GB2350781A

GB2350781A - Disposable cleaning means

Info

Publication number: GB2350781A
Application number: GB0007718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Naylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-09
Filing date: 2000-03-31
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Also published as: AU4771300A; WO2001003561A1; GB0007718D0

Abstract

A disposable cleaning means comprising a web strip of individual sleeve members connected to one another along frangible lines, each sleeve member comprising a front face, a back face and one or more open ends, the sleeve member having a internal space provided therein whereby a whole or part of a users hand can pass through an open end of the sleeve and be accommodated within the internal space to perform a cleaning process, the open end of each sleeve being arranged such that the sleeve can be released from the strip by inserting the portion of the hand through the open end into the internal space and then pulling the sleeve member along the length of the web. The web material may be a paper based material, preferably toilet paper.

Description

2350781 DISPOSABLE CLEANING MEANS The present invention relates to a

disposable cleaning means and a method of manufacture thereof.

Conventional disposable cleaning means often comprise a sheet or sheets of paper based material such as toilet paper, kitchen roll or the like, which are held in the users hand to perform a cleaning process. Cleaning using the conventional means can often be problematic, in particular where the user wishes to avoid hand contact with the item or body part he or she is cleaning.

For example, in mopping of a spill on a kitchen surface using a kitchen roll or removing lipstick from a users lips using toilet paper, it is undesirable for a users hand to contact the spill or the users lip since this can be both messy and/or unhygienic. The process of arranging the toilet paper/kitchen roll in a suitable manner so as to avoid any unhygienic hand contact can be both difficult and time consuming.

DE4117827A1 discloses a strip of individual sleeve members, each sleeve member being connected to adjacent sleeve members by frangible lines. In order to use a sleeve member one must firstly tear the sleeve member from the end of the strip, open it and then insert the hand for use. This is both time consuming and requires a high degree of manual dexterity. It is unsuitable for use by the young, elderly or physically disabled.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disposable cleaning means which is easy to use.

Accordingly, the first aspect the present invention provides a disposable cleaning means comprising a web strip of individual sleeve members connected to one another along frangible lines, each sleeve member comprising a front face, a back face and one or more open ends, the sleeve member having a internal space provided therein whereby a whole or part of a 2 users hand can pass through an open end of the sleeve and be accommodated within the internal space to perform a cleaning process, the open end of each sleeve being arranged such that the sleeve can be released from the strip by inserting the portion of the hand through the open end into the internal space and then pulling the sleeve member along the length of the web.

By inserting a hand into the open end of a sleeve and pulling it from the strip one can easily separate the sleeve from the strip with a single hand and in the form immediately ready for use.

The front and back faces of the sleeve members can be formed from a single folded sheet or said faces can be joined by attachment means during the manufacturing process, for example using adhesive and most preferably the sleeve member is substantially rectangular.

More preferably, the frangible lines can be substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the strip.

Preferably the continuous web of sleeve members is provided on a roll.

The back face of one sleeve member can be connected to one or more adjacent sleeve members by frangible lines and a cut line in the front face can define the open end. This allows the user to insert his hand into the cavity between the faces whilst the sleeve member remains attached to the strip. The sleeve member can then be simply pulled from the strip.

The cut line can be substantially normal to the length of the strip. Alternatively, the cut line can be inclined to the length of the strip.

Preferably the open end of a sleeve member comprises a cut in the front face in the region of a frangible line to define a finger hole for aiding the separation of the front and back faces before insertion of the hand to the internal space. The cut can be circular.

3 The web material can be a paper based material, preferably toilet paper.

The open ends of the sleeve members can be inclined at an angle to the normal to the long axis of the strip. This increases the ease with which the sleeves can be torn from the strip.

Preferably the frangible lines are provided proximate to bond lines, each bond line bonding the front and back faces of its respective sleeve member together, the frangible lines being provided always on one side of the bond lines such that the individual sleeve members have an open end and the bonded end after separation from the strip.

The web can be folded such that the front face of each sleeve member can comprise a different, preferably greater number of plys of web material on the back face. This increases the durability of the sleeve member, reducing the risk of tearing during use.

Preferably each sleeve member can comprise a single sheet of web material folded along fold lines parallel to the axis of the strip to form a back face comprising a single web layer and a front face comprising two overlapping layers of web material.

