Dirt container for a hand vacuum cleaner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hand-held vacuum cleaners face issues with the susceptibility of dirt containers to damage during emptying and the cumbersome process of removing dirt without unintended dust and dirt spillage, with existing solutions being inadequate in terms of user-friendliness and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A dirt container design for hand-held vacuum cleaners that includes a first unit with a dirt container, separator, and inlet nozzle, which can be coupled to a motor-fan unit via a connecting device, allowing for flexible use, reversible airflow, and modular assembly, including options like centrifugal separators or dust filter bags for improved handling and suction power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the dirt container is integrated into the hand-held vacuum cleaner body, then the structure is compact and simple, but the dirt container becomes susceptible to damage during emptying and difficult to remove without dust spillage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidemptying operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is divided into separable modules: the dirt container can be detached from the main body as a separate unit, allowing easy emptying without damage risk while maintaining compact integration during use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If reusable dust filter bags are removed and emptied, then the dirt container can be cleaned, but the process requires multiple cumbersome steps and time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidemptying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dirt container is extracted as a separate removable module from the vacuum cleaner body, allowing users to quickly detach and empty it directly into a dustbin without complex disassembly or multiple steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the dirt container is designed to be separable from the motor unit, then emptying becomes easier, but the device complexity increases due to additional coupling mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemptying operationVSAvoidcoupling mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is segmented into separable modules connected by simple coupling mechanisms that enable easy detachment for emptying while maintaining overall structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling mechanism allows dynamic transition between connected and separated states, enabling the dirt container to be easily detached for emptying and reconnected for operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The design enhances user-friendliness, flexibility, and maintains constant suction power, while allowing for easy emptying and reduced noise emissions, with modular components that can be easily serviced and exchanged.

Implementation Method 1

a separator (4) which can be accommodated in the dirt container (1) for separating dirt from the polluted air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a separator (4) which can be accommodated in the dirt container (1) for separating dirt from the polluted air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP3409170B1Dirt container for a hand vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3409170B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3409170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dirt container (1) for a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10), in which the dirt container (1) can be connected via an inlet opening (2) to an inlet connection (3) for taking in contaminated air and the dirt container (1) together with a separator (4) that can be accommodated therein for separating dirt from the polluted air forms a first unit (A), the first unit (A) having a first coupling element (5) which, with a second coupling element (6) corresponding thereto, of a second unit ( B) can be coupled to form a connecting device (5, 6), the second unit (A) having a motor/fan unit (7) for generating an air flow and an energy store (8) for driving the motor/fan unit (7 ) includes, wherein the dirt container (1) is set up to be operated either with a separator (4) which works according to the centrifugal principle or which is a dust filter bag or a wet separator. The invention also relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10) with such a dirt container (1). The dirt container (1) and a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10) provided with it can be used in a particularly versatile and user-friendly manner.