Sponge roller mop with quick release mechanism to remove a dirty sponge from the housing without having to touch the dirty or contaminated sponge also including a shotgun sponge wringing mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sponge roller mops require users to touch dirty sponges when replacing them, as they need to manually slide out the brace or lift it over tracks, exposing them to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A quick release mechanism with a sponge pin molded into the brace, featuring a transverse pushbutton and vertical compression spring, allows the sponge to be released without direct contact, using a shotgun sponge wringing mechanism to disengage the sponge from rollers, enabling easy replacement with a new clean sponge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual sliding or lifting mechanism is used to remove the sponge, then the sponge can be removed from the roller mechanism, but the user must touch the dirty sponge which causes contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A release mechanism with a button acts as an intermediary between the user and the sponge. When the button is pressed, it triggers a release clamp that disengages from the sponge pin, allowing the sponge to be removed without the user directly touching it. The intermediary mechanism transfers the removal action from direct manual handling to an indirect actuation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sponge removal system enables self-service operation where the release mechanism automatically disengages the sponge upon button actuation. The spring-loaded release clamp self-activates to release the sponge pin, allowing the sponge to be ejected or easily removed without requiring user manipulation of the dirty sponge itself.
2Reliability
If tracks or J-hooks are used to retain the sponge, then the sponge can be securely held in the roller mechanism, but the mechanism becomes more complex and still requires user contact for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is segmented into distinct functional components: a release button, a release clamp, and a sponge pin. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the button provides actuation, the clamp provides retention force, and the pin provides the anchoring point. This modular segmentation simplifies the overall mechanism compared to complex tracks or J-hooks while maintaining reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism transitions from a static structure (tracks or fixed J-hooks) to a dynamic system where the release clamp can be actuated between engaged and disengaged states. The spring-loaded clamp dynamically adjusts its retention force and can be quickly released by button pressure, providing both secure holding and easy release without complex infrastructure.
3Productivity
If the brace is slid out of the roller mechanism manually, then the sponge can be removed, but the user must physically handle the dirty sponge which is hygienically undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The release button and release clamp serve as intermediary components that mediate between the user's manual input and the sponge removal action. By pressing the button, the user activates the intermediary mechanism which then releases the sponge, eliminating the need for direct hand contact with the dirty sponge while maintaining quick replacement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical manipulation of sliding or lifting the brace is replaced by a button-actuated release mechanism. Instead of requiring the user to physically grip and move the dirty sponge assembly, the system substitutes a simple button press that triggers an automated release sequence through the spring-loaded clamp, replacing complex manual mechanical operations with a simpler actuation system.
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 mechanism allows for the safe and hygienic removal and replacement of dirty sponges without touching them, eliminating the need for tracks or J-hooks and maintaining the cleanliness of the mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The pushbutton is moved in a transverse direction through a transverse spring which creates a transverse force so that the wall of the opening of the pin is placed between the crown and a lower section of the sponge pin to thereby retain the crown within a rod retaining mechanism
Implementation Method 2
the crown pushes against an internal vertical piston which then pushes against a vertical compression spring retained within a housing of the rod retaining mechanism. When this action occurs, the vertical compression spring is pushed into a compressed condition
Implementation Method 3
having two roller mechanisms which in the use condition, are in an unelevated condition so that the sponge can be used to mop a floor or other vertical surface and with the rollers in the elevated condition, the sponge can be pulled through the two rollers so that water is wrung out of the sponge
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism by which the mop of a sponge roller mop is released without a user having to touch a dirty mop so that the sponge can be released and replaced with a clean sponge, including a sponge pin molded onto the brace which retains the sponge. The mechanism includes a transverse section with a movable hole through which the crown from the sponge pin is inserted. The wall is moved by a transverse spring force so that the wall from the opening of the trigger mechanism is placed between the crown and a lower section of the sponge pin to thereby retain the crown within the rod retaining mechanism. When a pushbutton is pushed transversely, it overcomes the spring force so that the crown is released and a downward force from the vertical compression spring forces the crown downwardly and out of the trigger mechanism, thereby releasing the sponge.