Steam Mop Fabric Pad Attachment for Wider Dry Steam Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mops are ineffective at cleaning dirt in small crevices and floor gaps, and steam cleaners lack a large effective steaming surface area due to steam escaping through bristle contacts, requiring frequent repositioning and manual condensate handling.

Innovation Solution

A fabric steam pad with a hook-and-loop fastener attachment for easy mounting on a steam mop frame, providing a larger cleaning surface area while preventing steam escape at bristle contacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If steam is injected behind the cloth, then steam cleaning capability is improved, but steam passes through at bristle contact points and wets the cloth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteam cleaning capabilityVSAvoidcloth dryness

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The steam-permeable membrane serves as a mediator that distributes steam uniformly across the cleaning surface while preventing concentrated steam flow at bristle contact points, thereby maintaining cloth dryness while preserving steam cleaning power

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane creates different local conditions across the cloth surface - areas with bristle contacts receive blocked steam flow while areas without bristles receive steam transmission, optimizing both cleaning power and cloth dryness in different locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the steam mop provides larger surface area coverage, then productivity is improved, but condensate management becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface area coverageVSAvoidcondensate handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The steam-permeable membrane acts as a continuous intermediary across the entire enlarged surface area, preventing condensate formation on the fabric while allowing steam transmission, thus enabling large surface coverage without increased condensate management burden

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

Enhances cleaning efficiency by allowing larger surface area coverage without condensate issues, improving user convenience and cleaning effectiveness on flooring and household items.

Implementation Method 1

The exit from the electric water pump is connected to a steam boiler with a heating element to heat the water. The heated water generates steam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

The fastener may be a conventional hook-and-loop fastener, commonly known as 'Velcro.'

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS8261402B2Fabric pad for a steam mop

Publication Date: 2012.09.11 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

AI summary

A steam pad for use with a steam mop is provided. The steam pad includes at least one layer of fabric having at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop. In another embodiment, the steam pad comprises a first layer of fabric, a corresponding second layer of fabric, where the first and second layer are joined around the perimeter and where the second layer of fabric has at least one fastener that corresponds to at least one fastener on the steam mop.