具体实施方式：
[0030]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a scrubbing cloth 10 in accordance with the present disclosure. Scrubbing cloth 10 may be described as a consumer cleaning or scrubbing cloth 10. As used throughout this Specification, the term “consumer” is in reference to any household, cosmetic, industrial, hospital or food industry applications and the like of the cloth 10. Certain embodiments can be used as floor pads or hand pads, for example. Further as used throughout this Specification, the term “scrubbing” is used to describe surface treating and may include cleaning, abrading and/or scouring, including various levels or degrees of abrading and/or scouring action (e.g., heavy duty, non-scratch, etc.). The cloth 10 comprises a substrate 12 and a texture layer 14 (referenced generally in FIG. 1). The substrate 12 and the texture layer 14 can comprise a variety of different materials as described further below. Regardless, the scrubbing cloth is characterized as including opposed sides having differing surfaces or sides (e.g., 16, 18) and a texture layer 14 formed on and perhaps at least partially penetrates at least one surface of the substrate 12 to provide a multipurpose cleaning article.
[0031]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the substrate 12 defines first and second opposing surfaces (also described as sides) 16, 18 which form first and second opposed surfaces of the scrubbing cloth 10. In other words, since the scrubbing cloth 10 is formed from a single (non-laminated) substrate/fabric 12 (as used herein, the terms substrate and fabric are interchangeable), the surfaces 16, 18 of the fabric 12 likewise form the surfaces 16, 18 of the scrubbing cloth 10. A texture layer 14 is formed on one or both of the surfaces 16, 18 of the substrate 12 to form the scrubbing cloth 10. For example, a texture layer 14 is formed on surface 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the scrubbing cloth 10 further includes a chemical (e.g., a solid or a solution, not shown) loaded into, or absorbed by, the substrate 12. Alternatively, the chemical may be formed on the cloth surface (e.g., via drying, spraying etc.) or may be provided as part of the texture layer composition 14. Applicable chemicals are likewise described in greater detail below. The texture layer 14 may be configured to accommodate a wide variety of chemicals including those that are neutral, cationic, or anionic. Further, the scrubbing cloth 10 is equally useful without a chemical formulation.
[0032]Compositions of the substrate 12 and the texture layer 14, as well as processing thereof, are provided below. In general terms, the scrubbing cloth 10 may be described as a multipurpose scrubbing cloth formed to have a lofty, fluffy surface on one side (e.g., 16) and a relatively less lofty, flat or smooth surface on an opposed side/surface (e.g., 18). The loftier side or surface 16 of scrubbing cloth 10 has an average fiber height that is higher than an average fiber height of the less lofty or flat side/surface 18 of the scrubbing cloth 10 (where height is in reference to a mid-plane M, FIG. 5, discussed below). In addition, one side (e.g., 16) of substrate 12, whether or not that side has differing loft, fluff, density, etc., may be treated to provide a relatively more or less absorbent side. To form the substrate 12 with opposed sides 16, 18 having the differing characteristics described (i.e., flat vs. fluffy), substrate 12 may be manufactured in a variety of ways. One side (e.g., 18) of the substrate 10 may be configured to be treated (e.g., consolidated) only temporarily so that a texture layer 14 can more readily or easily be formed thereon. In this case, after the texture layer 14 is deposited or formed on the treated surface 18, the fibers of the treated surface portions not having texture composition thereon (e.g., 28, FIGS. 7A, 12) may be allowed to return to an untreated (e.g., fluffy, lofty) state such as after use or after undergoing an initial wash cycle. Alternatively, surface 18 may be configured to be treated (e.g., flattened, less lofty, or have less height relative to an opposed surface 16) permanently in which case the fibers of surface 18 would remain in the flattened, less lofty, less high state throughout the life (usage) of the cloth 10. As a further alternative, the substrate 12, when initially formed into a fabric, may be manufactured in such a way so as to provide the relative fluffy and flat opposed surfaces 16, 18 at the time of formation of the fabric itself. In this case, the flat surface (e.g., 18) would likewise remain in a relatively flattened or smooth (less lofty) state throughout the life (usage) of the cloth.
