A cleaning element for attaching to a cleaner head and a cleaner head to which a cleaning element is attachable
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wet cleaning apparatuses face challenges in efficiently delivering cleaning liquid and picking up liquid using suction, often resulting in inefficient use of cleaning liquid and difficulties in reliably aligning the liquid pick-up zone with the dirt inlet.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning element with a liquid pick-up zone and a cleaning liquid application zone, attachable to a cleaner head with guiding elements and a fastener, ensures proper alignment and secure attachment, allowing for efficient liquid pick-up and application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a replaceable cleaning material is included in the wet cleaning apparatus, then the cleaning element can be removed for washing and replacement, but it becomes challenging for the user to reliably attach the cleaning material to the cleaner head
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into distinct functional components: guiding elements (teeth and grooves) for alignment and a fastener mechanism for securing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the guiding elements ensuring proper positioning and the fastener providing reliable attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding elements (teeth and grooves) perform preliminary alignment action before the fastener engages. This preliminary positioning ensures that the cleaning element is correctly oriented relative to the dirt inlet before final attachment, making the attachment process more reliable and user-friendly.
2Productivity
If the cleaning element is designed with both liquid application and pick-up zones, then cleaning efficiency improves, but alignment precision between the liquid pick-up zone and dirt inlet becomes more critical and difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding elements (teeth and grooves) act as intermediaries that transfer and enforce the correct alignment between the cleaner head and the cleaning element. This mechanical intermediary system ensures that the liquid pick-up zone is precisely positioned over the dirt inlet without requiring high manufacturing precision in the cleaning element itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning material has different functional zones with different properties: the liquid pick-up zone with specific porosity for liquid absorption and the cleaning liquid application zone for liquid distribution. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its function optimally while the guiding elements ensure the pick-up zone is correctly positioned.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wet cleaning apparatus delivers cleaning liquid and picks up liquid using suction, then both cleaning functionalities are provided, but the cleaning liquid is used inefficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is segmented into distinct functional zones: the cleaning liquid application zone that applies liquid to the surface and the liquid pick-up zone that removes liquid through suction. This spatial segmentation ensures that the suction is applied at the correct location to efficiently pick up excess cleaning liquid and dirt, improving cleaning liquid efficiency while maintaining dual functionality.
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 solution enables efficient liquid pick-up and application, reducing waste and improving cleaning performance by ensuring accurate alignment and secure attachment of the cleaning element to the cleaner head.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning material comprising a liquid pick-up zone alignable with, so as to cover, the at least one dirt inlet
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning liquid application zone adjacent the liquid pick-up zone for applying cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
Provided is a cleaning element (100) for attaching to a cleaner head, which cleaner head has a structured portion and at least one dirt inlet. The cleaning element comprises a cleaning material for contacting a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning material comprises a liquid pick-up zone (104) alignable with, so as to cover, the at least one dirt inlet, and a cleaning liquid application zone (106A, 106B) adjacent the liquid pick-up zone. The cleaning liquid application zone is for applying cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element comprises a plurality of guiding elements (116A, 116B, 116C, 116D) cooperable with the structured portion to join and align the cleaning element with the cleaner head. The cleaner head further comprises a fastener (128) for securing the aligned cleaning element to the cleaner head. The fastener is spaced apart from the plurality of guiding elements across the cleaning material. Further provided is the cleaner head having the structured portion and the at least one dirt inlet, and a wet cleaning apparatus comprising the cleaning element and the cleaner head.