Home Appliance Door Mullion Support with Removable Form-Fit Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home appliance doors face challenges in usability, maintenance, and cost efficiency due to complex assembly and disassembly processes, as well as limited design for supporting door mullions, which affects the overall operation and serviceability of home appliances like refrigerators and freezers.

Innovation Solution

A home appliance door design featuring a support unit fixated to the inner wall section in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner, with a support element and cover element that encloses the assembly space, allowing for improved assembly and disassembly, reduced costs through common part usage, and enhanced maintenance by hiding supporting elements from sight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the support unit is integrally formed with the inner wall section, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration of support unit with inner wall sectionVSAvoidserviceability of door mullion support

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The support unit is segmented from the inner wall section through a removable connection mechanism. The support unit can be detached from the inner wall section to enable maintenance and replacement of the door mullion, while still providing integrated support during normal operation. This segmentation allows the support unit to be serviced independently without replacing the entire inner wall section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the support unit is removably connectable, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserviceability of door mullion supportVSAvoidconnection mechanism between support unit and inner wall section

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection mechanism is extracted as a separate, standardized interface between the support unit and inner wall section. This extracted connection system uses simple removable fastening elements that can be easily engaged and disengaged, providing serviceability without adding significant complexity to the overall door structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If common parts are used across door assemblies, then cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost reduction through common part usageVSAvoidfit and finish of door components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support unit is designed as a universal component that can be used across different door assemblies and configurations. By standardizing the support unit design and connection interfaces, the same component can serve multiple functions and be applied to various door types, reducing manufacturing costs through economies of scale while maintaining adequate precision through standardized production processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3327381B1Home appliance door

Publication Date: 2020.01.08 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

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AI summary

For the purpose of improving operation and maintenance a home appliance door (11), in particular a home chiller appliance door, is proposed, comprising: an inner wall section (12); and at least one support unit (14) for support of a door mullion (18), the support unit (14) being fixed to the inner wall section (12) at least in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner.