Vacuum cleaner accessory tool
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pet hair often becomes embedded in carpets and upholstery, making it difficult for traditional vacuum cleaners to remove completely, as much of the hair gets trapped within the fabric fibers.
Innovation Solution
An accessory tool with a main housing assembly, suction nozzle, and hair collecting elements that create a balling effect to aggregate pet hair, allowing it to be easily ingested by the vacuum cleaner, featuring directional fabric and channels to guide hair towards the suction nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional vacuum cleaner is used to remove pet hair from fabric surfaces, then some hair can be suctioned up, but a good portion of the hair becomes trapped within the fabric fibers and cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The hair removal system is segmented into two distinct functional components: (1) hair collecting elements that mechanically agitate and lift hair from fabric surfaces, and (2) a suction nozzle that captures and removes the liberated hair through airflow. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the collecting elements focusing on hair liberation and the suction nozzle focusing on hair removal, thereby resolving the contradiction between initial hair pickup and complete hair removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The hair collecting elements perform a preliminary action by mechanically agitating the fabric surface and lifting embedded hair before the suction process occurs. This preliminary agitation prepares the hair for effective suction by positioning it above the fabric surface, ensuring that the subsequent suction action can completely remove the hair rather than just picking up loose particles.
2Productivity
If hair collecting elements are added to create a balling effect, then hair removal effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hair collecting elements are integrated directly into the housing structure of the vacuum accessory tool, merging the agitation function with the existing device body rather than adding a separate mechanical agitation device. The collecting elements are positioned to work in conjunction with the suction nozzle, combining hair agitation and hair capture functions into a unified system that achieves effective hair removal without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hair collecting elements are designed to automatically ball up and aggregate hair as it is liberated from the fabric surface, creating a self-organizing effect where the airflow and element geometry work together to concentrate hair into removable clumps without requiring additional mechanical components or user intervention.
3Productivity
If the suction nozzle is positioned centrally on the underside, then hair can be effectively channeled towards it, but the area for hair collecting elements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The underside of the accessory tool features localized variations in structure: the central region contains the suction nozzle optimized for capturing and removing hair, while the peripheral regions contain hair collecting elements optimized for liberating and aggregating hair. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its specialized function effectively, with the peripheral collecting elements compensating for their smaller individual area by working in concert with the central suction nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The hair collecting elements extend vertically from the underside surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to increase their effective surface area for hair contact without increasing the horizontal footprint. This vertical extension allows the collecting elements to engage with fabric surfaces more effectively while maintaining a compact overall device size and preserving central suction nozzle functionality.
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
Effectively removes pet hair from surfaces by aggregating it into a ball-shaped cluster, ensuring complete removal and self-cleaning during operation, improving hair removal from upholstery and other soft surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source adapted for generating a working air flow from the suction nozzle through the main housing assembly to the conduit
Implementation Method 2
the set of hair collecting elements configured to create a balling or aggregating effect of removed hair from a surface to be cleaned during use to agglomerate the removed hair into a ball-shaped cluster
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory tool for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool has a hair removal system configured to collect hair from various surfaces to be cleaned, including soft surfaces such as upholstery, dog beds, pillows, and automobile interiors. The collected hair is gathered by the hair removal system and ingested via the vacuum cleaner.