Laundry Appliance Door Flow Path Design to Prevent Moisture Cloudiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face issues with moisture or water penetrating into the door gaps, leading to cloudiness and a compromised aesthetic quality, as well as difficulties in viewing the washing situation due to water droplets on the door cover.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a flow path inside the door frame to communicate between the inside and outside, featuring a communication hole and a discharge hole positioned to allow gravity-driven discharge of moisture or water, and an optional suction fan to forcibly remove penetrated moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the door frame is sealed to prevent moisture penetration, then the aesthetic quality and clarity of the door are improved, but moisture accumulates inside the door causing cloudiness and adhesive weakening
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame is divided into outer and inner frames with a communication hole between them, segmenting the moisture discharge function from the main door structure. This allows moisture to be discharged through a dedicated pathway without compromising the overall sealing and aesthetic appearance of the door.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication hole acts as an intermediary element between the inner and outer door frames, providing a controlled pathway for moisture discharge. This intermediary structure allows moisture to escape while maintaining the visual integrity and structural strength of the door frame.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a flow path is added to discharge moisture, then moisture removal capability is improved, but the door structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The communication hole for moisture discharge is merged with the existing door frame structure, combining the moisture discharge function with the structural framework. This integration avoids adding separate complex discharge mechanisms while still achieving effective moisture removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The door frame structure serves itself by incorporating the communication hole directly into the frame, allowing the structure to perform both structural support and moisture discharge functions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional dedicated moisture discharge components.
3Loss of energy
If the communication hole is positioned at the lower part of the door frame, then gravity-driven moisture discharge is improved, but the aesthetic appearance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The communication hole is positioned at a specific local area of the door frame where it is least visually prominent, typically at the lower part. This local placement optimizes gravity-driven moisture discharge while minimizing the impact on the overall aesthetic appearance of the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication hole is designed to be visually similar to or blend with the surrounding door frame structure, making it less noticeable. The hole's shape and positioning are copied or matched to the existing aesthetic patterns of the door frame, reducing its visual impact.
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
Effectively removes moisture or water from the door without additional power, maintains a clear view of the washing process, and enhances the door's appearance by preventing cloudiness and weakening of adhesive forces.
Implementation Method 1
a flow path inside the door frame to communicate between the inside and outside, featuring a communication hole and a discharge hole positioned to allow gravity-driven discharge of moisture or water
Implementation Method 2
an optional suction fan to forcibly remove penetrated moisture
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus including: a main body (10) having a laundry inlet port (106) on a front surface; and a door (12) for opening and closing the laundry inlet port (106), wherein the door (12) includes: an outer frame (14) disposed toward an outer side of the main body; a front glass (20) attached to a front surface of the outer frame (14) to define a front surface of the door (12); a door window (23) spaced apart from the front glass (20) toward the laundry inlet port (106) and disposed to correspond to the laundry inlet port; an inner frame (19) connected to the outer frame (14) and the door window (23), and configuring a part of a rear surface of the door; and a flow path (39, 40, 41) for communicating inside of the door with outside of the door provided between the front glass (20) and the outer frame (14), wherein moisture or water introduced into the door (12) may be discharged outside the door through the flow path (39, 40, 41).