A drying bracket assembly for a laundry treating apparatus and a laundry treating apparatus
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510188461.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-21
Smart Images
Figure CN122610344A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliances, and more particularly to a drying rack assembly for a garment processing device. This application also relates to a corresponding garment processing device. Background Technology
[0002] A drying rack assembly for garment handling equipment, such as a dryer or washer-dryer combo, is a detachable accessory specifically designed to assist in drying items that are sensitive to drum tumbling, such as wool garments, shoes, and hats. The drying rack assembly provides a fixed platform for these items, keeping them stationary during the drying process to prevent them from tumbling inside the drum or directly contacting the high-temperature moving parts. This effectively prevents items from deforming or being damaged and improves drying efficiency.
[0003] To increase the supporting area for items, drying rack assemblies are usually equipped with multi-layer shelves. However, such drying rack assemblies require a large amount of structural space, are difficult to store, and are easily damaged during transportation. This leads to increased after-sales maintenance costs and seriously affects the user experience.
[0004] Currently, although there are foldable drying rack assemblies to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings, the manufacturing and assembly costs of existing drying rack assemblies are too high, which is not conducive to the production efficiency and economy of drying rack assemblies.
[0005] Application content
[0006] Therefore, one objective of this application is to provide an improved drying rack assembly for a garment processing device. This assembly not only flexibly meets storage needs and optimizes space utilization, preventing damage during transportation due to collisions or compression, but also significantly reduces the number of parts, simplifies manufacturing and assembly processes, lowers production costs, and enhances the user experience. Furthermore, another objective of this application is to provide a corresponding garment processing device.
[0007] According to a first aspect of this application, a drying rack assembly for a garment processing device is provided, wherein the drying rack assembly includes at least:
[0008] - At least two shelves that overlap each other along their height;
[0009] - A folding mechanism is arranged between adjacent shelves, which allows the drying rack assembly to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state.
[0010] The folding mechanism includes a first support arm and a second support arm, both of which are integrally molded injection-molded parts. The first support arm has a first hinge portion at its end facing the second support arm, and the second support arm has a second hinge portion at its end facing the first support arm, which mates with the first hinge portion. One of the first and second hinge portions has a rotating shaft, while the other has a receiving portion for that rotating shaft.
[0011] The shelf has a third hinge on the side facing the folding mechanism. The first support arm and the second support arm each have a fourth hinge on their respective ends facing the adjacent shelf, which can be connected to the third hinge. One of the third hinge and the fourth hinge has a rotating shaft, and the other has a receiving part for the rotating shaft.
[0012] Compared to existing technologies, in the drying rack assembly according to this application, the folding mechanism arranged between the overlapping shelves allows the drying rack assembly to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. The volume occupied by the drying rack assembly in the folded state is significantly smaller than that in the unfolded state. This allows the drying rack assembly to be individually packaged and placed in the drum of the garment processing equipment during transportation, effectively avoiding damage caused by collision or compression, and flexibly meeting the storage space requirements of the drying rack assembly. The first and second support arms of the folding mechanism are hinged to each other through the cooperation of their respective first and second hinge parts, and are respectively hinged to the adjacent shelves through the cooperation of their respective third and fourth hinge parts. The first and second support arms are each constructed as integrally molded injection molded parts, which avoids the need for additional separate connectors, such as pins, between the hinge parts of the support arms, thereby significantly reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, the injection molding process for the integral molding of the first and second support arms can be implemented cost-effectively and simplifies the manufacturing process, thereby reducing the production time and cost of the drying bracket assembly and improving production efficiency and economy.
[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the rotating shaft is fixedly disposed on a single-layer reinforcing rib plate, the rotating shaft extending perpendicularly to the reinforcing rib plate in the lateral direction, and the receiving portion having two side plates spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction, wherein the reinforcing rib plate is arranged between the side plates in a manner rotatable about the rotating shaft. This allows the rotating shaft to be inserted into the receiving portion without obstruction and enables smooth relative rotation between the two during the switching process between a folded state and an unfolded state.
[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the receiving part is constructed with a circumferentially closed circular groove on the side plate, and the lateral extension dimension of the rotating shaft is greater than the lateral spacing between the side plates, such that during assembly, the rotating shaft moves toward the circular groove by spreading the side plates until the rotating shaft is engaged in the circular groove. In this case, the rotating shaft is engaged in the circular groove by the elastic deformation of the side plate and the undesirable disengagement of the rotating shaft from the circular groove is prevented, thereby ensuring a reliable engagement between the rotating shaft and the circular groove. Furthermore, the circumferential integrity of the circular groove can be ensured, thereby improving the appearance of the drying bracket assembly.
[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the rotating shaft is constructed in a stepped manner with a first section and a second section, wherein the diameter of the first section is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove, and the diameter of the second section is greater than the diameter of the circular groove. This effectively prevents the rotating shaft and the reinforcing ribs from wobbling between the two side plates in the lateral direction.
[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the lateral end face of the rotating shaft is configured to be flush with the outer surface of the side plate. This further improves the appearance of the drying bracket assembly.
[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the receiving part is constructed with a circular groove on the side plate having a single-sided opening in the circumferential direction. The circular groove is connected to a guide groove on the side plate through the single-sided opening, allowing the rotating shaft to be inserted into the circular groove via the guide groove. This allows for targeted guidance of the rotating shaft into the circular groove for fitting and reliably reduces the risk of breakage of the side plate due to elastic deformation.
[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the diameter of the rotating shaft is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove and greater than the width of the guide groove; and / or, the rotating shaft is provided with end caps at both lateral ends, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the circular groove. This effectively prevents the rotating shaft from unintentionally dislodging from the circular groove.
