Modular Textile Support Platform for Clean Drying and Starching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for in-home textile maintenance, such as for hand-crafted items, lack effective stabilization and protection from dirt and dust, making it difficult to clean or treat these items properly.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising base components with holes for retention members and coupling members that allow for secure positioning and stacking of textiles, using retention members to support and stabilize textile pieces during maintenance processes like drying or starching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a textile is placed on an available flat surface for cleaning or maintenance, then the textile can be accessed for treatment, but the textile becomes unstable and susceptible to soiling from dirt and dust on the surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for treatmentVSAvoidstability and protection from soiling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into multiple base components that can be arranged to create a raised platform structure. This segmentation allows the textile to be elevated above the floor surface, providing both accessibility (the textile is reachable) and protection (the textile is raised away from dirt and dust on the floor).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base components serve as an intermediary structure between the floor surface and the textile. This intermediate platform provides a clean, stable surface for textile maintenance while keeping the textile elevated and protected from direct contact with the floor environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple base components are combined to expand the apparatus for larger items, then the apparatus can accommodate bigger textiles, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacity for different textile sizesVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each base component is designed with universal coupling members that allow identical components to be joined together in various configurations. This universality enables the same simple component to serve multiple functions - as a standalone base for small textiles or as part of a larger assembled structure for bigger textiles, without requiring different component types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling members are integrated into the base component structure itself, with recessed coupling members allowing other base components to nest onto them. This nesting design allows multiple base components to be joined in a compact, organized manner that scales from simple to complex configurations as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS7721923B2Apparatus and method for textile maintenance

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 HOLT JOYCE Y

AI summary

An apparatus for textile maintenance comprises a base component containing a plurality of holes and at least one coupling member. Multiple base components may be interlocked by means of the coupling member(s). Retention members snugly fit into the plurality of holes of a base component. The retention members support one or more textile pieces adjacent to a base component. Additionally, the retention members may be used to stack a base component onto another base component. A user may then use a base component or any combination of base components to perform textile maintenance, such as drying or starching.