Wear indicator for a flocked scouring material

Abstract

A scouring material is disclosed that comprises upstanding flock fibres secured to a substrate web material by an adhesive. The colours of the fibres and adhesive being such that the apparent colour of a flocked area of the substrate changes as the flock fibres in that area wear away.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A scouring material comprising upstanding flock fibers secured to a substrate web material by an adhesive, the colors of the fibers and adhesive being such that the apparent color of a flocked area of the substrate changes as the flock fibers in that area wear away. 
   
   
       14 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the fibers and the adhesive are of differing colors whereby the color of the adhesive becomes visible as the fibers wear away. 
   
   
       15 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the color of the adhesive contrasts with the color of the substrate material. 
   
   
       16 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the flock fibers are applied only to discrete areas of the substrate material, the surface of the substrate material being exposed between those discrete areas. 
   
   
       17 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the flock fibers are formed of a polyamide material. 
   
   
       18 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the flock fibers have a length in the range of from 0.4 to 0.8 mm. 
   
   
       19 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the flock fibers have a titre in the range of from 15 to 80 dtex. 
   
   
       20 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the flock fibers are applied to the substrate material in an amount sufficient to obscure the adhesive. 
   
   
       21 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the adhesive is an acrylic adhesive or a PVC resin. 
   
   
       22 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the substrate is a liquid-absorbent knitted, woven, or non-woven textile material. 
   
   
       23 . The scouring material as claimed in  claim 13 , in which the scouring material is laminated to a layer of foam, or a sponge cloth material, or a wipe material.