[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, a guide ramp for the rotating shaft is provided on the side plate, wherein the distance between the guide ramps, which are opposite to each other, gradually decreases in the direction toward the circular groove. The guide ramp simplifies the process of inserting the rotating shaft into the circular groove.
[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, in the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion, the side plate of the receiving portion is widened relative to the remainder of the associated support arm, and the reinforcing rib for the rotation axis is bent such that, in the folded state, the rotation axis is located at the exact center of the adjacent shelf along the height direction. This allows the first and second support arms to be evenly stressed in the folded state and improves the appearance of the drying bracket assembly.
[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, for the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion, the support arm having the rotation axis is constructed to be at least partially narrowed in the direction of the rotation axis, such that the first support arm and the second support arm are close to each other in the folded state; and / or, in the folded state, the third hinge portions of adjacent shelves are close to each other. In this case, the overall height and storage volume of the drying rack assembly in the folded state can be minimized as much as possible.
[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the receiving part is rounded at least at the following edges, and during the switching between the folded state and the unfolded state, a support arm having a rotation axis connected to and cooperating with the receiving part rotates around the edges. The rounding makes the rotation process of the support arm between the folded and unfolded states smoother, thereby improving the user experience.
[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, each of the mutually mating hinge portions has a stop, which is configured to abut against each other in the unfolded state. The stop is constructed as a stop end face or stop protrusion of each hinge portion, which abuts against the corresponding mating hinge portion in the longitudinal or tangential direction in the unfolded state. The stops allow the hinge portions to maintain a desired relative position in the unfolded state and effectively prevent excessive rotation relative to each other during the unfolding process.
[0024] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the first support arm and the second support arm are respectively provided with wedge-shaped protrusions and notches adapted to the shape of the wedge-shaped protrusions on their ends facing each other. The wedge-shaped protrusions and the notches together serve as an anti-pinch structure. The anti-pinch structure can reliably prevent the user's fingers from being pinched, thereby improving the user's user experience.
[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the first support arm and the second support arm each have a hollow cavity in which a plurality of reinforcing ribs, particularly those arranged in a crisscross pattern, are constructed. This can reduce the weight and material consumption of the support arm while ensuring its strength.
[0026] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the shelf is a single piece made of metal; and / or, the shelf has a plurality of ventilation holes arranged in an array, the shape of which is selected from the group consisting of: circles, triangles, squares, and polygons; and / or, the shelf has at least one reinforcing rib. This allows for a simple and high-strength structure of the shelf, and the ventilation holes improve the drying efficiency of the items.
[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the drying rack assembly further includes a hanging member fixedly disposed on the uppermost shelf and a support leg fixedly disposed on the lowermost shelf. The hanging member and the support leg allow the drying rack assembly to be easily and securely mounted in the garment processing equipment.
[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the drying rack assembly has only a first shelf located above and a second shelf located below, a first support arm connected to the first shelf, and a second support arm connected to the second shelf, wherein the first hinge portion and the fourth hinge portion are configured with the rotation axis, and the second hinge portion and the third hinge portion are configured with the receiving portion; and / or, the drying rack assembly has four folding mechanisms, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the square shelf.
[0029] According to a second aspect of this application, a garment processing apparatus is provided, the garment processing apparatus including a drying rack assembly according to this application. Attached Figure Description
[0030] The principles, features, and advantages of this application will be better understood below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings include:
[0031] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a garment processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;
[0032] Figure 2a and Figure 2b Perspective views of a drying rack assembly of a garment processing device according to an exemplary embodiment of this application are shown in an unfolded state and a folded state, respectively.
[0033] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The following are front views of a drying rack assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application in an unfolded state and a folded state;
[0034] Figure 4A schematic view of the first and second support arms of a drying rack assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application in an extended state is shown.
[0035] Figure 5a and Figure 5b They are shown respectively Figure 4 Different views of the first support arm in the middle;
[0036] Figures 6a to 6c They are shown respectively Figure 4 Different views of the second support arm;
[0037] Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 A partial sectional view of the first and second support arms in the diagram;
[0038] Figure 8 A partial perspective view of the first shelf and the first support arm of a drying rack assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown in an unfolded state.
[0039] Figure 9 It shows Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the first shelf and the first support arm in the middle;
[0040] Figure 10a and Figure 10b Different partial perspective views of the first and second support arms of a drying bracket assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application are shown in the unfolded state.
[0041] Figure 11 A perspective view of a drying rack assembly in an unfolded state according to another exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;
[0042] Figure 12a and Figure 12b They are shown respectively Figure 11 The partial view A and the exploded view in the image;
[0043] Figure 13a and Figure 13b They are shown respectively Figure 11 Partial view B and sectional view in the diagram;
[0044] Figure 14 A schematic view of a first support arm and a second support arm of a drying rack assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;
[0045] Figure 15 A schematic view of a first locking portion and a second locking portion of a drying bracket assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;
[0046] Figure 16a and Figure 16b An overall cross-sectional view and a partial cross-sectional view of the first locking portion and the second locking portion of a drying bracket assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of this application are shown respectively;
[0047] Figure 17a and Figure 17b Exploded view and assembled view of a first support arm having a first locking portion and a second support arm having a second locking portion, respectively, according to another exemplary embodiment of this application.
