Cleaning device and cleaner nozzle designed to be used in a cleaning device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning devices lack the ability to intuitively adjust scrubbing force, hindering users from effectively removing stubborn stains as they typically require manual force adjustment without varying the scrubbing intensity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a force-actuable mechanism in the cleaning device that responds to user force, allowing for adjustable brush indentation and operational parameter changes, such as through a support mechanism with resilient elements or an electric arrangement with a switch, to enhance scrubbing action when increased force is applied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cleaning device uses a fixed brush indentation design, then the device structure is simple, but the user cannot adjust scrubbing intensity for different staining levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrubbing intensity adjustmentVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush indentation is made dynamic through a force-actuable mechanism that allows the brush to move between a first position (lighter scrubbing) and a second position (stronger scrubbing) in response to user-applied force, enabling adaptability without complex control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism automatically responds to user force input to adjust brush indentation, eliminating the need for separate controls or complex automation while still providing adaptive scrubbing intensity adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Force

If the brush is made more rigid to increase scrubbing force, then cleaning effectiveness on stains improves, but the brush cannot adapt to different surface types and may damage delicate surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrubbing forceVSAvoidsurface adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The brush assembly is designed to dynamically adjust its position and contact force with the surface based on user input, allowing the same brush to effectively clean both delicate surfaces (with minimal force) and stubborn stains (with increased force through user-applied pressure)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the cleaner nozzle is designed to allow free brush movement, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the brush rotation axis distance from the surface cannot be maintained at a predetermined value

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle designVSAvoidbrush rotation axis distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism allows the brush rotation axis distance from the surface to vary between two defined states (first position and second position), transforming the distance from a fixed parameter to a controllable variable that adapts to cleaning needs while maintaining manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 more intuitive and effective stain removal by increasing brush indentation and scrubbing intensity in response to user force, improving cleaning performance without complex additional measures.

Implementation Method 1

a support mechanism with resilient elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4132337B1Cleaning device and cleaner nozzle designed to be used in a cleaning device
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 VERSUNI HLDG BV
  • EP4132337B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4132337B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4132337B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A cleaning device (1) designed to clean a surface (10) comprises a cleaner nozzle (20) that is configured to face the surface (10) to be cleaned and to perform a cleaning action on the surface (10), wherein the cleaner nozzle (20) accommodates at least one rotatably arranged brush (21) including flexible brush elements having tip portions which are intended to contact the surface (10). The cleaning device (1) further comprises a force- actuable mechanism (50, 60) that is responsive to a change of user force on the cleaning device (1) acting to press the cleaner nozzle (20) against the surface (10) when the cleaner nozzle (20) is in the operational position on the surface (10), and that is functional to cause a change of a value of at least one parameter of operation of the cleaning device (1), thereby enabling more intuitive handling of the cleaning device (1) by a user.