Mop Head Plastic Welding Assembly for Adhesive-Free Recyclability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of cleaning implements like mops is costly and complicated due to the use of diverse materials and components, and recycling is hindered by the need for adhesives in bonding the mop head components.
Innovation Solution
The mop head is constructed by plastic welding, preferably thermal welding, between a base and a pad made of different plastic materials, eliminating the need for adhesives and allowing for complete recyclability, or alternatively, adhesive bonding is used when thermal welding is not feasible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive bonding is used to join the base and pad, then the bonding strength and durability are improved, but the recyclability deteriorates and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the adhesive substance from the bonding process between base and pad. By using mechanical interlocking features (protrusions and recesses) instead of chemical adhesion, the harmful adhesive component is completely eliminated, enabling full recyclability while maintaining bonding strength through purely mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesive) with a mechanical bonding system (interlocking protrusions and recesses). This substitution eliminates the need for additional materials while providing durable, recyclable joining through purely mechanical engagement between the base and pad components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse materials and components are used in the mop construction, then the functionality and performance are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies homogeneity by making the base and pad components from the same or compatible plastic materials that can be mechanically interlocked. This eliminates the need for diverse materials and adhesive substances, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling complete recyclability of the entire mop head assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used in the mop head construction, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the base and pad into a single integrated composite component through mechanical interlocking. By combining these two essential elements into one unified assembly that functions as a complete mop head unit, the invention reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining full functionality.
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
This method reduces manufacturing costs, enhances environmental friendliness by enabling full recyclability, and maintains functional reliability and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the pad is made of at least one second plastic material which is suitable to be joined to the at least one first plastic material of the base by plastic welding, preferably by thermal welding
Implementation Method 2
Plastic welding in the sense of the present invention is understood to mean all joining processes in which two plastics are joined together by melting or fusing
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning implement, especially a mop, contains a mop head having a base and a pad attached to the base. The mop head is adapted and configured to be provided with a cleaning sheet or a cleaning pad. The base is made of at least one first plastic material, wherein the pad is made of at least one second plastic material which is suitable to be connected to the at least one first plastic material of the base by plastic welding or by adhesive bonding. The base and the pad are connected to each other by plastic welding or by adhesive bonding to form a composite mop head. The cleaning implement can be formed with an integrated spring clip for connecting two segments of a handle which is attached to the mop head. A method produces the cleaning implement.