Holder for vacuum cleaner dust container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compact vacuum cleaners face challenges in efficiently utilizing space due to limited dimensions, which affects the positioning and volume of the dust container, leading to potential dust-laden airflow entering the motor fan without proper separation.

Innovation Solution

A holder for the vacuum cleaner dust container with a holding structure that bends a portion of the connector plate upon insertion, allowing it to follow curved walls and optimize space usage, thereby increasing the dust bag volume and ensuring reliable sealing and locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If the holder is designed with a rigid holding structure, then the connector plate can be easily manufactured and assembled, but the holder cannot efficiently utilize space inside curved walls of the vacuum cleaner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilization inside vacuum cleanerVSAvoidholder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding structure incorporates a curved insert slot instead of a straight one, allowing the connector plate to be bent and positioned along curved inner walls of the vacuum cleaner canister. This curvature enables the holder to efficiently utilize available space inside the vacuum cleaner while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the connector plate is made rigid to ensure reliable positioning, then the dust container can be securely held, but the holder cannot be arranged closer to curved walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector plate positioning reliabilityVSAvoidavailable space inside vacuum cleaner
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The connector plate is divided into different portions with different flexibility characteristics. The first portion is configured to be bent by the holding structure to follow curved walls, while the second portion remains relatively rigid to provide reliable positioning and sealing. This segmentation allows both flexibility for space optimization and rigidity for reliable positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the vacuum cleaner is designed with compact dimensions, then portability is improved, but the dust bag volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum cleaner outer dimensionsVSAvoiddust bag volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The holding structure utilizes the curved third dimension along the inner wall of the canister to position the connector plate. By bending the connector plate to follow the curved path, the dust bag can be arranged more efficiently within the compact canister volume, effectively increasing usable dust bag capacity without increasing outer dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Volume of stationary object

If the holding structure is designed to bend the connector plate, then space utilization is improved, but the insertion process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilization inside vacuum cleanerVSAvoidholder and connector plate assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The holding structure is designed so that the connector plate bends itself into the correct position along the curved insert slot during the normal insertion process. The user simply inserts the connector plate into the curved slot, and the structure automatically guides and bends it into place, eliminating the need for separate bending operations or complex assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3544478B1Holder for vacuum cleaner dust container
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP3544478B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3544478B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3544478B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a holder (1) for a vacuum cleaner dust container (3) comprising a connector plate (7). The holder (1) comprises a holding structure (11) configured to receive the connector plate (7) of the dust container (3) and configured to hold the connector plate (7) in a working position within a vacuum cleaner (13) during use of the vacuum cleaner (13). The holding structure (11) is configured to bend at least a first portion (15) of the connector plate (7) upon insertion of the connector plate (7) into the holding structure (11), or configured to bend at least a first portion (15) of the connector plate (7) after insertion of the connector plate (7) into the holding structure (11). The present disclosure also relates to a connector plate (7) for a vacuum cleaner dust container (3), a vacuum cleaner dust container (3), and a vacuum cleaner (13) comprising a holder (1).