Conventional washing machines cause excessive damage and wrinkling to clothes primarily during the water removal step. With the introduction of high efficiency washers, not only has cleansing performance been improved, but water and energy consumption has also decreased. What if you were able to clean your clothes at home without using any water? The Seeker desires to revolutionize the laundry process with a novel technology that uses no liquid, creates no wrinkles, and does not damage clothes.
This Challenge requires only a written proposal. The Seeker may consider further collaboration with Solver(s) who receive an award for this Challenge.
ALERT: Award increased to $40,000. New deadline is 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 14, 2014.
Laundry is a recurring chore in every household. Whether clothes are washed by hand or in a machine, the process includes a scrubbing process and copious amounts of water and chemicals to remove dirt and grime. When high efficiency washers were invented, their substantial water and energy savings were newsworthy. The next groundbreaking advance in the consumer clothes washing industry involves the elimination of liquids from the laundry process. The Seeker desires a novel technology that uses no liquid or a liquid solution that helps maintain clothing integrity.
This is a Theoretical Challenge that requires only a written proposal to be submitted. The Challenge award will be contingent upon theoretical evaluation of the proposal by the Seeker.
Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on February 14, 2014. Late submissions will not be considered.
To receive an award, the Solvers must transfer to the Seeker their full ownership of exclusive Intellectual Property (IP) rights to the solution.
An InnoCentive Theoretical Challenge implements an idea but is not yet a proof of concept. A solution to a Theoretical Challenge will solidify the Solver's concept with detailed descriptions, specifications and requirements necessary to bringing a good idea closer to becoming an actual product or service.
This Challenge is a Theoretical-IP Transfer Challenge, meaning that Solvers must relinquish all rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) for which they are awarded. By contrast, Theoretical-Licensing means that the Seeker is requesting non-exclusive rights to use the winning solution. For both forms of a theoretical Challenge, solvers that do not win retain the rights to their solution after the evaluation period is complete. The Seeker retains no rights to any IP not awarded.