Vacuum Cleaner Pivot Assembly with Integrated Display and Floor Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Upright vacuum cleaners are difficult to maneuver in confined spaces and lack the capability to effectively clean elevated surfaces due to their design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner design featuring a pivot assembly and canister assembly that allows for pivotability and electrical connectivity, enabling the surface cleaning head to be used on various surfaces and heights, with integrated sensors and a display for optimal operation and surface adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an upright vacuum cleaner design is used, then it can effectively clean floor surfaces such as carpeting, but it becomes difficult to maneuver in confined areas and cannot clean elevated surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum cleaner is divided into separable modules: a canister assembly that can be detached from a cleaning head assembly. This segmentation allows the cleaning head to be used independently for confined space cleaning while the canister provides suction for floor cleaning, enabling adaptation to different cleaning scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning head assembly incorporates a pivotable connection that allows it to rotate and adjust its orientation dynamically. This dynamic adjustment enables the cleaning head to access elevated surfaces and navigate confined spaces effectively, transforming the rigid upright structure into a flexible cleaning tool.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning head is separated from the canister assembly, then it can be used independently for above-floor cleaning, but electrical power supply becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is designed with different connection types for different locations: a permanent electrical connection between the canister and cleaning head for powered operation, and a removable electrical connector in the cleaning head for battery-powered portable use. This local differentiation allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector is extracted as a separate, removable component from the cleaning head assembly. This extraction allows the cleaning head to be used independently with an external battery pack when portability is needed, while maintaining full electrical connectivity when attached to the canister for sustained powered operation.
3Extent of automation
If electrical components are integrated in the cleaning head, then intelligent power management and surface detection are enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning head assembly incorporates sensors that automatically detect surface types and trigger appropriate cleaning modes without user intervention. The system self-adjusts its operation based on detected conditions, reducing the need for manual controls and simplifying the user interface despite the presence of multiple electrical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical components in the cleaning head are designed to serve multiple functions: the sensor system detects both surface type and presence of debris, the electrical connector provides both power supply and data communication, and the motor controls both rotation speed and braking. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner includes a surface cleaning head, a pivot assembly pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head such that the pivot assembly is pivotable relative to the surface cleaning head, and a canister assembly coupled to the pivot assembly such that the canister assembly is supported above the surface cleaning head. The pivot assembly pivotally couples to the surface cleaning head such that the pivot assembly is pivotable relative to the surface cleaning head. The canister assembly includes an electrical source connector configured to connect to a power source. The electrical source connector is electrically connected to a plurality of electrical components via a pivot assembly electrical connection. The surface cleaning head further includes an appliance board having an appliance controller, a display board having a display, and a floor-type sensor, each of which being one of the plurality of electrical components.