Vacuum Cleaner Trigger Handle to Prevent Accidental Starts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners, particularly handheld models, require users to maintain a prolonged finger pressure on a trigger switch that stands proud from the grip, leading to fatigue, especially for users with smaller or weaker hands, and can result in accidental start/stop cycles due to momentary trigger activation.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner design featuring a trigger member that is resiliently biased into a low-profile position, allowing a natural grip and reducing activation force to less than 8N, with an optional delay in motor activation to prevent accidental starts, ensuring ergonomic comfort and reducing wear on the motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the trigger member is positioned to allow easy activation, then the activation force is reduced, but accidental start/stop cycles may occur due to momentary trigger activation
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements a delay period before motor activation in response to a trigger command signal. This preliminary action allows the system to verify sustained trigger pressure before activating the motor, preventing accidental start/stop cycles while maintaining easy trigger activation.
2Ease of operation
If the trigger contact surface is flush with the handle surface, then the user grip adopts a natural position, but the trigger may be accidentally activated during grasping
Solution Approach 1:
The control system introduces a delay period between receiving the trigger command signal and activating the motor. This preliminary verification step distinguishes between intentional activation (sustained pressure) and accidental activation (momentary contact during grasping), solving the reliability issue while maintaining ergonomic grip.
3Reliability
If the spring element provides strong biasing force, then the trigger returns reliably to the off position, but the activation force becomes too high for users with small or weak hands
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the spring element parameters to provide sufficient biasing force for reliable trigger return to the off position while maintaining activation force below 8N. This parameter optimization balances reliability and ease of operation for users with small or weak hands.
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 ergonomic design reduces user fatigue during extended cleaning sessions and minimizes unnecessary start/stop cycles, enhancing user experience and extending the vacuum cleaner's lifespan by preventing accidental activations.
Implementation Method 1
The trigger member may be biased into the first position by way of a spring element which exerts a predetermined activation force on the trigger member
Data Source
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AI summary
A vacuum cleaner comprising a main body and a separating apparatus associated with the main body, wherein the main body includes a suction generator for drawing air into the separating apparatus and a handle arrangement including a trigger member for activating the suction generator. The trigger member is resiliently biased into a first position in which the suction generator does not operate, and is movable into a second position to activate the suction generator, wherein, when in the first position, a contact surface of the trigger member is spaced away from an adjacent surface of the handle arrangement and, when in the activated position, the contact face of the trigger member is substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the handle arrangement. The invention also relates for a handle arrangement for such a vacuum cleaner.