Blender Knob Assembly Support Structure to Prevent Control Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing blenders face issues with the structural support of protruding control buttons, which can lead to damage and displacement, and lack a neat outer appearance due to the placement of control buttons and display screens.

Innovation Solution

A blender design featuring a knob assembly that protrudes outwardly through the main body, supported by internal supporters to prevent rearward pushing and maintain structural integrity, with a light guide system using LEDs to indicate operational states without a separate display screen, enhancing user interaction and aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a control button protrudes from the front surface of the base part, then the user can easily operate the blender through simple manipulation, but the control button may be structurally pushed to the rear and damaged by strong forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidstructural reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a support structure that extends from the rear of the base part to support the control button before any pushing force is applied. This support structure prevents the control button from being pushed too far rearward and protects internal components from damage, addressing the reliability issue while maintaining the protruding design for ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Loss of information

If both the control button and display screen are provided on the base part, then the blender can display cooking programs and operational states, but the outer appearance of the front surface becomes cluttered and not neat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation displayVSAvoidouter appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies another dimension by moving the display screen from the front surface of the base part to the side surface of the base part. This spatial relocation allows both the control button and display screen to be provided without cluttering the front surface, maintaining a neat outer appearance while preserving full information display functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design securely supports the knob assembly, preventing damage and maintaining its position under force, while providing intuitive operational feedback and a cleaner exterior appearance by integrating light-based state indication.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide configured to guide the light emitted from the LEDs toward the knob ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3785586B1blender
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3785586B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785586B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785586B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a blender including a main body including an outer case forming an outer appearance and an inner case configured to be received inside the outer case, ajar configured to be seated on the main body and provided with a blade device for crushing food, a motor assembly provided inside the inner case and configured to generate rotation power of the blade device, a main PCB device which is provided inside the inner case and on which a knob rotation shaft is mounted to input rotation of the knob rotation shaft, a knob assembly mounted on the knob rotation shaft and protruding outwardly through the outer case so that the operation of the knob assembly is manipulated by a user for operation manipulation of the motor assembly, and a supporter provided inside the inner case and supporting the main PCB device.