Container for floor mopping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor mopping containers face challenges in optimizing water usage, as they often require separate handling of clean and dirty water, and their design prevents efficient stacking due to protruding wringers.

Innovation Solution

A container with a dividing wall separating it into two zones, one for clean water and one for dirty water, where the wringer is positioned on the dividing wall shifted towards the dirty water zone, allowing for efficient separation and stacking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the wringer protrudes above the container, then the wringer can effectively wring out the mop, but it becomes difficult or prevents the stacking of several containers for transportation and storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemop wringing effectivenessVSAvoidstacking space efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wringer is positioned within a cavity formed by the dividing wall structure, allowing it to be nested within the container's internal volume rather than protruding externally. This enables the wringer to maintain its functional position while being accommodated within the container's footprint, allowing containers to stack efficiently during transportation and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the container is designed with equal zones for clean and dirty water, then the structure is simple, but water usage is not optimized during mopping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer structure simplicityVSAvoidwater usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container interior is segmented into two distinct zones of unequal size by a dividing wall: a larger first zone for dirty water and a smaller second zone for clean water. This segmentation allows optimized water usage by providing sufficient capacity for dirty water collection while maintaining adequate clean water supply, preventing the need to discard clean water due to insufficient capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones within the container are assigned different functional qualities and capacities. The first zone (dirty water) is designed with larger volume to accommodate accumulated dirty water, while the second zone (clean water) has smaller volume sufficient for fresh mopping. This local differentiation of zone sizes optimizes overall water usage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the handle is fixed rigidly to the container, then the handle provides stable support, but it becomes uncomfortable when the container is full of water due to weight and imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle support stabilityVSAvoidhandling comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed with a hinge connection instead of rigid fixation, allowing it to rotate and adjust its position dynamically. This enables the handle to adapt to the container's center of gravity as water is added or removed, maintaining balance and comfort during handling while still providing stable support when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4548830A1Container for floor mopping
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 DESARROLLOS VANGUARDISTAS SL
  • EP4548830A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4548830A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4548830A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The Container (1) for floor mopping comprises a bottom (3), a side wall (2), a wringer (10), and a dividing wall (6), which divides the interior of the container (1) into a first and second zones (8, 9), the area of the first zone (8) being greater than the area of the second zone (9). It permits to provide a floor mopping container that optimizes water usage during mopping.