Domestic appliance comprising an antimicrobial agent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic appliances with steam generating units, such as irons and steamers, face issues with microbial growth on their surfaces during non-use, leading to foul odors and bio-film formation, and existing antimicrobial solutions require direct contact with garments for agent transfer, complicating the design for smooth operation.
Innovation Solution
A steam generating unit is coated with a surface layer containing an antimicrobial agent that releases into the steam, preventing microbial growth on the unit's surface and transferring antimicrobial properties to garments, eliminating the need for a carrier-based contact surface and maintaining effective ironing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surface layer with antimicrobial agent is applied to the contact surface for direct contact with garments, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but the design complexity increases and ironing performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The antimicrobial agent is extracted from the contact surface and relocated to the steam generating unit. The steam acts as a carrier to transfer the antimicrobial agent to garments during ironing, eliminating the need for a complex surface layer on the contact surface while maintaining antimicrobial functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Steam serves as an intermediary medium between the antimicrobial agent and the garment. The antimicrobial agent is released from the steam generating unit into the steam, which then transfers it to the garment during the ironing process, avoiding direct contact requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the appliance is stored after use, then microbial growth occurs on the surface leading to foul odors and bio-film formation, but applying antimicrobial coatings complicates the design
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generating unit is designed to serve multiple functions: generating steam for ironing and releasing antimicrobial agents for both garment treatment and surface protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate coating systems while providing comprehensive antimicrobial protection during storage and use.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam generating unit automatically releases antimicrobial agents into the steam during normal operation, providing self-service antimicrobial protection. The system uses its own operational steam to deliver the antimicrobial agent, requiring no additional active components or complex control systems.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a carrier-based surface layer is used for antimicrobial agent transfer, then prolonged antimicrobial activity is achieved, but the contact surface requirements become more stringent for gliding and anti-scratch properties
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier-based surface layer is removed from the contact surface. Instead, the steam generating unit releases the antimicrobial agent directly into the steam, which naturally contacts the garment during ironing. This extracts the complexity of surface layer design while maintaining prolonged antimicrobial activity through continuous steam generation.
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 solution effectively prevents microbial growth on the appliance's surface and within, maintains antimicrobial activity for extended periods, and enhances garment protection without compromising ironing performance, with antimicrobial agents like silver ions showing no degradation at high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generating unit for delivering steam to at least one steam outlet opening, wherein the surface of the steam generating unit is at least partially coated with a surface layer comprising an antimicrobial agent, wherein the antimicrobial agent is released from the surface layer when the surface layer comprising the antimicrobial agent is in contact with steam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Domestic appliance (1), such as an iron, comprising a steam generating unit (2) for delivering steam to at least one steam outlet opening (21), wherein the surface of the steam generating unit (2) is at least partially coated with a surface layer (25) comprising an antimicrobial agent. According to the present invention, the antimicrobial agent is released from the surface layer (25) when the surface layer (25) comprising the antimicrobial agent is in contact with steam. The antimicrobial agent may be inorganic and preferably selected from a group comprising ions of silver, zinc, copper, selenium, platinum or a combination thereof. The invention further relates to a steam ironing device and a method of manufacturing the appliance.