Variable-Geometry Mop Head With Pivoting Side Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices lack the ability to easily vary their head size and shape, limiting their versatility in cleaning various areas such as narrow spaces and under furniture.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with pivotally connected deployment elements and a release mechanism that allows the head to change from a stowed to a deployed position, featuring a foam layer and attachment structures for disposable cleaning sheets, enabling a variable size and shape mop head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning device uses a fixed-size head, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different cleaning areas is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning head is divided into a base and multiple deployable elements (first and second deployable elements) that can be independently folded or extended. This segmentation allows the head to change its size and shape by deploying or stowing these elements, providing adaptability to different cleaning areas while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning head incorporates deployable elements that can transition between deployed and stowed positions, making the head dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This dynamic capability allows the user to adapt the head size and shape to match different cleaning requirements (e.g., narrow spaces vs. large areas) while the biasing devices ensure automatic return to the stowed position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning device has variable size and shape head, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing devices (springs) are configured to automatically push the deployable elements into their deployed positions when the release mechanism is actuated. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the user to manually force the elements open, significantly reducing the effort required to change the head configuration while maintaining full versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanism serves as an intermediary that the user interacts with to trigger the deployment or stowing of the head elements. By providing this simple interface, the complex mechanical action of deploying multiple elements is reduced to a single user action, improving ease of operation while preserving adaptability.
3Reliability
If the deployment elements are held in stowed position without release mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining head configuration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism uses a simple button-actuated system that releases latches or locks holding the deployable elements in the stowed position. This mechanical substitution replaces the need for complex locking mechanisms while providing reliable configuration maintenance during use and easy transitions when needed.
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 device provides a versatile cleaning surface that can adapt to different cleaning situations, improving cleaning performance and ease of use by allowing manual adjustment of the head's size and shape.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing device engaging the base and the first deployment element, and the first biasing device biases the first deployment element towards the first deployed position
Implementation Method 2
The release mechanism engages the first deployment element to hold the first deployment element in the first stowed position
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device includes a base having a first side and a second side. A first deployment element pivotally connects to the first side of the base and is pivotable from a stowed position to a deployed position. A second deployment element pivotally connects to the second side of the base and is pivotable from the stowed position to the deployed position. In the stowed position the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially rectangular perimeter. In the deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially trapezoidal perimeter.