Top-Loading Drum Sliding Fold Door for Wider Laundry Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top-loading laundry drums have limited opening spaces for loading/unloading clothes due to the size constraints of the door assembly, requiring both hands to operate and occupying user's hands while loading/unloading, making the process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A closing device with a sliding portion and an articulated, foldable portion that increases the opening space while maintaining a simple structure, allowing single-handed operation, with elastic means for automatic opening, and curved segments that follow the drum's profile to minimize internal volume occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a traditional door assembly with two hinged lids is used to close the opening window, then the drum can be sealed effectively, but the opening space for loading/unloading clothes is limited and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device is divided into multiple functional segments: a sliding portion that moves along the drum periphery and an articulated foldable portion with multiple panels hinged together. This segmentation allows each part to perform a specific function (sealing, folding, supporting) while collectively achieving a large opening area without requiring a complex overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing device transitions from a traditional planar door structure to a three-dimensional articulated structure that can fold along multiple axes. The articulated portion with hinged panels can collapse into a compact configuration, effectively utilizing the third dimension (depth) to accommodate the door structure without increasing the drum's external dimensions or complicating the overall design.
2Reliability
If two lids hinged on opposite sides of the opening window are used, then the opening can be closed securely, but both hands are required for operation making it cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding portion and articulated foldable portion are combined into a single integrated closing device that operates as one unit. This merging allows the device to be actuated with a single hand motion, eliminating the need to separately operate two independent lids while maintaining secure closure through the coordinated action of both components.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing device incorporates dynamic elements including sliding motion along the drum periphery and articulated folding of the panel structure. These dynamic characteristics allow the device to transition smoothly between open and closed states with minimal effort, enhancing ease of operation while maintaining reliability through the mechanical advantage of the sliding-folding mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the opening window dimensions are increased for easier loading/unloading, then user convenience is improved, but the door assembly size and encumbrance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device utilizes the third dimension by incorporating an articulated foldable portion with multiple hinged panels. When opened, the structure extends to provide a large opening area; when closed, it folds into a compact configuration that does not significantly increase the drum's external dimensions or create excessive encumbrance.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly is segmented into multiple panels connected by hinges, allowing the structure to be distributed along the drum periphery in a folded state. This segmentation enables the closing device to achieve a large effective opening area without requiring a single large rigid door that would increase overall size and encumbrance.
4Area of stationary object
If a sliding portion and articulated foldable portion are used in the closing device, then opening space is increased and single-handed operation is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device is divided into two main functional segments: a sliding portion that handles the sealing function by moving along the drum periphery, and an articulated foldable portion with multiple panels that provides structural support and defines the opening area. This segmentation allows each component to be relatively simple in design while collectively achieving increased opening space.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing device employs dynamic mechanisms including sliding motion and articulated folding that, while adding structural elements, do so in a way that maintains operational simplicity. The sliding-folding mechanism provides a clear, intuitive motion path that reduces operational complexity despite the increased structural complexity, enabling single-handed operation with minimal training.
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 solution provides a larger opening space for easy loading/unloading with minimal effort, using one hand, and maintains a uniform load distribution without significant internal volume loss, enhancing user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
said closing device being provided with elastic means for automatically opening said closing device
Data Source
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AI summary
A top loading drum (1) for laundry appliances having a substantially cylindrical lateral wall (2) that defines an internal volume (3) of said drum, an opening (4) positioned on said lateral wall (2) for accessing said internal volume (3), and a closing device (5) for closing said opening (4) and movable between a closed position and an open position; the closing device comprises a first, sliding, portion (6) which is slidingly coupled to said lateral wall (2) and is slidingly movable on said lateral wall between said closed position and said open position; the closing device further comprises a second, articulated, portion (7) which has a first end (71) with a first terminal hinged connection (81) on said lateral wall (2) and a second end (72) with a second terminal hinged connection (82) on said first, sliding, portion (6), said second, articulated, portion (7) having a plurality of segments (91, 92, 93) and being provided with at least one intermediate hinged connection (83, 84, 85) between two subsequent segments of said plurality of segments (91, 92, 93).