Patent Publication Number: US-2013227805-A1

Title: Two-In-One Cleaning Towel

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 61/605,873, filed on Mar. 2, 2012 the contents of which are herein fully incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention relates to a towel for cleaning purposes. In particular, the current invention relates to an easy-to-use cleaning towel, and more particularly to a single-layered or multi-layered cleaning towel having a cleaning agent in substantially solid form attached to the cleaning towel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In every household there is a need for cleaning. For sanitary and aesthetic purposes, it would be desirable to periodically clean the windows, furniture, toilet, bathing area, kitchen countertops, and appliances. Moreover, accidental spills and leaks need to be cleaned, preferably right away. In most households, regular cleaning and spill control are commonly carried out with cleaning consumables such as paper towels, water, detergents, disinfectants, and antiseptics. 
     To clean up a spill, the general approach is to wipe the stained surface with paper towels or other kinds of wipes and towelettes. This process, however, tends to be somewhat incomplete because it is likely to leave residues that are damaging to hygiene and human health. Even if the wipe or towelette is designed to be absorbent, it becomes moistened and wet when being used to wipe the spill. Thus, residual amount of whatever spilled liquid would likely to be left on the surface, serving as a breeding ground for microorganisms such as bacteria and potentially causing health problems. Various remedial measures are adopted to address such problems. Some people choose to wipe the spill multiple times. This approach, however, does not solve the basic issue. Unwanted residual spill may still be present after more than one wiping with special disinfectants. Others may wipe with dry paper towels first, then use spraying cleaning solutions and more paper towel to clean up the cleaning solutions and disinfect the surface. Such a process, however, is complicated and wasteful in terms of time and cleaning consumables. 
     For regular routine cleaning, there is also a need for simple, easy to use wipes and towelettes to replace the common spray-and-wipe approach. Spraying in general is hard to control because it is difficult to ensure that cleaning solutions would not be sprayed to unintended places. While sometimes it is important to closely control the cleaning area for fear of unhealthy contaminations, i.e. cleaning the interior of a refrigerator, the spray-and-wipe approach may prove to be less desirable. Another shortcoming of using separate cleaning agent and wipe is the difficulty to maneuver. Sometimes the surface to be cleaned is too high so that devices such as ladders or stools are needed for height adjustment, i.e. cleaning windows, therefore making it problematic to switch between using spray and wipe. Sometimes the surface to be cleaned is hard to reach so that spraying the place is physically impossible. In such situations, it is very problematic to try to use a spray-and-wipe method because it is difficult, complicated, or even dangerous to do so. 
     The current invention addresses the issues raised above, both as to spill control and regular cleaning. In essence, the current invention provides a cleaning towel that may offer effective cleaning and do not require wiping with an additional towel or spraying with cleaning solutions. 
     Descriptions of Related Arts 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,534 discloses a pre-moistened wiping article comprising a flexible substrate carrying a liquid composition comprising an aqueous solution of: (a) from about 5 to about 15 weight % of a monohydric aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; (b) from about 0.00015 to about 0.0045 weight % of a water soluble preservative; (c) from about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent of alkyl polyglycoside, wherein said weight percentages represent active ingredient percentages based on the total weight of the liquid composition. The invention is a low alcohol content wiping article that leaves a cleaned hard surface substantially streak free. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0120497 discloses a disposable wipe for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising a cleaning substrate comprising a nonwoven material, the cleaning substrate having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface and a lower surface; and at least one attachment means; wherein said at least one attachment means is a pocket formed on the upper surface or the lower surface of said cleaning substrate, said pocket covering from about 2% to about 90% of the surface area of said upper surface, and having at least one opening. This publication also teaches a kit comprising the disposable cleaning wipe; and cleaning implement comprising a mop head. 
     Various apparatus are known in the art, but their structures are distinctively different from the current invention. Moreover, the prior arts fail to address all of the problems solved by the invention described herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As indicated above, the existing approaches for cleaning have various problems. The current invention introduces a two-in-one cleaning towel, which is either single layered or multiple layered. The single layered two-in-one cleaning towel comprises a flexible and absorbent sheet having a first side and a second side, wherein a cleaning agent is attached to the second side and the cleaning agent is preferably in solid form at room temperature, keeping the cleaning towel substantially dry. The multiple layered two-in-one cleaning towel has multiple layers of sheet materials, with a first layer comprising flexible and absorbent material and a second layer, wherein a cleaning agent is attached to the second layer and the cleaning agent is preferably in solid form at room temperature, keeping the cleaning towel substantially dry. For the multiple layered two-in-one cleaning towel, either layer may be used to provide additional wiping after the article or surface to be cleaned has been wiped with the other layer. 
