Mop Base Rotation Limiter for Floor-to-Wall Cleaning Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional mop bases are not suitable for cleaning vertical surfaces as they require manual adjustment and cannot maintain an angled configuration against walls, limiting their use on both floors and walls due to restrictive articulations and lack of rotation limiting mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A mop base equipped with a rotation limiter that allows the base to be positioned against a vertical wall with the cleaning cloth interposed by limiting rotation around a longitudinal axis, enabling easy transition between floor and wall cleaning without manual intervention, and maintaining a stable configuration with the handle aligned.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional mop base is used for cleaning vertical walls, then the base must be manually held and positioned by the operator, but this requires continuous manual intervention and cannot maintain a stable angled configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of wall cleaning operationVSAvoidcomplexity of base positioning mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation limiter is a self-actuating mechanical device that automatically limits the base's rotation angle when raised from the floor, eliminating the need for manual positioning intervention. The device uses the base's own movement to trigger the limitation mechanism, making the system self-regulating without requiring operator input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation limiter provides dynamic control by allowing free rotation during floor cleaning operations but automatically engaging the limitation when the base is raised for wall cleaning. This dynamic behavior adapts the base's degrees of freedom based on the operational context, enabling stable angled configuration only when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the base is allowed to rotate freely around the longitudinal axis, then the base can be easily used for floor cleaning with various inclinations, but the base cannot maintain a stable perpendicular position against vertical walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversatility for floor and wall cleaningVSAvoidstability of base position against wall
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation limiter dynamically adjusts the base's rotational freedom based on operational context. During floor cleaning, the base enjoys full rotational freedom for versatile positioning. When raised for wall cleaning, the mechanism automatically engages to provide stable perpendicular positioning, thus adapting the stability characteristic to the operational mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the rotational parameter of the base from unrestricted to limited based on the operational state. The rotation limiter modifies the angular degree of freedom, allowing full rotation for floor cleaning but constraining it to a specific perpendicular angle for wall cleaning, thus using parameter change to resolve the stability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a rotation limiter is added to the mop base to enable wall cleaning, then the base can maintain stable configuration against walls, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of base positioning for wall cleaningVSAvoidcomplexity of mop base structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation limiter is designed as a self-actuating passive mechanical device that uses the base's own movement and geometry to trigger the rotation limitation. No additional actuators, sensors, or control systems are needed, thus maintaining simple construction while achieving reliable positioning through self-service operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation limiter acts as a simple mechanical intermediary element between the base and handle, using a blocking element that engages with a reference surface to provide the desired rotation limitation. This intermediary mechanism translates the base's raising motion into automatic angular constraint without adding complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the base is designed to hold cleaning cloth along the lengthwise edge for wall cleaning, then the base can be rotated to use both sides for cleaning, but the base cannot maintain proper configuration without manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to use both sides of mop baseVSAvoidease of transitioning between cleaning surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation limiter provides dynamic angular constraint that enables the base to achieve and maintain the correct configuration for using either side of the cleaning cloth. When the base is raised for wall cleaning, the limitation mechanism guides it into the proper perpendicular position, allowing effortless transition between cleaning surfaces without manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2844124B1Mop base fitted with a hinged rotation limiter
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 TTS CLEANING SRL
  • EP2844124B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2844124B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2844124B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a device attached to a mop base that facilitates its use on a wall, limiting its possible angular travel with respect to the handle and arranging it for a correct approach to and positioning against a vertical wall.