Garment care apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional garment care apparatuses have difficulty accommodating and effectively caring for garments longer than normal due to their limited height and design constraints, which restrict the length of the care chamber.
Innovation Solution
The garment care apparatus features a care chamber with a first area and a second area of greater vertical length, where the second area includes a drain outlet with an inclined bottom plane and a filter net, along with a machine room below, a water collection system, and a steam generating device for enhanced care functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the care chamber has a uniform height throughout, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate garments longer than normal
Solution Approach 1:
The care chamber is divided into two distinct areas: a first area with a first bottom plane at a higher level, and a second area with a second bottom plane at a lower level. This segmentation allows different portions of the care chamber to serve different functions - the first area accommodates normal length garments while the second area with greater vertical space accommodates longer garments, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability to varying garment lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire care chamber taller to accommodate long garments, the patent applies local quality by creating a localized second area with increased vertical height only where needed. The first area maintains its original height for normal garments, while the second area extends downward with a lower bottom plane to provide the necessary space for longer garments, optimizing space utilization and maintaining overall structural efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bottom of the care chamber is lowered to accommodate longer garments, then longer garments can be accommodated, but water drainage becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted and separated from the main care chamber structure. A drain outlet is specifically positioned at the front end portion of the second bottom plane in the lowered second area, creating a dedicated water discharge path. This extraction ensures that the lowered bottom plane for accommodating long garments does not compromise drainage reliability, as water is channeled to a specifically designed outlet location.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage solution addresses the depth dimension by positioning the drain outlet at the front end of the lowered second bottom plane. The inclined plane configuration creates a gradient that guides water toward the drain outlet, utilizing the dimensional change from the lowered bottom plane to ensure effective water drainage despite the increased depth of the second area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the care chamber height is increased to accommodate longer garments, then versatility improves, but the machine room space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The care chamber is segmented into a first area positioned above the machine room with standard height, and a second area extending downward with a lower bottom plane that provides additional vertical space for longer garments. This segmentation allows the machine room to maintain its full volume and functionality while the second area of the care chamber utilizes the extended space, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and machine room volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly increasing the care chamber height in all dimensions, the patent applies dimensionality change by creating a localized extension in the vertical dimension only in the second area. The first area maintains its original height to preserve machine room access and volume, while the second area extends downward to accommodate longer garments, optimizing the trade-off between versatility and machine room space.
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
This design allows for the accommodation and effective care of both normal and longer garments by optimizing water drainage and air circulation, improving the apparatus's ability to handle garments of varying lengths while maintaining ease of use and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The second bottom plane may include an inclined plane tilted down from a rear wall of the care chamber toward the drain outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A garment care apparatus includes a care chamber including a first area including a first bottom plane, and a second area including a second bottom plane located lower than the first bottom plane so that the garment care apparatus may accommodate and care for garments with normal lengths in the first area and garments longer than the normal garments in the second area. The second bottom plane includes a drain outlet arranged in a front end portion of the second bottom plane to discharge water, and an inclined portion tilted down from a rear wall of the care chamber toward the drain outlet.