Cleaning unit for suction head

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaners with suction heads face challenges in providing easy and ergonomic handling of the closure cap while ensuring reliable locking, often resulting in increased size and risk of unintended unlocking.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning unit with a gripping handle that moves between a rest and gripping position for easy manipulation, and locking members that pivot between locking and release positions to secure the closure cap on the suction head, reducing the risk of accidental unlocking and enhancing user comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If two gripping fins are added to the closure cap for easy handling, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handling closure capVSAvoidclosure cap structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure cap incorporates a movable gripping handle that can pivot between a retracted position (during normal operation) and an extended position (for manipulation). This dynamic element allows the cap to provide easy handling only when needed, while maintaining a compact structure during use, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If two gripping fins are added to the closure cap, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to untimely unlocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handling closure capVSAvoidlocking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping handle is designed to pivot only when deliberately manipulated by the user, transitioning between retracted and extended positions. This controlled movement ensures that the locking mechanism engages reliably during normal use while allowing easy unlocking only when the user intentionally activates the handle, thus improving both ease of operation and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable gripping handle acts as an intermediary between the user and the locking mechanism. It provides a clear, intentional interface for unlocking that distinguishes deliberate user actions from accidental impacts, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling easy operation when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If gripping fins are reduced in size to minimize closure cap dimensions, then device size is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure cap sizeVSAvoidease of handling closure cap
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping handle pivots from a retracted position to an extended position during manipulation. When extended, it provides a large surface area for easy grasping, while when retracted, it minimizes the overall size of the closure cap. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between compact size and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3900594B1Cleaning unit for suction head
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 SEB SA
  • EP3900594B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3900594B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3900594B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The cleaning unit (11) includes a rotating brush (12) which is configured to be removably mounted in a housing for receiving a suction head, and a closing cap (16) which is configured to close a passage opening (13) through which the rotating brush (12) is able to be inserted into and removed from the housing, the closing cap (16) having a gripping handle (25) which is movable between a rest position and a gripping position in which the gripping handle is configured to be grasped by a user so as to be able to manipulate the closing cap.