Multi-functional vacuum cleaner nozzle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vacuum cleaner nozzles lack versatility in adapting to various surface types, with existing designs often limited to two or three modes of operation, which do not adequately address the diverse cleaning needs of both hard floors and carpets.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner nozzle with a selector mechanism enabling at least three modes of operation, including a hard floor mode, a smart mode with a spring-loaded glide plate for varying surface interaction, and a carpet mode with a retractable brush for enhanced sealing and suction power, utilizing wheels and brushes for different surface interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional nozzle with a single brush configuration is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different surface types is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different surface typesVSAvoidnozzle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle employs a dynamic brush retraction mechanism that allows the brush to be retracted into the nozzle head for hard floors and extended for carpets. This dynamic adjustment enables the same nozzle structure to adapt to different surface types, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle is designed with multi-functionality to handle both hard floors and carpets using a single device. By incorporating a retractable brush mechanism and glide plate, the nozzle can perform multiple cleaning functions without requiring separate specialized nozzles, thus improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If the brush is fully retracted for hard floor mode, then suction power is optimized, but cleaning effectiveness on carpets is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction powerVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness on carpets
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The brush position is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to be retracted for hard floors to optimize suction power and extended for carpets to improve cleaning effectiveness. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling the brush to occupy different spatial states based on the surface type being cleaned.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the brush is extended for carpet mode, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but suction power and sealing are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsuction power
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The retractable brush mechanism allows the brush to be extended into the nozzle head for carpet cleaning, improving contact and cleaning effectiveness while maintaining adequate suction power through the dynamic adjustment of brush position rather than fixed extension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed glide plate is used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to adapt to varying surface interactions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface interaction adaptabilityVSAvoidnozzle mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The glide plate is designed to move or adjust its position based on the surface type being cleaned, providing dynamic adaptability to varying surface interactions. This movement capability allows the glide plate to optimize its position for different surfaces while integrating into the existing retractable brush mechanism without significantly increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 nozzle provides efficient and adaptable cleaning across diverse surfaces by optimizing brush and glide plate positions, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reducing noise and suction loss, while maintaining consistent suction power.

Implementation Method 1

a spring-loaded glide plate for varying surface interaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4062815B1Multi-functional vacuum cleaner nozzle
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 AB ELECTROLUX
  • EP4062815B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4062815B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4062815B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle with a nozzle head (103) having at least one suction opening through which suction opening air can enter the vacuum cleaner nozzle. The vacuum cleaner nozzle also comprises at least one movable glide plate (108) configured to in at least one mode of operation glide on a surface to be cleaned and at least one retractable brush (109). The vacuum cleaner nozzle is configured to be selectable operated in at least three modes of operation. Each of the at least three modes of operation are enabled by moving the at least one of the retractable brush and the at least one glide plate in relation the nozzle head. The movement will typically be vertical when the nozzle head is used on a horizontal surface. Hereby multiple modes of operations are enabled in an efficient manner that can provide different modes of operation suitable for different surfaces. The different modes of operations can be enabled by only moving a retractable brush and a glide plate. Hence there is no need for any additional arrangement such as configurable wheels for providing multiple (at least three) modes of operation.