Brita Gmbh

The Clorox Company

Brita I.p

Nikhil P Dani

Russell E Bell

Jonathan McDonald

Jonathan Taylor Wiegele

Nicole Doan

Elliot L Ortiz

Piercy Yau

Brett Z Green

Dan Harden

Scott A Wood

Daniela N Fritter

Hubert Chan

Joerg Hendrix

David R Scheuing

Nancy A Falk

Ashish Kumar Jha

Bryan K Parrish

Jonathan Mcdonald

William Ouellette

Mark D Pszczolkowski

Edward B Rinker

David Lee Lyons

Richard J Suk

Scot Brown Herbst

John E Jamieson

Matthias Palm

Ryan J Coonce

Scott Melin

Elizabeth A Buzzard

Andrea Diaz

Pre-moistened wipes that include one or more characteristics correlated to desired properties, such as high durability, mileage, cleaning composition retention, efficacy, or the like are described. Pulp substrates typically include an anionic charge, which can result in binding or retention of a cationic biocide such as a quaternary ammonium compound while the remainder of the composition is released from the wipe (e.g., through squeezing, wiping or other compression). The present wipes are specifically tailored to release at least 20% of the quaternary ammonium compound to a target surface, and exhibit at least a 3-log reduction inpopulation within about 10 seconds to 5 minutes. Such release and efficacy is achieved without the presence of any cationic biocide release agent (e.g., latex or a cationic salt) included in the cleaning composition or elsewhere within the pre-loaded disinfecting wipe.

Cleaning wipes with particular lotion retention and efficacy characteristics

A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 μm, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft/min to 75 ft/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).

Pre-loaded floor wipes with improved pickup

Methods for forming multi-layer substrates including top and bottom surface layers and a melt softened thermoplastic material layer between the exterior surface layers, where the thermoplastic material includes polyethylene or has a tan delta value of 0.2 to 0.4 within the temperature range of 100° F.-350° F. The 3 (or more) layers are assembled, and heated, melt softening the thermoplastic material, causing bonding of the thermoplastic layer to the exterior surface layers. A cleaning composition may be loaded onto the multi-layer substrate, where a fluid pathway through the melted thermoplastic material allows the cleaning composition to travel between the surface layers. Adhesion between the surface layers and the thermoplastic layer is provided by the thermoplastic material itself, which bonds to groups of fibers in the surface layers. The process does not require chemical adhesives, any processing water, drying, or the like, so as to be possible with low capital investment.

Process for manufacturing multi-layer substrates comprising sandwich layers and polyethylene

Multi-layer substrates comprising a top surface layer of pulp fibers, a bottom surface layer of pulp fibers, and a melted thermoplastic material layer between the pulp fiber layers, where the thermoplastic material comprises polyethylene or has a tan delta value of 0.2 to 0.4 within the temperature range of 100&#xb0; F. to 350&#xb0; F. The multi-layer substrate can include a cleaning composition loaded onto the multi-layer substrate, where a fluid pathway through the melted thermoplastic material allows the cleaning composition to travel from the top surface layer to the bottom surface layer. The multi-layer substrate may be void of chemical adhesives, where adhesion between the top surface layer and the thermoplastic layer, and between the bottom surface layer and the thermoplastic layer is instead provided by the thermoplastic material itself, which bonds to groups of fibers in the pulp fibers top and bottom surface layers that are in contact with the thermoplastic material as it melts.

Multi-layer substrates comprising sandwich layers and polyethylene

A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 &#x3bc;m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft/min to 75 ft/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).

Multi-layer substrates comprising top and bottom surface layers comprised of synthetic nonwoven fibers, and a melted thermoplastic material layer between the top and bottom layers, where the thermoplastic material comprises polyethylene or has a tan delta value of 0.2 to 0.4 within the temperature range of 100&#xb0; F. to 350&#xb0; F. The multi-layer substrate can include a cleaning composition loaded onto the multi-layer substrate, where a fluid pathway through the melted thermoplastic material allows the cleaning composition to travel from the top surface layer to the bottom surface layer. The multi-layer substrate may be void of chemical adhesives, where adhesion between the top surface layer and the thermoplastic layer, and between the bottom surface layer and the thermoplastic layer is instead provided by the thermoplastic material itself, which bonds to groups of fibers in the top and bottom surface layers that are in contact with the thermoplastic material as it melts.

