Brushroll Comb Assembly to Reduce Hair Wrap in Vacuum Cleaners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners face issues with hair wrap around the brushroll, requiring manual intervention for removal, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner design incorporating a brushroll with a shroud surface and a comb assembly that features ribs and teeth to reduce hair wrap, where the comb assembly's teeth radially extend between the brushroll ribs, cutting or pulling hair off as it rotates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional brushroll with bristles is used for agitation, then effective debris loosening is achieved, but hair wrap around the brushroll occurs requiring manual removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris loosening efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful function of hair accumulation by introducing a comb assembly that actively removes hair from the brushroll surface. The comb teeth pass between the bristle tufts to cut or pull off wrapped hair, separating the cleaning function from the hair-wrapping problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The comb assembly serves as an intermediary mechanism between the brushroll and the hair debris. It mediates the interaction by providing teeth that engage with wrapped hair to cut or pull it off, preventing direct accumulation on the brushroll while maintaining agitation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If bristle tufts are arranged in a helical pattern on the brushroll, then agitation effectiveness is improved, but hair wrap tendency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveagitation effectivenessVSAvoidhair wrap

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful hair-wrapping effect into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism. The helical bristle arrangement that causes hair wrap also guides hair toward the comb assembly, where it is cut or pulled off. The harmful wrapping motion is redirected to feed the hair into the comb's removal mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The comb assembly acts as an intermediary that intercepts hair before it can fully wrap around the brushroll. The teeth positioned to engage with the helical bristle pattern cut or pull off hair as it passes, converting the potential harm into a controlled removal process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12605022B2Brushroll for vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 BISSELL INC

AI summary

A vacuum cleaner includes a base having an agitator chamber and a suction nozzle opening in fluid communication with the agitator chamber. A brushroll is positioned within the agitator chamber for rotational movement. The brushroll includes a brush dowel provided with a plurality of bristles. The brush dowel has a plurality of ribs.