Contactless Laundry Service System with Latched Container

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry service systems face inefficiencies due to the need for synchronized customer and laundry owner interactions, leading to time loss, labor waste, and privacy concerns when collecting and delivering laundry, especially in residential settings where residents may not be present at predetermined collection times.

Innovation Solution

A contactless laundry service system utilizing a smartphone application for users to request and manage laundry collection and delivery through a latched laundry container with a communication circuit, power sensor, and processor, allowing for real-time power monitoring and control, enabling convenient and secure service without requiring shared time slots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the laundry collector visits customers at predetermined times to collect laundry, then the service can be provided systematically, but labor is wasted when residents are not present and laundry cannot be collected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaundry collection efficiencyVSAvoidtime loss due to waiting and repeated visits

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system places a laundry container at the customer's location in advance, allowing laundry to be deposited immediately when ready rather than waiting for collector arrival. The container is prepared and positioned before the customer generates laundry, enabling immediate deposition action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The laundry container serves as an intermediary between the customer and the laundry collector. It acts as a buffer storage device that decouples the customer's laundry deposition action from the collector's retrieval action, allowing them to occur at different times without direct coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the laundry container is left in front of the customer's door for convenient access, then collection becomes easier, but loss or privacy exposure occurs due to visible laundry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaundry deposition convenienceVSAvoidprivacy exposure and loss risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The laundry container is equipped with a latch mechanism that can secure the container closed, creating a protective barrier that prevents visual exposure and physical access to the laundry inside while maintaining convenient deposition capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The latch mechanism serves as an intermediary security feature between the convenient open container and the protected laundry contents, allowing the container to be easily accessible while maintaining privacy and security when closed and latched.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the owner visits all customer homes to collect laundry and deliver schedules, then personalized service is provided, but time loss and physical burden occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized service capabilityVSAvoidtime loss for owner travel and interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables customers to autonomously deposit laundry into the container when ready and receive notifications when collection is available, eliminating the need for owner-customer coordination. The container and notification system work together to facilitate self-service laundry management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The notification system (SMS, email, or application notifications) serves as an intermediary communication channel between the system and customer, replacing direct personal interaction and schedule presentation by the owner with automated digital notifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the laundry collector walks around apartment halls to shout for laundry collection, then residents can be reached conveniently, but considerable labor is wasted when residents do not respond

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresident notification convenienceVSAvoidcollector labor efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical approach of manual shouting and walking with an automated electronic notification system that uses SMS, email, or application-based alerts to notify customers when laundry collection is available, eliminating the need for physical collector presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Customers receive automated notifications and can independently check for laundry collection availability through their devices, eliminating the need for them to respond to collector shouts and reducing collector labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11930429B2Non-contact laundry service system, and service-providing method

Publication Date: 2024.03.12 LIFEGOESON CO CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of providing a contactless laundry service including executing an application of a contactless laundry service, receiving a charge system of the contactless laundry service from a user, latching, by the user, a laundry container, into which laundry is put, for the contactless laundry service, and performing, by the user, a collection request using a collection request button of the application.