Multiuse Home Station With Shared Docking and Air Filtration

Solution Overview

Problem

The proliferation of various cleaning appliances in homes leads to increased costs and space requirements, as each appliance is designed for specific tasks, resulting in redundant components and inefficient use of space.

Innovation Solution

A multiuse home station that integrates functions of multiple appliances, such as a robot vacuum docking station, room air cleaner, and charging station, sharing components like air moving and treatment members, and offering additional features like disinfection units and modular design to reduce space and costs while maintaining functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated cleaning appliances are used to cover different cleaning needs, then cleaning functionality and versatility are improved, but space requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning functionalityVSAvoidspace requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cleaning appliances (robot vacuum, steam mop, air cleaner) into a single integrated home station. The robot vacuum dock, steam mop charging station, and air cleaner are merged into one unified structure, allowing all three appliances to share common space and infrastructure while maintaining their individual cleaning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The home station is designed as a universal platform that serves multiple cleaning purposes. A single station provides robot vacuum docking, steam mop charging and storage, and air cleaning functions, making the system adaptable to various cleaning needs without requiring separate dedicated spaces for each appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated cleaning appliances are used to cover different cleaning needs, then cleaning functionality is improved, but total cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning functionalityVSAvoidtotal cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cleaning appliances (robot vacuum, steam mop, air cleaner) into a single integrated home station. The robot vacuum dock, steam mop charging station, and air cleaner are merged into one unified structure, allowing all three appliances to share common space and infrastructure while maintaining their individual cleaning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The home station is designed as a universal platform that serves multiple cleaning purposes. A single station provides robot vacuum docking, steam mop charging and storage, and air cleaning functions, making the system adaptable to various cleaning needs without requiring separate dedicated spaces for each appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated cleaning appliances are used to cover different cleaning needs, then cleaning versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning versatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The home station is segmented into distinct functional modules: a robot vacuum docking station, a steam mop charging station, and an air cleaner unit. Each module operates independently with its own controls and functions, allowing the complex system to be managed through modular components rather than a monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Area of stationary object

If a docking station for robot vacuum is used, then floor space is utilized, but additional functionality could be added to avoid needing separate appliances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor space utilizationVSAvoidadditional functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The robot vacuum docking station is designed as a universal platform that provides multiple functions beyond just docking. It includes integrated steam mop charging capabilities and air cleaning functions, allowing the same floor-space-occupying structure to serve as a multi-functional hub for various cleaning appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The multiuse home station reduces space and cost by sharing components across appliances, enhances convenience with integrated features, and allows for easy upgrading or replacement of units, maintaining functionality and convenience without the need for multiple dedicated appliances.

Implementation Method 1

an air moving member and an air treatment member that work in conjunction to draw air into the air treatment member, remove particles from air, and circulate the air in a room

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir movement:

Implementation Method 2

remove particles from air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParticle removal:

Data Source

PatentUS11794141B2Multiuse home station

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 OMACHRON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC

AI summary

A multiuse home station includes an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station, an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus charging station, and a room air cleaner unit, wherein the room air unit uses a portion of the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station.