Stain removal tool for a laundry washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stain removal tools in laundry washing machines often cause discoloration or fabric wear due to mechanical action, necessitating a method that uses pressurized water to reduce damage.
Innovation Solution
A stain removal tool integrated into a laundry washing machine featuring a wand with a water supply head hingedly connected to a water drainage head, allowing for pressurized water application and drainage, minimizing contact with the user and enhancing stain removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical action is used to brush or rub stains out of fabric, then stain removal effectiveness is improved, but fabric damage and discoloration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical brushing or rubbing action with pressurized water injection. A nozzle delivers high-pressure water directly onto the stain area, and a vacuum system simultaneously extracts the water and dissolved stain particles. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact that causes fabric damage while maintaining effective stain removal through hydraulic action.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs hydraulic principles by using pressurized water flow to penetrate and lift stains from fabric. The system includes a water supply mechanism that generates sufficient pressure to force water through the fabric-stain interface, and a vacuum extraction system that creates negative pressure to pull the contaminated water through the fabric and into collection chambers, thereby removing stains without mechanical abrasion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pressurized water is used to clean stains, then fabric damage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into an integrated stain removal device. The water supply mechanism, nozzle system, vacuum extraction system, and fabric clamping mechanism are merged into a single coordinated unit. This integration allows the device to deliver pressurized water and simultaneously extract contaminants through vacuum action, reducing fabric damage while managing complexity through functional consolidation rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with multi-functionality to handle various stain types and fabric conditions. The adjustable pressure control system allows adaptation to different fabric sensitivities, while the vacuum extraction system can operate with varying intensity levels. This universality enables the same device structure to effectively remove stains from delicate fabrics without requiring multiple specialized tools, thereby managing complexity through versatile design.
3Ease of operation
If a wand structure with hinge connection is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a hinge connection between the water supply head and water drainage head, creating a dynamic structure that can adapt to different operational positions. The hinge allows the components to pivot and adjust angles during use, providing ergonomic flexibility and ease of operation. This dynamic element enables the device to accommodate various fabric positions and user hand orientations without requiring a completely rigid complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wand structure employs a nested arrangement where the water supply head and water drainage head are connected through a compact hinge mechanism that allows one component to fold or nest relative to the other when not in use. This nesting capability reduces the overall spatial footprint of the device while maintaining full functionality during operation, thereby improving ease of storage and handling without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 tool effectively removes stains using pressurized water while reducing fabric damage and user contact, offering a safer and more efficient cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
The water supply head may include one or more nozzles in fluid communication with a water supply line
Implementation Method 2
The wand may include a gasket sealingly engaging the water drainage head with the water supply head when in the closed position
Implementation Method 3
The wand may include a water supply head hingedly connected to a water drainage head by a hinge
Data Source
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AI summary
A stain removal tool (20) for a laundry washing machine (10) is provided. The stain removal tool (20) may be deployed from a stowed position and may be adapted to receive at least a portion of an article (1) to substantially remove or treat a stain with water. The stain removal tool (20) may have one or more nozzles (31) upstream of the article (1).