Laundry Basket Chute Structure for Easier Machine Loading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry baskets are inconvenient for loading and unloading clothing into washing machines or dryers, requiring users to lift items from the basket, which can be uncomfortable and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A laundry basket design featuring a main body with a chute and a slit in the side portion, allowing users to pour or manually push clothing items into a washing machine or dryer, with optional handles and flexible materials for comfort and prevention of item loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional enclosed laundry basket is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but loading and unloading clothing requires manual lifting which is uncomfortable and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The basket structure is segmented into a main body and a separate chute component. The chute acts as an independent dispensing mechanism that can be detached or repositioned, allowing clothing to be gravity-fed into the washing machine without manual lifting. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by adding operational ease through the chute while keeping the main basket structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The chute serves as an intermediary mechanism between the basket and the washing machine. It provides a dedicated pathway for clothing articles to travel from the basket to the machine, eliminating the need for direct manual handling. This intermediary structure improves ease of operation while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If a chute is added to the laundry basket, then ease of operation for loading clothes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chute is merged with the basket structure through integral formation or secure attachment mechanisms. The chute's opening aligns with the basket's opening, creating a unified dispensing system. This merging approach improves ease of operation by providing continuous gravity-fed dispensing while minimizing the increase in device complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The chute serves multiple functions: it acts as a dispensing channel, a structural support element, and potentially a stacking interface when nested. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation for clothing dispensing while justifying the added structural complexity through versatile utility.
3Reliability
If the main body is totally enclosed except for a slit, then clothing items are contained securely, but manual access for pushing items out is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A slit is extracted from the otherwise enclosed basket wall, providing a dedicated access point for manual intervention. This slit allows users to insert hands to push or guide clothing articles toward the chute opening. The extraction of this small opening maintains reliable containment while significantly improving ease of manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket structure transitions from completely enclosed to having a localized opening (slit) in a specific position. This local modification provides targeted access for manual pushing operations while preserving the enclosed containment function in all other areas. The slit is positioned to optimize both containment and manual access.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry basket which includes a main body and a chute that extends from, and away from, the main body. The main body has an enclosing side portion and an end portion, the enclosing side portion and end portion cooperating to form an enclosure having an open end and a closed end defined by the end portion. The main body is totally enclosed by the enclosing side portion except for a slit in the enclosing side portion that extends from the open end towards the closed end of the main body.