Folding Mop Holder With Auto-Locking Wings for Secure Cover Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mop covers lose cleaning effectiveness over time due to dirt accumulation and wear, and existing designs make it difficult to replace them quickly and easily, especially in high-pressure cleaning situations.
Innovation Solution
A holder for mop covers with lockable folding wings that automatically lock when spread, allowing for easy replacement without additional locking steps, featuring a biased locking mechanism and a push-button release for convenient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the base plate is designed to be foldable for easy mop cover replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of unintentional folding and mop cover detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism automatically engages when the base plate is folded during mop cover installation, and automatically disengages when the base plate is pressed against the floor during use. The system serves itself by using the natural folding and pressing motions to control the locking state without requiring separate user actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically based on the base plate's configuration. The locking elements are positioned to engage automatically when the base plate is folded and disengage when the base plate is pressed flat, making the locking state adaptive to the operational phase.
2Ease of operation
If the locking mechanism is made automatic to simplify operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate locking elements and corresponding locking surfaces distributed on the base plate and folding wings. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function (locking or being locked) and simplifies the overall structure by avoiding a centralized complex locking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses the natural folding motion of the base plate to automatically engage the locking elements with their surfaces, and uses the pressing motion against the floor to automatically disengage them. No additional actuators, springs, or complex mechanisms are needed - the system uses the operational motions themselves to control locking.
3Reliability
If the base plate is kept flat to maintain cleaning surface, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as mop cover replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate dynamically transitions between folded and flat states based on the operational phase. During installation, it is folded to enable easy mop cover placement. During cleaning, it is pressed flat to provide a stable cleaning surface. The locking mechanism ensures the flat state is maintained during use while allowing easy transition to folded state for replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is divided into a middle part and folding wings that can be pivoted independently. This segmentation allows the folding wings to be folded back during installation while the middle part remains stable, and allows automatic locking when folded, preventing unintentional unfolding during cleaning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a holder (10) for holding cleaning tool heads, particularly mop heads, with a central section (12), two latchable folding wings (14), which are pivotably mounted on the central section, a latching device (17, 18) to latch the two folding wings (14) in a pivoted position in relation to the central section (12) and a device for releasing the latching of the latched folding wings (14) in relation to the central section (12) such that said folding wings (14) can be pivoted. The latching device (17, 18) is preloaded to the state in which the two folding wings (14) are latched, in such a manner that, where the latching is released, the holder (10) automatically latches the folding wings (14) by means of the latching device when the two folding wings (14) are moved to a state in which the lower surfaces of the two folding wings (14) are substantially in one plane.