Multi-Layer Cleaning Handle for Low-Weight Rigidity and Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning device handles face challenges in achieving a balance between low weight, comfort, ease of handling, and sufficient flexural rigidity, as larger diameters increase weight, and traditional materials like metal and wood do not adequately meet these requirements.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer extruded plastic handle with fiber-reinforced layers, varying Shore hardness and coefficient of friction, and optional foamed or filled materials is designed to provide stability and comfort, featuring a segmented or telescopic structure with a plastic connecting piece for efficient force transmission and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle diameter is increased to improve comfort and ease of handling, then the handle fits more comfortably in the hand and can be guided easily, but the weight of the handle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is constructed as a multi-layer composite structure combining plastic layers with fiber-reinforced layers (glass fibers, carbon fibers, or organic fibers). This composite construction provides high flexural rigidity and strength while maintaining low weight, allowing the handle to have sufficient diameter for comfort without the weight penalty of solid metal or wood construction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different layers of the handle have different properties optimized for specific functions: outer layers provide pleasant tactile feel and grip, inner layers provide structural stability and flexural rigidity. This local differentiation allows the handle to achieve comfortable dimensions without uniformly increasing weight throughout the entire structure.
2Strength
If traditional materials like metal or wood are used to ensure sufficient flexural rigidity, then the handle can transmit sufficient force to the cleaning device, but the weight of the handle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fiber-reinforced plastic layers containing glass fibers, carbon fibers, or organic fibers embedded in plastic matrices. These composite layers provide exceptional flexural rigidity and strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the handle to transmit sufficient force to the cleaning device while remaining significantly lighter than traditional metal or wood handles of equivalent strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is divided into multiple functional layers with distinct properties: outer layers for tactile comfort, intermediate layers for structural support, and inner layers for core stability. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute optimally to flexural rigidity without adding unnecessary weight, as each layer is precisely tailored to its specific function.
3Weight of moving object
If a single-layer plastic tube is used to achieve low weight, then the handle has lower density and reduced weight, but the flexural rigidity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single-layer plastic tube is replaced with a multi-layer composite structure where plastic layers are combined with fiber-reinforced layers. The plastic provides low weight and flexibility, while the embedded fibers (glass, carbon, or organic) provide the necessary flexural rigidity. This composite approach maintains the low density advantage of plastic while compensating for its insufficient strength through fiber reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle structure transitions from a single-dimensional homogeneous plastic tube to a multi-dimensional layered composite structure. Each layer is arranged concentrically with specific orientations, creating a hierarchical structure that optimizes both weight and rigidity properties through spatial arrangement and material differentiation across multiple layers.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a handle (1) for a cleaning device (2), comprising a rod (3) consisting of a multi-layered, extruded plastic rod.