Hand-held bagless vacuum cleaner provided with a removable bowl

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bagless hand-held vacuum cleaners face challenges in handling and suction efficiency, particularly when vacuuming raised surfaces, due to inadequate fixation and sealing between the bowl and body, and cumbersome cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

The vacuum cleaner features a second handle at the front, a guiding and holding system between the bowl and body, and a locking mechanism with bolts and strikers, ensuring secure attachment and easy disengagement, along with seals for improved suction and ergonomic handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the bowl is made removable from the body for cleaning purposes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential detachment during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidfixation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner is divided into separable components (body and bowl assembly) that can be easily detached for cleaning purposes. The bowl assembly including the suction tube and filter element can be completely removed from the body by pulling the bowl away from the body, allowing thorough cleaning of all components without disassembling the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bowl is pre-equipped with a control member that automatically triggers the unlocking of assembly means when actuated. This preliminary action mechanism ensures that when the user presses the control member, the locking bolts are automatically retracted and the bowl is ready to be removed, streamlining the cleaning preparation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the assembly means provide strong fixation between bowl and body, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation strengthVSAvoiddetachment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly means incorporate locking bolts that can dynamically change their locking state. During normal operation, the bolts extend to provide strong fixation between the bowl and body. When the control member is actuated, the bolts automatically retract to allow easy detachment. This dynamic mechanism enables the same component to provide both strong fixation and easy release as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control member serves as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the locking system. When the user presses the control member, it triggers the retraction of the locking bolts through transmission means, mediating the transition from a locked state to an unlocked state. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the user's interaction while ensuring reliable locking during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the bowl is securely locked to the body, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for emptying deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking stabilityVSAvoidemptying convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bowl is designed as a separable component that can be completely removed from the body assembly. This segmentation allows the bowl to be securely locked during operation for reliable suction, but also enables easy complete removal for emptying and cleaning. The user can simply pull the bowl away from the body after actuating the control member to access and empty the collection container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control member is positioned and configured to automatically prepare the locking mechanism for release before the user needs to empty the bowl. When actuated, it preliminarily retracts the locking bolts and positions the bowl for easy removal, making the emptying process convenient and quick without requiring manual manipulation of locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If the suction tube is integrated into the bowl, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The suction tube is integrated with the bowl to form a unified bowl assembly that is separable from the body. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity within the bowl assembly while enabling complete removal of the entire assembly for cleaning. The suction tube, bowl, and filter element move together as one unit that can be easily detached and cleaned separately from the main body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control member is configured to automatically prepare the entire bowl assembly including the integrated suction tube for removal. When actuated, it preliminarily unlocks the assembly means and positions the integrated suction tube and bowl for easy complete removal, making cleaning accessible without requiring disassembly of the suction tube from the bowl.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates handling on various surfaces, prevents detachment during shocks, optimizes suction by ensuring a tight seal, and simplifies the emptying and cleaning of the bowl and filter element.

Implementation Method 1

the air flow generates a depression allowing the impurities to be sucked up through the front end of the suction tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

the air flow laden with impurities circulates in said tube then enters the bowl where the impurities remain trapped largely thanks to a centrifugal force generated in this bowl

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

the filtering element arranged downstream (taking into account the direction of circulation of the air flow) makes it possible to retain the fine particles of impurities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3488750B1Hand-held bagless vacuum cleaner provided with a removable bowl
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 SEB SA
  • EP3488750B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3488750B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3488750B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a body (2) having a first gripping handle (4) arranged at the rear of the vacuum cleaner and suction means; a suction tube (6) arranged at the front of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber (18) having a bowl (17) communicating with the suction tube and a filter element (25) inserted in the bowl and communicating with the suction means, characterized in that the vacuum cleaner (1) comprises: - A second gripping handle (22) located at the front of the vacuum cleaner, the longitudinal axes of the first (4) and second (22) gripping handles being substantially parallel.