Basket for a laundry treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating appliances require significant water for wash cycles due to their design, leading to higher material costs and energy consumption, and there is a need for a more efficient and cost-effective structural support system for the laundry basket that reduces water usage without compromising structural stability.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a basket design featuring a lower base portion and axial support walls that create air pockets between the upper and lower basket portions, reducing water usage and material costs while maintaining structural stability through radial ribs and axial support walls forming an I-shaped cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional basket design with solid base is used, then structural stability is maintained, but water usage increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The basket base is segmented into multiple sections with radial ribs and axial support walls creating distinct air pockets. This segmentation allows water to be excluded from specific regions while maintaining overall structural integrity through the distributed rib and wall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the basket base have different structural properties - radial ribs provide circumferential strength while axial support walls provide vertical support. This local differentiation of structural quality allows optimized material distribution that maintains stability while reducing water retention.
2Strength
If more material is used in basket construction, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The basket is divided into modular components (radial ribs, axial support walls, air pockets) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation enables efficient production processes while using material only where structurally necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket structure combines different structural elements (ribs and walls) that work together to provide enhanced structural integrity. This composite approach allows optimized material selection and distribution, reducing overall material usage while maintaining strength.
3Quantity of substance
If air pockets are created in basket base, then water savings are achieved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air pockets are created through segmentation of the basket base into radial and axial sections. This segmentation achieves water savings by preventing water accumulation while the modular nature of the segments keeps manufacturing relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket base structure creates a porous-like configuration with air pockets distributed throughout. This allows water to be excluded from the structure while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed framework of ribs and walls.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance includes a tub defining a tub interior and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub interior. The basket can include an upper basket portion defining a basket interior, as well as a lower base portion coupled to the upper basket portion and including at least one spoke.