Dual-Chamber Clothes Care Structure With Movable Wrinkle Press

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothes treatment apparatuses lack a design that allows for independent wrinkle removal in a separate chamber while minimizing damage to clothes during partition movement and facilitating easy hanging of clothes in the treatment chamber.

Innovation Solution

A clothes treatment apparatus with two chambers, where the second chamber is equipped with a partition plate that can move to the front of the case, allowing for easy hanging and minimizing damage by maintaining a constant inclination angle during movement, and includes a press plate for wrinkle removal, with communication holes for steam or air transfer between chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If clothes treatment is performed in a single chamber, then device complexity is reduced, but wrinkle removal function and steam treatment function cannot be independently performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent wrinkle removal functionVSAvoidchamber partition structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment chamber is divided into a first clothes treatment chamber for steam/air circulation and a second clothes treatment chamber for wrinkle removal, allowing independent operation of different treatment functions while maintaining a unified device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition plate between the two chambers is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate between blocking the communication hole (separating chambers for independent operation) and opening (allowing steam transfer), thus providing functional adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If partition plate blocks communication hole to separate chambers, then independent wrinkle removal is achieved, but steam or air circulation between chambers is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent chamber operationVSAvoidsteam or air transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate is designed as a movable component that can rotate to change its position relative to the communication hole, allowing the system to dynamically switch between chamber separation mode (partition blocks hole) and steam circulation mode (partition opens hole), thus resolving the contradiction between independent operation and substance transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If partition plate is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but damage to clothes occurs when partition position needs to be changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepartition plate movementVSAvoiddamage to clothes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate is designed to rotate around a rotation axis rather than move linearly, allowing smooth repositioning without abrupt movements that could damage clothes. The rotation mechanism enables controlled adjustment of the partition position while maintaining stability during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system includes a rotation limiting mechanism that prevents the partition plate from rotating beyond safe angular ranges, thereby avoiding excessive movement that could damage clothes while still allowing necessary position adjustments for different treatment modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of operation

If partition plate moves to front of case, then clothes hanging is facilitated, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclothes hanging convenienceVSAvoidmoving member guide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate is designed to rotate to a front-facing position where its inner surface is exposed for easy clothes hanging, while a guide structure ensures the rotation follows a controlled path. This dynamic positioning allows the partition to serve dual purposes: chamber separation when blocked and clothes hanging surface when exposed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3508649B1Clothes treatment apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.03.03 LG ELECTRONICS INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A clothes treatment apparatus is disclosed. The clothes treatment apparatus includes a case (10) defining the external appearance and having an open front, a first clothes treatment chamber (20) defining a space in the case to treat clothes using steam or air circulation, a second clothes treatment chamber (30) defining a space at one side of the first clothes treatment chamber in the case to remove wrinkles from clothes by applying pressure to the clothes, a machine chamber (49) provided in the case to spray steam to or circulate air through the first clothes treatment chamber or the second clothes treatment chamber, and a partition plate (32) configured to be movable to a position for closing the second clothes treatment chamber so that the second clothes treatment chamber is separated from the first clothes treatment chamber and to the open front of the case to open the second clothes treatment chamber.