Fabric warming rack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric warming and sterilization devices require enclosed appliances, which are bulky, expensive, and complex, failing to effectively sanitize towels or fabrics without enclosures.
Innovation Solution
A fabric warming rack with integrated ultraviolet (UV) light sources and reflector assemblies on rods, allowing for even warming and sanitizing of fabrics without an enclosure, utilizing UV light sources positioned on both ends of horizontal rods to ensure thorough disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enclosed appliances are used for fabric warming and sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the enclosure from traditional towel warmer designs, extracting only the essential heating and UV sterilization functions. The rod structure allows towels to be warmed and disinfected without being enclosed, eliminating the housing, door, and associated mechanical components while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through direct UV exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the towel for drying, provides a surface for UV light exposure for sterilization, and acts as a heating element through integrated heating components. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate enclosed warming and sterilization chambers.
2Reliability
If enclosed appliances are used for fabric warming and sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the enclosure and associated complex mechanical systems (hinges, doors, control panels), the patent significantly reduces manufacturing costs. The design uses simple rod structures with integrated heating and UV elements that are cheaper to produce and install compared to enclosed cabinet systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective heating elements and UV light sources that can be easily replaced. The rod structure itself is simple and inexpensive, using basic materials rather than expensive enclosed appliance components, making the overall system more affordable while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If enclosures are used for fabric warming, then fabric protection is improved, but bulkiness and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the enclosure entirely, using only the essential rod structure to hold and treat the fabric. This extraction removes the bulky housing while maintaining fabric protection through direct UV exposure and heating, allowing the treatment to occur in open space rather than within a large cabinet.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional enclosed space to a linear rod structure. The heating and UV elements are distributed along the rod in multiple dimensions, providing comprehensive fabric treatment without requiring a large enclosed volume. This dimensional change reduces bulkiness while maintaining protective functions.
4Ease of operation
If manual orienting of UV disinfection lamp is used, then installation flexibility is improved, but sterilization uniformity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs rotatable joints or adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow the UV lamp to dynamically adjust its orientation during operation. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform sterilization coverage along the entire length of the towel while maintaining installation flexibility, as the lamp can be positioned at optimal angles regardless of mounting location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asymmetric positioning of UV light sources at different locations along the rod, with each lamp oriented at specific non-uniform angles. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that UV radiation is distributed evenly across the fabric surface, compensating for variations in towel placement and achieving uniform sterilization without requiring precise manual alignment during installation.
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 efficient and even warming and sanitizing of fabrics in an unenclosed setup, reducing bulkiness and complexity while ensuring thorough disinfection, suitable for home and commercial use.
Implementation Method 1
one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources integrated into the at least one rod
Implementation Method 2
A first reflector assembly may be positioned on the first end of the at least one rod and configured to reflect at least a portion of light emitted by the first light source toward the at least one rod
Data Source
AI summary
A fabric warming rack comprising at least one rod extending along a horizontal plane with one or more light sources integrated into the at least one rod.