Bendable Support Rod With Balance Wheel for Low-Clearance Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses often strain users due to high center of gravity and lack of maneuverability, especially when cleaning under low-clearance furniture, and can damage floors due to uneven weight distribution.
Innovation Solution
A surface cleaning apparatus with a bendable upright section that includes a rotatable handle and an additional wheel for improved balance and stability, allowing the user to pivot the upper portion forward, lower the center of gravity, and distribute weight more evenly across the floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the upright section is made rigid and fixed, then structural stability is improved, but maneuverability under low-clearance furniture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The upright section is designed with a hinge joint allowing it to pivot between a vertical position (for stability during cleaning) and a forward-leaning position (for maneuverability under furniture). This dynamic adjustment enables the apparatus to adapt to different operational conditions, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and maneuverability.
2Device complexity
If the center of gravity is positioned higher, then the apparatus structure is simplified, but user strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism allows the user to dynamically adjust the upright section's angle, lowering the center of gravity when needed. This reduces the moment arm and decreases the torque required to maneuver the apparatus, thereby reducing user strain on arms and back while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
An additional wheel is provided on the upright section to act as a counterbalancing element. This wheel contacts the floor to provide support and reduce the effective weight that the user must control, thereby reducing user strain without requiring a complete redesign of the apparatus structure.
3Weight of moving object
If weight is concentrated on the cleaning head, then the upright section can be lighter, but floor damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional wheel on the upright section serves as a support element that distributes the apparatus weight across multiple contact points with the floor. This reduces the concentrated load on any single point, particularly protecting wood floors from damage while allowing the upright section to remain relatively lightweight.
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
This design reduces user strain, enhances maneuverability under low-clearance obstacles, and prevents damage to floors by stabilizing the apparatus and distributing weight more evenly.
Implementation Method 1
a wheel that contacts the floor when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the use configuration
Implementation Method 2
The extra wheel mounted on the upright section may help distribute the load of the surface cleaning apparatus across the floor, help balance or stabilize the surface cleaning apparatus
Implementation Method 3
In an in use configuration, the first portion may be pivoted forwardly. It is advantageous as it may lower the centre of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a surface cleaning head having a dirt inlet and an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head. The upright section may comprise an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower upper portion may be rotatable relative to the lower portion about an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of at least one of the upper and lower portions. The upright surface cleaning apparatus may also comprise a wheel provided on the upright section.