Portable steaming system for articles of apparel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steaming systems for articles of apparel are not portable and user-friendly, lacking a compact design that allows for easy transportation and operation without mechanical assistance, limiting their accessibility and convenience for on-site use.
Innovation Solution
A man-portable steaming system with a compact housing design, including a heating chamber, handle, and a lid that provides access to a steaming compartment, allowing for the generation and controlled release of steam for articles of apparel, facilitating on-site use and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steaming systems are designed for effective steam generation and apparel processing, then steaming performance is improved, but device size and weight increase, reducing portability
Solution Approach 1:
The steaming system is divided into separate functional modules: a heating chamber for steam generation, a steaming compartment for apparel processing, and a removable water reservoir. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables portable deployment without requiring a large integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating chamber and steam generation mechanism are extracted as a separate unit that can be positioned adjacent to the steaming compartment. This extraction allows the steam source to be compact while maintaining effective steam delivery to the apparel, reducing the overall footprint and weight of the portable system.
2Ease of operation
If steaming systems are designed for compact portability, then ease of transportation is improved, but steam generation capacity and effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating chamber is designed with concentrated heating elements and insulated walls to maximize steam generation efficiency within a compact volume. The steam delivery channels are locally optimized to ensure rapid steam transfer from the heating chamber to the steaming compartment, maintaining high steam generation capacity despite the reduced overall system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic heating cycles with thermal insulation to maintain steam generation capacity. The heating element operates in intermittent bursts, and the insulated heating chamber retains heat between cycles, ensuring continuous effective steaming while reducing peak power requirements and enabling a more compact design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If steaming systems include comprehensive features for apparel processing, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and ease of use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The steaming compartment is designed as a universal chamber that can accommodate various types of apparel items through simple configuration changes. The removable rails and adjustable positioning mechanisms allow the same basic structure to handle different garment types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized chambers and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates movable and adjustable components within the steaming compartment, such as repositionable rails and flexible positioning mechanisms. These dynamic elements allow users to adapt the compartment configuration to different apparel items without requiring complex fixed structures, maintaining versatility while minimizing device complexity.
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
Enables efficient and convenient steaming of articles of apparel in various environments, allowing for quick customization and use, such as in locker rooms or at sporting events, without the need for mechanical assistance, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating chamber configured to heat water and provide steam to the steaming compartment
Implementation Method 2
a heating chamber configured to heat water and provide steam to the steaming compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
Steaming system (100) including a housing (102) with a lid (120), a steaming compartment (250) and a heating chamber (800), said steaming system (100) also includes provisions for generating steam and exposing articles (700) to the steam, articles of apparel, including articles of footwear, may be placed in the steaming system (100) to help customize the articles of apparel for a user's fit and comfort, said steaming system (100) can be configured to be portable and carried by a person.