Elastic Drain Hose Holder for Washing Machine Separation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines face issues with the drain hose being easily separated from the cabinet by users, leading to unintended natural drainage, which requires additional components and processes to prevent, thereby increasing manufacturing costs and reducing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A holder with a hook mechanism is integrated into the washing machine's cabinet to securely fix the drain hose, using a support part with a fastening hole and an extension part with a hook that forms an accommodation hole around the drain hose, preventing movement and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw is used to fix the drain hose to the cabinet, then the drain hose can be fixed to the cabinet, but the drain hose can be easily separated by a user which may cause natural drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The holder employs a elastic deformation mechanism where the body flexibly deforms to allow the drain hose to be inserted, then returns to its original shape to clamp and secure the hose. This dynamic behavior enables the holder to transition from an insertion-friendly state to a secure fixation state, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and fixation reliability.
2Reliability
If a separation prevention label is attached to the drain hose to prevent user separation, then the drain hose cannot be separated, but additional components and processes are required which degrades manufacturing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The holder integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides fixation, separation prevention, and structural support all in one piece. The holder is coupled to both the cabinet and the drain hose, creating a unified assembly that eliminates the need for separate prevention labels or additional fastening components, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder's elastic body automatically clamps the drain hose through its inherent elastic recovery force after insertion, without requiring additional fastening operations or separate prevention mechanisms. The structure self-secures the hose in place, eliminating the need for extra components that would reduce manufacturing efficiency.
3Reliability
If the drain hose is introduced higher than the tub water level to prevent natural drainage, then natural drainage is prevented, but the drain hose needs to be fixed during washing, rinsing and draining processes requiring a fixing apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The holder utilizes an elastic body that functions as a flexible clamping structure. This elastic component can deform during installation to accommodate the drain hose, then returns to its original shape to provide continuous securing force, maintaining the hose's elevated position without requiring complex rigid fixing apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the drain hose. It provides a simple yet effective coupling mechanism that secures the hose at the required height to prevent natural drainage, without introducing complex fixing apparatus. The holder's elastic clamping action serves as the mediating force that maintains the hose position.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine includes a cabinet forming an external appearance of the washing machine, a tub provided in the cabinet to accommodate wash water, a drain pump coupled to a drain hose configured to guide wash water pumped by the drain pump to outside of the cabinet, and a holder coupled to an outer surface of the cabinet to fix the drain hose to the cabinet. The holder is coupled to the outer surface of the cabinet while having both ends coupled to each other to form an accommodation hole surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the drain hose, and at least one movement preventing protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface of the holder to prevent the drain hose from being separated from the holder protrudes toward inside of the holder to come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the drain hose.