Ribbed Cleaning Sponge With Flat Wiping Envelope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing relief sponges for cleaning wet surfaces often leave traces behind due to their complex and costly manufacturing process, which involves multiple layers and materials, and do not effectively absorb or collect particles efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A sponge with a longitudinal direction, featuring an active face created by splitting a block material into two layers with alternate wiping projections and particle collection depressions, arranged to form a flat outer envelope, allowing for efficient cleaning without leaving traces, and optionally including an absorbent and abrasive layer for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a textured sponge with raised surface is used to clean wet surfaces, then wiping efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sponge is divided into multiple functional layers: a base layer providing structural support, a textured layer with raised wiping protrusions for cleaning, and a particle collection layer with hollows for trapping debris. Each layer is cut from a single block of material through horizontal slicing, creating segmented functional zones that simplify manufacturing while maintaining wiping efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sponge layers with different functions (wiping, particle collection, absorbency) are combined into a single integrated structure by stacking and bonding layers together. This merging of functions into one composite sponge eliminates the need for separate cleaning tools and simplifies the manufacturing process by working with a unified material block
2Ease of operation
If multiple layers and materials are used to create textured sponge, then wiping performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention varies parameters within each layer (protrusion height, hollow depth, layer thickness) to optimize wiping performance and particle collection efficiency. By adjusting these parameters rather than introducing multiple material types, the manufacturing cost is controlled while maintaining high wiping performance
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sponge have locally optimized properties: the textured layer has raised protrusions for wiping, the collection layer has hollows for particle trapping, and the base layer provides structural support. Each zone is tailored to its specific function through controlled variations in the same material block
3Ease of operation
If complex multi-layer structure is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but material loss during manufacture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complete multi-layer sponge structure with all functional zones (textured layer, collection layer, base layer) is pre-formed as a single integrated block before cutting. This preliminary formation eliminates material waste that would occur if layers were assembled separately, as the entire structure is created in one piece and then sliced into final products
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sponge effectively wipes surfaces without leaving traces, absorbs and collects particles efficiently, and is manufactured more simply and cost-effectively by using a single block of material, reducing material loss and production complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the sponge comprises an absorbent layer, the active face being formed by one side of the absorbent layer
Implementation Method 2
the layers are joined together by gluing, for example using a polyurethane-based adhesive
Implementation Method 3
the additional layer is an abrasive layer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5d
Figure 6~10
AI summary
The sponge (20) has wiping protrusions in shape of ribs (24) distributed on an active face (22). Grooves (26) for collecting particles are formed between the protrusions. The protrusions are arranged to define an external plane envelope in absence of external stress of the sponge. The protrusions are placed such that projections of parts of the protrusions included in the plane form a continuous straight line according to a longitudinal direction and a plane direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and on levels perpendicular to the directions, respectively. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing two active layers for a sponge.