Mop Wringer with Adjustable Positioning for Flat and String Mops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wringers face challenges in uniformly wringing flat mops due to their consistent thickness and non-uniform mop geometries, such as string mops, which require specialized positioning and spacing to accommodate different mop types effectively.
Innovation Solution
The wringer employs positioning elements and adjustable handle configurations to position flat mops and other mops uniformly, allowing for reliable wringing across various mop geometries, with actuation mechanisms that include handles for stability and accessibility, enabling the wringing of both flat and string mops without interfering with the mop handle or bucket access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wringer uses fixed wringing surfaces with standard spacing, then it can accommodate string mops and miscellaneous materials, but it cannot uniformly wring flat mops due to their consistent thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The wringer incorporates adjustable positioning elements (posts, bosses, or locating devices) that can be moved along the wringing surfaces to accommodate different mop geometries. For flat mops, the positioning elements are adjusted to specific locations to ensure uniform compression across the consistent thickness, while for string mops and miscellaneous materials, the elements are repositioned to provide appropriate spacing and support.
Solution Approach 2:
The wringer design integrates multiple functions into a single device by incorporating adjustable positioning elements that can be configured for different mop types. The same wringing mechanism handles flat mops, string mops, and miscellaneous materials by simply repositioning the locating devices, eliminating the need for separate wringers for different mop geometries.
2Measurement precision
If positioning elements are placed at the bottom of the wringer, then lateral positioning may be improved, but the wringing action stability and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning elements are deliberately placed asymmetrically - not at the bottom extremes of the wringer - but at optimized locations along the wringing surfaces. This asymmetric placement provides sufficient lateral positioning capability while maintaining the stability and reliability of the wringing action by keeping the compression force centered and balanced.
3Ease of operation
If the wringer handles are positioned within the operating zone, then actuation is simplified, but access to the mop and bucket contents is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The handles are positioned in a different spatial dimension - laterally offset from the main operating zone rather than within it. This allows the user to operate the wringer handles while maintaining clear access to the bucket contents and mop handling area, effectively separating the actuation function from the operational workspace.
Data Source
AI summary
A wringer, for example for mops, includes one or more positioning elements to position a mop at least in one dimension in the wringer, for example to a desired depth in the wringer, to wring the mop. The positioning elements far other than a bottom surface of the wringer. A wringer is also disclosed in which a wringing surface is moved toward another wringing or a base surface in a drawing or pulling motion. A wringer is also disclosed where the wringing operation can be activated by a pivoting or other mechanism that can be operated from at least two positions, a plurality of spaced apart locations, from handles, or by way of structures positioned outside of a wringing envelope defined by wringing plates or other components contacting a mop element. The structures can be used to operate the wringer even if a handle of a mop element extends outward of the wringing envelope.