Laundry treating apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses lack an effective way to create a visually appealing and functional lighting pattern around the rotary knob and control panel, making it difficult for users to recognize and interact with the control panel's features, especially in terms of selecting treatment courses.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a control panel with a circular opening, a rotary knob, a knob decorative member, and a window with a light transmission portion that surrounds the rotary knob, allowing light from LEDs to create a continuous elongate lighting pattern between the rotary knob and the control panel body, enhancing aesthetics and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a decorative member with light transmission hole is provided to improve decorative appeal, then the appearance is enhanced, but the lighting pattern is discontinuous and hard to recognize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the light transmission structure from a simple hole in the decorative member to a three-dimensional window structure that protrudes from the control panel body. This dimensional change allows the light to form a continuous annular pattern that is visible from the front, solving the discontinuity problem while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The window acts as an intermediary element between the light source and the decorative member. It receives light from the LED and transmits it through its light transmission portion to create the visible lighting pattern, mediating between the functional lighting requirement and the aesthetic decorative requirement.
2Ease of operation
If the rotary knob is spaced apart from the control panel body to define clearance, then the rotary knob can rotate freely, but the area between the rotary knob and control panel body lacks visual guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light transmission through the window to create a visible lighting pattern in the clearance area. The light transmitted through the window provides visual guidance (through brightness and pattern) that helps users recognize and select treatment courses, while the clearance itself remains intact for free rotation of the rotary knob.
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
This design improves user interaction by creating a recognizable lighting pattern that guides the user in selecting treatment courses, enhances the appearance of the apparatus, and simplifies the recognition of indicators, making it easier to operate and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source; a window that includes a light transmission portion through which light emitted from the at least one light source passes
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes control panel body that defines an opening with a circular perimeter and a diameter. The laundry treating apparatus further includes at least one light source. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a rotary knob that is configured to manipulate a rotary switch and that has an outer circumferential surface that is spaced apart from the circular perimeter of the opening to define a clearance between the rotary knob and the control panel body. The laundry treating apparatus includes further a knob decorative member that is located between the rotary knob and the circular perimeter of the opening. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a window that includes a light transmission portion through which light emitted from the at least one light source passes.