Applicator Head Drainage Hooks for Splash-Free Cleaning Pad Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices with removable and replaceable cleaning elements often suffer from excess liquid collection on the applicator head, leading to splashing and frequent replacement of adhesive fasteners, which are inefficient and require mechanical secondary actions for assembly.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with an applicator head featuring a plurality of holes for liquid drainage and spaced-apart hooks around the peripheral edge, allowing for secure and releasable attachment of cleaning elements, facilitating integral molding and preventing liquid splashing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive fasteners are used to attach cleaning elements to the holder, then the cleaning elements can be secured to the holder, but the adhesive fasteners require frequent replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment durabilityVSAvoidreplacement frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable adhesive-backed hook fastener strips that are intentionally designed as short-living components. These fasteners are easily replaceable and inexpensive, allowing users to simply swap them out when worn rather than replacing entire attachment mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by making the fasteners cheap and easy to replace, turning a reliability issue into a simple maintenance task.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If adhesive fasteners are used to attach cleaning elements, then attachment is achieved, but secondary mechanical actions are required for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple attachment mechanisms into a single integrated system. The holder includes both adhesive-backed hook fasteners and molded-in spikes/hooks, allowing cleaning elements to be secured through a single attachment action that engages both mechanisms simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanical assembly steps while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the applicator head is made as a solid sheet of plastic, then structural integrity is maintained, but liquid collects on the top surface causing splashing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidliquid splashing

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator head incorporates a porous drainage layer within its structure, allowing liquid to pass through the head rather than pooling on the surface. This porous construction maintains structural integrity while enabling liquid drainage, preventing the splashing problem that occurs with solid sheet designs. The porous material acts as an internal drainage system that keeps the top surface relatively dry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Reliability

If hooks are added around the peripheral edge of holes for cleaning element attachment, then secure attachment is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidmolding complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the attachment function into two separate components: adhesive-backed hook fasteners for primary attachment and molded-in spikes/hooks for secondary securing. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes, then combined during assembly. The segmentation resolves the manufacturing complexity issue by avoiding the need to mold complex integrated hook structures around holes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively drains excess liquid back into the cleaning element, preventing splashing and allowing for easy attachment and detachment of cleaning elements, while enabling efficient manufacturing through two-piece molding without secondary mechanical actions.

Implementation Method 1

cleaning liquid collecting on the top side readily flows through the applicator head back into an attached cleaning element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

cleaning liquid collecting on the top side readily flows through the applicator head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

an applicator can be releasable attached by said hooks to said applicator head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS9572472B2Cleaning device for use with disposable cleaning elements

Publication Date: 2017.02.21 GOLDEN PANTHER INC

AI summary

A cleaning device is provided to which an easily removable and replaceable cleaning element can be attached. The cleaning device comprises an applicator head having a top side and a bottom side and defining holes there through which are sufficient in size and number that cleaning liquid collecting on the top side readily flows through the applicator head The applicator head also includes a handle mount attached to the top side of said applicator head for pivotally attaching a handle and a plurality of spaced-apart hooks extending from the bottom side of said applicator head and placed around the peripheral edge of said holes, said hooks comprising a shaft with a bard extending from the end of said shaft said barb facing in and extending over the adjacent hole.