     As used here, cleaning agent is a general term that encompasses a whole range of compounds, compositions, and formulas that have the effect of eliminating dirt, grime, smears, grease, mold, fungus, smudge, or any other kind of undesirable mark or stain. The cleaning agent may be effective only when liquid is added to its solid form, or the cleaning agent may by effective in both solid and liquid forms. A cleaning agent may be, in the common terms, a detergent or a sanitizer. The cleaning agent may also be designed as anti-bacterial or anti-microorganism agents such as but not limited to disinfectants, antiseptics, antimicrobials, fungus removers, and mold removers. The cleaning agent may be specifically directed to cleaning one kind of surface, such as but not limited to: glasses, kitchen countertops, furniture, shelves, toilets, bathing areas, metal surfaces, ceramic surfaces, and plastic surfaces. On the other hand, the cleaning agent may be provided to serve as the cleaning agent for a few kinds, or many types of surfaces. The cleaning agent may employ specific formulas developed by non-commercial entities for basic cleaning purposes, or the cleaning agent may encompass the commercial sanitary or anti-microbial products. 
     As used here, cleaning solutions refer to the liquid form of the cleaning agents, based on water, alcohol, or any other kind of solvent. As indicated above, the cleaning agent may be effective when it is in solid form at room temperature. However, it is essential that the cleaning agent is effective when it is in liquid form, i.e. when the cleaning agent is in the form of a cleaning solution. 
     The current invention is particular suitable for spill control. For the multi-layered cleaning towel, the first layer of the is absorbent and flexible and may be used to provide the initial wiping to generally remove the spill, such as but not limited to water, tea, coffee, milk, soft drinks, or alcohol. By generally absorbing whatever that is spilled, the first layer may become impregnated with liquid and the second layer may become moistened due to the capillary effect/action. Therefore, the cleaning agent attached to the second layer may become cleaning solutions that may be used to clean and/or disinfect the surface subjected to the spill. 
     Similarly, for the single-layered cleaning towel, a user may use the first side to wipe the spill, impregnate the sheet with liquid, and use the second side to clean and/or disinfect the surface. For both the single-layered and multi-layered cleaning towel, the cleaning agent is preferably a disinfectant, broadly defined as a substance that may be applied to living or non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects. Nevertheless, the cleaning agent, as indicated above, may be other agents that may have cleaning, sanitizing and anti-microbial effects. 
     The current invention is also beneficial for regular cleaning purposes. A user of the cleaning towel disclosed here may moisten the towel and wipe a target surface with the second side of the single-layered towel or the second layer of the multi-layered towel, then using the first side or first layer to remove the residual moist, thus avoiding spraying the surface with cleaning solutions beforehand. Such a process avoids the possibility of spraying to unwanted places and eliminates the need to climb a ladder multiple times to perform the spray-and-wipe procedure. 
     The two-in-one cleaning towel disclosed here may include other features. For example, the first side and second side of the single-layered towel may have different colors. Similarly, the first layer and the second layer of the multi-layered towel may have different colors. Such a design may make it easier to distinguish the two sides or the two layers and adopt the most effective sequence in actual wiping. Moreover, independent from the colors, the two sides or the two layers may have different textures, providing additional distinctions between the two sides or the two layers and allowing a blind person to use the cleaning towel effectively. 
     As indicated above, the two-in-one cleaning towel disclosed by the current invention is easy to use and highly effective. Therefore, it saves time and energy, especially for cleaning up a spill. A user of the two-in-one cleaning towel may disinfect the surface subjected to a spill after the excessive liquid is wiped away. In such a manner, cleaning consumables such as paper towel, water, and regular disinfectants are saved. Moreover, it takes less effort from the user, since he/she does not need to go through the complicated process of wiping, spraying, and more wiping. 
     In addition, the two-in-one cleaning towel shows other advantages such as but not limited to: light weight, versatility, disposability, and easiness to store. The two-in-one cleaning towel is generally light weight. The user does not need to carry a heavy spray bottle for the regular cleaning needs. Stemming from this advantage is the feature that the two-in-one cleaning towel may be easily portable so that the user may carry it around and use it whenever it is necessary. Moreover, a related feature is that the two-in-one cleaning towel may be designed as compact in size and may be kept almost anywhere. Such advantages are very attractive for traveling and family outings during which a need for a brief cleaning arises very frequently. Combined with its superior cleaning results, the two-in-one cleaning towel may be used widely for such purposes. 
