# US 5,707,731 A · Disposable cleaning articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,731 A - Document ID: US5707731A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/647,403 - Filed: 1996-05-09 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-05-09 - Assignees: Isolyser Company, Inc. - Inventors: Travis W. Honeycutt; Baosheng Lee; James R. Shreffler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707731A ## CPC - D06M 13/262: Sulfated compounds {thiosulfates} - B09B 3/70: Chemical treatment, e.g. pH adjustment or oxidation (involving an extraction step B09B3/80) - D04H 1/4309: Polyvinyl alcohol - D06M 13/192: Polycarboxylic acids; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof {(D06M13/1845 takes precedence)} - D06M 13/2243: {Mono-, di-, or triglycerides} - B09B 2101/65: Medical waste - Y10T 428/29: Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof - Y10T 428/2967: Synthetic resin or polymer - D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS - B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A mop head made from a plurality of fibers of polyvinyl alcohol that are only water soluble at temperatures above 37.degree. C., where the fibers are formed into a mop head. A disposable cleaning rag made from at least one layer of a plurality of fibers of polyvinyl alcohol that are only water soluble at temperatures above 37.degree. C., wherein the fibers are formed into a disposable cleaning rag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mop head comprising a plurality of fibers comprised of polyvinyl alcohol that are only water soluble at temperatures above 37.degree. C., wherein the fibers are formed into a mop head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol comprises crystallized polyvinyl alcohol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the fibers are produced by dope extrusion and treatment with heat and stretching. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is a produced from a greater than 80% saponified polyvinyl acetate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is a produced from a greater than 98% saponified polyvinyl acetate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is a produced from a greater than 99% saponified polyvinyl acetate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the degree of polymerization of the fibers is from 300 to 3000. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the degree of polymerization of the fibers is from 700 to 2000. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the degree of polymerization of the fibers is from 1300 to 2000. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the water content of the fibers is maintained at from 1.5 to 15.0% by weight. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, further comprising from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of an anti-blocking agent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the fibers are yarn spun, thermally bonded, chemically bonded, needle punched, wet laid or air laid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the fibers form a fabric of from 15 g/yd.sup.2 to 100 g/yd.sup.2 in weight. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the fibers form a fabric comprising from 10 to 50 layers affixed to one another along the approximate mid-section of the fabric perpendicular to at least one border thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mop head of claim 14, wherein the layers are cut to length on each side of said mid-section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mop head of claim 15, wherein the layers are cut to 1" in length and from 1/4" to 1" in width. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, further comprising from 0.1 to 2.0% by weight of a wetting agent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of crystallinity of at least 0.20. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of crystallinity of at least 0.40. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of crystallinity of at least 0.70. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of orientation of at least 0.20. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of orientation of at least 0.40. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a degree of orientation of at least 0.50. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is only water soluble at temperatures above 50.degree. C. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is only water soluble at temperatures above 70.degree. C. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The mop head of claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol is only water soluble at temperatures above 90.degree. C. ### Claim 27 A mop head comprising a plurality of fibers comprising crystallized polyvinyl alcohol that is water soluble at temperatures only above 37.degree. C., wherein the fibers are formed into a mop head and wherein a) the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are produced by dope extrusion and treatment with heat and stretching of a greater than 98% saponified polyvinyl acetate; and b) the degree of polymerization for the fibers is from 1300 to 2000. ### Claim 28 A mop head comprising a plurality of fibers comprising crystallized polyvinyl alcohol that is water soluble at temperatures only above 37.degree. C., wherein the fibers are formed into a mop head, an effective amount of an anti-blocking agent sufficient to increase the usability of the fibers and an effective amount of a wetting agent sufficient to increase the absorbency of the fibers, wherein a) the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are produced by dope extrusion and treatment with heat and stretching of a greater than 98% saponified polyvinyl acetate; and b) the degree of polymerization for the fibers is from 1300 to 2000. ### Claim 29 A mop head comprising a plurality of fibers comprising crystallized polyvinyl alcohol that is water soluble at temperatures only above 37.degree. C., wherein the fibers are formed into a mop head, an effective amount of an anti-blocking agent sufficient to increase the usability, of the fibers, and an effective amount of a wetting agent sufficient to increase the absorbency of the fibers. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The mop head of claim 29, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol fibers are produced by dope extrusion and treatment with heat and stretching of a greater than 98% saponified polyvinyl acetate. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The mop head of claim 29, wherein the degree of polymerization for the fibers is from 1300 to 2000. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The mop head of claim 29, wherein the water content of the fibers is maintained at from 1.5 to 15.0% by weight.