Household cleaning container and assembly comprising such a container and a mop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for household surfaces face issues with excessive water and cleaning product consumption, contamination of cleaning liquids, and difficulty in assessing liquid quantity, leading to inefficient cleaning and hygiene concerns.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tray system utilizing Pascal's principle to maintain a constant clean liquid level in a basin while allowing the liquid to flow from a reservoir, preventing contamination and optimizing liquid usage, with features like a permanently open partition and adjustable opening height for efficient filling and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-compartment bucket is used for cleaning, then the device is simple, but the cleaning liquid becomes contaminated with dirt from the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The bucket is divided into two separate compartments: a clean water reservoir and a dirty water collection area. A partition with an opening at a specific height separates these compartments, allowing clean water to flow to the cleaning area while preventing contaminated water from mixing back with the clean supply.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multi-compartment buckets are used to separate clean and dirty water, then contamination is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages water separation and flow without user intervention. The partition with the opening at a specific height creates a self-regulating mechanism where clean water flows to the cleaning area and dirty water collects separately, eliminating the need for manual water transfer or complex valves.
3Loss of substance
If a dosing device is used to control cleaning liquid flow, then water consumption is reduced, but the device complexity and difficulty of use increase
Solution Approach 1:
The partition opening is positioned at a specific height that creates an equipotential reference point for water flow. This geometric configuration automatically controls the water level and flow rate without requiring dosing mechanisms, making the system both water-efficient and easy to use.
4Device complexity
If the mop is wrung out in the cleaning liquid reservoir, then the wringing function is simple, but the cleaning liquid becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The wringing function is extracted from the clean water reservoir and relocated to the dirty water collection area. This separation ensures that wringing operations, which generate contamination, occur in the designated dirty water zone, preventing contamination of the clean water supply.
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 system reduces water and cleaning product consumption, maintains hygiene by preventing contamination, and simplifies use by ensuring a constant clean liquid supply and easy filling, while being compact and reliable.
Implementation Method 1
The invention is based on Pascal's principle which characterizes the equilibrium of liquids. Applied to the cleaning tank, the cleaning liquid (of uniform density) is in equilibrium between the cleaning liquid reservoir and the basin.
Implementation Method 2
After a sample is taken from the basin by a spongy body, the at least one opening is not submerged on the basin side
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~9b
Figure 5~8b
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning container (1) for receiving household cleaning liquid, in particular for cleaning floors. The container comprises: a vessel (2) for a cleaning liquid (L), a basin (3) arranged such that a mop (100) is able to collect the liquid by absorption when the container is in the cleaning position, a partition (4) separating the vessel (2) for the cleaning liquid (L) from the basin (3), and at least one opening (5) arranged in the partition (4) to allow the cleaning liquid to pass towards the basin. The at least one opening (5) is in the vicinity of the bottom of the container and is permanently open. When the opening is submerged in the cleaning liquid, the vessel is airtight, such that the liquid flow is stopped and the liquid is in equilibrium between the vessel (2) and the basin (3). This arrangement provides for a constant level in the basin (3).