Twist mop with biased cup

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor cleaning tools, such as mops, often become saturated with fluids during use, making it difficult to remove and replace the mop head without compromising the tool's stability and ease of use.

Innovation Solution

A mop design featuring a ratchet sleeve with a flexible collar and spline ribs that allows for easy rotation and locking, enabling the mop head to be securely attached and easily removable for cleaning or replacement, with a locking cup and cap mechanism for selective detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mop head is securely attached to the mop handle during use, then the stability and reliability of the cleaning tool is improved, but the ease of removal and replacement of the mop head deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of mop head attachmentVSAvoidease of mop head removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: a locked state during use that provides secure attachment, and an unlocked state that enables easy removal. The biased pawl automatically engages with the splined shaft to lock the mop head during cleaning operations, and can be disengaged by applying force in the opposite rotational direction to remove the mop head for replacement or cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the mop head is easily removable for cleaning or replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability and reliability of the tool during use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of mop head removalVSAvoidstability of mop head attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: a locked state during use that provides secure attachment, and an unlocked state that enables easy removal. The biased pawl automatically engages with the splined shaft to lock the mop head during cleaning operations, and can be disengaged by applying force in the opposite rotational direction to remove the mop head for replacement or cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a complex locking mechanism is used to securely hold the mop head, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of mop head attachmentVSAvoidcomplexity of locking mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is self-actuating through a spring-biased pawl that automatically engages with the splined shaft when the mop head is inserted and rotated into place. The pawl's spring bias ensures automatic locking without requiring additional fastening actions from the user, while the simple geometry of the pawl and splines minimizes manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If a simple attachment mechanism is used for the mop head, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of secure attachment during use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of locking mechanismVSAvoidstability of mop head attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is self-actuating through a spring-biased pawl that automatically engages with the splined shaft when the mop head is inserted and rotated into place. The pawl's spring bias ensures automatic locking without requiring additional fastening actions from the user, while the simple geometry of the pawl and splines minimizes manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates efficient wringing of fluids from the mop head during use while maintaining secure attachment, allowing for frequent cleaning and replacement without compromising the tool's stability or ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

The ratchet sleeve includes a flexible collar with an inward-facing integral pawl disposed on an interior portion of the flexible collar facing the mop handle. The flexible collar is biased toward a locked position in which the pawl engages with the spline ribs so as to substantially prevent rotation of the ratchet sleeve in a first rotational direction with respect to the mop handle.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRatchet mechanism: Ratchet

Implementation Method 2

The flexible collar is flexible into an unlocked position in which the pawl disengages the spline ribs so as to allow rotation of the ratchet sleeve with respect to the mop handle in the first rotational direction and a second rotational direction.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10881265B2Twist mop with biased cup

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 CARL FREUDENBERG KG

AI summary

A mop includes a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end. A locking cup is disposed on the mopping end. The locking cup includes a cup portion with interior threads and a locking tooth. A mop head is disposed at the mopping end. The mop head connects to a locking cap. The locking cap includes a locking tab configured to engage with the interior threads of the locking cup to allow for selective removal of the mop head from the mop handle and to engage and be retained by the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the locking cup. A biasing element is disposed in the cup portion and contacts the locking cap and generate a bias between the locking cap and the locking cup and urge the locking tab against the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the cup portion.