Body Drying Apparatus with Moving Bar and Segmented Air Outlets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing body drying apparatuses are inefficient in drying the entire body, often require complex configurations, occupy excessive space, and fail to effectively remove moisture from hard-to-reach areas, leading to potential bacterial and fungal growth.

Innovation Solution

A drying apparatus with a main body and a moving bar that discharges air through multiple outlets and a duct system, allowing for efficient air flow and moisture removal from various body parts, including hard-to-reach areas, while minimizing the apparatus's size and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a forced air flow is supplied regardless of user body characteristics, then the drying apparatus can cover the entire body, but the drying efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying coverage areaVSAvoiddrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying apparatus divides the air supply system into multiple independent blowing means located at different outlets. Each blowing means can be independently controlled to supply air to specific body regions (head, torso, limbs) based on user characteristics, rather than using a single forced air flow system. This segmentation enables both comprehensive coverage and optimized drying efficiency for each body part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If multiple fans are used to supply air to different body portions, then drying coverage is improved, but the entire size of the drying equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying coverage areaVSAvoidequipment size
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus merges multiple air supply functions into a single integrated housing that contains multiple outlets and blowing means. The compact design combines the head drying outlet, torso drying outlet, and limb drying outlet within one unit, avoiding the need for multiple separate drying devices. This merging approach maintains comprehensive coverage while minimizing overall equipment volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a complicated configuration with blowing means in each outlet is used, then drying efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blowing means are designed as universal components that can be installed in different outlets (head, torso, limb) with the same basic structure and operation principle. Each outlet contains a blowing means that follows the same design pattern, allowing for standardized manufacturing and simplified maintenance. The multi-functional housing accommodates different outlet configurations while using the same core drying technology throughout.

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 apparatus efficiently dries the entire body, including hard-to-reach areas, reducing the risk of bacterial and fungal growth by effectively removing moisture and minimizing space occupation.

Implementation Method 1

a fan assembly (160) disposed at a rear surface of the main body (100) to generate the flow of the air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFan: Fan

Implementation Method 2

a heater (140) disposed between the fan assembly (160) and the duct (130) to heat the flow of the air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

discharges the air... toward a user's body to dry the user's body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3960052B1Drying apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3960052B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3960052B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3960052B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A drying apparatus is proposed. A main body (100) may constitute the frame of the drying apparatus. A front end frame (102) and a rear end frame (106) may constitute the exterior of the main body (100). A moving bar (230) may discharge air while moving up and down along the front surface of the main body (100). A duct (130) may be installed in the main body (100), and air flown by a fan assembly (160) may be separated in the duct and be discharged to a user through the edges of the front surface of the main body to dry the user. A drive assembly (210) moving the moving bar (230) up and down may be installed in the installation space (150) defined in the duct (130).