Cleaning kit

Abstract

A cleaning kit. The cleaning kit includes a first liquid-tight container and a second liquid-tight container, the second liquid-tight container adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to the second container. The second container includes a baffle extending at least partially across the second container adapted to reduce accidental rupture caused by handling during shipping and a frangible seal along at least a portion of the boundary between the first container and the second container. A cleaning liquid may be in the second container and there may be at least one absorbent applicator in the first container and adjacent to the second container whereby the release of cleaning liquid from the second container is applied to the applicators in the first container.

Claims

1. A cleaning kit, said kit comprising: (a) a pouch divided into a first liquid-tight container and a second liquid-tight container, said second container having a baffle extending across said second container adapted to reduce accidental rupture caused by handling during shipping, wherein said baffle extends fully across said second container portion of said pouch and said baffle is adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to said second container; (b) a cleaning liquid in said second container, wherein said second container is adapted to be openable to release said cleaning liquid from said second container into said first container; and (c) a frangible seal along at least a portion of the boundary between said first container and said second container, wherein said frangible seal is broken by the application of pressure by a user to said second container and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 30 inches of water and about 80 inches of water when tested according to ASTM Test F1140-07 (2007).

2. The cleaning kit according to claim 1 further including at least one absorbent applicator in said first container.

3. The cleaning kit according to claim 2, wherein said absorbent applicator is selected from the group consisting of wipers, mops, swabs, gloves, mitts, pads and combinations thereof.

4. The cleaning kit according to claim 3, wherein said absorbent applicator is a wiper for use in clean rooms requiring the use of wipers producing very small quantities of contaminants in use.

5. The cleaning kit according to claim 4, wherein said absorbent applicator includes a plurality of said wipers forming a stack.

6. The cleaning kit according to claim 4, wherein said absorbent applicator is made from materials selected from the group consisting of knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, foams, meshes, sponges and combinations thereof.

7. The cleaning kit according to claim 1, wherein said first liquid-tight container includes an access opening.

8. The cleaning kit according to claim 7, wherein said pouch is a fold pouch formed from a single sheet of material having the edges joined together to form sides and said opening.

9. The cleaning kit according to claim 7, wherein said pouch is a 3-side sealed pouch formed from two sheets of material having the edges joined together to form sides and said opening.

10. The cleaning kit according to claim 7, wherein the opening of said first liquid-tight container is sealable across said opening.

11. The cleaning kit according to claim 7, wherein said opening is re-sealable after opening said first container during use.

12. The cleaning kit according to claim 11, wherein said opening is a re-sealable peel and seal opening.

13. The cleaning kit according to claim 11, wherein said opening further includes a flap normally covering said opening and a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

14. The cleaning kit according to claim 11, wherein said opening includes a re-sealable slider zipper adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

15. The cleaning kit according to claim 11, wherein said opening includes a re-sealable pressure zipper adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

16. The cleaning kit according to claim 7, wherein said pouch is formed from a plastic film.

17. The cleaning kit according to claim 16, wherein said plastic film is a single layer plastic film.

18. The cleaning kit according to claim 16, wherein said plastic film is a multilayer, composite plastic film.

19. The cleaning kit according to claim 16, wherein said plastic film is a thermoplastic film.

20. An improved liquid container, said container comprising: (a) a pouch divided into a first liquid-tight container and a second liquid-tight container, said second container adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to said second container; (b) a baffle extending across said second container adapted to reduce accidental rupture caused by handling during shipping, wherein said baffle extends fully across said second container portion of said pouch and said baffle is adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to said second container; and (c) a frangible seal along at least a portion of the boundary between said first container and said second container, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 30% and about 80% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 30 inches of water and about 80 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

21. The container according to claim 20, wherein said baffle is selected from the group consisting of a partial weld line, a plurality of spaced apart dashed weld lines, a plurality of scattered weld lines, a single weld dot, a plurality of spaced apart weld dots, a single knurled seam, a plurality of knurled seams, a plurality of intersecting weld lines, and combinations thereof.

