Stand clothes dryer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing freestanding clothes dryers suffer from frame instability due to joint elasticity, leading to wobbling and potential damage from the weight of wet laundry, and have complex joint designs that increase manufacturing and assembly effort.

Innovation Solution

The design positions stop elements on the frame profile rather than the joint itself, using a frame profile to absorb impact forces, and incorporates a connecting bolt and guide channels to stabilize the joint, reducing elastic deformation and enhancing torsional rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the stop elements are integrated within the joint, then the joint structure is compact, but the frame stability decreases due to joint elasticity causing warping and wobbling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint structureVSAvoidframe stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stop elements are extracted from the joint structure and positioned on the frame profile instead. This separates the stopping function from the joint, allowing the joint to be simpler while the stop elements are supported directly by the rigid frame profile, eliminating the instability caused by joint elasticity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If separate components are used for the joint and connection of longitudinal profiles to transverse profiles, then the frame stability increases, but the manufacturing and assembly effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The joint and the connection of longitudinal profiles to transverse profiles are merged into a single integrated joint structure. This unified design provides multiple stabilization points within one component, achieving frame stability without requiring separate parts, thereby simplifying manufacturing and assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the frame profile absorbs impact forces through stop elements positioned on it, then the frame stability and torsional rigidity increase, but the stress on the frame profile increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe stabilityVSAvoidstress on frame profile
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The stop elements are positioned on the frame profile to absorb and distribute impact forces before they can cause damage. By placing the stops directly on the rigid frame profile rather than within the elastic joint, the force is distributed over a larger area and absorbed by the rigid frame structure, reducing peak stress while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4663840A1Stand clothes dryer
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 LEIFHEIT
  • EP4663840A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4663840A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4663840A1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a freestanding clothes dryer with a drying area and pivotally mounted support arms (1), wherein the drying area comprises two transverse frame profiles (3), connecting cross profiles (13), and support elements (5) for hanging laundry. The foldable support arms (1) are pivotally mounted in a joint (2), and stop elements (10 or 11) are provided at at least one of the joints. These stop elements move with the support arm (1) and, upon reaching the upright position, abut a stop that limits the folding movement. Known freestanding clothes dryers have the disadvantage that, due to their elasticity, they can appear less stable.This improves the invention in that the stop is formed by a section of the frame profile (3) or an intermediate element arranged on the frame profile (3), wherein the stop means (11 or 12) is supported directly or indirectly via the intermediate element on the frame profile (3).