Foamed glass and ground glass surface or object treating agent, use therefor, and method of making same

Abstract

A ground glass surface or object treating agent, a use therefor, and a method of making the same are provided. The agent comprises at least ground foamed glass, and if in dry form can also include disinfectant powder and/or surfactant powder. If in gel form, the agent can also include water as well as binder, thickener and/or surfactant. The ground glass is virgin glass, recycled glass or a mixture thereof, and preferably has a particle size of no greater than 12 mesh.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a surface or an object, including the steps of: 
 providing an agent that comprises at least ground foamed glass, and    contacting a surface or an object with said agent and providing relative movement between said agent and said surface or object to treat said surface or object.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said agent is a mixture comprising 1.0 to 99.9% by weight ground foamed glass, 0.0 to 98.9% by weight ground glass, and at least one of a disinfectant powder and surfactant powder.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said mixture also includes a fragrance.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said agent is a mixture comprising 10 to 88.0% by weight ground foamed glass, 0.0 to 87.0% by weight ground glass, 10.0 to 90.0% by weight water, and 2.0 to 10.0% by weight binder.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said mixture additionally includes at least one of a thickener, a surfactant, fragrance and color.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said glass is at least one of virgin and recycled glass.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said ground glass essentially has a particle size no greater than 12 mesh.  
     
     
         8 . A method of making a surface or object treating agent, including the step of: 
 grinding at least foamed glass to form glass particles of a size no greater than 12 mesh.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said glass particles are passed through a screen.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , which includes the steps of also providing at least one of a disinfectant powder and surfactant powder to form a mixture.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , which includes the steps of additionally adding to said glass particles mixture a fragrance.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , which includes the steps of adding to said glass water and a binder to form a mixture.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said mixture additionally includes at least one of a thickener, a surfactant, fragrance and color.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said glass is at least one of virgin and recycled glass.  
     
     
         15 . A surface or object treating agent comprising at least ground foamed glass.  
     
     
         16 . A surface or object treating agent according to  claim 15 , wherein said agent further includes at least one of a disinfectant powder and surfactant powder.  
     
     
         17 . A surface or object treating agent according to  claim 16 , wherein said agent also includes a fragrance.  
     
     
         18 . A surface or object treating agent according to  claim 15 , wherein said agent further includes water and a binder.  
     
     
         19 . A surface or object treating agent according to  claim 18 , wherein said agent additionally includes at least one of a thickener, a surfactant, fragrance and color.  
     
     
         20 . A surface or object treating agent according to  claim 15 , wherein said glass is at least one of virgin and recycled glass.