Deformable Mop Head Cavity for Large Particle Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems for dry dusting of hard surfaces, such as floors, are inefficient in picking up larger soil particles and tend to leave dust and soil behind due to saturation and maneuverability issues, requiring additional cleaning steps.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning implement with a deformable mop head featuring a cavity that opens only at the leading edge, allowing for effective collection and retention of dust and particles, and a cleaning sheet with an adhesive for enhanced pick-up capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the cleaning sheet is used for dry dusting of hard surfaces, then fine dust can be picked up, but larger soil particles are not effectively removed and pile up at the leading edge
Solution Approach 1:
The mop head is divided into multiple functional zones: a leading edge region with a cavity for collecting larger particles, and a trailing region with cleaning sheet for picking up fine dust. This segmentation allows different parts to handle different particle sizes, resolving the contradiction between fine dust pickup and complete soil removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity acts as an intermediary structure between the cleaning sheet and the surface being cleaned. It temporarily stores larger particles that escape the cleaning sheet, preventing them from piling up and blocking further cleaning, thus enabling complete removal of both fine dust and larger particles.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning sheet is made highly maneuverable for easy operation, then ease of use is improved, but dust and soil escape along the sides during turning movements
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is positioned at the leading edge to preemptively capture larger particles before they can escape to the sides during maneuvering. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of dust escape while maintaining the maneuverability of the cleaning implement.
3Productivity
If the cleaning sheet is attached to the mop head, then cleaning capability is provided, but the sheet saturates quickly at the leading edge, leaving large areas unused
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity extracts and removes larger particles from the cleaning path at the leading edge, preventing them from saturating the cleaning sheet. This allows the cleaning sheet to continue picking up fine dust across its entire surface area without premature saturation, eliminating waste of the cleaning sheet material.
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 solution enables complete dust and dry soil removal without additional tools, utilizing the cleaning sheet to its full extent and preventing dust and soil from escaping during use.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning sheet with an adhesive for enhanced pick-up capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates a cleaning implement for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising a handle connected to a mop head which is at least partially deformable, the mop head having a leading edge connected to a trailing edge, wherein the mop head comprises a first cavity, said first cavity extending from the leading edge towards the trailing edge, said first cavity forming an opening only adjacent the leading edge when said mop head is in contact with a hard surface to be cleaned, said opening having a width of between about 50% and about 100% of the entire length of the leading edge. The present invention further relates to a cleaning system for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising the cleaning implement, and a cleaning sheet removably attached to the mop head of said cleaning implement. The present invention further relates to a method of cleaning a hard surface comprising the step of wiping the surface with the cleaning system. The cleaning implements and cleaning systems of the present invention have improved cleaning performance, especially improved pick-up capability of larger soil particles.