Hand-Held Wiper with Pressure Element for Uneven Surface Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand cleaners struggle to maintain optimal contact pressure on uneven surfaces, such as window panes with rounded rubber seals, leading to impaired cleaning performance, especially at the edges.
Innovation Solution
A hand cleaner design featuring a holder, an elastically deformable wiper lip, and a pressure element made from a more rigid material that supports the wiper lip when it bends, allowing for adjustable contact pressure and enhanced cleaning effectiveness, particularly at the edges of smooth surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional hand cleaner with a simple wiper lip is used, then the structure remains simple, but the contact pressure cannot be optimally adapted to uneven surfaces, causing the wiper lip to lift off at edge areas with rounded seals
Solution Approach 1:
The hand cleaner is divided into functionally distinct segments: the holder body, the wiper lip assembly, and the pressure element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the pressure element can be specifically designed to compensate for surface unevenness while the wiper lip maintains its simple wiping function, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure element introduces localized mechanical pressure at specific points along the wiper lip, creating non-uniform pressure distribution that adapts to local surface conditions. This local quality enhancement allows the wiper lip to maintain contact at edge areas with rounded seals without requiring the entire structure to be complex, thus improving adaptability while controlling overall complexity
2Stress or pressure
If the wiper lip is made very flexible to conform to surfaces, then contact pressure adapts well, but the wiper lip cannot maintain sufficient pressing force on uneven surfaces, especially at edges
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure element acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that provides additional pressing force to compensate for the wiper lip's natural tendency to lift off at edge areas. By positioning the pressure element to apply force at critical locations, the system maintains adequate contact pressure on uneven surfaces without requiring the wiper lip material itself to be excessively flexible or strong
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from considering only the flexibility of the wiper lip material to a three-dimensional arrangement where the pressure element is positioned at a specific distance from the wiper lip. This spatial dimension allows the pressure element to leverage its rigidity to provide pressing force, decoupling the requirements for flexibility (in the wiper lip) from the requirements for pressing force (provided by the pressure element)
3Force
If the pressure element is positioned close to the wiper lip, then pressing force is maximized, but the pressure element may interfere with the cleaning surface or cause uneven pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure element is pre-positioned at an optimized distance from the wiper lip during manufacturing, establishing the correct geometric relationship before use. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the hand cleaner is applied to the surface, the pressure element engages the wiper lip at the optimal point to transmit pressing force without causing uneven pressure distribution or interfering with the cleaning surface
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper lip itself serves as an intermediary between the pressure element and the cleaning surface. Rather than the pressure element directly contacting the surface, it transmits force through the wiper lip, which distributes the pressure uniformly across the contact area. This intermediary role of the wiper lip allows the pressure element to be positioned close enough to provide sufficient pressing force while maintaining uniform pressure distribution
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 hand cleaner achieves improved cleaning performance by maintaining optimal contact pressure on uneven surfaces, ensuring effective liquid removal from smooth surfaces with rounded or slightly concave geometries, and allowing for adjustable force distribution to accommodate various surface conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the wiper lip (4) is an elastically deformable body which can be fixed or is preferably fixed with its first distal end (41) on the holder (2)
Implementation Method 2
the pressure element (6) has a material that is more resistant to bending than the wiper lip (4) and being supported on the holder (2), the pressure element (6) being engageable in a pressure area on the wiper lip (4) in order to support the wiper lip (4) when it bends
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hand-held cleaning implement comprising a holder, a wiper lip and a pressure-exerting element, wherein the wiper lip has a first distal end, which can be secured on the holder, wherein the wiper lip has a wiper edge at its distal end located opposite the first distal end, wherein the wiper edge is spaced apart from the first distal end by a lip length, wherein the pressure-exerting element consists of a material with a higher level of bending strength than the wiper lip and is supported on the holder, wherein the pressure-exerting element, in a pressure-exerting region, can be brought into engagement with the wiper lip in order to support the wiper lip as it flexes.