[0048] Figure label:
[0049] Clothing processing equipment 1;
[0050] Drying rack assembly 10; front door 20; rear door 30; drum 40; door ring bracket 50; lint collector 60; shelf 11; folding mechanism 12; hanging component 13; support leg 14;
[0051] First shelf 111; Second shelf 112; First support arm 121; Second support arm 122; First hinge 110; Second hinge 120; Third hinge 130; Fourth hinge 140;
[0052] Ventilation hole 1001; reinforcing rib 1002; rotating shaft 1003; reinforcing rib plate 1004; receiving part 1005; side plate 1006; circular groove 1007; first section 1008; second section 1009; guide slope 1010; wedge-shaped protrusion 1011; notch 1012; one-sided opening 1013; guide groove 1014; end cap 1015; rounded 1016; stop 1017; hollow cavity 1018; reinforcing rib 1019;
[0053] First locking part 210; second locking part 220; first fastener 211; second fastener 221;
[0054] First guide slope 2011; First locking slope 2021; Second guide slope 2012; Second locking slope 2022; Cantilever beam 2031; Hook 2032; Side recess 2033; First locking plane 2034; Third guide slope 2035; Buckle protrusion 2041; Sinking recess 2042; Second locking plane 2043; Fourth guide slope 2044;
[0055] Depth direction X; Width direction Y; Height direction Z; Lateral direction C; Tangential direction T; Longitudinal direction L; First rotation direction R1; Second rotation direction R2; Rotation plane V. Detailed Implementation
[0056] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial technical effects of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Here, for the sake of brevity, elements with the same reference numerals are indicated only once in the drawings when necessary.
[0057] It should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Features specified as "first" or "second" may expressly or implicitly indicate that at least one of those features is included.
[0058] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer" are used to indicate orientation or positional relationships in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to illustrate the positional relationships of the constituent elements. This is solely for the convenience of describing this specification and to simplify the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to has a specific orientation, or is constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. The positional relationships of the constituent elements may be appropriately changed depending on the direction in which each constituent element is described. Therefore, the description is not limited to the terms used in the specification and may be appropriately replaced as needed.
[0059] Here, from the overall perspective of the garment processing device 1, the X direction corresponds to the depth direction, the Y direction corresponds to the width direction, and the Z direction corresponds to the height direction; while from the perspective of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 of the folding mechanism 12, the C direction corresponds to the lateral direction, the T direction corresponds to the tangential direction, and the L direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction, wherein the tangential direction T is perpendicular to the lateral direction C and the longitudinal direction L; from the perspective of the relative rotation angle of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122, the R1 direction corresponds to the first rotation direction for switching from the folded state to the unfolded state, and the R2 direction corresponds to the second rotation direction for switching from the unfolded state to the folded state.
[0060] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a garment processing apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown. Here, the garment processing apparatus 1 may be, for example, a dryer or a washer-dryer combo.
[0061] like Figure 1As shown, the garment processing equipment 1 includes a drying rack assembly 10, which is arranged between the front door 20 and the rear door 30 of the garment processing equipment 1 and extends into the drum 40 in a manner that is independently suspended relative to the drum 40. The drying rack assembly 10 is configured to fix and support items that are sensitive to the tumbling of the drum 40, such as wool garments, shoes, hats, etc., to assist in drying the items and prevent the items from being deformed or damaged due to tumbling.
[0062] Figure 2a and Figure 2b A perspective view of the drying rack assembly 10 of a garment processing device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown in both an unfolded state and a folded state.
[0063] like Figure 2a and Figure 2b As shown, the drying rack assembly 10 includes at least two shelves 11 stacked on top of each other along the height direction Z. These shelves are, in particular, integral pieces made of metal and provide a fixed platform for the items to be dried. Here, the drying rack assembly 10 has only a first shelf 111 located above and a second shelf 112 located below. Of course, it is also possible that the drying rack assembly 10 has more, for example, three shelves 11 stacked on top of each other.
[0064] Exemplarily, a plurality of ventilation holes 1001 arranged in an array are provided on the shelf 11. These ventilation holes increase the contact area between hot air and the items, thereby improving the drying efficiency and uniformity of the items. The shape of the ventilation holes 1001 can be selected from the group consisting of: circles, triangles, squares, and polygons. Of course, other shapes deemed meaningful by those skilled in the art can also be considered. Furthermore, at least one reinforcing rib 1002 may be additionally provided on the shelf 11. This reinforcing rib compensates for any decrease in torsional strength that may be caused by the ventilation holes 1001, thereby preventing deformation of the shelf under the weight of the items. See the attached diagram for details. Figure 11 .
[0065] like Figure 2a and Figure 2bAs shown, the drying rack assembly 10 includes folding mechanisms 12 arranged between adjacent shelf panels 11. These folding mechanisms allow the drying rack assembly 10 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. In the folded state, adjacent shelf panels 11 are close together, reducing the overall height of the drying rack assembly 10 and making it suitable for storage and transportation. In the unfolded state, adjacent shelf panels 11 are far apart, increasing the distance between them, and each shelf panel 11 can be used to support items to be dried. Exemplarily, the drying rack assembly 10 has four folding mechanisms 12, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the square shelf panels 11 to achieve stable support for the shelf panels 11.
[0066] For example, such as Figure 2a and Figure 2b As shown, the drying rack assembly 10 also includes a hanging member 13 fixedly arranged on the uppermost shelf 11 (here, the first shelf 111) and a support leg 14 fixedly arranged on the lowermost shelf 11 (here, the second shelf 112). In the unfolded state of the drying rack assembly 10, the hanging member 13 can hook onto the upper edge of the door ring bracket 50 of the clothing processing equipment 1, while the support leg 14 can be fixedly inserted into the lint collector 60 below, thereby achieving a stable assembly of the drying rack assembly 10 within the clothing processing equipment 1. Figure 1 As shown.
