Cleaning articles

Abstract

Cleaning articles such as cloths, gloves, and mitts for cleaning various objects, including, but not limited to vehicles, such as cars are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cleaning article is in the form of a mitt that has at least one side that is fluffy, lofted, or three-dimensional. In this, or in other embodiments, the glove or mitt has an impervious inner liner at least partially lining the inside of the same. In another embodiment, the glove or mitt has an apertured nonwoven or apertured film outer surface. In another embodiment, the cleaning article includes, on at least one side, a first region comprising a substantially planar material and having a surface which is less than about 90% of the total side surface and is visually distinct from a second region on the side. In another embodiment, the cleaning article includes a finger positioning portion defining first, second and third finger regions in a body portion of the article. The cleaning articles can be of a type that is intended for a single use (disposable), or of a type intended for more than one use.

1 . A cleaning article comprising: 
 a body portion having an opening therein, and being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a human hand in said opening, said body portion comprising: 
 a first side; and  
 at least a portion of a second side,  
 wherein at least one of said first side and said second side comprises a three-dimensional structure comprised of a plurality of strips of material joined to said body portion, wherein said strips have a length, a width, and a thickness, and at least some of said strips are greater than about 4.5 mm in width.  
   
   
   
       2 . The cleaning article of  claim 1  comprising more than one stacked layers of strips of material.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning article of  claim 1  having a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, wherein said strips of material have a length, a width, proximal ends, and distal ends, and at least some of said strips of material are joined to said body portion at their proximal ends with their lengths oriented in transverse direction and their distal ends being free.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning article of  claim 1  wherein at least some of said strips of material are arranged in adjacent rows, and said strips have a length, a width, proximal ends, and distal ends, and at least some of the distal ends of strips of material at least partially overlap.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning article of  claim 3  wherein the distal ends of at least some of said strips of material are provided with a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a curvilinear edge, split ends, frayed ends, a saw-tooth configuration, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning article of  claim 3  wherein said strips of material are rearranged to randomize the orientation of their free distal ends.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning article of  claim 1  wherein said article is a mitt.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning article of  claim 1  further comprising a barrier in between said first and second sides.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning article of  claim 8  wherein said barrier comprises a film.  
   
   
       10 . A cleaning article comprising: 
 a body portion having an opening therein, and being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a human hand in said opening, said body portion comprising: 
 a first side; and  
 a second side,  
   wherein at least one of said first side and said second side comprises an apertured nonwoven fabric, or apertured film.    
   
   
       11 . The cleaning article of  claim 10  further comprising a secondary component between said first and second sides.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning article of  claim 11  wherein the secondary component comprises a batting.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaning article of  claim 12  wherein said first side comprises said apertured nonwoven fabric, or apertured film, and said cleaning article further comprising a barrier in between said batting and second side.  
   
   
       14 . A cleaning article comprising: 
 a body portion having an opening therein, the body portion being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a human hand in the opening with fingers positioned adjacent a finger area of the body portion, the body portion comprising: 
 a first side having a total surface; and  
 a second side having a total surface,  
   wherein at least one of the first and second sides comprises a first region defining a first surface and a second region defining a second surface, the first region comprising a substantially planar material, wherein the first surface is less than about 90% of the total surface of the side comprising the first region, and wherein the first region is visually distinct from the second region.    
   
   
       15 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein the substantially planar material comprises an apertured material.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning article of  claim 15 , wherein the apertured material is provided with apertures having an average opening dimension of at least about 0.5 mm, at least about 0.75 mm, at least about 1 mm, or at least about 1.25 mm.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein the first region is located at least at the finger area of the body portion.  
   
   
       18 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein the first surface is less than about 50%, less than about 33%, or less than about 25%, of the total surface of the side comprising the first region.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first side and the second side comprises a fluffy, lofted, or other three-dimensional cleaning portion.  
   
   
       20 . The cleaning article of  claim 19 , wherein the first region is provided on the first side and the fluffy, lofted, or other three-dimensional cleaning portion is provided on the second side.  
   
   
       21 . The cleaning article of  claim 19 , wherein the first region and the fluffy, lofted, or other three-dimensional cleaning portion are provided on the same side of the cleaning article.  
   
   
       22 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein the first region and the second region have a Delta E of at least 3.  
   
   
       23 . The cleaning article of  claim 14 , wherein the first region is sufficiently abrasive to remove soil from a car clearcoat surface without causing visually perceptible scratching of the surface.  
   
   
       24 . A cleaning article comprising: 
 a body portion having an opening therein, the body portion being sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a human hand in the opening with fingers positioned adjacent a finger area of the body portion, the body portion comprising: 
 a first side;  
 a second side; and  
 a finger positioning portion located within the finger area of the body portion and connecting the first side with the second side, wherein the finger positioning portion defines first, second and third finger regions at least partially separated by the finger positioning portion.  
   
   
   
       25 . The cleaning article of  claim 24 , wherein the finger positioning portion comprises a continuous arc shaped weld line.  
   
   
       26 . The cleaning article of  claim 24 , wherein the finger positioning portion comprises at least a first weld line and a second weld line.  
   
   
       27 . The cleaning article of  claim 26 , wherein neither the first weld line nor the second weld line is entirely located along a longitudinal centerline of the body portion.  
   
   
       28 . The cleaning article of  claim 27 , wherein the first weld line and the second weld line are on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the body portion.  
   
   
       29 . The cleaning article of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first weld line and second weld line is generally parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the body portion.  
   
   
       30 . The cleaning article of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first weld line and second weld line is arranged in a direction that intersects the longitudinal centerline.  
   
   
       31 . The cleaning article of  claim 28 , wherein each of the first weld line and the second weld line is arranged in a direction intersecting said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       32 . The cleaning article of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first weld line and second weld line is positioned to separate a thumb from fingers when a human hand is located at least partially within the body portion.