Improved Clothes Drying

System for HDB

Edmund Loh (16)

Calvin Lee (12)

Maxx Chan (17)

Ng Hao Xiang (18)

Group 3-31

About

When the bamboo pole outside the HDB flat gets too loaded with clothes, it can be too heavy for people with weak arms to bring the pole back into the house.

When it is too heavy, it not only dangerous for the user (falling accidents), it is also dangerous for other residents (falling poles).

An invention that simplifies the process of bringing the clothes in and out of the house by minimizing weight.

Target audience

Elderly with weak arms (main) when alone, act of bringing poles out is dangerous (falls)

People who do laundry in HDB flats (maids, housewives)

Extent of the problem

http://smj.sma.org.sg/5003/5003a6.pdf “… Home injuries (67.9 percent) were the most common, followed by road-related injuries (21.2 percent). 85.3 percent of the injuries were due to falls. 49.9 percent of the patients were admitted to hospital.”

Gait/Weakness/Imbalance stands to be the highest %.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/maid-fell-death-while-doing-laundry-coroner-20110331-225309-826.html

Our Design

Window

Socket Pole

Special detachable hangers attached to pulley strings

How it works

Clothes will be hung on hangers which are attached to a pulley system. When the handle is pulled from, the circle under the pole would turn and the hangers would move towards the window. The user would be able to remove clothes one by one. The hangers would move in a circular motion.

Hanger Design

a

A key ring clip will be used to attach the hanger to the string.

There will be a a strap with Velcro at the end (a). The straps will be placed through the sleeves of a shirt and the Velcro will be attached to each other, preventing the shirt from falling off.

Existing solutions

Retractable Lever System

Why our invention?(How it beats the current solutions?)

More effective in minimizing weight

Our pole can remain outside(vs. bringing the pole back in), meaning minimum weight, thus reducing the stress on hands if elderly have to bring the clothes in.

Less of a hassle

No need to bring the pole back in the house AND as such it minimizes the risk of falling accidents and poles dropping/falling.

No need to reach far out.

Why our invention?(How it beats the current solution?)

Added features.

When needed, the pole can be dislodged from the socket and brought back inside the flat.

Comparison- Ours vs OthersOur Invention Bamboo Housing (Past

Project)

- Pole remains outside

- Individual clothes are

taken in

- Less weight elderly need

to bare when drying

clothes

- Pole is still taken into the

flat

- All the clothes are taken

in at once

- The pole laden with

clothes can be very heavy

Limitation

Unable to hang heavy blanket

Pole might get dirty when left outside

Thank you