22. The container according to claim 21, wherein said baffles are formed by joining together opposite faces of said pouch by heat sealing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesives and combinations thereof.

23. The container according to claim 20, wherein said pouch is formed by sealing opposing edges of sheets of material.

24. The container according to claim 20, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 40% and about 70% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 40 inches of water and about 70 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

25. The container according to claim 24, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 30% and about 65% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 45 inches of water and about 65 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

26. The container according to claim 24, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of about 60% and the strength of said frangible seal is about 55 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

27. A cleaning kit, said kit comprising: (a) a pouch divided into a first liquid-tight container and a second liquid-tight container, said second container adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to said second container, said second container including (i) a baffle extending across said second container adapted to reduce accidental rupture caused by handling during shipping, wherein said baffle extends fully across said second container portion of said pouch and said baffle is adapted to be ruptured by the application of pressure by a user to said second container and (ii) a frangible seal along at least a portion of the boundary between said first container and said second container, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 30% and about 80% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 30 inches of water and about 80 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007); (c) a cleaning liquid in said second container, wherein said second container is adapted to be openable to release said cleaning liquid from said second container into said first container; and (d) at least one absorbent applicator in said first container and adjacent to said second container whereby the release of said cleaning liquid from the second container is applied to the applicator in said first container.

28. The cleaning kit according to claim 27, wherein said absorbent applicator is selected from the group consisting of wipers, mops, swabs, gloves, mitts, pads and combinations thereof.

29. The cleaning kit according to claim 28, wherein said absorbent applicator is a wiper for use in clean rooms requiring the use of wipers producing very small quantities of contaminants in use.

30. The cleaning kit according to claim 29, wherein said absorbent applicator includes a plurality of said wipers forming a stack.

31. The cleaning kit according to claim 29, wherein said absorbent applicator is made from materials selected from the group consisting of knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, foams, meshes, sponges and combinations thereof.

32. The cleaning kit according to claim 27, wherein said first liquid-tight container includes an access opening.

33. The cleaning kit according to claim 32, wherein said pouch is a fold pouch formed from a single sheet of material having the edges joined together to form sides and said opening.

34. The cleaning kit according to claim 32, wherein said pouch is a 3-side sealed pouch formed from two sheets of material having the edges joined together to form sides and said opening.

35. The cleaning kit according to claim 32, wherein the opening of said first liquid-tight container is sealable across said opening.

36. The cleaning kit according to claim 32, wherein said opening is re-sealable after opening said first container during use.

37. The cleaning kit according to claim 36, wherein said opening is a re-sealable peel and seal opening.

38. The cleaning kit according to claim 36, wherein said opening further includes a flap normally covering said opening and a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

39. The cleaning kit according to claim 36, wherein said opening includes a re-sealable slider zipper adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

40. The cleaning kit according to claim 36, wherein said opening includes a re-sealable pressure zipper adapted to re-seal said first container after opening.

41. The cleaning kit according to claim 32, wherein said pouch is formed from a plastic film.

42. The cleaning kit according to claim 41, wherein said plastic film is a single layer plastic film.

43. The cleaning kit according to claim 41, wherein said plastic film is a multilayer, composite plastic film.

44. The cleaning kit according to claim 41, wherein said plastic film is a thermoplastic film.

45. The container according to claim 27, wherein said baffle is selected from the group consisting of a partial weld line, a plurality of spaced apart dashed weld lines, a plurality of scattered weld lines, a single weld dot, a plurality of spaced apart weld dots, a single knurled seam, a plurality of knurled seams, a plurality of intersecting weld lines, and combinations thereof.

46. The container according to claim 45, wherein said baffles are formed by joining together opposite faces of said pouch by heat sealing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesives and combinations thereof.

