Laundry Collar with Locking Clip for Sock Retention During Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry holders for athletic uniforms and team garments fail to efficiently organize and secure socks, leading to complications during washing and drying, as they either lack effective retention mechanisms or introduce unnecessary complexity with mesh bags.
Innovation Solution
A laundry collar with a strap and a locking alligator clip featuring teethed jaws that securely hold articles of clothing, including socks, through frictional contact points, allowing for easy separation and organization of garments during washing and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mesh bag is added to retain socks, then socks are securely retained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sock retention function from a separate mesh bag component and integrates it directly into the clip structure itself. The clip body is designed with an internal cavity and opening that directly receives and retains the sock, eliminating the need for an additional mesh bag component while maintaining secure retention during washing and drying.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure garments, then garments are securely fastened, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the locking element can be easily moved between locked and unlocked positions. The locking element features a movable portion that can be shifted to engage or disengage from the corresponding feature on the other clip half, allowing quick securing and releasing of garments without complex operations.
3Reliability
If multiple frictional contact points are added, then socks are securely retained, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating multiple frictional contact points in specific high-friction zones within the clip cavity. The internal surface of the clip cavity is designed with textured or ribbed features at strategic locations where the sock makes contact, providing enhanced friction exactly where needed for secure retention while not requiring uniform precision across the entire clip structure.
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 provides a simple, effective means to keep socks and other garments organized and securely fastened, reducing the need for sorting and simplifying the laundry process for teams, while being safe for both washing and drying.
Implementation Method 1
The arms are movable from an open clip position to a closed clip position in which a sock placed between the arms is securely frictionally retained by the frictional contact points.
Implementation Method 2
The clip has opposing jaws, with each jaw having a plurality of teeth. A means for locking the jaws closed around an article of clothing secures the article to the laundry collar.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry collar having a strap and a fastener that releasably interconnects the opposing strap ends, and a locking clip attached to one end of the strap and having opposing jaws which each have a plurality of teeth. A means for locking the jaws closed around an article of clothing secures the article to the laundry collar.