Flat Mop Bucket Compartment Design for Clean Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional flat mops face issues with dirty water reuse for recharging microfiber pads, leading to contaminated cleaning solutions and inconsistent water distribution based on floor types, requiring significant effort to manage water levels.
Innovation Solution
A flat mop design featuring a hinge and biasing member that automatically configures the mop head for easy insertion into a wringer, allowing for clean water separation and adjustable water absorption without user effort, using a hook and loop fastener system for secure attachment of the microfiber pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the same water is used to both clean and recharge the microfiber pad, then the cleaning process can be simplified, but the water becomes dirty after the first cleaning cycle and spreads contamination on the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water management system into separate functional zones: a dirty water reservoir for collecting contaminated water from the microfiber pad, and a clean water reservoir for recharging the pad. This segmentation prevents mixing of clean and dirty water, eliminating contamination spread while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the dirty water from the cleaning system by providing a dedicated drainage path that separates contaminated water from the recharge process. The microfiber pad is squeezed to extract dirty water into a separate reservoir, preventing it from contaminating the clean water supply.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the microfiber pad is pressed against a plate to control water amount, then water distribution can be adjusted, but significant user effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the microfiber pad is automatically squeezed between the mop head and a compression plate through a spring-loaded or gravity-assisted mechanism. This eliminates the need for significant user effort while maintaining adaptability in water distribution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dynamic compression system that automatically adjusts the pressure applied to the microfiber pad based on the water content and floor type requirements. The compression mechanism can be dynamically adjusted to provide appropriate water distribution without requiring constant manual intervention.
3Measurement precision
If the mop head is manually positioned for wringing, then precise water control is possible, but user effort and time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-positioning the mop head in the correct orientation for wringing using a hinge mechanism that automatically orients the pad. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual adjustment during the wringing process, reducing both user effort and time loss while maintaining precise water control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the water content and automatically adjust the wringing process. Sensors detect the moisture level in the microfiber pad and provide feedback to the compression mechanism, enabling precise water control without requiring continuous user intervention or time-consuming manual adjustments.
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 effectively prevents the spread of contaminated fluids, allows for precise water control based on floor types, and reduces user effort in wringing and recharging the mop pad, maintaining cleanliness and efficiency during floor cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member coupled between the head member and the first portion, wherein the biasing member acts to rotate the head member against the pole
Implementation Method 2
a flat microfiber pad coupled to one side
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop is provided. The system includes a bucket having a plurality of compartments. At least one compartment is provided for cleaning the flat headed mop to remove dirt and debris accumulated during use. A second compartment is provided for recharging the mop pad with fluid. At least one wringer device is operably coupled to one of the plurality of compartments. The at least one wringer device having an extractor element to remove at least a portion of fluid from the mop pad.