Vacuum Cleaner Cable Holder With Deflectable Ends for Easy Unwinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners with cord holding devices face issues such as tripping hazards due to protruding mains cables and laborious unwinding processes, which can cause damage and delay usage.
Innovation Solution
A cable holding device with deflectable free end sections on holding elements made of flexible materials, allowing easy winding and unwinding of mains cables, reducing the risk of damage and tripping hazards, and incorporating a cover for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mains cable is wound up on the cable holding device, then storage efficiency is improved and tripping hazards are reduced, but the cable may protrude and still pose tripping hazards or require laborious unwinding
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements are designed with deflectable free end sections that can dynamically change position. During cable removal, the free end sections can be deflected away from the housing to facilitate easy cable extraction. During normal operation, they maintain their original position to securely hold the wound cable. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between secure storage and easy retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable free end sections are pre-configured in a position that facilitates cable removal. Before the user needs to remove the cable, the free end sections are already positioned to allow easy extraction, eliminating the need for laborious unwinding operations during actual cable removal.
2Reliability
If the cable holding device has fixed holding elements, then cable security is improved, but cable removal becomes difficult and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements transition from a static fixed design to a dynamic design where the free end sections can be deflected. During normal operation, they remain in a fixed position to securely hold the cable. During removal operations, they can be deflected away from the housing to facilitate easy cable extraction, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of removal.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid materials are used for holding elements, then structural stability is improved, but cable damage risk increases during winding and unwinding
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements exhibit different mechanical properties at different locations. The base portions are made of rigid material to provide structural stability and secure cable holding. The free end sections are made of flexible material to allow deflection during cable operations, reducing cable damage risk. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between stability and cable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding elements are constructed as composite structures combining rigid and flexible materials. The rigid base provides structural stability while the flexible free end sections provide cable-friendly interaction during winding and unwinding operations, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and cable integrity.
4Ease of operation
If the free end sections are made flexible, then cable removal ease is improved, but unintended cable dropping may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements have different mechanical properties at different locations: rigid base portions for stable cable retention and flexible free end sections for easy removal operations. The flexible sections are designed with specific deflection characteristics that allow intentional removal while preventing unintended dropping, resolving the contradiction between removal ease and retention reliability.
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
The solution enables effortless handling and storage of mains cables, minimizing tripping hazards and damage risks while maintaining efficient operation and protection from dirt and dust.
Implementation Method 1
In the case of at least n-1 holding elements, the free end section can be deflected relative to the housing and directed away from it
Implementation Method 2
at least the deflectable, free end section of the corresponding holding element is made of a flexible and/or deformable material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (11) with a housing (12) and with a mains cable (22) and with a cable holding device (31) arranged on the housing (12) for holding the mains cable (22) in its wound-up state on the housing (12). . The cable holding device (31) has three holding elements (32, 37, 42), each with a free end section (33, 38, 43) which can be deflected relative to the housing (12).