Upright vacuum cleaner provided with a main body formed from a first and a second half-shell

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high manufacturing costs of stick vacuum cleaners are increased by the fixed, ultrasonically welded connecting conduit in the waste separation and storage device, making the existing designs economically inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A stick vacuum cleaner design featuring a main body composed of assembled half-shells that create an internal connecting duct between the suction head and waste separation device, eliminating the need for additional parts and reducing costs, with a seal between the half-shells to ensure fluidic connection and prevent rigid waste insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed connecting conduit is used in the waste separation and storage device, then the fluidic connection between suction head and waste storage container is ensured, but the manufacturing costs significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the connecting conduit function into the main body structure by forming an internal cavity that integrates the fluidic connection between the suction head and waste storage container. This eliminates the need for a separate fixed connecting conduit, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable fluidic connection through the integrated main body design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If additional parts are fixed to the waste storage container, then the connecting duct function is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the connecting duct function with the main body structure by creating an internal cavity within the main body that serves as the connecting duct. This integration eliminates additional parts that would need to be fixed to the waste storage container, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main body is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the motor, contains the connecting duct through its internal cavity, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated connecting duct components, reducing device complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the main body is made as a single integrated piece, then the structure is simpler, but the sealability of internal connecting duct is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidsealability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the main body into two separate half-shells that are assembled together. This segmentation allows for the creation of an internal connecting duct cavity within the assembled structure while maintaining sealability through gaskets or sealing elements at the joint between the half-shells. The segmented design provides both structural simplicity and effective sealing of the internal duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3698695B1Upright vacuum cleaner provided with a main body formed from a first and a second half-shell
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 SEB SA
  • EP3698695B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3698695B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3698695B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stick vacuum cleaner (2) comprising a handle (4), a suction head (5) configured to be in contact with a floor to be cleaned, a main body (3) disposed between the handle (4) and the suction head (5), and a waste separation and storage device (7) removably mounted on the main body (3). The main body (3) comprises a first half-shell (3.1) and a second half-shell (3.2) assembled together, which define an internal connecting conduit configured to fluidly connect the suction head (5) to an air inlet (12) of the waste separation and storage device (7).