Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle With Visible Auxiliary Brush Position Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaner nozzles lack user feedback on brush position, especially under poor lighting conditions, and require complex mechanisms like windows with symbols, which can be difficult to read.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating auxiliary brushes that project inclined and beyond the nozzle edges in the first position, providing visible feedback without symbols, and enhancing cleaning efficiency, with the ability to pivot and flex for improved dust collection in corners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a window with symbols is provided in the housing to indicate brush position, then user feedback on brush position is provided, but the device complexity increases and the symbols may be difficult to see under poor lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser feedback on brush positionVSAvoidcomplexity of window and symbol mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the feedback function from a complex window-with-symbols mechanism and implements it through a simple auxiliary brush that naturally indicates brush position through its own visibility. The auxiliary brush serves as a direct visual indicator without requiring any window, symbols, or additional mechanical components for feedback display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary brush serves dual purposes: it provides visual feedback about brush position through its own visibility and simultaneously contributes to cleaning functionality. The brush's position and visibility state directly communicate system status without requiring separate indicator mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If symbols are provided through a window to indicate brush position, then user feedback is provided, but the symbols may be difficult to see under poor lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser feedback on brush positionVSAvoidvisibility under poor lighting conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the physical presence and visibility of the auxiliary brush itself as the indicator, rather than relying on symbols that depend on lighting conditions. The brush's position and visibility are inherently visible through its physical form and location, providing lighting-independent feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Loss of information

If auxiliary brushes extend beyond the edges of the housing, then visibility from above the nozzle is improved, but the device dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of brush positionVSAvoidarea of housing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the auxiliary brush in a lateral direction beyond the housing edges to create top-down visibility. This dimensional extension allows the brush position to be observed from above without significantly increasing the overall footprint or affecting the main cleaning surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2268182B1nozzle
Publication Date: 2015.06.10 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP2268182B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2C
  • EP2268182B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~5
  • EP2268182B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) comprising a housing having a cleaning surface, configured to face a surface to be cleaned. One or more main brushes (17, 19) can be manoeuvred between a first and a second position by means of a pedal on the nozzle. In the first position, the main brushes project downwardly from the cleaning surface and in the second position the main brushes are retracted. The nozzle further comprises at least one auxiliary brush (21, 23) which is arranged to move corresponding to the main brushes and which projects, in the first position, towards the surface to be cleaned in an inclined manner and extends beyond the edges of the cleaning surface, such that the auxiliary brush is visible from above the nozzle.