Head part for hand-held cleaning tool

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held cleaning tools face challenges with quick and reliable attachment and detachment of cleaning cloths, as well as issues with hair and dust accumulation in hook-and-loop fasteners and tangling during washing.

Innovation Solution

A head part for hand-held cleaning tools featuring movable engagement elements with a spring device that keeps the cleaning cloth stretched and centered, allowing easy attachment and removal, and is designed to prevent dirt accumulation and tangling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clips are used for attaching cleaning cloths, then the attachment can be reliable, but the clips are difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidease of attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement element is made movable along the longitudinal direction of the body through a groove, allowing dynamic adjustment between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic mechanism enables easy attachment and detachment while maintaining reliable connection when engaged, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If hook-and-loop fasteners are used, then the attachment is easy to use, but they accumulate hair and dust reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidfastening effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement element is designed as a separate movable component that can be completely disengaged from the cleaning cloth. This extraction principle allows the fastening mechanism to be removed entirely when not in use, preventing accumulation of hair and dust that would reduce effectiveness, while maintaining ease of operation during attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the engagement element is movable to allow easy attachment, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The body is segmented with a groove that guides the movement of the engagement element. This segmentation creates a simple track system that allows the engagement element to move freely between engaged and disengaged positions without complex mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the spring device is arranged within the body, then it is protected from dirt, but the construction complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring device protectionVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring device is nested within the body structure, with the engagement element moving through a groove in the body. This nesting arrangement protects the spring device from external dirt and contamination while integrating it seamlessly into the existing body design, minimizing additional construction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables convenient, multi-purpose use of the cleaning tool with various cloths, ensuring reliable attachment and preventing dirt accumulation and tangling, enhancing user experience and tool efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a spring device, which is arranged to resist movement of the first engagement element from the first position towards the second position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3569132B1Head part for hand-held cleaning tool
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 REAX INNOVATIONS OY
  • EP3569132B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3569132B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

The head part (1) for a hand-held cleaning tool comprises an elongated body (2), a first engagement element (3a) for engagement with a first engagement point (11a) of a cleaning cloth (10), and a second engagement element (3b) for engagement with a second engagement point (11b) of the cleaning cloth (10). The first engagement element (3a) is movable in the longitudinal direction of the body (2) between a first position, which is at a first distance from the second engagement element (3b), and a second position, which is at a second, shorter distance from the second engagement element (3b). The head part (1) further comprises a spring device (4a), which is arranged to resist movement of the first engagement element (3a) from the first position towards the second position.