Vacuum cleaner with user interface having improved sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and increased manufacturing costs of vacuum cleaners due to the need for multiple seals around movable control buttons, which complicates the structure and assembly, and poses a risk of liquid penetration and air evacuation.
Innovation Solution
A user interface design featuring a stationary support part with a peripheral seal that extends around its edge, allowing a control part to fit inside and deform elastically, simplifying the manufacturing process and enhancing reliability by reducing the number of seals required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple seals are provided around each control button, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sealing functions into a single peripheral sealing gasket that surrounds the entire control part perimeter. Instead of providing separate seals for each control button, the invention uses one continuous gasket that seals the interface between the control part and the support part, thereby reducing the number of sealing components while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral sealing gasket serves multiple sealing functions simultaneously. It seals around the entire control part perimeter, preventing liquid and dust ingress at all control button interfaces through a single universal sealing element, rather than requiring dedicated seals for each button.
2Reliability
If multiple seals are provided around each control button, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple sealing components into a single peripheral sealing gasket, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled. This consolidation directly reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining the necessary sealing functionality across all control button interfaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple seals are provided around each control button, then liquid protection is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sealing functions into a single peripheral sealing gasket that provides continuous protection around the control part. This single gasket prevents liquid and dust ingress at all control button interfaces simultaneously, simplifying the assembly process by reducing the number of sealing operations required.
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
This design reduces manufacturing costs and improves the reliability of the vacuum cleaner by providing a single, easy-to-manage seal on a stationary part, while maintaining effective sealing and operational functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a peripheral sealing gasket which extends around the peripheral edge of the support part... the peripheral sealing joint extends around the perimeter of an outer peripheral surface of the support part and in contact with said outer peripheral surface
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first and second control buttons (45, 46) is elastically deformable between a rest position and an activation position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The vacuum cleaner includes an electronic control unit configured to control the operation of the vacuum cleaner, and a user interface (35) configured to allow a user to select at least one operating mode of the vacuum cleaner, the user interface (35) having a support portion (36) including a peripheral edge (37); a control portion (44) supported by the support portion (36) and configured to allow a user to select at least one operating mode, the control portion (44) having a perimeter that is inscribed within and partly at a distance from the peripheral edge (37) of the support portion (36); and a peripheral sealing gasket (52) extending around the peripheral edge (37) of the support portion (36).