In use, the disposable cleaning means could be used as a replacement for toilet paper or it could be used to clean work surfaces such as in a kitchen or hospital. The present invention has the advantage as the user can simply and quickly insert a whole or part of their hand into the sleeve member of the cleaning means to clean a desired area without the difficulties of avoiding hand contact with unhygienic or messy areas.

It is further preferable that pleats or additional folds be provided in the continuous web to reduce the width thereof. Further preferably the web or webs of sheet material from which the cleaning member is fabricated can expand to 4 accommodate the hand of a user inserted therein. The material may additionally be elasticated and/or resiliently deformable.

It will be readily appreciated that the cleaning device according to the invention is a simple "off the shelf" alternative toilet paper, its quick and simple to use possibly offering the improved hygiene, currently if provided in roll form used in a conventional manner as toilet paper and is ideal for families with young children.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with a reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a known sleeve member; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a roll formed from a continuous web of known sleeve members and a method of detaching the end member from the roll; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a roll formed from a web of individual sleeve members according to the invention and a method of attaching the end member from the roll; Figure 4 shows, in cross section, a web strip comprising of plurality of sleeve members according to the invention; Figure 5 shows, in cross section, individual sleeve members according to the invention; and, Figure 6 shows, in plan view, alternative embodiments of sleeve members according to the invention.

Shown in Figure 1 is a disposable sleeve member (1) comprising of front face (2), back face (3) and an open end (4). In use of all or part of a users hand can be inserted through the open end (4) both quickly and easily and be accommodated in the internal space provided in the sleeve member (1). The front and back faces (2,3) are typically joined together by bonding separate sheets during the manufacturing process.

Shown in Figure 2 is a known continuous web strip in the form of a roll (5). The web strip is divided into individual sleeve members by perforated lines. In use, one firstly tears of f the end sleeve member (1) (Figure 2A). The end (4) of the sleeve member (1) is then opened and the hand inserted for use (Figures 2B to 2D). This is time consuming and requires a high degree of manual dexterity.

Shown in Figure 3 is an embodiment of a cleaning means according to the invention. The cleaning means comprises a continuous strip of web material formed into a roll (5). The strip is divided into a plurality of sleeve members (1), each sleeve member comprising a front face (2), a back face (3)and an open end (4) into which a user can insert a hand. The open end (4) is formed by a cut line through the front face (2). The rear face (3)of each sleeve member (1) is connected to the next sleeve member along the roll (5) by a frangible line (7) in the form of perforations in the web.

The front and back faces (2,3)of each sleeve member (1) are bonded together close to each frangible line (3). This ensures that when the sleeve member (1) is detached from the strip it has an open end (4) and a closed end (8). In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown) the bond line (9) is absent so that when the sleeve member Wis detached from the strip it is in the form of a tube.

The web is made from conventional toilet paper and other embodiments the web is made from other textile or paper based material or possibly soluble material.

Optionally the sleeve members (1) are impregnated with a cleaning product or similar compound either during or after the manufacturing process. For example a cleaning solution such as an antibacterial fluid or a moisturising product could be provided on an outer and surface of the sleeve member.

Optionally the web could incorporate a design pattern to make the disposable cleaning member more aesthetically pleasing to a user. The sleeve member (1) can be provided in any shape, for example rectangular, square or hand shaped.

Optionally the sleeve member (1) can be provided with expansion means such as pleats or cuts in one or more of the 6 sheets from which the sleeves are comprised to allow for hands of different sizes to be received therein. Optionally the sleeve members (1) are fabricated from an elasticated or expandable material which can expand in at lease one direction across its width. The material may elastically or plastically deform.

In use a user inserts a hand through the opening (4) and into the internal space in the sleeve member (1). The sleeve member (1) is then pulled substantially along the long axis of the strip to separate the sleeve member (1) from the strip as shown. The frangible lines (7)are sufficiently weak and the inertia of the roll (5) sufficiently large that the sleeve (1) separates from the strip on pulling, rather than the roll (5) turning.

The insertion of the hand into the sleeve member (1) is shown in cross section in Figure 4. The plane of the cross section is parallel to the long axis of the strip but normal to the plain of the strip.

Shown in Figure 5 are cross sections through individual sleeve members (1) according to the invention. The plane is normal to the long axis of the strip.

Shown in Figure SA is a sleeve member (1) comprising first and second web sheet bonded together at the edges. This bonding is typically on adhesive. In this embodiment the two web sheets are of the same material and are of the same thickness. In other embodiments the sheets can be of different materials and/or of different thicknesses.

