Hybrid cleaning device including absorbent and contact elements

Abstract

A device comprising an absorbent structure and one or more wiping elements integrated into the absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure is preferably a sponge or foam structure and the wiping elements are squeegees, nodules, or combinations thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the wiping elements include anchor features that are embedded within the absorbent structure.

1 . A device with a contact surface comprising:
 a. a first set of contact regions formed from a first material; and   b. a second set of contact regions formed from a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of contact regions and the second set of contact regions are interspersed along the contact surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of contact regions and the second set of contact regions have the same macrostructure. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of contact regions and the second set of contact regions have a different macrostructure. 
     
     
         5 . A device with a contact surface comprising:
 a. a first set of contact regions comprising a first material with a first structure; and   b. a second set of contact regions comprising a second material with a second structure, wherein the second set of contact regions is interspersed among the first set of contact regions and the first structure and the second structure are different.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first material and the second material are the same. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first material and the second material are different. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first structure is an inherent feature of the first material. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first material is engineered to have the first structure. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a. an absorbent structure having a surface; and   b. a wiping element coupled to the absorbent structure, wherein a portion of the wiping element is configured substantially along the surface of the absorbent structure to produce a contact surface of the cleaning device that includes portions of the absorbent structure and portions of the wiping element.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the wiping element is a squeegee. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the squeegee is curved. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the absorbent structure includes one or more of sponge or foam material. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a scouring pad attached to a surface of the absorbent structure. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 a. an absorbent structure; and   b. a wiping structure with a plurality of wiping elements and one or more anchor structures embedded within the absorbent structure, wherein a wiping element and a portion of the absorbent structure form a primary surface of the device usable for cleaning an object.   
     
     
         16 . A method of making a device comprising:
 a. forming a resilient structure with wiping elements and apertures; and   b. attaching an absorbent material to a portion of the resilient structure to form a device with a contact surface comprising absorbent material and a portion of the resilient structure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the resilient structure comprises extruding the resilient structure with squeegee walls. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein attaching an absorbent material to a portion of the resilient structure comprises forming a sponge material between the squeegee walls. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the resilient structure comprises patterning the wiping elements on a surface of a resilient material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein attaching the absorbent material to a portion of the resilient structure comprises attaching a layer one or more of a sponge material and a foam material to a surface of the resilient material. 
     
     
         21 . A cleaning device, comprising:
 a. an absorbent element having a first active region defining a contact surface and a first coupling region not on the contact surface; and   b. a wiping element coupled to the coupling region and having a second active region defining a wiping surface substantially tangent to the contact surface.   
     
     
         22 . A cleaning device, comprising:
 a. a hydrophillic structure having a first surface; and   b. a hydrophobic structure coupled to the first surface of the hydrophobic structure and having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.   
     
     
         23 . A cleaning device, comprising:
 a. a wiping structure with a contact surface, and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, wherein the apertures are substantially perpendicular to the contact surface; and   b. an absorbent structure coupled to the wiping structure, occupying one or more of the apertures, and having a surface substantially tangent to the contact surface.   
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a cleaning device, comprising:
 a. forming a hydrophillic structure having a first surface; and   b. coupling a hydrophobic structure having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough to the first surface thereby forming a contact surface comprising a surface of the hydrophobic structure and a portion of the first surface.   
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing a cleaning device, comprising:
 a. forming a wiping structure with a contact surface, and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, wherein the apertures are substantially perpendicular to the contact surface; and   b. depositing an absorbent material into one or more of the apertures to form an absorbent structure coupled to the wiping structure having a surface substantially tangent to the contact surface.