Hanger and laundry treating apparatus including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face issues with hangers that do not maintain a horizontal orientation due to imbalanced weight distribution when water levels in the steam generator or water supply tank decrease, and lack separate spaces for laundry treatment beyond the main chamber.
Innovation Solution
A hanger design with a support body that includes a fastening unit, air supply unit, and moisture supply unit, where the fan and moisture generator are aligned to maintain a balanced center of gravity, and can be detachably mounted in a laundry treating apparatus, with separate cabinet and door chambers for laundry treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the steam generator and water supply tank are disposed in the width direction of the hanger, then the laundry treating function is provided, but the hanger cannot maintain horizontal orientation when water amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the steam generator and water supply tank in the height direction rather than symmetrically in the width direction. This asymmetric vertical arrangement ensures that the center of gravity remains stable along the height axis, preventing the hanger from tilting when water levels change, thus resolving the contradiction between providing laundry treating function and maintaining horizontal orientation.
2Device complexity
If the fan and heater are disposed orthogonally to the steam generator and water supply tank, then compact design is achieved, but the hanger becomes unbalanced when water is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions components from a two-dimensional orthogonal arrangement in the width direction to a one-dimensional linear arrangement in the height direction. This dimensional change allows all components (fan, heater, steam generator, water supply tank) to be aligned vertically, maintaining center of gravity stability while achieving compact design within the hanger structure.
3Device complexity
If treatment functions are integrated only in the cabinet chamber, then the structure is simple, but separate laundry treatment spaces are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the laundry treating apparatus into two separate treatment spaces: the cabinet chamber and the door chamber. Each chamber can independently receive and treat laundry, providing segmentation of treatment functions. This allows the system to maintain relatively simple structure while offering versatile laundry treatment capabilities through multiple independent spaces.
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 hanger maintains horizontal orientation and provides independent air and moisture supply to laundry, ensuring balanced weight distribution and allowing for flexible treatment in both cabinet and door chambers.
Implementation Method 1
an air supply unit (53) provided in the support body (51) and including a fan (537) that sucks and discharges air
Implementation Method 2
a moisture supply unit (55) provided in the support body (51) and including a moisture generator (556) that generates moisture or steam
Implementation Method 3
a heater configured to heat air that has passed through the air intake hole and the fan
Data Source
AI summary
A hanger may include a support body, a fastener to couple to the upper portion of the support body, an air supply device provided at the support body, and a moisture supply device provided at the support body. The air supply device may include a fan configured to suction and discharge air. The moisture supply device may include a moisture generator configured to provide moisture or steam. The fastener is disposed above the fan in a first direction, and the moisture generator is disposed below the fan in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that the fastener, the fan, and the moisture generator are disposed to overlap each other in the first direction.