[0033]The term “flat” when used to describe a surface of cloth 10 (or of substrate 12) is intended to define surface characteristics including: generally uniform, uniform, completely flat, substantially flat, smooth, consolidated, more dense, less lofty (i.e., having a lesser degree of loftiness), less fluffy, shorter, lower height and/or having fibers of the surface that lie generally in the same plane, where the terms “more” and “less” are relative to an opposed side/surface. In addition, the term “fluff” or “fluffy” as used herein to describe an opposed surface of cloth 10 (or substrate 12) is intended to define surface characteristics including: open, lofty (i.e., having a greater degree of loftiness, less dense, non-consolidated, non-compacted, higher, or greater height, where the terms “more” and “less” are relative to an opposed side/surface. When using the term “flat” or “fluff” alone or in conjunction with other terms such as “smooth”, “less lofty”, “open, lofty” etc., it is to be understood that any one or all of the characteristics may be used to define the surface characteristics, whether or not the terms “and”/“or” are used to denote the various features.
[0034]The terms “absorbent”, “absorptive” and “absorbing” as used to describe scrubbing cloths according to embodiments of the present disclosure are defined as having the ability to absorb a material (e.g., a liquid) reversibly, at least to some degree. Stated otherwise, an absorbent material can be defined as one that a liquid can penetrate into and, rather than trap and irreversibly hold the liquid, the material may release the liquid either by evaporation (drying) or physical force (e.g., hand pressure/wringing). Thus, a more absorbent side or surface of a substrate may more readily or to a greater degree absorb a liquid than an opposed side of the substrate and the liquid absorbed is able to at least partially be removed from the substrate, for example, by hand (e.g., wringing) or by drying.
[0035]Further, in general terms, the scrubbing cloth 10 may be described as providing a “scrubbiness” or abrasive attribute that is given by the texture layer 14 formed on at least one side or surface of the substrate 12. Conversely, the scrubbing cloth 10 provides a wiping or non-abrasive attribute on a side opposing the abrasive surface/side. The term “scrubbiness” is in reference to an ability to abrade or remove a relatively small, undesirable item otherwise affixed to a surface as the cloth is moved back and forth over the item, as described more fully below. A substrate can be given a scrubbiness characteristic not only by forming a hardened scrubbing material (i.e., texture layer) on the substrate's surface that may be at least as hard as or harder than the substrate itself, but also via the extent to which the so-formed material extends from or beyond the substrate surfaces or fibers, in conjunction with side-to-side spacing between individual sections of the scrubbing material.
[0036]In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the scrubbing cloth 10 is characterized as having a lofty, fluffy surface (e.g., 16) on one side and a relatively less lofty, flat or smooth surface (e.g., 18) on an opposed side where the loftier side or surface 16 of scrubbing cloth 10 includes fibers 50 having an average fiber height that is higher than an average fiber height of the less lofty surface 18. The terms “loft” or “loftiness” as used in this specification are in reference to the spacing or “openness” of fibers 50 otherwise forming the surface/area/volume in question. For example, a first surface/area/volume with fewer fibers per unit area or volume as compared to a second surface/area/volume comprised of the same denier fibers is considered to have a higher degree of loftiness. Alternatively, loft or loftiness can be defined in terms of bulk density. “Bulk density” is the weight of a given fabric per unit volume. The fabric thickness can be measured in many ways; one accurate method employs an optical scanning technique.
