Wipes

Abstract

The invention relates to wipes for use on either a human or a household surface. The wipe of this invention has at least a wet layer, a dry layer and a moisture impervious layer there between. The moisture impervious layer is impermeable to all liquid leaching from the wet layer to the dry layer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wipes. This invention relates to wipes which may be used on human bodies or for use on household or work-related surfaces for clean-up purposes. More specifically, this invention relates to wipes which are wet on one side and dry on the other. Even more specifically, this invention relates to wipes which have a layer which prevents moisture from reaching the dry layer and user's hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wet, disposable wipes are used by consumers to clean a variety of surfaces, from human bodies to household and work-related surfaces. Wet, disposable wipes are a convenient means for a person to clean a surface. Disposable wipes allow a user to clean a surface without worrying about cleaning the wipe after use. Wipes are also beneficial because a person does not have to handle rags or other cloth materials which when cleaned, may not have all the chemicals washed out of them. Further, disposable wipes obviate the need to store bottles or other containers of chemical cleaners that are prone to accidental spilling.

When a consumer uses a wet, disposable wipe of the prior art, it is typically saturated with a cleaning solution of one type or another depending to its intended use. These cleaning solutions are often chemical based and therefore, a user will be exposed to such chemicals when using a prior art wipe. Since the cleaning solutions are chemical based, they tend to have a chemical scent which may not be appealing to a user. These scents are often not only unpleasant to the nose, but also unpleasant when a user comes into contact with the solution. When a user uses a wipe which is saturated with the cleaning solutions, the user comes into direct contact with the cleaning solution; for the user typically does not wear gloves or any other protective gear. Therefore, when the user is finished cleaning a particular surface, his or her hands typically have a chemical smell because of the direct contact with the cleaning solution. If the user does not want to come into contact with the chemicals from the wipe, then the user must wear protective clothing, such as gloves. Gloves, or other protective clothing, can be burdensome and inhibit cleaning a surface.

Many people are allergic to chemical cleaners. An allergic reaction can cause users to avoid using wet wipes of the prior art; therefore these individuals must completely avoid such disposable wipes or wear protective clothing. Others, such as pregnant women, should avoid the use of some wet wipes because of the close proximity to the chemicals in the wipe with which a user may come into contact.

People use disposable, wet wipes when cleaning other individuals, such as infants, adults or others. Often times these individuals need to be cleaned because of an absence or loss of control over their bodily functions. When such individuals need to be cleaned, the person performing the cleaning normally wishes to avoid coming into contact with the other person's bodily fluids, whether it is blood, excrement, or other substance. However, when a user cleans with a prior art disposable, wet wipe, the user normally comes into contact with some of the bodily fluid because they do not have a moisture impervious layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a three layer disposable wipe which has at least a dry, outer layer, a wet layer and a moisture impervious layer there between. The intermediate moisture impervious layer should be made from a non-permeable material such that no moisture from the wet layer may leach through this layer to come into contact with the outer dry layer. The dry layer is bonded to one side of the moisture impervious layer and the wet layer is bonded to the opposite side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a three layer wipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to an improved disposable, wet wipe 2. The wipe 2 has a dry layer 4 and a wet layer 6. Between the wet layer 4 of the wipe 2 and the dry layer 6 is a moisture impervious layer 8. The moisture impervious layer 8 prohibits liquid from seeping to the dry layer 4 from the wet layer 6, or moisture from the substance which the wet layer 6 is cleaning.

The wet layer 6 of the wipe 2 may be made from a fabric material or a fabric-like material. In a preferred embodiment, the wet layer 6 is made from a fabric-like material such as a spunlace or spunlaid nonwoven material. The spunlace used may be any type which has a high hygroscopicity. In a preferred embodiment, the wet layer to be made from a 30 grams per square meter (GSM) polypropylene spunlace, but limitations to this particular material should not be inferred.

The dry layer 4 of the wipe 2 may be made from a fabric material or nonwoven fabric-like material. In a preferred embodiment, the dry layer 4 may be made from the same type of material as the wet layer 4. However, the dry layer 4 may be made from a material different from the wet layer 6. The dry layer 4 does not have to have high hygroscopicity. In an exemplary embodiment, the dry layer may also be made from a 30 GSM polypropylene spunlace.

