A household appliance having a top plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, gaps between the top plate and control panel can form, affecting visual quality and allowing liquids to leak onto electronic components, which existing solutions attempt to address with additional plastic parts, increasing production costs and labor.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring a housing on the control panel with a retainer and a connection member on the top plate that securely connects them, preventing horizontal movement and leakage, while reducing production costs by integrating components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the top plate and control panel are grouped by sliding the top plate on the body in the horizontal direction, then the assembly process is simplified, but gaps form at the junction between the top plate and control panel
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is segmented into a control panel body and a separate housing that receives the connection member. This segmentation allows the top plate to be assembled by sliding while the housing and connection member provide precise positioning and gap prevention at the junction.
2Reliability
If gaps between the top plate and control panel are prevented using additional plastic parts, then liquid leakage is prevented, but production cost and labor time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is merged with the control panel body, and the connection member integrates the gap-prevention function into the existing assembly structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate additional plastic parts while maintaining liquid protection and preventing gap formation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the top plate is securely connected to the control panel to prevent horizontal movement, then gap formation is prevented, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connection member acts as an intermediary element between the top plate and the housing. It provides secure horizontal positioning and prevents gap formation while maintaining a relatively simple assembly process, as the connection member is designed to be inserted and retained without complex operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a body (2); a receptacle which is provided in the body (2) and wherein the items are loaded; a door (3) which is mounted onto the body (2) and which provides or prevents access into the receptacle; at least one control panel (4) which is provided on the body (2); and at least one top plate (5) which is mounted onto the body (2) so as to cover the top of the body (2).