Built-in kitchen device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Built-in kitchen appliances with flush fronts face challenges in maintaining a continuous appearance due to the need for a protruding handle to open and close the treatment room door, which disrupts the aesthetic integration with surrounding furniture.

Innovation Solution

A built-in kitchen appliance design featuring an opening device that moves the door forward and then upwards, eliminating the need for a handle and allowing the door to be integrated flush with the surrounding furniture, with a motorized drive system and ergonomic control elements for convenient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a protruding handle is attached to the door device for easy opening and closing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the visual appearance and flush integration with surrounding furniture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of door operationVSAvoidflush appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The handle function is extracted from the door device and integrated into the opening device mounted on the appliance body. The opening device includes a grip element that protrudes from the appliance body, allowing the user to pull the door open without needing a handle attached to the door itself. This resolves the contradiction by removing the protruding element from the door while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary opening device is introduced between the user and the door device. This opening device includes a grip element that the user pulls to activate the door opening mechanism. The intermediary transfers the pulling force to move the door forward and upward, eliminating the need for a direct handle on the door while preserving operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If the door device is moved forward and upward in two sequences, then the flush integration with surrounding furniture is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflush integrationVSAvoiddoor opening mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening movement is segmented into two distinct sequences: a first sequence moving the door forward parallel to the front surface, and a second sequence moving the door upward. This segmentation allows the door to clear the appliance body in a controlled manner, achieving flush integration. The complexity is managed by using a carrier element that guides the door through these segmented movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door opening motion is extended from a single linear movement to a two-dimensional path involving both forward and upward components. The door is first moved forward in the horizontal dimension, then upward in the vertical dimension. This dimensional change allows the door to clear the appliance body while maintaining a flush front appearance, with the carrier element and guide rails managing the increased mechanical complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3236160B1Built-in kitchen device
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP3236160B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236160B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3236160B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a built-in kitchen appliance (1) and a method for operating a built-in kitchen appliance (1) with a basic appliance body (2) with a treatment space (12) and a door device (22) attached to the basic appliance body (2) for closing the treatment space (12 ). The built-in kitchen appliance (1) comprises an opening device (3) which is suitable and designed to move the door device (22) forwards in a first sequence of movements (13) and upwards in a second sequence of movements (23).