Vacuum Nozzle Barrier Wrap to Prevent Contamination Spread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public vacuum attachments at car washes can spread contaminants like fecal matter and pathogenic organisms from automobile floors to user-contacted areas, posing hygiene risks to users and their properties.
Innovation Solution
A flexible polymer barrier with orthogonal edges and removably fastening mechanisms, such as hook and loop or hook and hook fasteners, is designed to wrap around vacuum nozzles, creating a sleeve that prevents direct contact between the nozzle and the user or cleaned surfaces, thereby containing contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a public vacuum attachment is used to clean automobile floors, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but contamination spread to user-contacted areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a barrier attachment that acts as an intermediary between the vacuum nozzle and the user's hands or other contacted surfaces. This barrier prevents direct contact with contaminated areas, allowing the vacuum to effectively clean floors while blocking the transmission of fecal matter, pathogens, and other contaminants to user-contacted areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier attachment divides the vacuum system into separate functional zones: a contaminated zone (nozzle and immediate surrounding areas) and a clean zone (user-contacted surfaces). This segmentation is achieved through physical barriers such as shields or covers that isolate the hazardous area from the user's hands and other clean surfaces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a barrier is introduced between the vacuum nozzle and user, then contamination spread is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible barrier materials such as thin plastic films or elastic shields that can be easily attached to and removed from the vacuum nozzle. These flexible barriers conform to the nozzle shape, providing effective contamination protection while remaining simple in design and easy to handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier attachment may be designed as a disposable component that is inexpensive to manufacture and replace. After use, the barrier is discarded rather than cleaned or sterilized, eliminating the need for complex maintenance procedures and reducing the overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the barrier is removably fastened to itself, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but fastening reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier attachment incorporates self-fastening mechanisms such as Velcro straps, snap buttons, or interlocking tabs that allow the user to easily secure the barrier to itself or to the vacuum nozzle without requiring additional tools or complex assembly procedures. The self-service nature of these fasteners simplifies installation and removal while maintaining adequate holding strength.
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 barrier effectively prevents the spread of residues, bacteria, and viruses from vacuum nozzles to users and their properties during cleaning, enhancing hygiene by creating a protective layer between the nozzle and the cleaned areas.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible polymer barrier with orthogonal edges and removably fastening mechanisms, such as hook and loop or hook and hook fasteners, is designed to wrap around vacuum nozzles, creating a sleeve that prevents direct contact between the nozzle and the user or cleaned surfaces, thereby containing contaminants.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a wrap element for attaching to a cleaning device. The wrap element may include a sheet of barrier material. The sheet may include first and second edges extending along the sheet in a longitudinal direction. Third and fourth edges may extend along the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the first and second edges. A folded over portion may extend in the longitudinal direction along a majority of the first edge. Fasteners may be disposed on the sheet, such as nearer the third edge than the fourth edge and may extend in the direction orthogonal to the first edge along a majority of the third edge. The fasteners may allow the sheet of barrier material to removably connect to itself. A fit indicator may extend in the longitudinal direction along a majority of the first edge.