[0067] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The front views of the drying rack assembly 10 in an unfolded state and a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of this application are shown respectively. Figure 4 A schematic view of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 of the drying bracket assembly 10 in the deployed state is shown. Figure 5a and Figure 5b They are shown respectively Figure 4 Different views of the first support arm 121 in the middle. Figures 6a to 6c They are shown respectively Figure 4 Different views of the second support arm 122. Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional view of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122. Figure 8 A partial perspective view of the first shelf 111 and the first support arm 121 of a drying rack assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application is shown in an unfolded state.
[0068] like Figure 3a and Figure 3bAs shown, the folding mechanism 12 has a first support arm 121 and a second support arm 122. The first support arm 121 has a first hinge portion 110 on its end facing the second support arm 122, and the second support arm 122 has a second hinge portion 120 on its end facing the first support arm 121, which can cooperate with the first hinge portion 110. The first hinge portion 110 and the second hinge portion 120 form a hinge structure between the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122. The shelf 11 has a third hinge portion 130 on its side facing the folding mechanism 12, and the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 each have a fourth hinge portion 140 on their ends facing their respective adjacent shelf 11, which can cooperate with the third hinge portion 130. The third hinge portion 130 and the fourth hinge portion 140 form a hinge structure between each support arm and the corresponding adjacent shelf 11. The drying rack assembly 10 can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state by rotating the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 relative to each other, as well as by rotating the support arm and the corresponding shelf 11 relative to each other. In the unfolded state, the drying rack assembly 10 is used to support the items to be dried, and in the folded state, it is used for transportation and storage to reduce storage volume requirements and effectively avoid damage caused by collision or compression.
[0069] like Figures 4 to 7 As shown, one of the first hinge portion 110 of the first support arm 121 and the second hinge portion 120 of the second support arm 122 is equipped with a rotating shaft 1003, while the other is equipped with a receiving portion 1005 for the rotating shaft 1003. Similarly, one of the third hinge portion 130 of the shelf 11 and the fourth hinge portion 140 of each support arm is equipped with a rotating shaft 1003, while the other is equipped with a receiving portion 1005 for the rotating shaft 1003. Here, a hinge structure can be formed by the mutual cooperation of the paired rotating shafts 1003 and receiving portions 1005, wherein the rotating shaft 1003 can rotate within the paired receiving portion 1005.
[0070] Here, the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 are each constructed as integrally molded injection parts. This allows for the assembly of the drying bracket assembly 10 without the use of additional separate connectors, such as pins, thereby significantly reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, the integral molding process of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 can be implemented cost-effectively and simplifies the manufacturing process, thereby reducing the production time and cost of the drying bracket assembly 10 and improving production efficiency and economy.
[0071] For example, such as Figures 3a to 7As shown, the drying rack assembly 10 has only a first shelf 111 located at the top and a second shelf 112 located at the bottom. A first support arm 121 is connected to the first shelf 111, and a second support arm 122 is connected to the second shelf 112. The first hinge portion 110 and the fourth hinge portion 140 are configured with a rotation shaft 1003, while the second hinge portion 120 and the third hinge portion 130 are configured with a receiving portion 1005. The rotation shafts 1003 in each hinge portion can be constructed identically or differently as needed, and the receiving portions 1005 in each hinge portion can also be constructed identically or differently as needed. This configuration will be described in detail below as an example. Of course, other configurations that are considered meaningful by those skilled in the art can also be considered, such as the first hinge portion 110 and the fourth hinge portion 140 being configured with a receiving portion 1005, while the second hinge portion 120 and the third hinge portion 130 are configured with a rotation shaft 1003.
[0072] For example, such as Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown, the rotation shaft 1003 of the first hinge portion 110 and the fourth hinge portion 140 of the first support arm 121 is fixedly mounted on a single-layer reinforcing rib plate 1004, wherein the rotation shaft 1003 extends in a manner that protrudes vertically relative to the reinforcing rib plate 1004 in the lateral direction C. The reinforcing rib plate 1004 can separate the rotation shaft 1003 from the rest of the first support arm 121, thereby allowing the rotation shaft 1003 to be more easily assembled into the receiving portion 1005.
[0073] For example, such as Figures 6a to 6c As shown, the receiving portion 1005 of the second hinge portion 120 of the second support arm 122 has two side plates 1006 spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction C, with an intermediate space between the two side plates. The reinforcing rib 1004 can be arranged in the intermediate space between the side plates 1006 in a manner that allows rotation about the rotation axis 1003, so that the rotation axis 1003 can be inserted into the receiving portion 1005 without obstruction, and smooth relative rotation between the two is achieved during the switching process between the folded state and the unfolded state.
[0074] For example, such as Figures 6a to 7As shown, the receiving part 1005 is constructed with a circumferentially closed circular groove 1007 on the side plate 1006. Viewed in the lateral direction C, the lateral extension dimension of the rotating shaft 1003 is greater than the lateral distance between the side plates 1006. This allows the rotating shaft 1003 to move towards the circular groove 1007 during assembly, spreading the two opposing side plates 1006 until the rotating shaft 1003 is engaged in the circular groove 1007. The side plates 1006 are constructed in a cantilever form, and the cantilever can elastically deform when entering or leaving the unfolded state. In this configuration, during assembly, the side plates 1006 first undergo elastic deformation due to being spread by the rotating shaft 1003, and then spring back after the rotating shaft 1003 is engaged in the circular groove 1007. This effectively prevents the rotating shaft 1003 from unintentionally dislodging from the circular groove 1007, thereby ensuring a reliable engaging connection between the rotating shaft 1003 and the circular groove 1007. In addition, the circumferentially complete circular groove 1007 can be seen from the outside, which can improve the appearance of the drying bracket assembly 10.