     Since the cleaning agent is broadly defined and the two-in-one cleaning towel may use any kind of cleaning agent to fit the needs, the current invention may provide a product with a high level of versatility. The cleaning towel here may be used to clean glasses, kitchen countertops, furniture, shelves, toilets, bathing areas, metal surfaces, plastic surfaces, or any combination thereof. The choice of cleaning agent and the specific materials for the different sides or different layers would dictate what purposes may be achieved. For the multi-layered cleaning towel, the different layers may be made from the same or different materials. For rougher surfaces and hard-to-rid stains, the two-in-one cleaning towel may be made from unwoven materials with thicker fibers and may be used to scrub the target surfaces. For surfaces that need to avoid scratches, the two-in-one cleaning towel may be made from finer materials such as fabric or soft cloth. Since the two-in-one cleaning towel is generally simple in its structure, it is easy to manufacture and allows a large variety to be produced to satisfy the needs for different surfaces, different kinds of marks and stains, and achieve different results. 
     The two-in-one cleaning towel may come in different sizes, thickness, and various arrangements in terms of folding, stacking, and packaging. The variety in its dimension and packaging also allows the cleaning towel to be used for different purposes, such as spill control and regular cleaning; in different situations, such as when traveling or at home; for different package sizes, such as one towel per pack or multiplicity of towels per box. The changes in the cleaning towel&#39;s dimension and packaging enhance its versatility. 
     In general, the two-in-one cleaning towel is designed to be a disposable product. As suggested above, it is structurally simple and easy to produce. Therefore, it is relatively inexpensive. Moreover, the main materials making up the two-in-one cleaning towels may be degradable and environment friendly. Therefore, the cleaning towel may be simply disposed after use and a new batch may be applied for additional cleaning tasks. Compared with traditional cleaning devices, the two-in-one cleaning towel may also be cost-effective. 
     The cleaning towel disclosed by the current invention may be easy to store. Since the cleaning agent attaches to the second side or the second layer in largely solid form and keeps the cleaning towel substantially dry at room temperature, the likelihood of contamination or microorganism infection is much lower for the cleaning towel, compared with liquid impregnated towels. Moreover, also due to the fact that the cleaning towel is substantially dry, it does not require a sealed packaging to prevent evaporation, nor is it likely to cause unwanted dampening of the packaging materials that are susceptible to liquid impregnation. Therefore, the cleaning towel disclosed here may be stored in paper boxes, not necessarily in plastic packages. Similarly, the cleaning towel may be stored at room temperature for long periods of time, without losing its effectiveness in cleaning. 
     It should be noted that the two-in-one cleaning towel disclosed by the current invention may comprise more than two layers. For example, a third layer of sheet materials may be disposed between the first layer and the second layer, enhancing the liquid-absorbing capacity and physical endurance of the cleaning towel. Moreover, the previously defined first layer and second layer may individually comprise more than one sub-layer to improve certain features of the first layer and the second layer. For example, the second layer may comprise a softer, more absorbent sub-layer facing the first layer and a rougher, less absorbent sub-layer facing away from the first layer. Such a design improves the second layer&#39;s mechanical properties and allows it to be applied with more forceful wiping. Moreover, the softer, more absorbent sub-layer improves the effect to moisten the second layer and facilitate the process to turn the cleaning agent to cleaning solutions. 
     One embodiment of the current invention is a two-in-one cleaning towel having at least a first side and a second side while the first side and the second side have different colors. 
     One embodiment of the current invention is a two-in-one cleaning towel having at least a first layer and a second layer while the first layer and the second layer have different colors. 
     One embodiment of the current invention is a two-in-one cleaning towel that may be used to clean glasses, kitchen countertops, furniture, shelves, toilets, bathing areas, metal surfaces, ceramic surfaces, and/or plastic surfaces. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that effectively cleans up liquid spills. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that disinfects the surface to which liquid has been spilled. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that is light-weight and easy to use. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that does not require additional wiping with another towel or wipe. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that eliminates the need to spray the target article/surface with cleaning solutions. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning towel that is easy to store. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel that has a single layer made from absorbent and flexible material. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a single-layered cleaning towel having a first side and a second side. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel having two sides, wherein a cleaning agent is attached to the second side in substantially solid form and keeps the cleaning towel largely dry. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel that includes multiple layers. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel that has a first flexible, absorbent layer. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel that has a second layer, wherein a cleaning agent is attached to the second layer in substantially solid form and keeps the cleaning towel largely dry. 
