergent inlet 20 is greater than 45 mm, the length of the detergent inlet 20 becomes larger than necessary, and thus usability of the cleaning pad may be degraded.
[0047] The size of the solid detergent may be adjusted to be in a range that passes through the detergent inlet 20, and the shape of the solid detergent is not limited but may be a circular, elliptical, square shape, or the like in accordance with user's preference. Further, since the solid detergent adjusted to the above range may be used three to four times, the solid detergent is conveniently carried and stored, and since the solid detergent is exposed to the outside for a shorter period of time, hygienic management of the solid detergents can be facilitated.
[0048] Particularly, the solid detergent remaining in the cleaning pad 10 after use can inhibit bacterial growth in the cleaning pad 10.
[0049] Specifically, in the case of a general cleaning pad, the cleaning pad remains wet after use, and when scraps of food are not removed from the cleaning pad, bacteria may grow easily. On the other hand, since the cleaning pad according to one embodiment has part of the solid detergent remaining in an empty space thereof even after use, the bacterial growth can be inhibited. Further, as described above, since the solid detergent may be used three to fourth times, the cleaning pad can consistently provide an effect of inhibiting the bacterial growth.
[0050] The solid detergent may be a natural detergent or a synthetic detergent, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a natural detergent may be used in consideration of the health of a user. The natural detergent, which is mainly made from a natural ingredient and is made without a synthetic ingredient such as synthetic fragrance, preservatives, and the like, is easily softened but is environmentally friendly and protects a user' skin. Since the synthetic detergent uses an additive that is not decomposed in a natural state, such as a petroleum chemical surfactant, a phosphate, and the like, washing effectiveness is excellent, but the synthetic detergent may cause environment pollution and skin diseases of a user.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning pad with a detergent inlet according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the detergent inlet 20 may be folded from the outside of the cleaning pad 10 toward the inside of the cleaning pad 10 and fixed. When the detergent inlet 20 is exposed to the outside, the solid detergent is easily put in the cleaning pad but does not come out thereof easily during the use of the cleaning pad such that usability may be degraded. Therefore, the detergent inlet 20 is folded from the outside of the cleaning pad 10 toward the inside thereof, the detergent inlet 20 may be formed in a triangular shape, and a lower end of the detergent inlet 20 is sewed in parallel with an upper end of the cleaning pad 10 to be fixed.
[0052] Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, since the detergent inlet 20 is formed in the cleaning pad 10, the solid detergent is easily put in the cleaning pad 10 but does not easily come out thereof, and thus a user can conveniently wash dishes during cleaning.
Example
[0054] A fiber fabric having a thickness of 7 mm and a porosity of 20 vol% was made of high density polyethylene yarn of 500 deniers.
[0055] The produced fiber fabric was cut into a size of 260 mm in width and 90 mm in length, the width of the fiber fabric was folded in half, and an edge of the fiber fabric was sewed by a sewing machine except for 40 mm of a portion at which the detergent inlet was formed, and thus an empty space was formed inside the cleaning pad. The detergent inlet was folded in a triangular shape to be perpendicular to an upper surface of the cleaning pad and was folded from the outside of the cleaning pad toward the inside thereof, and a lower end of the detergent inlet was sewed to be fixed, and thus the cleaning pad was manufactured.
Comparative Example 1
[0056] Except that the detergent inlet was formed on the outside of the cleaning pad, the cleaning pad was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.
Comparative Example 2
[0057] Since the fiber fabric was not sewed, a one-layer cleaning pad that did not have a separate detergent inlet was manufactured.
Experimental Example 1: Evaluation of Cleaning Pad Performance
[0058]
[Table 1]
| Category | Washing effectiveness | Usability | Sanitation | Degree of foam generation |
| Example | ⊚ | ⊚ | ⊚ | ⊚ |
| Comparative Example 1 | Δ | × | ⊚ | Δ |
| Comparative Example 2 | × | × | ⊚ | × |
| -Washing effectiveness: conditions of dishes after cleaning were relatively evaluated. | ||||
| -Usability: products were compared with respect to ease of use during use of a solid detergent. | ||||
| -Sanitation: drying speeds of the products after cleaning were compared. | ||||
| -Degree of foam generation: degrees of generation and maintenance of foam were compared when a detergent was applied. | ||||
| (Relative evaluation criteria: ⊚ excellent, ○ good, Δ moderate, × poor) |
[0059] Referring to Table 1, when the cleaning pad was manufactured by folding the detergent inlet from the outside of the cleaning pad toward the inside thereof and fixing the detergent inlet (Example), the cleaning pad is shown to be excellent in all performance evaluations including washing effectiveness, usability, sanitation, and degree of foam generation. Particularly, since the solid detergent was provided inside the cleaning pad, a large amount of foam was generated and maintained, and thus washing effectiveness is excellent. Since the solid detergent did not come out, it is expected that a user can wash dishes without inconvenience.
