Versatile dust container for a vacuum cleaner
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dust containers for vacuum cleaners lack versatility and compatibility with different types of vacuum cleaners, often leading to improper installation and potential damage due to inadequate positioning and orientation of the dust bag opening.
Innovation Solution
A dust container with a connector plate featuring an extending portion that can be bent in different directions, including a wave form, allowing for flexible insertion into various vacuum cleaner holders, and comprising living hinges and materials with varying stiffness to facilitate easy bending and secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector plate has a rigid extending portion for insertion into the holder, then the positioning and orientation of the dust bag opening is reliable, but the dust container cannot be used with different types of vacuum cleaners
Solution Approach 1:
The extending portion is designed with variable stiffness characteristics, being rigid in certain directions to maintain positioning reliability while being flexible in other directions to adapt to different holder geometries. This dynamic flexibility allows the connector plate to bend and conform to various vacuum cleaner holder shapes while still achieving reliable positioning when inserted
Solution Approach 2:
The connector plate utilizes materials or structural designs that change their mechanical parameters (stiffness, flexibility) based on the insertion direction and loading conditions. This allows the extending portion to exhibit different mechanical properties when subjected to bending forces in different directions, enabling both reliable positioning and adaptability to different vacuum cleaner types
2Stability of the object's composition
If the extending portion is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the connector plate can reliably position the dust bag opening, but it cannot bend to adapt to different holder geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The connector plate incorporates regions of different stiffness characteristics within its structure. The extending portion has localized flexible zones that allow bending and adaptation to different holder geometries, while other regions maintain sufficient rigidity to ensure stable positioning and structural integrity during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The connector plate is designed with anisotropic mechanical properties, exhibiting different stiffness levels in different directions. This dynamic structural characteristic allows the extending portion to bend flexibly in directions needed for adaptation while maintaining structural stability in directions critical for positioning reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If the connector plate is designed with a simple straight extending portion, then the manufacturing is simple, but it cannot be inserted into various types of holders in different manners
Solution Approach 1:
The extending portion is segmented into multiple zones with different mechanical properties or geometric characteristics. This segmentation allows each segment to contribute differently to the overall function, with some segments providing flexibility for adaptation while others maintain manufacturing simplicity through standardized designs
Solution Approach 2:
The connector plate design incorporates a universal extending portion that can serve multiple insertion scenarios. By integrating variable stiffness characteristics and adaptive geometry, a single extending portion design can accommodate different holder types and insertion manners, eliminating the need for multiple specialized components
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 dust container becomes more versatile and compatible with multiple types of vacuum cleaners, ensuring correct installation, preventing damage, and enhancing user-friendliness by allowing the connector plate to adapt to different holder geometries while maintaining effective dust collection and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
The extending portion at a first section is configured to be bent in a first direction. The extending portion at a second section is configured to be bent in a second direction being opposite to the first direction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Described is, among other things, a dust container (1) for a vacuum cleaner. The dust container comprises a dust bag (5), made of an air permeable material, and a connector plate (3) having a hole, surrounding an opening (9) in the dust bag (5). The connector plate (3) comprises a central portion (11) surrounding said hole, and an extending portion (13) projecting from the central portion (11). The extending portion (13) at a first section (112) is configured to be bent in a first direction (A). The extending portion at a second section (114) is configured to be bent in a second direction (B) being opposite to the first direction (A).