Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses with multiple treating units face challenges in user convenience and protection from water damage, as users must separately identify and operate each unit, and there is a risk of water invading the control panel, potentially causing damage to electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a control panel that includes a drain passage on its top face, connected to both treating apparatuses, to prevent water from flowing onto the control panel and features a structural arrangement that allows for stable coupling and efficient operation of multiple units, improving user interaction and preventing water-related damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each treating apparatus has separate manipulation units and displays, then each unit can be controlled independently, but user convenience deteriorates as users must separately identify and operate each unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate manipulation units and displays into a single integrated control panel that serves both the first and second treating apparatuses. This unified interface allows users to control multiple functions through one location, eliminating the need to separately identify and operate each unit while maintaining independent control capabilities for each treating apparatus.
2Ease of operation
If manipulation units and displays are arranged on each treating apparatus, then each unit has dedicated control, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of water invasion causing damage to electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the manipulation units and displays from their original locations on individual treating apparatuses and relocates them to a separate, protected control panel position. This extraction removes the electronic components from the water-prone environment of the treating apparatuses while maintaining their control functions, thereby preventing water invasion damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control panel as an intermediary component between the user and the treating apparatuses. This intermediary structure provides a protected interface that mediates control signals to the treating apparatuses while keeping electronic components away from water, thus protecting against water damage while maintaining dedicated control functionality.
3Ease of operation
If control panel is positioned to be accessible to users, then ease of operation improves, but object-generated harmful factors worsen as water may flow down onto the control panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the control panel in a different spatial dimension - specifically, on the rear surface of the door rather than on the front-facing treating apparatuses. This dimensional relocation maintains user accessibility through the door interface while strategically placing the control panel in a location where water naturally flows away from it, preventing water accumulation and damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes a first treating apparatus having a first front panel disposed on a front face thereof, a second treating apparatus disposed beneath the first treating apparatus to support the first treating apparatus, wherein the second treating apparatus has a second front panel disposed on a front face thereof, and a control panel disposed between the first front panel and the second front panel, wherein the control panel is signally connected to the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus, wherein the control panel has a top face facing toward the first front panel. A drain passage extending along a lateral direction is defined in the top face, so that water delivered to the top face flows in the lateral direction along the drain passage and is drained.