当前申请(专利权)人地址：
3M Center,Post Office Box 33427,Saint Paul, Minnesota 55133-3427 US
发明人：
BRYSON, KYLE C. | SHIVRAYAN, MANISHA | TRUONG, MYHANH T.
摘要：
Provided are cleaning articles that include a porous sleeve comprised of opposing first and second sleeve layers coupled to each other along their peripheral edges and an opening in the porous sleeve that extends across the first sleeve layer. A plurality of soap pellets can be received in the porous sleeve, wherein the opening provides an interference fit to secure the soap member and/or soap pellets within the porous sleeve. The soap pellets can be provided by fragmenting a soap member along lines of weakness, wherein the fragmentation can take place before or after the soap member is received in the porous sleeve.
技术功效语段：
The technical efficacy of the patent text is the provision of a porous cleaning article that incorporates a refillable cleaning agent. This design addresses the shortcomings of conventional polyurethane sponges, such as hygiene issues, limited lifespan, and non-recyclability.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A cleaning article comprising: a porous sleeve comprised of opposing first and second sleeve layers coupled to each other along their peripheral edges and an opening in the porous sleeve that extends across the first sleeve layer; and a soap member having one or more lines of weakness received in the porous sleeve, wherein the lines of weakness enable the soap member to be fragmented into a plurality of soap pellets and wherein the opening provides an interference fit to secure the soap member and/or soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
2. The cleaning article of claim 1, wherein the opening is an overlapped opening.
3. A cleaning article comprising: a porous sleeve comprised of opposing first and second sleeve layers coupled to each other along their peripheral edges and an overlapped opening in the porous sleeve that extends across the first sleeve layer; and a plurality of soap pellets received in the porous sleeve, wherein the overlapped opening provides an interference fit to secure the soap member and/or soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
4. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising: a supplemental layer extending across the porous sleeve and coupled to the porous sleeve along opposing peripheral edges of the first and second sleeve layers whereby the cleaning article has a reversible configuration,
wherein the reversible configuration is capable of being turned inside out such that the first sleeve layer with the opening and the supplemental layer face inwards toward each other and directly contact each other to further improve securement of the soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
5. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the porous sleeve comprises a fibrous web, optionally comprising a virgin plastic, recycled plastic, bio-plastic, or combination thereof.
6. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the soap pellets have a generally flat configuration.
7. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the soap pellets have a multimodal size distribution.
8. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the soap pellets include soap pellets having differing functionality.
9. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the soap pellets provide a controlled release of a cleaning agent.
10. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the soap pellets include one or more additives to enhance scrubbing performance.
11. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the first and second sleeve layers have inward-facing surfaces that include surface features to inhibit sliding of the soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
12. The cleaning article of claim 11, wherein the surface features comprise compartments or cavities that have shapes complemental to the soap pellets.
13. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1, 2 and 4-12, wherein the lines of weakness intersect each other.
14. The cleaning article of any one of claims 1, 2, and 4-12, wherein the lines of weakness are provided by grooves and/or perforations in the soap member.
15. A cleaning article kit comprising: the cleaning article of any one of claims 1-14; and one or more containers, each containing one or more soap pellets and/or soap members having one or more lines of weakness received in the porous sleeve, wherein the lines of weakness enable the soap member to be fragmented into a plurality of soap pellets.
16. A method of making the cleaning article of any one of claims 1-14, the method comprising: inserting a soap member through the opening and into the porous sleeve, wherein the soap member has one or more lines of weakness; and fragmenting the soap member along the one or more lines of weakness within the porous sleeve to obtain a plurality of soap pellets dispersed therein.
17. A method of using the cleaning article of any one of claims 4-14, the method comprising: inserting a soap member through the overlapped opening and into the porous sleeve, wherein the soap member has one or more lines of weakness; fragmenting the soap member along the one or more lines of weakness within the porous sleeve to obtain a plurality of soap pellets dispersed therein; and turning the reversible configuration inside out, such that the first sleeve layer with the overlapped opening and the supplemental layer face inwards toward each other and directly contact each other to further improve securement of the soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
18. A method of using the cleaning article, the method comprising: providing a porous sleeve comprised of opposing first and second sleeve layers coupled to each other along their peripheral edges and an opening in the porous sleeve extending transversely across the first sleeve layer; dispensing a plurality of soap pellets inserting through the opening and into the porous sleeve; and turning the reversible configuration inside out, such that the first sleeve layer with the opening and the supplemental layer face inwards toward each other and directly contact each other to further improve securement of the soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
19. A method of using a cleaning article: providing a porous sleeve comprised of opposing first and second sleeve layers coupled to each other along their peripheral edges and an opening in the porous sleeve extending transversely across the first sleeve layer; inserting a soap member through the opening and into the porous sleeve, the soap member having one or more lines of weakness; fragmenting the soap member along the one or more lines of weakness within the porous sleeve to obtain a plurality of soap pellets dispersed therein; and turning the reversible configuration inside out, such that the first sleeve layer with the opening and the supplemental layer face inwards toward each other and directly contact each other to further improve securement of the soap pellets within the porous sleeve.
20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the opening is an overlapped opening.