The invention relates to container bodies configured to be used in filter-as-you-pour systems, where filtering is achieved as the user pours water from the container. Such container bodies may have an undivided internal storage volume, so as to not include a reservoir compartment for unfiltered water. They may be part of systems configured to filter water both as water is introduced into a container body of the system and as water is poured from the container body of the system. The filter assembly may be attached to the container body at a location proximate the outlet of the system. Filter media of the filter assembly may comprise an activated carbon textile material that presents a curved surface to water passing through the filter assembly. The container body may be configured as a pitcher, carafe, water bottle, jug, or other shaped container.

Container for filter-as-you-pour system

Methods for manufacturing wipes including melamine entangled into a nonwoven, and associated articles of manufacture. Such a method may include providing a melamine sheet (e.g., contiguous, rather than discrete melamine particles), providing first and second nonwoven sheets, and positioning the melamine sheet between the first and second nonwoven sheets. The sandwich structure is hydro-entangled at high pressure to force the melamine material to become entangled into the nonwoven material, to a degree that a portion of the melamine is actually exposed on the exterior face(s) of the wipe, which are generally provided by the nonwoven sheets. Such a wipe exhibits the drapability of a wipe, with the scrubbing benefits (e.g., very effective cleaning of baseboards, crayon off walls, etc.) of melamine, with greater durability than existing melamine cleaning articles, which tend to quickly crumble during use.

Melamine wipes and methods of manufacture

Methods for forming multi-layer substrates including top and bottom surface layers and a melt softened thermoplastic material layer between the exterior surface layers, where the thermoplastic material includes polyethylene or has a tan delta value of 0.2 to 0.4 within the temperature range of 100&#xb0; F.&#x2212;350&#xb0; F. The 3 (or more) layers are assembled, and heated, melt softening the thermoplastic material, causing bonding of the thermoplastic layer to the exterior surface layers. A cleaning composition may be loaded onto the multi-layer substrate, where a fluid pathway through the melted thermoplastic material allows the cleaning composition to travel between the surface layers. Adhesion between the surface layers and the thermoplastic layer is provided by the thermoplastic material itself, which bonds to groups of fibers in the surface layers. The process does not require chemical adhesives, any processing water, drying, or the like, so as to be possible with low capital investment.

In one example, a fluid container includes a reservoir that includes a reservoir wall. A cover is configured to engage the reservoir, and the cover includes a spout configured and arranged for fluid communication with the reservoir, and the spout is disposed at one end of the cover. The fluid container also includes a filter cage configured to releasably engage the cover in a location near the spout. When the filter cage is engaged with the cover, and the cover is disposed on the reservoir, a small gap is defined between the front of the spout and the front of the filter cage.

Filter cartridge placement in filter as you pour system

A filter media can be configured to be securable in an at least partially curved configuration and/or received in a filter housing to form a filter assembly. Water filter media can be adapted for filter-as-you-pour filtration in the context of container (e.g., pitcher) systems where filtering is achieved as the user pours water from the container. The filter housing can have a frame and an optional casing securable about the frame. A filter assembly can include a filter media within, connected to, or associated with a filter housing. The filter media can be securable in an at least partially curved configuration and/or within, connected to, or associated with the filter housing.

Method of using a filter media for filtration

In one example, a core cover includes an inner wall that defines a fluid passageway configured to communicate with an interior of a filter core when the core cover is engaged with the filter core. As well, the core cover includes an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, and a complementary structure located on the outer wall and configured to engage a corresponding complementary structure of a filter core. Finally, the core cover includes one or more indicia that indicate a flow rate, or range of flow rates, associated with the core cover.

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Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Nikhil P Dani