[0075] For example, such as Figure 5b and Figure 7 As shown, the rotating shaft 1003 is constructed in a stepped manner with a first section 1008 and a second section 1009. The diameter of the first section 1008 is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove 1007, while the diameter of the second section 1009 is greater than the diameter of the circular groove 1007. In this configuration, only the first section 1008 of the rotating shaft 1003 can extend into the circular groove 1007, and the stepped surface between the second section 1009 and the first section 1008 can function as a stop surface. This effectively prevents the rotating shaft 1003 and the reinforcing rib 1004 from wobbling between the two side plates 1006 in the lateral direction C. Furthermore, in the assembled state, the lateral end face of the rotating shaft 1003 is flush with the outer surface of the side plate 1006, making any protrusions or recesses invisible from the outside. This further enhances the appearance of the drying support assembly 10.
[0076] For example, such as Figure 6c and Figure 7 As shown, a guide ramp 1010 for the rotating shaft 1003 is provided on the inner side of the side plate 1006. These two guide ramps 1010 are positioned opposite each other in the transverse direction C. The opposing guide ramps 1010 gradually narrow towards the circular groove 1007, meaning the distance between them gradually decreases in the direction towards the circular groove 1007. This design significantly reduces the force required to overcome the elastic deformation of the side plate 1006 during initial assembly, thereby simplifying the insertion process of the rotating shaft 1003 into the circular groove 1007.
[0077] For example, such as Figures 3a to 6cAs shown, in the first hinge portion 110 and the second hinge portion 120, the side plate 1006 of the receiving portion 1005 of the second support arm 122 is widened relative to the rest of the second support arm 122. This allows the receiving portion 1005 to be offset about the central axis of the second support arm 122 in the tangential direction T. Furthermore, the reinforcing rib 1004 of the first support arm 110 for the rotation axis 1003 is bent, allowing the rotation axis 1003 to be offset about the central axis of the first support arm 121 in the tangential direction T, such that in the folded state, the rotation axis 1003 is located at the exact center of the adjacent shelf along the height direction Z. This allows the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 to be evenly stressed in the folded state and improves the appearance of the drying bracket assembly 10.
[0078] For example, such as Figure 3b As shown, for the first hinge portion 110 and the second hinge portion 120, the first support arm 121 is constructed with at least a partial narrowing in the direction of the rotation axis 1003, while the side plate 1006 of the receiving portion 1005 of the second support arm 122 is constructed with a wider width relative to the rest of the second support arm 122, such that the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 fit together in the folded state. In particular, in the folded state, the third hinge portions 130 of adjacent shelf panels 11 are abutted against each other. In this case, not only can the overall height and storage volume of the drying rack assembly 10 in the folded state be minimized as much as possible, but the force-bearing area of the drying rack assembly 10 in the folded state can also be increased, thereby reducing local stress.
[0079] For example, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the rotation axis 1003 of the fourth hinge portion 140 of the first support arm 121 is constructed in the same or at least similar manner as the rotation axis 1003 of the first hinge portion 110, while the receiving portion 1005 of the third hinge portion 130 of the first shelf 111 is constructed in the same or at least similar manner as the receiving portion 1005 of the second hinge portion 120. This also applies to the corresponding hinge portions of the second support arm 122 and the second shelf 112.
[0080] Figure 10a and Figure 10b Different partial perspective views of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 of the drying bracket assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application are shown in the unfolded state.
[0081] like Figure 10a and Figure 10bAs shown, when the first support arm 121 rotates relative to the second support arm 122 along the first rotation direction R1, the drying bracket assembly 10 switches from the folded state to the unfolded state, and when the first support arm 121 rotates relative to the second support arm 122 along the opposite second rotation direction R2, the drying bracket assembly 10 switches from the unfolded state back to the folded state.
[0082] For example, such as Figure 10a and Figure 10b As shown, the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 are respectively provided with a wedge-shaped protrusion 1011 and a notch 1012 adapted to the shape of the wedge-shaped protrusion 1011 on their respective ends facing each other. The wedge-shaped protrusion 1011 and the notch 1012 together serve as an anti-pinch structure. This anti-pinch structure can prevent the user's fingers from being inserted between the ends of the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 facing each other, thereby reliably preventing the user's fingers from being pinched and improving the user's user experience.
[0083] Figure 11 A perspective view of a drying rack assembly 10 in an unfolded state, according to another exemplary embodiment of this application, is shown. Figure 12a and Figure 12b They are shown respectively Figure 11 The partial view A and the exploded view in the image. Figure 13a and Figure 13b They are shown respectively Figure 11 Partial view B and sectional view in the image.
[0084] like Figures 11 to 12b As shown, the receiving portion 1005 of the second hinge portion 120 of the second support arm 121 is constructed with a circular groove 1007 on the side plate 1006, having a single-sided opening 1013 in the circumferential direction. This circular groove connects to a guide groove 1014 on the side plate 1006 through the single-sided opening 1013, allowing the rotation shaft 1003 of the first hinge portion 110 of the first support arm 121 to be inserted into the circular groove 1007 via the guide groove 1014. This allows for targeted guidance of the rotation shaft 1003 into the circular groove 1007 and reliably reduces the risk of breakage of the side plate 1006 due to elastic deformation. Here, the guide groove 1014 extends in the tangential direction T. However, it is also possible for the guide groove 1014 to extend in the longitudinal direction L, such as... Figure 13a As shown.
[0085] For example, such as Figure 12a and Figure 12bAs shown, the diameter of the rotating shaft 1003 is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove 1007 and greater than the width of the guide groove 1014, thereby allowing the rotating shaft 1003 to rotate smoothly in the circular groove 1007 and effectively preventing the rotating shaft 1003 from undesirably coming out of the circular groove 1007.