[0060] On the other hand, when the detergent inlet was exposed to the outside (Comparative Example 1), the solid detergent came out during cleaning so that usability is poor, and it is difficult to continuously generate and maintain foam, and thus the washing effectiveness of the cleaning pad is degraded when compared to Example. Further, when the cleaning pad was manufactured of a one layer-fiber fabric and did not have a detergent inlet (Comparative Example 2), the drying speed after cleaning was the fastest, but the cleaning pad was too thin to have sufficient pores, and a small amount of foam was generated, and thus the washing effectiveness of the cleaning pad is relatively poor.
Experimental Example 2: Evaluation 1 of Antibacterial Performance of Solid Detergent (Escherichia coli)
[0061] For an evaluation of inhibition of bacterial growth by a solid detergent remaining after use of the cleaning pad, the solid detergent was pulverized, 1 g powder was dissolved in 9g light water (JIS K3362) at level 3 dGH, and a solution at 10 wt% was prepared.
[0062] Meanwhile, Escherichia coli (NBRC 3972) at 0.3 wt% was inoculated in a medium broth (DIFCO co.) so that a sample was prepared. A sample 1 into which a 0.5 g solution was added and a sample 2 into which the 0.5 g solution was not added were left for 18 hours at a temperature of 25 °C, the viable cell count was measured three times, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.
[Table 2]
| Category | First | Second | Third |
| First bacteria count | 1.1E+08 | 1.2E+08 | 1.5E+08 |
| Sample 2 | 4.8E+08 | 7.0E+08 | 5.8E+08 |
| Sample 1 | <21 | <21 | <21 |
Experimental Example 3: Evaluation 2 of Antibacterial Performance of Solid Detergent (Staphylococcus aureus)
[0063] For an evaluation of inhibition of bacterial growth by a solid detergent remaining after use of the cleaning pad, the solid detergent was pulverized, 1 g powder was dissolved in 9g light water (JIS K3362) at level 3 dDH, and a solution at 10 wt% was prepared.
[0064] Meanwhile, staphylococcus aureus (NBRC 12732) was inoculated in a medium broth (DIFCO co.) at a centration of 0.3 wt% so that a sample was prepared.
[0065] A sample 3 into which a 0.5 g solution was added and a sample 4 into which the 0.5 g solution was not added were left for 18 hours at a temperature of 25 °C, the viable cell count was measured three times, and the results are shown in Table 3 below.
[Table 3]
| Category | First | Second | Third |
| First bacteria count | 1.1E+08 | 1.1E+08 | 1.4E+08 |
| Sample 4 | 6.1E+08 | 8.2E+08 | 5.7E+08 |
| Sample 3 | 1.1E+07 | 1.3E+07 | 2.1E+07 |
[0066] The above description is only exemplary, and it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be performed in other concrete forms without changing the technological scope and essential features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be considered as only examples in all aspects and not for purposes of limitation. For example, each component described as a single type may be realized in a distributed manner, and similarly, components that are described as being distributed may be realized in a coupled manner.
1. A cleaning pad which has an empty space formed therein, the cleaning pad comprising:
a detergent inlet formed on one end of the cleaning pad; and
a sealing part that extends from each of both ends of the detergent inlet and seals the other end of the cleaning pad,
wherein the cleaning pad has a structure in which the detergent inlet is folded from an outside of the cleaning pad toward an inside thereof and is fixed.
2. The cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the cleaning pad is formed by folding and sewing
a single fiber fabric.
3. The cleaning pad of claim 2, wherein the fiber fabric includes external layers having
a plurality of pores and an internal layer interposed the external layers,
wherein the external layers are connected by the internal layer so that the fiber fabric has an integrated structure.
wherein the external layers are connected by the internal layer so that the fiber fabric has an integrated structure.
4. The cleaning pad of claim 2, wherein the fiber fabric is one selected from the group
consisting of polyester yarn, polypropylene yarn, polyethylene yarn, low-density polyethylene
yarn, high-density polyethylene yarn, and mixed yarn of two or more thereof.
5. The cleaning pad of claim 4, wherein a thickness of the yarn is in a range of 300
to 800 deniers.
6. The cleaning pad of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the fiber fabric is in a range
of 5 to 10 mm.
7. The cleaning pad of claim 2, wherein a porosity of the fiber fabric is in a range
of 10 to 30 vol%.
8. A cleaning pad of claim 1, wherein the cleaning pad includes a seam allowance part
of 5 to 15 mm.