Transparent Dust Container Assembly With Hidden Wiring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaners with transparent or translucent dust containers expose power supply wires externally, which is aesthetically unappealing and can lead to misassembly issues due to the need for precise connection of terminals.

Innovation Solution

A cover member is integrated between the main body and wires to conceal them, with a terminal system that ensures easy and secure connection between the handle and main body units, preventing the main body terminal from being pushed down during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the dust container is made transparent or translucent to allow visual checking of dust, then the aesthetic appearance and user convenience are improved, but the wires become visible from the outside which is aesthetically unappealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransparency of dust containerVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A cover member is introduced as an intermediary component between the transparent dust container and the wires. This cover member obscures the wires from external view while being positioned within the dust container, thus maintaining the transparency benefit for dust visibility while eliminating the aesthetic drawback of exposed wires

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the wires are exposed externally for easy connection, then the assembly process is simplified, but the risk of misassembly increases due to lack of proper positioning guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of terminal connectionVSAvoidassembly accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is designed with self-aligning features including positioning protrusions and grooves that guide the handle terminal into correct alignment with the main body terminal during assembly. This self-positioning mechanism ensures accurate connection without requiring external alignment tools or complex procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal connection structure is nested within the cover member, which itself is positioned within the dust container. This nested arrangement allows the terminals to be connected through the cover member's internal structure, providing both protection and precise positioning guidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3485775B1cleaner
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3485775B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3485775B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3485775B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaner includes: a suction unit that guides air and dust; a main body connected with the suction unit and including a dust separation unit that separates dust from air, and a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit, at least a portion of the dust container being transparent or translucent; a handle unit connected to the main body and has a battery; a power receiving component disposed in the main body to be supplied with power from the battery; wires that are connected to the power receiver; and a cover member coupled to the main body and disposed between the main body and the wires to prevent the wires from being seen from the outside of the dust container.