Wipes

Abstract

A wipe comprising a substrate and a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds. The wipe is wet with one or more fluids comprising water to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds, and applied to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

Claims

1. A wipe comprising: a substrate; and ethanol retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds; wherein the one or more cyclodextrin compounds release the ethanol upon wetting the wipe with water; and wherein the substrate carries or is impregnated with the ethanol retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds.

2. The wipe according to claim 1, wherein the ethanol retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds is in a dry powdered form.

3. The wipe according to claim 1, wherein the wipe is stored in a dry state.

4. The wipe according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is capable of absorbing a fluid.

5. The wipe according to claim 4, wherein the substrate has at least one of: holes, pores, and openings for absorbing the fluid.

6. The wipe according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of: a sheet, a paper towel-like member, a woven fabric, a mat of bonded fibers, and a porous sponge-like member.

7. A method of using a wipe as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: wetting the wipe with one or more fluids comprising water to release the ethanol from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds; and applying the wipe to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more fluids comprising water includes a surface fluid; wherein, before the wipe is applied to the surface, the surface fluid is present on the surface; and wherein wetting the wipe comprises applying the wipe to the surface fluid that is present on the surface.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising applying the surface fluid to the surface.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising drying the surface with the wipe; wherein drying the surface comprises absorbing the surface fluid into the substrate.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein applying the wipe to the surface comprises engaging the ethanol with the surface by movement of the wipe in engagement with the surface.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising storing the wipe in a container; wherein the one or more fluids comprising water includes a container fluid; and wherein wetting the wipe comprises adding the container fluid to the container.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein storing the wipe in the container comprises storing the wipe in the container for a first period of time, before wetting the wipe with the one or more fluids comprising water; the method further comprising storing the wipe in the container for a second period of time, after the container fluid is added to the container.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more fluids comprising water includes a soaking fluid; and wherein wetting the wipe comprises soaking the wipe in a volume of the soaking fluid to produce, upon release of the ethanol from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds, a solution containing water and ethanol.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the solution containing water and ethanol contains at least 10% ethanol by volume.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the solution containing water and ethanol contains 10% to 70% ethanol by volume.

17. The wipe according to claim 1, wherein the ethanol retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds is in a dry powdered form; wherein the wipe is stored in a dry state; wherein the substrate is capable of absorbing a fluid; wherein the substrate has at least one of: holes, pores, and openings for absorbing the fluid; and wherein the substrate comprises at least one of: a sheet, a paper towel-like member, a woven fabric, a mat of bonded fibers, and a porous sponge-like member.

18. A method of using a wipe as claimed in claim 17, the method comprising: wetting the wipe with one or more fluids comprising water to release the ethanol from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds; and applying the wipe to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the one or more fluids comprising water includes a surface fluid; wherein, before the wipe is applied to the surface, the surface fluid is present on the surface; wherein wetting the wipe comprises applying the wipe to the surface fluid that is present on the surface; wherein the method further comprises: applying the surface fluid to the surface; and drying the surface with the wipe; wherein drying the surface comprises absorbing the surface fluid into the substrate; and wherein applying the wipe to the surface comprises engaging the ethanol with the surface by movement of the wipe in engagement with the surface.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the one or more fluids comprising water includes a soaking fluid; wherein wetting the wipe comprises soaking the wipe in a volume of the soaking fluid to produce, upon release of the ethanol from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds, a solution containing water and ethanol; and wherein the solution containing water and ethanol contains 10% to 70% ethanol by volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0127] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0128] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention illustrating a single wipe sheet enclosed within a disposable package;

[0129] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2;

[0130] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the package of FIG. 2 illustrating the package in an open position providing access to the wipe for removal;

[0131] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a package containing individual wipes; and

[0132] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the package of FIG. 4 along section line 5-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0133] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3 which show a first embodiment of a package or container 20 containing a single wipe sheet in accordance with the present invention.

[0134] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the wipe sheet 22 is retained within the package 20 between a pair of sheet members 24 and 26 which are sealed together about their periphery by a peripheral seal 38 so as to sealably retain wipe sheet 22 in a compartment formed within the package 20. For use of the wipe sheet 22, a user tears or breaks the sheets 24 or 26 or the seal 38 therebetween so as to provide access to the wipe sheet 22 as shown in FIG. 3 as for removal of the wipe sheet 22. The wipe sheet 22 is preferably substantially dry or free from water and is activated by engagement with water such that the wipe sheet 22 including a substrate is carried or impregnated with cyclodextrin compounds retain a cleaning and/or disinfecting compounds that are released on wetting the wipe sheet 22 with the water. The cleaning and/or disinfecting compound may, for example, comprise an alcohol, such as ethanol.