Shown in Figure 5B is a further embodiment of the sleeve member (1) according to the invention. The sleeve member is manufactured by folding a single web sheet to form front and back faces (2,3) and then sealing at one side.

Shown in Figure SC is a further embodiment of a sleeve member (1) according to the invention. As with the sleeve member (1) in figure 5B, the member is manufactured by folding a single sheet to form front and back faces (2,3). However, 7 the sheet is then further folded to overlap the front face (2)so increasing the thickness of the front face (2). This reduces the risk of the sleeve (1) tearing during use.

Shown in Figure 6 in plan view are a series of alternative embodiments of sleeve members (1) according to the invention. As can be seen, in alternative embodiments the cut lines and/or the frangible lines (7) can be substantially normal to or inclined to the strip. one or more of these could also be curved or V shaped.

In alternative embodiments the open end (4) is reduced to one or more finger holes close (10) to the frangible lines (7). In the embodiment shown the finger holes are circular, semi-circular or elipsoidal. In use a finger is inserted into the finger hole and the front face of the sleeve member (1) pulled away from the back face (3) so enlarging the opening. The hand of the user can then be inserted through the opening as before.

In all the embodiments of sleeve members shown in Figure G the cut lines or finger holes are arranged such that the pocket defined by the internal space and open end faces substantial sway from the end of the strip. This ensures that as the user pulls the sleeve member from the strip the users hand is urged more deeply into the pockets, rather than out of the pocket.

8

Claims

1. A disposable cleaning means comprising a web strip of individual sleeve members connected to one another along frangible lines, each sleeve member comprising a front face, a back face and one or more open ends, the sleeve member having a internal space provided therein whereby a whole or part of a users hand can pass through an open end of the sleeve and be accommodated within the internal space to perform a cleaning process, the open end of each sleeve being arranged such that the sleeve can be released from the strip by inserting the portion of the hand through the open end into the internal space and then pulling the sleeve member along the length of the web.

2. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the back face of one sleeve member is connected to one or more adjacent sleeve members by frangible lines and a cut line in the front face defines the open end.

3. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cut line is substantially normal to the length of the strip.

4. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cut line is inclined to the length of the strip.

5. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open end of the sleeve member comprises a cut in the front face in the region of a frangible line to define a finger hole for aiding the separation of the front and back faces before insertion of the hand into the internal space.

6. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cut is circular.

7. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the web material is a paper based material, preferably toilet paper.

9

8. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the frangible lines are provided proximate bond lines, each bond line bonding the front and back faces of each respective sleeve member together, the frangible lines being provided always on one side of the bond lines such that the individual sleeve members have an open end and a bonded end after separation from the strip.

9. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the web is folded such that the front face of each sleeve member comprises a different, preferably greater number of plys of web material then the back face.

10. A disposable cleaning means as claimed in claim 9, wherein each sleeve member comprises a single sheet of web material folded along a fold line parallel to the axis of the strip to form a back face comprising a single web layer and a front face comprising two overlapped layers of web material.

11. A method of manufacture of a disposable cleaning means comprising the steps of:

feeding a web of sheet material into a folding apparatus to fold the same about fold lines parallel to the direction of travel of the web; bonding together overlapped folded web portions both parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web to define a plurality of cavities between the folded web portions along the length of the web; providing frangible lines perpendicular to the direction of travel of the web which define individual sleeve members which can be individually detached from the web; and, providing a cut line in one side of each sleeve member so providing an opening into which the user can insert at least a portion of his hand before detaching the member from the web, the cut line being substantially perpendicular to the direction of the web.

12. A method of manufacture of a disposable cleaning means comprising the steps of:

bonding together a pair of superposed continuous webs proximate their edges and substantially parallel therewith; forming a bond between the webs along lines substantially perpendicular to the edge bonds at predefined intervals; providing frangible lines for separating the bonded sheets individually in the form of sleeves, the frangible lines being substantially perpendicular to the edge bonds; and, providing a cut line in one side of each sleeve so providing an opening into which a user can insert at least a portion of his hand for separating the sleeves; the cut lines being substantially perpendicular to the edge bonds.

13. A disposable cleaning means substantially as herein before described.

14. A disposable cleaning means substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings.

15. A method of manufacture of a disposable cleaning means substantially as hereinbefore described.

16. A method of manufacture of a disposable cleaning means substantially as hereinbefore described with a reference to the drawings.