Plastic Mop Cover Strips With Integrated Snap Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of traditional mop covers is expensive due to the need for manual attachment of fasteners and the high cost of textile strips, making them economically unfeasible for large-scale production.
Innovation Solution
The use of injectable elastomer strips produced through injection molding, which integrates snap fasteners or other fastening means in a single step, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity, and featuring thermoplastic elastomers for durability and chemical resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If textile strips with manually attached fasteners are used, then the mop cover can be produced with traditional methods, but the production cost is high and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the strip and fastening means into a single integrated component made of elastomeric material. The fastening means (protrusions and recesses) are molded directly into the strip during injection molding, eliminating the need for separate attachment steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while lowering production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric strip serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables fastening through integrated protrusions and recesses, and allows for flexible attachment to the mop handle. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing.
2Ease of manufacture
If textile strips are used, then the mop cover can be made with traditional materials, but the cost significantly increases relative to the function provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from textile to elastomeric material (such as thermoplastic elastomers). This material substitution reduces cost while maintaining or improving attachment stability through the elastomeric properties that allow for flexible yet secure fastening via molded protrusions and recesses.
3Productivity
If snap fasteners are manually attached to textile strips, then the fastening means can be securely fixed, but the production process requires many manual actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical assembly process of attaching snap fasteners to textile strips with an injection molding process. The fastening means are molded directly into the elastomeric strip in a single automated step, eliminating manual attachment operations and significantly improving production efficiency.
4Device complexity
If traditional textile strips with sewn connections are used, then the mop cover can be assembled, but the number of manufacturing steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strip body and fastening features into a single molded elastomeric component. This integration eliminates multiple manufacturing steps including cutting, sewing, and fastener attachment, reducing the overall number of manufacturing steps while simplifying the production process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Mop cover (1) for a flat mop (2), comprising a planar structure (3) with strips (5) fastened to its transverse sides (4), said strips (5) being provided with fastening means (6) and being made of an injectable plastic.