Wall-Mounted Folding Drying Rack With Angled Dual-Rack Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drying solutions for wet clothing, such as air drying, often result in wrinkles and uneven drying due to lack of suitable hanging methods, and folding racks take up excessive space while being either too large or too small, with previous designs being inefficient in terms of space utilization and material compatibility.

Innovation Solution

A folding clothes drying rack that folds inwardly and downwardly to form an angled structure, allowing for multiple drying rods and adaptable spacing, which can be wall-mounted and collapsed for storage, using a horizontal top bar with spaced wall spacers and hinged rectangular racks to optimize space usage and prevent rod contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a folding rack is designed to collapse for storage, then space utilization is improved, but the rack takes up large amounts of room when deployed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoiddrying space
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rack transitions from a horizontal extension into the room to a vertical configuration against the wall by utilizing the wall surface dimension. When folded, the rack collapses onto the wall rather than occupying floor space, effectively moving the stored structure into a different spatial dimension (vertical wall surface) that does not interfere with room usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack employs hinged connections that allow it to dynamically change its configuration between a deployed horizontal state for drying clothes and a folded vertical state for storage. This dynamic mechanism enables the rack to adapt its spatial footprint based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple drying rods are added to increase drying capacity, then productivity is improved, but the rack structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying capacityVSAvoidrack structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is divided into multiple independent rod holders that can each accommodate separate drying rods. This segmentation allows the drying capacity to be increased by simply adding more rod holders and rods, rather than redesigning the entire structure. Each segment functions independently, maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rod holders are designed with universal spacing and attachment mechanisms that can accommodate multiple rods simultaneously. The standardized spacing and hinged connection system create a multi-functional framework where additional rods can be integrated without complicating the fundamental structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If the rack is designed to fold inwardly and downwardly to form an angled structure, then space utilization is improved, but the mounting structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidmounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The angled folding configuration is pre-established through the hinge placement and rod holder positioning. The rack is designed to naturally fold into the desired angled position against the wall, with the mounting structure pre-configured to facilitate this specific folding path. This preliminary design of the folding geometry simplifies the mounting requirements compared to designing for arbitrary configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2499289B1Drying rack
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 RADDATZ DOUGLAS LOWELL
  • EP2499289B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2499289B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2499289B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a clothes drying rack consisting of two separate rectangular racks which are mounted against the wall to form a mountain fold configuration, but can be folded flat against the wall for storage when not in use.