Suction assembly comprising a support base and a portable vacuum cleaner provided with holding members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable vacuum cleaners often experience a decrease in clamping force over time when stored on a support base without being connected to a surface, leading to potential slipping and falling.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a gripping handle with lateral holding members and a support base with retaining tabs that engage under these members to prevent vertical sliding and ensure stable storage, even when not connected to a surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If retaining devices are used to clamp the gripping handle on the support base, then the handheld vacuum cleaner can be stored in a fixed position, but the clamping force decreases over time causing the vacuum cleaner to slip and fall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidclamping force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The solution introduces a new dimensional constraint by adding retaining members that extend laterally from the gripping handle. These members engage with retaining elements on the support base, creating a multi-dimensional retention system that prevents vertical sliding in addition to horizontal clamping, thereby maintaining storage stability without relying solely on decreasing clamping force

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The retention system is segmented into multiple independent components: retaining members on the handle and retaining elements on the base. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific retention function, distributing the retention load and preventing single-point failure that would occur with a simple clamping mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the handheld vacuum cleaner is stored without being connected to a suction tube, then it can be freely placed on the support base, but the retaining devices cannot maintain optimal tightening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidretention reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retention system is designed to be universal, functioning effectively whether the vacuum cleaner is connected to a suction tube or stored independently. The retaining members and elements create a retention mechanism that adapts to different storage scenarios, maintaining reliability in both connected and disconnected states without requiring additional components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4248819A1Suction assembly comprising a support base and a portable vacuum cleaner provided with holding members
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 SEB SA
  • EP4248819A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4248819A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4248819A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The vacuum assembly (1) includes a handheld vacuum cleaner (2) comprising a main body (4), a waste separation and collection device (7), a vacuum motor, and a gripping handle (6) having at least one retaining member (37) projecting radially from an outer surface of the gripping handle (6); and a support base (3) configured to support the handheld vacuum cleaner (2) in a storage position, the support base (3) having two retaining members (34) configured to extend on either side of the gripping handle (6), at least one of the two retaining members (34) being configured to engage under at least one retaining member (37) when the handheld vacuum cleaner (2) is in the storage position, so as to support the gripping handle (6).