[0135] The wipe 22 is preferably stored in the package 20 in a dry state. The cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds are also preferably stored in a dry state, such as for example a dry powdered form.

[0136] To use the wipe 22, the wipe 22 may be removed from the package 20 and wetted with one or more fluids comprising water to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds. The wipe 22 can then be applied to a surface, such as a user's hands or a table top, to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0137] Optionally, the one or more fluids comprising water includes one or more of: a surface fluid, a container fluid, and a soaking fluid. For example, the surface to be cleaned could have a fluid comprising water present on the surface before the wipe 22 is applied to the surface, which fluid can be referred to as a surface fluid. The surface fluid could, for example, be water that a user has applied to their hands, or a spill of a beverage on a table top. By applying the wipe 22 to the surface fluid, the surface fluid wets the wipe 22 and thereby causes the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound to be released from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds. The released cleaning and/or disinfecting compound can then be applied to the surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface, for example by rubbing the wipe 22 over the surface. The wipe 22 also preferably helps to dry the surface by absorbing some or all of the surface fluid.

[0138] The wipe 22 could also be wetted by introducing a fluid comprising water to the package 20 before the wipe 22 is removed from the package 20, which fluid can be referred to as a container fluid. For example, after the package 20 is opened as shown in FIG. 3 and before the wipe 22 is removed, a fluid such as water could be poured into the package 20, such as by holding the opened package 20 under a water faucet. The pair of sheet members 24 and 26 could then optionally be held together, with the wipe 22 and the fluid contained therebetween, and the package 20 could be shaken to thoroughly disperse the fluid into and around the wipe 22, thereby causing the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound to be released from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds. The wipe 22 could then be removed from the package 20, and applied to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0139] The wipe 22 could also be removed from the package 20 in its dry state, and then soaked in a fluid comprising water outside of the package 20 to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds. For example, the wipe 22 could, after being removed from the package 20, be held under a water faucet to soak the wipe 22 in water. The wipe 22 could also be placed in a vessel, such as a cup, bowl, or bucket, together with a fluid comprising water, such as a mixture of soap and water, to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds.

[0140] Any fluid that is used to wet the wipe 22 to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds may be referred to as a soaking fluid, regardless of whether said fluid contacts the wipe inside or outside of the package 20. The wipe 22 could be wetted once by one fluid, or more than once by one or more surface fluids, container fluids, and/or soaking fluids, each fluid having the same composition or a different composition.

[0141] Reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate a second embodiment of a package or container 40 for a single wipe sheet 22 which has substantial similarities to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 and similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements.

[0142] As best seen in FIG. 4, two sheets 24 and 26 are sealed about their periphery forming a fluid impermeable seal 38 about the periphery. An intermediate seal 39 extends transversely across the package 40 so as to define within the package 40 an upper compartment 42 and a lower compartment 44. Within the upper compartment 42, the wipe sheet 22 is provided and within the lower compartment 44, a fluid containing water 46, preferably merely water, is contained. The intermediate seal 39 can be broken by manipulation of the package 40 as, for example, by a user pulling the sides of the sheet 24 away from the sheet 26. The intermediate seal 39 is broken under less force than the peripheral seal 38. In use, the intermediate seal 39 is broken, the package 40 is manipulated so that the water from the lower compartment 44 flows to the upper compartment 42 and comes to be engaged with the wipe 22 to wet the wipe 22 and subsequently after manipulation of the package 40 such as by shaking and rubbing to wet the wipe sheet 22, the package 40 is then opened in a manner illustrated in FIG. 3 by breaking the peripheral seal 38 and the wet wipe 22 is ready for use. Preferably, if the fluid containing the water in a separate compartment 44 does not include volatile components, the product will be able to be stored for an extended period of time as compared to wipe products in which volatile alcohol is in the wipe in a liquid state.

[0143] The substrate for the wipe 22 in accordance with the present invention may comprise a plurality of different materials such as, for example, a lamination of different sheets having selected different properties to provide a composite sheet with desired properties serving the purpose, for example, of carrying or being impregnated with the cyclodextrin compounds to retain the cleaning and/or disinfecting compounds, providing flexibility, resiliency and suitable absorbance by the wipe 22 enhancing the transfer of water from an exterior surface of the wipe 22 to the cyclodextrin compounds and enhancing the transfer of the cleaning and/or disinfecting compounds to the exterior surface of the wipe 22 for engagement with the surface to be cleaned.

[0144] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore provide a wipe 22 comprising: a substrate; and a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds.

