Pivoting Vacuum Fur Brush for Self-Cleaning Bristle Inversion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum cleaner attachments struggle to effectively remove pet hair and fur from surfaces due to tangling and clogging, requiring manual cleaning and inefficiency in debris removal.

Innovation Solution

A self-cleaning vacuum cleaner accessory apparatus with a bristle plate and pivot mechanism that allows bristles to invert and be cleaned by airflow, preventing clogging and allowing for easy debris removal without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional vacuum cleaner attachments are used to remove pet hair, then the vacuum airflow can reach the surface, but the pet hair becomes tangled or interwoven with the fabric making removal insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepet hair removal effectivenessVSAvoidbrush clogging and binding

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bristle plate is designed to invert its orientation during operation. In the cleaning position, bristles extend outward to grab pet hair. After collecting hair, the bristle plate inverts so bristles extend inward toward the nozzle, allowing accumulated hair to be removed by vacuum airflow from the rear, thus preventing clogging and binding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The bristle plate is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change orientation dynamically. A pivot mechanism enables the bristle plate to rotate between outward-extending (cleaning) and inward-extending (self-cleaning) positions, adapting the brush configuration based on operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a dedicated pet brush with rubber or rubberized bristles is used to efficiently grab hair, then hair removal is improved, but the brushes accumulate collected hair requiring manual cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair grabbing efficiencyVSAvoidmanual cleaning requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum brush automatically cleans itself during operation. After the bristle plate inverts, the vacuum airflow passes through the nozzle and removes accumulated hair from the bristles without user intervention. The system uses its own operating resources (vacuum airflow) to perform the cleaning function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring manual picking of hair from bristles, the system inverts the bristle plate and uses reverse airflow to blow hair off the bristles. This inverts the cleaning process from manual extraction to automated ejection using the vacuum system's own airflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If rotating or moving parts are used in vacuum cleaners to remove debris, then debris removal capability is enhanced, but pet hair accumulates at or in the moving parts impeding operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris removal capabilityVSAvoidmoving parts clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot mechanism extracts the bristle plate from the fixed structure, allowing it to be removed and inverted independently. This separation enables the bristle plate to be positioned for self-cleaning without affecting the main vacuum mechanism, reducing complexity in managing moving parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The moving bristle plate serves itself by automatically removing accumulated hair through inversion and airflow. This self-maintaining mechanism eliminates the need for additional complex mechanisms to prevent clogging in moving parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 self-cleaning mechanism efficiently removes pet hair and fur from surfaces without manual cleaning, maintaining tool effectiveness and reducing user effort.

Implementation Method 1

a vacuum cleaner or other cleaning device employing airflow suction for the removal of debris

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a pivot adapted to rotate the bristle plate in order to invert the bristle plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 3

airflow from a vacuum self-clean the at least one bristle by removing debris from the at least one bristle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS8677559B2Vacuum assisted fur removal tool

Publication Date: 2014.03.25 EMERSON ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

Described is a self-cleaning vacuum cleaner accessory apparatus, method, and system including a tubular element, a nozzle, and a nozzle housing that can include at least one nozzle housing notch. The apparatus can further include a bristle plate coupled to the nozzle housing. The bristle plate can include at least one bristle and at least one tabular release element to control the movement of at least one bristle plate tab. The at least one bristle plate tab can be coupled to, or decoupled from, the at least one nozzle housing notch to either permit or prohibit the bristle plate's movement with respect to the nozzle housing. The bristle plate can further include a pivot for rotating the bristle plate to invert the at least one bristle's orientation. Once inverted, airflow from a vacuum can remove debris from the bristles before returning the bristle plate to its original orientation.