Foam-Forming Sprayer Bottle for Vertical Surface Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprayer bottles struggle to effectively clean difficult-to-reach and slippery surfaces, as the cleaning composition tends to fall off or collapse quickly, limiting its cleaning effectiveness on vertical and upturned surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system comprising a sprayer bottle and assembly that produces a persistent foam, where the foam occupies at least 15 times the volume of the liquid composition and maintains at least 50% of its volume 30 seconds after spraying, allowing for prolonged contact and easy removal on surfaces, particularly suitable for vertical and slippery surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid cleaning composition is used in conventional sprayer bottles, then the cleaning system is simple and easy to operate, but the cleaning composition falls off or collapses quickly on vertical and slippery surfaces, limiting cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the cleaning composition from liquid to foam. The foam formulation includes surfactants and foaming agents that create a stable foam structure with air bubbles, allowing the composition to adhere to vertical and slippery surfaces for extended periods while maintaining ease of application through the sprayer bottle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition from liquid to foam by incorporating foaming agents and surfactants that transform the liquid cleaning composition into a stable foam structure upon application. This phase transition enables the cleaning composition to maintain its position on surfaces longer without collapsing
2Duration of action of stationary object
If cleaning composition is designed to remain on surface longer, then cleaning effectiveness on difficult surfaces improves, but the composition tends to fall or slide off by gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from liquid to foam, creating a structure with air bubbles stabilized by surfactants. This foam structure increases adherence to surfaces and resists gravity's effect, allowing the cleaning composition to remain on vertical and slippery surfaces for extended periods without sliding off
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite foam structure combining gas (air bubbles) with liquid cleaning composition and surfactants. This composite foam material has properties that enable it to adhere to surfaces and resist gravitational forces, solving the problem of composition falling off
3Duration of action of stationary object
If gel cleaning composition is used to ensure prolonged contact, then cleaning effectiveness on difficult surfaces improves, but the composition is too viscous to be sprayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from gel to foam. The foam formulation achieves the desired prolonged contact time on surfaces while maintaining sprayability, as the foamed structure can be easily dispensed through the sprayer bottle mechanism unlike viscous gel compositions
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 system provides effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas with persistent foam that remains on surfaces for an extended period, ensuring optimal cleaning performance on domestic surfaces like bathrooms, tiles, and fabrics while being easy to rinse and use.
Implementation Method 1
The sprayer assembly is manually operable to expel the liquid cleaning composition by means of a spray which forms a foam. The foam occupies a volume equal to at least 15 times the volume of liquid cleaning composition sprayed
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning composition comprises at least one surfactant comprising an alkyl sulfate
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning system comprising a bottle (2), a sprayer assembly (3) and a liquid cleaning composition contained inside said bottle (2) are described, The sprayer assembly (3) is fixed to the bottle (2) and comprises a priming tube (13), a trigger (15) and a nozzle (20). The sprayer assembly (3) is manually operable to expel the liquid cleaning composition from the nozzle (20), the liquid cleaning composition comprises at least one surfactant. The cleaning system produces a spray which forms a foam. In one aspect of the present invention, the foam occupies a first volume equal to at least 15 times the volume of the sprayed liquid cleaning composition, and the foam occupies a second volume equal to at least 50% of the first volume 30 seconds after the spraying.