Foot-Mounted Broom Design to Reduce Back Strain During Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handheld brooms are time-consuming and burdensome for quick sweeping of small areas, particularly for individuals with lower back strains or impairments, as they require bending and can be avoided due to the effort involved.
Innovation Solution
A foot broom device that attaches to footwear, featuring a bracket, strap member, and a broom with bristles, allowing for quick and convenient sweeping without the need to bend, with optional adjustable and elastic features for secure attachment and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handheld broom is used to sweep small areas, then the sweeping task can be completed, but it requires bending over which is difficult or burdensome for users with lower back strains
Solution Approach 1:
The broom is relocated from hand-held operation to foot-mounted operation, changing the dimensional position of the broom from upper body to lower body attachment. This allows the user to sweep while standing upright, eliminating the need to bend over and thereby reducing back strain and injury risk while maintaining sweeping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The footwear acts as an intermediary carrier between the user's foot and the broom. The bracket and strap member system mediates the attachment, transferring the broom's weight and operational forces to the user's footwear rather than directly to the hand and arm, enabling comfortable operation without back bending.
2Productivity
If a handheld broom is used for quick sweeping, then debris can be removed, but it takes too much time to obtain and use the broom
Solution Approach 1:
The broom is attached to the user's own footwear, transforming it into a self-carried, always-available tool. The user's foot serves as the mounting platform, eliminating the need to separately obtain or carry the broom. This self-service approach ensures the broom is immediately accessible whenever needed, dramatically reducing preparation time and enabling frequent quick sweeping tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The broom is pre-attached to the footwear before the sweeping task begins. By permanently or semi-permanently mounting the broom to the shoe or boot, the system eliminates the last-minute search or retrieval of the broom, allowing the user to immediately begin sweeping when debris is encountered.
3Reliability
If the broom is fixedly attached to the bracket, then the attachment is secure, but the orientation cannot be adjusted for different sweeping needs
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The adjustable attachment mechanism allows the broom's orientation to be changed while maintaining secure attachment during use. This dynamic capability enables the broom to adapt to different sweeping angles and directions while remaining firmly mounted to the footwear.
Solution Approach 2:
The broom's mounting parameters (angle, position, orientation) are made changeable through the adjustable attachment mechanism. Users can modify these parameters to suit different sweeping scenarios such as reaching under furniture, sweeping corners, or cleaning different floor surfaces, while the attachment remains secure during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Foot broom devices are releasably attachable to footwear such as a shoe or boot. In some examples, such a foot broom device enables a user to quickly, conveniently, and frequently sweep debris from an area to keep it clean.