[0037]FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cloth 10 of FIG. 1 (where the orientation of FIG. 3 is such that the cloth 10 is facing the opposite direction relative to the orientation of FIG. 1, i.e., the textured surface 18 is facing up in the orientation of FIG. 1 and down in FIG. 3). The opposed surfaces 16, 18 of the scrubbing cloth 10 include fibers 50a, 50b, respectively. It is to be understood that the fibers 50a, 50b are formed of the same substrate material or base fiber 50 and the different references are intended to show the differences in the characteristics of the fiber 50 at the various surfaces 16, 18. As a point of reference, the term “height” as used in this specification is in reference to extension of the fibers 50a, 50b and thereby the surfaces 16, 18 beyond (or “above” for fibers 50a relative to the orientations of FIGS. 3 and 8) relative to a mid-plane M that is otherwise generally parallel to a planar orientation of the substrate 12 (e.g., parallel to the first and second surfaces 16, 18 when the first and second surfaces 16, 18 are otherwise lying in a generally flat plane such as when the cloth 10 is placed on a secondary, generally flat surface or object (e.g., table T, FIG. 7B)), it being understood that even when placed on an otherwise flat secondary object, the first surface 16 is not “flat” as that term is used herein to describe the second surface 18). Alternatively, the height of the first surface 16 can be measured from/relative to the second surface 18, such as depicted in FIG. 4. Measurement of fibers 50a relative to the second surface 18 (rather than relative to a mid-plane M) may be particularly useful in the case where a fabric is initially formed to have a flat second surface 18, since fibers 50 are knitted or woven to project in a direction outwardly opposite to the second surface 18 (i.e., upwardly with respect to the orientation of FIG. 4), described in further detail below.
[0038]To better illustrate the loftiness characteristics associated with the first and second surfaces 16, 18, reference is made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A is a plan view of first surface 16 of scrubbing cloth 10 illustrating fibers 50a (referenced generally) on a first side of a scrubbing cloth 10 as well as a portion of a texture layer 14 formed on the first surface 16. FIG. 5B is a plan view of an opposed surface of the scrubbing cloth of FIG. 5A, illustrating fibers 50b (referenced generally) on a second side of the cloth 10. Notably, the substrate 12 has a uniform material construction (i.e., the substrate 12 is comprised of a single, uniform material/composition and is a single, non-laminated layer), and is processed to generate the differing first and second surfaces 16, 18. In particular, the substrate 12 is formed (at least temporarily) such that the first surface 16 has a first degree of loftiness and a first height h1 while the second surface 18 has a second degree of loftiness and a second height h2 (FIG. 3). It is to be understood that since the scrubbing cloth 10 is formed of only a single layer substrate 12, the loftiness and height of each of the first and second surfaces of the substrate form the loftiness and height of each of the surfaces (16, 18) of the scrubbing article 10. The surfaces 16, 18 may be visually distinct from one another, meaning that they are readily discernable to the naked eye such as depicted in FIG. 6A, described below.
[0039]With reference to the above conventions, the first degree of loftiness (i.e., the degree of loftiness associated with the first surface 16) is greater than the second degree of loftiness (i.e., the degree of loftiness associated with the second surface 18). Similarly, the first height h1 (i.e., the height associated with the first surface 16) is greater than the second height h2 (i.e., the height associated with the second surface 18). With specific reference to FIG. 5A, the degree of loftiness is better illustrated by the “openness” of the fibers 50a. The fibers 50a are more distinctly spaced apart as compared to the fibers 50b. Thus, the first surface 16 can be described as having fewer fibers 50 per unit volume as compared to the number of fibers 50 per unit volume of the second surface 18. As described below, in one embodiment, this difference in degree of loftiness or fibers per unit volume can be achieved by treating the substrate 12 at the second surface 18 or may be accomplished during the fabric forming process by forming (e.g., knitting, weaving) the substrate 12 to have a more dense (less lofty, flatter) structure at the second surface 18.
[0040]Regardless, in one embodiment, the bulk density of the first surface 16 is at least 100% less than the bulk density of the second surface 18, more preferably at least 200% less than, and even more preferably at least 300% less than. It will be understood that by having a lesser bulk density, the first degree of loftiness (of the first surface 16) is thus greater than the second degree of loftiness (of the second surface 18) as bulk density has an inverse relationship with loftiness.
