Flexible Cleaning Pad Support for Hard-to-Reach Wet and Dry Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand-held cleaning devices are inadequate for reaching difficult-to-access surfaces and lack flexibility and versatility, particularly in allowing for wet, damp, or dry cleaning without requiring separate tools.
Innovation Solution
A flexible cleaning device with a handle and a cradle for a fluid reservoir, featuring a moveable cleaning pad support that can be bent into various shapes and includes a 360° cleaning surface, enabling single-handed operation for wet, damp, or dry cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support structure is used in hand-held cleaning devices, then structural strength is improved, but flexibility and ability to reach difficult-to-access surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is divided into multiple interconnected segments that can rotate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the support arm to bend and flex into various configurations while maintaining structural integrity through the connection joints, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic articulated structure with rotating segments. This allows the cleaning device to adapt its shape dynamically to reach difficult-to-access surfaces while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the joint connections.
2Device complexity
If a single cleaning surface is provided, then device simplicity is improved, but cleaning coverage and efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning implement is designed with a 360-degree cleaning surface that can contact surfaces from multiple directions. This multi-functional design allows a single cleaning device to effectively clean various surface geometries including flat surfaces, edges, and corners, increasing cleaning coverage without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If separate tools are used for wet and dry cleaning, then cleaning specialization is improved, but device complexity and number of tools required deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device integrates both wet cleaning and dry dusting capabilities into a single unified tool. The support arm structure accommodates both liquid application mechanisms and dry cleaning implements, allowing users to switch between wet and dry cleaning modes without requiring separate specialized tools, thereby reducing the total number of tools needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is designed as a multi-functional tool that can perform both wet cleaning and dry dusting operations. The articulated support arm and interchangeable cleaning implements allow the same basic structure to serve multiple cleaning purposes, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools for different cleaning tasks.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the cleaning pad support is fixed, then structural stability is improved, but maneuverability and ability to access hard-to-reach areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed cleaning pad support is replaced with an articulated support arm consisting of multiple rotatable segments. This segmentation allows the support arm to bend and flex into various configurations for accessing hard-to-reach areas while the connection joints maintain structural stability during the cleaning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning pad support transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic articulated structure with rotating segments. This allows the support arm to be maneuvered into various positions for accessing difficult-to-reach surfaces while maintaining sufficient structural stability through the joint connections during the cleaning process.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible cleaning tool for use in wet, damp or dry cleaning is disclosed. The cleaning tool (222), (322) includes a handle (224) defining a fluid reservoir receiving cradle (231) pivotally connected to an elongated flexible support member (226) (326). A cleaning pad (228) (328) encloses the support rod (226) (326).