     Still another object the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel having multiple layers with one layer attached to disinfectants. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning towel that may use a first layer to wipe clean a surface and use a second layer to disinfect the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the cleaning towel having a single layer. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded sectional view of a second embodiment of the cleaning towel having multiple layers. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention discloses a cleaning towel comprising a single layer or multiple layers of largely overlapping sheet materials. In particular,  FIG. 1  shows a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the cleaning towel having a single layer. The first embodiment of the present invention comprises a flexible and absorbent sheet  10  having a first side (not shown) and a second side  15 , wherein a cleaning agent  100  attaches to the second side preferably in solid form at room temperature, keeping the cleaning towel substantially dry when it is unused. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded sectional view of a second embodiment of the cleaning towel having multiple layers. Shown in  FIG. 2  is the second embodiment comprises a first layer  10  that is preferably flexible and absorbent to liquid, and a second layer  20 , wherein a cleaning agent  100  attaches to the second layer preferably in solid form at room temperature, keeping the cleaning towel substantially dry when it is unused. 
     The cleaning towel may be made from various materials that may satisfy the basic need for cleaning and disinfecting a target surface. Independently, the first and second layers of the multi-layered embodiment may comprise sheet materials including but not limited to: paper, fabrics made from cotton, rayon, bamboo, or nonwoven fibers, microfibers, or synthetic polyesters such as but not limited to Terylene™, polyethylene terephthalate, Spandex™ polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or any combinations thereof. Similarly, the single-layered embodiment may be made from any of the same materials, or any combinations thereof. The materials to be selected may be determined by the specific type of cleaning to be performed, the surface to be cleaned, and/or the overall result to be achieved. 
     In the multi-layered embodiment, both the first layer and the second layer may be made from unwoven material such as paper. The two layers may use papers having the same or different physical features in terms of thickness, paper weight, softness, and texture. The first layer is flexible and absorbent to liquid, preferably using paper towel material. The second layer may also be flexible and absorbent, thus making it easy to receive the liquid absorbed by the first layer. In addition, the paper making up the first layer and/or the second layer may have special texture on its surface, especially the surface not facing the other layer, providing possible additional structures to facilitate scraping and scrubbing. Similarly, in the single-layered embodiment, the flexible and absorbent sheet may be made from unwoven material such as paper. In particular, either the multi-layered embodiment or the single-layered embodiment may adopt paper structures or formats that are already commercially available, such as the Bounty® paper towels or Kleenex® napkins. 
     For the multi-layered embodiment, the first layer and the second layer may be largely overlapping—having significant co-extensive areas. This feature ensures that when one layer is impregnated with liquid, the other layer becomes moistened through capillary effects. However, the two layers, and any additional layer that is available, may not be entirely co-extensive. As long as the majority of the layer areas are overlapping, the basic goal of moistening may be achieved. 
     One key component of the cleaning towel is the cleaning agent attached to the second side  28  or the second layer  20 , referring to  FIG. 2 . The cleaning agent, as indicated above, may be any kind of compound, composition, or formula having cleaning effects or any combinations thereof. At room temperature, the cleaning agent is preferably in solid form, such as a powder or small pellets, keeping the cleaning towel substantially dry. The dry form of the cleaning agent may be achieved in various ways. One possibility is to impregnate the absorbent sheet of the single-layered embodiment or the second layer of the multi-layered embodiment with a solution having the cleaning agent. Subsequently, the absorbent sheet or the second layer soaked with the cleaning solution may be dried to allow the solid form of the cleaning agent to attach to the second layer. Alternatively, the cleaning agent may exist in powdery form or as small pellets. The absorbent sheet or the second layer may be dipped in the cleaning agent to allow attachment of the cleaning agent. 
     The cleaning agent may be homemade substance or commercially available materials that may be used for cleaning and disinfecting purposes. The cleaning agent may include materials such as but not limited to: disinfectants, detergents, wetting agents, surfactants, anti-microbial agents, anti-fungal agents, aroma additive or fragrance, emulsifying agents, and antiseptics. Preferably, the cleaning agent includes a disinfectant and it may be used to clean surfaces and eliminate microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus attached to the surfaces. 