[0041]As further evidenced by FIG. 5A, the fibers 50 (encompassing fibers 50a and 50b) comprising the substrate 12 are, in one embodiment, randomly or semi-randomly dispersed within the substrate 12. Thus, the scrubbing cloth 10 at the surface 16 may not have clear “edges”. Instead, as depicted in FIG. 5A, various ones of the fibers 50a “extend” or project beyond hypothetical edges of the cloth 10 (shown with dashed lines in FIG. 5A). When fibers 50 are in a consolidated state or are formed to provide a flat, lower surface such as depicted in FIG. 5B, however, the fibers 50b may provide a more clear edge. Regardless, the “height” of a particular surface can be more accurately described as the nominal height defined by a majority of the fibers 50a, 50b positioned/extending at the surface 16, 18. For example, the fibers 50a combine to define a height of the first surface 16 and the fibers 50b combine to define a height of the second surface 18.
[0042]Regardless, and in one embodiment, the height of the first surface 16 is at least 120% of the height of the second surface 18, more preferably at least 150%, and even more preferably at least 200%. Alternatively stated, relative to the mid-plane the first surface 16 extends higher or farther beyond the mid-plane M than does the second surface 18.
[0043]Alternatively, the degree of loftiness and height of opposed sides 16, 18 of substrate 10 may be substantially equal. However, one side (e.g., 16) may be treated to form a side having a greater (or lesser) degree of absorptiveness than an opposed side (e.g., 18). FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a scrubbing cloth 10 having opposed sides or surfaces 16, 18 and a texture layer 14 formed on surface 18. The relative degrees of loftiness and height of surfaces 16, 18 are substantially the same or equal. However, side 16 is treated such as by a chemical, physical or other method to provide fibers 50a, and thus side 16, with a relatively greater absorptive quality (i.e., more absorptive) than that of fibers 50b and therefore that of side 18. Some chemical and physical treatments, for example, include plasma treatment, flame treatment, electrical discharge and/or spraying or otherwise depositing a chemical composition onto one side of the substrate 12 used to form cloth 10. What is important is that the treatment creates fibers (e.g., 50a) having a relatively more (or less) absorptive quality than the fibers (e.g., 50b) of an opposed side of the substrate 12. Further, even where a substrate 12 is formed as described above to have one relatively more lofty, less dense, higher fiber side (e.g., 16), one side of the substrate may be treated as described above, chemically or physically to provide additional levels of relative absorption of the surfaces 16, 18 of a substrate 12.
Substrate Composition
[0044]The substrate 12 may be formed from a variety of materials and in a variety of forms. Any substrate material or combination of materials suitable for use as a consumer scrubbing cloth can be used including, without limitation, various woven, knitted, and non-woven materials. The materials and forms of the substrate 12 can be selected to provide varying ranges of desired properties, such as extensibility, elasticity, durability, flexibility, etc., that are particularly suited to a given scrubbing task and/or are particularly suited to depositing or forming of a texture composition thereon. The durability of materials suitable for use in scrubbing cloths is often categorized as “disposable” (meaning that an cloth formed from the material is intended to be discarded immediately after use), “semi-disposable” (meaning that an article formed from the material can be washed and re-used a limited number of times), or “reusable” (meaning that an article formed from the material is intended to be washed and re-used). Materials useful for substrate 12 may be selected to have durability properties in a wide range (i.e., disposable, semi-disposable or reusable), but may be particularly chosen to have reusable properties.
[0045]Also as indicated above, materials may be selected based upon their flexibility. In applications where a relatively more flexible, supple scrubbing article is preferred (e.g., drapable), providing a more flexible substrate 12 allows the user to readily fold, squeeze, or otherwise manipulate the scrubbing article 10 in a manner most appropriate for the particular scrubbing task. The desired suppleness of the substrate 12 is best described with reference to a dry basis weight thereof. As one non-limiting example, in an embodiment, a nonwoven substrate 12 of the present disclosure has a dry basis weight of less than about 300 g/m2, but preferably greater than about 30 g/m2. In other embodiments, the nonwoven substrate 12 has a dry basis weight of less than about 200 g/m2. Alternatively, the suppleness of the nonwoven substrate 12 can be expressed in terms of drapability. “Drapability” is defined as the inherent ability to conform to an irregular or non-flat surface. Drapability or “drape” is measured using INDA standard for “Handle-O-Meter Stiffness of Nonwoven Fabrics” IST 90.3 (95). With this in mind, the nonwoven substrate 12 preferably has a drapability value of less than about 250.
