Care item and cleaning device comprising such a care item

Abstract

A care item for cleaning a determined surface is provided. The item has a three-dimensional textile component of unitary knitted construction, including a first knitted textile layer and a second knitted textile layer, connected by connecting threads extending between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, in that the first layer comprises, on its external face referred to as cleaning, microfibres, and optionally scratching fibres having a count greater than 1 dtex, and in that the connecting threads form a water-absorbing intermediate layer.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A care item for cleaning a determined surface wherein it comprises a three-dimensional textile component, of unitary knitted construction, comprising a first knitted textile layer and a second knitted textile layer, connected by connecting threads extending between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, in that the first layer comprises, on its external face referred to as cleaning, microfibres, and wherein the connecting threads form a water-absorbing intermediate layer. 
     
     
         17 . The care item according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting threads comprise microfibres. 
     
     
         18 . The care item according to  claim 16 , wherein the connecting threads comprise mono-filament threads. 
     
     
         19 . The care item according to  claim 18 , wherein the mono-filament threads have a diameter greater than or equal to 10 μm (microns). 
     
     
         20 . The care item according to  claim 16 , wherein the three-dimensional textile component comprises, according to all or part of its perimeter, a connecting zone in which the first and second textile layers, and the connecting threads are thermo-welded. 
     
     
         21 . The care item according to  claim 16 , wherein the first layer comprises scratching fibres having a count greater than 1 dtex. 
     
     
         22 . The care item according to  claim 21 , wherein the first textile layer comprises, on its external face referred to as cleaning, microfibres alternating with scratching fibres according to a first pattern. 
     
     
         23 . The care item according to  claim 16 , the external face of the first knitted layer comprising a front part and a rear part in extension of each other, having respective external faces, the front part comprises, according to its external face, microfibres and scratching fibres, the rear part comprises, according to its external face, microfibers having a count greater than 1 dtex, in that the average count T1 (dtex) of microfibres and scratching fibres on said external face of the front part is greater than or equal to 0.5 dtex, the average count T2 (dtex) of microfibres on said external face of the rear part is less than or equal to 2 dtex, and in that the average count T1 (dtex) is different from the average count T2 (dtex). 
     
     
         24 . The care item according to  claim 23 , wherein the average count T1 (dtex) is greater than the average count T2 (dtex). 
     
     
         25 . The care item according to  claim 23 , wherein the rear part of the first layer comprises, according to its external face, a proportion by weight of microfibres greater than the proportion by weight of microfibres of the front part, relative to the total weight of the first layer. 
     
     
         26 . The care item according to  claim 23 , wherein the external face of the rear part comprises scratching fibers, and wherein the microfibres and the scratching fibres on the external face of the front part of the first layer alternate repeatedly according to a first pattern, and wherein the microfibres and the scratching fibres on the external face of the rear part alternate repeatedly according to a second pattern. 
     
     
         27 . The care item according to  claim 26 , wherein the first pattern is different from the second pattern. 
     
     
         28 . The care item according to  claim 26 , wherein the first pattern and/or the second pattern is/are selected from: continuous or discontinuous alternating lines of microfibres and/or scratching fibres, zig-zags of microfibres and/or scratching fibres, islets or localized areas of scratching fibres or microfibres. 
     
     
         29 . The care item according to  claim 16 , the textile component comprises two side pockets formed by folding and partial connection of the two lateral ends of said textile component, in particular according to at least said connecting zone, each pocket being arranged so as to receive a lateral end of a head-plate of a cleaning device. 
     
     
         30 . A cleaning device comprising a care item according to  claim 16 , wherein it comprises a broom equipped with a broom handle fitted at its distal end with a head-plate, whereof the dimensions are of the order of those of the care item. 
     
     
         31 . A manufacturing process of a care item for cleaning a determined surface according to  claim 16 , wherein it comprises the following steps:
 (i)—a step for knitting a three-dimensional textile panel, of unitary knitted construction, comprising a first knitted textile layer and a second knitted textile layer, connected by connecting threads extending between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, the first layer comprising, on its external face referred to as cleaning, microfibres, and optionally scratching fibres having a count greater than 1 dtex, and the connecting threads form a water-absorbing intermediate layer,   (ii)—a step for forming a three-dimensional textile component by cutting said knitted textile panel at step (i).   
     
     
         32 . The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the cutting of said knitted textile panel is accomplished by means of an ultrasonic cutting device. 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 31 , comprising a step for forming a connecting zone arranged according to all or part of the circumference of the three-dimensional textile component, in which connecting zone the first and second textile layers, and the connecting threads are thermo-welded.