Vacuum Cleaner Hose-and-Wand Assembly with Nested Hose Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stick-type vacuum cleaners face challenges in conveniently storing and retrieving the powered suction hose when not in use, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A hose-and-wand assembly integrating a flexible suction hose and a rigid wand body with an elongated slot and wand cavity, allowing the hose to be stowed within the wand cavity when not in use and easily deployed when needed, with electrical conductors and end couplers for seamless connection to the base and handheld portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the powered suction hose is kept separate and external to the wand body, then the hose can be easily accessed and replaced, but the user must spend time locating and retrieving the hose from storage when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible suction hose is nested within the rigid wand body through the elongated slot that provides access to the wand cavity. When not in use, the hose is stored inside the wand body, eliminating the need for separate storage locations and reducing time to locate and retrieve the hose.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose storage function is merged with the wand body by integrating the wand cavity and elongated slot directly into the wand structure. This combines two previously separate functions (wand extension and hose storage) into a single integrated component, reducing device complexity while eliminating retrieval time.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible suction hose is integrated within the rigid wand body, then storage convenience is improved, but the hose must be easily deployable when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible suction hose is nested within the rigid wand body, allowing the hose to be conveniently stored inside the wand cavity. The elongated slot provides easy access for deploying and retracting the hose, making storage simple without adding significant structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wand body is segmented to include a wand cavity and an elongated slot that runs along its length. This segmentation allows the hose to be stored within the wand while maintaining easy access through the slot, balancing storage convenience with operational ease.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hose is stored within the wand cavity through the elongated slot, then separate storage is eliminated, but the wand body structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid wand body is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as an extension tool for reaching distant or obstructed workspaces and simultaneously serves as a storage container for the flexible suction hose. The elongated slot enables the wand to transition between these functions seamlessly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible suction hose is nested within the rigid wand body, allowing the wand to function both as a structural extension tool and as a storage container. This nested arrangement provides versatility for different cleaning tasks without requiring separate storage components.
Data Source
AI summary
A hose-and-wand assembly for use with a surface cleaning apparatus having a handheld portion and a base assembly includes a flexible suction hose having first and second working positions, electrical conductors connected to or carried by the flexible suction hose, and a rigid wand body. The wand body defines an elongated slot and surrounds a wand cavity that is contiguous with the elongated slot. End couplers are connected to opposite ends of the hose and releasably connectable a respective one of the base assembly and the handheld portion. The end couplers each have electrical contacts connected to the electrical conductors. The elongated slot is configured to admit the flexible suction hose into the wand cavity for stowage therein in the first working position and release the flexible suction hose from the wand cavity in the second working position.