[0046]Some exemplary substrates 12 used to form the fabric of the present disclosure will now be described, however, a wide variety of materials may be used for substrate 12, as noted above. Exemplary fabrics useful with the present disclosure include a knitted fabric prepared from 82% poly(ethylene terephthalate) and 18% polyamide 6 fibers having a thickness in a range of 0.45-0.75 mm and a unit weight of 160 grams per square meter.
[0047]Nonwovens likewise may be used and can be formed from a variety of materials and in a variety of fashions selected to provide desired properties, such as extensibility, elasticity, etc., in addition to the requisite suppleness. In most general terms, a nonwoven is comprised of individual fibers (e.g., 50, FIG. 1) entangled with one another (and optionally bonded) in a desired fashion. The fibers are preferably synthetic or manufactured, but may include natural materials such as wood pulp fiber. As used herein, the term “fiber” includes fibers of indefinite length (e.g., filaments) and fibers of discrete length (e.g., staple fibers). The fibers used in connection with a nonwoven substrate 12 may be multicomponent fibers. The term “multicomponent fiber” refers to a fiber having at least two distinct longitudinally coextensive structured polymer domains in the fiber cross-section, as opposed to blends where the domains tend to be dispersed, random, or unstructured. The distinct domains may thus be formed of polymers from different polymer classes (e.g., nylon and polypropylene) or be formed of polymers of the same polymer class (e.g., nylon) but which differ in their properties or characteristics. The term “multicomponent fiber” is thus intended to include, but is not limited to, concentric and eccentric sheath-fiber structures, symmetric and asymmetric side-by-side fiber structures, island-in-sea fiber structures, pie wedge fiber structures, and hollow fibers of these configurations. In addition to the availability of a wide variety of different types of fibers useful for a substrate 12, the technique for bonding the fibers to one another is also extensive. In general terms, suitable processes for making the nonwoven substrate 12 that may be used in connection with the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, spunbond, blown microfiber (BMF), thermal bonded, wet laid, air laid, resin bonded, spunlaced, ultrasonically bonded, etc.
[0048]In some embodiments, the substrate 12 is spunlaced utilizing a fiber sized in accordance with known spunlace processing techniques. With this manufacturing technique, one construction of a nonwoven substrate 12 is a blend of 50/50 wt. % 1.5 denier polyester and 1.5 denier rayon at 50-60 g/m2. The substrate 12 is first carded and then entangled via high-pressure water jets as is known in the art. The spunlace technique eliminates the need for a thermal resin bonding component, so that the resulting nonwoven substrate is amenable to being loaded with virtually any type of chemical solution (i.e., anionic, cationic, or neutral). An exemplary nonwoven includes a thermally point-bonded spunbond poly(ethylene terephthalate) nonwoven.
[0049]Other knits, wovens and nonwovens are likewise contemplated and these examples are not meant to be limiting. Regardless of the exact construction, however, the substrate 12 is highly flexible and drapable and conducive to use and handling by a user otherwise using the article 10 for scrubbing purposes and is selected having regard to the intended use of the scrubbing cloth 10. Further embodiments, can include one or more additional layers on the surface 16, 18 of the substrate 12 such as an adhesion promoter layer or a tie layer, for example.
Substrate Formation
[0050]As described above, substrate 12 may be formed to have differing degrees of loft, height and relative “flatness”/“fluff” on opposed sides 16, 18. In addition, as described above, forming the substrate 12 to include these features may be accomplished in a variety of ways. In general, the substrate 12 can be formed in the first instance, or upon manufacturing of the fabric 12, such that the opposed sides 16, 18 include the varying (different) features immediately after manufacture of the fabric 12, without undergoing any further processing. Alternatively, and as described in further detail below, a substrate 12 may be first formed into a fabric and subsequently one side (e.g., 18, FIG. 10) of the fabric can be treated to provide a less lofty, flatter or lower in height surface while the opposed side (e.g., 16) is not subjected to the same treatment thereby resulting in a loftier, more open, higher opposing, untreated surface.
