Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in design aesthetics and visibility due to the visibility of the door frame and blurring of boundaries between the door frame and its surroundings, particularly when using transparent materials for the front glass and door window.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a door frame with an outer and inner frame made of synthetic resin, featuring a transparent region for visibility and a non-transparent region for boundary distinction, along with a chromium-plated outer frame to enhance the appearance and visibility, using a disc-shaped front glass and a door window with a mounting guide to support the glass and prevent breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent materials are used for front glass and door window, then visibility into the laundry accommodating portion is improved, but the boundary between the door frame and its surroundings becomes blurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-transparent region with a specific visual appearance (different from the transparent region) at the boundary area of the door frame. This localized change in optical property allows the boundary to be visually distinct while maintaining transparency in the main viewing areas, thus resolving the contradiction between visibility and boundary distinction.
2Shape
If the door frame structure is visible through the front glass, then the overall design quality is improved, but the visual appeal is reduced due to the visible frame structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by creating a non-transparent region with a specific visual appearance (different color or opacity) that contrasts with the transparent regions. This visual differentiation allows the door frame structure to be aesthetically pleasing while preventing it from being visibly distracting through the glass, thus resolving the contradiction between design quality and visual appeal.
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 improves the visual appeal and visibility of the door by clearly distinguishing the door frame from its surroundings and providing a high-quality appearance, enhancing user preference and perception of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a chromium-plated outer frame to enhance the appearance and visibility
Implementation Method 2
The plating layer may be formed by chromium plating... light transmitted through the transparent region may be reflected to a user's eyes by the plating layer
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus may include a main body having a laundry input port at a front surface thereof; a laundry accommodating portion provided inside of the main body to accommodate laundry; and a door rotatably coupled to a front surface of the main body to open and close the laundry input port. The door may include an outer frame facing an outside of the main body; an inner frame facing an inside of the main body and coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame; a front glass mounted to the outer frame; and a door window mounted to the inner frame. A plating layer may be provided on an outer surface of the outer frame, thereby enhancing a sense of quality of the laundry treating apparatus and visibility of the door.