[0086] For example, such as Figure 12a and Figure 12b As shown, the rotating shaft 1003 has end caps 1015 at both ends in the lateral direction, and the diameter of the end caps is larger than the diameter of the circular groove 1007. This further prevents the rotating shaft 1003 from unintentionally coming out of the circular groove 1007 and improves the appearance of the drying bracket assembly 10 to some extent.
[0087] For example, such as Figure 12a and Figure 12b As shown, a guide ramp 1010 for the rotating shaft 1003 is provided on the outer end of the guide groove 1014 on the side plate 1006. The two guide ramps 1010 are opposite each other in the longitudinal direction L, and the distance between the opposite guide ramps 1010 gradually decreases in the direction toward the circular groove 1007. The guide ramps 1010 can simplify the process of inserting the rotating shaft 1003 into the circular groove 1007.
[0088] For example, such as Figures 10a to 13b As shown, the receiving part 1005 has a rounded edge 1016 at least at the following edge, and during the switching between the folded and unfolded states, the support arm having a rotating shaft 1003 that mates with the receiving part 1005 rotates around the edge. For example, the first support arm 121 rotates around the edge of the receiving part 1005 of the third hinge 130 of the first shelf 111, where the rounded edge 1016 is provided. The rounded edge 1016 makes the rotation process of the support arm between the folded and unfolded states smoother, thereby improving the user experience.
[0089] For example, such as Figures 10a to 13b As shown, each of the interlocking hinge parts has a stop 1017. These stops abut against each other in the unfolded state to maintain the desired relative position of the hinge parts and effectively prevent excessive rotation relative to each other during unfolding. The stops 1017 can be constructed as stop end faces or stop protrusions of each hinge part. In the unfolded state, the stop end faces or stop protrusions abut against the corresponding interlocking hinge parts along the longitudinal direction L, such as... Figure 12b As shown. However, it is also possible that the stop 1017, in its unfolded state, abuts against the corresponding hinged portion of the mating connection along the tangential direction T, as shown in the diagram. Figure 13b As shown.
[0090] Figure 14 A schematic view of a first support arm 121 and a second support arm 122 of a drying bracket assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown.
[0091] like Figure 14 As shown, the first support arm 121 and the second support arm 122 each have a hollow cavity 1018, in which a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1019 are constructed. These reinforcing ribs can be distributed parallel to each other or, in particular, intersecting each other. The reinforcing ribs 1019 ensure the strength of the support arm, thereby reducing its weight and material consumption.
[0092] Figure 15 A schematic view of a first locking portion 210 and a second locking portion 220 of a drying bracket assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown.
[0093] like Figure 15 As shown, the first support arm 121 has a first locking portion 210, and the second support arm 122 has a second locking portion 220. In the unfolded state, the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 are locked together in a form-locking manner. This also applies to... Figure 5a , Figure 5b , Figure 6b , Figure 6c as well as Figure 12b As shown in the figure. The locking force between the first locking part 210 and the second locking part 220 ensures that the drying bracket assembly 10 is kept in the unfolded state and prevents the drying bracket assembly 10 from folding undesirably during operation.
[0094] Exemplarily, when the drying bracket assembly 10 enters the unfolded state by rotational movement of the first support arm 121 relative to the second support arm 122 in a first rotational direction R1, or disengages from the unfolded state by rotational movement of the first support arm 121 relative to the second support arm 122 in the opposite second rotational direction R2, at least one of the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 undergoes elastic deformation. The elastic deformation of the locking portion itself provides a locking force to prevent undesirable unlocking between the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 without the need for additional locking elements.
[0095] For example, such as Figure 15As shown, the first locking part 210 is constructed with first latching members 211 protruding to both sides in the transverse direction C. The first latching members are particularly arranged on the single-layer reinforcing rib plate 1004 of the first support arm 121. The second locking part 220 is constructed with two second latching members 221 spaced apart in the transverse direction C and arranged opposite to each other. The second latching members are particularly arranged on two side plates 1006 of the second support arm 122 spaced apart in the transverse direction C. The side plates are particularly constructed in the form of cantilever arms, which can elastically deform when entering or leaving the unfolded state. The second latching members 221 protrude toward the first latching members 211 in the transverse direction C, and the first latching members 211 are located in the middle of the second latching members 221 in the transverse direction C. In the transverse direction C, the transverse spacing of the second latching members 221 is smaller than the transverse width of the first latching members 211. In this configuration, during the transition between the unfolded and folded states, the first latch 211 needs to open the second latch 221 on the side panel 1006 along the lateral direction C. In the unfolded state, the first latch 211 and the second latch 221 are locked together, and a force against the second rotational direction R2 is generated between them to prevent unintended disengagement from the unfolded state. Here, the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 can be concealed by the side panel 1006, making the locking portions hidden and invisible in the unfolded state, which improves the product's appearance.
[0096] For example, such as Figure 15 As shown, the first latching member 211 has a first guide slope 2011 and a first locking slope 2021 forming an angle, while the second latching member 221 has a second guide slope 2012 and a second locking slope 2022 forming an angle. When the first support arm 121 enters the unfolded state via a rotational movement relative to the second support arm 122 along a first rotational direction R1, the first guide slope 2011 and the second guide slope 2012 initially contact each other. This rotational movement occurs in the rotational plane V. In the unfolded state, or when the first support arm 121 disengages from the unfolded state via a rotational movement relative to the second support arm 122 along a second rotational direction R2, the first locking slope 2021 and the second locking slope 2022 lock each other in a fitted manner. This configuration allows for locking and unlocking of the first latching member 211 and the second latching member 221 without manual manipulation of the latching members.