[0051]In embodiments where the substrate 12 is formed initially to provide the relative flat/fluffy surfaces 16, 18, various methods may be used to achieve the fabric formation. For example, the fabric/substrate 12 may be knitted or woven in a manner whereby the knit stitch or weave is configured such that one side of the fabric forms a lower plane of the fabric having a relatively flat surface 18 while the opposed side 16 of the fabric 12 includes fibers (e.g., 50) projecting in a direction outwardly opposed to the flat surface 18 to form a relatively fluffy, loftier surface 16.
[0052]FIGS. 6A-6B are photographs of an example substrate 12 and scrubbing cloth 10 formed according to these methods. As a point of reference, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6A, substrate 12 forms a fabric 12 that, in the illustrated view, is folded upon itself (e.g., in half) at a fold F and has corner C of the folded fabric folded back upon itself to expose a surface 18. The fabric 12 of FIG. 6A was initially formed according to the EXAMPLES, SAMPLE 1, set forth below. One side 18 of the fabric forms a lower plane of the fabric having a relatively flat surface while the opposed side 16 of the fabric 12 includes fibers (e.g., 50) projecting in a direction outwardly opposed to d surface 18 to form a relatively fluffy, loftier surface 16. Fabrics/substrates 12 formed according to these embodiments (where the fabric 12 is initially formed to provide the relative differing, opposed surfaces 16, 18), may advantageously allow for ease of deposition or formation of a texture layer 14 on the flat surface 18 in that providing a surface that is relatively flat or smooth can allow for a well-defined, sharp texture pattern to be deposited thereon. Regardless, and as described below, a texture layer may alternatively be formed on the lofty, fluffy surface (e.g., 16) of a substrate 12 formed in the manner described above. FIG. 6B is a photograph of the flat, less lofty surface 18 of substrate 12 of FIG. 6A after a texture layer 14 has been formed thereon, thereby forming the surface 18 of a scrubbing cloth 10.
[0053]In other embodiments, one side of substrate 12 may be treated to temporarily or permanently create a less lofty, flatmore dense surface, or at least portions thereof 16. Treatment of a surface can include various processing methods including but not limited to: calendaring, heat compression, flame treating, ultrasound treating, melting, cutting, and removing fiber height. These processing methods in turn can take on various forms and may be accomplished in a variety of ways. Some of these methods can create only a permanent or only a temporarily flatter/denser/consolidated surface (or at least portions of the surface) whereas some of these methods can create either a permanent or a temporarily flatter/denser/consolidated surface or portions of the surface), depending upon processing parameters. As described above, a temporarily flattened (compressed, consolidated etc.) surface is one having at least portions that are allowed to revert to a first, original (uncompressed, lofty etc.) state. Conversely, a permanently flattened surface is one that remains in the flattened state throughout the life of the cloth 10 despite use and/or washing etc. of the cloth 10.
[0054]FIG. 10 illustrates a substrate 12 with opposed sides or surfaces 16, 18a where surface 18a depicts surface 18 in an untreated, first or original state. Surfaces 16 and 18a are of uniform loft, height and relative “fluffiness.” One side (surface 18, referenced generally) of the fabric 12 is subjected to treatment in any manner discussed above via a fabric treatment device 60. Device 60 can include for example a heated nip roller, cutter, press, heated press etc. Regardless, subjecting surface 18 to treatment creates a second or treated state 18b (referenced generally) that forms the flattened, consolidated or otherwise treated second surface 18b. Subsequent to formation of the treated surface 18b, a texture layer (not pictured in FIG. 10) may be formed on either surface 16, 18b as described below, to form a scrubbing cloth 10 (FIG. 1).
