Inflatable Garment Model Dryer for Wrinkle-Free Portable Drying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable clothes dryers are bulky, inefficient, and often require additional ironing due to the need for excessive space for drying, which complicates travel and hygiene concerns.

Innovation Solution

A portable clothes dryer with a detachable, inflatable garment model made of flexible material that uses a blower and heating device to direct heated air into an inflatable chamber, allowing for efficient drying and reducing the overall size for easy carrying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the dryer uses a fixed rigid structure with supporting rods to create drying space, then the drying space volume is sufficient, but the device occupies much floor space and is heavy for lifting and moving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying space volumeVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an inflatable garment model that can be inflated and deflated dynamically. When inflated, it provides sufficient drying space volume; when deflated, it reduces the device's overall volume and weight for easy carrying. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining adequate drying space and enabling portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The garment model is constructed from flexible inflatable material that can be collapsed into a compact form. This flexible shell structure allows the device to transition between a functional drying state with adequate volume and a portable state with minimal volume and weight, directly addressing the contradiction between drying space requirements and portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If the dryer uses a fixed rigid structure with supporting rods, then the drying space is stable, but the overall height increases making it difficult to carry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying space stabilityVSAvoiddevice height
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable garment model provides structural stability when inflated for drying, yet can be deflated to reduce height for carrying. This dynamic structural transformation resolves the contradiction between maintaining stable drying space during use and minimizing device height for portability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If the dryer creates a large volume space for drying clothes, then all clothes can be dried simultaneously, but the drying time extends longer and drying efficiency is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclothes drying capacityVSAvoiddrying efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable garment model conforms to the specific shape and size of the clothes being dried, creating a customized drying chamber. This localized adaptation ensures that the drying space is optimally sized for each load, preventing excessive air volume that would reduce drying efficiency while still accommodating the clothes capacity requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The garment model can be inflated to different volumes depending on the clothes load size. This parameter adjustment allows the drying space to match the actual drying needs, avoiding the inefficiency of using a consistently large space for small loads while maintaining the capacity to handle larger quantities when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If the dryer uses a large volume space for drying, then clothes capacity is sufficient, but the clothes dried are not flat and require extra ironing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclothes drying capacityVSAvoidclothes flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable garment model is shaped to match the contours of garments, providing localized support and shaping during drying. This ensures clothes are dried in a flat, wrinkle-free state while maintaining sufficient capacity for various clothing items, eliminating the need for ironing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution ensures wrinkle-free drying, reduces the need for ironing, and enhances drying efficiency by using heated air directly transmitted through the garment model, while allowing for compact storage and easy handling.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device disposed inside the casing to heat air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a blower configured to move heated air into the chamber of the garment model

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

heated air is directed by the blower to flow into the chamber of the garment model... the garment model is inflated to put on the clothes to be dried

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3358070B1Portable clothes dryer and clothes drying method thereof
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3358070B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3358070B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3358070B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A portable clothes dryer and a clothes drying method thereof, wherein the portable clothes dryer comprises: a casing (1) provided with air inlets (4) and air outlets; a detachable garment model (8) made of elastic material comprising an inflatable chamber, the chamber provided with an air intake port (82) through which air from the air outlet enters into, clothes to be dried putting on the garment model (8) for drying; a heating device (7) disposed inside the casing (1) to heat air; a blower (6) configured to move heated air to the chamber of the garment model (8). The overall size of the dryer can be reduced to make it easy to carry due to the garment model with the inflatable chamber is detachable and made of elastic material; the clothes to be dried could be neatly put on the garment model so the clothes dried in this manner is wrinkle-free and can be dressed immediately, and the ironing process is saved.