Shoe care apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoe care apparatuses are inadequate for cleaning shoes due to their complex structure and varying materials, making it difficult to effectively wash and maintain shoes, especially limited-edition ones, which require specialized care.
Innovation Solution
A shoe care apparatus with a cabinet forming a care chamber, a supply port, a supply duct, and a supporter rail that automatically opens and closes the supply port to prevent foreign substances from entering, allowing for easy mounting and demounting of shoes, thereby enhancing usability and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional clothes care apparatus is used for shoes, then general washing is possible, but the complex structure and varying materials of shoes make effective cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe care apparatus divides the cleaning process into separate functional zones: a blowing flow path for drying and a washing flow path for cleaning. The shoe is segmented into different regions that receive different treatments simultaneously, accommodating the complex structure with varying materials (upper, midsole, outsole, insole) through targeted localized care
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the shoe receive different quality treatments: the blowing flow path provides high-velocity air for drying external surfaces, while the washing flow path delivers water and cleaning solution to specific areas. This local differentiation addresses the varying material requirements of different shoe components
2Productivity
If the supply port remains open for airflow, then drying effectiveness is improved, but foreign substances may enter the blow duct
Solution Approach 1:
The supply door is preliminarily positioned in the open state before the drying cycle begins, allowing immediate airflow when needed. The system prepares the airflow path in advance while the shoe is being washed, so that when the shoe is removed, the door can close automatically to prevent contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The supply door acts as an intermediary element between the care chamber and the blow duct. It mediates the conflict between maintaining open airflow for drying efficiency and closing to prevent foreign substance entry, by dynamically controlling the passage based on operational state
3Use of energy by moving object
If the supply door is manually controlled, then airflow can be adjusted, but user operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supply door automatically performs the function of airflow control without requiring manual user intervention. The door opens and closes based on the operational state of the apparatus (washing vs. drying cycles), making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for users to manually adjust the door position
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe care apparatus including a cabinet forming a care chamber and including a supply port; a supply duct provided to supply air to the care chamber through the supply port; a supporter rail; and a supporter to support a shoe, and being detachably mountable to the supporter rail in the care chamber. The supporter rail and supporter may be configured so that the supply port is opened in response to the supporter being mounted to the supporter rail, and the supporter receives the air supplied through the supply port, and the supply port is closed in response to the supporter being separated from the supporter rail.