Floor mop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray mops face challenges in maintaining the integrity of their actuable shaft assemblies during shipping, as interior actuating rod segments often separate from outer shaft segments, leading to increased costs when additional components are used to prevent this separation.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a telescoping actuating rod system with radially extending retaining elements that interfere with shaft retaining elements, limiting movement and preventing separation within the elongated hollow interior of the outer shaft assembly, allowing for a disassembled state during shipping without the need for excessive additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the actuable shaft assembly is disassembled for shipping, then the shipping volume is reduced and handling is easier, but the interior actuating rod segments may become separated from the outer shaft segments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshipping volumeVSAvoidassembly integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating rod is divided into multiple segments that can be separated during shipping but reassembled for use. Each segment contains retaining elements that engage with corresponding features on adjacent segments, allowing the assembly to be compact for shipping while maintaining integrity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating rod segments are nested within the outer shaft segments during shipping, with each rod segment fitting inside its corresponding shaft segment. This nesting arrangement reduces shipping volume while the retaining elements prevent separation when the assembly is configured for use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If additional components are added to prevent separation of actuating rod segments, then assembly integrity is maintained, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly integrityVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining elements are integrated directly into the actuating rod segments themselves, merging the retention function with the structural components. This eliminates the need for separate retention mechanisms while maintaining assembly integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating rod segments incorporate self-retaining features that automatically engage with corresponding features on adjacent segments or outer shaft. The design uses the segments' own geometry and retained elements to prevent separation without requiring additional external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11147428B2Floor mop

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 CARL FREUDENBERG KG

AI summary

An actuable shaft assembly for a spray mop assembly includes first and second hollow elongated outer shaft segments in which first and second elongated actuating rod segments are telescopingly disposed, respectively. The first and second outer shaft segments include respective first and second shaft retaining elements extending into their hollow interiors. The first and second rod segments include respective first and second rod retaining elements extending radially outward from their outer peripheral surfaces. The rod retaining elements and shaft retaining elements are sized and disposed to limit telescoping movement of the associated rod segments outward from the shaft segment ends.