Mop fitting and mop holder

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mop covers and holders in commercial cleaning face challenges with quick replacement and thorough cleaning, as previous designs lead to difficulties in accessing pockets for cleaning, potential contamination from fiber residues, and risk of damage from protruding plastic pockets or rigid materials.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates rigid, orthogonal connecting elements made of plastic or composite materials that can be grasped from underneath and through, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from the mop holder, preventing soiling, and ensuring the mop cover remains fully tensioned on the floor without protruding into corners, facilitating thorough cleaning and easy handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flat fabric pockets are used for mop holder attachment, then the mop cover can be easily manufactured, but the pockets are difficult to access for inserting and removing mop heads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket is divided into two functional parts: a flat fabric portion for attachment to the mop cover and a rigid plastic insert forming a protruding pocket that extends perpendicular to the mop cover surface. This segmentation allows the fabric to remain simple for manufacturing while the plastic insert provides easy access for mop holder insertion and removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A rigid plastic insert is introduced as an intermediary element between the flat fabric pocket and the mop holder. This insert creates a protruding structure that facilitates easy access for inserting and removing mop heads while the fabric pocket maintains its simple attachment structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If corners of pockets are opened to facilitate cleaning, then fiber residues can be removed more easily, but the mop holder corners are no longer adequately enclosed and become susceptible to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidprotection against damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid plastic insert is extracted as a separate component from the fabric pocket, allowing the fabric to be sewn or attached in a conventional manner while the plastic insert provides the protective enclosure for the mop holder corners. The insert can be easily removed for cleaning without compromising the structural protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pocket structure combines fabric material for flexibility and ease of attachment with rigid plastic material for structural protection and easy access. This composite construction allows the fabric portion to be easily cleaned while the rigid insert maintains adequate enclosure of the mop holder corners during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If rigid plastic pockets protrude orthogonally from the mop cover, then access for mop holder insertion is improved, but the pockets may come into contact with walls and baseboards causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidrisk of damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid plastic insert is positioned locally at the pocket area where it is needed for easy access, rather than extending the entire mop cover structure. The insert is contained within the pocket opening area, providing localized functionality without creating widespread exposure to potential damage from walls and baseboards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If interconnected fabric strips are used to construct the access pocket, then cleaning solution can flow through more effectively, but the strips are difficult to grip with the mop holder requiring hand contact

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A rigid plastic insert is introduced as an intermediary structure that provides a grippable surface for the mop holder while allowing cleaning solution to flow through the fabric portions. The plastic insert serves as the primary interface for mop holder attachment, eliminating the need for hand contact with the fabric strips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3222189B1Mop fitting and mop holder
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 PFENNIG REINIGUNGSTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP3222189B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP3222189B1 patent drawingFigure 1e~1g
  • EP3222189B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a mop cover (1) having a working side (2) and a holding side (3), the holding side (3) having two or more first connecting elements (4), the connecting elements (4) having a fastening section (10). , wherein the connecting elements (4) consist of a plastic, wherein the connecting elements (4) are rigid and extend predominantly orthogonally to a main plane (5) of the holding side (3), characterized in that at least one connecting element (4) can be reached through and is designed to be accessible. It further relates to a correspondingly shaped mop frame and a system of both.