Lift-Off Tank Handle Latch for Compact Carpet Extractor Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carpet extractors with long accessory hoses face difficulties in storage, entanglement, and manipulation due to their size, making them cumbersome for both floor and above-floor cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
A carpet extractor design featuring a base portion with a pivotally connected handle, a solution tank removably mounted to the handle, a recovery tank mounted to either the handle or base, and a suction nozzle with a latch system that allows for easy detachment and storage of the solution tank, improving handling and storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large accessory hose is used to clean hard to reach areas, then cleaning versatility is improved, but storage difficulty and entanglement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory hose is segmented into a stored position and an extended position. The hose can be partially retracted into a storage compartment when not in use, reducing its effective length and preventing entanglement, while still allowing full extension when needed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory hose is nested within a storage compartment or housing structure. The hose can be coiled or folded back into itself and stored within a dedicated space on the extractor body, allowing the long hose to be compacted to a manageable size for storage and transport.
2Length of moving object
If a large accessory hose is used to reach distant areas, then cleaning reach is improved, but manipulation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory hose incorporates a telescopic or extendable mechanism that allows the hose length to be dynamically adjusted. The hose can be extended to full length when reaching distant areas and retracted to a shorter length when maneuvering in confined spaces, optimizing manipulation ease for different operational scenarios.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the solution tank is permanently fixed to the handle, then structural stability is improved, but storage efficiency and flexibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The solution tank is segmented from the handle assembly through a removable mounting mechanism. The tank can be detached from the handle when not needed, allowing the handle to be stored separately or used with different tank configurations, while providing stable attachment when the tank is mounted for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism transitions between a locked state during cleaning operations (providing structural stability) and an unlocked state for storage or reconfiguration (providing flexibility). The dynamic mounting system allows the tank to be securely fixed when needed and easily removed when storage efficiency is prioritized.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a base portion for movement along a surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. Additionally the apparatus includes a solution tank, a recovery tank, both removable mounted to a handle, and a suction source. The solution tank supplies a flow of cleaning solution and the recovery tank receives dirt and liquid thorough fluid communication with the base portion and a suction nozzle secured to the base portion and in fluid communication with the suction source to generate the suction. The solution tank has a fixedly secured carrying handle and the apparatus further includes a latch pivotally connected to the tank carrying handle and releasably connected to the handle for releasably latching the solution tank to the handle. Simultaneously grasping the latch and the tank carrying handle unlatches the solution tank from the handle.