[0097] For example, such as Figure 15As shown, the first guide angle of the first guide ramp 2011 with respect to the rotation plane V, for example 20°, is smaller than the second guide angle of the second guide ramp 2012 with respect to the rotation plane V, for example 30°. This reduces the locking force when entering the unfolded state and makes it easier to guide the first guide ramp 2011 to slide over the second guide ramp 2012, thereby facilitating rotational movement along the first rotation direction R1. Furthermore, the first guide angle of the first guide ramp 2011 with respect to the rotation plane V, for example 20°, is smaller than the first locking angle of the first locking ramp 2021 with respect to the rotation plane V, for example 40°. This increases the locking force between the first locking ramp 2021 and the second locking ramp 2022, preventing undesirable easy unlocking and making the drying bracket assembly 10 more stable in the unfolded state. Additionally, the first locking angle of the first locking ramp 2021 with respect to the rotation plane V is equal to the second locking angle of the second locking ramp 2022 with respect to the rotation plane V. This allows the first locking ramp 2021 and the second locking ramp 2022 to fit together during locking, thereby increasing friction. Of course, other angle values that are considered meaningful by those skilled in the art can also be considered.
[0098] For example, such as Figure 15 As shown, the first latching member 211 and the second latching member 221 are constructed symmetrically about the rotation plane V to ensure that the rotation shaft 1003 is centered between the side plates 1006 in the assembled state, thereby ensuring smooth and consistent operation.
[0099] For example, such as Figure 6c and Figure 12b As shown, on the side plate 1006, the circular groove 1007 of the receiving part 1005 and the second fastener 221 are arranged at least in the tangential direction T, especially in the tangential direction T and the longitudinal direction L, spaced apart. On the reinforcing rib plate 1004, the rotating shaft 1003 and the first fastener 211 are arranged at least in the tangential direction T, especially in the tangential direction T and the longitudinal direction L, spaced apart to leave an assembly clearance area. This avoids interference from the fasteners during assembly.
[0100] For example, such as Figure 12b As shown, the first latching member 211 extends in a radial direction centered on the rotation axis 1003, and the second latching member 221 extends in a radial direction centered on the circular groove 1007 of the receiving portion 1005. This allows for a smooth transition between locking and unlocking between the first latching member 211 and the second latching member 221.
[0101] Figure 16a and Figure 16b An overall cross-sectional view and a partial cross-sectional view of the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 of the drying bracket assembly 10 according to another exemplary embodiment of this application are shown.
[0102] like Figure 16a and Figure 16b As shown, the first locking portion 210 of the first support arm 121 has a cantilever beam 2031 extending toward the second support arm 122 along the longitudinal direction L and a hook 2032 protruding in the first rotation direction R1 at the end of the cantilever beam 2031. The second locking portion 220 has a side recess 2033. The hook 2032 and the side recess 2033 lock each other in the unfolded state. The cantilever beam 2031 can elastically deform when entering or leaving the unfolded state. Here, the hook 2032 and the side recess 2033 each have a first locking plane 2034 that fits against each other in the unfolded state. The first locking plane 2034 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In the unfolded state, a locking force between the first locking planes 2034 against the second rotation direction R2 prevents the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220 from unlocking. In order to disengage the hook 2032 and the side recess 2033, the cantilever beam 2031 needs to be manually manipulated so that the hook 2032 moves away from the side recess 2033 in the tangential direction T until the two are no longer in contact.
[0103] For example, such as Figure 16a and Figure 16b As shown, the hook 2032 of the first locking part 210 has a third guide slope 2035 that forms an angle with the longitudinal direction L. The third guide slope first contacts the side recess 2033 during rotational movement along the first rotational direction R1. The elastic deformation of the cantilever beam 2031 can be easily guided by the third guide slope 2035 without manual manipulation of the cantilever beam 2031.
[0104] Figure 17a and Figure 17b Exploded and assembled views of a first support arm 121 having a first locking portion 210 and a second support arm 122 having a second locking portion 220, respectively, are shown according to another exemplary embodiment of this application.
[0105] like Figure 17a and Figure 17bAs shown, the first locking portion 210 of the first support arm 121 has a latching protrusion 2041 extending in the tangential direction T against the first rotational direction R1, and the second locking portion 220 has a recessed portion 2042. In the unfolded state, the latching protrusion 2041 is engaged in the recessed portion 2042 to achieve mutual locking. The latching protrusion 2041 and the recessed portion 2042 each have a second locking plane 2043 that fits against each other in the unfolded state, and the second locking planes are oriented perpendicular to the tangential direction T. In the unfolded state, a locking force between the second locking planes 2043 against the second rotational direction R2 prevents unlocking between the first locking portion 210 and the second locking portion 220. In particular, the latching protrusion 2041 is constructed on the first support arm 121 in the form of a flexible, deformable suspension frame. In order to disengage the buckle protrusion 2041 and the recessed portion 2042, the buckle protrusion 2041 needs to be manually manipulated so that the buckle protrusion 2041 moves away from the recessed portion 2042 in the longitudinal direction L until the two are no longer in contact.
[0106] For example, such as Figure 17a and Figure 17b As shown, the snap-fit protrusion 2041 and / or the recessed recess 2042 have a fourth guide slope 2044 that forms an angle with the longitudinal direction L. The fourth guide slope 2044 can easily guide the snap-fit protrusion 2041 into the recessed recess 2042.
[0107] Although specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this application, even when only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The feature examples provided in this application are intended for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, unless otherwise stated. In practice, multiple features may be combined with each other as needed and where technically feasible. Various substitutions, modifications, and alterations are also conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.
