Shoe Management Apparatus with Extendable Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe dryers face issues such as interference between shoes and components during placement or removal, contamination from falling foreign substances, and inability to dry high-height shoes like boots.
Innovation Solution
A shoe management apparatus with a first supply portion disposed inside the receiving portion to prevent interference, a foothold portion to store falling foreign substances, and a second supply portion that extends in a longitudinal direction to accommodate high-height shoes, allowing for simultaneous drying of low-height and high-height shoes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mounting pipes are always exposed outside for shoe insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but interference between shoes and mounting pipes occurs during placement or removal
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting pipes are designed to be movable rather than fixed. They can extend outward to facilitate shoe insertion and then retract inward to avoid interference during operation, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different operational phases
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting pipes are extracted from the fixed structural framework and made into independent movable components. This allows them to be positioned flexibly - extended when needed for shoe placement and retracted when not needed, separating the function of shoe insertion from permanent structural presence
2Device complexity
If shoes are arranged vertically in hanger shape to save space, then device complexity is reduced, but contamination from falling foreign substances occurs from upper to lower shoes
Solution Approach 1:
A barrier structure is introduced as an intermediary element between upper and lower shoes. This barrier prevents foreign substances from falling directly from upper shoes to lower shoes, breaking the direct contamination path while maintaining the vertical arrangement configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical shoe arrangement space is segmented into isolated zones using barriers. Each shoe or group of shoes is separated by these barrier structures, preventing the propagation of contaminants from one zone to another while preserving the compact vertical layout
3Device complexity
If dryer height is limited to accommodate low-height shoes, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to dry high-height shoes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The dryer structure incorporates movable and adjustable components, including extendable mounting pipes and adjustable shoe support positions. This transforms a fixed-height structure into a dynamic one that can adapt its effective drying height to accommodate both low-height sneakers and high-height boots
Solution Approach 2:
The dryer is designed with universal adaptability through adjustable components that allow it to handle multiple shoe types and heights. The mounting pipes can be positioned at different heights and angles, and barriers can be adjusted, enabling a single device to serve both low-height and high-height shoes without requiring separate specialized structures
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
The apparatus prevents interference and contamination, enables convenient management of shoes, and reduces drying time and cost by increasing the flow rate of the drying fluid, allowing for efficient drying of both low-height and high-height shoes.
Implementation Method 1
an interior flow channel that guides flow of air into the shoe
Implementation Method 2
a heater to supply hot air into an interior space
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe management apparatus includes a receiving portion defining a receiving space for receiving a shoe therein, a first supply portion including a duct for guiding flow of a fluid, and a second supply portion connected to the first supply portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the first supply portion and angled towards the receiving portion, the second supply portion receiving the fluid from the first supply portion and directing the fluid to the shoe.