Laundry Control Panel Curved Edge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in optimizing space utilization and component arrangement, particularly with the control panel, leading to inefficient use of space and user convenience due to rectangular edges and unnecessary area increases around buttons.
Innovation Solution
The control panel is designed with a central portion having straight edges and side portions with curved edges, optimizing the width and height dimensions to minimize space usage while maintaining a sufficient output area, and arranging components to enhance convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the control panel uses a rectangular shape with straight edges, then it is easy to manufacture and install, but it causes unnecessary area increase around buttons and reduces space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel employs curved edges instead of straight rectangular edges. Specifically, the top and bottom edges feature arc-shaped curves that smoothly connect the side edges, eliminating the need for excessive spacing around buttons while maintaining aesthetic appeal. This curvature design allows buttons to be positioned more efficiently within the available space, directly addressing the space utilization problem caused by rectangular shapes.
2Area of moving object
If the control panel increases the width of the central portion to secure sufficient output area, then the screen output quality is improved, but the overall space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel optimizes the output area by utilizing the vertical dimension more effectively. The curved top and bottom edges create additional vertical space that can be used for the display area, allowing the screen to be taller rather than wider. This dimensional shift enables sufficient output quality while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint that fits better within the cabinet space.
3Area of stationary object
If the control panel is designed with curved edges to improve aesthetics and space utilization, then space utilization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is divided into distinct functional zones: a central portion containing the output area, and side portions containing buttons and controls. The curved edges are applied specifically to the boundary regions, while the central and functional areas maintain simpler geometries. This segmentation allows the curved aesthetic to be achieved without complicating the manufacturing of the entire panel, as only specific portions require curved forming.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus, the laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a cabinet, an accommodation part, and a control panel, wherein the control panel comprises a central portion provided with an output area and having linear edges with respect to a front panel, and side portions at respective ends having round edges with respect to the front panel, and the width of the control panel, defined on the basis of the width-wise direction of the cabinet, is equal to or greater than the shortest distance from any one of the two ends of the front panel to the control panel and is equal to or less than half the width of the front panel.