Extendable Clothes Drying Rack With Removable Stiffening Crossmembers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothes drying hangers with extensible racks face interference from stiffening crossmembers, limiting the ability to comfortably hang large items and requiring complex configurations for space optimization.

Innovation Solution

A clothes drying hanger with a quadrangular frame structure, sliding rod-like components, and scissor-like legs, featuring quick engagement/disengagement means for stiffening crossmembers, allowing for adjustable load capacity and easy movement without obstacles when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If stiffening crossmembers are permanently fixed to provide structural stability, then the rack has obstacles that interfere with hanging large items of clothing, but if they are removed, the structural stability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to hang large itemsVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening crossmembers are made dynamically adjustable through quick engagement/disengagement means, allowing them to be present when structural stability is needed and absent when hanging large items is required. This transforms a static structural element into a dynamic one that adapts to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between stiffening crossmembers and supporting legs is segmented into discrete engagement points with quick engagement/disengagement means. This allows the crossmembers to be selectively connected or disconnected from specific legs, providing flexibility in configuration while maintaining structural integrity when engaged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rack is designed with fixed dimensions to provide structural simplicity, then it cannot adapt to vary load capacity and optimize space usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload capacity variabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod-like components are designed to be extendable along the longitudinal direction, allowing the rack to dynamically change its dimensions and load capacity. This dynamic extension capability enables adaptation to different space requirements and clothing loads without requiring multiple fixed-size racks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rack structure is segmented into modular components including longitudinal members, crossmembers, and extendable rod-like components that can be independently adjusted. This modularity simplifies the extension mechanism while enabling versatile configuration options for different loading scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the rack is designed to be completely free of transverse obstacles for hanging large items, then stiffening crossmembers cannot be present to provide structural support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to hang large itemsVSAvoidstructural support
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffening crossmembers are designed with quick engagement/disengagement means that allow them to be rapidly deployed when structural support is needed and removed when clear space for large items is required. This dynamic presence/absence capability resolves the contradiction between needing obstacles for strength and being free of obstacles for ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables the use of stiffening crossmembers when necessary while maintaining a rack free of transverse obstacles, facilitating the hanging of large items and optimizing space usage with ease of configuration and movement.

Implementation Method 1

rod-like components which form, together with the quadrangular frame structure, a single rack for hanging clothes which can be extended in the longitudinal direction of said rod-like components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSliding: Friction

Implementation Method 2

supporting legs which have a scissor-like articulation are coupled to said longitudinal members

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArticulation: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP1790767B1Clothes drying hanger
Publication Date: 2010.01.13 GIMI
  • EP1790767B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1790767B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1790767B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A clothes drying hanger (10), of the type comprising a quadrangular frame structure (11) constituted by two longitudinal members (12) and two opposite crossmembers (13), between which rod-like components (14) are arranged which form, together with the quadrangular frame structure (11), a single rack (15) for hanging clothes which can be extended in the longitudinal direction of the rod-like components (14); stiffening crossmembers (31a) are associated with the legs (16). The clothes drying hanger (10) further comprises means (40) for quick engagement/disengagement to respective portions (18a) of the supporting legs (16) for at least one of the stiffening crossmembers (31a) of the hanger.