47. The container according to claim 27, wherein said pouch is formed by sealing opposing edges of sheets of material.

48. The container according to claim 27, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 40% and about 70% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 40 inches of water and about 70 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

49. The container according to claim 48, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of between about 30% and about 65% and the strength of said frangible seal is between about 45 inches of water and about 65 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

50. The container according to claim 48, wherein said baffle is adapted to provide an effective volume after filling with a liquid of about 60% and the strength of said frangible seal is about 55 inches of water when tested according to ASTM test F1140-07 (2007).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch divided into a first liquid-tight container and a second liquid-tight container, the second container having a single baffle constructed according to the present inventions;

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of a cleaning kit showing internal components in phantom;

(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of a cleaning kit with a second container having a plurality of baffles;

(4) FIG. 4 is a top view of a cleaning kit with swabs;

(5) FIGS. 5A-5F depict a method according to the present inventions including:

(6) FIG. 5A showing a cleaning kit;

(7) FIG. 5B depicting a user applying pressure to an outer container;

(8) FIG. 5C showing cleaning liquid escaping from a broken frangible seam;

(9) FIG. 5D depicting a user opening an outer container;

(10) FIG. 5E showing a user removing a single wiper; and

(11) FIG. 5F showing a user wiping a surface with a wiper; and

(12) FIG. 6 is a contour plot of a response surface graphically illustrating overall performance of ease of opening and shipping and handling durability on a scale of 1-5 as a function of the effective volume of the second liquid container and the strength of the frangible seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(13) In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

(14) Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the inventions and are not intended to limit the inventions thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, a pouch 10 divided into a first liquid-tight container 20 for the applicators and a second liquid-tight container 30 for the cleaning liquid for the cleaning kit system, generally designated 10 in subsequent figures, is shown constructed according to the present inventions.

(15) The second liquid-tight container 30 portion of the pouch 10 is preferably a four-sided pouch having a frangible seam 32 and one folded edge 34, although other configurations are within the scope of this invention. As used herein, “frangible seam”, “frangible seal” and the like shall refer to a seam that purposefully comes apart when a pre-determined amount of pressure is applied, rather than deforming elastically and retaining its cohesion as a single object. When force is applied to second container 30, for example through a user exerting pressure on second container 30, frangible seam 32 is compromised and cleaning liquid is evacuated from second container through broken frangible seam. It should be understood that it is not necessary that all frangible seams in their entirety, be compromised. Rather, a portion of one seam compromised may be adequate to allow evacuation of cleaning liquid from second container.

(16) The second container 30 portion of the pouch 10 is preferably formed of a piece of plastic film that is frangibly sealed adjacent to the first container 20 portion of the pouch 10. This film is preferably a liquid impermeable thermoplastic. Examples of suitable films include polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, TTFE, or laminates or coforms thereof.

(17) Second container 30 envelops a volume of cleaning fluid liquid 37 within, as shown in FIG. 2. As used herein, “cleaning fluid” shall refer to a wide variety of cleaning liquids including water, deionized water, organic solvents, soaps, surfactants, degreasers, biocides, alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, acids, and mixtures thereof.

(18) Second container 30 contains at least one baffle 35, but two baffles, or a plurality of baffles, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, are also within the scope of the present inventions. Baffles 35 are preferably formed by welding the two sides of film together, optionally with the resulting baffle seal being slightly weaker than the frangible seam 32. Said another way, when pressure is applied to second container 30, the baffle weld will give way before frangible seams give way. Thus, the “rupturing” event of the second container can typically occur in two parts: the baffle weld or portion thereof will come apart, then the frangible seal will give way and allow the liquid to escape. Baffles may be oriented in a variety of ways including a partial weld line, a plurality of spaced apart dashed weld lines, weld lines scattered and/or at angles to each other, a plurality of spaced apart weld dots, knurled seams, a plurality of intersecting weld lines, a plurality of spaced weld lines, one or more curved weld lines, and combinations thereof. Baffles may be formed by joining together opposite faces of the second container by means such as heat sealing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and combinations thereof.

