Cabinet Lead-Through Snap Mounting for Dishwasher Conduits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for installing conduits for dishwashers in kitchen cabinets are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring separate openings for water, wastewater, and electricity, and are prone to issues with pressure surges and pipe movement, especially when additional tapping points are needed.

Innovation Solution

A cabinet lead-through system that can be easily installed and fixed to the cabinet using a snap function without screws, nails, or adhesive, featuring standardized hole cutter compatibility, elastic edges for secure tube retention, and locking ridges to prevent rotation, allowing for secure mounting and easy storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate openings are made for water inlet, outlet, and electrical cable, then each conduit can be individually installed, but the installation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate conduit openings (water inlet, water outlet, electrical cable) into a single integrated lead-through component. This merging allows all conduits to be installed through one opening rather than requiring separate openings for each, thereby simplifying the installation process and reducing the time required while maintaining the ability to individually route each conduit type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the water tube is exposed to pressure surges from intermittent incoming water, then the tube tends to move, but the lead-through needs to remain fixed in position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of connectionVSAvoidposition stability of water tube
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a dynamic element in the form of a spring-loaded clamp that can adapt to movements of the water tube caused by pressure surges. The spring mechanism allows the clamp to maintain secure holding force while accommodating the tube's movement, thus preserving both the fixed position of the lead-through and the stable connection to the moving tube.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a snap function is used to fix the lead-through to the cabinet, then installation becomes simple without screws or adhesive, but the securing force must be sufficient to hold multiple pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of mountingVSAvoidsecuring force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the snap function into multiple separate snapping elements or lugs distributed around the lead-through body. Each snapping element provides a portion of the total securing force, and their combined effect is sufficient to hold multiple pipes and cables securely. This segmentation allows the use of simple snap-in installation while achieving the necessary overall securing strength through the cumulative effect of multiple attachment points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Facilitates quick and secure installation of conduits for water, wastewater, and electricity without the need for screws or adhesives, accommodating pressure surges and varying pipe diameters, while ensuring easy storage and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

elastic edges for secure tube retention

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2084443B1Lead-through
Publication Date: 2013.03.06 WALLMAN ERIKSSON MARIE
  • EP2084443B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2084443B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2084443B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention concerns a lead-through, especially a cabinet lead-through used in connection with dishwashers. The lead-through has two parts, a body (1) and a cover (2). Both the body (1) and the cover (2) have part openings (7, 13, 17, 18) forming cylindrical openings when the cover (2) is received on the body (1). The cylindrical openings formed may e.g. receive tubes (3, 4, 5) for water and wastewater and an electric cable (6).