Detergent Box Ventilation Structure to Suppress Wash Water Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses experience wash water leakage through ventilation portions, leading to external contamination and odor issues due to unintentional drawer withdrawal during wash water supply, which complicates timely removal of leaked water.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a through hole with a protruding groove portion and leakage suppression ribs in the detergent box's ventilation portion to guide wash water back into the housing, reducing external leakage and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ventilation portion is provided in the detergent box housing to allow communication between inside and outside of the water tank, then air circulation and breathing function are improved, but wash water leakage to the outside occurs when the drawer is unintentionally withdrawn
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary element between the through hole and the external environment. This guide member has a guide portion that extends from the through hole outward and a blocking portion that prevents wash water from escaping. The guide member mediates between the ventilation requirement (allowing air passage) and the leakage prevention requirement (blocking water escape), enabling the system to achieve both functions simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is made withdrawable for user access, then ease of operation is improved, but unintentional withdrawal causes wash water to leak through the ventilation portion
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member with its blocking portion provides preliminary anti-action against the harmful effect of unintentional drawer withdrawal. Before wash water can leak outward through the ventilation portion, the blocking portion of the guide member prevents this leakage. This preliminary protective measure ensures that even if the drawer is accidentally withdrawn during wash water supply, the leakage is prevented from occurring.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wash water leaks to the outside through the ventilation portion, then the ventilation function is compromised, but contaminants mix with leaked water causing odor and bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member converts the potentially harmful situation of wash water reaching the external environment into a beneficial outcome. By directing wash water through the guide portion and blocking outward leakage with the blocking portion, the system ensures that wash water does not mix with contaminants in the external environment. This prevents the formation of odor-causing bacteria and mold, transforming what could have been a contamination source into a controlled water flow path.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a cabinet, a water tank provided inside the cabinet, and a detergent box provided in communication with the water tank to supply detergent to an inside of the water tank. The detergent box includes: a housing in communication with the water tank; a drawer received inside the housing; and a ventilation portion formed through the housing so as to allow an inside of the tank to communicate with an outside of the housing, and the ventilation portion includes a through hole formed through a side surface of the housing, and a protruding groove portion recessed from an inner surface of the housing and protruding from an outer surface thereof and to be open at upper and inner sides thereof, respectively, at a lower side of the through hole. The leakage of wash water through the ventilation portion of the housing may be suppressed.