(19) It is desirable that the baffle is “discontinuous in use”. As use herein, “discontinuous in use” shall mean that the baffle doesn't significantly impede the movement of flow within the second container when the frangible seam of the second container is compromised. Said another way, if in use a user applies pressure to the second container so the baffles and frangible seams “give way”, the baffles that have “given way” can't significantly prevent the cleaning fluid liquid from draining out of the second container through broken frangible seam. Likewise if baffles are designed to remain intact during rupturing of frangible seam(s), the baffles can't be oriented in a manner that would prevent evacuation of virtually all of the cleaning fluid liquid from the second container when the frangible seams have given way. A discontinuous baffle can extend only partially across a portion of the second container, or extend fully across the second container.

(20) As shown in FIG. 2, cleaning kit 10 includes second container 30, and at least one wiper 42, within first container 20. While wiper 42 is generally used herein for conciseness, it should be understood that the present inventions pertain to a cleaning kit having a variety of cleaning applicators 40 including mops 43, swabs 44 (FIG. 4), gloves 45, mitts 46 and pads 47, in addition to wipers 42. Applicators can be constructed of a variety of materials including knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, non-woven-fabrics, foams, meshes, sponges and combinations thereof. Wipers may be very low quantity contaminant wipers approved for use as clean room wipers in accordance with IEST-RP.CC004.3. One cleaning kit may contain more than one type of cleaning applicators, Cleaning applicators 40 may be provided singly or as a plurality in each first container. Where a plurality of cleaning applicators are provided, a specific configuration may be preferred, for example a stack of wipes. Applicators are preferably absorbent with respect to the cleaning fluid liquid.

(21) The first container 20 portion of the pouch 10 is preferably constructed of a liquid impermeable plastic film such as laminated PET/LLDPE film, or PET, PA, PP, CoPET variations, that is preferably sealed on peripheral edges with standard (non-frangible) seam 33 and frangibly sealed adjacent to the second container 30 portion of the pouch 10. Preferably, the plastic film is a thermoplastic. The plastic film may be a multilayer composite plastic film. In one embodiment, first container 20 is formed from a piece of plastic film having its outer edges joined together and including an access opening. Alternatively, first container 20 can be formed of two sheets of material having joined edges. First container 20 preferably includes access opening 22 (FIG. 5D) through which cleaning applicators 40 may be removed. FIG. 5 will be discussed in more detail infra.

(22) Opening 22 is preferably closed using seal 23. Seal 23 can be a variety of configurations including re-sealable “peel and seal” flaps, pressure sensitive adhesives, slider zippers, and combinations thereof. Opening 22 can preferably be opened and reclosed using seal 23 multiple times. Second container 30 is frangibly sealed adjacent to first container 20.

(23) The effective volume of cleaning liquid within the second container is a crucial aspect of the present inventions. If the effective volume is too low, then it is difficult for the user to rupture the second container for use. Too low volumes will also result in more time required to achieve uniform saturation and may limit the number of wipers in the pack for a desired saturation level. If the effective volume is too high, then the second container is likely to rupture before desired, for example during shipping. As used herein “effective volume” shall refer to the maximum volume of fluid in a baffled container versus the maximum volume of fluid in that container without a baffle, expressed as a percentage. By way of example, if a 1 liter container with baffles has a maximum volume of 0.7 liters, the effective volume would be 70%. This is calculated as follows:
(V.sub.Baffle/V.sub.Unbaffled)×100=Effective Volume

(24) Likewise, the strength of frangible seam 32 is an aspect of the present inventions. If the frangible seam is too strong then it is difficult for the user to rupture the second container for use, but if it is too weak then the second container is likely to prematurely rupture.

(25) Extensive experimentation was necessary to achieve both ease of use and shipping and handling durability. “Ease of use” pertains to how easy it is for a user, for example a cleaning technician in a clean room, to rupture the second container for purposes of allowing cleaning fluid liquid to come in contact with cleaning applicator. “Shipping durability” refers to how resilient the second container is during the shipping and handling process, as defined by ASTM Test Protocol D5276-98 (2009) for Drop Test of Loaded Containers by Free Fall. Ease of use and shipping durability are inherently contradictory qualities,

(26) FIG. 6 quantifies overall performance on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the best. It should be understood that the addition of baffles is a critical element of the invention insofar as it permits both ease of use and shipping durability. Previous technologies optimized one at the expense of the other.

