Cleaning element and cleaning tool

Abstract

A cleaning element includes a fiber assembly having a plurality of fibers extending in a predetermined direction and a nonwoven fabric provided on the fiber assembly. A first fusion bonded part extends in a cross direction traversing the predetermined direction to fusion-bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric, and a plurality of second fusion bonded parts is provided discontinuously in the cross direction to fusion-bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric. Each of the second fusion bonded parts has a first area and a second area. A length in the predetermined direction from the first fusion bonded part to the first area is different from a length in the predetermined direction from the first fusion bonded part to the second area.

1 . A cleaning element, comprising:
 a fiber assembly having a plurality of fibers extending in a predetermined direction,   a nonwoven fabric disposed on the fiber assembly,   a first fusion bonded part extending in a cross direction crossing the predetermined direction to fusion bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric,   a plurality of second fusion bonded parts formed discontinuously in the cross direction to fusion bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric,   wherein   the fiber assembly includes a first portion and a second portion which is disposed on the opposite side of the first portion from the nonwoven fabric.   the first portion includes a first fiber extending part and a second fiber extending part,   the first fusion bonded part extends all the way through the fiber assembly in a thickness direction of the cleaning element,   the plurality of second fusion bonded parts extend through only the second fiber extending part in the thickness direction,   the first fabric extending part of the first portion and the second portion have fibers each of which extends in the predetermined from one, fixed end at the first fusion bonded part to the other, free end on an end of the cleaning element,   the second fabric extending part of the first potion has fibers each of which extends in the predetermined from one, fixed end at the second fusion bonded parts to the other, free end on the end of the cleaning element, and   a fiber length of the second fiber extending part is shorter than a fiber length each of the first fiber extending part and the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . A cleaning tool, comprising:
 a cleaning element; and   a cleaning element holder having a grip to be held by a user for cleaning operation, and a holding portion coupled to the grip,   wherein   the cleaning element holding portion of the cleaning element holder is removably attached to the cleaning element, and   the cleaning element includes   a fiber assembly having a plurality of fibers extending in a predetermined direction,   a nonwoven fabric disposed on the fiber assembly,   a first fusion bonded part extending in a cross direction crossing the predetermined direction to fusion bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric,   a plurality of second fusion bonded parts formed discontinuously in the cross direction to fusion bond the fiber assembly and the nonwoven fabric,   wherein   the fiber assembly includes a first portion and a second portion which is disposed on the opposite side of the first portion from the nonwoven fabric.   the first portion includes a first fiber extending part and a second fiber extending part,   the first fusion bonded part extends all the way through the fiber assembly in a thickness direction of the cleaning element,   the plurality of second fusion bonded parts extend through only the second fiber extending part in the thickness direction,   the first fabric extending part of the first portion and the second portion have fibers each of which extends in the predetermined from one, fixed end at the first fusion bonded part to the other, free end on an end of the cleaning element,   the second fabric extending part of the first potion has fibers each of which extends in the predetermined from one, fixed end at the second fusion bonded parts to the other, free end on the end of the cleaning element, and   a fiber length of the second fiber extending part is shorter than a fiber length each of the first fiber extending part and the second portion.