Hand-held vacuum cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum cleaners are not well-suited for above-floor cleaning, particularly for large areas like walls and ceilings, and extendable hoses often require excessive force to maneuver, leading to reduced airflow and potential collapse due to coil spring unwinding.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held vacuum cleaner with a lowered center of gravity, a 'nose-heavy' design, and an extendable hose within a rigid tube to facilitate easy maneuverability and maintain airflow, along with a cyclonic separator and baffle for efficient dust collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If an extendable flexible hose with coil spring is used to reach remote locations, then the reach distance is improved, but the hose becomes difficult to manoeuvre and requires excessive force to extend
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid tube is introduced as an intermediary component between the user's hand and the flexible hose. The rigid tube acts as a lever that amplifies the user's maneuvering force, making it easier to extend and position the flexible hose in remote locations without requiring excessive force directly on the hose itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid tube extends the operational dimension by providing a rigid extension that reaches further than the flexible hose alone could be maneuvered. This allows the user to access remote locations by extending the system in a linear dimension while the flexible hose provides the necessary flexibility for positioning.
2Length of moving object
If the coil spring in the extendable hose is unwound to extend the hose, then the hose length is increased, but the hose may collapse due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid tube serves as a mediator that distributes and amplifies the user's force, preventing excessive localized force from being applied to the coil spring during hose extension. This reduces the risk of the hose collapsing while still allowing full extension when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid tube provides preliminary structural support during the hose extension process, counteracting the collapsing tendency of the flexible hose before the coil spring is fully unwound. This preliminary support prevents structural failure during the transition from contracted to extended state.
3Length of moving object
If excessive force is applied to extend the hose to remote locations, then the reach distance is improved, but the airflow is reduced due to hose collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid tube acts as a force amplifier that allows the user to reach remote locations with minimal applied force. By providing mechanical leverage, it eliminates the need to apply excessive force that would cause hose collapse and subsequent airflow reduction, maintaining both reach distance and airflow productivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the vacuum cleaner is designed for above-floor cleaning, then the cleaning versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner is designed with universal cleaning capabilities that can handle both floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning tasks. The extendable hose with rigid tube assembly serves multiple functions: it allows reaching remote locations, maintains airflow, and provides structural support, eliminating the need for separate specialized equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
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
Enables extended use without user fatigue, improved airflow, and effective dust collection, particularly for hard-to-reach areas like ceilings, with reduced risk of hose collapse and enhanced cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic separator and baffle for efficient dust collection
Implementation Method 2
a motor and an impeller located within the body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10). The vacuum cleaner is expected to have particular utility for cleaning locations which are difficult to reach with a conventional vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner (10) has a body (12) with a substantially planar base (22) upon which the vacuum cleaner can rest when not in use, the body having a carrying handle (20), a motor (14) and an impeller (16) located within the body, the vacuum cleaner also having a collector (26, 126) and a battery pack (18), the battery pack providing at least a part of the base (22). The motor and the battery pack are located between the base and the collector so as to lower the centre of gravity and make the vacuum cleaner more comfortable for use, especially over long periods. Ideally, the centre of gravity is close to the carrying handle, and between the carrying handle and the nozzle so that the vacuum cleaner is slightly "nose heavy".