(27) It is desirable that the second container of the present inventions has an effective volume of approximately 30%-80%, and a frangible seam strength of approximately 30-80 inches of water. It is more desirable that the second container of the present inventions has an effective volume of approximately 40%-70%, and a frangible seam strength of approximately 40-70 inches of water. It is even more desirable that the second container of the present inventions has an effective volume of approximately 45%-65%, and a frangible seam strength of approximately 45-65 inches of water. It is most desirable that the second container of the present inventions has an effective volume of approximately 60%, and a frangible seam strength of approximately 55 inches of water. As used herein, frangible seal strength is determined by ASTM Protocol F1140-07 (2007).

(28) As demonstrated in the following prophetic tables, the percent of pouch volume capacity is also an important factor in performance. In these tables a rating of 1 is unacceptable; 2 is a 10% failure rate; 3 is a 1% failure rate; 4 is a <0.023% failure rate; and 5 is excellent performance. As used herein “percent of pouch volume capacity” shall refer to the percent capacity that a pouch is filled. For example, if a baffled or unbaffled pouch has a maximum capacity of 1 liter, but is filled with 0.8 liters, the percent of pouch volume capacity would be 80%. This is calculated as followed:
(V.sub.Actual/V.sub.Capacity)×100=Percent of Pouch Volume Capacity

(29) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Effective Point of Use Bursting TABLE 1 - Effective Point of Use Bursting Frangible Pouches Frangible Pouches NO Baffles With Baffles Effective Point of Use Bursting Effective Point of Use Bursting % of Pouch Volume 90 5 5 2 90 5 5 2 capacity 60 5 5 1 60 5 5 1 30 3 2 1 30 3 3 1 25 50 75 25 50 75 Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O] Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O]

(30) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Ability to Withstand Shipping (ASTM D5276-98 (2009)) TABLE 2 - Ability to Withstand Shipping (ASTM D5276-98 (2009)) Frangible Pouches Frangible Pouches NO Baffles With Baffles Durability Durability % of Pouch Volume 90 1 1 4 90 2 5 4 Capacity 60 1 1 5 60 3 5 5 30 3 3 5 30 4 5 5 25 50 75 25 50 75 Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O] Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O]

(31) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Overall Performance (Lowest Value of First Two Charts) TABLE 3 - Overall Performance (Lowest Value of First Two Charts) Frangible Pouches Frangible Pouches NO Baffles With Baffles Overall Performance Overall Performance % of Pouch Volume 90 1 1 2 90 2 5 2 Capacity 60 1 1 1 60 3 5 1 30 3 2 1 30 3 3 1 25 53 75 25 50 75 Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O] Frangible Seal Strength [in/H.sub.2O]

(32) Referring now back to FIG. 5, FIG. 5A depicts the cleaning kit having a second container 30 enclosing a volume of cleaning liquid and a first container 20 enclosing at least one cleaning applicator 40. FIG. 5B depicts a user applying force to the cleaning kit for purposes of rupturing second container 30 to release cleaning liquid into the first container 20. It should be understood that the application of force can be achieved by a variety of methods including folding, striking, twisting, and pushing the cleaning kit with hands, other objects, or a combination. Also, it should be understood that when pressure is exerted on second container 30, that force carries the cleaning liquid 37 through to first container 20. FIG. 5C depicts cleaning liquid 37 escaping frangible seam 32 of second container 30, where it would come in contact with wiper 42 within first container 20. FIG. 5D depicts a user peeling back seal 23 to reveal access opening 22. FIG. 5E depicts a user removing a wiper 42. FIG. 5F depicts a user wiping a surface with a wiper.

(33) Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, baffles could be structures other than welds, for example physical barriers such as flaps, objects, gussets, folds, and combinations thereof. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims. It should also be understood that “approximately” and other similar terms are +/−10% unless otherwise stated or contrary to common sense. All ranges set forth should be understood to include stated endpoints as well as all increments there between. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.