Applicator pad and related methods

Abstract

The present invention features a fabric useful for applying a chemical composition, such as a finishing or polishing composition, onto a substrate surface. The fabric contains between about 2% and 10% stiff fibers and between about 90% and 98% adsorbent or absorbent fibers. The fabric can be used to make applicator pads useful, for example, as mop heads for spreading a finishing or polishing composition on a floor surface.

1 . A fabric for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the fabric comprising a working surface comprising about 2% to about 10% of a support material and about 90% to about 98% of an applicator material.  
   
   
       2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the support material comprises stiff fibers and said applicator material comprises adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the adsorbent fibers are microfibers.  
   
   
       4 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein said stiff fibers and said adsorbent fibers are arranged in alternating rows on the working surface.  
   
   
       5 . The fabric of  claim 4 , wherein said stiff fibers comprise fibers selected from polypropylene and polyethylene fibers and combinations thereof, and said adsorbent fibers comprise polyester fibers.  
   
   
       6 . The fabric of  claim 4 , wherein said stiff fibers are substantially the same height as or higher than said adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       7 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the stiff fibers and the adsorbent fibers comprise fibers of the same type of material having different denier.  
   
   
       8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein in the support material comprises large denier fibers and the applicator material comprises small denier fibers.  
   
   
       9 . An applicator pad comprising the fabric of any of  claims 1  to  6 .  
   
   
       10 . A mop for applying a floor finishing composition, the mop comprising: 
 a. a handle, and    b. a mop head construction attached to an end of the handle, the mop head construction comprising a working surface comprising about 2% to about 10% of a support material and about 90% to about 98% of an applicator material.    
   
   
       11 . The mop of  claim 10 , wherein the support material comprises stiff fibers and said applicator material comprises adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       12 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein the adsorbent fibers are microfibers.  
   
   
       13 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein said stiff fibers and said adsorbent fibers are arranged in alternating rows on the working surface of the applicator pad.  
   
   
       14 . The mop of  claim 12 , wherein said stiff fibers comprise fibers selected from polypropylene and polyethylene fibers and combinations thereof, and said adsorbent fibers comprise polyester fibers.  
   
   
       15 . The mop of  claim 12 , wherein said stiff fibers are substantially the same height as or higher than said adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       16 . The mop of  claim 11 , wherein the stiff fibers and the adsorbent fibers comprise fibers of the same type of material having different deniers.  
   
   
       17 . The mop of  claim 10 , wherein the support material comprises large denier fibers and the applicator material comprises small denier fibers.  
   
   
       18 . A method of applying a chemical composition to a substrate surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an applicator having a working surface comprising about 2% to about 10% of a support material and about 90% to about 98% of an applicator material; and    b. coating the substrate surface with the chemical composition using the applicator.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the support material comprises stiff fibers and said applicator material comprises adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the adsorbent fibers are microfibers.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said stiff fibers and said adsorbent fibers are arranged in alternating rows on the working surface of the applicator pad.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said stiff fibers comprise fibers selected from polypropylene and polyethylene fibers and combinations thereof, and said adsorbent fibers comprise polyester fibers.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said stiff fibers are substantially the same height as or higher than said adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the stiff fibers and the adsorbent fibers comprise fibers of the same type of material having different deniers.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the support material comprises large denier fibers and the applicator material comprises small denier fibers.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said chemical composition is selected from the group consisting of floor finish, detergent, paint, polish, wax, detergents, disinfectants, cleaners and adhesives.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said chemical composition is floor finish.  
   
   
       28 . An applicator pad comprising a working surface comprising a working surface comprising a support material and an applicator material, wherein the ratio of the support material to the applicator material is between about 1 to 10 and about 0.2 to 10.  
   
   
       29 . The applicator pad of  claim 28 , wherein the support material comprises stiff fibers and said applicator material comprises adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       30 . The applicator pad of  claim 29 , wherein the adsorbent fibers are microfibers.  
   
   
       31 . The applicator pad of  claim 29 , wherein said stiff fibers and said adsorbent fibers are arranged in alternating rows on the working surface of the applicator pad.  
   
   
       32 . The applicator pad of  claim 31 , wherein said stiff fibers comprise fibers selected from polypropylene and polyethylene fibers and combinations thereof, and said adsorbent fibers comprise polyester fibers.  
   
   
       33 . The applicator pad of  claim 29 , wherein said stiff fibers are substantially the same height as or higher than said adsorbent fibers.  
   
   
       34 . The applicator pad of  claim 29 , wherein the stiff fibers and the adsorbent fibers comprise fibers of the same type of material having different deniers.  
   
   
       35 . The applicator pad of  claim 28 , wherein the support material comprises large denier fibers and the applicator material comprises small denier fibers.  
   
   
       36 . A fabric for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the fabric comprising a working surface comprising about 2% to about 10% of a support region or regions and about 90% to about 98% of an applicator region or regions.  
   
   
       37 . The fabric of  claim 28 , wherein the applicator region or regions comprise an applicator material and the support region or regions comprise the same applicator material that has been packed at a higher density than in the applicator region or regions.  
   
   
       38 . A fabric for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the fabric comprising a working surface comprising an applicator material and about 2% to about 10% of a second material, wherein the fabric has a push force of no more than 4.5 newtons.  
   
   
       39 . A fabric for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the fabric comprising a working surface comprising an applicator material and about 2% to about 10% of a second material, wherein the fabric has a pull force of no more than 8.0 newtons.  
   
   
       40 . A mop head construction for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the mop head construction comprising an applicator material and a sufficient amount of support material to provide the mop head construction with a push force of no more than 4.5 newtons.  
   
   
       41 . A mop head construction for applying a chemical composition onto a substrate surface, the mop head construction comprising an applicator material and a sufficient amount of a support material to provide the mop head construction with a pull force of no more than 8.0 newtons.