Shoe care device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of a shoe care apparatus that can effectively care for a large number of shoes, including removing odors and drying them, and existing shoe cabinets are difficult to install in narrow hallways due to their dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A shoe care apparatus with a longer front surface than side surface design, featuring a support frame and mounting frame, allowing easy installation in hallways, and capable of caring for multiple shoes simultaneously through a plate and shoe support device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a shoe cabinet has a short front surface and a long depth, then it can accommodate more shoes, but it becomes difficult to install in a narrow hallway

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of shoesVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe cabinet employs an asymmetric design where the front surface extends longer than the side surface. This asymmetric configuration allows the cabinet to fit into narrow hallways while maintaining adequate shoe storage capacity, resolving the contradiction between storage quantity and installation ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If a shoe care apparatus is designed to care for shoes with various neck lengths, then it becomes more versatile, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different shoe neck lengthsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe care apparatus features an adjustable support frame that can be positioned at multiple heights and angles. This dynamic adjustability allows the apparatus to accommodate shoes with different neck lengths without requiring multiple specialized devices, thereby achieving versatility while controlling complexity through a single adjustable mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If a shoe care apparatus processes a large number of shoes simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of shoes cared for simultaneouslyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe care apparatus is divided into multiple independent shoe support devices, each capable of caring for individual shoes. These segmented units can be arranged to handle multiple shoes simultaneously, increasing productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoe care apparatus integrates multiple functions including drying, dehumidification, and deodorization into a single multi-functional device. This universal design allows the apparatus to care for multiple shoes simultaneously using shared components, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 easy installation in narrow spaces and allows for simultaneous care of multiple shoes, regardless of their neck length, using a heat exchanger for drying and dehumidification, and a deodorizer for odor removal.

Implementation Method 1

using a heat exchanger for drying and dehumidification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

using a heat exchanger for drying and dehumidification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDehumidification: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

a deodorizer for odor removal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOdor removal: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP4088640B1Shoe care device
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4088640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4088640B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4088640B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a shoe care apparatus. The shoe care apparatus includes a case having a first length extending along a first direction and a second length extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second length being shorter than the first length, a shoe care compartment provided inside the case, a supply port formed on a side wall of the case to supply heated air to the shoe care compartment, a shoe support device provided to receive the heated air from the supply port and detachably mounted on an inner surface of the side wall of the case, and a side duct provided on the outside of the side wall of the case in the second direction and connectable to the supply port so as to supply the heated air to the shoe care compartment, wherein the shoe support device is configured to hang shoes and includes a support frame formed to protrude along the first direction from a side surface of the shoe care compartment while the support frame is mounted on the shoe care compartment.