Self-wringing flat mop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-wringing flat mops often degrade their wringing effectiveness if used with inappropriate handling, leading to inefficient water removal and user discomfort due to manual contact with the cleaning part.
Innovation Solution
A self-wringing flat mop design featuring a transmission assembly with a unidirectional limiting ring and limiting rib, along with a control lever, which prevents inappropriate spinning of the mop handle and allows for easy restoration to the original state, enabling efficient water removal without user contact with the cleaning part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the user turns the mop handle to actuate the plate to collapse and wring water out of the cleaning part, then water removal efficiency is improved, but the mop may spin wholly if turned with inappropriate action, degrading wringing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a unidirectional limiting ring with ratchet teeth that prevent the mop handle from rotating in the wrong direction. This preliminary constraint stops the harmful spinning action before it can degrade the wringing effect, while still allowing the useful wringing rotation to proceed efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission assembly with engaging members provides feedback through mechanical engagement and disengagement. When the holding rod is rotated appropriately, the engaging members transmit force to rotate the connection rod and wring the cleaning part. The system provides tactile feedback to the user about proper operation, ensuring reliable wringing effect while maintaining high water removal efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If a transmission assembly with engagement-disengagement capability is added to enable easy restoration, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a holding rod for user operation, a connection rod for transmitting motion, a control member for engagement control, and engaging members with ratchet structures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while making the overall system easier to understand and operate, despite the increased number of parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission assembly incorporates self-service features through spring-loaded engaging members that automatically engage and disengage based on rotation direction. The unidirectional limiting ring with ratchet teeth automatically prevents reverse rotation, and the torsion springs automatically restore the cleaning part to its original position after wringing, reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms.
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 design ensures effective water wringing with a unidirectional rotation mechanism, maintaining wringing efficiency and user hygiene by preventing reverse spinning and allowing for easy mop head restoration, enhancing operational convenience.
Implementation Method 1
Two sides of the central plate are respectively hinged with the two side plates via torsion springs
Implementation Method 2
The unidirectional limiting ring comprises a plurality of ratchet teeth arranged annularly, particularly disposed along the circumference of the limiting ring at equiangular spacings, and facing the mop handle. The ratchet teeth confine the limiting rib to slide unidirectionally and confine the mop handle to turn in a single direction.
Implementation Method 3
The control lever comprises a protruding trigger protruding from the holding sleeve and contacting the guiding member, and a levering element connected with the protruding trigger. The levering element is driven during operation to turn pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve and make the protruding trigger slide on the guiding member
Implementation Method 4
The rotating connection rod turns the cleaning part through the control member to make (cause) the two side plates collapse and wring water out of the cleaning part
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-wringing flat mop comprises a flat mop head (1), a mop handle (2) and a holding sleeve (3). The mop handle (2) includes a connection rod (21), a holding rod (22), and a transmission assembly (23) arranged between the connection rod (21) and holding rod (22). The holding rod (22) is operated to rotate. The transmission assembly (23) transmits rotation to the connection rod (21). The connection rod (21) drives the flat mop head (1) to collapse and wring out water. The transmission assembly (23) includes a first engaging member (231) and a second engaging member (232) for undertaking engagement-disengagement actions. The holding rod (22) includes a limiting rib (222). The holding sleeve (3) sleeves the mop handle (2) and includes a control lever (31). The control lever (31) is turned pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve (3) to separate the first engaging member (231) from the second engaging member (232) and restore the collapsed flat mop head (1) to the flattened state. The holding sleeve (3) includes a unidirectional limiting ring (32) corresponding to the limiting rib (222).