Abrasive or cleaning pad with a composite resin as a wear layer, floor cleaning system and method of cleaning a floor surface

Abstract

An abrasive or cleaning pad includes a composite resin as a wear layer. A cleaning pad system for motorized floor cleaning or polishing applications includes a pad having a combination of two grades of melamine resin-based foam. A method of cleaning a floor surface is also provided.

Claims

1. An abrasive pad for cleaning microstructured tile surfaces composed of mineral substances, the abrasive pad comprising: a backing disc having a central recess formed therein configured with a size selected from the group consisting of between 2 cm and 10 cm and between 6 cm and 8 cm to ensure a supply of water from a cleaning machine to a floor; a wear layer formed of a melamine composite resin including different resin parts bonded with a water-insoluble adhesive, said melamine composite wear layer being a single foam pad having a surface on one side constructed from two grades of melamine-formaldehyde resin foams in a patchwork-type fashion; said melamine resin of said wear layer being laminated on said one side by a nonwoven configured to transmit a force of a drive plate of a cleaning appliance; and said central recess in said backing disc being extended into another central recess in said wear layer having a size selected from the group consisting of between 10 cm and 15 cm and between 11 cm and 13 cm and exposing said nonwoven.

2. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein said resin parts are melamine resins having white and gray colors.

3. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.

4. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein said resin parts have individual sizes selected from the group consisting of between 0.5 to 3 cm3 and 1 cm3.

5. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive pad has a diameter selected from the group consisting of between 10 cm and 70 cm and between 15 cm and 53 cm.

6. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein said composite resin has a thickness selected from the group consisting of between 1 cm and 5 cm and between 2 cm and 4 cm.

7. The abrasive pad according to claim 1, wherein said melamine resin is laminated on one side by a nonwoven configured to transmit a force of a drive plate of a cleaning appliance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, longitudinal-sectional view of a prior art cleaning pad;

(2) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a cleaning pad according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cleaning pad according to the invention;

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 are photographs of a melamine foam composite pad according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 6 is a photograph showing two grades of melamine foam intertwined in a single cleaning pad according to the invention, which is not provided with a central recess or bore hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a simplified and diagrammatic illustration of a prior art cleaning pad 1 which includes a backing disc 2 of polyurethane and a scrubbing surface or wear layer 3 of a single component melamine foam/resin, both having a central bore or recess 5 of the same diameter for receiving a fastening element 4. In the operating state, the fastening element 4 fixes the cleaning pad to a non-illustrated pad driver of a cleaning machine as indicated in FIG. 1. By applying pressure, the radially protruding head of the fastening element 4 is pressed into the central region of the scrubbing surface 3 so that the cleaning pad 1 is fixed to the pad driver and the head does not protrude in the axial direction.

(7) However, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 would not work well with the new cleaning pads according to the invention due to the low compressibility of the composite melamine resin. Therefore, the geometry of the individual elements has been chosen as indicated in FIG. 2, in which the central bore or recess 5 of the prior art having the same diameter in both the backing disc 2 and the scrubbing surface or wear layer 3 has been replaced by a central bore or recess 6 in the backing disc 2 which is similar in diameter to the central bore or recess 5 as well as a larger-diameter central bore or recess 7 in the scrubbing surface 3 which accommodates the entire width of the fastening element 4. It is noted that details of the fastening element 4, which might include a screw thread or the like, have been omitted in the figure. Similarly, channels or the like for supplying a fluid to the actual scrubbing region can be provided in the cleaning pad 1 and/or in the fastening element 4 and/or between them, but have also been omitted for the sake of clarity.

(8) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cleaning pad 1 according to the invention, which indicates a large outer area formed of a composite resin, an inner area of a nonwoven and a central recess, according to the legend shown in the figure.

(9) FIGS. 4 and 5 are photographs showing a cleaning pad having the melamine foam composite pad, scrubbing surface or wear layer according to the invention. This cleaning pad is formed of a backing disc and the scrubbing surface, wear layer or composite pad as shown in FIG. 2, adhered together with glue. The backing disc is the site where the pad is connected to the pad driver of the scrubbing machine. The composite pad is composed of melamine-formaldehyde resin foams and is responsible for the cleaning.

(10) The backing disc of the melamine foam composite pad shown in the photographs is approximately ⅛ inch thick, which is a sufficient thickness to ensure connectivity with the pad driver of a motorized floor cleaning machine and avoid additional waste. The melamine composite pad is about 1 inch thick. This thickness allows a composite pad utilized under a scrubbing machine to hold together and efficiently clean up to 10,000 square meters. A traditional melamine pad will wear out after about 1,000 square meters. It is the combination of the two grades of melamine foam that is the key to the durability of the composite pad.

(11) FIG. 6 is a photograph showing the cleaning pad before the central recess or bore hole has been provided, from which one can see that the two grades of melamine foam are intertwined in a single cleaning pad. This creates a pad that is dense, stronger and more consistently incapable of absorbing water than a standard melamine pad. Since the pad is formed of many small pieces held together by a seven-layer, water-insoluble glue, the pad is also more tear resistant than any homogenous melamine pad. The cleaning pad may be provided with or without a central borehole or with a borehole plus an additional cutout.