Cordless Foam Brush Assembly With Dock Charging and Onboard Foaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foam brushes used in cleaning applications are cumbersome due to their hose-tethered design, which limits mobility and can transfer debris to surfaces, restricting access to certain areas and causing unwanted contamination.

Innovation Solution

A portable foam brush with a rechargeable battery-powered air compressor and a soap reservoir, allowing for cordless operation and independent air supply to create foam without a hose, featuring a soap reservoir filling valve assembly for controlled soap dispensing and a foaming chamber for efficient foam generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If foam brush is tethered to hose for soap and air supply, then foam generation capability is maintained, but mobility is limited and debris transfer occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemobilityVSAvoidhose attachment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the soap and air supply system from the external hose connection and integrates it into the foam brush itself. The foam brush includes an integrated air compressor, soap reservoir, and foaming chamber that were previously external components connected via hose. This extraction eliminates the hose attachment system while maintaining foam generation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The foam brush becomes self-sufficient by incorporating its own air compressor, soap reservoir, and foaming chamber. The device generates its own foam without requiring external connections for soap or air supply, making it portable and eliminating the need for hose tethering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If hose is used for soap and air supply, then foam can be generated, but the hose can drag across floor picking up grit and debris

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanlinessVSAvoidmobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the hose from the system entirely by integrating the air compressor and soap reservoir into the foam brush. This extraction eliminates the source of debris contamination that the hose represented, preventing grit pickup from the floor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The self-contained design with integrated components eliminates the need for external hose connections, thereby preventing the hose from dragging across surfaces and picking up debris that could contaminate the cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If hose-tethered foam brush is used, then soap and air can be supplied, but access to certain locations on vehicle is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to locationsVSAvoidhose connection system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the supply system from external hose connections and integrates it into the foam brush, enabling portable operation without hose constraints. This allows unrestricted access to difficult-to-reach areas on vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The foam brush transitions from a static, hose-tethered design to a dynamic, portable system with integrated power and supply components. The battery-operated air compressor and onboard soap reservoir enable the device to move freely and adapt to various cleaning positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If hose attachment is used for foam brush, then foam generation is possible, but the brush becomes cumbersome to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidusability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the cumbersome hose attachment system and integrates all necessary components (air compressor, soap reservoir, foaming chamber) directly into the foam brush, maintaining cleaning efficiency while dramatically improving usability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the air compressor, soap reservoir, foaming chamber, and brush components into a single integrated unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate hose connections and external supply systems, creating a unified portable device that is both efficient and easy to use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enhances mobility and reduces debris transfer by eliminating the need for a hose, enabling effective cleaning without tethering, while maintaining efficient foam generation and soap management.

Implementation Method 1

In use, the soap and the air in the foaming chamber combine to form a foam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoam generation: Foam

Implementation Method 2

The actuation chamber is configured to be acted upon by air from the air compressor for moving the piston to decrease the size of the chamber for containing soap to dispense soap from that chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic actuation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4197393B1Portable foam brush
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 TRUDEAU LEON
  • EP4197393B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4197393B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4197393B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

A portable foam brush assembly includes a base stand having a base, a soap reservoir, a hose connectable to a water supply, a foam brush docking bracket, a reciprocating quick connect connection, a base terminal and an electrical connection; further including a foam brush wand having a foam brush base including a quick connect connector to receive a soap and water mixture from the base stand, a housing, wand sections connectable via a connector, a brush, hoses, an electric fan pump, a battery and a foaming chamber; further including the foam brush base having an electrical terminal to charge the foam brush wand battery when docked into the base stand. The foam brush docking bracket is configured to receive the foam brush base, to fluidly connect the quick connect connector to the reciprocating quick connect connection and to connect and the electrical terminal to the base terminal.