Household Appliance Underside Sweeper for Easy Floor Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliances accumulate dust, hair, and dirt underneath them, making it difficult for users to clean without moving the appliance or bending down, and conventional vacuum cleaners often cannot reach these areas effectively, requiring additional extensions or intense physical effort.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance design featuring a cleaning mechanism with a pair of springs and a sweeper attached to holders, where a string connected to the springs is pulled to create tension, allowing the sweeper to move along the ground underneath the appliance, collecting dust and debris, which can then be easily vacuumed or swept.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the household appliance is placed on the ground via feet to elevate it, then cleaning access underneath is improved, but the height is limited making it hard to vacuum or sweep

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidheight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning mechanism is self-contained within the appliance structure, with a sweeper that automatically contacts the ground when the string is pulled, eliminating the need for external cleaning tools and enabling users to clean underneath without bending or special equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A string acts as an intermediary element that transmits user force to move the sweeper mechanism. The string connects the user's pulling action to the sweeper, enabling cleaning access without requiring the user to directly manipulate the sweeper or bend down

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional vacuum cleaners are used, then cleaning capability is provided, but special extension parts are required creating additional expense

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidadditional extensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The household appliance integrates multiple functions: its primary function plus a cleaning function. The sweeper mechanism is built into the appliance structure, allowing the same appliance to serve both its original purpose and cleaning purposes without requiring separate vacuum cleaners or extension parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism is merged with the household appliance structure. The sweeper, springs, holders, and string are integrated components that work together within the appliance, combining cleaning functionality with the appliance's existing structure rather than using separate cleaning equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the user pulls the household appliance to clean underneath, then cleaning access is achieved, but intense physical effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidphysical effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The string serves as a mechanical intermediary that multiplies the user's pulling force. By pulling the string, the user leverages the spring mechanism to move the sweeper, requiring minimal physical effort compared to manually moving the entire appliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism uses dynamic spring elements that store and release energy during operation. The springs are compressed when the sweeper is in use and automatically return to their original position when released, providing dynamic motion without requiring the user to exert continuous force

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

Enables convenient and efficient cleaning of the area underneath the appliance without moving it, reducing physical effort and avoiding the need for special vacuum extensions, while prolonging the life of the cleaning mechanism through pulley use.

Implementation Method 1

The tension stretches the springs storing potential energy within. During the pull of the string, the depthwise length of the string is shortened as some of this distance is now covered with the pair of springs provided at the opposite sides of the household appliance. Upon releasing the string, the potential energy stored at the pair of springs forces the holders and along with the holders to return back to the initial conditions.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The string is attached to the pair of springs and extends almost along the depth of the household appliance and reaches the front corners of the household appliance whereon the string is bent and diverted so as to extend along the width of the household appliance via a pair of guides. In a preferred embodiment the pair of guides are a pair of pulleys.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage through pulleys: Pulley

Data Source

PatentEP3881015B1A household appliance having a cleaning means
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3881015B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3881015B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3881015B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2) at least a pair of feet (3) elevating the body (2) from the ground and forming a volume in between.