Device to extract dry clothes from a clothes dryer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Extracting dry clothes from a clothes dryer is a tedious and back-straining task due to the need for repetitive bending and manual removal of clothes from a low-level front door, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A support loop device with netting or fabric, made from fiberglass or stainless steel rods, that flexes to fit into the dryer door, expands to cover the clothes, and allows for manual rotation of the drum to facilitate easy removal of clothes without bending, using a 180-degree rotation mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If clothes are removed one-by-one from the dryer, then the user can access each piece of clothes, but the task becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction speedVSAvoidtime to remove clothes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the extraction process into two distinct phases: first, the support loop is inserted through the door opening to reach the clothes; second, the drum is rotated to bring clothes to the opening where they are removed. This segmentation allows continuous access to multiple clothes without repeatedly inserting and removing the support loop, thereby improving extraction speed and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support loop is pre-positioned inside the dryer through the door opening before the extraction process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need to repeatedly insert and remove the support loop for each piece of clothes, allowing the user to simply rotate the drum and remove clothes sequentially, thus significantly improving productivity and reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the user reaches into the dryer to retrieve clothes, then the clothes can be removed, but the user must bend over repeatedly causing back strain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of clothes removalVSAvoidback strain

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the interaction dimension by using the dryer's existing rotational movement (drum rotation) to bring clothes to the user's level. Instead of the user bending down to reach clothes at a low door level, the drum rotates to present clothes at the opening, effectively moving the clothes to the user rather than the user moving to the clothes, thereby eliminating back strain while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the support loop is made rigid, then it provides structural stability, but it cannot flex to fit into the dryer door opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidflexibility to fit opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support loop is designed with dynamic properties, combining rigid rods with flexible connections that allow it to bend and adapt to the door opening dimensions during insertion, then maintain its structural stability once positioned inside the dryer. This dynamic design enables the loop to transition from a flexible insertion state to a stable support state, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support loop incorporates flexible elements such as bent wires or rods that can deform during insertion through the door opening. These flexible components allow the loop to conform to the opening geometry while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to support clothes during the extraction process, thus balancing structural stability with adaptability to fit the opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The device simplifies the extraction process, reducing strain on the user's back, providing a cost-effective, durable, and easy-to-clean solution for efficiently removing dry clothes from the dryer.

Implementation Method 1

The support loop flexes to allow it to fit into the opening at the front door of the clothes dryer and then expands to lie over the clothes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The drum of the dryer is then manually rotated 180 degrees so that the clothes lie on top of the netting of the support loop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS10866027B2Device to extract dry clothes from a clothes dryer

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 1348671 BC LTD D B A LAUNDRY TURTLE

AI summary

Disclosed is a device to extract dry clothes from a clothes dryer. The device comprises a support loop. The support loop includes a netting disposed within the support loop. The support loop is made of at least one of a plurality of fiberglass rods and stainless steel spring. The support loop flexes to allow it to fit into an opening at a front door of the clothes dryer and then expands to overlie the clothes. The drum is then manually rotated 180 degrees so that the clothes lie on top of the netting and the entire device is then again flexed and removed from the dryer with the dried clothes.