Mop head with braided cord
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Solution Overview
Problem
String-mops face inefficiencies in wringing water and cleaning solution due to user strength dependency and vulnerability to unraveling, leading to time-consuming and fatiguing operation, as well as potential for the mop head to become unusable from simple tears.
Innovation Solution
A durable cleaning mop design featuring a mop pole with axial handle grips and a rotational mechanism that imparts rotation to the mop pole, combined with a braided cord mop head that forms loops and apertures, allowing for effective wringing without manual rotation and providing structural integrity against unraveling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a twisted string mop head is used to prevent unraveling, then reliability is improved, but the wringing effectiveness deteriorates due to high resistance to releasing liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The mop head is divided into multiple independent string loops rather than a single continuous twisted string. Each loop is approximately 12-18 inches long and attached at both ends to the collar, creating segmented absorption zones that can be wrung independently, reducing overall resistance during wringing
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is designed with a flexible, resilient material that allows dynamic compression and expansion. When compressed during wringing, the collar dynamically reduces the volume occupied by the string loops, forcing liquid expulsion while maintaining structural integrity against unraveling
2Ease of operation
If manual rotation of the handle grip is required to wring the mop, then wringing capability is achieved, but productivity deteriorates due to time consumption and user fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The mop head structure enables self-wringing through its design. When the mop is lifted and the strings are allowed to extend downward, gravity and the elastic recovery of the resilient collar automatically compress the string loops, expelling liquid without requiring manual rotation or additional user effort
Solution Approach 2:
The wringing process occurs periodically through the natural lifting and lowering motion of the mop during use. Each lift-compression cycle automatically wrings the mop head, converting routine operational movements into productive wringing actions without adding extra steps
3Strength
If a continuous string is used to form the mop head, then durability against tearing is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex fusion requirements at both ends
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous string is cut into multiple separate loop segments (approximately 12-18 inches each). Each loop is attached to the collar at two points, creating a modular structure that is easier to manufacture than fusing a single continuous string at both ends while maintaining durability through redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The collar provides localized attachment points for each string loop, concentrating the structural reinforcement where needed. This allows the strings to be simpler (cut lengths rather than continuously fused) while the collar locally provides the necessary strength and attachment functionality
Data Source
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AI summary
A mop head includes a collar and a braided cord comprised of a plurality of strands defining a core. The collar is positioned at a top end of the mop head such that the collar is capable of securing to a portion of a mop pole. The braided cord is arranged around the collar and attached to itself such that the cord forms a plurality of apertures and a plurality of loops. The bottom of the plurality of loops defines the bottom of the mop head, wherein the bottom of the mop head is capable of attached to the mop.