Claims
1. A drying rack assembly (10) for a garment processing device (1), characterized in that, The drying rack assembly (10) includes at least: - At least two shelves (11) that overlap each other along the height direction (Z); - A folding mechanism (12) is arranged between adjacent shelves (11), through which the drying rack assembly (10) can be switched between a folded state and an unfolded state. The folding mechanism (12) includes a first support arm (121) and a second support arm (122). The first support arm (121) and the second support arm (122) are integrally molded injection parts. The first support arm (121) has a first hinge portion (110) at its end facing the second support arm (122), and the second support arm (122) has a second hinge portion (120) at its end facing the first support arm (121) that can cooperate with the first hinge portion (110). One of the first hinge portion (110) and the second hinge portion (120) is provided with a rotating shaft (1003), and the other is provided with a receiving portion (1005) for the rotating shaft (1003). The shelf (11) has a third hinge (130) on the side facing the folding mechanism (12). The first support arm (121) and the second support arm (122) each have a fourth hinge (140) on the end facing their respective adjacent shelf (11) that can be connected to the third hinge (130). One of the third hinge (130) and the fourth hinge (140) is configured with a rotating shaft (1003), and the other is configured with a receiving part (1005) for the rotating shaft (1003).
2. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating shaft (1003) is fixedly mounted on a single-layer reinforcing rib plate (1004). The rotating shaft (1003) extends in a manner that protrudes vertically in the transverse direction (C) relative to the reinforcing rib plate (1004). The receiving part (1005) has two side plates (1006) spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (C). The reinforcing rib plate (1004) is arranged between the side plates (1006) in a manner that allows it to rotate around the rotating shaft (1003).
3. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The receiving part (1005) is constructed with a circumferentially closed circular groove (1007) on the side plate (1006), and the lateral extension dimension of the rotating shaft (1003) is greater than the lateral spacing between the side plates (1006), so that during the assembly process, the rotating shaft (1003) moves toward the circular groove (1007) in a manner that opens the side plate (1006) until the rotating shaft (1003) is engaged in the circular groove (1007).
4. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rotating shaft (1003) is constructed in a stepped manner with a first section (1008) and a second section (1009), wherein the diameter of the first section (1008) is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove (1007), and the diameter of the second section (1009) is greater than the diameter of the circular groove (1007); and / or The lateral end face of the rotating shaft (1003) is configured to be flush with the outer surface of the side plate (1006).
5. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The receiving part (1005) is constructed with a circular groove (1007) on the side plate (1006) having a single-sided opening in the circumferential direction. The circular groove (1007) is connected to the guide groove (1014) on the side plate (1006) through the single-sided opening (1013), so that the rotating shaft (1003) can be embedded into the circular groove (1007) via the guide groove (1014).
6. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The diameter of the rotating shaft (1003) is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular groove (1007) and greater than the width of the guide groove (1014); and / or The rotating shaft (1003) has end caps (1015) at both ends in the lateral direction, and the diameter of the end caps (1015) is larger than the diameter of the circular groove (1007).
7. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, A guide ramp (1010) for the rotating shaft (1003) is provided on the side plate (1006), wherein the distance between the guide ramps (1010) that are opposite each other gradually decreases in the direction toward the circular groove (1007).
8. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, In the first hinge portion (110) and the second hinge portion (120), the side plate (1006) of the receiving portion (1005) is widened relative to the rest of the associated support arm, and the reinforcing rib (1004) for the rotating shaft (1003) is bent such that in the folded state the rotating shaft (1003) is located at the exact center of the adjacent shelf (11) along the height direction (Z).
9. The drying support assembly (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, For the first hinge portion (110) and the second hinge portion (120), the support arm having the rotation axis (1003) is constructed to be at least partially narrowed in the direction of the rotation axis (1003), such that the first support arm (121) and the second support arm (122) fit together in the folded state; and / or In the folded state, the third hinge (130) of the adjacent shelves (11) are close to each other.
10. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The receiving part (1005) is provided with rounded edges (1016) at least at the following edges, and during the switching between the folded state and the unfolded state, a support arm having a rotating shaft (1003) connected to the receiving part (1005) rotates around the edges.
11. The drying rack assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each of the hinged parts that are connected to each other has a stop (1017), which is configured to abut against each other in the unfolded state. The stop (1017) is constructed as a stop end face or a stop protrusion of each hinge part, which abuts against the corresponding hinge part in the longitudinal direction (L) or the tangential direction (T) in the unfolded state.
12. The drying rack assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first support arm (121) and the second support arm (122) are respectively provided with a wedge-shaped protrusion (1011) and a notch (1012) adapted to the shape of the wedge-shaped protrusion (1011) on their ends facing each other. The wedge-shaped protrusion (1011) and the notch (1012) together serve as an anti-pinch structure.
13. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first support arm (121) and the second support arm (122) each have a hollow cavity (1018) in which a plurality of reinforcing ribs (1019) are constructed, particularly in a cross-shaped arrangement.
14. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The shelf (11) is a single piece made of metal; and / or The shelf (11) is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes (1001) arranged in an array, the shape of which is selected from the group consisting of: circle, triangle, square, polygon; and / or At least one reinforcing rib (1002) is provided on the shelf (11).
15. The drying rack assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The drying rack assembly (10) also includes a hanging member (13) fixedly arranged on the uppermost shelf (11) and a support leg (14) fixedly arranged on the lowermost shelf (11).
16. The drying support assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The drying rack assembly (10) has only a first shelf (111) located above and a second shelf (112) located below. A first support arm (121) is connected to the first shelf (111), and a second support arm (122) is connected to the second shelf (112). The first hinge (110) and the fourth hinge (140) are configured with the rotation shaft (1003), and the second hinge (120) and the third hinge (130) are configured with the receiving portion (1005); and / or The drying rack assembly (10) has four folding mechanisms (12), which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the square-structured shelf (11).
17. A garment processing apparatus (1), the garment processing apparatus (1) comprising a drying rack assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.