SPECIFICATIONA pad and a method of use thereofThis invention relates to a cleaning pad for application to the human body, particularly for cleaning cosmetics from the skin, and to a method of use of the pad. The pad can also be used for industrial, domestic and verterinary cleaning.
For cleaning cosmetics from the human skin it is conventional to use cotton wool or cloth dipped in a lotion, or lathered with soap and water. It is also known to use cloth pre-impregnated with a lotion.
All of these known ways are inefficient, particularly with certain cosmetics. Moreover, the lotion is frequently irritant to the skin. Another disadvantage is that the cotton wool or cloth rapidly becomes so dirty as not to be reusable, and so has to be thrown away.
For cleaning dirt from inanimate surfaces in the kitchen or bathroom it is conventional to use a sponge or foam block, or a cloth dipped in soapy water. It is also known to use cloth pre-impregnated with a disinfectant or soap. All of these known ways are inefficient with certain kinds of dirt. Another disadvantage is that the block or cloth often rapidly becomes so dirty as not to be reusable, and so has to be thrown away.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cleaning pad comprising flexible, liquid-sorbent material and a covering of stretch material in tension on said liquid-sorbent material.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of cleaning comprising providing a pad comprised of flexible, liquidsorbent material and a covering of stretch material in tension on said liquid-sorbent material, applying water to said pad to cause said liquid-sorbent material to absorb said water, and wiping said pad over a portion of a surface to be cleaned to remove a substance therefrom.
The present pad can be used to clean efficiently the human skin, especially to clean cosmetics from the skin. Moreover, the presence of the liquidsorbent material in the pad makes the pad selfcleaning, in that the liquid expelled from this material when the pad is squeezed washes the substance from the covering. Thus the pad can be reused many times. Another advantage is that no additional lotion is required.
The pad can also be used to clean efficiently domestic and veterinary surfaces, especially to clean dirty domestic surfaces. Moreover, the presence of the liquid-sorbent material in the pad makes the pad self-cleaning, in that the liquid expelled from this material when the pad is squeezed washes the substance from the covering. Thus the pad can be reused many times.
The invention will be described now by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pad for cleaning the human body, andFigure 2 is a perspective view of a pad for domestic cleaning.
Referring to Figure 1 a pad comprises a small disc 1 of flexible, liquid-sorbent material, in the example shown as a sponge or a foam material, and a covering 2 of stretch material, in the example shown a two-way stretch nylon or nylon-containing material of a very soft texture, in tension on the disc 1. In manufacture of the pad two circular pieces of stretch material are stiched together semi-circumferentially with a machine stitch, the disc 1 is inserted between the two pieces and then the stitching is completed by machine and hand to form a full circumferential seam 3.
As the material of the disc 1, I have found "T 180" a polyether foam with a density of 20 kg./m.3 and marketed by Koepp A.G., of Oestrich-Winkel, FederalRepublic of Germany, to be suitable.
As the material forthe covering 2, I have found "J 1396" a standard high crimp "Celon" (RegisteredTrade Mark) which is electrostatic and marketed byKnitcraft Hosiery Co. Ltd., of Nottingham, England, to be suitable. This combination of materials has been found to be particularly efficient in removing cosmetics from human skin.
The pad can be used wet for certain operations of cleaning the human body, and has particularly been used by me for the removal of cosmetics, such as eye make-up. For such removal, the pad was not pre-impregnated with any other substance, nor did it require added creams or lotions, but it was simply dipped in water and then used to remove the cosmetics. To clean the pad it was occasionally washed in soap.
It is believed that the above combination of materials was successful in removing cosmetics because "T 180" was a soft foam and thus able closely to follow the contours of the skin, while "J 1396" was electrostatic and had a low coefficient of friction and thus tended to attract dirt from the skin and did not chafe the skin.
Another use for the pad shown is for insertion into footwear to relieve the pressure on tender parts of the feet. It has the advantages of being washable, of retaining its shape and of not disintegrating readily.
It is believed that it also has uses in medical fields for cleaning human beings.
For cleaning the body the pad can be made in the form of a glove.
The pad shown in Figure 2 is similarto that ofFigure 1 but inserted in the middle of the block lisa capsule 5 of water-soluble material and containing a mild disinfectant liquid 4. In manufacture of the pad two circular pieces of stretch material are stitched together semi-circumferentially with a machine stitch, the block 1 is inserted between the two pieces and then the stitching is completed by machine and hand to form the full circumferential seam 3.
As the material of the block 1, I have found "KITTY" a coarse-pored, polyester foam with a density of 27 kg./m.3 and marketed by Koepp A.G., of Oestrich-Winkel, Federal Republic of Germany, to besuitable.
As the material forthe covering 2, I have found"J1396" a standard high crimp "Celon" which is electrostatic and marketed by Knitcraft Hosiery Co, Ltd., of Nottingham, England, to be suitable.
The pad can be used wet for domestic cleaning operations, such asforcleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces, for cleaning fibrous materials, for cleaning cars, for cleaning plastics, for cleaning silver, for cleaning paint with soap and for cleaning carpets.
The pad can also be used dry for polishing many articles, for example, furniture, shoes and windows.
To clean the pad it is occasionally washed in soap.
It is believed that the above combination of material is successful in removing dirt from domestic surfaces because "KITTY" is a foam and thus able to follow the contours of the surfaces, while "J 1396" is electrostatic and thus tends to attract dirt from the surfaces.
It is believed that it also has uses in veterinary fields for cleaning domestic animals.
Instead of providing the pad with the capsule 5 containing the liquid 4, the pad can be impregnated with a mild disinfectant substance or possibly with an aromatic substance.
If desired the pad can be made in the form of a glove for wearing by the cleaner.