Retractable Drying Rack Structure for Space-Saving Wet Gear Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for drying wet items like towels and bathing suits near water sports areas often require large spaces and lack a designated, safe, and adjustable method for hanging, posing safety concerns and inefficiencies, especially when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A retractable multi-purpose drying station that mounts to a vertical post using a clamping bracket, featuring a pivoting main support beam with towel racks that can be adjusted and stored vertically when not in use, allowing for secure and space-efficient drying of various items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large area is used to lay out towels and wet suits for drying, then sufficient space is available for drying multiple items, but the area is better used for other purposes and creates clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The drying station employs a retractable main support beam that can be extended to a horizontal deployed position for drying items and retracted to a vertical stowed position when not in use. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to provide sufficient drying area when needed while minimizing space occupation during storage, resolving the contradiction between drying area and space utilization versatility.
2Ease of operation
If towels and bathing suits are laid out on nearby objects to dry, then drying can proceed without a designated area, but it leads to a cluttered area and safety concerns if placed on objects with electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The drying station introduces a dedicated intermediary structure - a main support beam with multiple towel racks - that serves as a safe and appropriate surface for drying wet items. This intermediary structure is specifically designed for the drying function, eliminating the need to use inappropriate surfaces like electrical equipment, thereby resolving the safety hazard while maintaining drying convenience.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a retractable drying station is mounted to a vertical post, then space is freed up when not in use, but the system requires sufficient strength to support wet clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a retractable main support beam that pivots between horizontal and vertical positions. When extended horizontally, the beam is positioned to maximize its moment of inertia and structural strength to support wet clothing items. When retracted vertically, it minimizes space occupation. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between space efficiency and support strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying station is segmented into multiple components: a mounting bracket that attaches to the vertical post, a main support beam that provides the primary structural support, and multiple towel racks that can be distributed along the beam. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple support points and structural elements, enabling the retractable mechanism to achieve both space efficiency and sufficient support strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-purpose retractable drying station comprises a mounting bracket and an elongate main support beam extending from the mounting bracket, the elongate main support beam having a mounting pin that projects through the mounting bracket, the position of the mounting pin in said slots determining a position of the elongate main support beam. The station also comprises a plurality of transverse rods, parallel and spaced apart along the elongate main support beam and mounted thereto, and each transverse rod including a bar serving as a rack for drying articles thereon, the elongate main support beam retracting from a deployed horizontal position to a stowed vertical position.