Vacuum Cleaner Charging Base Connector Pivoting Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing charging bases for vacuum cleaners are complex and tedious to assemble, requiring multiple steps and are costly to manufacture, with a risk of inadvertent disassembly and movement of electrical connectors during charging.

Innovation Solution

A charging base with a support body fixed to a wall, featuring a locking member that allows easy and reliable assembly of the male electrical connector, reducing manufacturing costs and preventing inadvertent disassembly, by allowing angular pivoting and translation locking of the connector within the insertion housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the male electrical connector is fixed in a low-height insertion housing via a rear face passage opening, then the height requirement of the support body is limited, but the assembly process becomes complex and tedious requiring multiple positioning and tilting steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of support bodyVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The male electrical connector is designed with angular adjustability, allowing it to pivot between a first angular orientation during insertion and a second angular orientation for final positioning. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the connector to adapt to the insertion housing geometry without requiring complex manual positioning steps, thereby simplifying the assembly process while maintaining compact dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking member is pre-configured to automatically engage with the male electrical connector during the insertion process. This preliminary action of the locking mechanism guides the connector into the correct position and secures it without requiring separate positioning and securing steps, reducing assembly complexity while preserving the compact low-height design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Length of stationary object

If the male electrical connector is inserted through a rear face passage opening in a low-height insertion housing, then the support body height is minimized, but the risk of inadvertent disassembly and movement of the connector increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of support bodyVSAvoidconnector stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The male electrical connector incorporates angular adjustability with a locking mechanism that transitions the connector from a movable state during insertion to a locked state in the final position. This dynamic design allows the connector to be securely fixed at different angular orientations, preventing inadvertent disassembly and movement while maintaining the compact low-height structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking member acts as an intermediary element between the male electrical connector and the insertion housing. It provides a mechanical interlocking mechanism that secures the connector in place, preventing both disassembly and movement during charging operations, while allowing the overall support body to maintain minimized height

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4260786B1Charging base for vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 SEB SA
  • EP4260786B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4260786B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4260786B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The charging base (3) includes a support body (15) having a receiving housing (17) configured to receive a battery housing (12); a male electrical connector (18) fixed in an insertion housing (22) delimited by the support body (15) and configured to cooperate with a female electrical connector (19) of the battery housing (12);a locking member (24) configured to permit insertion of the male electrical connector (18) into the insertion housing (22) in an insertion direction (D2) when the male electrical connector (18) has a first angular orientation, and to permit pivoting of the male electrical connector (18), relative to the support body (15), from the first angular orientation to a second angular orientation, the locking member (24) being configured to block translation of the male electrical connector (18) in the insertion direction (D2) when the male electrical connector (18) is in the second angular orientation.;