Trends of Evolution and Patent Analysis: Application in the Household appliance field

This paper describes the results of an experience carried out in the field of systematic innovation. Its main goal has been to verify the validity of evo-lutionary laws introduced by TRIZ theory applying them to a complex in-dustrial product. The product considered is a washing machine and particu-lar attention has been focused on two sub-systems, the tub and the soap dispenser. The paper, first, describes the patent search activity carried out for both the whole washing machine and the specific subsystems; then their evolutions have been single out and compared with the evolution pat-terns coming from the formulation proposed by Savransky.