In accordance with the present invention, the dry layer 4 is separated from the wet layer 6 in a manner such that the moisture from the wet layer 6 can not come into contact or get transferred to the dry layer 4. In a preferred embodiment, the wet layer 6 is separated from the dry layer 4 by a moisture impervious layer 8. The moisture impervious layer 8 should be impermeable to any liquid. The moisture impervious layer 8 prohibits all moisture from leaching from the wet layer 6 to the dry layer 4. The moisture impervious layer 8 also prevents a user from coming into contact with any substance which the person is cleaning; for the moisture impervious layer prohibits substantially all liquid or soluable substances from reaching the dry layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the moisture impervious layer 8 may comprise a plastic material or plastic-like material or alternatively may be made from 50 GSM plastic. A contemplated plastic would be polypenylene (PPE) plastic. Such a plastic is preferred because it is flexible and capable of blocking all substances from reaching the dry layer.

The wet layer 6 may be made by injecting a cleaning fluid into the center of the wet layer 6 allowing the fluid disburse evenly throughout the wet layer 6. In a preferred embodiment, the wet layer 6 is made from spunlace with a high hygroscopicity. However, any material which allows liquid to disburse and be retained without causing it to leak from the material is contemplated for use. In a preferred embodiment, between two and four milliliters of liquid should be injected into the wet layer. In another preferred embodiment, three milliliters of liquid is injected into the wet layer. This amount is sufficient to evenly disperse throughout the wet layer without saturating it while also allowing for some evaporation.

A variety of liquid cleaning agents may be injected into the wet layer depending on the substance to be removed from a surface. If the wipe is to be used to clean a part of a human body, the liquid injected into the wet layer should not be a liquid which would be injurious. If the wipe is being used to clean a household surface or a work surface, the liquid should not be a liquid which would cause damage to a typical work or home surface, such as wood, glass, metal or any other common surface which may be in a home or work-place. The liquid injected into the wet layer may include a material which removes bacteria from a human, a household surface or a work related surface. The liquid which is used to remove bacteria from a human should be a different composition than the liquid injected for use in wipes that would be used on household surface or work-related surface.

In a preferred embodiment for a wipe for use on the human body, the liquid injected into the wet layer should be one of a non-toxic, non-hypoallergenic medical grade solution for removing bacteria. Any liquid which is capable of removing bacteria from a part of a human body and which meets all regulations governing anti-bacterial substances for use in hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, etc. may be injected into the wet layer. For example, in a preferred embodiment for use on a human, the liquid injected into the wipe could be ethyl-alcohol based. Other liquids for use on a human body are contemplated for use with this invention.

In preferred embodiments, for a wipe to be used on a household or a work-related surface, the liquid injected into the wipe may be one which is an antibacterial. In another embodiment for a wipe which could be used on a home or work-related surface, the substance injected into the wipe could be ethanol based. Other liquids for both use on in a home or work-related area are contemplated for use with this invention.

Once the liquid has disbursed through the wet layer, a moisture impervious layer should be coupled to one side of the wet layer. The moisture impervious layer may be adhered to the wet layer in any means know in the art for attaching a fabric or a fabric-like material to a plastic material. For example, one such means for attaching the wet side to the moisture impervious layer may be through the use of an appropriate adhesive. If an adhesive is used to attach the moisture impervious layer to the wet layer, it should not be one which can leach any liquid from the wet layer. Nor should the adhesive be one which causes either the moisture impervious layer or the wet layer to disintegrate or otherwise be compromised.

The moisture impervious layer should also be suitably bonded to the dry layer. In a preferred embodiment, the dry layer is attached to the opposite side of the moisture impervious layer from the wet layer. The dry layer may be joined to the moisture impervious layer by any means known in the art such that the dry layer does not come into contact with any moisture from the wet layer. The dry layer is preferably coupled to the moisture impervious layer with an adhesive. Such adhesive should not draw any of the liquid from the wet layer through the moisture impervious layer to the dry layer. Further, the adhesive should not be one which causes any moisture to reach the dry layer. The dry layer may be attached to the moisture impervious layer with a similar adhesive as is used to adhere the wet layer. While the dry layer may be coupled to the moisture impervious layer using adhesive in any other means known in the art which will not inhibit performance of either layer can also be used.

While the above embodiment describes the wipe being formed from first injecting the predetermined liquid into the wet layer, the wipe may be created in any other manner contemplated in the art. For example, one other manner for making the wipe would be to first adhere the wet layer to the moisture impervious layer and the dry layer to the moisture impervious layer. After the three layers are coupled, the desired liquid should be injected into the wet layer. The liquid should be allowed to then disperse throughout the wet layer.

