Handheld Appliance For Pressing and Steaming Garments And Other Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrinkle-removing appliances such as irons and steamers are cumbersome and require significant storage space, and neither is optimal for travel due to resource and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A handheld appliance with a pivotable upper and lower arm structure, integrated steam generation, and a water reservoir, allowing both ironing and steaming capabilities in a single device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional iron is used for wrinkle removal, then effective wrinkle removal is achieved, but significant storage space and additional equipment (ironing board) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ironing function and steaming function into a single handheld appliance. The device integrates a heating element for direct ironing and a steam generation system with a water reservoir, allowing both functions to be performed by one device rather than requiring separate iron and steamer appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld appliance serves multiple functions: it can iron garments using the heated plate, steam garments using the generated steam, and potentially combine both functions simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized appliances for each task.
2Ease of operation
If a steamer is used for wrinkle removal, then portability is improved, but water source availability and potential garment wetting are issues
Solution Approach 1:
The water reservoir is designed as a removable component that can be detached from the main appliance body. This allows users to easily fill the reservoir with water before travel and separate the water storage from the heating element, providing flexibility in water source availability without requiring a fixed water supply.
3Reliability
If separate iron and steamer appliances are used, then each function is optimized, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ironing function and steaming function into a single handheld appliance. The device integrates a heating element for direct ironing and a steam generation system with a water reservoir, allowing both functions to be performed by one device rather than requiring separate iron and steamer appliances.
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
Provides convenient, space-efficient wrinkle removal for garments, enabling both ironing and steaming without the need for additional equipment and resources.
Implementation Method 1
generating steam with the steam generation unit
Implementation Method 2
a heating plate mounted near a free end of the upper arm
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld pressing and steaming appliance generates steam with a steam generation unit. The method of using the appliance includes moving an upper arm toward a lower arm to bring a heating plate closely adjacent to a bearing plate; locking the appliance, with a locking mechanism, the upper arm relative to the lower arm to lock the appliance in a closed position; and passing steam from the steam generation unit through first exhaust holes and through at least one of a second plurality of exhaust holes and onto an item to be steamed.