Vacuum Cleaner Holding Plate Flexible Web Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaner bag holding plates and guide devices suffer from imprecise positioning and excessive material usage due to their design, which results in tilting and increased length for smooth guidance.

Innovation Solution

A holding plate with flexible, bendable webs on its sides that form a sliding surface within the guide device, allowing precise positioning without play and reducing the length of the base plate, combined with a guide device featuring a straight and curved guide section to adapt to the vacuum cleaner bag's contour.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the holding plate is designed to be comparatively long for smooth guidance, then the guidance smoothness is improved, but the positioning precision deteriorates and material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance smoothnessVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by introducing a flexible web element that can bend during insertion. This flexible web acts as a sliding surface in the guide device, allowing the holding plate to be guided smoothly without requiring excessive length. The flexibility enables the web to adapt to the guide path while maintaining precise positioning, thus resolving the contradiction between guidance smoothness and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the web from rigid to flexible, allowing it to bend and deform during the insertion process. This parameter change enables the web to provide smooth guidance through controlled bending while maintaining precise positioning through its elastic recovery, thereby resolving the contradiction without increasing the holding plate length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the holding plate is designed to be comparatively long for smooth guidance, then the guidance smoothness is improved, but the material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance smoothnessVSAvoidmaterial usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible web element serves as a thin film that provides the necessary sliding surface for smooth guidance. This web can be made from minimal material compared to extending the entire holding plate, thus achieving guidance smoothness while minimizing material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the guidance function from the main holding plate structure by introducing a separate flexible web element. This segmentation allows the web to be optimized for guidance functionality with minimal material, while the holding plate itself can be kept short and use less material overall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of substance

If the base plate length is reduced, then material usage decreases, but the risk of tilting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial usageVSAvoidtilting risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible web acts as a stabilizing element that compensates for the reduced base plate length. As the web bends during insertion, it maintains contact with the guide device, preventing the short base plate from tilting. The flexibility of the web allows it to absorb positional variations without causing tilt, thus enabling short base plate design without increasing tilting risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If the holding plate is guided with play, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidance simplicityVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible web provides a sliding surface that guides the holding plate precisely without requiring complex rigid guide structures. The web's flexibility allows it to conform to the guide path while maintaining precise positioning, achieving accurate guidance through a simple, easy-to-manufacture flexible component rather than complex rigid mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables precise and smooth guidance of the holding plate, reduces material usage, and minimizes the risk of tilting, while allowing for a more compact design and efficient insertion mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one bendable web forms a sliding surface and is supported on the guide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3571972B1Holding plate for a vacuum cleaner bag and guiding device of a vacuum cleaner with a vacuum cleaner bag

Publication Date: 2020.12.02 WOLF PVG GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2

AI summary

A retaining plate (1) for a vacuum cleaner bag comprises a base plate (2) with an inlet opening (3) on which a closing flap (4) is rotatably or slidably mounted, by means of which the inlet opening (3) on the base plate (2) can be closed, wherein the base plate (2) can be inserted into a guide device (30) of a vacuum cleaner, wherein a flexible web (14) is provided on at least one side of the base plate (2) which forms a sliding surface when moved along a guide. Furthermore, a guide device (30) of a vacuum cleaner with a vacuum cleaner bag is provided.