Steamer Cord and Hose Wrapping Layout for Tidy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable steamers face challenges in storing the steam supply hose and electrical power cord when not in use, leading to clutter and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating dedicated wrapping locations on the steamer's body and side panels to neatly store the hose and power cord, providing both horizontal and vertical constraints for secure wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steam supply hose and power cord are stored separately without wrapping locations, then the steamer has a simpler structure, but the storage convenience and organization are poor leading to clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The steamer body is divided into distinct wrapping locations: a first wrapping location on the body for the power cord, and a second wrapping location for the steam supply hose. This segmentation allows each component to be stored in its designated area, improving organization and storage convenience without requiring a completely complex restructuring of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping locations are integrated into the steamer body structure itself, merging the storage function with the existing device form. The side panels and body contours are designed to create these wrapping areas, combining multiple functions (structural support and cord/hose storage) into a unified design rather than adding separate external storage components.
2Ease of operation
If wrapping locations are added to the steamer body, then the storage organization improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapping locations are designed as distinct, separable features on the steamer body and side panels. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where each panel can be produced independently with its specific wrapping contour, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to creating a completely integrated complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping locations are implemented as specific localized features on particular panels rather than requiring the entire steamer body to be redesigned. The first wrapping location is formed on the body, and the second wrapping location is formed on a side panel, allowing these storage features to be added to specific local areas without fundamentally changing the entire manufacturing process of the steamer.
3Shape
If the hose and power cord are stored without dedicated wrapping locations, then the device has fewer components, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to clutter
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapping locations are merged into the existing steamer body and side panel structures. Rather than adding separate external wrapping components or housings, the design utilizes the contours and surfaces of the existing panels to create integrated wrapping areas, maintaining a clean aesthetic appearance without significantly increasing the number of discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
By providing dedicated first and second wrapping locations for different components (power cord and steam hose), the design segments the storage function into specific areas. This segmentation allows each component to be neatly stored in its designated location, improving aesthetic appearance by preventing clutter while using the existing panel structures rather than adding complex new components.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for generating and supplying steam is provided. The device has a body, a steam generation unit, a first side panel attached to the body, a second side panel attached to the body, a power cord attached to the steam generation unit, a supply hose for supplying the steam from the steam generation unit to a point of use of the steam, a first wrapping location formed between the body and the first side panel, and a second wrapping location formed between the body and the second side panel. The first wrapping location is for wrapping the power cord for storage, and the second wrapping location is for wrapping the supply hose for storage.