Shoe care device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoe care devices fail to effectively dehumidify and deodorize shoes while preventing the user from being exposed to the air used in these processes, leading to incomplete treatment and reduced performance over time due to unaddressed moisture and odor issues.
Innovation Solution
A shoe care device with an air circulation structure that dehumidifies air using a dehumidifying material, regenerates the material by heating, and recirculates the dry air, ensuring the air used for treatment is contained within the device, and adjustable nozzles for targeted steam and air application based on shoe condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is discharged to the outside of the apparatus after dehumidification treatment, then the treated air can be removed from the system, but the air that has not sufficiently removed moisture or odors may be discharged to the inside where the wearer resides
Solution Approach 1:
The air treatment system is divided into multiple independent channels: a first air channel for introducing fresh air, a second air channel for discharging treated air, and a third air channel for circulating air within the shoe storage space. This segmentation allows different air streams to be handled separately, ensuring that fully treated air is directed away from the user while maintaining continuous dehumidification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
A circulation fan acts as an intermediary device to actively move air between different channels and spaces. The fan ensures that air is properly circulated through the dehumidification materials and distributed to the shoe storage space, preventing stagnant air and ensuring thorough treatment before air is discharged or recirculated
2Reliability
If dehumidifying materials are used to remove moisture from air, then dehumidification performance is improved, but the performance of the materials degrades over time and requires regeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic regeneration of dehumidifying materials by alternating between dehumidification mode and regeneration mode. During regeneration, heated air is passed through the materials to remove absorbed moisture, restoring their dehumidification capacity. This periodic cycling maintains consistent dehumidification performance over extended operation periods
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the dehumidifying materials are changed during regeneration by exposing them to elevated temperatures. This parameter change (temperature increase) facilitates the desorption of absorbed moisture, regenerating the materials' capacity to absorb moisture again in the subsequent dehumidification cycle
3Productivity
If a circulation fan is used to move air through the shoe closet, then air circulation and treatment are improved, but the fan may draw in unprocessed air from the storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system is segmented into distinct pathways: air is drawn from the shoe storage space through a first suction port, processed through dehumidifying materials, and then discharged through a second suction port. This segmentation ensures that air follows a controlled path through the treatment medium, preventing short-circuiting and ensuring reliable dehumidification before air is recirculated
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
Maintains effective shoe treatment performance by continuously regenerating the dehumidifying material, preventing user exposure to moist or odorous air, and improving processing efficiency through adaptive treatment modes.
Implementation Method 1
a dehumidifying material block (400) configured to include a dehumidifying material (430)
Implementation Method 2
a heater (710) located on the connecting passage (F10) and configured to heat the dehumidifying material (430)
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe care device for processing shoes by air circulation includes an inner cabinet configured to accommodate shoes therein; a steam generator configured to supply steam into the inner cabinet; an inlet through which air is sucked from the inner cabinet; a nozzle installed inside the inner cabinet to be insertable into the shoe and configured to spray at least one of steam and air into the shoe; a connecting passage connected from the inlet to the nozzle; a blowing fan installed on the connecting passage to blow air from the inlet toward the nozzle; and a dehumidifying material installed on the connecting passage to dehumidify the blown air.