Household Appliance Foot Projections for Low-Torque Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance feet require significant force to unscrew and reposition, making it difficult for customers to align appliances according to their needs without excessive effort.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a base with projections that have plane-parallel side surfaces for easy engagement with an open-end wrench, allowing for simpler screwing and unscrewing, along with optional slots for screwdriver use and a self-locking thread mechanism for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screwdriver is used to unscrew the feet, then the feet can be removed, but a great deal of force is required making it difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the engagement interface parameter from a narrow screwdriver slot to wide plane-parallel side surfaces on projections. This geometric parameter change allows an open-end wrench to engage with the projections, providing better mechanical advantage and reducing the unscrewing torque required, thus improving ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the base is only accessible from a certain direction, then installation space is constrained, but it becomes difficult to reach projections for wrench engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing plane-parallel side surfaces specifically on the projections that extend laterally from the base body. These localized features create engagement points that are accessible from the side, allowing wrench engagement even when the base center is not accessible, thus maintaining installation flexibility while improving operability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple projections are provided around the base, then accessibility from various directions is improved, but the base structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base structure by providing multiple discrete projections (typically three to six) distributed around the base body circumference. Each projection is a separate structural element with plane-parallel side surfaces, allowing selective engagement from different directions. This segmentation provides multi-directional accessibility while keeping each individual projection simple in structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Foot (4) for a household appliance (1) with a thread (6) which can be screwed into and out of a mating thread (32) of the household appliance (1) in order to align it, and with a base (7) for supporting the household appliance (1) on a base (34), which is non-rotatably connected to the thread (6) and has a base body (10) with a plurality of projections (11) which protrude from the base body (10) and whose respective outer contours are intended to engage with an open-end wrench (14) for screwing and unscrewing the thread (6).