[0055]In some embodiments, one side 18 of substrate 12 is only temporarily flattened (consolidated, compressed, etc.) and a texture layer 14 is formed on the temporarily flattened surface. The temporarily flattened surface, having texture layer 14, includes surface portions that do not have a texture composition deposited thereon and these portions are allowed to return to an unflattened state. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 and with reference to FIG. 10, substrate 12 includes a temporarily consolidated surface 18b. Surface 18b has been previously flattened such as via a treatment device 60 (FIG. 10). After the temporarily flattened surface 18b is formed on substrate 12, a texture layer 14 is deposited on surface 18b via a texture former 58. FIG. 12 illustrates the textured scrubbing cloth 10 of FIG. 11 after the cloth 10 has been used, washed, heated, treated with brush, knife, or a bar etc. or otherwise providing for allowance of portions 28 to revert to an untreated state. As depicted in FIG. 12, portions 28 of the surface 18 not otherwise having texture composition 14 deposited or formed thereon are allowed to revert or rebound close to or fully to the unconsolidated, first, original state 18a (FIG. 10 Given this construction, advantageously, the texture layer 14 may be formed on a more uniform and less lofty treated surface 18b of a substrate 12 and subsequent to use or washing of the formed scrubbing cloth 10, portions 28 of the surface 18b not having a textured composition 14 thereon are allowed to rebound, at least partially, to a lofty, uncompressed, or fluffy state 18a. The degree of loftiness and the height of the rebounded or reverted surface portions 28 of surface 18 may be equal to the degree of loftiness and height of surface 16.
[0056]FIGS. 7A-7B are photographs of an example scrubbing cloth 10 formed according to the present disclosure and as provided in the EXAMPLES, SAMPLE 2, set forth below. As described below, FIG. 7A is a photograph of one side of a substrate 12 formed from a nonwoven microfiber cloth 12.
Texture Layer
[0057]The texture layer 14 defines a plurality of discrete portions (e.g., the various dot-like portions shown in FIGS. 1-2 and referenced generally at 20a, 20b). Discrete portions 20a, 20b may form a randomly textured surface or may form a pattern on a substrate or cloth surface 16, 18 (textured layer 14 being shown on surface 18 in FIGS. 1-2). Further, discrete portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) may comprise varying relative sizes or may be substantially uniform in size. For instance, and as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2A, dots 20a are relatively larger than dots 20b. Further, discrete portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) may extend or project outwardly from the surface 16, 18 at substantially uniform distances or, alternatively, may extend or project outwardly from the surface 16, 18 at varying distances (i.e. the discrete portions 20a, 20b can have similar or varying heights with respect to the surface 16, 18). In some embodiments, discrete portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) may extend to any distance in a range of about 10 to about 500 microns outwardly from the surface 16, 18. In other embodiments, discrete portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) may extend to any distance in a range of about 10 to about 20 microns outwardly from the surface 16, 18. In still further embodiments, discrete portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) may extend to a distance of 500 microns or less outwardly from the surface 16, 18. Regardless, a variety of texturings and/or patterns can be provided on the substrate 12. Alternative exemplary embodiments of patterns useful with the present disclosure are shown in FIGS. 5A, 7A-7B and 9A-9B.
[0058]Regardless of the pattern design and/or extension distance of portions (e.g., 20a, 20b) from the surface 18, during a scrubbing application, a user may position the scrubbing cloth 10 such that one or the other of surfaces 16, 18 is facing the surface to be scrubbed. FIG. 8 illustrates a scrubbing cloth 10 in a position such that the surface (e.g., 18) having the texture layer 14 formed thereon is facing the surface 30 to be scrubbed. In FIG. 8, the scrubbing cloth 10 is positioned to clean or otherwise treat surface 30. As should be understood, the surface 30 to be cleaned is application specific, and can be relatively hard (e.g., a table top or cooking pan) or relatively soft (e.g., human skin, polymeric baking vessels, etc.). Regardless, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, the surface 30 to be scrubbed may have a mass 32 that is undesirably affixed thereto. Again, the mass 32 will be unique to the particular scrubbing application, but includes matters such as dirt, dried food, dried blood