Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle Pivot Limit for Leak-Resistant Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaner nozzles face inefficiencies in suction due to air leaks and user resistance issues caused by varying pressure-flow couples, leading to suboptimal cleaning and usability problems.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner nozzle with a pivoting sole connected to a rotating mechanism that adjusts its angle based on the pressure-flow couple, ensuring optimal air flow distribution and tilting for reduced resistance, using abutment means or elastic elements to limit rotation and maintain efficient cleaning across different vacuum cleaner configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sole is allowed to rotate freely to adapt to cleaning direction, then cleaning adaptability is improved, but air leaks occur on the opposite side reducing suction efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning adaptabilityVSAvoidsuction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sole is designed to rotate dynamically around a vertical axis to adapt to different cleaning directions while maintaining optimal sealing. The rotation capability allows the sole to orient itself according to the cleaning path, improving adaptability without compromising the seal between the sole and floor, thus preventing air leaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the sole rotates with large angle to adapt to movement direction, then scraping performance is improved, but resistance to user progress increases making it difficult to push

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescraping performanceVSAvoidease of pushing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sole rotates dynamically around a vertical axis to adapt to cleaning direction while maintaining optimal contact angle. This dynamic adjustment allows the sole to achieve effective scraping performance through controlled rotation rather than fixed large-angle tilting, reducing the resistance force against the user's pushing motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation function is extracted from the traditional tilting mechanism. Instead of the sole tilting forward or backward to adapt to movement direction, the sole now rotates around a vertical axis, separating the adaptation function from the pressing function, thereby maintaining low pushing resistance while achieving good scraping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the sole is fixed without rotation, then structural simplicity is maintained, but cleaning efficiency decreases due to air leaks and improper air flow distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A simple rotational mechanism is introduced to the sole, allowing it to rotate around a vertical axis. This minimal dynamic element enables the sole to adapt to different cleaning directions and maintain optimal sealing, significantly improving cleaning efficiency without adding complex mechanisms. The rotation feature provides the necessary adaptability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2449936B1Vacuum cleaner nozzle with rotatably limited base plate
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 SEB SA
  • EP2449936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2449936B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The nozzle (100) has a base plate (10) cleaning a floor with airflow-pressure and connected to a connecting rod (20). A limiting unit i.e. stop (14), limits rotation of the base plate to rotation angle (alpha1) with respect to the connecting rod, where the angle is a function of value of the airflow-pressure and proportional to the airflow-pressure. The stop unit is arranged on the connecting rod and on the base plate. The stop includes a cylindrical part fitted on the connecting rod and on the base plate, where the part possesses length representing a value of the angle.