Vacuum Cleaner Storage Mount for Tip-Resistant Parking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface cleaning apparatuses, such as hand vacuum cleaners, face instability and potential for damage when stored, as the cleaning unit's center of gravity can cause the device to tip over, leading to safety hazards and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
The surface cleaning apparatus is designed with a support structure that allows the cleaning unit to be moved between use and storage configurations, featuring a storage mount that repositions the cleaning unit to a lower elevation and forward of the surface cleaning head, ensuring stability and preventing the device from falling over by altering the center of gravity and using a mounting mechanism that engages via gravity without additional locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning unit is positioned at a higher elevation during storage, then accessibility for mounting/dismounting is improved, but the device becomes unstable and may tip over
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions the cleaning unit from a vertical stacking arrangement (prior art) to a horizontal side-mounted arrangement on the support structure. This dimensional change allows the cleaning unit to be positioned forward of the surface cleaning head at a lower elevation, achieving both stability through proper center of gravity positioning and accessibility through the side-mount configuration
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional locking mechanisms are added to secure the cleaning unit during storage, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism utilizes the self-weight of the cleaning unit to automatically engage with the support structure during storage. The cleaning unit's weight creates a natural downward force that secures it in the mounted position without requiring additional locks, latches, or complex fastening systems, thereby achieving stability while maintaining simplicity
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
This configuration enhances the stability of the surface cleaning apparatus during storage, preventing accidental tipping and potential damage, while allowing for easy handling and mounting/dismounting without locks, thus improving safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the mounting member and storage mount may be configured to retain the cleaning unit on the storage mount solely due to the influence of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head. A cleaning unit having an air flow path extending from a cleaning unit air inlet to a clean air outlet, a suction motor and a cyclone chamber provided in the airflow path, and a dirt collection chamber may be configured so that the cleaning unit air inlet is detachably connectable to the support structure to fluidly connect the dirty air inlet. The apparatus can be configured in a use configuration, in which the cleaning unit air inlet is connected to the support structure, and a storage configuration in which the cleaning unit air inlet is disconnected from the dirty air inlet and the cleaning unit is mounted on at least one of the support structure and the surface cleaning head.