[0145] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of using the aforementioned wipe 22, the method comprising: wetting the wipe 22 with one or more fluids comprising water to release the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound from the one or more cyclodextrin compounds; and applying the wipe 22 to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0146] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a container 20, 40 containing: one or more wipes; and a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds.

[0147] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of using a wipe 22, the method comprising: storing the wipe 22 in a container 20, 40; storing a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds in the container 20, 40; placing a fluid comprising water into the container 20, 40, the one or more cyclodextrin compounds releasing the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound upon being dissolved in the fluid comprising water to produce a solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; removing the wipe 22 from the container 20, 40, the wipe 22 carrying at least some of the solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; and applying the wipe 22 to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0148] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of using a wipe 22, the method comprising: providing a container 20, 40 containing the wipe 22 and a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds; placing a fluid comprising water into the container 20, 40, the one or more cyclodextrin compounds releasing the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound upon being dissolved in the fluid comprising water to produce a solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; removing the wipe 22 from the container 20, 40, the wipe 22 carrying at least some of the solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; and applying the wipe 22 to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0149] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 therefore also provide a method of using a wipe 22, the method comprising: providing a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds; dissolving the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds in a fluid comprising water, the one or more cyclodextrin compounds releasing the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound upon being dissolved in the fluid comprising water to produce a solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; carrying, in or on the wipe 22, at least some of the solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; and applying the wipe 22 to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0150] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 furthermore provides a method of using a wipe 22, the method comprising: storing the wipe 22 in a container 40; storing a cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds in the container 40; storing a fluid comprising water in the container 40, the fluid comprising water being contained in a separate compartment 44 from the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds; mixing the fluid comprising water with the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds, the one or more cyclodextrin compounds releasing the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound upon being dissolved in the fluid comprising water to produce a solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; removing the wipe 22 from the container 40, the wipe 22 carrying at least some of the solution containing water and the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound; and applying the wipe 22 to a surface to clean and/or disinfect the surface.

[0151] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 also provide a wipe comprising: a substrate; and an active ingredient retained by one or more cyclodextrin compounds.

[0152] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 also provide a wipe comprising: a substrate; and an alcohol powder.

[0153] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 also provide a method of using the aforementioned wipe, the method comprising: wetting the wipe with one or more fluids comprising water to dissolve the alcohol powder and thereby produce a solution comprising alcohol; and applying the wipe to a surface to deposit at least some of the solution comprising alcohol onto the surface.

[0154] It will be understood that, although various features of the invention have been described with respect to one or another of the embodiments of the invention, the various features and embodiments of the invention may be combined or used in conjunction with other features and embodiments of the invention as described and illustrated herein.

[0155] The invention is not limited to the specific construction of the wipe 22 or the package 20, 40 that has been shown in the Figures. Rather, any desired shape, size, and material properties of the wipe 22 could be selected as desired. The wipe 22 could also be stored and/or shipped and/or sold in a package 20, 40 that contains multiple wipes 22 and/or which is re-sealable once opened.

[0156] Nor is the invention limited to the particular fluids and chemical components of the preferred embodiments. For example, the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound could optionally be retained in a dry form by a chemical component other than cyclodextrin. Optionally, an alcohol powder such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,747 to Mitchell et al., issued Mar. 5, 1974, which is incorporated herein by reference, could be used in place of or together with the cleaning and/or disinfecting compound retained by the one or more cyclodextrin compounds described above.

[0157] The wipes 22 could be adapted for use for a variety of different purposes. For example, the wipes 22 could be hand cleaning wipes 22, human skin cleaning wipes 22, and/or infant human skin cleaning wipes 22 that are adapted for cleaning human skin. If the wipes 22 are to be used for cleaning human skin, the substrate is preferably selected to have a soft texture that will not irritate skin. The cleaning and/or disinfecting compound is also preferably selected to have a concentration and chemical composition that will not irritate human skin. The wipes 22 could also, for example, be counter top wipes 22, table top wipes 22, floor wipes 22, wall wipes 22, furniture wipes 22, and/or instrument or apparatus wipes 22 that are adapted for cleaning the surface or surfaces of one or more different types of objects. If the wipes 22 are to be used for cleaning an object, the substrate is preferably selected to have properties that are suitable for cleaning that object. For example, if the object is prone to scratching, the substrate is preferably selected to have a soft texture that will not scratch the object. Alternatively, if the object has caked on dirt or grease that may be difficult to remove, the substrate may be selected to have an abrasive texture to assist in removing the dirt or grease.

[0158] While the invention has been described with reference to specific examples and embodiments, many modifications and variations many occur to persons skilled in the art. Although this disclosure has described and illustrated certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to these particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are functional, mechanical, or chemical equivalents of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated herein.