Clothing Dryer Exhaust Pipe Latching for Tool-Free Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clothing dryers require additional fixing members for assembling and disassembling the exhaust pipe, complicating the process.

Innovation Solution

A clothing dryer design featuring a first fixing bracket with a latching part on the exhaust pipe and a second fixing bracket with a latching groove on the housing, allowing the exhaust pipe to be easily fixed and removed by rotating it about its central axis, eliminating the need for additional fixing members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional fixing members are used to attach the fixing bracket to the housing, then the exhaust pipe is securely fixed, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixation of exhaust pipeVSAvoidassembly and disassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the fixing bracket with the exhaust pipe by providing a fixing projection directly on the exhaust pipe that engages with a fixing groove in the housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate fixing members, allowing secure fixation while simplifying assembly and disassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a fixing bracket with screws and rivets is used to support the exhaust pipe, then the exhaust pipe is stably supported, but the number of parts and assembly steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable support of exhaust pipeVSAvoidnumber of parts and assembly steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the separate fixing bracket and fixing members (screws, rivets) from the system. Instead, the exhaust pipe itself is equipped with a fixing projection that directly engages with the housing, reducing the number of parts while maintaining stable support through the projection-groove engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Strength

If multiple fixing members are required for exhaust pipe assembly, then the exhaust pipe is firmly attached, but the disassembly operation becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strength of exhaust pipeVSAvoiddisassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the attachment function into a single integrated mechanism where the fixing projection on the exhaust pipe engages with the fixing groove in the housing. This unified design provides firm attachment through the engagement of these two features while enabling quick disassembly by simply separating the projection from the groove, eliminating the time required to remove multiple fixing members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7596884B2Clothing dryer

Publication Date: 2009.10.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A clothing dryer including: a housing; an exhaust pipe; a first fixing bracket disposed at the exhaust pipe; and a second fixing bracket disposed at the bottom of the housing, the first fixing bracket being fitable in the second fixing bracket. The exhaust pipe is fixed without using an additional fixing member, whereby assembly and disassembly of the clothing dryer are accomplished.