Floor Cleaning Tool with Modular Components for Easy Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Powered floor cleaning tools lack flexibility in terms of compact storage, user adaptability, intuitive handling, and ease of maintenance, with slow advancements in these features despite their importance.

Innovation Solution

A floor cleaning tool with a rotatable handle and locking mechanism, allowing for adjustable height and angle, combined with a modular design for easy service and replacement of components like brushes and squeegee blades, facilitated by a user-friendly control system and detachable parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the floor cleaning tool is designed with fixed handle position, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different users is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different usersVSAvoidhandle adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed to be adjustable in both position and angle, transforming from a fixed static component to a dynamic one that can adapt to different user needs. The handle can be positioned at multiple locations along the shaft and adjusted to various angles, providing versatility while maintaining structural integrity through locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The handle system serves multiple functions: it provides a gripping surface, allows height adjustment for different users, enables angle adjustment for ergonomic positioning, and can be locked in various positions. This multi-functionality addresses the needs of different users without requiring multiple separate tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of repair

If the cleaning tool components are permanently attached, then the structural integrity is high, but the ease of maintenance and replacement is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenance and replacementVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning tool is divided into modular segments that can be independently removed and replaced. The brush assembly, squeegee, and handle are separate components connected through standardized interfaces, allowing individual parts to be serviced or replaced without affecting the entire tool's structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Worn or damaged components such as brushes and squeegee blades can be easily removed and replaced with new ones. The modular design allows users to discard worn parts and recover the main tool body, extending the overall lifespan of the cleaning system while maintaining structural integrity through secure reattachment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of repair

If the tool is designed for easy disassembly, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the structural integrity during operation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of disassemblyVSAvoidstructural integrity during operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tool is pre-assembled with all necessary components properly positioned and secured during manufacturing. Quick-connect interfaces are pre-configured with alignment features and locking mechanisms that ensure proper assembly, allowing users to easily disassemble and reassemble components without compromising structural integrity when correctly reconnected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3539439B1Floor cleaning tool and method
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 DIVERSEY INC
  • EP3539439B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3539439B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3539439B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A floor cleaning tool 10 comprises a housing 12, and a reservoir 30 coupled to the housing 12 and adapted to hold a cleaning solution, and a wheel 28a, 28b by which the floor cleaning tool moves across a floor surface in a direction of travel, the direction of travel at least partially defining a front, a rear, and lateral sides of the floor cleaning tool 10, and a cleaning implement 88, 140 configured to be laterally inserted between the front and the wheel, wherein the cleaning implement is releasably coupled to the floor cleaning tool by a fastener 100 on at least one of the lateral sides of the floor cleaning tool.