Microfiber Strip Mop Structure for Wet Floor Coverage

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mops with microfiber and non-woven fabric strips become heavier and less effective when wet, covering a smaller area due to thermal bonding costs and energy inefficiencies, while lacking eco-friendliness and recyclability.

Innovation Solution

A mop design featuring three groups of strips: outermost microfiber strips for cleaning power, intermediate absorbent strips, and innermost rigid strips for maintaining shape, made from recycled materials with a layered non-woven fabric and microfiber structure, using needle-punching and spunlace technologies for bonding, and a cap system for handle attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If thermal bonding with hot-melt glues is used to attach microfiber to non-woven fabric, then cleaning power is improved, but manufacturing cost and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal bonding process with a mechanical bonding system. The microfiber layer is mechanically attached to the non-woven fabric support through a binding layer that uses mechanical interlocking rather than thermal adhesion, thereby reducing energy consumption during manufacturing while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the bonding mechanism from thermal to mechanical parameters. Instead of using heat and hot-melt adhesives, the system employs mechanical fastening methods such as stitching, weaving, or interlocking structures that attach the microfiber layer to the support fabric, reducing both energy consumption and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If thermal bonding with hot-melt glues is used to attach microfiber to non-woven fabric, then cleaning power is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal bonding process with a mechanical bonding system. The microfiber layer is mechanically attached to the non-woven fabric support through a binding layer that uses mechanical interlocking rather than thermal adhesion, thereby reducing energy consumption during manufacturing while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adopts a cost-effective manufacturing approach by using simple mechanical bonding methods instead of expensive thermal bonding equipment and hot-melt adhesive materials. The mechanical binding system uses readily available materials and processes, reducing overall manufacturing costs while achieving the required cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Power

If strips are made with microfiber and non-woven fabric layers, then abrasive power is improved, but weight increases when wet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabrasive powerVSAvoidweight when wet

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the microfiber material only in the outermost layer where cleaning and abrasive functions are required. The underlying support structure uses a lighter non-woven fabric, creating a layered composition that provides abrasive power at the surface while minimizing overall weight, especially when wet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional mop design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but floor coverage area decreases when wet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfloor coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the microfiber material only in the outermost layer where cleaning and abrasive functions are required. The underlying support structure uses a lighter non-woven fabric, creating a layered composition that provides abrasive power at the surface while minimizing overall weight, especially when wet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 mop maintains enhanced cleaning and abrasive power with improved floor coverage when wet, is cost-effective, and has a lower environmental impact due to recyclable materials, addressing the limitations of prior art.

Implementation Method 1

the microfiber part is applied by thermal bonding with hot-melt glues on top of the non-woven fabric layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

the microfiber is intended as defining very fine fibers, generally synthetic, having a count equal to or less than 1 dtex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

Said intermediate strips are flexible and exclusively adapted to absorb water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary absorption: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 4

using needle-punching and spunlace technologies for bonding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 5

using needle-punching and spunlace technologies for bonding

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydroentanglement:

Data Source

PatentUS8707505B2Cleaning device comprising a strip mop with strips covered with microfiber for cleaning floors

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 MARANGHI MARCO

AI summary

A cleaning device connectable to a handle includes a head (100) with a substantially circular profile formed by a plurality (200) of flexible strips in non-woven fabric overlapped and arranged to cover the circumference of the head (100) wherein the outermost strips (1) of the plurality of overlapped strips (200) have the outer surface formed by a microfiber layer (8) supported by a non-woven fabric layer (9), and the innermost strips (3) have a greater stiffness than the remaining strips.