Peripheral Cord Storage Cavity for Compact Steam Iron Bases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ironing appliances with steam-generating bases and cord storage systems are complex and expensive to manufacture, and they do not provide adequate protection for the cord while being used or stored.
Innovation Solution
A compact ironing appliance with a steam-generating base featuring an elongated cord storage cavity along the periphery, allowing the cord to be stored in a single loop, reducing bending stresses and wear, and incorporating a sheath with tangential openings for easy cord management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an automatic winder is used to store the cord in a cavity of the base, then the cord is prevented from dragging around and being caught, but the device becomes relatively complex and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the automatic winder mechanism from the base design, eliminating the complex mechanical components while maintaining cord storage functionality through a simple elongated cavity that guides and contains the cord naturally
Solution Approach 2:
The cord storage cavity is designed to automatically guide and contain the cord through its elongated shape and peripheral positioning, without requiring any active mechanical components or automatic winding mechanisms
2Volume of moving object
If the base is made compact, then the space occupied is reduced, but the cord storage and protection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cord storage cavity extends along the periphery of the base, utilizing the peripheral dimension rather than occupying central space, thereby maintaining compact base dimensions while providing adequate cord storage length and protection
3Volume of moving object
If the cord is stored in a compact space, then the base remains small, but the bending stresses on the cord increase causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated cavity shape and peripheral opening configuration guide the cord through smooth curved paths rather than sharp angles, reducing bending stresses and preventing cord damage while maintaining compact dimensions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has a vapor generation base (1) connected, by a cord (2), to a hand iron (3) or to a smoothing brush. The base comprises a cord storage cavity having an opening (15A) for introduction of the cord. The cavity has elongated shape and extends in length along a periphery of the base. The cavity has a transversal section of reduced width such that the cord is guided by walls of the cavity, where the section has width in the order of 1.5 centimeters and height in the order of 4.5 centimeter.