Wetted Cleaning Mitt Container for Flat, Easy Withdrawal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning solutions, such as pre-moistened wipes and mops, are inconvenient for use in confined spaces and require secondary cleaning efforts, and hand towels can be easily soiled or dropped, limiting their immediate reuse.
Innovation Solution
A container design with vertically stacked, wetted donnable articles, such as cleaning mitts or gloves, that can be easily accessed and used in a flat configuration, featuring separable tabs and a widening interior space for easy withdrawal and use, along with a lid to maintain moisture and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pre-moistened wipes are used in rolled configurations, then cleaning coverage is increased, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in accessing and deploying individual wipes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal rolled configuration to vertical stacked configuration, allowing wipes to be accessed by pulling from the top of the stack rather than unrolling from a cylinder. This dimensional change enables easier access to individual wipes while maintaining quantity in the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the cleaning supply into individually accessible segments (separate wipes) stacked vertically, where each wipe can be independently removed through the opening. This segmentation allows users to access exactly the number of wipes needed without having to manipulate a large rolled mass.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hand towels are used for cleaning, then versatility is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to easy soiling and dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable pre-moistened wipes that are discarded after single use, eliminating the reliability issues associated with reusable hand towels. Each wipe is designed for one-time use, ensuring consistent performance without risk of soiling or contamination that would prevent reuse.
3Quantity of substance
If mops and buckets are used for cleaning, then cleaning capacity is increased, but ease of operation deteriorates in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cleaning solution from a separate bucket and pre-applies it to disposable wipes in a compact container. This eliminates the need for large buckets and mops, providing sufficient cleaning capacity in a small, maneuverable package that can easily access confined spaces.
4Productivity
If wetted articles are stacked in a container, then productivity is improved through easy access, but device complexity increases due to container design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vertical stacking arrangement with a top opening for access, simplifying the container structure compared to complex dispensing mechanisms. The vertical orientation allows gravity-assisted withdrawal of wipes while maintaining compact footprint and easy accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A container has a base and walls connected to the base to define an interior space. The walls have upper edges that terminate in a plane and define an opening for access to the interior space. Wetted donnable articles are stacked within the container, each article in a flat configuration at least partially perpendicular to the opening permitting withdrawal of any one of the donnable articles through the opening in a flat configuration. Walls on opposing sides of the base of the container diverge from each other with increasing distance from the base, such that the interior space widens gradually toward the opening. Walls on other opposing sides of the base have lower portions connected to the base and upper portions connected to the lower portions by steps that lengthen the interior space abruptly.