Floor Cleaner Ball-Socket Joint for Compact Arbitrary Pivoting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held floor cleaning machines have complex and space-consuming joint assemblies that complicate construction and occupy excessive space, making them inefficient for practical use.

Innovation Solution

A compact joint assembly featuring a ball socket design with a first joint element and a second joint element, where the first joint element is supported to pivot about a stationary fulcrum coinciding with the center of the ball socket, allowing for arbitrary pivoting of the control handle relative to the base while preventing displacement, enabling efficient torque transmission and minimizing stress on engagement parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional joint assembly is used to allow arbitrary pivoting of the control handle, then the control handle can be positioned in multiple directions, but the joint assembly becomes complicated and occupies large space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearbitrary pivoting capabilityVSAvoidjoint assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first joint element (ball) is nested within the second joint element (ball socket), creating a compact hierarchical structure. The ball is received in the ball socket, with the ball's center coinciding with the socket's center, allowing arbitrary pivoting while maintaining a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall joint assembly size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint elements are designed with spherical geometry - a ball (first joint element) and a ball socket (second joint element). This spherical configuration naturally enables arbitrary pivoting in all directions while maintaining a compact form factor, as the curved surfaces allow rotational movement without requiring complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional joint assembly is used to allow arbitrary pivoting of the control handle, then the control handle can be positioned in multiple directions, but the joint assembly occupies large space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearbitrary pivoting capabilityVSAvoidjoint assembly volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The first joint element (ball) is nested within the second joint element (ball socket), creating a compact hierarchical structure. The ball is received in the ball socket, with the ball's center coinciding with the socket's center, allowing arbitrary pivoting while maintaining a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall joint assembly size and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The joint elements are designed with spherical geometry - a ball (first joint element) and a ball socket (second joint element). This spherical configuration naturally enables arbitrary pivoting in all directions while maintaining a compact form factor, as the curved surfaces allow rotational movement without requiring complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the first joint element is allowed to move freely in the second joint element, then arbitrary pivoting is enabled, but torque transmission and stress distribution are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearbitrary pivoting capabilityVSAvoidtorque transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The joint elements are designed with spherical geometry - a ball (first joint element) and a ball socket (second joint element). This spherical configuration naturally enables arbitrary pivoting in all directions while maintaining a compact form factor, as the curved surfaces allow rotational movement without requiring complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 compact joint assembly allows for reliable transmission of high torques from the control handle to the base, simplifying the construction and reducing the overall size, thereby enhancing the usability and efficiency of the floor cleaning machine.

Implementation Method 1

the first joint element in relation to the second joint element is pivotable about a fulcrum which is stationary in terms of the second joint element... reliable transmission of high torques from the control handle to the base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS20230148821A1Hand-held floor cleaning machine

Publication Date: 2023.05.18 HAKO GMBH

AI summary

A floor cleaning machine with a base, a control handle and a joint that permits that permits the handle to be pivoted in arbitrary directions relative to the base. The joint has first and second joint elements that are each attached to a corresponding of the base and the control handle. The first joint element has an envelope in the shape of a ball socket and is received into the second joint element. The first joint element is pivotable relative to the second joint element about a stationary fulcrum. The center of the envelope is non-displaceable relative to the second joint element. Grooves, which run in an arcuate manner, are provided on one of the first and the second joint elements, while corresponding engagement parts are provided on the other one of the first and the second joint elements and extend into corresponding ones of the grooves.