Hard surface cleaning and conditioning assemblies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hard surface cleaning and conditioning assemblies face challenges in ease of use, particularly when dealing with large surface areas, leading to user fatigue due to inefficient motion and difficulty in switching between different conditioning agents without cross-contamination.

Innovation Solution

A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly with a removable container and dispensing valve system that allows for easy conversion between agents without purging, featuring a pole, trigger, and agent dispensing device with an activation arm to control the dispensing valve, enabling efficient agent application and reducing fatigue through improved motion efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the assembly uses a traditional dispensing system with internal fluid communication, then the conditioning agent can be dispensed continuously, but the assembly becomes difficult to clean and convert between different agents, leading to cross-contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to convert between conditioning agentsVSAvoidprevention of cross-contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the conditioning agent storage function from the main assembly body by using a removable container that attaches to the dispensing device. This allows the container to be easily removed and replaced without affecting the dispensing mechanism, enabling quick conversion between different conditioning agents while preventing cross-contamination since each container can be sealed independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing system is segmented into separate functional components: a removable container, a dispensing valve mechanism, and a trigger-actuated activation arm. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy replacement of the container without disturbing the dispensing mechanism, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the assembly is designed for large surface area cleaning, then the cleaning coverage is increased, but the assembly becomes heavier and more difficult to maneuver, increasing user fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning surface areaVSAvoidease of movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the removable container at the distal end of the pole, away from the user's hands. This positioning creates a counterbalancing effect that offsets the weight of the dispensing mechanism and cleaning head, improving the assembly's maneuverability and reducing user fatigue during large surface area cleaning operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a telescopic pole mechanism that allows the assembly length to be adjusted. By extending the pole length, the user can reach larger surface areas without increasing the weight at the handling end, effectively solving the contradiction between cleaning coverage and ease of movement through dimensional adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the dispensing valve is always open for easy dispensing, then the conditioning agent flows freely, but the assembly cannot prevent unintended dispensing and cross-contamination between agents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of dispensingVSAvoidcontrol of dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing valve incorporates a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically returns to the closed position after the trigger is released. This self-service feature ensures that the valve remains closed by default, preventing unintended dispensing and cross-contamination, while still allowing easy dispensing when the trigger is intentionally activated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger mechanism provides tactile feedback to the user through a distinct actuation sensation, confirming when the activation arm has engaged the dispensing valve. This feedback ensures intentional dispensing action while maintaining the ability to dispense freely when activated, resolving the contradiction between ease of dispensing and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11122956B2Hard surface cleaning and conditioning assemblies

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 UNGER MARKETING INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.