Pivoting Vacuum Cleaner Handle for Compact Storage Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional upright vacuum cleaners require additional space for storage due to the handle protruding from the cleaner housing when folded, resulting in a larger footprint compared to other configurations.
Innovation Solution
A pivot joint mechanism that allows the handle to rotate about a pivot axis non-perpendicular to the cleaner housing's longitudinal axis, enabling the handle to fold conically and store adjacent to the housing without increasing the overall footprint, utilizing a pivot joint with offset angles and a locking mechanism for secure operation and storage positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the handle is folded downward for storage, then the handle can be stored in a compact position, but the handle protrudes from the cleaner housing and increases the overall footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot axis is oriented non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cleaner housing, causing the handle to fold along a conical path rather than a simple planar arc. This three-dimensional folding motion allows the handle to occupy a different spatial dimension during storage, reducing its projection onto the horizontal plane and thereby minimizing the footprint while maintaining compact storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical folding path of the handle creates a curved storage trajectory rather than a straight linear fold. This curved motion allows the handle to nestle against the contour of the cleaner housing more effectively, utilizing the three-dimensional space around the housing more efficiently and reducing the overall envelope dimensions required for storage.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis for simple construction, then the manufacturing is easier, but the handle protrudes and increases storage footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot axis is deliberately angled at a specific non-perpendicular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the cleaner housing. This parameter change in the pivot axis angle transforms the folding geometry from a simple planar arc to a conical path, enabling compact storage without significantly complicating the pivot joint construction. The angled pivot axis allows the handle to trace a three-dimensional conical surface during folding, reducing horizontal projection and footprint.
3Ease of operation
If the handle folds in a simple planar arc, then the folding motion is straightforward, but the handle cannot achieve compact storage position
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the pivot axis non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the handle's folding motion transitions from two-dimensional planar arc to three-dimensional conical path. This additional dimensional freedom allows the handle to achieve a more compact storage position by utilizing vertical and radial space more effectively, while the conical motion remains intuitively simple for the user to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning device generally includes a nozzle, a cleaner housing connected to the nozzle, and a handle coupled to the cleaner housing at a pivot joint. The cleaner housing defines a longitudinal axis. The pivot joint is configured to rotatably store the handle at a position offset from the longitudinal axis.