     Many different kinds of disinfectants may be used for the cleaning agent. For example, the disinfectant may include but not limited to oxidizing agents such as sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, sulfonamide compounds, chlorine dioxide generating compounds such as sodium chlorite, sodium chlorate, and potassium chlorate, colloidal silver, potassium permanganate, and potassium peroxymonosulfat, or any combination thereof. In addition, the disinfectant may be biguanide polymers, copper-alloys, silver and silver compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzalkonium chloride, and phenolics such as phenol, o-phenylphenol, chloroxylenol, hexachlorophene, thymol, and amylmetacresol, or any combinations thereof. It should also be noted that besides the ones listed here, other disinfectants being effective as antimicrobial agents may be used. 
     Other ingredients may be added to the cleaning agent to optimize, stabilize, or prolong the effects of the disinfectant. For example, surfactants may be used to improve the effectiveness of disinfectants by promoting the contact of the disinfectants with the spill, mark, or stain to be cleaned. When these ingredients are added, they are considered part of the cleaning agent. 
     Some of the cleaning agents, especially the ones having surfactants and oxidizing disinfectants, are only effective in their liquid form or are significantly more effective in the liquid form than the solid form. Other cleaning agents may be effective in both solid and liquid forms. The current invention encompasses both possibilities. Preferably, the cleaning agent used in the current invention is only effective in the liquid form or is more effective in the liquid form than the solid form. This feature makes the cleaning towel particularly suitable to clear up spills or leaks of liquids. A user of the cleaning towel may wipe the spill with the first layer or the first side, absorbing the liquid and making the cleaning towel moist. Subsequently, the cleaning agents attached to the second layer or the second side is dissolved and made effective, or more effective, as the result that the cleaning towel becomes moistened. The user, therefore, may flip the cleaning towel over and use the second layer or second side to disinfect the surface to be cleaned, eliminating further hygienic or health risks. 
     For the multi-layered embodiment, the first and second layers of the cleaning towel may be attached to one another or may be unattached. Since the layers are largely overlapping, when they are unattached, they still form a physically distinct sheet structure that may be used as one item. Preferably, the layers are attached to one another. One common way is that the layers are laminated in particular positions so that parts of the layers are attached while the layers remain largely separable. Another alternative is that the layers are firmly laminated and the entire cleaning towel is pressed to be one sheet. It should be noted that other means of attachments, such as glue or clips, may also be used. 
     As indicated above, the cleaning towel may come in different dimensions and packaging arrangements. For example, the cleaning towel may be in the form of common kitchen paper towels—an overall form of a cylindrical roll with the paper towel wrapped around a central axis; while the cylindrical roll may have a height of around 25-35 cm and a diameter of around 10-20 cm. Alternatively, the cleaning towel may take the form of common toilet paper—in a similar shape of cylindrical roll as the kitchen paper towel, with smaller dimension of around 5 -15 cm in height and 5-15 cm in diameter. Moreover, for a roll of a cleaning towel, the towel may be arranged to be easily detachable segmentss connected in parallel to one another using weakened web-like structures to form a longer, wrappable sheet. In addition, the cleaning towel presented by the current invention may be folded in a zig-zag manner and each sheet of the cleaning towel is interlockingly stacked on another, forming a stack that may be kept in a box. In this manner, the cleaning towel may be used one sheet at a time and each being pulled out of the box half way to ensure easy usage. Alternatively, the cleaning towel may be stacked together and kept in a package, making it easy to distribute when the package is opened. One particularly useful arrangement is that one sheet of the cleaning towel is folded and kept in a package or box, while each package or box is calculated to be suitable for one single use. 
     Preferably, the first layer and the second layer or the first side and the second side may have different colors. For example, the first layer or first side may be white and the second layer or second side may be blue or violet, making it easier to distinguish the two layers/sides and apply the appropriate layer/side for specific cleaning tasks. When certain cleaning agents are selected, such a double-color design is particularly desirable. For example, when the cleaning agent includes anti-microbial agents having color naturally, such as crystal violet, the second layer/side may present distinct color without special treatment. Independent from the design for different color, the first layer and second layer or the first side and second side may have different texture, allowing easier distinction through touch. 
     For the multi-layered embodiment, in addition to the first layer and second layer, the cleaning towel may comprise more layers that enhance the functionality of the cleaning towel. For example, the cleaning towel may comprise a third layer, the third layer being absorbent to liquid but stiffer in physical property, positioned between the first layer and the second layer. Compared with a cleaning towel not having the third layer, a cleaning towel with the third layer as a whole is more absorbent to cleaning a spill and still maintains the feature to allow effective moistening of the cleaning agent on the second layer. In addition, such a third layer may enhance the physical endurance of the cleaning towel and allow more heavy-duty usage of the cleaning towel. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.