Mopping unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mopping units with rigid bases are prone to breaking, costly to manufacture, and can damage furniture due to their rigidity, and the attachment methods often fail over time, such as glued Velcro, which loses adhesion quickly.

Innovation Solution

A mopping unit with a single-piece, flexible mop base made of materials like silicon rubber, featuring a coupling-reinforcing element with elongated bores and abutments for stability and attachment, and a pivotally coupled head unit for rotational movement, allowing for flexible bending around corners while maintaining stiffness and secure attachment via touch fasteners like Velcro.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid mop base is used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but the base easily scratches and damages furniture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidfurniture damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mop base is made from a flexible material that can bend and conform to surfaces, preventing scratches and damage to furniture while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated coupling element design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple parts are used to form the base, then adaptability and repairability are improved, but device complexity increases and parts break easily

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverepairabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base and coupling element are integrally bonded to form a single-unit structure, reducing the number of separate parts that can break while maintaining the functional advantages of having distinct base and coupling portions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If glued Velcro strips are used to attach the cleaning cloth, then ease of manufacture is improved, but attachment reliability deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment method simplicityVSAvoidattachment durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling element is pre-integrated into the base structure during manufacturing, creating a permanent structural bond that prevents the attachment mechanism from failing over time, while still allowing the cleaning cloth to be attached and detached as needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11337577B2Mopping unit
Publication Date: 2022.05.24 TYROLER LTD
  • US11337577B2 patent drawing
  • US11337577B2 patent drawing
  • US11337577B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a mopping unit including: a mop base, a head unit and a coupling element; wherein the coupling element having two parallel elongated reinforcing end segments integral with and flanking a central, coupling segment; the base, being a single-piece molded article having a bottom face and a top face; two elongated bores are formed in elongated abutments on the top face, each accommodating one of the two reinforcing end segments; the base being configured for attaching a mopping substrate on the bottom face; and wherein the head unit being pivotally coupled to said central segment to permit it to pivot about a first axis essentially parallel to said central segment and including a receptacle for an end of a mopping handle.