Rotatable brush for surface cleaning apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary brushes in surface cleaning apparatuses often face issues with hair and string debris becoming embedded in bristles, leading to impaired performance and requiring manual removal, which is time-consuming and undesirable.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating leading and trailing hair blocking members, such as flexible elastomeric strips, on the brush roll to prevent hair and string from becoming embedded in the bristles, and optionally using sheaths or internal hair blocking members within bristle tufts to inhibit debris migration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a brush roll with bristles is used for surface cleaning, then debris can be dislodged and conveyed towards the inlet, but hair and string-like debris become embedded in the bristles, impairing performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris dislodging and conveying capabilityVSAvoidbrush roll performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A hair blocking member made of flexible elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary component between the bristles and the hair/string debris. This blocking member prevents direct contact between the debris and bristles, stopping the embedding process while allowing the brush roll to continue its cleaning function effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The brush roll system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the bristle region for debris engagement and the hair blocking member region for debris prevention. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while preventing hair entanglement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If hair blocking members are added to prevent hair embedding, then hair removal ease is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair and debris removal easeVSAvoidbrush roll structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hair blocking member is constructed from a flexible elastomeric material that forms a thin, conforming barrier. This flexible film approach provides effective hair blocking functionality while maintaining a simple, lightweight structure that integrates easily with the existing brush roll design, minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively prevents hair and string from embedding in the bristles, allowing for easier cleaning and reducing the need for manual removal, enhancing the brush roll's performance and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

the hair blocking member is flexible. For example, it may be made from an elastomeric material. Accordingly, it may be resiliently deformable.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10722022B2Rotatable brush for surface cleaning apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 OMACHRON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC

AI summary

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a rotatably mounted brush associated with a dirty air inlet. A plurality of bristles extend outwardly from a radial outer surface of the rotatably mounted brush. The brush roll is provided with at least one hard floor cleaning pad and at least one flexible protective pad member.