Upright Vacuum Alignment Locking for Stable Storage Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Upright vacuum cleaners lack stability in storage positions due to improper orientation of the upper section, leading to potential tipping or falling, and existing solutions require manual locking mechanisms that can be forgotten, causing damage.
Innovation Solution
An anti-rotation locking mechanism and alignment mechanism are integrated into the vacuum cleaner, allowing the upper section to be automatically secured in a stable storage position and easily transitioned to a floor cleaning position without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the upper section is made rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head, then the vacuum cleaner can be converted between storage position and floor cleaning position, but the vacuum cleaner becomes unstable in storage position due to improper orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment mechanism automatically guides the upper section into the correct orientation during rotation, and the anti-rotation locking mechanism automatically locks the upper section in the storage position without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the rotation and positioning actions to trigger the alignment and locking functions automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rotatable upper section and the base, providing guiding surfaces that direct the upper section into proper orientation. The anti-rotation locking mechanism serves as an intermediary that mediates between the rotated position and the locked storage position, ensuring stable orientation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a manual locking mechanism is provided to secure the upper section in storage position, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases and user error may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation locking mechanism is designed to engage automatically when the upper section is rotated into the storage position. The locking action is triggered by the rotation itself, eliminating the need for separate manual locking operations and reducing user error while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism performs the preliminary action of guiding the upper section into correct orientation before the locking mechanism engages. This preliminary alignment ensures that when the locking mechanism activates, the upper section is already in the proper position, simplifying the overall system.
3Ease of operation
If the upper section is rotated freely during cleaning operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the vacuum cleaner may accidentally rotate to unstable orientation during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the rotational characteristics of the upper section based on its position. During cleaning operation, the upper section can rotate freely for easy maneuvering. During storage, the anti-rotation locking mechanism activates to prevent accidental rotation, providing the appropriate dynamic constraint for each operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment mechanism provides feedback through its guiding surfaces that indicate when the upper section is approaching the correct storage orientation. The locking mechanism responds to this feedback by engaging automatically when the proper orientation is achieved, ensuring reliable storage positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An upright surface cleaning apparatus has an upper section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an in use position and a storage position. The upper section is rotationally mounted to the surface cleaning head. The upright surface cleaning apparatus has an alignment mechanism comprising a first cooperating alignment member associated with the surface cleaning head and a second cooperating alignment member associated with the upper section, the first and second members guiding the upper section to a particular orientation or range of orientations when the upper section is moved into the storage position.