Automatic washing machine and/or dryer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic washing machines and dryers with integrated flaps pose a risk of user injury due to protruding hard elements used for opening, and small elements can be difficult to grip securely, necessitating a safer and easier-to-integrate solution.
Innovation Solution
A soft and flexible tab made of material that protrudes from the housing and flap, allowing easy gripping and pulling to open the flap without requiring a breakthrough in the housing or additional tools, and featuring a light guide for visibility and tamper protection, is integrated into the washing machine or dryer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a protruding hard element (handle bar or protruding handle) is used to open the flap, then the flap can be easily opened, but it poses a risk of injury to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible tab made of soft material (such as fabric or flexible plastic) instead of a rigid handle. The tab is integrated into the flap and can be pulled to open it, providing ease of operation while eliminating the injury risk associated with hard protruding elements. The flexibility of the material allows it to deform safely under force without causing harm to users.
2Device complexity
If the flap opening element is made very small, then it is less conspicuous and simpler to design, but it becomes difficult to grip securely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by changing the physical parameters of the opening element - specifically its size and material properties. The tab is designed with dimensions that are large enough to be easily gripped (contrary to making it very small), and it is made from soft, flexible material that provides both gripability and safety. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between simplicity and ease of gripping.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional protection against intrusion is added to cover the area behind the flap, then safety is improved, but the design becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by removing the need for additional protective structures. Instead of adding complex intrusion protection mechanisms, the solution extracts the safety function by using a soft, flexible tab that inherently prevents injury through its material properties. This eliminates the need for separate protective components, thereby reducing design complexity while maintaining safety.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an automatic washing machine and/or dryer, comprising a housing (1), a flap (2) which is integrated into the housing (1) and a tab (3) which is made from a soft and/or flexible material and is arranged on the panel (2) so as to project relative to the housing (1) and the panel (2), and is designed in such a way that pulling on the tab (3) causes the release of the panel (2) from the housing (1).