Cleaning Tool Arm Angle Adjustment Without Accidental Rotation Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The angle adjustable cleaning tool described in Patent Literature 1 requires users to push a connection shaft to switch between rotatable and fixed states, leading to potential damage if the user rotates the attachment member without pushing the shaft, as they may not notice the need to do so.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool design featuring a rotation portion with a pushing portion that allows arm angle adjustment without initially pushing it, by using a protrusion for rotation control that slides between hollows to change the arm angle up to a predetermined position without pushing, and beyond by pushing, thus preventing accidental damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connection shaft is made movable to allow angle adjustment, then the adaptability of the cleaning tool is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential accidental rotation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion for rotation control is pre-positioned to engage with the first hollow for rotation control in the stored state, preliminarily preventing accidental rotation. When angle adjustment is needed, the user pushes the pushing portion to move the protrusion to the second hollow, enabling rotation. This preliminary engagement ensures the tool cannot be accidentally damaged while stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion for rotation control acts as an intermediary element between the pushing portion and the hollows for rotation control. It translates the pushing action into controlled rotation by sequentially engaging with different hollows, mediating between the user's input and the attachment member's rotation to prevent accidental damage.
2Reliability
If the pushing portion is always required to be pushed for angle change, then the reliability is improved by preventing accidental rotation, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional user effort
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing portion only needs to be partially pushed to move the protrusion from the first hollow to the second hollow for angle adjustment. The pushing action is excessive only when needed, providing protection during normal use while allowing easy adjustment when required, balancing reliability and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If the protrusion is fixed in position to prevent rotation, then the reliability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates as angle adjustment becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion for rotation control transitions from a fixed engaged state with the first hollow to a movable state when the pushing portion is actuated, allowing engagement with the second hollow. This dynamic repositioning enables the system to switch between preventing accidental rotation and allowing angle adjustment, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tool has a rotating section including: the pressing section including a rotation-control protrusion; a first coupling section; and a second coupling section. The second coupling section includes a plurality of rotation-control recessions that include: a base section that receives a sliding section; and a rotation-control wall section that fixes the arm angle by mating with a side surface section. The second coupling section also includes release-direction inclined sections whereby, in the housed state, the rotation-control protrusion can be moved from a first rotation-control recession to a second rotation-control recession, by the second coupling section sliding the sliding section to the first rotation-control wall section mated with the rotation-control protrusion, without pressing the pressing section.