Home Appliance Lock With Asymmetric Force for Easy Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locks for home appliances require equal force to close and open the door, leading to excessive force needed to close the door during operation, which can prevent proper sealing and increase the risk of door dislocation under pressure changes within the appliance.
Innovation Solution
A lock design featuring a holder and fastening unit with a reciprocating actuation unit, elastic members, and a sensing system that allows for easier door closure with reduced user force, prevents dislocation, and generates a sound signal when closed, while maintaining sealing integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock is designed to provide sufficient fastening force to prevent door separation during appliance operation, then the door remains securely closed and sealed, but excessive force is required by the user to close the door
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism transitions from a static equal-force design to a dynamic asymmetric design where the coupling and decoupling forces are deliberately made different. The holder and coupling unit are designed so that coupling requires significant force to ensure secure sealing during operation, while decoupling requires minimal force to allow easy door closing by users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force parameter characteristics of the lock mechanism. Instead of symmetric force requirements in both directions, the design creates asymmetric force characteristics where the coupling force threshold is high for reliability, but the decoupling force threshold is low for ease of operation. This is achieved through the geometric design of the holder and coupling unit interfaces.
2Reliability
If the lock provides strong fastening force to maintain sealing under pressure changes, then the door remains securely closed during operation, but the door may become difficult to close properly
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism uses dynamic force characteristics where the coupling process is designed to engage firmly under pressure conditions while the decoupling process is designed to release easily. The holder and coupling unit geometry creates a mechanical advantage that allows strong holding force during operation but requires minimal user effort for closing.
3Ease of operation
If the holder and coupling unit are designed for easy coupling, then the door can be closed easily, but the fastening unit may become dislocated under pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric force design creates a one-way mechanical advantage where coupling is facilitated but once engaged, the connection becomes stable and resistant to dislocation. The holder and coupling unit are designed with geometric features that allow easy insertion but create strong mechanical interlocking that prevents separation under pressure changes during appliance operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lock reduces the force required to close the door, prevents dislocation, and ensures proper sealing even under increased pressure, while providing a user-friendly and secure closure mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member for providing force necessary to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic member for providing force necessary to move the actuation unit toward the introduction port
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lock and a home appliance having the same are disclosed. The lock includes a holder (H) provided at one selected from between the cabinet and the door, a housing (6) provided at the other selected from between the cabinet and the door, a first stopper (611) provided at the housing (6), a fastening unit (7) separably coupled to the first stopper (611) so as to be coupled to the holder (H) when separated from the first stopper, an actuation unit (9) configured to reciprocate in the housing (6), the actuation unit being configured to be moved away from the introduction port in the state of contacting the holder (H) when the door is moved so as to close the introduction port, the actuation unit (9) being configured to separate the fastening unit (7) from the first stopper (611) while being moved away from the introduction port, a first elastic member (77) for providing force necessary to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper, a second elastic member (981, 983) for providing force necessary to move the actuation unit (9) toward the introduction port, and an actuation unit lock (L) for fixing the actuation unit (9) to the housing (6) when not in contact with the door and releasing coupling between the actuation unit and the housing when in contact with the door.