Bendable Filter Design for Washable Garment Care Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional garment care apparatuses face challenges in efficiently removing fine dust from filters, leading to frequent replacements and inefficiencies in air purification, while also risking overdrying or underdrying of filters during cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

A garment care apparatus with a bendable filter design and a control method that includes a bending guide and maintaining members, allowing for easy washing and automatic drying, utilizing a controller to manage fan operations and humidity detection for optimal filter drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional dust filter is used in the garment care apparatus, then fine dust can be collected and removed from the air, but the filter cannot be efficiently washed and dried, leading to frequent replacements and potential degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter performanceVSAvoidfilter washing and drying

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into multiple filter elements arranged in parallel, allowing selective replacement of only the soiled elements while retaining clean ones. This segmentation enables efficient washing and drying by allowing partial cleaning cycles and reduces the need to replace entire filter assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter elements are designed to be dynamically replaceable and reconfigurable within the filter housing. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt between different operational states (cleaning, drying, replacement) and enables flexible maintenance schedules based on actual filter condition rather than fixed replacement intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the filter is washed frequently to maintain performance, then air purification efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases due to extended drying requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair purification efficiencyVSAvoiddrying energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of washing and drying the entire filter assembly, only the necessary number of filter elements are washed and dried based on actual contamination levels. This partial action approach maintains air purification efficiency while significantly reducing the energy required for drying operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The filter elements are designed to be easily removable and reinstallable by the user without specialized tools or procedures. This self-service design enables users to perform maintenance themselves, reducing the need for professional service interventions and extending the overall lifecycle of the filter system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the filter is replaced frequently to ensure optimal performance, then air purification is maintained, but loss of time and resources increases due to repeated replacements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair purification performanceVSAvoidfilter replacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of discarding entire filter assemblies, the system recovers and retains clean filter elements while only replacing or regenerating soiled ones. This approach significantly extends the overall service life of the filter system and reduces the frequency of replacements, saving both time and resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The filter elements are designed with universal compatibility and standardized interfaces, allowing them to be used across different positions and potentially different filter assemblies. This multi-functionality increases the utilization rate of each filter element and reduces the total number of replacements needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution extends the life cycle of filters by enabling efficient washing and prevents degradation through rapid drying, improving air purification efficiency and reducing energy consumption by ensuring proper drying times.

Implementation Method 1

the dust filter uses a fibrous material (PP, a non-woven material, etc.) as a physical filtration method to collect and remove fine dust

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the filter includes a bending guide formed by cutting away parts of the filter, and the cut parts and uncut parts of the filter make the filter bendable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructural bending through cutting:

Implementation Method 3

the bending maintaining member may include at least one of a Velcro member, a tape, a buckle, a band, a wire, or a hinge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Velcro

Data Source

PatentUS20230158427A1Garment care apparatus and control method therefor

Publication Date: 2023.05.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A garment care apparatus comprises: a main body including a garment care room formed therein, the garment care room having a front side opened; and a filter installable in the main body to collect dust included in the air in the garment care space, wherein the filter comprises a bending guide formed by cutting away parts of the filter, and the cut parts and uncut parts of the filter make the filter bendable.