Portable device for receiving a liquid from a floor surface or the like using a squeegee
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning devices, such as dustpans and wet vacuum cleaners, are unsuitable for efficiently collecting large quantities of liquid from floors, lacking portability and efficiency in handling liquids and debris simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A portable device comprising a container with a ramp and handle system that allows for the use of a squeegee to collect and transport liquids, featuring a container with a bottom, lateral side walls, and a back wall, along with a flange that extends to form a handle for easy lifting and transport, preventing spillage and facilitating the collection of liquids and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a wet vacuum cleaner is used to collect liquid, then the liquid can be collected, but the device is slow and unpractical for large quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the collection function (container) from the propulsion function (squeegee), allowing the container to be lightweight and portable while the squeegee provides efficient liquid propulsion. The container can be easily moved between locations while the squeegee rapidly pushes large quantities of liquid into it.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee acts as an intermediary tool that transfers liquid from the floor surface to the container. By using the squeegee's blade to propel liquid, the system achieves high-speed liquid transfer without requiring a complex vacuum system in the container itself.
2Productivity
If a bucket with mop is used to collect liquid, then liquid can be collected, but it is too slow for large quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The squeegee allows continuous liquid collection by rapidly pushing liquid into the container in a single sweeping motion. The container can then be quickly repositioned and refilled, maintaining continuous cleaning action without the repeated dipping and wringing required by traditional mops.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee blade is positioned to contact the floor surface first, propelling liquid forward before the container receives it. This preliminary action of the squeegee prepares the liquid flow path and accelerates liquid transfer, significantly reducing collection time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dustpan is used for collecting debris, then dry debris can be collected, but it is unsuitable for water collection
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines the simple portable structure of a dustpan with liquid collection capabilities by adding a squeegee interface. The same basic container design can collect both dry debris (without squeegee) and liquid (with squeegee), making it a universal cleaning tool for multiple contaminant types.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable device for receiving a liquid from a floor via a squeegee or another scraping implement includes a container having a bottom and an opening that is distanced from the bottom, a ramp that extends from the opening of the container to a position generally levelled with the bottom, the ramp being adapted to receive the squeegee in a scraping movement thereon, and a handle portion that is more distanced from the bottom of the container than the opening thereof. The handle portion is adapted to receive a blade portion of the squeegee in order to move the device therewith.