Laundry Accessory with Sliding Gate for Delicate Item Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Selecting optimal settings for laundry machines can be tedious and time-consuming, and laundry items may be difficult to locate or retrieve due to their movement within the drum, leading to potential damage and loss.
Innovation Solution
A laundry accessory with a body defining a cavity and a sliding gate mechanism that allows selective containment of laundry items within the cavity, preventing collisions with machine components and other laundry, while allowing fluid passage for washing and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laundry items are freely moved within the drum during washing, then washing effectiveness is improved through collision and mixing, but laundry items may collide with machine components and other laundry causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the drum space into separate compartments using partitions. Each compartment can hold specific laundry items separately, preventing harmful collisions between different types of laundry while still allowing gentle movement within each compartment for effective washing.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediaries between different laundry items, physically separating them to prevent direct harmful collisions. The partitions allow fluid communication for washing while blocking mechanical contact that could cause damage.
2Productivity
If multiple laundry types are washed together, then productivity is improved, but difficulty in locating and retrieving specific items increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the drum into separate compartments, the invention enables simultaneous washing of multiple laundry types while keeping them visually separated and organized. Users can easily locate and retrieve specific items from their designated compartments without searching through mixed laundry.
3Productivity
If delicate items are washed with regular laundry, then productivity is improved, but delicate items may be damaged due to collision and entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides separate compartments that allow delicate items to be washed simultaneously with regular laundry by physically isolating them. This segmentation protects delicate items from harsh collisions and entanglement while maintaining washing productivity.
4Productivity
If laundry items are freely moved during the cycle, then washing effectiveness is improved, but items become difficult to locate after the cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The partitioned compartments maintain organized separation of laundry items throughout the washing cycle. Even after tumbling and mixing within compartments, items remain in designated areas, making them easy to locate and retrieve after washing without requiring the user to search through the entire drum.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry accessory protects laundry. The laundry accessory includes a body defining a cavity therein. The body includes a base and one or more sidewalls extending generally upward from the base. A plurality of rails are coupled to an upper portion of the sidewalls. The rails define a gateway in fluid communication with the cavity, and a gate is slidably coupled to the rails to selectively close the gateway for containing a solid object, such as a piece of laundry, in the cavity.