Floor Cleaning Tool Squeegee and Roller Assembly for Easy Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered floor cleaning tools lack advancements in compactness, user adaptability, ease of use, maintenance, and component replacement, which are crucial for efficient and versatile cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
A floor cleaning tool design featuring a pivotable handle, a rotatable roller with a bracket and fastener system, a resiliently deformable plate for cleaning solution delivery, and a squeegee assembly with a mount for easy installation and removal, allowing for adjustable and intuitive operation with minimal tool use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the floor cleaning tool uses a fixed handle design, then the structure is simple, but user adaptability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is made pivotable about a lateral axis, transforming it from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the handle angle to be changed to suit different user preferences and cleaning situations, improving user adaptability without requiring multiple different handle designs.
2Ease of repair
If the roller is permanently fixed to the housing, then structural integrity is maintained, but maintenance and replacement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly is segmented into separable components: the roller itself, the bracket, and the fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows the roller to be easily removed and replaced by detaching the bracket from the housing, facilitating maintenance while maintaining structural integrity during operation through the secure fastening system.
3Ease of repair
If the cleaning solution delivery system uses a fixed plate, then fluid communication is stable, but cleaning and replacement become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning solution delivery system is segmented with the plate as a separate removable component. The plate can be detached from the housing and conduit assembly, allowing it to be easily cleaned of mineral deposits or replaced if damaged, while the conduit maintains precise fluid communication pathways when the plate is properly reinstalled.
4Ease of operation
If the squeegee is permanently installed, then cleaning performance is consistent, but installation and removal require significant effort
Solution Approach 1:
The squeegee mounting system uses a dynamic latch mechanism that can be easily actuated to release the squeegee from its mounted position. During normal operation, the latch maintains secure engagement for consistent cleaning performance, but can be quickly released by user action to remove or install the squeegee blade without significant effort.
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 design enhances user adaptability, simplifies maintenance, and improves cleaning efficiency by allowing for easy adjustment and replacement of components, addressing the limitations of existing tools in terms of compactness and user-friendliness.
Implementation Method 1
a conduit extending from the reservoir to the plate and establishing fluid communication between the reservoir and the plate for delivery of cleaning solution from the reservoir, through the conduit, and through the plurality of apertures in the resiliently deformable plate
Implementation Method 2
a handle including a proximal end and a distal end, the handle pivotable about an axis extending laterally with respect to the direction of travel of the floor cleaning tool
Implementation Method 3
a roller rotatable with respect to the housing about an axis extending in an axial direction
Implementation Method 4
a fastener engaged with the first portion of the bracket, the bracket releasably and removably coupled to the roller and to the housing via the fastener
Data Source
AI summary
A floor cleaning tool including a housing, a reservoir coupled to the housing and adapted to hold a cleaning solution, and a floor-engaging roller coupled to the housing and rotatable with respect to the housing. The tool also includes a wheel by which the floor cleaning tool moves across a floor surface in a direction of travel at least partially defining a front, rear, and lateral sides of the floor cleaning tool. The tool further includes a squeegee laterally insertable between the roller and the wheel, and a squeegee mount located between the roller and the wheel by which the squeegee is releasably mounted to the floor cleaning tool by first and second laterally opposed protrusions rotatably secured within first and second apertures at opposite ends of the squeegee.