One-piece foam construct
The invention relates to a one-piece foam construct reversibly assembled by at least one binder, as well as the methods of making and assembling said one-piece foam construct. The construct is meant for use as a cleaning implement.
1. A one-piece, foam construct for use as a cleaning implement comprising:
A rolled, one-piece, foam strip having at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: soaps, detergents, skin care agents, hydrocolloid absorptive agents, medicaments, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, vitamins, hemostatic agents, antibacterial agents, antifungal agents, surfactants, pH buffers, rubber particles, disinfecting and sterilizing agents, thermal phase change particles, and combinations thereof, said foam strip having a left portion, a right portion, and a middle portion disposed between said left portion and said right portion;
wherein at least one additive is an antibacterial agent;
A plurality of cuts along said left portion;
A plurality of cuts along said right portion;
A first binder with a first thickness and a stopper section reversibly applied to said foam strip, said stopper section having a second thickness, wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness; and
A second binder on said middle portion reversibly securing a portion of said foam strip in a compressed conformation;
said rolled, one-piece, foam strip comprising a polymer foam formed with an at least one component selected from the group consisting of dispersants, surfactants, foaming and blowing agents, superabsorbent polymers, polymer initiators, dyes, cross-linking agents, catalysts, and polymer-chain size modifiers.
2. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , wherein said at least one binder further comprises a handle.
3. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , wherein said at least one component further comprises said cross-linking agents.
4. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 3 , wherein said at least one component further comprises said dispersants.
5. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , wherein said at least one component further comprises said surfactants.
6. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 5 , wherein said at least one component further comprises said superabsorbent polymers.
7. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , further comprising said polymer foam formed with said surfactants, wherein said surfactants are provided in an amount of 0.5% to 5% by weight of a prepolymer weight of an aqueous mixture used to form said polymer foam.
8. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 7 , wherein said at least one component further comprises said thermal phase change particles.
9. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cuts long said left-portion and said plurality of cuts along said right-portion extend generally perpendicular to said middle portion.
10. The foam construct for use as a cleaning implement of claim 1 , wherein said first binder is selected from the group consisting of cord, rope, string, yarn, thread, ribbon, cloth, chain, cable, rubber tubing, thin flexible rod, and knit tubing; and said second binder is selected from the group consisting of pins, staples, adhesives, plastic ties, fabric ties, and rings.