Sole Plate Cleaning Sheet Attachment for Large Debris Pickup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for hard surfaces, such as floors, often fail to effectively remove large particles like cereal and chunks of mud due to limitations in beater bar designs, which can lead to incomplete cleaning and inconvenience in attaching and removing cleaning sheets, particularly when trying to clean edges and corners.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a pivoting foot and sole plate that allows for easy attachment and removal of a textured, hydroentangled nonwoven sheet, optionally with a beater bar and dirt bin, enabling efficient removal of debris and reducing snowplowing of debris by wrapping the sheet around the device's edges, with grippers exclusively on the sole plate for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical beater bar is used to pick up large particles, then cleaning effectiveness for large debris is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical beater bar mechanism entirely and extracts only the essential function of debris removal. Instead of using rotating bristles or blades, the invention uses a disposable cleaning sheet that is manually manipulated to pick up and contain large particles, thereby eliminating complex mechanical components while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable cleaning sheet that is used once and then discarded, replacing the need for durable but complex mechanical beater bars. This disposable sheet can be manually positioned and pressed to pick up large debris, achieving the same cleaning function without the complexity of rotating mechanisms, motors, or maintenance-required components.
2Productivity
If the cleaning sheet wraps around the device edges, then debris snowplowing is reduced and cleaning efficiency is improved, but the ease of operation for attaching and removing sheets becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning sheet into distinct functional zones: a wrapper portion that extends beyond the device edges to prevent debris snowplowing, and a cleaning surface portion that contacts the floor. This segmentation allows the sheet to be attached in a simple manner while the wrapper portion independently performs the edge-wrapping function to improve cleaning efficiency without complicating the attachment process.
3Productivity
If a powered beater bar with battery or AC motor is used, then rotational speed and particle pickup capability are improved, but the weight and cost of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the powered motor system entirely, extracting only the essential function of debris pickup. By using a manually operated disposable sheet that can be pressed and manipulated by hand, the invention achieves adequate particle pickup capability for large debris without the weight and cost of batteries, motors, power cords, or associated control systems.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An implement for a cleaning system. The system has a floor cleaning device (10), which can accept a cleaning sheet (20) removably attachable to the device. The device has a foot (14) which comprises a housing (50) and a panel (54) movable in relationship to each other The sheet (20) is removably attachable to the panel (54), without requiring attachment to the housing (50). This arrangement provides ergonomic benefit and ease of sheet replacement. The cleaning system may be used to clean hard surfaces, such as a floor.