Grout and surface cleaning apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cleaning surfaces, particularly grout between tiles, is labor-intensive and messy due to the need for high-pressure water, which often results in water being expelled outside the cleaning area, requiring additional cleanup.

Innovation Solution

A single apparatus combining a high-pressure water source and a vacuum source, featuring a hand-held activation mechanism connected to both, with a nozzle for water expulsion and an inlet for vacuum suction, using elongated tubular conduits to contain and convey dirt and water back to the vacuum source for collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high pressure water is used to clean grout and surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but water is expelled outside the cleaning area causing mess and requiring additional cleanup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidwater expulsion outside cleaning area

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a pressure washer and vacuum cleaner into a single integrated apparatus. The pressure washer component delivers high-pressure water for effective cleaning, while the vacuum cleaner component simultaneously captures and contains the water and debris, preventing water from being expelled outside the cleaning area. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining cleaning effectiveness while eliminating the harmful water expulsion effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of high-pressure water expulsion into a beneficial outcome by using the vacuum cleaner to capture and contain the expelled water and debris. The vacuum system transforms the problematic water spray into a controlled suction process, where the same high-pressure water delivery is paired with immediate vacuum capture, turning the potential mess into an efficient contained cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If high pressure water is used to clean grout and surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but additional cleanup is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidadditional cleanup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cleaning function and the cleanup function into a single apparatus. The pressure washer provides effective cleaning while the integrated vacuum cleaner simultaneously performs the cleanup by capturing water and debris during the cleaning process itself. This eliminates the need for separate cleanup operations, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and additional cleanup time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by having the vacuum cleaner operate simultaneously with the pressure washer throughout the entire cleaning process. Rather than performing cleaning and then separately performing cleanup, the system maintains continuous operation where water and debris are captured in real-time, eliminating idle cleanup time and maximizing productive action throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If a single apparatus combining pressure washer and vacuum cleaner is created, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidapparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integrated apparatus into distinct functional modules: a pressure washer component with pump, motor, and nozzle system, and a vacuum cleaner component with collection container, motor, and filtration system. Each module operates independently but is integrated through shared structural elements and coordinated control, allowing the complex functions to be managed through modular segmentation rather than a monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective cleaning of grout and surfaces by utilizing readily available household equipment, minimizing water escape and facilitating easy disposal of dirt and water, making the process less labor-intensive and more effective.

Implementation Method 1

water under high pressure, such as from a conventional pressure washer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh pressure water: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a vacuum from a vacuum source, such as a conventional wet/dry vacuum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS11737634B1Grout and surface cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 GELE RICHARD G

AI summary

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning grout in tile floors and other surfaces has a proximal end (1) connected to a vacuum source (11) and a high pressure water source (12) activated by a trigger mechanism (13) connected by conduits (6, 8) to a distal end (2) having a cleaning head (7) with nozzle (18) and brush barriers (21, 22) to retain water for conveying by vacuum to the vacuum source.