Squeezable Scrubbing Tool With Metered Dispensing and Secure Pad Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning devices for hard surfaces, such as shower walls, lack efficiency in dispensing cleaning compositions and maintaining adhesive integrity in high humidity environments, leading to ineffective cleaning and substrate detachment.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a squeezable container housing and a dispensing valve that allows for controlled dispensing of cleaning compositions onto a scrubbing substrate, which can be attached via a hook and loop mechanism, ensuring reliable attachment even in high humidity conditions, and a pump assembly with a one-way valve to prevent backflow, enabling effective cleaning in various orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dispensing valve is provided at the bottom wall of the container housing, then controlled dispensing of cleaning composition is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrolled dispensingVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing valve is integrated directly into the bottom wall of the container housing, merging the dispensing function with the container structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate dispensing mechanisms while still providing controlled dispensing of cleaning composition onto the substrate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The squeezable container housing allows the user to control dispensing through simple manual squeezing action. The valve automatically responds to the squeezing pressure, providing self-regulating controlled dispensing without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If adhesive is used to attach substrate to container housing, then substrate attachment is achieved, but adhesive integrity deteriorates in high humidity environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate attachmentVSAvoidadhesive integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is designed as a disposable unit where the substrate is permanently attached to the container housing. After use, the entire assembly is discarded, eliminating the need for long-term adhesive reliability in high humidity environments. This approach trades manufacturing simplicity for operational reliability in harsh conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If cleaning composition is dispensed onto surface, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate acts as an intermediary between the cleaning composition and the surface being cleaned. The cleaning composition is first dispensed onto the substrate, which then transfers it to the surface during scrubbing. This intermediate step allows for controlled application and reduces the risk of contamination from direct dispensing onto the surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 device provides a metered dose of cleaning composition that can be effectively scrubbed onto surfaces, maintaining adhesive integrity and preventing contamination, allowing for efficient cleaning of hard surfaces without irritation to the user, even in high humidity environments.

Implementation Method 1

A dispensing valve may be provided at the bottom wall of the squeezable container housing, so as to dispense cleaning composition through the dispensing valve upon squeezing the container housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A substrate may be provided attached to the bottom wall of the squeezable container housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10136789B2All-in-one squeezable scrubbing tool

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 THE CLOROX CO

AI summary

An all-in-one cleaning device, e.g., such as may be used in cleaning the inside of a shower. The device may provide the ability to dispense a cleaning composition carried within the device itself, and scrub the cleaning composition onto or into the surfaces to be cleaned (e.g., shower walls, floors, corners, mirrors, etc.). The device may include a squeezable container housing holding the cleaning composition in a reservoir defined therein, with a dispensing valve configured to dispense the cleaning composition from the reservoir, through the valve when a user squeezes the container housing. A sled may be provided, e.g., snap-fit to a bottom wall of the container housing, with a substrate configured as a scrubbing pad attached to the bottom of the sled.