Mop Supporting Device with Overmoulded Assembly to Reduce Manual Labor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mop supporting devices are laborious and costly to assemble due to manual insertion of Velcro strips and screwing of components, making them slow and expensive to produce.
Innovation Solution
A supporting device with a base body made of metal and an overmoulded plastic support body featuring hook-shaped projecting elements and flexible gripping elements for easy attachment and detachment of the cleaning cloth, along with bumper means for impact protection and fixing means for the handle, all formed as a single body through injection moulding, eliminating the need for manual assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual assembly methods are used (inserting Velcro strips and screwing components), then the supporting device can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes slow and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (base body, Velcro strips, bumpers, fixing elements) into a single integrated base body made of elastomeric material. All fastening features are molded directly into the base body as unified structures, eliminating the need for manual assembly operations such as inserting Velcro strips and screwing bumpers and fixing elements separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric base body performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural base, incorporates Velcro strips for cleaning cloth attachment, includes bumpers for lateral protection, and integrates fixing elements for handle attachment. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would otherwise require multiple separate parts and assembly steps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used (base body, Velcro strips, bumpers, fixing elements), then each component can be optimized independently, but the number of assembly operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the base body, Velcro strips, bumpers, and fixing elements into a single integrated elastomeric component. The Velcro strips are embedded within the base body material, the bumpers are molded as integral parts of the base body structure, and the fixing elements are formed directly in the base body, reducing the total component count from four separate parts to one unified component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastomeric material with embedded Velcro strips, creating a composite structure that combines the properties of the elastomeric base material with the fastening properties of Velcro. This allows the integrated component to maintain the functional characteristics of each original component while being manufactured as a single piece.
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 rapid, simple, and cost-effective assembly of the supporting device, improving assembly efficiency and reducing production costs while maintaining effective holding and impact protection.
Implementation Method 1
The base body (6) is made of metal, in particular aluminium, and the support body (7) is made of plastics. The support body (7) is overmoulded, for example by injection moulding, onto the base body (6).
Implementation Method 2
The support body (7) is overmoulded, for example by injection moulding, onto the base body (6).
Implementation Method 3
the holding means comprises a plurality of hook-shaped projecting elements (9) that project from the lower side (2) of the supporting device (1), which projecting elements (9) are provided with a free end (10) configured for holding, removably, a substantially flat surface portion M1, of the cleaning element M
Implementation Method 4
each of the gripping means (15) comprises a plurality of flexible gripping elements (16), that are separated from one another by cutting lines (17)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A supporting device (1) configured for removably supporting a cleaning element (M), in particular a cleaning cloth, comprises: an elongated base body (6); holding means (9; 15), for removably holding the cleaning element (M); and bumper means (20), arranged at opposite ends of the supporting device (1), for protecting the supporting device (1) from lateral impacts; wherein the holding means (9; 15) and the bumper means (20) are parts of a support body (7) fixed to said base body (6) by overmoulding. A method for making a supporting device (1) configured for removably supporting a cleaning element (M), in particular a cleaning cloth, comprises the steps of: forming an elongated base body (6); forming holding means (9; 15), for removably holding the cleaning element (M); and forming bumper means (20), arranged at opposite ends of the supporting device (1), for protecting the supporting device (1) from lateral impacts; wherein the method comprises the step of forming as a single body the holding means (9; 15) and the bumper means (20) so as to make a support body (7) which is fixable to said base body (6) by overmoulding.