Pipe Cleaning Brush With Collapsible Handle And Wavy Bristles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe cleaning brushes for clothes dryer air ducts are difficult to hold and use, as they require limited hand rotation and have rigid, easily deformed bristles, and their fixed handles occupy space, making them hard to package and transport.
Innovation Solution
A pipe cleaning brush design featuring a handle with pivotally connected branch rods that allow for easy rotation and collapse, embedding into a fixed handle for compact storage, and wavy-shaped plastic bristles for enhanced durability and cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle and flexible connecting portion are integrated, then the brush body can only move forward and backward, but the user cannot rotate the brush body easily
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into a fixed handle portion and a rotatable plug-connected portion that can be separated. The plug-connected portion includes first and second branch rods that can pivot relative to each other, allowing independent rotation while the fixed handle remains stable for packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug-connected portion is designed to be rotatable relative to the fixed handle, transforming the static integrated structure into a dynamic one. The pivotal connection between branch rods enables rotation motion while maintaining structural integrity during cleaning operations.
2Strength
If round plastic bristles with straight rod shape are used, then the brush body lacks strength, but deformed bristles cannot be restored
Solution Approach 1:
The bristles are changed from straight rod shape to wavy shape with curved profiles. This curvature provides structural strength while the elastic material allows the wavy bristles to return to their original shape after deformation, solving both strength and restoration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bristle geometry is changed from straight to wavy by modifying the shape parameters. The wavy configuration increases structural rigidity while maintaining elastic recovery capability, improving both strength and reliability simultaneously.
3Volume of moving object
If a fixed handle is used, then the overall volume is large, but packaging and transportation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is segmented into a fixed handle portion and a removable plug-connected portion. When not in use, the plug-connected portion can be detached and the branch rods collapsed, significantly reducing the overall volume for packaging and transportation while maintaining a stable fixed handle during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second branch rods can be pivoted to collapse into a compact configuration that nests within or alongside the fixed handle, minimizing the occupied space during storage and transport while preserving full functionality during use.
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 brush can be easily rotated and collapsed for efficient cleaning and storage, with wavy bristles that maintain strength and prevent deformation, improving cleaning efficiency and extending the brush's service life.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of wavy-shaped plastic bristles is fixed in series with the elastic body... a strength of a brush body of the pipe cleaning brush can be increased without being easily deformed
Implementation Method 2
the first branch rod and the second branch rod are pivoted to each other to be opened or collapsed... the second branch rod or the first branch rod is rotated to simultaneously drive the fix handle, the connecting unit, and the cleaning unit 4 to rotate
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe cleaning brush which comprises a cleaning unit including a brush body and an elastic body, a connecting unit including a flexible strip, and a handle unit including a fixed handle and a plug-connected part that are separated and embedded with each other. The plug-connected part includes a first branch rod and a second branch rod. One end of the first branch rod and one end of the second branch rod are pivoted to each other to be opened or collapsed, and the first branch rod or the second branch rod is embedded and positioned above the fixed handle, so that the second branch rod or the first branch rod is rotated and to simultaneously drive the connecting unit and the cleaning unit to rotate.