Handheld Vacuum Layout for Balanced Weight and Easier Maneuvering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held vacuum cleaners are tiring and uncomfortable to use due to the center of mass being forward of the handgrip, requiring excessive effort to maintain orientation, as the heavy components like the motor and fan assembly are positioned ahead of the user's hand.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held vacuum cleaner design with the handgrip positioned between the airflow generator and the power source, where the airflow generator is adjacent the first end of the handgrip, and the power source is adjacent the second end, allowing the user's hand to be between the heaviest components, distributing weight evenly and reducing strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the motor and fan assembly are located forwardly of the handgrip, then the suction performance is improved, but the center of mass shifts forward making the vacuum cleaner tiring and uncomfortable to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the motor and fan assembly adjacent to the first end of the handgrip and the power source adjacent to the second end, with the handgrip positioned between them. This reverses the traditional forward-weighted configuration and creates a balanced distribution where the user's hand acts as a fulcrum between the two heavy components, eliminating the forward torque that causes user fatigue while preserving suction performance.
2Ease of operation
If the handgrip is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical main body, then the user gets a stronger wrist position, but the heavy components must be located forwardly of the handgrip resulting in poor balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by positioning the power source (another heavy component) at the second end of the handgrip, opposite to the airflow generator at the first end. This creates a balanced weight distribution where the handgrip serves as a fulcrum between the two counterbalancing masses, providing both strong wrist position and stable center of mass alignment with the user's hand.
3Device complexity
If the airflow generator and power source are both located in the main body, then the structure is compact, but the center of gravity is not optimally positioned for easy manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes components along the longitudinal dimension of the handgrip rather than concentrating them in the transverse plane of the main body. By extending the component arrangement along the length of the handgrip with the airflow generator at the first end and the power source at the second end, the design achieves both compactness (components are still integrated in the main body) and optimal center of gravity positioning (balanced along the grip axis).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention provides a hand-held cleaning appliance (10) comprising a suction conduit (14), an airflow generator (36) for generating an airflow along the suction conduit (14), separating apparatus (18) in communication with the suction conduit (14) for separating dirt and dust from the airflow, a power source (32) for supplying power to the airflow generator (36) and a handgrip (28) for enabling a user to manoeuvre the hand-held cleaning appliance. The handgrip (28) has a first end (46) and a second end (48). The airflow generator (36) is arranged directly adjacent the first end (46) of the handgrip (28) and the power source (32) is arranged adjacent the second end (48) of the handgrip (28). By providing a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10) with such an arrangement, the hand-held vacuum cleaner (10) is easier and more comfortable to manipulate in use.