The wipes may be stored individually or in a container that holds multiple wipes. If the wipes are stored in a container which holds multiple wipes, the wipes should be stored in a manner such that the wet layer from one contacts the wet layer of an adjacent wipe and the dry layer of one wipe contacts the dry layer of an adjacent wipe. One means to store the wipe is to fold it such that the wet layer remains on the inside of the wipe and the dry layer remains on the outside of the wipe. This may be accomplished by folding the wipe such that one end of the wipe is folded to the half way point of the wipe and the other end of the wipe is folded to the half way point such that the two ends of the wipes touch or are adjacent to each other. However, the wipe may be folded or stored in any other means known in the art such that the wet layer does not come into contact with the dry layer.

The wipe should be of a size which is easily maneuverable for an average adult. If the wipe is too large, it may not be easy to control the movement of the wipe over a surface. If the wipe is too small, then the user may risk coming into contact with the surface for which the wipe is being used. In a preferred embodiment, the wipe would be rectangular in shape. It is also contemplated for the wipe to be square in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the wipe would be between 10 centimeters and 20 centimeters. The width of a preferred wipe should be between 8 and 14 centimeters. In another preferred embodiment, the length of the wipe would be 18 centimeters and the width would be 11 centimeters. While these are some of the preferred dimensions, any other shape which would be adequate for cleaning a surface is contemplated, as well as the dimensions for the wipe.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the examples. However the examples should not be construed as a limitation on the actual applicable scope of the invention, and as such, all modifications and alterations without departing from the spirits of the invention and appended claims shall remain within the protected scope and claims of the invention.

Claims

1. A three layer disposable wipe comprising a dry layer, a wet layer, a moisture impervious layer disposed between the dry layer and the wet layer and wherein the moisture impervious layer is made from an impermeable material and wherein the dry layer is adhered to a first major surface of the moisture impervious layer and the wet layer is adhered to a second major surface of the moisture impervious layer.

2. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the dry layer is made from a spunlace material.

3. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the wet layer is made from a spunlace material.

4. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein each of the dry layer and the wet layer are adhered to the moisture impervious layer with an adhesive.

5. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the moisture impervious layer is made from a non-porous plastic material.

6. The disposable wipe of claim 5 wherein the plastic material is a polypenlene material.

7. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the wet layer comprises a hygroscopic material.

8. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the wet layer comprises a 30 gram per square meter polypropylene spunlace.

9. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the dry layer comprises a 30 gram per square meter polypropylene spunlace.

10. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the moisture impervious layer prohibits any moisture from the wet layer from coming into contact with the dry layer.

11. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the wipe is rectangular in shape.

12. The disposable wipe of claim 1 wherein the wet layer contains between two and four milliliters of a cleaning solution.

13. The disposable wipe of claim 12 wherein the cleaning solution is an antibacterial solution for use on a human body.

14. The disposable wipe of claim 12 wherein the cleaning solution is an antibacterial solution for use on a household or work-related surface.

15. A disposable wipe for use on a human body comprising a dry layer, a wet layer comprising a hygroscopic, spunlace material, and a medical grade antibacterial fluid for use on a human body, a moisture impervious layer disposed between the dry layer and the wet layer which prohibits moisture in the wet layer from contacting the dry layer; and wherein the dry layer is adhered to a first side of the moisture impervious layer and the wet layer is adhered to an opposite side of the moisture impervious layer from the dry layer.

16. A disposable wipe for use on a household surface or work surface comprising a dry layer, a hygroscopic wet layer comprising a cleaning fluid therein, a plastic moisture impervious layer disposed between the dry layer and the wet layer such that the moisture impervious layer prohibits moisture from the wet layer contacting the dry layer and wherein the cleaning fluid in the wet layer is an antibacterial fluid.

17. A method of making a disposable wipe for use on a human body, a work surface or a household surface comprising the step of:

coupling the wet layer to a plastic moisture impervious layer with an adhesive;

coupling a dry, spunlace layer to the opposite side of the moisture impervious layer with an adhesive;

injecting a predetermined amount of an antibacterial cleaning fluid into the center of a high hygroscopic spunlace wet layer; and

allowing the fluid to disburse throughout the wet layer.