Window Cleaning Caddy with Hinged Reservoir for Drip Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing body-worn window cleaning carriers fail to efficiently manage drips from squeegees, leading to reduced efficiency as cleaners must re-clean windows hit by accidental drips.

Innovation Solution

A squeegee caddy with an articulateable, drip-catching reservoir featuring a sleeve and bucket connected by a hinge, allowing relative motion between engaged and disengaged configurations, and a hydrophilic outer surface to direct drips into the bucket, along with a releasable lock for secure storage and easy access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a body-worn caddy is used to carry window cleaning tools, then ready access to tools is improved, but drip management capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveready access to toolsVSAvoiddrip management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The caddy is divided into functionally independent compartments: a sleeve for holding the squeegee and a separate bucket for collecting drips. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the sleeve provides quick tool access while the bucket manages liquid drainage independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve acts as an intermediary element between the squeegee and the user, providing both tool storage and a controlled path for liquid drainage. The sleeve's open structure allows drips to pass through to the bucket while maintaining squeegee accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a rigid, securely locked caddy structure is used, then item security is improved, but ease of item removal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem securityVSAvoiditem removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The caddy employs a dynamic hinge connection between the sleeve and bucket that allows the structure to transition between locked and unlocked states. The hinge provides inherent stability during use while enabling rapid tool removal when needed, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 caddy effectively captures and drains drips, preventing them from falling on cleaned windows, enhancing cleaning efficiency by ensuring continuous access to tools while maintaining secure storage and easy removal.

Implementation Method 1

an outer surface of said sleeve comprises a hydrophillic, high water adhesion material for directing a flow of liquid along an outer surface of said sleeve through said peripheral gap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilic surface: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentUS11612234B2Window cleaning caddy having movable reservoir

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 EVANS RICHARD

AI summary

A caddy for carrying window cleaning accessories such as squeegees. The caddy can hang from the waistbelt of a user. The caddy can include a lower reservoir portion hingedly connected to an upper sleeve portion by a hinge. The sleeve loosely engages the oversized brim of the reservoir to form a peripheral drainage gap between the outer surface of the sleeve and the reservoir brim to trap liquids dripping over the outer surface of the sleeve. A releasable lock allows the reservoir to disengage from the sleeve, swing about the hinge and drain the liquid contents of the reservoir.