A continuously curving cleaning element and method of making

Abstract

The curved cleaning element is made by providing a cleaning material with a back surface and a working surface that together define a volume and thickness. A portion of the cleaning material is removed at a pivot zone. The pivot zone separates the cleaning material into a first portion and second portion. At the pivot zone, the cleaning material has less thickness and/or less volume as compared to either the first or second portions. In one embodiment, the back surface of the first portion of the cleaning material is attached to a support and the second portion of the cleaning material is pivoted at the pivot zone. The second portion of the cleaning material is secured to either the support or the first portion of the cleaning material to form a continuously curving working surface of the cleaning material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a curving cleaning element comprising:
 providing a cleaning material with back surface and a working surface;   removing a portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone, wherein the pivot zone separates the cleaning material into a first portion and second portion;   securing the back surface of the first portion of the cleaning material to a support;   pivoting the second portion of the cleaning material at the pivot zone;   securing the second portion of the cleaning material to either the support or the first portion of the cleaning material;   forming a continuously curving working surface of the cleaning material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the back surface of the cleaning material comprises a foam or a scouring web. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning material comprises a working surface comprised of woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabric, scouring material, scouring web. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning material is comprises of more than one layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises:
 melting a portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises:
 cutting a portion of the cleaning material at the pivot zone.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises:
 compressing a portion of the cleaning material at a pivot zone.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises:
 removing a generally linear portion of the cleaning material from within the cleaning material.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing comprises:
 removing a generally linear portion, recessed within a perimeter of the cleaning material, from within the cleaning material.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot zone comprises a pivot axis, which extends through the cleaning material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the securing is by one of mechanically securing, adhesively securing, thermally melting securing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pivoting the working surface at the second portion is at less than 180 degrees, as measured by an inside angle formed through the cleaning material between the relative positions of the working surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 securing the back surface of the second portion of the cleaning material to a second portion of the support.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 securing a handle to the support.   
     
     
         15 . A curving cleaning element comprising:
 a cleaning material with back surface and a working surface defining a perimeter and a volume;   a pivot zone comprising a portion of reduced thickness and reduced volume of cleaning material;   wherein the cleaning material pivots about the pivot zone;   wherein the working surface is continuously curving.   
     
     
         16 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot zone portion of reduced thickness and reduced volume is within the perimeter of the cleaning material. 
     
     
         17 . The curving element of  claim 15 , further comprising a support that secures to the back surface of the cleaning material. 
     
     
         18 . The curving element of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the pivot zone separates a first portion of cleaning material from a second portion of cleaning material;   the back surface of the first portion is secured to a support;   the second portion is secured to either the support or the first portion of the cleaning material.   
     
     
         19 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning material at the back surface is a conformable, thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 19 , wherein the portion of reduced thickness and volume is a melted section of the conformable, thermoplastic material, and wherein the melted section is surrounded by sloping inward surfaces. 
     
     
         21 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning material comprises a two layer structure of a foam and a scouring material at the working surface. 
     
     
         22 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a handle connected to the support.   
     
     
         23 . The curving cleaning element of  claim 15 , wherein at the pivot zone, the cleaning material at the back surface is under compression and the cleaning material at the working surface is under tension.