dehumidifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dehumidifiers require users to manually separate and empty the water container, often necessitating bending or kneeling and requiring the cover to be opened, which is inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidifier design featuring a sliding water container with a rotatable handle that allows for one-handed separation and movement, eliminating the need to open the cover for emptying and incorporating a transparent design for easy water level monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the water container is separated from the main body using hands, then the water container can be emptied, but the user has to bend the body or kneel a lot
Solution Approach 1:
A handle is introduced as an intermediary tool between the user and the water container. The handle extends from the water container front surface, allowing the user to grip and pull the container without bending or kneeling, thus mediating the interaction to eliminate physical discomfort while maintaining separation functionality
2Ease of operation
If the cover of the water container is opened to empty out the water container, then the condensate can be removed, but the user has to accept inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is completely removed from the water container structure. Instead of having a removable cover that needs to be opened and closed, the condensate discharge opening is directly exposed at the top surface of the water container, allowing users to remove condensate without any covering components, thus simplifying the operation steps while maintaining removal functionality
3Ease of manufacture
If the water container is made opaque, then the structure is simpler, but the user cannot check the water level visually
Solution Approach 1:
The water container is manufactured as transparent throughout its structure, not just in specific areas. This local quality change from opaque to transparent material allows users to visually detect the water level through the container walls and bottom, while the manufacturing process remains straightforward using common transparent plastics, thus solving the detection difficulty without significantly complicating manufacturing
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
Enhances user convenience by enabling one-handed operation and easy condensate removal without opening the cover, while the transparent construction allows visual water level checking, improving overall usability and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air introduced through the inlet port
Implementation Method 2
as a temperature near the evaporator is decreased, water included in air is condensed and then dew forms at a surface of the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
a coupling portion separately coupled to a protrusion rib formed on one surface of the water container by elastic deformation
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a dehumidifier which has an improved structure capable of improving a user convenience of a water container. The dehumidifier includes a main body including an inlet port and an outlet port, a heat exchanger which exchanges heat with air introduced through the inlet port and a water container which accommodates condensate and is separately coupled to the main body in a sliding manner. The water container includes a handle rotatably coupled to the water container.