Cleaning Substrate Protrusions for Hygienic Hair Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning tools, such as vacuum cleaners and carpet sweepers, are ineffective in removing both loose soils and soils capable of entanglement, like hair, from soft and hard surfaces without being cumbersome or requiring manual removal of entangled debris, which can be unhygienic.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning implement with a rotating member and a disposable cleaning substrate featuring protrusions and additives for effective soil separation, allowing for easy and hygienic removal of both loose and entangled soils from various surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotating brush with bristles is used to remove soils capable of entanglement, then the ability to remove entangled soils is improved, but the brush becomes saturated with wrapped hair and requires frequent manual removal of debris

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to remove soils capable of entanglementVSAvoidconvenience of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic function of the rotating brush by removing it entirely and replacing it with a disposable cleaning substrate that has protrusions for engaging entangled soils. This eliminates the issue of hair wrapping around the brush while maintaining the ability to remove entangled soils.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable cleaning substrate instead of a reusable rotating brush. The substrate is discarded after use, preventing the accumulation of wrapped hair and eliminating the need for manual removal of debris. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing long-term durability for operational convenience and hygiene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If continuous rotating blades are used instead of individual bristles, then loose soils are projected into the collection bin effectively, but soils capable of entanglement are removed ineffectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of projecting loose soilsVSAvoidability to remove soils capable of entanglement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of removing loose soils and entangled soils into a single disposable cleaning substrate. The substrate includes both protrusions for engaging entangled soils and a surface for collecting loose soils, combining the effectiveness of both brush types without their respective drawbacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning substrate is constructed as a composite structure with protrusions extending from the surface. This composite design allows the substrate to simultaneously engage entangled soils through the protrusions and collect loose soils on the surface, achieving both functions in one element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a heavy vacuum cleaner is used to remove both loose and entangled soils, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome and inconvenient for everyday use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidweight of cleaning device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a lightweight disposable cleaning substrate that can be easily attached and removed from the sweeper head. This eliminates the need for a heavy vacuum cleaner mechanism while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the substrate's protrusions and collection bin design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the cleaning system into a lightweight sweeper head and a disposable substrate. This segmentation allows the main device to remain light and maneuverable while the substrate provides the necessary cleaning functions, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Duration of action of stationary object

If manual removal of wrapped hair from the brush is required, then the brush can continue to function, but the process is inconvenient and unhygienic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice life of cleaning componentVSAvoidhygiene during use

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable cleaning substrate that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the hygiene problem of manually removing wrapped hair by preventing the accumulation of debris in the first place. The substrate's service life is intentionally limited to one use, prioritizing hygiene and convenience over long-term durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7676877B2Cleaning implements and substrates for cleaning surfaces

Publication Date: 2010.03.16 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A cleaning implement for cleaning a soft or a hard surface comprises a handle, a sweeper head, rotating blades and a collection bin. The bottom wall of the collection bin includes an opening that is covered by a cleaning sheet during the cleaning operation. The height of this bottom wall relative to the surface being cleaned is adjustable by a user. The cleaning implement can be used with a disposable cleaning sheet, which includes protrusions that are capable of removing entangled hair from a carpet surface.